December 13, 2005
MINUTES OF THE BROOKNEAL TOWN COUNCIL
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
James Nowlin, Vice Mayor
Meg Tibbs, Tracy Meisenbach, Richard Adams, and Stacey Hailey, Council Members
Bill Gillespie, Town Manager
Laurie C. Francis, Clerk/Treasurer
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Ricky Cousins, Police Chief
Absent: Kenneth Jennings, Council Member
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the December 13, 2005, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Meg Tibbs, seconded by Richard Adams and unanimously carried, Council approved the November 8 Town Council & Committee minutes and the November 15th, 2005 Committee , 2005 minutes.
TREASURER’S REPORT
The November 2005 treasurer’s report was filed for audit. In addition, the Mayor asked that the amended treasurer’s reports for September 2005 and October 2005 be filed for audit replacing previously filed reports.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
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 November 8, 2005 to December 12, 2005 in the amount of $31,139.14.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared before Council for public comment.
UPDATE DHCD HOUSING PROJECT
Kelly Hitchcock, with the Local Government Council, appeared before Council with an update on the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) housing project. According to Ms. Hitchcock the town is under a time constraint to complete 9 homes by the fall of next year in order to qualify for the balance of the $1.3 million grant (approximately $500,000) that has been awarded. Ms. Hitchcock indicated that the town would also have to complete an environmental review for the Rosenwald School located on Claytor Road.
Ms. Hitchcock stated that the town currently had six houses under contract, one house was complete, two houses were very near complete, one house was under construction and one other house will be starting construction soon.
Council was also informed that there would have to be a section 106 review for the Rosenwald School which is a process that allows a public process to mitigate any effects of federal projects on potential historic resources. Articles have been run across the state soliciting responses and information from the public about the school. Ms. Hitchcock further explained that she had received some interest in the school from the public. She will be updating the council on the status of this in the future. Ms. Hitchcock said that the council would need to have a public meeting in February, wait for the required fifteen days, pull a report together to be submitted to the town council in February and then forward it to the people at the department of historic resources. This would put the town in compliance with section 106 requirements.
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PLAN
Town Manager, Bill Gillespie, updated the Council on the status of the downtown revitalization plan. Council was presented with a rendering from the architect as to the master design of the downtown area. Council had an opportunity to review this plan as Mr. Gillespie explained the details of the rendering. Mr. Gillespie pointed out several items depicted in the drawing including a farmers market where the old depot used to be.
Council set a date of January 9, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. for the businesses to meet at the town hall to have an opportunity to review the plans for the downtown area.
WATER SUPPLY PLANNING GRANT
In 2004 the General Assembly passed legislation that requires all public water providers to develop a water source master plan. The Local Government Council has suggested that they sponsor an effort to apply for a grant for up to $50,000 (85% grant and 15% match) that would be used to gather data from the Central Virginia public water suppliers about their respective systems. This data would then be used as part of a second phase to develop a water supply master plan for the entire region. This is a matching grant that would require the town to contribute $248. Town Manager, Bill Gillespie, requested that Council adopt a resolution indicating their desire to participate in this regional approach.
James Nowlin made a motion to approve the Water Supply Planning Grant Resolution and authorize the Town Manager to execute the joint application with the Local Government Council. The motion received a second from Richard Adams. Mayor Campbell called for a vote. Voting was as follows:
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye Ms. Tibbs Aye
Mr. Hailey Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye_
With all in favor and no one opposed the following resolution was adopted.
RESOLUTION
WATER SUPPLY PLANNING GRANT
TOWN OF BROOKNEAL
Whereas, the Virginia General Assembly has mandated the development of source water supply plans throughout the Commonwealth and the State Water Control Board has developed regulations to implement this planning process, and
Whereas, based upon these regulations the Town of Brookneal is required to complete a water supply plan that fulfills the regulations by November 2, 2010, and
Whereas, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has announced the availability of grant funds to assist localities offset some of the costs related to the development of these plans and are encouraging localities to submit applications for grant funds using regional water supply plans, and
Whereas, the Virginia’s Region 2000 Local Government Council has offered to coordinate a planning study to examine the feasibility of the development of a regional water supply plan, develop a scope of work for such a project and to seek grant funds from DEQ to offset the cost of this review, and
Whereas, The Town of Brookneal desires to participate in a regional water supply plan feasibility study that will develop a scope of work for a regional water supply plan and desires to secure DEQ grant funds to help offset the cost of the scope of work development.
Now therefore be it resolved that the Town of Brookneal authorizes Virginia’s Region 2000 Local Government Council to develop an application for source water planning grant funds and to perform a regional feasibility study and to develop a regional scope of work for a regional source water supply plan which will meet mandated regulations and provide long range perspective on the needs and opportunities of the region’s future water supply, and
It is resolved that the Town Manager is authorized to sign appropriate documents related to the source water planning grant and the regional source water supply plan on behalf of Town of Brookneal, and
It is further resolved that the Town of Brookneal intends to provide up to $248 in matching funds for the project if the grant is awarded.
Approved by the Town Council, Town of Brookneal this 13th day of December, 2005
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James Nowlin, Vice Mayor
ATTESTED:
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Laurie C. Francis, Clerk/Treasurer
PROPOSED WATER RATES
Town Manager, Bill Gillespie, reviewed the proposed water rates with the Council. Mr. Gillespie indicated to the council that a decision needed to be made as to what their intentions were regarding the proposed, telling council that
After appropriate public advertisement and a public hearing held in November, 2005, a motion was made by James Nowlin that the town adopt the proposed water rates that Mr. Gillespie had explained . The motion received a second from Meg Tibbs. Voting was as follows:
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye Ms. Tibbs Aye
Mr. Hailey Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye_
BROOKNEAL WATER RATE INCREASE ANALYSIS
YEAR 0
Base Rate: $15.50 up to 4000
Unit Rate: $ 3.80 per l000
YEAR 1
Base Rate $17.50 up to 2000
Unit Rate: $ 4.80 per 1000
YEAR 2
Base Rate $19.50 up to 2000
Unit Rate: $5.80 per 1000
YEAR3
Base Rate $21.50 up to 2000
Unit Rate: $6.80 per 1000
AWARD OF WATER STUDY CONTRACT
The town was awarded a grant for an evaluation of the water treatment plant and its operations. Requests for qualifications have been received and reviewed by the Chair of the Physical Development Committee and the Public Works Director. Public Works Director, Mike Crews, recommended that Council award the water study contract to WW Associates.
Motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Stacey Hailey, and unanimously carried awarding the water study contract to W. W. Associates.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION
Council authorized payment of attorney invoices for $1994.00 at its November meeting. These invoices have been paid. Town Manager, Bill Gillespie, explained to council that although the council authorized payment from the general fund reserve, he had neglected to ask for councils approval regarding the adjustment of the budget since there were not sufficient funds in the legal services line item of the budget to cover these expenses.
Motion was made by Meg Tibbs to appropriate funds to cover legal expenses approved for payment at the November, 2005 regular meeting of the Town Council. The motion was seconded by Richard Adams. With all in favor, the motion was approved.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
- Motion was made by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by Stacy Hailey and unanimously carried approving the Private Individual or Group Use of the Community Building and Town Park Policy.
- Motion was made by Meg Tibbs to approve a vehicle use policy, effective January 1, 2006, stating that the police will have no take home vehicles and all police vehicles and personal vehicles will be stored in the Kersey Building. The motion received a second from Richard Adams. Being some opposition to the motion, Mayor Campbell asked for a verbal vote as follows:
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye Ms. Tibbs Aye
Mr. Hailey Nay Ms. Meisenbach Nay_
The motion carried with a 3 – 2 vote.
- Motion was made by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by Stacy Hailey and unanimously carried, approving payment of attorney bills.
- Motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Richard Adams and unanimously carried approving payment of two invoices totaling $11,375 to W.W. Associates for the O & M manual partially paid by the Tobacco Grant.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Meg Tibbs, Mayor Campbell announced that the December 13, 2005, Council meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ ____________________________
Laurie C. Francis, Phyllis Campbell,
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
