December 13, 2005

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order on December 13, 2005, at 7:30 pm, with the following present:

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council Members:  Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, J. Grady Martin, John J. Miller, Jr., Dean Woodrow Packer and Robert F. Pecht, III.; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Joel Dodson, Charles Hall and Brian Rifkind of the Lawrenceville Vol. Fire Dept.; Alice B. Talbert, Clerk, citizens and the press.

 

Roll was called.

 

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

 

No citizens asked to speak to Council.

 

AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR PUBLIC HEARING

Mr. Outten stated that Council would need to adopt an ordinance concerning the changes made to personal property tax relief (PPTRA).  The ordinance drafted is the same format that the County has prepared.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to advertise for a Public Hearing on January 10, 2006 for the adoption of the ordinance.  This was seconded by Mr. Martin  and carried by all ayes.

 

REQUEST FOR STREET CLOSURE

Mr. Dean reported that a request had been received from Richard Pearson of Pearson Funeral Service for the closure of Taft Street alleyway.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to advertise for a Public Hearing at the January 10, 2006, Council meeting for the proposed street closure.  This carried by all ayes.

 

TIMMONS REPORT

Mr. Dean stated the Executive Summary from Timmons on the TTHM study was in the packets.  Mr. Dean gave an overview of the report.  Some of the recommendations from Timmons included the following: 1. Great Creek should be the primary source of raw water; 2.  Pre-oxidation of raw water using either permanganate or chlorine dioxide at the pump station to help prevent TTHM production;  3. Use of a Delpac-2020; and 4.  The elimination of some of our water tanks. Mr. Dean stated that we now have to wait for the Health Department’s approval.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Hardy to accept the report from Timmons.  This motion carried by all ayes.

 

SCENIC RIVER DESIGNATION

Mr. Dean reported that the information received concerning the impact of the Scenic River Designation had been sent out to Council.  The Designation would not have an impact on the Town’s water intake.  A motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Hardy for a Letter of Support for the Scenic River Designation to be sent to the Tourism Association.  This carried by the vote of 6 ayes and 1 nay.

 

GOODRICH/DAVENPORT UPDATE

Mr. Dean reported that all the houses in the Goodrich/Davenport project had been completed.  The street work had been put out to bid three times and still all had been over the budget.  The contractor on the last bid had called and stated that he would not honor his bid.  Mr. Dean stated that he would like to join with the County when they bid out the Green Acres project in order to help with both projects.

 

COMMEMORATIVE COINS

Tourism is selling Brunswick County/Jamestown 2007 commemorative coins.  Mr. Dean stated that the Chamber office has these coins if anyone is interested in purchasing them.  The cost is $10.00.

 

 

WATER PLANT GENERATOR RESOLUTION

Mr. Dean stated that Council needed to adopt a Resolution for the purchase of the generator at the water plant.  Mr. Dean read the Resolution.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to adopt the resolution to borrow $76,500 from 1st Citizens Bank to purchase a generator for the water plant.  Mr. Miller seconded the motion.  Voting aye, Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Miller, Packer and Pecht.

 

APPROVAL OF AUDIT 04/05

Mr. Pecht reported that our audit was ready and asked Council to please read the Management Discussion and Analysis.  Mr. Pecht gave an overview of the audit.  A motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to approve the audit.  This was carried by all ayes.

 

FIRE REPORT

Mr. Packer gave the fire report as follows, 22 calls were responded to with 4 in town and 18 out of town.  The new ladder truck has been received and was in the Christmas parade.  The truck is being painted and the fire department  hopes to have it in service by the end of January. 

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUEST

Mr. Dean stated that the fire department needs to update their pumper and would like to have permission to sign a contract on a new truck and approve financing.  Joel Dodson, acting fire chief, stated that this truck would replace the 1982 Mack and would be equipped to handle all calls.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Dean Packer to proceed with the signing of the contract.  This carried by all ayes.

 

Mayor Clarke commended all members of the department for their show in the parade and  the support shown by their families.

 

WASTEWATER CHIEF OPERATOR

Mr. Miller stated that Harold Jones had resigned as Chief Operator at the wastewater plant and the personnel committee had met and offered Robbie Williams the position with a 90-day probation period.  Mr. Williams had accepted.

 

POLICE REPORT

Mr. Hardy reported that the police report was in the packets but stated that all officers had requalified with firearms and use of the radar.

 

Mr. Hardy commended Chief Pond for being the Grand Marshall in the Christmas parade.

 

CABOOSE UPDATE

Chief Pond reported that the caboose had been painted above  and below and the roof repaired.  Chief Pond stated that a letter had been sent asking permission to move the caboose up the tracks. Dale Painter has been contacted about painting letters and numbers on the caboose.

 

TOWN DEVELOPMENT REPORT

Council members were given a list of all property owned by the town.

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that the Revitalization Committee meets monthly and Council needed to show support and acknowledge the work they are doing.

 

Mr. Brockwell reported that the Town Development Committee had met and discussed the 2-hour parking and were still studying the matter.  He asked Chief Pond how he felt about the marking of tires.  Chief Pond stated that he felt parking tickets left a bad taste for the people getting tickets and most of the time cars were gone by the 2 hours.  If owner of business or employees, Chief Pond stated that he would go into the business and remind them to move. Chief Pond also stated that the Town of Emporia had not issued parking tickets in two years.

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that our Code states that no merchandise is to be on the sidewalks, the Committee is looking into this and may be looking at amending the Code.

 

A list of vacant properties in the downtown area was presented.  Mr. Brockwell stated that the Committee was looking at sending letters to owners and offering assistance in getting something into the buildings.

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that the Committee would like to have a joint meeting with the planning committees from the Town Council and the Board of Supervisors to discuss the Old Primary School property on Park St. and what can be done to help preserve it from further damage.  The School Board has deeded this property to the County.

 

As there has been a lot of talk concerning the Peebles building and what is being done in order for the School Board to occupy, Mr. Brockwell stated that the Downtown Committee would like to ask the School Board Chairman and School Superintendent to come to the January meeting and give an overview to Council.

 

Mr. Kelly’s Code report was in the packet.

 

The November Airport report was in the packets.

 

A letter from CMH was in the packets explaining why they would be unable to provide flu shots this year.

 

Council members were invited to attend the annual Christmas lunch on December 21.  Mrs. Talbert asked that members notify her by Friday, December 16 if they plan to attend.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Hardy and seconded by Mr. Miller to pay the bills as presented in the amount of $86,985.26 and charge to the proper funds.  This carried by all ayes.

 

CLOSED SESSION

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. Packer and carried by all ayes.

 

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

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

 

CERTIFICATION

The following resolution was adopted by the Lawrenceville Town Council members following a closed meeting held December 13, 2005, on motion of Robert Pecht, seconded by Grady Martin and carried by the following vote:

MEMBER                         AYE                NAY          ABSENT           ABSTAIN

Joyce D. Bland         X

H. B. Brockwell                  X

Wilbur Hardy                      X

J. Grady Martin                   X

John J. Miller                      X

Dean Woodrow Packer       X

Robert F. Pecht, III             X

 

“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 business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting.”

 

AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE FOR PUBLIC HEARING

A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Martin to advertise for a Public Hearing at the January 10, 2006, meeting to receive comment on the disposal of surplus property known as Tax Parcel #52A2-9-2, located on the south side of the west end of Minola Street.  This was carried by all ayes.

 

ADJOURNMENT

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

 

 

 

 

____________________________MAYOR

         Keith W. Clarke

 

____________________________ATTEST

          Alice B. Talbert