November 9, 2004

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. on November 9, 2004, 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, Woodrow Packer and Robert F. Pecht, III; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert, citizens and the press.

 

Roll was called.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Hardy to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, suspend the reading and file.  This carried by all ayes.

 

RENTAL INSPECTION                                

Mr. Dean asked council to look over the Code of Virginia section 36-104.1:1 concerning rental inspections and to consider passing an ordinance for Lawrenceville.  The Housing Code Enforcement Committee was asked to study and come back to the December meeting with a model ordinance.

 

LAKE COUNTY VISITORS & NEWCOMBER GUIDE

Mr. Dean reported that the Chamber was working on advertisements for the Lake County Visitor & Newcomer Guide magazine.  This magazine covers Halifax, Mecklenburg and Brunswick Counties with a publication of 15,000 copies per year.  Mr. Dean asked that the Town purchase a business card ad for $392.50.  Payment would not be due until January 2005.  After a brief discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to purchase a business card ad at the cost of $392.50.  Mr. Miller seconded this motion and voting aye:  Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Miller, Packer and Pecht.  Mr. Moorman was not in the meeting at this time.

 

A discussion on the meals tax was tabled.

 

Mr. Pecht gave an overview of the financial statement.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICERS FOR 2005

Dean Packer read the following list of officers for the fire department for the year 2005.

 

            Chief:                           Frankie Clary

            Deputy Chief:  Joel Dodson

            Assistant Chief: Charles Hall

            Captain:                        Marc Clary

            Lieutenant (Fire):        James Wesson

            Lieutenant (EMS):      Mike Berry

            President:                     Frankie Clary

            Vice President: Brad Morefield

            Secretary:                     Shannon Hayes

            Treasurer:                     Julian Moore

 

 

Dean Packer made a motion to approve the slate of officers as presented for 2005.  Mr. Miller seconded the motion and it carried with all ayes.

 

Dean Packer stated that the fire department had answered 14 calls in October with 5 being in town and 9 in the county.

 

Mr. Hardy stated that the police report was in the packet but he would like to commend the police department for a great job during Saint Paul’s homecoming and during Halloween.

 

 

 

CEMETERY REQUEST

Mrs. Bland stated that a request had been received from Mrs. Laura Pinchbeck to close an alley in the Oakwood Cemetery.  Mrs. Bland, the Trustees, and Mr. Emory Samford had gone to the cemetery and viewed the alley.  Mrs. Bland made a motion to close the alley and allow Mrs. Pinchbeck to purchase 10 lots.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried by all ayes.

 

Mr. Moorman reported that the Town Development Committee had met and discussed the downtown sidewalks and merchants not blocking them.  A report on this would be ready at the December meeting.

 

REQUEST TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

Mr. Moorman stated that the Town of Lawrenceville is the front porch to the County.  In so stating Mr. Moorman asked that the Mayor write a letter to the Board of Supervisors and the School Board asking that they consider using vacant in town buildings for the new support personnel offices.  After a discussion, Mr. Moorman made a motion for the Mayor to write to the Chair of the School Board and to the Chair of the Board of Supervisors asking that they make every effort to house the support personnel in town.  This received a second by Mr. Miller and carried by all ayes.

 

Mr. Moorman made a motion for the Mayor to prepare a resolution in support of the use of in town buildings for the school board.  This was seconded by Mr. Miller and carried.

 

PEEBLES STORE CLOSING

Mr. Moorman reported that private citizens and civic groups are writing letters in support of keeping the Peebles Store open.  Mayor Clarke stated that he had prepared a letter and had encouraged others to write.  Mayor Clarke hoped that the Board of Supervisors would also support this effort.  Mayor Clarke had contacted WWBT Channel 12 and the Richmond Times Dispatch. 

 

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to adopt a solution prepared by Mayor Clarke and Mr. Outten to be sent to Stage Stores asking that the decision to close Peebles be reconsidered.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

CCNTAMINANT LEVEL FOR TRIHALOMETHANES

Mr. Dean reported that on October 27, the Town received a letter advising that we were in violation for exceeding the contaminant level for total Trihalomethanes.  The annual average is 0.080 mg/L and the town’s average is 0.083 mg/L.  On October 28 representatives from the Health Department came to the water plant and recommended a couple improvements.  These have been done.  A copy of a letter to be sent to all water customers was in the packets.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Moorman to approve the letter and send out to all our water customers  by November 22. 

 

SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT AT SAINT PAUL’S

Mr. Dean reported that an agreement from Saint Paul’s on the sewer line replacement project had not been returned.  The agreement had been hand delivered to Mr. Jolley on October 1st.  Mr. Dean stated that he was concerned that the timetable and when  Saint Paul’s must use their grant money as he had been told it had to be used before September 30, 2005.  Mayor Clarke was asked to write a letter to Dr. Waddell explaining the concern on the deadline and copy to Mr. Jolley.

 

PAYMENT OF AIRPORT BILLS

Mr. Pecht reported that the bills for the airport were in the packets.  The Town’s share of 1/3 came to $12,823.01.  Mr. Pecht made a motion to pay the bills in the amount of $12,823.01.  This was seconded by Mr. Moorman and carried by all ayes.

 

CHRISTMAS PARADE

Mrs. Talbert reminded Council of the Christmas parade to be held December 10th at 7:30 p.m.

 

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Moorman and seconded by Mr. Hardy to pay the bills as presented and charge to the proper accounts.  This carried by all ayes.

 

Mr. Dean reported that he still had not received a site plan from Pearson Funeral Service.

 

MOLD REMOVAL AT COURTHOUSE

Mr. Dean gave an update on the courthouse renovations in regard to the removal of mold.  The County’s Engineer, Todd Owen met with Mr. Dean and again tested air samples.  Mr. Dean stated that the EPA does not have a standards or threshold limit value for airborne concentration of mold or mold spores.   Mr. Dean was told the air discharged from the filters was surgical room pure.

 

ADJOURNMENT

As there was no further business to come before Council, a motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Pecht to adjourn.  This carried by all ayes.

 

 

 

____________________Mayor

 

 

 

____________________Attest