June
10, 2008
The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council
was called to order on June 10, 2008, at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Keith W. Clarke.
Roll was called with the following present: Mayor Keith
W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell,
Jr., Harry S. Holman, Vanessa Y. Jones, Scott E. Martin, Robert F. Pecht, III, and Esther B. Sanderson; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Lawrenceville
Planning Commission members: Cindy Pecht, Michael
Redman and William Samford; Administrative Assistant,
Wanda Johnson; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert, citizens and the press.
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell
to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, suspend the reading and file.
This motion was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
As this time had been advertised for a Joint Public
Hearing with the Lawrenceville Planning Commission to receive citizen comment
on the proposed Comprehensive Plan, Mayor Clarke declared the Hearing open. Mr.
Dean stated that the State requires us to update our Comprehensive Plan every 5
years. Mr. Bill Turner of CPC prepared the proposed Comprehensive Plan, thanked Council and everyone for all their help during
the past 18 months. Mr. Turner spoke and
gave a brief overview of the purpose of the Plan. Mr. Turner stated that the
Plan could be amended at times other than every 5 years. The Plan is a directional document for the
town to use. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Jones to close the Joint
Public Hearing. This motion carried by all ayes.
Mr. Dean, Mrs. Bland and the Planning Commission left to
discuss the Comprehensive Plan.
Leorie Mallory asked
to speak to Council concerning high grass in town. Ms. Mallory stated that she was concerned
with grass on property next to her and the fact it had to be a certain height
before notice was sent to the landowners and then the owner has 10 days before
the Town can cut the grass and bill the owner.
Ms. Mallory asked if this had to happen each time. She said that the high grass leads to snakes. Mayor Clarke stated that we may only have to
notify the owner once but that Council would check with Mr. Dean on this
matter.
Mr. Holman reported that the fire report was before
Council. 23 calls were made in the month with approximately 64.75 man-hours
expended.
Mrs. Sanderson reported that the Town Development
Committee had met with Ashleigh Zincone of Southside
Planning and she had given an overview of what is coming up in the next 6
months. Surveys were sent out and VCU
will be compiling the information received.
The Committee is also working on a trip to visit Staunton in the near
future to see what they have been able to do with their downtown area. Mr. Brockwell
stated that the Comprehensive Plan will be helpful in getting Grants for our
downtown project.
The Lawrenceville Planning Commission came back with a
recommendation for Council on the proposed Comprehensive Plan. The following motion made by Mr. Redman was
read, “ I move that the Lawrenceville Planning
Commission recommend adoption of the 2007 Town of Lawrenceville Comprehensive
Plan Update by the Lawrenceville Town Council.” Mrs. Pecht seconded this motion and voting aye were the
following: Bland, Pecht, Redman and Samford.
After hearing the recommendation, a motion was made by
Mr. Brockwell to adopt the recommendation of the
Planning Commission and adopt the 2007 Comprehensive Plan. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and
voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Jones, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.
Mr. Turner thanked Council and the Commission. A PDF of the Executive Summary will be
provided and the Plan will be put on our web site.
Pamela Simmons asked to speak to Council concerning
zoning and building regulations for Churches.
Ms. Simmons stated that she and her husband are pastors of Temple of
Glory. She stated that Mr. Dean and Mr.
Tucker had assisted them very well in getting the required permits needed to
open their church. She stated that she
knew of concerns and was aware that religious use does not bring in revenue,
but state “don’t count us out, count us in.”
Ms. Simmons stated that they want to be a part of the town’s vision and
be a partner with the town and county.
She thanked Council and expressed gratitude to Mr. Dean and Mr. Tucker
for their help. Mayor Clarke thanked Ms.
Simmons.
As 8 o’clock had been advertised for a Public Hearing on
the proposed water rate increase, Mayor Clarke declared the Hearing open. Mr. Dean stated that the new rates would
change the system from a sliding scale to a fairer 2-step process. Council was
given copies of the proposed rates as advertised in the notice for the Public
Hearing. As no citizens asked to speak
on the proposed rates, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell
to close the Public Hearing. This was
seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell
to adopt the water rates as presented.
This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried by
the following aye vote: Bland, Brockwell, Holman,
Jones, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.
A motion was made by Mr. Pecht
to formally adopt the budget for FY08/09.
This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and
carried by the following aye vote: Bland, Brockwell,
Holman, Jones, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.
Mr. Pecht stated that the
financial statement for the current year was in the packets.
Mr. Dean stated that the survey for the Downtown Project
had been sent out to approximately 900 and about 200 had been returned. These
had been picked up by the VCU team and interviews with businesses had started
and at least 25 - 50 students from Saint Paul’s would be interviewed
tomorrow. A kick off will be held
probably in September and a Block Grant will be applied for in March 2009.
Mr. Dean stated that a copy of an Architect/Engineer
Contractual Agreement was in the packet.
Three companies were interviewed and LPDA ( Land
Planning & Design Associates) was selected.
After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell
and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to authorize Mr. Dean to sign the contract with
corrections as discussed. This carried
by all ayes.
A letter from Brunswick Lake Gaston Tourism had been
received asking that the Town waive the fees for sign permits to install
signage for Fort Christanna. Six signs
would be put up within the Town limits.
After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell
to waive the fees for the signage with VDOT approval. This was seconded by Mr. Holman and carried
by all ayes.
Mr. Dean had met with Peggy Overstreet of Leisure Publishing concerning advertising in the Lake Country
Magazine. The cost of the co-op
advertisement would be $385, the same as last year. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell
to approve the advertisement at the same level as in the past. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried
by all ayes.
Mr. Pecht asked that a meeting
be set up with the College/Community Liaison Committee and Dr. Satcher of Saint Paul’s.
Mrs. Talbert read a thank you note from the Brunswick
Garden Club thanking the Town for the water faucet located in the cemetery.
Information on the 2008 VML Conference to be held Oct. 19-21
was in the packets.
Mrs. Talbert reminded everyone of the upcoming Relay for
Life to be held June 27 at the Brunswick High School and asked all to attend.
Mrs. Talbert stated that a new web site has been set up
for the cemeteries and the site is www.brunswickcemeteries.org
A motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to pay the bills in the amount of $76,744.52 as
presented and charge to the proper funds.
This carried by all ayes.
Mayor Clarke stated that this was the time for
appointments of Clerk, Attorney and Manager.
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and
seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to appoint Alice B. Talbert as Clerk/Treasurer for
the period 7/1/08 – 6/30/10. This motion
carried by all ayes.
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell
and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to appoint W. Curtis Outten
as Town Attorney for the period 7/1/08 – 6/30/09. This motion carried by all ayes.
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell
and seconded by Mr. Pecht to appoint Carl J. Dean as
Town Manager for the period 7/1/08 – 6/30/09. This carried by all ayes.
There being no further business to come before Council,
a motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Pecht and
seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.
KEITH W. CLARKE, MAYOR
ALICE B. TALBERT, CLERK