May 8, 2007

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 7:30 pm on May 8, 2007 with the following present:

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council Members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Harry S. Holman, 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; Code Enforcement Officer, Scott Kelly; Fire Chief, Joel Dodson; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; citizens and the press.

 

Absent: Council members: Wilbur Hardy and Grady Martin

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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

 

PUBLIC HEARING  PROPOSED BUDGET FY07/08

As this time had been advertised for a Public Hearing on the proposed budget for FY07/08, Mayor Clarke declared the Hearing open. As no one asked to speak on the proposed budget, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to close the Public Hearing. This carried by all ayes.

 

ARTISAN CENTER PRESENTATION

Mayor Clarke welcomed Sandra Tanner of Virginia Tourism Corporation. Ms. Tanner gave a presentation on tourism. She stated that Brunswick has 7 of the 10 drivers needed to get people to visit the County. Brunswick has lakes, history, Main Street, Bed & Breakfasts, trails, Brunswick Stew and antiques. Ms. Tanner stated that the proposed plan for an Artisan Center and Trailhead at the old primary school would be central in bring tourism to Brunswick. She gave a list of potential funding sources and explained the steps needed in applying for funds. She stated that she looked forward to working with Council on this project and also with the Rails to Trails Project. She said that she was very proud of the work that has been done and that Mr. Dean had been there all the way. Mayor Clarke thanked Ms. Tanner for coming.

 

RESOLUTION FOR THE ASSIGNMENT OF CABLE FRANCHISE

Mr. Outten stated that copies of a Resolution for The Assignment of the Cable Franchise were given to Council. Mr. Outten stated this was a standard resolution to transfer from one cable company to another. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to approve the Resolution as presented. This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and the motion carried with the following voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

Mr. Outten stated that there would be a need for Closed Session for two legal matters.

 

TOWN MANAGER REPORTS

Mr. Dean reported that the Saint Pauls sewer replacement project is on time and on budget.

 

Mr. Dean stated that copies of the Goodrich/Davenport Rehabilitation Project Program Income Plan was in the packets and would need to be approved before the project is complete. This plan will be a 0% interest loan repayment over a 10-year period. If a property that was involved in rehabilitation is sold within this time the amount used will be paid back and this income received after the project is closed out will be used for improvements in the project area. Following a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to approve the Goodrich Davenport Rehabilitation Project #02-21 Program Income Plan as presented. This carried by all ayes.

 

RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR TOBACCO INDEMNIFICATION FUNDS

Mr. Dean stated that Southside Planning District had asked for a Resolution from the Town to apply for Tobacco Indemnification funds. Mr. Dean asked that the funds be used for the storm water run off problem at Saint Pauls. Saint Pauls College has asked to work with the Town on this project. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Holman to adopt the Resolution to apply for a Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Economic Development Grant to be used for storm water run off at Saint Pauls College as presented. This motion carried by all ayes.

 

Information on the East Coast Greenway and the Tobacco Heritage Trail was included in the packets for Council information.

 

Copies of the Federal Register for April concerning Norfolk Southern Railways abandonment of the line in Brunswick County was in the packets. Mr. Dean reported that Roanoke Rail to Trails is trying to purchase the property.

 

AUTHORIZATION TO ADVERTISE

Copies of a new Sewer Use Ordinance were given to Council. Mr. Dean reported that our sewer ordinance would need to be updated due to a request from the EPA since the work at Saint Pauls College was funded by EPA funds. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to authorize the advertisement for a Public Hearing for the June meeting for the proposed Sewer Ordinance. This carried by all ayes.

 

Mr. Dean stated that it was time to apply for the next phase of the Downtown Revitalization Grant. There would be no out of pocket expenses at this time. The Rotary Club has agreed to pay to have the brick cross walk installed. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to authorize Mr. Dean to continue with the grant application. This was seconded by Mrs. Bland and carried by all ayes.

 

TENTATIVE ADOPTION OF BUDGET

Mr. Pecht made a motion to tentatively adopt the budget for FY07/08 as presented. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by the following aye vote: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

There was no fire report for the May meeting.

 

The police report was in the packets.

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that the presentation on possible use of the old primary school was excellent.

 

CODE ENFORCEMENT REPORT

Scott Kelly stated that he had been out of town the last 4  8 weeks and there had not been a lot of activity in way of code enforcement. He stated that some owners of property on High Street had started working to restore homes and he was very proud of the citizens.

 

JAZZ FESTIVAL APPROVAL

Mr. Pecht reported that the County had approved the request to hold a Jazz Festival at the airport September 1-3 2007. He stated that the Airport Commission had not met as yet on this matter. After a discussion, Mr. Pecht made a motion to approve the Jazz Festival subject to the same conditions applied to other activities held at the airport, (insurance and clean up). This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, BEST IN PRINT 2006

At this time, Mayor Clarke announced he had a presentation to make to Mr. Dean. Last year Mr. Dean and Mary Lucy with the Chamber had worked on a pocket map to give out at Bike Virginia. Mr. Dean had designed the map and the Chamber paid to have them printed. Mayor Clarke presented Mr. Dean with an Award of Excellence, Best in Print 2006.

 

Mr. Dean stated that on May 30-31, 2006, a conference is being held in Roanoke on Downtown Revitalization and economic development. Mr. Dean asked Council members to attend if possible. Council was asked to call the town office if interested in attending.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to pay the bills presented in the amount of $45,679.39 and charge to the proper accounts. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

Chief Pond reported there had only been one minor accident at Brunswick Square since the boundary line adjustment. This ended a string of 117 days without an accident.

 

CLOSED SESSION

Mr. Pecht made a motion to enter into a closed meeting pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended for the purpose of discussing 2 legal matters. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried with the following roll call vote: aye, Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Pecht and Sanderson. nay, none. Absent: Hardy and Martin

 

CONVENE IN OPEN SESSION

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht that the closed meeting be adjourned and the Lawrenceville Town Council convenes again in open session. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.

 

CERTIFICATION

Mr. Pecht made the following certification motion: BE IT RESOLVED, to the best of my knowledge (i) only public business matters exempted from open meeting requirement, under Section 2.2-3711 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. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by the following roll call vote. Aye: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Pecht and Sanderson. Nay: 0; absent: Hardy and Martin

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Pecht, seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

 

 

_________________________MAYOR

 

 

 

_______________________________ATTEST