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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-01-15 Minutes of the Town Council meeting held Wednesday, December 1, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building. There were present: IMayor: Jeffrey S. Worrell Council: Gregory C. East, David L. Clark, H. M. Kidd, James A. Radcliffe, Lane R. Penn Absent: Heather L. Steele Staff: Shawn M. Utt, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer Rebecca Reece, Acting Finance Director Robbie Kiser, Fire Chief Mike Hudson, Police Lieutenant John White, Economic Development Director Others: Joe Sheffey Peter Huber Joseph K. Goodman Nicole Hair Melinda Williams, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilman Kidd led the Pledge of Allegiance and Councilman East gave the Invocation. IThe first item on the agenda was Resolution 2015-24. Councilman Clark moved to adopt Resolution 2015-24, A Resolution of Appreciation to Joseph L. Sheffey for His Service to the Citizens of Pulaski County as written. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye Mayor Worrell read the Resolution aloud and presented it to Mr. Sheffey. He thanked him for all of his years of service. Mr. Sheffey thanked Council for the award. Mayor Worrell called for a five minute recess. At 7:10 p.m., Mayor Worrell reconvened the meeting. The next item on the agenda was the introduction of the new Deputy Town Manager. Mr. Utt announced the hiring of Nicole Hair for the new position of Deputy Town Manager. He introduced Ms. IHair to Council and advised that she would begin working for the Town on January 4, 2016. Ms. Hair thanked Council for the warm welcome and advised that she looked forward to working for the Town. Page 1 of 4/November 4,2015 Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Hearings. The first Hearing was in regard to proposed cemetery plot fee increase for Oakwood and Pinehurst Cemeteries. Mr. Utt advised that the Cemetery Board of Trustees felt the need to increase the cemetery plot fees from $400 to $600. He added that if approved, the breakdown for that fee would be $300 to the Town's General fund and $300 to the Perpetual Care fund. He noted that a Public Hearing had to be held before these changes could take effect. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:15 p.m. There being no comments from Council, the Hearing was closed. Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to prepare the necessary Ordinance for the January 5, 2016 Council meeting. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next Public Hearing was in regard to a proposed amendment to Section 38-33(B) of the Town Code pertaining to sound ordinance. Mr. Utt advised that at the November Council meeting, discussion had ensued regarding the need to amend the Town's Sound Ordinance to include exemptions for Calfee Park since the Town was no longer involved in the property. He added that the current Ordinance had exceptions for certain events that included operations at Calfee Park when it was owned by the Town, but that exception no longer extended to Calfee. He noted a Public Hearing had to be held before any action could be taken. Mayor Worrell opened the Public Hearing at 7:20 p.m. From the public, Morgan Welker addressed Council. He advised that he had no problem with amending the Sound Ordinance in regard to Calfee Park, however, he felt that the current Ordinance was overbroad, where almost anything that emitted a sound that could be heard at the property line or 25 feet away was prohibited except for certain small exemptions that were carved out. He felt the Ordinance should target the noises that were discouraged, not the exemptions. There being no further comments, Mayor Worrell closed the Hearing. Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to prepare an Ordinance for Council's consideration at the January 5, 2016 Council meeting. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item on the agenda was the Consent agenda. Councilman East moved to adopt the Consent agenda consisting of the Council minutes of the November 4, 2015 Council meeting. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. Mayor Worrell moved on to the Project Review Chart. Page 2 of 4/November 4, 2015 Mr. Utt highlighted some Town projects including that the Route 99 improvement project final design was underway. He added that the signal plans and the guardrail road widening plans had been reviewed. He advised that the work on the signals probably would not move forward until the spring of 2016. He noted that Ithe guardrail, street light and road widening project would probably begin in the summer of 2016. He advised that the work on the Kersey Bottom/Case Knife Road CDBG project would probably begin in January 2016. He added that a new Property Maintenance staff person had been hired. He advised that the signs for Pinehurst Cemetery's second entrance had been ordered and trees would be planted throughout the area. He added that the paving would be done in the spring of 2016. He advised that all of the software in the Finance Department was up and running. He added that the Code Enforcement/Building Permit software would be next. He noted that the vulture problem had moved near Oakwood Cemetery. He added that a new contract would have to be signed with USDA to allow staff to work on the problem. He advised that Calfee Park had been approved for the Enterprise Zone effective January 2015, which would allow the work done on the Park in 2015 to be included in the program. The next item on the agenda was Old Business and the Gatewood Master Plan Community meeting. Mr. Utt advised that the New River Valley Regional Commission staff had put together a draft strategic plan for Gatewood Park. He added that they were holding an open house at the Train Station on December 22 to gather additional feedback from the general public. He invited Council members to attend. Mayor Worrell moved on to New Business. The first item was Resolution 2015-25, Appointing Town Representatives and Citizen Representatives to Various Regional and Local Boards. He advised that the Resolution reappointed Lane R. Penn to the Pepper's Ferry RWTA for a four year term beginning January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2020; reappointed Craig Quinn as an Alternate for Lane R. Penn to the Pepper's Ferry RWTA for a term of four years beginning January 1, 2016 and ending December 31, 2020; appointed Rebecca Reece to the Cemetery Board co- 111 terminus as Acting Finance Director beginning December 1, 2015; and reappointed Alan Palmore to the Housing Board of Adjustment and Appeals for a four year term beginning December 1, 2015 and ending December 1, 2019. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Resolution 2015-25 as written. Councilman Radcliffe seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Abstain The next item on the agenda was Resolution 2015-26, Requesting General Assembly Authorization to Implement a Local Tax on Cigarettes in the Unincorporated Portions of Pulaski County, Virginia. Mr. Utt advised that Council had approved a similar Resolution for the last two years. He added that the County Board of Supervisors had requested Council's consideration for the Resolution of Support for their continued quest for this authorization from the Virginia Assembly. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Resolution 2015-26 as written. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye The next item on the agenda was USDA Rural Development Planning Grant. Page 3 of 4/November 4,2015 Mr. Utt advised of a notice from the USDA Rural Development office that the Town was approved for a planning grant to study the potential of pumping wastewater from James Hardie directly into the 4B pump station located at the end of Wurno Road. He added that the goal would be to get the wastewater out of the main system as its corrosive properties added wear and tear to the Critzer and 4A pump stations as well as the force main and gravity sewer lines. He advised that the planning grant was for$21,000 with a necessary $7,000 match from the Town which could be covered by the existing sewer fund budget. He added that a Letter of Conditions had been included in the packet with items that would have to be approved by Council. Councilman Clark moved to authorize the Town Manager to execute: 1. Form RD 1942-46, Letter of Intent to Meet Conditions 2. Ford RD 400-1, Equal Opportunity agreement 3. Form RD 400-4, Assurance Agreement 4. RUS Bulleting 1780-22, Eligibility Certification 5. AD-3030, Representations Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status 6. AD-3031, Assurance Regarding Felony Conviction and Tax Delinquent Status 7. Ford RD 1940-1, Request for Obligation of Funds 8. RUS Bulleting 1780-12, Water or Waste System Grant Agreement Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele -Absent H. M. Kidd -Aye Gregory C. East -Aye James A. Radcliffe -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Lane R. Penn -Aye At 7:53 p.m., there being no further business, Councilman Clark moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilman Kidd and carried on voice vote. Approved: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Mayor Page 4 of 4/November 4,2015