November 10, 2009

 

The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council was called to order on November 10, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Douglas R. Pond.

 

Roll was called with the following present: Mayor Douglas R. Pond; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Dora D. Hardy, Harry S. Holman, Scott E. Martin, Robert F. Pecht, III and Esther B. Sanderson; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten; Chief of Police, Everette L. Gibson, Jr.; Police Officer, G. W. Zuban; Administrative Assistant Wanda Johnson; Rev. and Mrs. Robert Layton; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert and the press.

 

Absent:  C. J.  Dean, Town Manager

 

PUBLIC HEARING

As this time had been advertised for a Public Hearing on the Lawrenceville Downtown Enhancement Project, Mayor Pond declared the Hearing open.  Mayor Pond stated that the Town was asking that the Virginia Department of Transportation establish an enhancement project in the Town of Lawrenceville.  This project would link the town to the current TEA-21 Project, the Tobacco Heritage Trail.   Mayor Pond stated that the Town would be responsible for 20% of the total cost but that we may have already provided this.  As no one asked to speak on this matter, a motion was made by Mr. Martin to close the Public Hearing this was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried by all ayes.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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

 

RESOLUTION OF CONDOLENCES

Mayor Pond read a Resolution of Condolences over the passing of Officer Donnie R. Layton.   After reading the Resolution, Mayor Pond presented it to Officer Layton’s father, Rev. Robert Layton and a copy will be placed in the minutes of the November 10, 2009, meeting.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Hardy to adopt the Resolution for Officer Layton as presented.  This was carried by all ayes.

 

DOWNTOWN ENHANCEMENT PROJECT RESOLUTION

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to adopt the Resolution for the Downtown Enhancement Project and to authorize the Mayor to sign.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

RESOLUTION FOR WATER TREATMENT PLANT GRANT

Mr. Outten stated that the Town had received a grant in the amount of $715,000 for the Water Treatment Plant Chemical Building Upgrade and that Council would need to adopt the Resolution presented in the packets.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Holman to adopt the Resolution as presented.  This motion carried by the following voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

MAYOR’S REMARKS

Mayor Pond stated that he had been checking into possible funding for a sign to put in the front of the Municipal Building to be used for all events, special notices, etc.  Mayor Pond stated that this would cost approximately $10,000 and would try to have something at the next meeting concerning funding of this project.

 

Mayor Pond stated that he and Mr. Pecht had attended a meeting with the IDA concerning Economic Development and the first project is the Regional Jail.

 

Also, Mayor Pond has met with the lobbyist hired by the Town and County.

 

Mayor Pond stated that the Museum wanted to display the wooden water pipes.  After a discussion concerning the cost to preserving the pipes, Mr. Pecht asked the Mayor to check with the State to see if someone from the State could help at no cost.

 

Mayor Pond stated that there was still interference with the broadband service but that installation has started.

 

A copy of a letter was in the packet from the Mayor to Lake Gaston Tourism in support of a Route 46 Gateway to Lawrenceville.  The old Champion Building on Hwy 46 has been purchased and will be used for the Gateway.

 

A letter from Blackstone Area Bus System was in the packets along with a passenger count for the year.  A meeting will be held on December 1st at SVCC in Keysville for anyone interested in becoming a stakeholder.

 

ALBERTA WATER CONTRACT

Mr. Outten stated that he had met with Mr. Dean by phone and they were not ready to recommend to Council the water contract with the Town of Alberta.  A copy had been drafted and sent to Alberta, they changed some things.  The water committee has not seen the changes and Mr. Outten wants in writing the changes from Alberta.

 

Mayor Pond reported that Mr. Dean had 6 more weeks of no weight bearing.  Mr. Dean is working from home and welcomes calls.

 

AWARDING OF BID FOR UPGRADE AT WATER PLANT

Mayor Pond stated that bids for the Water Treatment Plant Chemical Building Upgrade had been received and approved by the engineers and we passed a Resolution and now Council needed to award the bid.  Mr. Pecht commended the staff on the grant and stressed the need to go ahead with awarding the bid.  Mr. Pecht made a motion to accept the low bid from Laughlin-Sutton Construction Company in the amount of $856,000.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

BRUNSWICK CORRECTIONAL CLOSING CUTS WATER REVENUE

Mr. Pecht asked Council to look at the chart in the packets concerning the water usage and bills for Brunswick Correctional Center for the months of August, September and October.  August usage was 3,502,900 with a bill of $36,794.  September was 3,546,000 the bill was $37,246 the October usage was only 828,800 with a bill of $8,716.  This was a $30,000 hit for one month.  Mr. Pecht stated that if the State does not repurpose the building and it stays empty, we will have to look at a utility rate increase.  Mr. Pecht said hopefully it will be a temporary gap and the building will be used and we will not have to increase rates.  The Finance Committee will be meeting.

 

Mr. Pecht also reported that the Audit will be coming out soon.

 

CHRISTMAS BONUS

Mr. Pecht stated that as the town employees did not receive raises this year, he made a motion to pay employees a Christmas bonus in the same amount as last year.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

MOTION TO DEMO HOUSE

Mayor Pond asked if it would be possible to take down the house on Plank Road that was tabled from last month’s meeting.  A quote of just under $5,000 had been received.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to demo the house at the quote received.  This carried by all ayes.

 

FIRE REPORT

Mr. Holman reported that the fire department had answered 37 calls in October with approximately 136 man-hours.  The report is in the packets.

 

OFFICERS FOR 2010

A list of the officers for 2010 was in the packets.  A motion was made by Mr. Holman to approve the officers for 2010 as presented.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.  This officers are:  Chief – Bryant Rifkind, Deputy Chief – Robert Peebles, Asst. Chief –Kevin Pair, Captain – Brad Morefield, Lt. Fire – Jeremy Ashworth, Lt. EMS – Jeff Richardson, President – James Wesson, Vice President – Shannon Rifkind, Secretary – Judith Mills, Treasurer – Chad Whitlow.

 

A motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson to allow Santa to ride on the fire truck during the parade.  This motion was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.

 

POLICE GRANT RECEIVED

Mrs. Bland stated that the police report was in the packets.  Chief Gibson reported that the department had received a DCJS JAG Byrnes Grant in the amount of $9,999 to be used for police equipment.

 

Mrs. Bland commended the Police Department and Sheriff’s Department and others on their participation at Officer Donnie Layton’s funeral.

 

RULES ON USE OF OLD FIREHOUSE

On the rules and regulations for use of the old firehouse, Mr. Brockwell stated that a draft agreement was handed out for Council and that he wanted Mr. Outten to look over the agreement. There is a “tulip” program recommended by VML to enable users to be covered.  Mr. Brockwell stated that he would present the cost next month on what it will cost us for users of the old firehouse.  He also stated that he did not want it to become rental property.  Mr. Brockwell thanked Mrs. Johnson for getting the information.

 

PARKING RECOMMENDATION

Mr. Holman stated that the street committee had met and discussed the problem with parking at the corner of Bank St and Main St.  It was the committee’s recommendation to prohibit vehicles over regular car height to park in the first and second spaces on Main Street.  Chief Gibson was asked to check with the Highway Department on this and to ask about getting the stop sign they put up changed to the correct corner.  Chief Gibson has requested a stop sign to be placed at the corner of Bank and Main but it was installed at Bank and Court.

 

INCENTIVES FOR NEW BUSINESSES

Mrs. Sanderson stated that the Town Development committee had met concerning incentives for new businesses.  Mrs. Sanderson sent a copy to Mr. Outten for review and will present it at the next meeting.  Mrs. Sanderson said the committee is still working on updates for the website and she has now got Lawrenceville on Facebook. 

 

STORM DAMAGE REPORT

Mr. Brockwell reported that a break down was in the packets concerning the storm damage cost at the water plant.  The damages came to $126,716.46 and our insurance reimbursement was $125,466.46 leaving the cost to the town at $1,250.

 

Mr. Brockwell thanked the department heads for keeping up with the safety training.

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that the Town, County and IDA are working on the old school project.

 

Mayor Pond reported that Virginia Bride Magazine was interested in the Meredith House on Windsor Ave for weddings.  He hoped to have more information on this at the December meeting.

 

Mrs. Bland reported that the Lawrenceville Planning Commission is still working on the historic overlay and would have more at the December meeting.

 

Mrs. Talbert stated that an invitation to the Annual Mayors and Managers Christmas Dinner was in the packets.  If any members of Council wanted to attend they need to RSVP by November 30.

 

The Lawrenceville Christmas Parade will be December 4th at 7:30p.m.  The Brunswick Chamber Santa Breakfast will be December 5th from 8:30 to 10 am.

 

A flyer was also given out from Express Car Wash.  Any one bringing nonperishable items to the car wash on Tuesdays from 8 am to 5 pm will receive a free automatic car wash.  The food will go to Brunswick County Social Services.

 

Mrs. Talbert also thanked the fire department for purchasing and cooking the hot dogs and providing the drinks and Mary Lucy of the Chamber for organizing the Halloween Parade.

 

MOTION TO PAY BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to pay the bills as presented and charge to the proper accounts.  This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.

 

Mrs. Talbert stated that when Virginia Power and Hood Electric switch over the service with the new generator, the office would be closed.  Hopefully this will only be for half a day and signage will be put up.

 

ADJOURNMENT

As there was no further business to come before Council, a motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson and seconded by Mr. Pecht to adjourn.  This carried by all ayes.

 

 

 

  Douglas R. Pond, Mayor

 

 

Alice B. Talbert, Clerk