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, Kenneth Jennings, 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

 

 

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN

 

7:01 p.m. – Mayor Campbell called the Public Hearing for the Hazard Mitigation Plan to order.  No one appeared before council to speak in favor or in opposition.  Mayor Campbell declared the Public Hearing for the Hazard Mitigation Plan closed at 7:02  p.m.

 

MOTION TO APPROVE

 

Kenneth Jennings made a motion that the Hazard Mitigation Plan be approved as advertised.  The motion received a second from Tracy Meisenbach.  Mayor Campbell called for a vote as follows:

 

Mr. Hailey Aye Mr. Adams Aye Ms. Tibbs Aye

Mr. Nowlin Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye Mr. Jennings Aye

With all in favor the motion carried.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET

 

7:04 p.m. – Mayor Campbell called the Public Hearing for the General Fund Budget to order.  No one appeared before council to speak in favor or in opposition.  Mayor Campbell declared the Public Hearing for the General Fund Budget closed at 7:05 p.m.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE WATER FUND BUDGET

7:05 p.m. – Mayor Campbell called the Public Hearing for the Water Fund Budget to order.  No one appeared before council to speak in favor or in opposition.  Mayor Campbell declared the Public Hearing for the Water Fund Budget closed at 7:06 p.m.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SEWER FUND BUDGET

 

7:06 p.m. – Mayor Campbell called the Public Hearing for the Sewer Fund Budget to order.  No one appeared before council to speak in favor or in opposition.  Mayor Campbell declared the Public Hearing for the Sewer Fund Budget closed at 7:07 p.m.

MAYOR CAMPBELL DECLARED COUNCIL TO BE IN REGULAR SESSION AT 7:07 P.M.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Upon motion by James Nowlin, seconded by Stacey Hailey and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the May 9, 2006, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.

 

 

MINUTES

 

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Stacey Hailey and unanimously carried, Council approved the April 11 & April 20, 2006 Town Council minutes with the following correction:  Correct April 11, 2006 minutes to reflect that Council member Stacey Hailey was present.

 

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

 

There was no Treasurer’s Report available.

 

 

PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES

 

Be it resolved that motion was made by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Meg Tibbs and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of April 11, 2006 to May 8, 2006 in the amount of $12,269.67.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

 

Mr. Ken Silby, of Lynchburg Ave, appeared before council to once again express concerns regarding Adelphia Cables refusal to start up digital cable in this area.  Mr. Silby stated that he was promised that the town would look into this matter at a previous meeting and he had yet to hear anything from the town.  Mr. Silby reiterated his desire that the town impose a leash law.  Mr. Silby also asked that the town enforce the speed limits in town.  He stated that he has witnessed many people speeding through town and he is concerned that someone is going to get hurt.

 

Mr. Edward Pearson, of Ridge Street, appeared before council to express his concerns about the lack of leash law and request that council consider imposing one.  Mr. Pearson also complained about the noise coming from cars that play their stereos too loud.  Mr. Pearson stated that the music would be so loud that the windows would shake in his house.  He asked that the police enforce the noise ordinance to curb this behavior.

 

 

POLICE REPORT

 

Chief Ricky Cousins responded to Mr. Silby’s earlier concern regarding the speeding through town stating that the police could not write at ticket to anyone unless they were going in excess of 10 miles over the speed limit because the judge would throw the charge out.  Mr. Cousins also informed council that they do enforce the speed limit and run radar on a regular basis.

 

Chief Cousins also noted that there are signs at each entrance into town indicating that there is a noise ordinance in town.  However, Chief Cousins explained that before a ticket could be issued for violating the noise ordinance the officers were required to warn the individual first.

 

 

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

 

There was no public works report this month.

 

 

REQUEST FOR USE OF THE BROOKNEAL COMMUNITY BUILDING

 

Ms. Cindy Bomar appeared before council as a representative of Staunton River Community Church.  Ms. Bomar, on behalf of the church, requested the use of the Brookneal Community Building each Sunday for church services until they could either purchase or build an appropriate structure for services.

 

After much discussion a motion was made by James Nowlin to allow the Staunton River Community Church use of the Community Building at a charge of $50 per Sunday adding that the $200 deposit previously paid would be held as security.  The motion received a second from Tracy Meisenbach.  Mayor Campbell called for a vote as follows:

 

Mr. Hailey Aye Mr. Adams Aye Ms. Tibbs Aye

Mr. Nowlin Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye

 

Mr. Jennings Nay

 

The motion carried 5-1.

 

SET DATE FOR DAY IN THE TOWN

 

The Brookneal Town Council, by consensus, set October 7, 2006 as the date for Day in the Town.

 

 

APPROVAL OF WW ASSOCIATES CONSTRUCTION ADMINISTRATION CONTRACT

Council approved the award of the construction contract for the Maddox and Claytor Street projects at its April meeting..  WW Associates, the design engineer for the project, will also manage the construction.  The fees were negotiated as part of the original grant application ($3600) and are 100% funded by DHCD.  The Town Manager recommended that council approve the award of this phase of the project to WW Associates.

Motion was made by Meg Tibbs to award the construction administration contract for the Maddox and Claytor Street projects to WW Associates.  The motion received a second from James Nowlin.  Being no discussion on the matter Mayor Campbell called for a vote as follows:

 

Mr. Hailey Aye Mr. Adams Aye Ms. Tibbs Aye

Mr. Nowlin Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye Mr. Jennings Aye

With all in favor the motion carried.

 

 

RESCHEDULE DATE OF PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED ORDINANCE FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT

 

Motion was made by Richard Adams to reschedule a public hearing on the Personal Property Tax Relief Act Ordinance on June 13, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.  The motion received a second from Stacey Hailey.  Mayor Campbell called for a vote as follows:

 

Mr. Hailey Aye Mr. Adams Aye Ms. Tibbs Aye

Mr. Nowlin Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye Mr. Jennings Aye

With all in favor the motion carried.

 

 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

 

Council Member, Tracy Meisenbach suggested changing the hours for the town office.  The Town Manager, in consultation with staff, had set the hours of operation for the town office to be closed on Wednesdays and Fridays.  This reduction in the hours the town office would be open was due  to a reduction in staff.  However, some citizens and council members were not in agreement with the office being closed on Fridays.  After a lengthy discussion, council set the office hours to be as follows:

 

Monday           8:30 - 1:00

1:30 - 5:00

Tuesday          1:30 – 5:00

Wednesday     Closed

Thursday         1:30 – 5:00

Friday              8:30 – 1:00

1:30 – 5:00

 

 

CLOSED SESSION

 

Motion was made by Richard Adams to go into closed session under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3) for the purpose of discussing the disposition of real property.  The motion received a second from Stacey Hailey.  Mayor Campbell called for a vote.  With all in favor, council went into closed session.

 

 

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION

 

Upon motion from Meg Tibbs, the Brookneal Town Council returned from closed session.

 

 

CERTIFICATION

 

Mayor Campbell called for a vote certifying that only those items allowed under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3) pertaining to the discussion of the disposition of real property were discussed in the preceding closed session.

 

Voting was as follows:

Mr. Hailey Aye Mr. Adams Aye Ms. Tibbs Aye

Mr. Nowlin Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye Mr. Jennings Aye

 

Mayor Campbell Aye

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

Being no further business to discuss Mayor Campbell Adjourned the May 9, 2006 meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.

 

 

___________________________                  ____________________________

Laurie C. Francis,                                           Phyllis Campbell, Mayor

Clerk/Treasurer                                               Mayor