April 9, 2013
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
Robert Jean, Richard Adams, Barbara Laprade, Mark Wilkes, and J. B. David, Jr., Council Members
Russell Thurston, Town Manager
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Ricky Baldwin, Police Chief
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the April 9, 2013, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, Council approved the March 12, 2013, Town Council meeting minutes.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Mayor Campbell asked that the April 2013 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 March 13, 2013 to April 9, 2013, in the amount of $13,401.09.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. J. D. Puckett, Brookneal representative on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors, spoke before Council complimenting the events Saturday in the Town. He said the fire department marathon was a success, as well as the Business Expo sponsored by the Brookneal Chamber of Commerce.
POLICE REPORT
Chief Richard Baldwin presented the police report to the Council for March 2013. He said of the 88 calls for service in March, 76 calls were answered by the Brookneal Police Department. Chief Baldwin also told the Council about the Drug Take Back Program that he will be participating in on April 27, 2013 from 10 am to 2 pm. He said the location will be at Food Lion. Chief Baldwin said that next week he is having some painting and other work done to the police department including the installation of new windows. Chief Baldwin said that the first week of May, he is sending Officer Mason to a 3 day class on interviews and interrogations at the police academy.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that he had been contacted by DEQ and would be having a meeting with them on Friday concerning PCB testing at the Staunton River Lagoon. He said he wanted the Town to contact state representatives concerning the effects these costs and fees for testing will have on the Town budget. He said the Dixie boys and girls are having their opening ceremonies this Saturday at the ball park.
Mr. Crews said he was working on having the Food Lion parking lot and property cleaned up. He said that he is short handed in the maintenance department again, and he has applied to the temp agency for an employee. He said he will be advertising for a replacement for an employee that will be retiring this year.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Russell Thurston said that the business expo held on April 6, 2013 by the Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Brookneal was a success. He said that Hurt & Proffitt was chosen to be the engineering firm for the VDOT Phase 3 project. Mr. Thurston said that he and Mayor Campbell attended the Campbell County School Board meeting concerning the school facilities plan. He said they would continue to attend meetings and be engaged with the school board process. Mr. Thurston said that Russell from the Drugstore Grill would probably attend the May council meeting concerning some concepts they want to pursue for some outdoor events this summer on Saturday evenings at the Grill. He also said that in hiring someone for the maintenance department, he and Mr. Crews are looking for someone with a set of skills including a CDL and possibly a background in HVAC and plumbing work.
FINANCE AND PLANNING COMMITTEE PRESENT THE FY13/14 BUDGET TO COUNCIL
Finance and Planning Committee Chairperson Richard Adams noted that in the meeting prior to tonight's Council meeting, Town Manager Russell Thurston presented to the Council a proposed budget for the general fund and utility fund. He said the proposed general fund budget is $609,677.00, and the utility fund proposed budget is $430,928.89. He said these funds are balanced as presented. He said unless there are questions or changes, he moved that the Council adopt the final draft of the budget for the general fund, water fund and sewer fund.
RECOMMENDATION TO ADVERTISE FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE FY13/14 BUDGET ALONG WITH THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT FOR 2013
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve and send the general fund budget to a public hearing at the May 14, 2013 Council meeting.
A verbal vote was taken as follows:
Ms. Laprade Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mr. Jean Aye Mr. David Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Wilkes
Mayor Campbell Aye
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve and send the water fund budget to a public hearing at the May 14, 2013, Council meeting.
A verbal vote was taken as follows:
Ms. Laprade Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mr. Jean Aye Mr. David Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Wilkes Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve and send the sewer fund budget to a public hearing at the May 14, 2013, Council meeting.
A verbal vote was taken as follows:
Ms. Laprade Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mr. Jean Aye Mr. David Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Wilkes Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve and send the personal property tax relief act for 2013 to a public hearing at the May 14, 2013, Council meeting.
A verbal vote was taken as follows:
Ms. Laprade Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mr. Jean Aye Mr. David Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Wilkes Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
RECOMMENDATION TO ADVERTISE PUBLIC HEARING FOR WATER RATE INCREASE AND SEWER RATE INCREASE
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to advertise for a public hearing for a water rate increase of $2.00 for this year, $2.00 the 2nd year, and $2.00 the 3rd year, as well as a sewer rate increase of $1.00 for this year, $1.00 for the 2nd year, and $1.00 for the 3rd year. Councilperson David noted a stipulation of having something published in the newspaper explaining the reason why these increases are needed. Mr. Adams said that the Union Star and Mr. Thurston will work on getting an article or letter to the editor published to explain the need for the increases to the public. Mr. Jean asked that if the increases are not needed in future years, then would it be easier to do two at a time, and not 3 over the 3 year period. Mayor Campbell noted that you can always decrease, but you cannot increase, so if the increases are not needed, then they won't be done in subsequent years.
A verbal vote was taken as follows:
Ms. Laprade Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mr. Jean Aye Mr. David Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Wilkes Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
REGION 2000 ANNUAL SPRING DINNER APRIL 18, 2013
Mayor Campbell said that the Region 2000 annual spring dinner is next Thursday, April 18, 2013, in Lynchburg at the Academy of Fine Arts. The following Council members said they would be going:
Ms. Laprade Mr. Jean
Mr. Nowlin Mr. David
Mayor Campbell
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Physical Development Committee Chairperson James Nowlin said that his committee met on April 8, 2013, to discuss a few items. He said they discussed the proposal from Mr. John Vincent on changing the date for Day in the Town. He said they would like to leave the date the way it is because of regular vendors and entertainment that come annually. He said maybe Mr. Vincent could have some cars on a small scale on that date if he wants or he can change the date of the car show. He said they also talked about sewer problems that customers are having. He said customers will sometimes call Roto Router or someone else, and Roto Router says send this bill to the town. He said in lieu of having a policy on that issue that the committee decided that the public works director or Mr. Thurston needs to take care of this. He said they are also looking at the community building costs and will bring that back at a later time.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Mayor Campbell complimented the business expo sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce on April 6, 2013.
Councilperson David said he had received comments on all the deer in town, and he wondered if the Council would like him to look into permits for bow hunting in town. He said the chief of police in Altavista issues permits for bow hunting in that town. Mr. David said he would look into this. Mr. David suggested that some tobacco plants be planted in some rows in Town. Mr. David said that the river is the lifeblood of Brookneal and Altavista. He suggested having campgrounds along the river in Long Island, Altavista, and Brookneal. Mr. Thurston asked Mr. David to pursue these items and find out if there are grants available to help with these ideas.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Mark Wilkes, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the April 9, 2013, meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ ____________________________
Bobbie A. Waller Phyllis L. Campbell
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
