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Home My WebLink About03-18-25Town Council Meeting Minutes March 18, 2025 5:00 Employee Service Awards The Town Council recognized the following employees for their years of service to the Town of Pulaski. Amy Hopkins, five years with the Pulaski Senior Center Sgt. Matthew Rudisill, five years with the Pulaski Police Department Nathan Smythers, five years with the Town of Pulaski Calvin Wall, five years with the Public Works Department Cpt. Kristopher Shelor-Bourne, fifteen years with the Pulaski Fire Department Cpt. John Saul, twenty years with the Pulaski Police Department Jerry Crowder, thirty years with the Public Works Department Dana Bishop, forty years with the Finance Department Executive Session 2. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 5:41 p.m. and asked for a roll call. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye 3. Modification to Closed Session- No modifications were made. 4. The Mayor asked for a motion to enter into a Closed Session to discuss the following items: a. VA Code 2.2-3711 (A) 1 (2 items)- Personnel Matters i. Appointments to Boards ii. Town Manager The motion was made by Councilman Clark and seconded by Councilman Clontz. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye The following council members and staff entered into a Closed Session: Councilman Clark, Councilwoman Cope, Vice -Mayor Dawson, Councilman Clontz, Councilman Erickson, Councilman Burchett, Town Manager, Todd Day, Town Attorney, Scot Farthing, and Clerk of Council Ms. Hale. Ms. Hale exited the closed session before the town manager's personnel discussion. Page 1 of 6/ March 18, 2025 1 1 7:00 p.m. Open Session 5. Certification of Closed Session- The Mayor asked for a motion to certify that only the following items were discussed in Closed Session: a. VA Code 2.2-3711 (A) 1 (2 items) i. Appointments to Boards ii. Town Manager The motion was made by Vice -Mayor Dawson and seconded by Councilman Clark. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye 6. Councilman Clontz lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. 7. Councilman Clark gave the invocation. 8. Mayor Collins welcomed all in attendance and viewing online. 9. Modification to Public Session: The mayor asked for a motion to add four resolutions for the public safety telecommunicators and first responders to the agenda. The motion was made by Vice -Mayor Dawson and seconded by Councilman Clark to add the four resolutions before the discussion topic. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye 10. Manager Day introduced Chris Akers, Executive Director for the Pulaski County Joint 9- 1-1 Communications. Mr. Akers reported that the Communications Center commends the heroic efforts of its public safety telecommunicators and first responders after successfully guiding life- saving CPR instructions that recently led to the resuscitation of an infant. Mr. Akers gave a summary of the 9-1-1 call, and each of the dispatchers coordinated emergency response efforts. Resolution 2025-10 Recognizing PST Timothy Williams for his Lifesaving Efforts and Actions. Councilman Clark read the resolution. Page 2 of 6/ March 18, 2025 The motion was made by Vice -Mayor Dawson and seconded by Councilman Clark to adopt the resolution as written. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye Mayor Collins presented the resolution to Mr. Williams. Resolution 2025-11 Recognizing PST Ashley Newby for her Lifesaving Efforts and Actions. Vice -Mayor Dawson read the resolution. The motion was made by Councilman Clark and seconded by Vice -Mayor Dawson to adopt the resolution as written. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye The Mayor presented the resolution to Ms. Newby. Resolution 2025-12 Recognizing PST Haley Turner for her Lifesaving Efforts and Actions Councilman Clontz read the resolution. The motion was made by Councilman Burchett and seconded by Councilman Clark to adopt the resolution as written. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye Resolution 2025-13 Recognizing PST Pepper Wilson for her Lifesaving Efforts and Actions Councilman Burchett read the resolution. The motion was made by Councilman Erickson and seconded by Vice -Mayor Dawson to adopt the resolution as written. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye Page 3 of 6/ March 18, 2025 11. Discussions a. NRV Passenger Rail Authority Architectural/ Engineering Vision Session (Mayor Collins) Mayor Collins reported the NRV Passenger Rail Authority will have a ground- breaking ceremony at the Cambria station in Christiansburg on April 24'n b. Train Station Rental Changes (Nate Repass) Mr. Repass reported potential changes to the rental procedure and price changes to the train station. He ran through renting the station by calling the Town Manager's office, completing an application, being penciled into on a paper calendar, and paying in person in the Finance Department. We would like to simplify that procedure and eventually make it digital. He ran through the current rental hours and pricing and the current employee benefit of employees being able to rent the station at half the cost. Mr. Repass reported the budget for the train station, stating the rental income for 2023-2024 was $7,400 but the cost to run it was $17,258.16 with a total operated loss of $9,858. He stated most rentals are renting the morning or afternoon hours and the changes would be for a set time, from 9 am-9 pm, and a set cost of $150 with an additional $50 for an early arrival or late departure. Vice -Mayor Dawson suggested having an additional policy regarding an additional cleaning fee if needed and also wordage to include the renter being held liable for any damages. Councilman Burchett stated his concerns with the pricing that he doesn't believe a town employee should be able to rent the station at half the price and he would like to see town employees and citizens pay the same amount. Vice -Mayor Dawson stated the employee discount could be considered an employee benefit. Manager Day suggested removing the policy regarding the employee discount until a later time when it could be discussed and asked Mr. Repass when he wanted to implement the changes. Mr. Repass suggested July 1, 2025. The motion was made by Vice -Mayor Dawson and seconded by Councilman Clark to approve the updated application and permit for rental of the train station with updated rates presented by Nate Repass with the two mentioned changes to additional language towards the liability of the renters and changes to the current structure of employees being able to rent the train station at half the cost with the attorney's approval. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Mayor Collins -Aye Page 4 of 6/ March 18, 2025 1 1 Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Nay 12. Public Comment Period- No speakers were present. 13. Consent Agenda a. Consideration of March 4, 2025 Town Council Minutes The motion was made by Councilman Clark and seconded by Councilman Clontz to adopt the minutes as written. Jeremy L. Clark- Aye Sunshine N. Cope- Aye Brooks R. Dawson- Aye 14. Council Comments G. Tyler Clontz- Aye Steven W. Erickson- Aye Joel B. Burchett- Aye Mayor Collins- Abstained Councilman Erickson asked Manager Day why there are covered fire hydrants throughout town. Manager Day stated we have recently identified some imperfections like valves that were broken or hung, and Health Department regulations make the Fire Department bag them until they are repaired. He reported parts are being ordered but they have been bagged to identify to the Fire Department that they are not functioning. Mayor Collins thanked the construction workers who are working on Main Street and stated he could not wait to see the finished product. 15. Manager's Report Manager Day had no new items to discuss. 16. Reminder of Future Council Meetings a. April 1, 2025, Closed Session 6:00 p.m., Open Session 7:00 p.m. 17. With no further business, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:41 p.m. Page 5 of 6/ March 18, 2025