Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-19-10 Minutes of the Town Council Meeting held October 19,2010 at 5:00 p.m.in the Council Chambers of the Minipal Building at 42 First Street, NW. There were present: Mayor Jeffrey S.Worrell Council:. Morgan P.Welker, H. M. Kidd, David L. Clark, Joel-B. Burchett, Jr. (arrived at 5:18 p.m.), Robert A. Bopp,Joseph K. Goodman Staff: John J. Hawley,Town Manager Patricia Cruise,Clerk of Council David Quesenberry, Assistant to the Town Manager R. D.Warburton,Town Attorney Gary Roche, Police Chief Dave Hart, Parks and Facilities Director Bill Pedigo,Town Engineer Mike Quinney, Public Works Sherry Boyd, Finance Director Others: Randall Hancock Suzanne Wantland Clark Payne Melinda Williams, Press Mike Williams, Press Mayor Worrell called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Following roll call, Mayor Worrell welcomed the public to the meeting. The first item on the agenda was approval of the Consent Agenda. Councilman Kidd moved to adopt the Consent Agenda, consisting-of the September 21,2010 Council Work Session minutes. Themotionwas seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote.. The next item on.the agenda was Employee of the Month presentation. Mayor Worrell introduced Michael S. Quinney as the October,2010 Employee of the Month. He read a press release aloud and presented Mr.Quinney with an award. He advised that Mike would be given an additional paid day off from work and be eligible for the Employee of the Year award at the end of the year. Mayor Worrell moved on to Finance. The.first item was Virginia's First-Excess Funds. He advised that Council had previously discussed this topic. Mr. Hawley advised that Council had previously agreed to adopt Amendment #2 to the Participation Committee agreement,allowing use of Virginia's First excess dues of$27,273 to fund the water and sewer expansion. In return for the allocation of the excess dues,the Town would receive 681.82 shares of the Commerce Park. The remaining amount of$12,727 could be used for new-Economic Development projects. Councilman Clarkmovedto authorize staff to complete the declaration included in the packet and return it to Virginia's First. The motion was seconded by Councilman Goodman and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P.Welker -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Absent H.M. Kidd -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye The next item on the agenda was Treasurer's liens/lien collection. Mayor Worrell advised that Council had previously asked for more information regarding Treasurer's liens and lien collection. October 19, 2010/Page 1 of 5 mr. hawiey aavised that staff had sent an inquiry to the Virginia Institute of Government seeking to identify localities that have used.a treasurer's lien to collect charges on property owners for nuisance abatement , 63 efforts. Threeresponses had been received and were at Council's desk. He commented that the idea wag to discuss how to collect liens beyond what was currently being utilized by the Town. IMr. Warburton advised that what he got out of thelastfew Council meetings was that perhaps Council felt they had discovered a new tool:for collection of liens against property. In reality, the Finance Department was aware of Treasurer's liens for quite some time. He commented that it was a time consuming process, but a valuable tool in certain circumstances. Ms. Boyd added that there arecertain rules and regulations that have to be followed in Treasurer's liens. She explained some of the information regarding the citizen that she would have to know before she could institute the lien. Councilman Burchett arrived during.Ms.Boyd's summary. Mayor Worrell commented that another factor was that some of the citizens listed were deceased and some had moved away with no forwarding address. Councilman Goodman commented that Council was interested in utilizing this lien process to recover larger amounts. He made several suggestions regarding how the process could be handled. Councilman Welker interjected that he did not care what method was used to collect the liens, he just wanted some of the funds collectedon the larger liens. He felt that Council should start with the five or six liens previously discussed and use whatever the most effective means was to collect them and get some of them. back on the tax rolls and to productive use. He opined that there was a perception that the Town was soft on collecting liens and he wanted to correct that. Following more extensive discussion,the consensus of Council was for staff to aggressively pursue the selected liens and report back to Council by November 2, 2010. Mayor Worrell moved on to computer system funding. He advised that Council previously chose a course of action to meet the Town's computer needs for the future. Included in the packet was information to assist in decisions to be made regarding funding. Mr.,Hawley advised that the quote for the warranties,service agreements, and license renewals that are needed to complete the buyout of the current lease was$9,635. $3,360 was needed for the Askpulaskitown maintenance agreement. That total was$12,995. Additionally,$2,909 was needed for computer equipment. Following discussion, Councilman Welker moved to amend the budget to take$12,995 from the un- appropriated fund balance to the maintenance service line item and$2;909 to the computer equipment line item. Councilman Clark seconded the motion and it carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye H. M. Kidd -Aye Robert A. Bopp. -Aye David L.Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to Public Operations. The first item was YMCA update-future options for the Town. Mr. Hawley advised that an email from Ms. Wantland had been included in the packet. He introduced Suzanne Wantland,from the YMCA,.to speak to Council. IMs..Wantland presented two handouts for her discussion. She summarized the financial position of the YMCA and indicated some slight improvement. Discussion ensued regarding ways that the Town could partner with the YMCA and also assist the Town citizens. October 19, 2010/Page 2 of 5 M1j 4antland advised that she would check with other areas that have a public/private working relationship and bring back ideas to Council. The next itemon the agenda was Gatewood swimming area. Mayor Worrell advised that there had been some discussion about the possibility of opening Gatewood to swimmers. This was an opportunity to begin discussing this option. Discussion ensued regarding state regulations,insurance liability,lifeguards versus swim at your own risk, parking, bathhouse,restrooms,admission charge, and pool versus lake swimming etc. Mr. Hawley-advised that staff would speak with the Town insurance carrier and gather more information for Council. Mayor Worrell moved on to support for local filmmaker. Mr. Hawley advised of a request to assist with a filming project,whether by donations or housing for the crew. Mayor Worrell commentedthat he wouldliketo meet with Ms. Ratliff and see what.the Town could do to help. He asked Mr. Hawley to find out when she would be in the area and report back to Council. The next item on the agenda was boundary adjustments. Mayor Worrell advised that he and the Town Manager met with a.developer in the Route 11 corridor regarding the.possibleboundary adjustment in that area. Mr. Hawley stated that the developer had a significant amount of land that could be developed and seemed receptive to the idea-of a boundary adjustment. The developer also felt the Route 99 corridor had potential. He.added that a survey had been taken of the Newbern Heights area and:had received no interest at all in being included in the boundary adjustment: Fire Chief Webb interjected that if development occurred in the boundary adjustment areas,_additions would have to be made in staffing in the Fire.Department. Councilman Burchett commented that Council needed to measure the costs-versus the gain for the Town ifthe boundary adjustment was accomplished. He felt that in order to have the least impact on staff,the best area to look at was Route 99 totheinterstate. Following extensive discussion,staff was to ask for the County's input. At 6:50 p.m.,Mayor Worrell called for a ten minute recess. At 7:00 p.m., Mayor Worrell reconvened the meeting and moved on to the Legislative section of the meeting. The first item for discussion was a review of the smoking policy. Mr. Hawley advised that the current smoking,policy had been included in the packet, as well as the Virginia Tech policy on smoking and the state policy. Mr.Warburton advised that the Town's current smoking policy needed extensive updating. He suggested including no smoking: - 1. Inside any Town owned building 2. Within twenty five feet of a Town public entrance and exit to buildings 3. Within Town owned vehicles 4. In outdoor areas duringscheduled events He also suggested posting no smoking signs within Town owned buildings. October 19,2010/Page 3 of 5 Following extensive discussion, CouncilmanClarkmoved to directtheTown Attorney to draw up a no smol¢r46 5 policy for Council to review. The motion was seconded by Councilman Welker and carried on the following recorded vote: I Morgan P.Welker -Aye H.M. Kidd Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Thenext item on the agenda was the baseball contract. Mr. Hawley advised that the new baseball facility lease and contract had been included for Council's review Following discussion, Councilman Welker requested the following addition to the contract:. On page four, Section .1-1,the words beer and wine rather than just beer; and section 1-2, beer and alcohol sales, not just beer. Councilman Goodman,in an effort to save on utility bills,requestedthat the Club staff be moved from the General Manager's office to an already heated area during off season to help with electricity bills. Councilman Burchett asked for a copy of the records and summaries of the ticket sales,advertising, concession,and all other revenues derived from its use of the facilities, together with records of expenditures be provided.to Council. Following further discussion, Councilman Clark moved-to direct staff to execute the baseball Facility Lease-and Contract with the addition of the words and wine on page 4,section -1-1,rather than just beer,and under section 1-2, beer and alcohol sales, not just beer. The motion was seconded by Councilman Bopp and carried on the following recorded vote: Morgan P. Welker -Aye H. M. Kidd Joel B. Burchett, Jr. -Aye -Aye Robert A. Bopp -Aye David L. Clark -Aye Joseph K. Goodman -Aye Mayor Worrell moved on to General Assembly, Legislative Request. Mr. Hawley advised of an email included in the Council packet, detailing impact to the Town if the General Assembly eliminated BPOL and/or the Machinery and Tool tax. He suggested that Council might wish:to send a formal statement to our legislators detailing the impacts of changing these revenue sources. Following discussion, the.consensus of Council was for staff to send a letter to our legislators detailing the impact to the Town of changing these revenue sources. The next item on-the agenda was Safety and Fire Department apparatus.. Mr. Hawley advised that the Fire Chief had some concerns regarding the aerial truck. Fire Chief Webb advised that he had removed the 1970 American Lafrance Aerial truck.from service for safety reasons. He listed some of the problems with the truck and provided three options for consideration. Additionally,he advised that the 1981 Ford Fire Engine needed to-be replaced. His choice from the options for consideration were to replace the aerial truck with a used unit and replace the 1981 Ford with a new unit at the earliest opportunity as funding allowed. Following extensive discussion, Council asked Chief Webb to have the fire vehicle inspected by an expert and. - continue to investigate other vehicles and return to Council with the information. Mayor Worrell moved on to a loan request for the sewer pump station. October 19,2010/Page 4 of 5 Mr. Hawley advised of the notification by the Department of Environmental Quality that the town's request T01 a I to make improvements at the Town's sewer pumpstations would be recommended to the full board. He introduced Randall Hancock to provide an overview of some of the work that may be necessary. Mr. Hancock,of Draper Aden Associates,provided a brief overview of items that need to be replaced or upgraded at the pump stations. At 7:55 p.m.,there being no further business, Councilman Welker moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Councilman Clark and carried on voice vote. Approved://-1"- S.Worrell, ayor October 19, 2010/Page 5 of 5