September 14, 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
Kenneth Jennings, Tracy Meisenbach, and Robert Jean, Council Members
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Absent: Richard Adams, Council Member
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the August 10, 2010, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council
MINUTES
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Kenneth Jennings and unanimously carried, Council approved the August 10, 2010 and August 26, 2010, Town Council meeting minutes. Councilperson Jennings noted one change to be made on the August 10, 2010, minutes concerning “Items from Town Council” in regards to the inventory being done by Officer Earhart. Officer Earhart informed Mr. Jennings that this was not done on one of his “off” days, but rather while he was on duty and being paid.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor Campbell asked that the September 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 Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of August 11, 2010, to September 14, 2010, in the amount of $49,998.17.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Amie Clowdis, of 4070 Hogwallow Road, Nathalie, appeared before Council, representing the Brookneal Dixie Youth Girls to request use of the top ballfield and concession stand for an event on November 6, 2010, to benefit the Brookneal Dixie Girls. Ms. Clowdis explained that the event would include a car, motorcycle, and tractor show, vendors featuring crafts, etc., children’s activities, a horseshoe tournament, and music such as bands and a DJ. She said that she will speak with the Campbell County Sheriff’s Department to request police supervision for the day. She said the proceeds will go to the Dixie Girls to fix the fields and the concession stand, buy new bases and have the dugouts done for the Sweeties to include the concrete pads and a roof over the dugouts. She said that the Brookneal Dixie Girls are supposed to host All Stars in 2012, so they really need to get some money in to be ready.
Upon motion by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to allow the Brookneal Dixie Youth Girls to use the top ballfield and concession stand for their fundraiser on November 6, 2010.
Howard Wells, of 110 Booker Road, offered to take down the playground slide at the park and have it repaired at his expense. Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to allow Mr. Wells to take down the playground slide and have it repaired at his expense.
Vickie Smith, of 107 Webb Street, appeared before Council to express her concerns about some areas of Brookneal that need some attention. She said that the Council is working to beautify the Town, and there are property and land owners that have unkempt yards and property. She asked the Council are there regulations regarding property owners and the upkeep of their yards and property. Councilperson Jean said that anything that is a hazard or unhealthy, it is in the Town code. Councilperson Jennings and Councilperson Nowlin agreed that there were regulations in the Code. Councilperson Meisenbach said that forested areas and open fields within the Town are not held to quite astringent a standard as a lot that has a house, dwelling, or business on it. Ms. Smith asked what needs to be done about this since it has been discussed before and no resolution has been reached. Councilperson Jean said that he thought the Town’s ordinance only covers the front yard of a dwelling or if the grass runs up to somebody else’s dwelling. He thought vacant lots were not referred to in the ordinance. Ms. Smith said that what she read in the Town’s ordinance did not say that. She said the ordinance does not cover grass height, and she said pretty much common sense would tell you your lawn mower can’t cut 2 feet high, so as high as your lawn mower can cut is where the grass needs to be cut and kept. She said that something that was left out of the ordinance is the stipulation as to how often the grass needs to be cut. She said the other stipulation is that when you send a letter, and no one answers the letter, the Town comes in and cuts the grass, bills the person and gives them 60 days to pay; and if they don’t pay within 60 days, then a lien is put on the property. She said the problem is that you have to do it every time this happens. She said that every property owner should keep his property up as a matter of pride, and it should be something the Town enforces. She said that she had pictures of these properties which she passed around. Councilperson Jean said that a committee needs to be formed to study and improve the ordinance. Vice Mayor Nowlin agreed with Ms. Smith that there are places that need a lot of attention and improvement. Clerk/Treasurer Bobbie Waller added that she has gotten a lot of phone calls about properties in the Town that need attention. Vice Mayor Nowlin said that his committee would work on this issue.
Mayor Campbell recognized David Laurrell for being in attendance at the meeting. He brought down the new guides to Campbell County for distribution in the Town.
SCOTT SMITH FROM REGION 2000---UPDATE ON THE DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT
Mr. Scott Smith presented an updated progress report for the downtown revitalization project. He said that bids were opened on August 27, 2010, for 9 units in 6 buildings on Main Street to be rehabilitated. The bids are being reviewed and the awards will be made this month. He said a contract has been signed and a notice to proceed issue for completion of work at 102 Main Street. Notices to proceed have been issued for work at 107 and 109 Main Street.
Mr. Smith also presented a revised program income plan for the Council’s review. He combined the Claytor/Mattox project income plan with the downtown program income plan. He said he refined the definition of the project area to include the downtown project. He said that any money generated from the downtown project needs to stay downtown. He said he also added a paragraph at the very end to say that was the amended document and this document was re-adopted by the Town Council for use by future CDBG projects. He said that program income is going to take care of fixing a couple of the buildings that did not get fixed correctly in the first place in Phase I. He said program income is made to take care of problems like that. The Council decided that it would review the revised program income plan, and vote on it at the October 2010 meeting.
MOTION FOR CAMPBELL COUNTY TO INCLUDE THE TOWN OF BROOKNEAL IN THEIR CODE FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENFORCING THE STATEWIDE FIRE PREVENTION CODE (SFPC) WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS
According to David Laurrell’s office, the Town of Brookneal was not included in the code for the purpose of enforcing the statewide fire prevention code. Mr. Laurrell said that the county has volunteered to write this resolution for the Town and have the Town included in this code. They will bring the resolution back to the Council to vote on. Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, the Council voted to ask Campbell County to include the Town of Brookneal in their code for the purpose of enforcing the statewide fire prevention code within the Town limits.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that the Phase I water line project was completed on Friday, September 10, 2010. This includes the 8” and 12” water lines. Mr. Crews said that he received a $1,000 safety grant from VML for safety equipment.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Mayor Campbell said that she and Vice Mayor Nowlin had a lunch meeting with Rev. Jerry Stanfield from Childrey Baptist Church and Rev. Keith Williams from Falling River Baptist Church to discuss having a community meeting. They said that they felt like they needed to narrow down some specific topics to be discussed when this meeting is held. They are still very interested in the community building and repairs that need to be made at the community building.
Councilperson Kenneth Jennings made a motion to add the following to the personnel manual under Section 2-1. Recruitment:
“Any applicant seeking a supervisory position, regardless of their current employment
status with the Town of Brookneal, will be required to undergo a drug test, a criminal
background check and a psychological evaluation at the Town’s expense. Employment
as a supervisor will be contingent upon meeting these requirements. Testing is to be
completed within 30 days of notification that the applicant is being considered for the
supervisory position.”
The motion was seconded by Tracy Meisenbach and unanimously carried.
Councilperson Meisenbach asked about the comprehensive plan, and where things stood on that. Mayor Campbell said that the Region 2000 local government council was working on that. Scott Smith commented that he could email sections of that to Council member for their review as it is done. Ms. Meisenbach also asked about the inventory she had requested. Ms. Waller said that she had talked to VML and our auditor. Our auditor said that he had what he need for capital improvements and that it was not an issue. A representative from VML said that “Generally localities document the serial numbers and purchase price on all of their vehicles and higher value mobile items such as mowers, generators, etc. that cost $5,000 and over. As far as other contents, a blanket sum is sufficient for coverage.” Ms. Meisenbach said that Bill Gillespie brought it to the Council, and he made the recommendation after all the stuff for GASB was done that in order to keep accurate records of tools and smaller office equipment (things under $2,000 and above $50) inventory needed to be kept. She said the Council voted on it unanimously to have this inventory in place. Mr. Jennings said that he understood how busy this office is with the grants and tax time coming up. He suggested that this be done in the next 6 months to a year. Ms. Meisenbach said that if a little bit at a time could be done when there is time.
Mr. Jean expressed his disappointment that Councilperson Adams was not present tonight being that he was head of the personnel committee. Mr. Jean asked that the Mayor expedite the process for hiring a police officer. Mayor Campbell suggested that the committee meet this Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Jennings asked that the personnel committee re-visit the request of Officer Earhart to take Ice to another certification program.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the September 14, 2010, Council meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ ____________________________
Bobbie A. Waller Phyllis L. Campbell
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
