February 12, 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 Joseph 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 Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the February 12, 2013, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, Council approved the January 8, 2013, Town Council meeting minutes.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Mayor Campbell asked that the February 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 January 9, 2013 to February 12, 2013, in the amount of $30,340.66.
There was some discussion about the utility bill at the community building. Mayor Campbell suggested that when we get requests for free use of the building, we need to look closely at those requests due to rising utility costs. Councilperson Adams suggested that those groups contribute something towards the power usage.
RESOLUTION FOR THE HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN (AS PRESENTED BY REGION 2000)
Philipp Gabathuler, planner for the Region 2000 Local Government Council, presented information on the Region 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan. He said the possibility of a major national disaster striking in the Region 2000 area has not gone away. He said the potential for property damage as well as human injury due to a natural disaster will always be an issue that we will have to deal with. He said the 11 localities that make up Region 2000 have worked together with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management as well as with FEMA in developing this updated Hazardous Mitigation Plan. He said the original plan for our region was adopted in 2006, and they are on a 5 year update schedule mandated by FEMA. He said the updated plan which is presented here has been conditionally approved by FEMA, and will become an official document once every jurisdiction has adopted a formal resolution endorsing the plan. He said the ultimate goal of this project is to develop a disaster resistant region by reducing the potential for loss of life, property damage, and environmental degradation from natural disasters. Discussion ensued about grants available for proactive measures localities may be eligible for.
Upon motion by Barbara Laprade, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, the Council adopted the following resolution for the updated Hazard Mitigation Plan.
A verbal vote was taken as follows:
Ms. Laprade Aye Mr. David Aye
Mr. Jean Aye Mr. Wilkes Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mayor Campbell Aye
Mr. Nowlin Aye
Town of Brookneal, Virginia
Adoption of the Region 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan
WHEREAS, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, as amended, requires that local governments develop and adopt natural hazard mitigation plans in order to receive certain federal assistance, and
WHEREAS, the Region 2000 Project Management Team representing the Town of Brookneal, as well as the remaining 10 localities of Region 2000 were convened in order to study the Region's risks from and vulnerability to natural hazards, and to make recommendations on mitigating the effects of such hazards on the Region; and
WHEREAS, the Project Management Team was provided staff support by Region 2000; and
WHEREAS, the efforts of the Project Management Team, the staff of Region 2000 as well as members of the public, private and nonprofit sectors, have resulted in the development of the Region 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Brookneal Town Council that the Region 2000 Hazard Mitigation Plan dated December 2012 is hereby approved and adopted for the Town of Brookneal.
Adopted by the Brookneal Town Council this _________ day of __________, 2013.
By: __________________________________
__________________________________
ATTEST:
By: _______________________________________
_______________________________________
POLICE REPORT
Chief Richard Baldwin presented the police report to the Council for January 2013. He said of the 84 calls for service in January, 70 calls were answered by the Brookneal Police Department.
He said that his department is working with Halifax County and Campbell County on the missing person investigation. He said the regional task force has been activated and is meeting in the town council chambers.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that his department flushed fire hydrants at the end of January to help with the THM problem we have had. He said there is an inspection tomorrow from the Office of Drinking Water at the water treatment plant. He said he would be meeting with Hurt & Profitt on some sewer related problems that the Town has.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Russell Thurston said he and the Clerk/Treasurer had met with the accounting firm to discuss the FY12 audit. He said that in the general fund, the Town had more revenues than expenditures in the 2011-2012 fiscal year by about $27,000. He said the general fund had $13,000 less in expenses that was budgeted, for a total of savings of about $40,000. He noted the cash and cash equivalents information for the Town in the audit is about $995,000. He said that if the Town had a shortfall, that would reduce the cash and cash equivalents amounts.
Mr. Thurston said that he had been taking pictures of the areas in the town that the VDOT Phase 3 grant needs to focus on. He said he would be distributing a packet of proposals for the scope of Phase 3 at the end of the meeting.
He said the Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a business expo on Saturday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. He said that a car show is being planned for Day in the Town on May 4th. Mr. Thurston also noted that when Art Powers with the USDA was visiting the Town, he said that we need to have a handicap parking spot at the Town office to comply with USDA grant specifications for access to the town hall and police department. He asked council members to be thinking about where this could be located.
FY12 AUDIT
Upon motion by Barbara Laprade, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the audit for FY12.
REQUEST FOR TRANSFERS OF APPROPRIATION
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve the following transfers of appropriation.
REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATION
To: Brookneal Town Council
Date: February 12, 2013
The following Appropriation Transfers are requested for FY2013:
Category—Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Streets—Repairs & Maint.—01-4102-5407 $ 2,899.86 $ 12,679.86 $ 0.00
Category--Expense DECREASE New Total Balance in Account
Contingency Fund—01-8102-7010 $ 2,899.86 $ 1,697.15 $ 1,697.15
To cover the costs of the snowplow purchased with 2001 Chevrolet truck and the cost of labor and materials for installing the Christmas decorations.
Category—Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Streets—Temp—01-4102-1004 $ 4,492.93 $ 19,492.93 $ 4,000.00
Category--Revenue INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Meals Tax—01-1201-0100 $ 4.492.93 $ 100,492.93 $ N/A
To cover the costs of additional temp employee acquired to cover sick leave taken by some full time employees in the fall of 2012. This will also leave a balance in the account of $4,000 to cover a temp employee for April, May, and June 2013.
Category—Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Streets—Safety Equipment--01-4102-5801 $ 1,697.15 $ 2,397.15 $ 288.32
Category--Expense DECREASE New Total Balance in Account
Contingency Fund—01-8102-7010 $ 1,697.15 $ 0.00 $ 0.00
To cover the costs of street signs purchased and additional safety equipment for the town maintenance staff.
Respectfully requested by:
_________________________________
Treasurer
_________________________________
Date
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Councilperson Adams said that his committee was working on the issue brought up by Councilperson Wilkes concerning recognition for council members or employees when they leave the town council or town employment. He said the committee is discussing the matter and will hopefully bring back some guidelines and recommendations at the next meeting.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Councilperson Adams suggested that the Town start looking at long term goals and objectives for the next 10 to 20 years. He said things are moving forward in the town, and he suggests looking forward to see where we want to be as a Town. Councilperson Jean said that the council needs to keep aware of the school situation with William Campbell and possibly entertain a motion or resolution from the Town. He suggested talking with our school board representative or board of supervisors' representative to let them know how you feel about this.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Mark Wilkes, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the February 12, 2013, meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ ____________________________
Bobbie A. Waller Phyllis L. Campbell
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
