SEPTEMBER 9, 2003

 

The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council was called to order by Mayor Keith W. Clarke on September 9, 2003, at 7:30p.m. With the following present:

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, John J. Miller, Jr., Michael F. Moorman, Robert F. Pecht, III and Dean Woodrow Packer; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Supt. Of Public Works, Randall Lynch; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Lawrenceville Planning Commission members, Michael Redman, Cheryl Robertson, Cynthia Pecht and William Samford; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; citizens and the press.

 

Mr. Hardy opened the meeting with prayer.

 

Roll was called

 

                                                NEW COUNCIL MEMBER

Mayor Clarke welcomed Dean Packer to Council.  Mayor Clarke also introduced Jeffrey Clary as our newest police officer.

 

                                                JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

As this time had been advertised for a Joint Public Hearing with the Lawrenceville Planning Commission to receive citizen input on amending the Zoning in B-G to allow residential use, Mayor Clarke declared the hearing open.  Mr. Dean explained that the current zoning allows for residential in Business-General with 4 conditions.  The amendment would allow residential use in all Business-General.

 

Al Eford, Basketball coach at St. Paul’s College stated that he felt changing the zoning would allow for more student housing and he was in favor of the amendment.

 

Ray Thomas, a local business owner, stated that he did not feel the amendment would benefit the town.  He would not want to see the empty buildings turned into housing.

 

As no one else asked to speak on the amendment, a motion was made by Mr. Moorman and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to close the Public Hearing.  This motion carried by all ayes.  Mr. Dean, the Planning Commission and Mrs. Bland left to meet and bring back a recommendation.

 

                                                COMMITTEE REPORTS

Mr. Pecht gave an overview of the financial statement.

 

Mr. Packer reported that the fire department had answered 13 calls and their report was in the packet.

 

                                                            NEW POLICE OFFICER

Mr. Hardy welcomed Officer Clary to the town force. 

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that a civic group was investigating putting up flagpoles at the gateways into town and we would be able to place banners on them.

 

                                                ZONING RECOMMENDATION

The Planning Commission returned and their recommendation, by unanimous vote, was to deny the request for the zoning amendment.

 

Mayor Clarke stated that Council would accept the recommendation, deny it, or table the matter until later.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to accept the recommendation and deny the request for the amendment.  This was seconded by Mr. Miller and carried by all ayes.

 

Mayor Clarke thanked the Planning Commission for their time.

 

                                                SIGN FOR FRONT OF BUILDING

Mr. Dean stated that he had received comments from Council concerning the sign for the front of the building.  Several liked the proposed sign, one felt it was too large and one wanted it moved closer to the building.  Mr. Moorman asked why we needed a new sign.  After a discussion, the Property Committee tabled until later and will continue to study possible options.

 

                                    WATER TANK MAINTENANCE CONTRACT

Mr. Dean reported that the Water/Wastewater Committee had met and gone over the 4 bids for water tank maintenance.  It was their recommendation that the contract be awarded to Southern Corrosion.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Moorman and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to award the contract to Southern Corrosion.  This carried by all ayes.

 

                                                BROOKS CROSSING

Mr. Dean had received a letter from the County asking that the Town take over and accept the water and sewer lines on Brooks Crossing.  Mr. Dean stated that he would like to have this tabled until all items on the punch list are met.  Mr. Outten advised this was the thing to do so that we could receive a completed package.

 

                                                TOBACCO MONEY

Mr. Dean reported that the IDA had met with Mayors and Managers and asked for suggestions for uses for the 2004 Tobacco Money.  The St. Paul’s sewer project is the item the Town wants to receive help for.  Mr. Dean stated he is working with Mr. Moorman and Dr. Waddell on this project.

 

The IDA invited all members of Council to a Virginia Enterprise Zone Program on September 18 at SVCC.  Members are asked to contact the IDA if they plan to attend.

 

Mr. Dean stated that Mr. Lynch along with Andy Wells of Southside Planning had been working on mapping of the utility system. 

 

                                    WATER/WASTEWATER IMPROVEMENTS

A report on the water/sewer improvements had been given to Council.  Due to budget overrun, B & B Consultants had recommended the elimination of three items.  This would bring us within budget.  Mr. Pecht commended Mr. Dean on the work done.  Mr. Brockwell made a motion to award Virginia Carolina Paving the contract with the elimination of the items as stated by B & B.  This was seconded by Mr. Moorman and carried by all ayes.

 

                                                BLOOD DRIVE

Mrs. Talbert reminded everyone of the blood drive to be held September 12 in the town meeting room.

 

                                                PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Hardy and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to pay the bills in the amount of $38,817.74 and charge to the proper accounts.  This carried by all ayes.

 

                                                            FLU SHOTS                       

Mrs. Talbert reported that South Hill Community Health Center had contacted her concerning flu shots.  This year the cost is $15.00 and only employees and Council members will be able to receive them.  Mr. Moorman made a motion to offer employees the flu shot as in the past.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

                                                KNOB HILL FARMS

A letter had been received from James & Irish Schutt asking the Town to take over ownership and maintenance of the sewer line at Knob Hill Farms.  As there are still some easements not completed, this was tabled.

 

Mayor Clarke reported that the County moved the dumpster from next to Brunswick Rubber to a location near Butler Lumber Company.  The convenience center should be completed by November.

 

                                                            CLOSED SESSION

A motion was made by Mr. Miller to enter into a closed session pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.1-344.1 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, for the purpose of discussing contractual matters.  This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

 

                                                RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION

A motion was made by Mr. Miller to exit the closed session and return to open session. This was seconded by Mrs. Bland and carried by all ayes.

 

                                                            CERTIFICATION

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Miller that only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirement, under Section 2.1-344 of the Code of Virginia 1950, as amended, and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting.  This was carried by a roll call vote as follows: 

Member:                                  Aye                  Nay                  Absent             Abstain   

Joyce D. Bland               x

H. B. Brockwell, Jr.                 x

Wilbur Hardy                            x

John J. Miller, Jr.                       x

Michael F. Moorman                        x

Dean Woodrow Packer              x

Robert F. Pecht, III                    x

 

                                                MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

A motion was made by Mr. Moorman to accept the Memorandum of Agreement Between the Town of Lawrenceville and The Virginia State Historic Preservation Office Regarding the High Street Neighborhood Project and to authorize Mr. Dean to sign on behalf of the Town.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

                                                PREFERENCE PAYMENT

Mr. Moorman made a motion to settle trustees claim of preference payment by Extraction Technologies to the town in the amount not to exceed of $7,000.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

                                                            ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, a motion was made by Mr. Moorman, seconded  and carried to adjourn the meeting.

 

 

_____________________________MAYOR

 

 

 

_____________________________ATTEST