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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-16-16Minutes of the Town Council Work Session held February 16, 2016, 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: Heather L. Steele, Gregory C. East, David L. Clark, H. M. Kidd, James A. Radcliffe Lane R. Penn Staff: Shawn Utt, Town Manager David Warburton, Town Attorney Nichole Hair, Deputy Town Manager Dave Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager Patricia Cruise, Clerk of Council Anthony Meredith, Captain Bill Pedigo, Town Engineer John White, Economic Development Director Robbie Kiser, Fire Chief Rebecca Reece, Acting Finance Director Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Others: Joseph K. Goodman John Copeland Nick Glenn Mike Williams, Press Melinda Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell called for consideration of the Consent Agenda. Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Consent Agenda consisting of the Town Council minutes of the January 19, 2016 meeting as written. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on voice vote. The next item for consideration was Presentations. Mayor Worrell introduced John Copeland, Fisheries Biologist with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to address Council regarding a Gatewood Fishing Update and Limit Request. Mr. Copeland addressed Council advising that he had been working on the Gatewood Reservoir fish population for approximately 18 years. He added that Gatewood is an excellent place to fish, particularly for large mouth bass. In fact, he noted that Gatewood Reservoir, for its size, is one of the best places to fish for bass in southwest Virginia. He advised that he was before Council to present a proposed new minimum size of 18" and a daily creel limit of 5 per day for channel catfish effective April 1, 2016. Councilman East moved to direct staff to draft an Ordinance regarding the size and creel limit for channel catfish as recommended by the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Operations. The first item was code compliance team approach. H. M. Kidd - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye February 16, 2016/Page 1 of 5 1 Ms. Hair advised that she was moving forward with a code compliance team consisting of various departments within the Town. She added that staff would be going out into the community and into every neighborhood and every street to address zoning violations such as unsafe structures, and trash, debris and inoperable vehicles. The next item was New River Agency on Aging Alternate Board member. Mr. Utt advised that there was a vacancy for an Alternate Board member for the New River Agency on Aging. He noted that Ms. Pam Austin was the Town's Alternate, but she had resigned. He added that Gary Hancock had expressed an interest in this position. Councilman Clark moved to direct staff to prepare the necessary documents to appoint Gary Hancock to the New River Agency on Aging as the Alternate Board member for the Town. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye 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 Kersey Bottom CDBG update. Mr. Utt advised that the Town was closing in on the date for executing the contracts for the housing rehabilitation project in the Kersey Bottom, Case Knife Road area. He added that there were several items related to the project. He advised that the first item was the project management plan. He explained that this document basically explained the goals of the project and the roles for each individual involved in the implementation of the grant funds. He advised that this document also appoints the members to the Project Management team. He recommended the following be appointed to the Project Management Team: Shawn Utt, Town Manager, Craig Quinn as Project Administrator, Nichole Hair, Bill Pedigo, Janet Jonas with Community Planning Partners, Kenny Rogers as Rehab Specialist, Jason Paljug, Rebecca Reece and as Community members, Holly King, John Goad, Danielle Goad, Shelly Fortier, the Executive Director for Habitat for Humanity and R. David Warburton. He added that it was hoped to have a member from Redevelopment and Housing Authority. He added that Council would need to appoint a Council representative to serve on the Project Management Team. Mr. Utt continued that the next document was the Program Income Plan. He advised that the state had a new requirement that a minimum house payment must be paid by each recipient which would result in Program Income. This plan would show the state what the Town intended to do with the income. Mr. Utt advised that the next item on the agenda was the Housing Rehabilitation Oversight Board By -Laws. He explained that the Housing Oversight Board makes the decisions and steers the project to a successful end. He advised that the staff recommendation for the Board members was Shawn Utt, Craig Quinn, Nichole Hair, Jason Paljug, Rebecca Reece, John Goad, Kenny Rogers and Janet Jonas. He requested that a member of Council volunteer to serve on this Board as well as a member of the Redevelopment and Housing Authority. Councilman Clark volunteered to serve. Mr. Utt continued that the next item was the proposed budget for the project. He reviewed the 1.6 million dollar budget. Mr. Utt advised that the Program Design was the next document to review. He continued that this document covered the specifics of the grant application. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to adopt the Project Management team for the Kersey Bottom project and remove the RHA representative at this time. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: February 16, 2016/Page 2 of 5 Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Councilman East moved to adopt the Housing Oversight Board including Dave Clark as the Town Council representative and removing the RHA representative at this time. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Resolution 2016-06, Approving the Governing Documents and Authorizing the Execution of All Necessary Contract Documents for the Kersey Bottom/Case Knife Road Neighborhood Revitalization Project. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye 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 downtown revitalization efforts. Mr. White advised of meetings with DHCD regarding a downtown Master Plan for the Town. He added that as a result of these meetings, staff proposed applying to the DHCD for a Downtown Revitalization Planning Grant for $35,000 for downtown renewal and for a Local Innovation grant up to $200,000 to help pay for the installation of fiber to the larger portion of the Downtown district. Following discussion, Councilman Clark moved to authorize staff to submit letters of interest to DHCD for a Downtown Revitalization Planning Grant of $35,000 for downtown renewal and for a Local Innovation grant up to $200,000 to help pay for the installation of fiber to the larger portion of the Downtown district. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Legislative items. The first item was Ordinance 2016-03, Adopting the Comprehensive Plan. He advised that a Public Hearing had been held and all the necessary steps completed as required. He added that the final piece of action was the adoption of Ordinance 2016-03. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Ordinance 2016-03, Adopting the Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Pulaski, Virginia. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye The next item for consideration was Ordinance 2016-04, Amending the Personnel Manual to Include a Confidentiality and Non -Disclosure Statement. February 16, 2016/Page 3 of 5 1 Councilman Kidd moved to adopt Ordinance 2016-04, Amending the Personnel Manual to Include a Confidentiality and Non -Disclosure Statement as written. Councilman East seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Safety and an update on the Public Safety Facility. Ms. Hair advised that the committee had met for their first meeting. She added that the Committee consisted of representatives from the Pulaski Fire Department, Pulaski Police Department, REMSI, the Engineering Department, the Building Department, Councilman Radcliffe and herself. She noted that she had reached out to the Police Chief in Rocky Mount and the group would be touring their facility March 3. The next item on the agenda was the Roundtable discussion. Councilman East expressed dissatisfaction with the new Town website. He felt it needed improving. He asked Council to review the Town website and then look at others and point out items that could be improved upon. Councilman Clark offered kudos to the Town crew for the snow removal in the recent storm. Councilman Kidd agreed with Councilman Clark. Councilman Radcliffe commented that the Town had some of the best employees in the area and that everyone was important. At 5:40 p.m., Councilman Kidd moved to enter into Closed Session under Virginia Code 2.2-3711 (A-1) discussion for consideration of employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of public officers, appointees or employees, regarding Police Department Salaries and (A-3), discussion for consideration of the disposition or acquisition of publicly help property regarding Dora Highway properties. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye At 6 p.m., Council returned from Closed Session and adopted the Certification Resolution on motion by Councilman Kidd, seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye Councilman East moved to direct staff to draft a policy regarding merit increases, specifically eligibility review and budget guidelines for Council's consideration. Councilman Kidd seconded the motion and carried on the following recorded vote: Heather L. Steele - Aye H. M. Kidd - Aye Gregory C. East - Aye James A. Radcliffe - Aye David L. Clark - Aye Lane R. Penn - Aye February 16, 2016/Page 4 of 5 At 6:04 p.m., there being no further business, the meeting adjourned. Approved: Jeffrey S. Worrell, Mayor 1 1 February 16, 2016/Page 5 of 5