September 8, 2009

 

The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on September 8, 2009 by Mayor Douglas R. Pond.

 

ROLL CALL

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

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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

 

BRUNSWICK CORRECTIONAL CLOSING

Mayor Pond reported that Governor Kaine had announced the closing of Brunswick Correctional Center to be completely closed by November.

 

AIRPORT LAND

Mr. Outten stated that the Town had acquired land at the airport from Gene Thomas several years ago but had never conveyed a portion to the County.  Mr. Outten presented a deed to convey ½ interest on .132 and .261 acres that the County should own.  Mr. Brockwell made a motion to authorize the Mayor to execute the deed as presented by Mr. Outten.  This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried by all ayes.

 

ROSE CREEK PROJECT TABLED

Mr. Dean stated that the bids for the Rose Creek Sewer project had been opened with the low bid coming from Biggs Construction.  Mr. Dean asked that this project be tabled due to the news on the prison closing and we can see what effect this will have on our budget.

 

UPDATE ON TOBACCO HERITAGE TRAIL

Mr. Dean gave an update on the Tobacco Heritage Trail.  Bridge 3 has been completed and Bridge 1 should be complete by the end of September.  A ribbon cutting has been scheduled for Friday, November 20th.

 

Mr. Dean reported that Telpage is still trying to clear up interference coming from the south side of town.

 

Mr. Dean stated that equipment at the water plant damaged in the flooding was up and running.  All the bills except for electrical had been received and the cost will exceed $100,000.00.

 

PPTRA RESOLUTION

A copy of a Resolution was in the packet concerning PPTRA.  Mr. Dean stated that due to the amount of PPTRA funds received by the town, we would need to provide 95% relief on the 2009 personal property taxes.  A motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to adopt the Resolution for 95% relief.  Voting aye:  Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

HLRA MEETING

Mr. Dean reminded Council of the annual HLRA meeting to be held on Sept. 9, 2009.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Mr. Pecht stated that the closing of the prison would have an impact on our budget as 22.5% of water sales come from the prison.  We do not know the full impact of lay-offs.  According to the news article, the State is trying to offer jobs within a 50-75 mile radius.  Also in the news article there was mention of the Regional Jail using the prison.  Mr. Pecht agreed the Rose Creek project should be tabled until the full impact of the closing will have on the Town budget.  Mr. Pecht stated that hopefully the water/sewer rates, which are low, would not have to be raised.

 

Mayor Pond welcomed Nat Eaton and Ashley from Channel 8.  They were in town getting opinions concerning the closing of the prison.

 

FIRE REPORT

Mr. Holman reported that the fire department had expended 195.5 man-hours, with the breakout in the packets. They also had held a bucket drive bringing in $1,500. 

 

The Personnel and Police Reports were in the packets.

 

PROPERTY COMMITTEE

Mr. Brockwell stated that the old firehouse was looking nice and the Property Committee needed to meet and set guidelines on what the building can be used for.  A request has been made by the Museum to use it for art classes for youth.

 

INCENTIVES

Mr. Brockwell also reported that Mr. Dean had been meeting with the IDA on incentives they would offer and Mr. Dean asked that the Town Development Committee meet and decide what the Town would want to offer.  A time line of mid October had been set.

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that staff had done an excellent job with the flooding at the water plant.

 

The safety reports were in the packets.

 

Mr. Dean stated that letters had been sent out to the owner of the vacant house located behind China King.

 

Mrs. Bland stated that the Planning Commission would be meeting again on the proposed Historic District Ordinance.

 

A thank you note was in the packets from the family of Doris Poarch, widow of Chief Raymond Poarch, for flowers sent to her funeral.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to pay the bills as presented in the amount of $120,166.21, with $64,000 of this amount to be reimbursed by VML for the flooding damage.  This motion was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.

 

CLOSSED SESSION

Mr. Pecht made a motion for the Lawrenceville Town Council 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 discussion Land acquisition and personnel matters.  This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

CONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

After a discussion on the above, a motion was made by Mr. Pecht to adjourn the closed meeting and convene again in open session.  This was seconded by Mr. Holman and carried by all ayes.

 

CERTIFICATION

The following resolution was adopted by the Lawrenceville Town Council following a closed meeting held on September 8, 2009, on a motion by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Ms. Hardy.

 

“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 resolution was carried with the following roll call vote: voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

ADJOURNMENT

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

 

 

DOUGLAS R. POND, MAYOR

 

ALICE B. TALBERT, CLERK