Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the
Lawrenceville Town Council to order on
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 Manager, C. J. Dean; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Police Chief, Douglas R. Pond; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; citizens and the press.
Absent: Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson and seconded by Mrs. Jones to approve the minutes as received, suspend the reading and file. This motion carried with all ayes.
PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED BUDGET
As this time had been advertised for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget, Mayor Clarke declared the hearing open for citizen input. As no one asked to speak, a motion to close the public hearing was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Brockwell. This carried by all ayes.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN REVISED DRAFT
Mr. Dean gave out the revised draft executive summary and revised draft chapter pages for the Comprehensive Plan. Mr. Dean asked Council members to replace the previous executive summary and replace the applicable pages in chapters of the main report. After a discussion, a motion to advertise for a Joint Public Hearing with the Planning Commission to be held on June 10th was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Martin. This carried by all ayes.
ENTERPRISE ZONE STUDY
Mr. Dean stated that the IDA and the County had paid VCU to study the Enterprise Zone and that copies of their report were available for review.
TOWN ACCEPTED AS DHCD COMMERCIAL DISTRICT AFFILIATE
Mr. Dean reported that the Town of Lawrenceville has been accepted as a DHCD Commercial District Affiliate in the Virginia Main Street program. Mr. Dean and Mrs. Ashleigh Zincone of Southside Planning, had participated in the statewide quarterly training presented by the Virginia Main Street program in Orange, Virginia on April 30. Mr. Dean asked to meet with Mrs. Sanderson and Mr. Brockwell after Council.
TOUR OF SOUTH BOSTON
Mrs. Sanderson reported that she, Mr. Dean and Mr. Brockwell, along with representatives from Saint Paul’s, Score, Brunswick Chamber, County Zoning, DHCD and the private prison toured South Boston to get an idea on what can be done to downtown. Several buildings had been removed to give an open space, sidewalks and lights, which Lawrenceville had already done, had been replaced and updated. Events in the park were held regularly. Mr. Dean was thanked for putting this tour together.
SURVEY ON MARKET STUDY AND IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Mr. Dean stated that VCU would be sending out a survey as part of a Market Study and Improvement Plan for Downtown Lawrenceville. After the surveys are compiled, sessions will be held to go over the results and see what is needed and what can be done.
OLD WATER TANK REMOVED
Mr. Dean reported that the water tank on Sharpe Street has been taken down. A building on Cattail Drive had been demolished by the owner and two houses on High Street have been removed by Grant funds.
ALBERTA WATER
A copy of a letter Mr. Dean had sent to Alberta was in the packet along with a letter from Alberta. Mr. Dean and the water/wastewater committee plan to meet with Alberta water committee soon.
An engineering proposal from B & B Consultants concerning the use of the wastewater treatment plant’s effluent was in the packets.
Mr. Dean stated that he had copies of the 2007 Virginia Outdoors Plan for review if anyone was interested.
PROPOSED WATER RATE INCREASE ADVERTISED
Mr. Pecht stated that an anticipated water rate increase was in the proposed budget. Council was given a chart of water rates for Lawrenceville, Clarksville, Alberta, Brodnax, LaCrosse, South Hill, Emporia, Greensville, Blackstone, Kenbridge, Victoria, Chase City and Boydton. Lawrenceville is still the lowest. The proposed rate would be the first 4,000 gallons $20.00, each additional 1,000 at $3.00 per thousand in town. Out of town rate would be first 4,000 gallons $35.00, each additional 1,000 at $5.25 per thousand. This new rate would still keep us lower than other towns. The increase in testing, cost of chemicals and electricity are reasons for the increase. Mr. Pecht also pointed out that it has been 2 years since the last increase. A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to advertise for a Public Hearing on the proposed rate increase at the June meeting. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.
Mr. Pecht made a motion to change the bulk rate from $5.00 per thousand to $5.25 per thousand and to advertise for a Public Hearing on the rate change at the June meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
TENTATIVE ADOPTION OF PROPOSED BUDGET
Mr. Pecht made a motion to tentatively adopt the Proposed Budget for FY08/09 for formal adoption at the June meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
APPROVAL OF FIRE CHIEF
Mr. Holman reported that Fire Chief Joel Dodson had resigned and the department had elected Bryant Rifkind as Chief and Robert Peebles to Deputy Chief.. Mr. Holman made a motion to approve the above positions as stated. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE TO MEET WITH IDA
Mrs. Sanderson reported that a letter from the Economic Development Committee had been sent to the County and IDA and they want to set up a meeting. The dates of May 20 or May 22 at 5:30 p.m. had been suggested. Mrs. Sanderson, Mr. Brockwell and Mr. Dean will decide on the date and attend.
THANK YOU NOTE FROM ROTARY CLUB
Mrs. Talbert read a thank you note from Ray Thomas, President of the Lawrenceville Rotary Club for the town’s help with the Brickyard 5 Miler and for the effort to enhance and beautify the downtown area with projects like the brick crosswalk.
APPROVAL OF BILLS
A motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson to pay the bills as presented in the amount of $80,023.01 and charge to the proper funds. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Jones, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.
CLOSED SESSION
Mr. Pecht made the following motion: “Mr. Mayor, I move the Lawrenceville Town Council 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 contractual matters.” Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Jones, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.
RETURN TO OPEN SESSION
After a discussion, Mr. Pecht made the following motion: “ Mr. Mayor, I move the closed meeting be adjourned and the Lawrenceville Town Council convene again in open session.” This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
CERTIFICATION
Mr. Pecht made the following certification: “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, Holman, Jones, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.
COUNCIL REELECTION
Mayor Clarke congratulated Mr. Pecht, Mr. Martin, Mrs. Bland and Mrs. Jones on their reelection to Council.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before Council, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to adjourn, this carried by all ayes.
______________________MAYOR
______________________CLERK