April 10, 2007

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order on April 10, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. with the following present:

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, Harry S. Holman, J. Grady Martin, Robert F. Pecht, III and Esther B. Sanderson; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Chief of Police, Douglas R. Pond; Adm. Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Lawrenceville Planning Commission members: Cynthia Pecht, Cheryl Robertson and William Samford; Danny Heath and Billy Martin of Jet Broadband; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; citizens and the press.

 

Roll was called.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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

 

PUBLIC HEARING ON MEALS TAX

As this time had been advertised for three Public Hearings, Mayor Clarke stated that each would be opened separately.

 

Mayor Clarke declared the Public Hearing on the Proposed Meals Tax Ordinance opened for comment. As no citizens asked to speak, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to close the Hearing. This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

 

PUBLIC HEARING ON LODGING TAX

Mayor Clarke declared the Public Hearing on the Proposed Lodging Tax Ordinance opened for comment. As no citizens asked to speak, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to close the Hearing. This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

 

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING - ZONING

Mayor Clarke stated that the third was a Joint Public Hearing with the Lawrenceville Planning Commission on the Proposed Zoning of the new Town Limits area. As members of the Commission were present, the Joint Public Hearing was declared open for citizen comment. Leon Williams of Lawrenceville Brick Inc. stated that he had talked with Mr. Dean concerning the proposed zoning and was concerned that all the area would not be zoned Business General. He also expressed concern that he felt the zoning map did not appear accurate to the real estate plat. Mr. Outten explained that this was not a plat and did not show ownership of the property. After a discussion, Mr. Williams asked that the entire area be zoned Business General. As no other citizens asked to speak, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to close the Joint Public Hearing. This carried by all ayes.

 

The Planning Commission left to discuss the zoning matter and make a recommendation.

 

JETBROADBAND

Mayor Clarke introduced Danny Heath of JetBroadband, the new cable company for the town. Mr. Heath introduced Billy Martin also of Jet Broadband. Mr. Heath stated that JetBroadband is in the process of acquiring the cable franchise for Lawrenceville. At present Crewe and Blackstone have been acquired by JetBroadband. Mr. Heath stated that the office is in Rustburg, Virginia and once the system is set up all service calls will be answered by a live person within 2 minutes. Mayor Clarke stated that he had requested a cell number that he can use to get in touch with Mr. Heath and has been promised he will get one. Mr. Heath also stated that the response time is within 24 hours of receiving a service call and that additional staff and vehicles would be added before the change over is made. JetBroadband offers cable TV, digital cable and high speed Internet and are working to expand the availability of their high speed Internet. Mr. Heath answered questions by Council members on services offered and the possibility of getting the Comcast sport channel. Mayor Clarke stated that a Resolution to Acquire the Franchise had been received from JetBroadband and would be on the agenda for the May meeting. Mayor Clarke thanked Mr. Heath and Mr. Martin for coming.

 

BUSINESS GENERAL ZONING

The Planning Commission returned and Mrs. Bland stated that the Commission recommended that the entire area be zoned Business General. Mayor Clarke thanked the Commission and reminded Council that they could accept the recommendation, deny the recommendation or table until a later date. A motion was made by Mrs. Bland to accept the recommendation and zone the entire new boundary area as Business General. This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Voting nay: none.

 

TOWN MANAGER REPORTS

Mr. Dean stated that the Saint Pauls Sewer Replacement Project is in the last 30 days of replacement.

 

A Resolution for Water Supply Plan was in the packets. After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to adopt the Resolution as presented. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Voting nay: none.

 

Mr. Dean reminded everyone of the Town Clean Up Week going on this week.

 

VDOT will be stripping pavement from Great Creek to Rose Creek and the town will be replacing old lines in this area. A date for this work has not yet been received.

 

Mr. Dean reminded everyone of the grass and abandoned vehicle ordinances and stated that notices will be sent out and enforced.

 

UPDATE ON PROPOSED BUDGET AND ADOPTION OF MEALS TAX ORDINANCE

Mr. Pecht stated that copies of the proposed 07/08 Budget were in the packets. Mr. Pecht stated that the adoption of the 5% meals tax; salary increase of 5%; no water or tax rate increases; additional revenue from business licenses, real estate and personal property tax from the new boundary line area and assistance to finance the BABB service were some of the assumptions used. After a discussion on the proposed budget, a motion was made by Mr. Pecht to adopt the Meals Tax Ordinance as presented at a rate of 5% to be effective July 1, 2007. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Voting nay: none.

 

APPROVAL OF LODGING TAX ORDINANCE

Mr. Pecht made a motion to adopt the Lodging Tax Ordinance as presented. Mr. Brockwell seconded this motion. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Voting nay: none.

APPROVAL TO ADVERTISE PROPOSED BUDGET

Mr. Pecht made a motion to advertise the Proposed 07/08 Budget for a Public Hearing at the May 8th meeting. Mr. Hardy seconded this motion. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Voting nay: none.

 

FIRE REPORT

Mrs. Bland reported that the fire department responded to 38 calls in March with 5 in town and 33 out of town. The following break down was given: MVA 8; disregard 7; EMS 6; structure fire 3; brush fire 3; L-z set up 3; shorting electrical equipment 2; alarm activation 2; smoke scare 1; gas spill 1; false call 1. Approximately 262.5 man-hours were expended.

 

APPROVAL OF 5% SALARY INCREASE AND INSURANCE COVERAGE

Mr. Martin reported that the Personnel Committee had met and recommended a 5% salary increase for town employees. Mr. Martin stated that the 07/08 rates for health insurance coverage for full time employees were going up $2.00. Mr. Martin made a motion to approve the payment of health coverage for full time employees at the rate of $426 per month. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by the following aye vote: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Voting nay: none.

 

POLICE REPORT

Mr. Hardy stated that the police report was in the packets. Chief Pond, Assistant Chief Newcomb, Officers Layton and Moody had all received in-service training credit in March.

 

SURPLUS EQUIPMENT

Mr. Brockwell reported that Mr. Dean was checking into putting town surplus equipment on the Internet. Mr. Brockwell also reported that three bids had been received on a purchase of a dump truck and the town had purchased one at the low bid and it is now in service. A list of equipment owned by the town was in the packets.

 

ARTISAN, VISITOR AND TRAILHEAD CENTER

Mr. Brockwell reported that he and Mrs. Bland had attended a meeting on the old primary school property. Mr. Brockwell stated that they were in favor of looking into using it as an Artisan, Visitor and Trailhead Center. Tourism has a slide presentation that can be shown at the May meeting. Mrs. Sanderson asked that the slide presentation be shown at the May meeting. After a discussion, Mr. Brockwell made a motion of support for the Artisan, Visitor and Trailhead Center. Mr. Brockwell stated that no money was involved in this motion. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Voting nay: none.

 

HLRA REQUEST

Mr. Brockwell stated that a request had been received from HLRA for permission to hold a Collectibles on Concrete event on May 26 and would like the Town to co-sponsor the event. Mr. Dean was asked to check with VML to see if our insurance would cover the event if we co-sponsor. Mr. Brockwell made a motion to co-sponsor the event. Mrs. Sanderson seconded the motion and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Voting nay: none.

 

Mr. Hardy reported that he had walked around Saint Pauls and looked at the sewer project and everything seems to be on target. Mr. Dean reported that Randy Spence had come back to work part time since his surgery.

 

The Water/Wastewater Committee was asked to meet after Council.

 

Mr. Pecht stated that the request for use of the airport for a Jazz Festival be held until after the County acts on the request.

 

Mrs. Talbert reminded everyone of the Spring Festival to be held April 21.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Hardy to pay the bills in the amount of $111,038.28 and charge to the proper accounts. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Voting nay: none.

 

ADJOURNMENT

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

 

 

 

Keith W. Clarke, Mayor

 

 

 

Alice B. Talbert, Clerk: ATTEST