November 13, 2001
MINUTES OF THE BROOKNEAL TOWN COUNCIL

7:00 P.M. – The regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council

The municipal government of the Town of Brookneal met with the following members present:

Ronald E. Cox, Mayor

Lee Booker, Meg Tibbs, Phyllis Campbell, Jack Woodell, and Everett Guill, Councilmembers

Joseph R. Williams, Town Manager

Laurie C. Francis, Clerk/Treasurer

Jim Hires, Police Chief

Mike Crews, Public Works Director

Absent:          James Nowlin, Council member

Mayor Cox asked that those present remember Council member James Nowlin, who was absent due to illness, during the invocation.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Upon motion by Phyllis Campbell, seconded by Everett Guill and unanimously carried, council approved the agenda.

MINUTES

Upon motion by Everett Guill, seconded by Meg Tibbs and unanimously carried, the October 9, 2001 minutes were approved.

TREASURER’S REPORT

The Treasurer’s Report was filed for audit.

PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF BILLS

Be It Resolved that motion was made by Everett Guill and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of October 10, 2001 to November 13, 2001 in the amount of $21,442.91.

POLICE REPORT

Chief of Police, James Hires, reported that in the month of October there were two reportable crimes.

Chief Hires stated that he had spoken with the Campbell County Sheriffs Department in reference to providing the town with a couple of deputies for the Christmas parade and he was also in contact with the State Police asking them to provide a couple of State Troupers as well.  Request have been sent to Norfolk and Southern and VDOT regarding the parade route.

Chief Hires made mention of the Police Departments need for some sort of storage area for large items such as vehicles, boats, etc to be stored when impounded.  Mayor Cox raised the question of whether the town could use the county’s storage facility.  Chief Hires replied that in some cases that would work but if the county's impound lot was full there would still be no place to store items.  Town Manager Joseph Williams indicated that he would be looking into the cost of such a storage facility to see if it would be feasible for the town to have their own.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Public Works Director Mike Crews reported that the Christmas decorations would be put up after the week of Thanksgiving.

PUBLIC INPUT

No one appeared before Council.

STATUS OF ELECTION DATE CHANGE

Council ruled by consensus to proceed with steps to have the Town’s election date changed from May to November.  Council will hold a public hearing at the December meeting to hear from citizens concerning this change.

CHANGES IN THE TOWN’S PERSONNEL HANDBOOK

Upon motion by Jack Woodell, seconded by Meg Tibbs and unanimously carried, Council voted to approve the changes to the Town’s Personnel handbook.

DISCUSSION OF THE LITTER ORDINANCE

Council ruled by consensus to allow the Town Manager to proceed with the change to the litter ordinance.  Council will hold a public hearing at the December Council meeting to hear from citizens concerning this change.

EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS BONUS

Upon motion by Jack Woodell, seconded by Phyllis Campbell, and unanimously carried, council voted to give the Town employees a Christmas bonus of $125 to either Food Lion or Wal-Mart.

DISCUSSION OF TEA21 GRANT

Council ruled by consensus that the Town Manager should proceed with obtaining a TEA21 grant.

UNION STAR BICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

Upon motion by Jack Woodell, seconded by Phyllis Campbell, and unanimously carried, council voted to approve the funding of a full-page advertisement for the Union Star’s Bicentennial Commemorative Edition.

CLOSED MEETING

Upon motion by Phyllis Campbell, seconded by Everett Guill and unanimously carried, council went into Closed Meeting pursuant to VA Code 2.2-377(A)(1).

RETURN FROM CLOSED MEETING

Mayor Cox called for a show of hand vote that all matters discussed were in accordance with VA code Section 2.2-377(A)(1).

All concurred.

ADJOURNMENT

Upon motion by Everett Guill, seconded by Jack Woodell and unanimously carried, council adjourned.

_____________________________       _______________________________

Laurie C. Francis                                         Ronald E. Cox,

Clerk/Treasurer                                            Mayor