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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-17-15Minutes of the Town Council meeting held March 17, 2015, at 5:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building at 42 First Street, NW, Pulaski, Virginia. Present were: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Mayor Council: Gregory C. East, David L. Clark, H. M. Kidd, Lane R. Penn, James A. Radcliffe Absent: Heather L. Steele Staff: Shawn Utt, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council John White, Economic Development Director Gary Roche, Police Chief Pam Witten, Finance Director Robbie Kiser, Assistant Fire Chief Others: Janet Jonas Richard Adams Donna Samuels Angel Slaughter Edwin Whitelaw Tammy Reynolds Joseph Goodman Calvin Pynn, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, the Mayor welcomed the visitors to the meeting. He advised that the first item for consideration was the Consent Agenda. Councilman Penn moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the January 20, 2015 Council minutes as written. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. The next item on the agenda was a CDBG Public Hearing for Kersey Bottom/Case Knife Road Housing Rehab Project. Mr. Utt advised that there was a revised budget and a revised Resolution that needed to be considered in relation to this public hearing. Janet Jonas advised the purpose of the hearing was to solicit public input on local community development and housing needs in relation to Community Development Block Grant Funding for a project in Pulaski, Virginia. She summarized the requirements of the project and asked for Council's approval. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 5:24 p.m. There being no comments from the public, he closed the Hearing. The next item on the agenda was Public Operations. Mr. Utt advised that the first item was in regard to NRVUnwired, an Internet provider from Christiansburg. He continued that they were requesting permission to locate some antennae equipment on at least 3 of the Town's water tanks (Veteran's Hill, Route 11/Pepper's Ferry and possibly Ridge Avenue). He added that the company had already negotiated a similar arrangement with the County PSA for their water tanks and had provided a copy of that agreement, which had been included in the packet for Council's review. Edwin Whitelaw addressed Council summarizing NRVUnwired's history and advised that they were receiving a lot of requests for service. He responded to questions from Council and staff. March 17, 2015/Page 1 of 4 Councilman East moved to direct staff to draft an agreement with NRVUnwired, LLC for review by Council. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item on the agenda was Council Retreat follow-up. Mr. Utt advised that a summary of the topics discussed at the past weekend's Council Retreat was included in the packet for Council's review. He added that he felt the retreat was very worthwhile with a lot of good feedback. He asked if Council had any additional comments or corrections to make to the summary? Mayor Worrell agreed with the Town Manager. He was pleased that they came out of the meeting with a few priorities. Mr. Utt felt it would be a good reference for their upcoming budget sessions. Councilman East thanked staff for giving up half of their Saturday for the meeting. Mayor Worrell moved on to the Legislative portion of the meeting. The first item was Ordinance 2015-02, Approving a Special Exception for Light Manufacturing at 1 West Main Street. Mayor Worrell advised that this Ordinance completed action of Council. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-02, Approving a Special Exception for Light Manufacturing at 1 West Main Street as written. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item for consideration was Ordinance 2015-03, Rezoning 1979 Peakland Drive From R-2 General Residential District to R-3 Multi-Family Residential District. Mayor Worrell advised that this completed action of Council. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-03 as written. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Ordinance 2015-04, Approving a Special Exception for a Game Room at 503 East Main Street as written. He advised that this completed action of Council. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Ordinance 2015-04 as written. Councilman Radcliffe seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: March 17, 2015/Page 2 of 4 Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item on the agenda was Resolution 2015-06, Authorizing the Preparation And Filing Of An Application For Community Improvement Grant Funds Through The Virginia Community Development Block Grant Program. Mr. Warburton reminded Council that an amended form of the Resolution had been placed at their dais prior to the meeting. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the amended version of Resolution 2015-06. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Utilities and Sewer Main Repair. Mr. Utt advised of the collapse of pipe on the Town's sewer line just north of Randolph Park. He added that the sewer line in that area was a 24-inch force main that carries the Town's sewer (as well as sewer from the County's Industrial Park and high school to the treatment plant in Fairlawn). He noted that after closer investigation, roughly 180 feet of the pipe needed to be replaced as well as an additional 180 feet once the weather was more pleasant. He added that staff was working on a plan to include in the upcoming Capital Improvement Plan to provide for the evaluation of the sewer main as a whole as it was expected that there are additional problems along the 12+ mile stretch of pipe. Mayor Worrell advised that it was a tough job in a tough location and in bad weather. He commended everyone involved in repairing the line. The next item on the agenda was Human Resources and proposed updates to the Personnel policy. Mr. Utt advised that there had been several Council Resolutions dealing with revisions to the Town's Personnel policy recently. He added that a summary sheet of the changes marked with the Resolution #'s had been included in the packet as well as a few minor recommendations from Sesco, the Town's HR consultant for Council's consideration. He reviewed these changes and asked Council for a motion directing staff to create an Ordinance incorporating all of the revisions for Council's consideration at the April 7 Council meeting. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the personnel policy revisions included in the handout at Council's dais with the addition of the standard verbiage for all types of leave. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Round Table discussion. Councilman Clark commented that the Council Retreat was very productive and he was very happy with the outcome He added that he enjoyed spending time with the department heads and being able to discuss issues they normally don't get the opportunity to discuss. March 17, 2015/Page 3 of 4 Councilman Kidd advised that one of the restaurants in Town suffered a lack of water recently and did not know what was wrong and did not know who to call. He added that he called Mr. Pedigo and then called the restaurant to advise that there was a water break. He asked whether a method could be put in place to notify businesses of water breaks that would affect their business in the future. Mr. Pedigo advised that perhaps they could use social media to notify residents and that a Town employee could notify the manager of restaurants that were affected. Councilman Radcliffe agreed with Councilman Clark that the Council Retreat was a positive meeting. Additionally, he thanked staff for their hard work through the difficult winter months. At 5:54 Councilman Clark moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2,203711 (A-3), discussion for consideration of the disposition or acquisition of publicly held property regarding Loving Field and (A-7), consultation with legal counsels and briefing by staff for discussion of specific legal matters and matters subject to probable litigation regarding Draper Mountain landfill. Councilman Penn seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye At 6:17 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session. Mayor Worrell advised that Councilman Radcliffe left during the Closed Session. Council then adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Clark, seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent Gregory C. East -Aye David L. Clark -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Absent Lane R. Penn -Aye At 6:19 p.m., there being no further business, the meeting adjourned on motion by Councilman Kidd, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote. Approved: ~. ey S. Worrell, Mayor March 17, 2015/Page 4 of 4