January 12, 2010
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
Richard Adams, Kenneth Jennings, Tracy Meisenbach, Robert Jean, and Phillip Sheppard, Council Members
Buster Nicholson, Town Manager
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the January 12, 2010 regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
MINUTES
Upon motion by James Nowlin, seconded by Kenneth Jennings, and unanimously carried, Council approved the December 8 and December 11, 2009, Town Council meeting minutes.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor Campbell asked that the January 2010 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of December 9, 2009, to January 12, 2010, in the amount of $13,890.46.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Tamer Ragab, of 1310 Lynchburg Avenue, addressed the council and asked if it was a fact that the local police department in Brookneal was closing and if so, what will be done to ensure security in the town. Mayor Campbell asked Town Manager Nicholson to address that issue. Mr. Nicholson said that as far as he knew “no.” Howard Wells asked the Council about grant money being available for the old antique shop on Lynchburg Avenue. Mayor Campbell said that that would have to be checked into. Councilperson Jean advised that he thought there was monies available for that building in the downtown project.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Mayor Campbell thanked Mr. Nicholson, Mr. Crews, and his maintenance workers for their hard work on the past Saturday when an 8” water main broke on Rush Street, and had to be repaired. Mr. Crews reported on several water leaks around the Town since the 1st of January, 2010. Mr. Crews told the Council that the wastewater tobacco grant bids were opened on December 22, 2009 with three contractors bidding. All the bids came in over budget. Based on recommendations from the engineering firm, the bids are going to be rejected and the project will be sent back out for bid for a unit based bid for the sludge removal. This part of the project was what increased the bids.
Mr. Crews said the water line and filter plant project is moving forward with a pre-construction conference being held on January 19, 2010. He informed the Council that the Campbell County census committee is meeting on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 3 p.m. Anyone from the Town Council can attend this meeting. Mr. Crews also announced that the new sanitation vehicle is scheduled to be delivered on January 13, 2010, at noon.
TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
Buster Nicholson, Town Manager, delivered the following police report:
17 traffic stops with 16 citations
11 warrants served
9 arrests
There were 10 people helped that were locked out of their vehicles.
Mr. Ragab thanked the Town for the fast response of the police department during an assault at the Brookneal Motel on New Year’ Eve.
Mr. Nicholson reported that a contract agreement between the Town and Littleton & Associates for work on the water filtration plant has been executed and reviewed by the attorney. Construction is scheduled to begin this month and hopefully will be done in 6 months.
Mr. Nicholson updated the Council on the downtown revitalization grant. He said that the streetscape project is awaiting the donation of one parcel of sidewalk that is from the Wachovia building. He said Louise Brierre of DHCD said that the Town should begin condemnation procedures for that parcel. He also said that Mr. Scott Smith of Region 2000 said that he had received complaints on the colors of the buildings, and he wanted to relay that the architect submits all color choices, materials choices, and designs to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources for their review and approval before the project could go out to bid. Most of the buildings in downtown were built after the 1912 fire, therefore most buildings in the project area exhibit characteristics of the arts and crafts of late Victorian and Italianate styles and the colors used in these periods were markedly different from those in 1860. The management team adopted the economic restructuring plan in December 2009. Materials to help start a downtown revitalization committee were delivered in December, and Mr. Nicholson said he had 3 of the 5 stakeholders that are needed to serve on this committee.
He also announced that budget worksessions for the finance and planning committee are going to be held before the February 9, 2010, Council meeting at 6:00 p.m. and the March 9, 2010, Council meeting at 6:00 p.m.
Mr. Ragab asked if the Town could do a motion on privacy at the Council meetings so that the meetings don’t come out in the small town. Mayor Campbell said it had been done many times before. Mr. Ragab used the example of the public safety issue that he ran a petition on. He said that that was an important subject for him and if somebody comes out and says that there is not going to be a police department then that is an issue for him. He said that he runs a convenience store and that is one of the top businesses in America to be robbed. He said for somebody to come out and say that, it is not right. He said the rumor went as far as his ABC special agent in Lynchburg. He said that was a huge perimeter for a rumor. Mr. Nicholson advised Mr. Ragab not to direct his resources based on rumors. Mr. Ragab noted the resources are coming from a town employee. He said there should be a policy put in place for this. He said he would not advise any investors to put a penny in a Town that does not have security.
Councilperson Jean asked Mr. Ragab exactly what his petition was for, to keep the present police force or to fire them, or to get more policemen? Mr. Jean said that according to conversations with Mr. Ragab, he thought he was not satisfied with the police department. Mr. Ragab said that he had received 5 different answers from different people in this room, and none of the answers matched. Mr. Jean said that nothing about the police has been discussed at any meeting of this body. He said if it was discussed, it was discussed by individuals on their own. He said nothing has been discussed at any public or private meeting of this body. Mr. Ragab said his petition asked “Do you find eliminating Brookneal local police department and depending fully on Campbell County and the state police to handle public safety?” The answers given were yes or no.
SETTING THE MEETING DATES FOR 2010 AND APPROVAL OF TOWN HOLIDAYS FOR 2010
Mayor Campbell noted a change to be made to the meeting dates for 2010. She asked that a 6:00 committee meeting be added to each regular meeting date for the year. She said that each member would be notified from one meeting to the next if a 6:00 p.m. committee meeting will be needed. She said that if the committees need to meet then it will already be approved. Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the meeting dates and town holidays for 2010.
REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATION
Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the following transfer of appropriation:
To: Brookneal Town Council
Date: January 12, 2010
The following Appropriation Transfers are requested:
General Fund
Category—Expense ADD New Total
Town Manager Salary--01-1201-1001 $8,000.00 $33,000.00
Category—Expense DELETE New Total
Police—Health Insurance--01-3101-2005 $8,000.00 $11,562.00
To cover cost of the comprehensive plan to be paid to the town manager.
General Fund
Category—Expense ADD New Total
Police—Repairs and Maintenance $ 900.00 $ 4,700.00
Category—Expense DELETE New Total
Police—Health Insurance—01-3101-2005 $ 900.00 $10,662.00
Respectfully requested by:
_________________________________
Treasurer
_________________________________
Date
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Councilperson Jean commented on the road still being closed by the Staunton River Community Church on Rush Street. He said this road should be open since this road has been maintained by the Town for many years. Mr. Jean also asked about the tree at the cemetery that was supposed to be taken down. Mr. Crews said he had put it off due to water problems the Town had been having, but it would be done either this week or next week. Mr. Jean also expressed his disappointment over the issue that about half of the Christmas lights did not work this year.
Councilperson Meisenbach said that the issue of pay scale versus 5 year incremental raises needs to be settled before the next budget meeting. She said she was very dissatisfied with how the pay scale thing has worked out with the employees. She said she felt it had too many gaps for a town this size to be effective. Mayor Campbell said that the finance and planning committee is meeting on Friday with Mr. Nicholson to discuss this issue. Ms. Meisenbach also asked if any updated informational flyers concerning the Town were available. Mayor Campbell said this information is going to be updated through the downtown grant process. Ms. Meisenbach also noted that maps on the Campbell County website are at least 5 years old.
Councilperson Jennings said that he has been approached by different people in the Town wanting to see the Town Office open every day. Mr. Jean said he also felt strongly about the office being open every day. Mayor Campbell suggested that this needs to be discussed during budget work sessions. She said that with all the grant money that the Town currently has, there needs to be some quiet time in the office to work on these grants.
CLOSED SESSION
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to go into closed session under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A)((6) for the purpose of discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved, where, if made public initially, the financial interest of the governmental unit would be adversely affected, specifically being discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds to outsource certain town services to third party entities.
The vote was as follows:
Mr. Jean Aye Mr. Sheppard Aye
Mr. Nowlin Aye Mr. Adams Aye
Mr. Jennings Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
CERTIFICATION
Mayor Campbell called for a vote certifying that only those items were discussed as allowed under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A)(6) for the purpose of discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds where competition or bargaining is involved, where, if made public initially, the financial interest of the governmental unit would be adversely affected, specifically being discussion or consideration of the investment of public funds to outsource certain town services to third party entities.
The vote was as follows:
Mr. Jean Aye Mr. Sheppard Aye
Mr. Nowlin Aye Mr. Adams Aye
Mr. Jennings Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the January 12, 2010, Council meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ ____________________________
Bobbie A. Waller Phyllis L. Campbell
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
