May 12, 2009
Mayor Douglas R. Pond called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. on May 12, 2009.
Roll was called with the following present: Mayor Douglas R. Pond; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Dora D. Hardy; Scott E. Martin, Robert F. Pecht, III and Esther B. Sanderson; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; citizens and the press.
Absent: Council member Harry S. Holman.
PUBLIC HEARING – PROPOSED BUDGET FY09/10
As this time had been properly advertised for a Public Hearing on the proposed budget for FY09/10, Mayor Pond declared the Hearing open. No citizens asked to speak on the proposed budget. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to close the Public Hearing; this was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried by all ayes.
PUBLIC HEARING – FLOOD PLAN ORDINANCE
Proposed changes to the Flood Plan Ordinance had been properly advertised for a Public Hearing, Mayor Pond declared the Hearing open. Mayor Pond explained that the changes were required by FEMA and had been reviewed by the Town Attorney. As no citizens asked to speak on the proposed changes, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to close the Public Hearing. This motion was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
ADOPTION OF FLOOD PLAN ORDINANCE
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to adopt the Flood Plan Ordinance. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by the following roll call vote: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson aye. Holman, absent.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, suspend the reading and file. This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried by all ayes.
WELCOME NEW COUNCIL MEMBER
Mayor Pond welcomed the new Council member, Dora D. Hardy. Ms. Hardy is a native of Lawrenceville and lives on Railroad Street. She is a graduate of Brunswick High School and SVCC. Ms. Hardy works for Greensville Correctional Center. Mayor Pond stated that she would be on the same committees her father Wilbur Hardy had served on. Mayor Pond also recognized Mrs. Wilbur Hardy who was present.
MAYOR’S REPORT
Mayor Pond stated that he had been talking with representatives from the YMCA in Emporia and they are interested in coming to Lawrenceville. He stated that he would be meeting with someone from the YMCA next week to look at the old dance studio on Sharpe Street. Mayor Pond will write a letter of support from the Council to the Chairman of the Board of the YMCA.
NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY LEASE AGREEMENT
Mr. Outten reported that a lease agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway had been received. The lease is for one year with a 30-day notice to cancel. The cost of the lease is $2500. Mr. Dean stated that the lease is necessary for the Roanoke River Rails to Trails as a trailhead with access to the trails. This would help to bring tourists into the Town with the Rails to Trails project.
APPROVAL TO ADVERTISE PUBLIC HEARING-POLLING PLACE MOVE
Mr. Outten stated that after the last Presidential election there was concern with the Lawrenceville polling place. The Board of Supervisors had adopted an ordinance to be approved by the U. S. Justice Department to relocate the polling place from the basement of the County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at 216 Main Street to the John E. Thomasson Student Center at 100 Athletic Field Drive. The Board had requested that the Town advertise for a Public Hearing to change the polling place. After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Pecht to authorize the Town Attorney to advertise for a Public Hearing for the June meeting on the requested change of polling place for Precinct 501. This was seconded by Mrs. Bland and carried by all ayes.
APPROVAL OF LEASE AGREEMENT WITH NORFOLK SOUTHERN
A motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson to approve the lease agreement from Norfolk Southern Railway. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes. The lease will start June 1, 2009 and the cost of $2,500 can be used as in-kind for the Town with the Rails to Trails project.
RAILS TO TRAILS UPDATE
Mr. Dean stated that in the packet were a construction schedule and balance sheet for the Rails to Trails project. Construction is to start May 21st and be completed November 15th. A $6 million grant had been awarded to complete the trail from Lawrenceville to La Crosse with a completion date of 2012.
APPROVAL OF BID ON VEHICLE
Mr. Dean reported that bids for a new vehicle had been presented at the last meeting and after reviewing with Mr. Outten; the bid for Vehicle #2 should be awarded to Boyd Honda, the low bidder. Vehicle # 1 was awarded at the April meeting. A motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to award the bid for Vehicle #2 to Boyd Honda, This motion carried by all ayes.
Information on a workshop by Virginia Downtown Development Association was in the packets. Mr. Dean stated that this would provide excellent training and will be held May 27-May 28 in Harrisonburg and he strongly encouraged everyone to attend. Mayor Pond and Mr. Dean will be attending.
TASTE OF BRUNSWICK FESTIVAL AD
Also in the packets was an application for the Taste of Brunswick Festival ad book. Mr. Dean handed out a copy of a proposed advertisement to be used. Mayor Pond will have a table at the Festival on October 11th. After a discussion, a motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson to buy a full-page ad and use the proposed advertisement with a change in the racetrack statement. This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT GRANTS
Mr. Dean also handed out a draft copy of grants from the Health Department that Council supported at the April meeting. The Town of Lawrenceville is #5 out of 255 applications to receive a 100% principal forgiveness grant in the amount of $715,000 for the Water Treatment Plant Upgrades. Mayor Pond thanked Council for approving the Resolution and thanked Mr. Dean on his work in completing the grant application.
Mr. Dean stated that he would like to apply for the T21 funding in November for gateway signage.
TENTATIVE APPROVAL OF BUDGET
Mr. Pecht stated that as the Public Hearing on the proposed budget had been held, Council could tentatively approve the budget with formal adoption at the June meeting. Mr. Pecht stated that the budget has no water or tax increases and can be amended at any time. Mr. Pecht made a motion to tentatively adopt the budget as presented for FY09/10. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
The fire report for April was handed out.
POLICE DEPT ACCREDITATION
Mayor Pond stated that Chief Gibson was embarking on a project to get the police department accredited. Chief Gibson reported that he was working on Virginia’s Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. Chief Gibson stated that program increases the effectiveness of the department, promotes cooperation and coordination among the officers and makes the department more professional and more accountable. Chief Gibson was in on the ground floor with the County Sheriff’s Department accreditation and understands the requirements. There are 180 standards required to be met or waived. The Town would have to meet 168 of these and would be able to adopt the balance from the County Sheriff’s Department. The process entails four phases and would be lengthy and could take a couple years to complete. The cost is $45.00 for the application to get into the program. Chief Gibson stated that if accredited, we would be the smallest police department in Virginia to obtain this status. This process would also open doors to Federal grants. Mayor Pond commended Chief Gibson for his efforts and encouraged the department to continue.
SHERIFF’S DEPARMENT ASSISTANCE WITH RADIOS
Chief Gibson stated that the Sheriff’s Department had included the Town in their grant to change over to narrow band channels. The Sheriff’s Department outfitted two of the Town cars for $3,000 with no cost to the town. Chief Gibson asked that a letter be sent thanking Sheriff Roberts. Mayor Pond stated that he would send a letter.
Council committee sheets and Council address and phone numbers were in the packets.
Council was reminded of the Beef and Dairy Festive to be held at the airport on Wednesday, May 13th.
Mrs. Talbert reminded Council of the Relay for Life to be held on June 19 –20 and asked everyone to come.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF BILLS
Mr. Pecht made a motion to pay the bills as presented and charge to the proper funds. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.
CLOSED MEETING – PROPERTY ACQUISITION
Mr. Pecht made a motion that 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 property acquisition. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried with the following roll call vote: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson voting aye. Holman, absent.
CONVENE AGAIN IN OPEN SESSION
After a discussion, Mr. Brockwell made a motion the closed meeting be adjourned and the Lawrenceville Town Council convene again in open session. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson 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 Mr. Martin and carried by the following roll call vote: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson voting aye. Holman, absent.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before Council, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Pecht to adjourn. This carried by all ayes.
Douglas R. Pond, Mayor
Alice B. Talbert, Clerk