September 13, 2005

The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council was called to order on September 13, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Keith W. Clarke with the following present:

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council Members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, John J. Miller, Jr., Dean Woodrow Packer and Robert F. Pecht, III; Town Attorney W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Police Chief Douglas R. Pond; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Director of Public Works, Randy Lynch; citizens and the press.

Absent: Michael F. Moorman, Alice B. Talbert, Clerk.

Roll was called.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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

SERVICE RECOGNITION

Mayor Clarke read and presented to Chief Douglas Pond a resolution congratulating him on the recent anniversary of his thirty years of service to the Town of Lawrenceville. A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Pecht to adopt the resolution recognizing Chief Pond’s service. This carried by all ayes. Chief Pond expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve the Town and attributed the years of service to a good working environment.

Mr. Outten stated a closed session will be needed at the end of the agenda to discuss property acquisition.

VIRGINIA LOGOS

Mr. Dean reported on the Virginia Logos contract for four Lawrenceville Historic District signs. He recommended proceeding with the project at a cost of $5954.00, the funds to be used from the downtown budget. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to authorize Mr. Dean to complete and sign the contract at the cost of $5954.00. This was seconded by Mr. Miller. The motion carried by all ayes.

Mayor Clarke commented that the Dixie Youth League Tournament will be hosted in Town next year. This will be a big event and it would be nice to have smaller directional signs place around town. He asked Mr. Dean to get information and costs on installing such signs.

TTHM UPDATE

Mr. Dean gave a TTHM update. There have been several meetings with Timmons. They have several preliminary ideas and are getting numbers together to submit their report. The Town is conducting quarterly tests again this week.

RAILS TO TRAILS RESOLUTIONS

Mr. Dean asked Council to adopt two resolutions of support as included in the packet. The first is for a Virginia Land Conservation Foundation Grant supporting the request to purchase Norfolk Southern owned railroad right-of-way to further the Tobacco Heritage Trail. The second resolution for a TICR application supports the request for funding to prepare an economic analysis of the Tobacco Heritage Trail on Southside Virginia. A motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Hardy to adopt both resolutions of support as presented. This carried by all ayes.

HIGH STREET

Mr. Dean reported he heard from the High Street Programmatic Agreement today that the last person has signed it. Two houses are slated for demolition now.

SAINT PAUL’S SEWER LINE

Mr. Dean reported that the final design is almost complete for the Saint Paul’s College sewer line and should be ready to bid out soon.

FINANCIAL REPORT

Mr. Pecht reported we are running a bit ahead of last year but insurance payments that were made in August last year are to be paid in September this year. Mr. Dean reported the Town is close to closing out the Virginia Carolina contract. A tax anticipation loan may be needed to bridge the gap in funding to close the contract. A motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Miller to obtain a Tax Anticipation Loan in the amount of $100,000 for one year. This carried by all ayes.

FIRE REPORT

Dean Packer reported that the fire department answered 27 calls in August with 1 call being in town and 26 out of town.

POLICE REPORT

Mr. Hardy stated the police report was in the packets.

GENERATOR

Mr. Hardy reported that Mr. Dean may have found a generator. Mr. Dean then reported he had found a used portable 350kw generator for the water plant at an estimated cost of $74,000. This can be financed over a five year period with the company and will have a two year warranty. An additional manual transfer switch and cable will be needed to complete the hookup. A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to approve the financing and purchase of a portable generator for the water plant. This carried by all ayes.

SAFETY COMMITTEE

Mr. Brockwell stated safety meetings have been held. He requested a list of the individual meetings for the water plant. He would also like a meeting to be held on “Your Right to Know” and he can provide a video.

AIRPORT REPORT

Mr. Pecht stated the airport report was in the packet.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Hardy and seconded by Mr. Pecht to pay the bills as presented in the amount of $67,763.52 and charge to the proper accounts. This carried by all ayes.

LETTER OF RESIGNATION

Mayor Clarke read a letter of resignation from Town Council Member Mike Moorman resigning from the Lawrenceville Town Council effective September 1, 2005. Mayor Clarke stated he has served with a lot of very fine people and Mike Moorman is no exception. He will be missed. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to accept Mr. Moorman’s resignation with regret. This carried by all ayes.

Mayor Clarke stated the Town Code requires the Town Council to fill Mr. Moorman’s seat by appointment. He directed the remaining members of District 2, Mr. Brockwell, Mr. Miller and Mr. Pecht to make a recommendation at the next council meeting.

CLOSED MEETING

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

RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION

After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Pecht to adjourn the closed meeting and convene again in open session. This was seconded by Mr. Miller and carried by all ayes.

CERTIFICATION

The following resolution was adopted by the Lawrenceville Town Council Members following a closed meeting held September 13, 2005, on a motion of Mr. Pecht, seconded by Mr. Miller and carried by the following vote:

Joyce D. Bland aye

H. B. Brockwell, Jr. aye

Wilbur Hardy aye

John J. Miller, Jr. aye

Dean Woodrow Packer aye

Robert F. Pecht, III aye

Michael F. Moorman absent/resigned

“BE IT RESOLVED to the best of my knowledge (I) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirement, under Section 2.1-344 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, and (II) only such public matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting.”

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by a motion from Mr. Brockwell and a second by Mr. Hardy.

______________________________MAYOR

______________________________ATTEST