November 13, 2007

The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council was called to order on November 13, 2007, by Mayor Keith W. Clarke with the following present:

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, Harry S. Holman and Esther B. Sanderson; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Police Chief, Douglas R. Pond; Fire Chief Joel Dodson; Town Clerk, Alice Talbert and the press.

 

Absent:  Council members, J. Grady Martin and Robert F. Pecht, III and Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson.

 

Roll was called.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to approve the minutes of the previous meetings, suspend the readings and file.  This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

 

ITEMS ADDED TO AGENDA

Two items were added to the agenda; 1) approval of a Christmas bonus for employees was added to the Finance Report. 2) a need for a brief closed session to discuss a pending contract was added to the agenda.

 

There were no citizens asking to speak before Council.

 

HIGH STREET PROJECT UPDATE

Mr. Dean gave an update on the High Street Project.  He stated that there are still problems with Saint Paul’s on the property they own and the State is ready to close the Project.  Mr. Dean asked for help in trying to get the problems resolved and getting the State to extend the Project so improvements can still be made.  Mayor Clarke asked that the Town Development Committee meet with Mr. Dean on this.

 

BROADBAND

Mr. Dean reported that Telpage in Emporia had been awarded the contract for broadband in Lawrenceville and is on schedule to be on line the first part of the year.

 

GENERATOR MAINTENANCE

Mr. Dean reported that two bids for the maintenance of the three generators the town owns had been received. Fidelity Engineering presented a contract for $1994.00 annual. Carter Caterpillar bid was $1,825.00 annual.  Copies of the proposals were in the packets.  Mr. Dean recommended accepting the lower bid and awarding the contract to Carter Caterpillar.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to accept the lower bid for maintenance of the generators as presented and award to Carter Caterpillar.  This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

 

TTHM

A letter from the Department of Health had been received stating that our annual average of water samples for four consecutive quarters was 0.085 mg/L. This has to be 0.080 mg/L or less.  Letters concerning the TTHM levels will be sent out to water customers before November 23rd.

 

VIRGINIA MAIN STREET RESOLUTION

Mr. Dean stated the Town would need to adopt a resolution to participate in the DHCD Commercial District Affiliate Program, which is a part of Virginia Main Street.  This membership is required for the downtown revitalization grant being applied for.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to adopt the Resolution as presented.  This was carried by all ayes.

 

 

VA WATER AND WASTEWATER RATE REPORT

The 19th Annual Virginia Water and Wastewater Rate Report 2007 was given to members of Council.  Mr. Dean reported that our rates are very good.  Mr. Dean reported that the report also listed workforce issues concerning age and number of years before retirement of plant operators and that this is something the Town needs to be looking at.

 

TOBACCO HERITAGE TRAIL MEETING

Mr. Dean reported that a Tobacco Heritage Trail meeting will be held on November 27th at 7:00 pm at SVCC Workforce Center. Mr. Dean stated it is very important to attend as there are some in the County that do not want the Rails to Trails to continue and we need everyone to attend to show support for the Rails to Trails.

 

Mr. Dean reported that he would be attending a Government Housing Conference in Roanoke for three days.

 

The Financial Statement was in the packets.

 

APPROVAL OF CHRISTMAS BONUSES

Mrs. Sanderson made a motion to approve Christmas bonuses for employees in the amounts of $100 for full time and $25.00 for part time.  Mrs. Sanderson stated that we have 24 full time and 2 part time employees making a total to be paid of $2450.00.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

FIRE REPORT

Mrs. Bland reported that the fire department had responded to 45 calls in the month of October with 5 within the town limits and 40 out of town and 3 being for mutual aid.  Mrs. Bland gave the following breakdown: EMS- 15; Disregard- 10; MVA- 8; Structure fire- 3; Brush fire- 2; Smoke scare- 2; Car fire- 1; Mulch fire- 1; Unfounded- 1; Lz set up- 1.

 

APPROVAL OF FIRE DEPT OFFICERS FOR 2008

Mrs. Bland stated that this was the time to approve the elected officers for the fire department for 2008. The officers are:

Chief                           Joel Dodson

Deputy Chief Bryant Rifkind

Asst. Chief                  Charles Hall

Captain                        Brad Morefield

Lieutenant (Fire)         Josh Griffin

Lieutenant (EMS)       Jeff Richardson

President                     James Wesson

Vice President             Kevin Pair

Secretary                     Griffin Alexander

Treasurer                     Chad Whitlow

 

Mrs. Bland made a motion to approve the officers as elected by the Fire  Department.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

Mr. Brockwell noted that the Chief Dodson was in attendance and he wanted the fire department to know that it was being recognized what an excellent job they are doing.

 

POLICE REPORT

Mr. Hardy stated that the police report was in the packets.  Mr. Hardy reported that Officer Moody completed 16 hours of in-service training during October.  Assistant Chief Newcomb was presented the Outstanding Officer award by Southside VASAP in DUI detection and enforcement on October 25.  Mr. Hardy also stated that Chief Pond had reviewed with the banks in town on their security after the robbery in Alberta.

 

FIRE DEPARTMENT GENERATOR UPDATE

Mr. Brockwell stated that the town is still looking into a generator for the fire department.

 

RAILROAD STREET PROJECT

Mr. Hardy reported that the new water line on Railroad Street is almost complete.  He was looking forward to better water pressure and no leaks like last winter when this is complete.

 

Mayor Clarke reported that Mr. Pecht and Mr. Martin had been in contact with Saint Paul’s College in regard to concerns from students at our last meeting.

 

Mr. Brockwell again asked Council members to please attend the November 27 at SVCC.

 

Mrs. Talbert stated that Relay for Life is selling Poinsettia and council members were given order forms if they would like to purchase one.

 

An invitation for a Christmas Dinner to be held at Brodnax on December 6th was in the packets.  Council was asked to either contact Mrs. Talbert or call the Town of Brodnax if they plan to attend.

 

CHRISTMAS PARADE REQUEST

Mrs. Talbert stated that the Christmas Parade was set for December 7th at 7 p.m. and asked that Council approve funds not to exceed $500 to help with the cost of bands.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to approve the request for funds not to exceed $500.  This was carried by all ayes.

 

Mrs. Talbert also reported that the Annual Santa Breakfast will be held at Elm Acres on December 8th from 8:30 am until 10 am.

 

APPROVAL OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to pay the bills as presented in the amount of  $110,009.13 and charge to the proper funds. This motion carried by all ayes.

 

LETTER OF RESIGNATION

Mayor Clarke reported that he had received a letter of resignation this week from Councilman Martin.  Mayor Clarke read the letter.  Mr. Martin stated that by December 1, 2007, he would no longer live in the town limits.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to accept with regret Mr. Martin’s resignation effective December 1, 2007.  This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

Mayor Clarke stated that Mr. Martin has brought a great deal to the table and will be missed. Mayor Clarke stated that he wished we could have had him on board earlier.

 

Mayor Clarke stated that the process to fill Mr. Martin’s term that expires August 31, 2008 will begin.  Council has 45 days from December 1st  to fill the vacancy.  Remaining members of District 2 will meet and interview anyone interested and come back to the January meeting with a recommendation to be approved by all of Council.

 

CLOSED SESSION

Mr. Brockwell 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 a pending contract.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Hardy and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman and Sanderson.

 

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

After a discussion on a pending contract, a motion to adjourn the closed meeting and convene again in open session was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy. Voting aye:  Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman and Sanderson.

 

CERTIFICATION

The following certification was made by Mr. Brockwell: “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 Mrs. Sanderson and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman and Sanderson.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before Council, a motion to adjourn was made by Mrs. Bland and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson.

 

 

 

Keith W. Clarke, Mayor

 

Alice B. Talbert, Clerk