7:00 PM – The regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council

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

Phyllis Campbell, Mayor

Jack Woodell, James Nowlin, Meg Tibbs, Lee Booker, Tracy Meisenbach and Kenneth Jennings Council members

Bill Gillespie, Jr., Town Manager

Laurie C. Francis, Clerk/Treasurer

Mike Crews, Public Works Director

Jim Hires, Police Chief

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings seconded by Lee Booker and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the November 11, 2003 regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.

MINUTES

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Council approved the October 14, 2003 minutes.

PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF BILLS

Be it resolved that motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Meg Tibbs and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of October 14, 2003 to November 10, 2003 in the amount of $19,361.72.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Graham Jones of Old Main Street appeared before council to express his concerns with a drainage problem at WODI Radio Station.  Mr. Jones stated that this problem had been going on for years but had become worse recently.  Mr. Jones also stated that he had purchased the land from the Town some years ago and he felt that it was the Town’s responsibility to correct the current drainage problem.

Mike Crews provided Council with a copy of the tax map showing that the Town is not the legal owner of the property in question.

Motion to provide relief

After more discussion, am motion was made by Kenneth Jennings that the town make a one time effort to relieve the ditch of any encumbrance that could be clogging it up.  The motion received a second from Lee Booker and was unanimously carried.

Town Manager, Bill Gillespie, stated that the town would be looking into finding out who the legal owner is for the property in question so that the question of responsibility would be clear in the future.

Alan Taylor, of Terry Road, once again appeared before council to discuss the ongoing issue of the drainage problem at his residence.

Mayor Campbell and Mr. Gillespie assured Mr. Taylor that the council would be discussing his situation later in the meeting and would notify him as to the outcome.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT

Kelly Hitchcock with the Regional Commission discussed the mechanics of the DHCD/USDA grant and provided council with a timeline and a listing of the activities that will be required as a part of the grant.

Ms. Hitchcock pointed out that the council needed to authorize the formation of a project management team to guide the implementation of the project study phase.

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried council appointed Tracy Meisenbach chairperson of the management team.

EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS GIFT

Upon motion by Jack Woodell, seconded by Meg Tibbs, and unanimously carried council approved a $125 cash Christmas gift to be given to all permanent employees and authorized payment of the necessary taxes so that the employee would receive the full $125.

DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF APRIL TO KEEP ANIMALS CONFINED

Upon motion by Meg Tibbs seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried council voted to designate the month of April as animal confinement month in conjunction with Campbell County.

DISCUSSION OF PUBLICATION OF PAST DUE TAXES

Upon motion by Jack Woodell, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, council voted to advertise that the Town would be publishing a list of past due taxes in the local paper after January 1, 2004.

CLOSED SESSION

Upon motion from James Nowlin, seconded by Jack Woodell and unanimously carried, Council went into closed session in accordance with Virginia State Code Section 2.2-3711 (A1) the purpose of which was to discuss the selection process of the Town’s next Police Chief and Virginia State Code Section 2.2-3711 (A7) the purpose of which was to discuss potential litigation.

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION

Upon motion by Jack Woodell, seconded by Meg Tibbs and unanimously carried council voted to return from closed session.

CERTIFICATION

Mayor Campbell moved that the Town Council certify that in the closed meeting just concluded, nothing was discussed except the matters specifically identified in the motion to convene in a closed meeting and lawfully permitted to be so discussed under the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act cited in those motions.   Voting was as follows:

Tracy Meisenbach               Aye

Meg Tibbs                              Aye

Lee Booker                            Aye

Kenneth Jennings              Aye

James Nowlin                       Aye

Jack Woodell                                    Aye

AUTHORIZATION OF LETTER FROM TOWN

Motion was made by James Nowlin giving authorization for Mr. Gillespie to write Alan Taylor a letter stating that the town will not be responsible for anything on his property.

The motion received a second from Jack Woodell and was unanimously carried.

ADJOURNMENT

Upon motion by Meg Tibbs, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach and unanimously carried, council adjourned.

___________________________           ____________________________

Laurie C. Francis,                                        Phyllis Campbell,

Clerk/Treasurer                                            Mayor