January 8, 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:
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
Absent: Phyllis Campbell, Mayor
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 8, 2013, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, Council approved the December 11, 2012, Town Council meeting minutes.
TREASURER'S REPORT
Vice Mayor Nowlin asked that the January 2013 treasurer's report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of December 12, 2012, to January 8, 2013, in the amount of $10,018.81.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared before Council during public comment.
POLICE REPORT
Chief Richard Baldwin presented the police report to the Council for December 2012. He said of the 99 calls for service in December, 83 calls were answered by the Brookneal Police Department.
Chief Baldwin said that he had checked with other localities on the noise ordinance. He said other localities are facing the same problem. He is still working on this issue.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that the new street lights have been fixed and all are working properly. He said the blowers at the lagoons that were not working properly were removed and have been sent off for repairs.
He said that the Town disposed of the 1984 GMC and the 1990 Ford by scrapping them at Elite Recycling. He said a 2001 Chevrolet Silverado has been purchased from a local owner and was delivered today.
He said his department would be flushing fire hydrants the end of January and into the first of February. He said this helps to reduce the THMs and HAA5s which have been in violation for the last few months, but the last report in November was good.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Russell Thurston said that he and Clerk/Treasurer Bobbie Waller will travel to Lynchburg to meet with the auditor, Jerry Reynolds, to discuss the 2011-2012 audit.
He said the VDOT Phase 3 revitalization project is moving forward. He said the bid document to hire an engineering firm is being finalized.
He said the Brookneal Downtown Association is having regular meetings, and the next meeting will be at The Department Store on Thursday, January 17, 2013, at 12 noon. He said that on Wednesday, January 30, 2013, at 10 a.m., the Town staff will begin the budget process by looking at the current year and seeing where things stand on the 2012-2013 budget year.
Mr. Thurston said that the Hale Street garage building, which he had written violation notices to the owners concerning, has been secured and cleaned up. He said it is no longer in violation of Town code. He said the trailer on the corner of Hale Street and Foster Street, is on notice to have the property cleaned up, and has until March 1 to do so.
SETTING THE MEETING DATES FOR 2013 AND APPROVAL OF TOWN HOLIDAYS FOR 2013
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the meeting dates for 2013 and the town holidays for 2013 as presented.
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the appointment of Joseph B. David, Jr. to the physical development committee.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
There were no committee recommendations.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Councilperson Wilkes said that he wanted to suggest that when a council person leaves, whether by choice or losing their seat to an opponent, that they be given some sort of recognition. He said just a simple certificate of appreciation would be all that was needed to let the outgoing council member know that their service to the Town was appreciated. Discussion ensued about what should be done, and Vice Mayor Nowlin asked that the Finance and Planning Committee look at this issue and come back with a recommendation to Council.
Councilperson Laprade said that she wanted everyone to remember the business expo that is being presented by the Brookneal Chamber of Commerce on February 9, 2013.
Councilperson Jean suggested that the town manager inquire about the cost of a machine to pick up leaves in the town since there are so many burning restrictions now in place.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Mark Wilkes, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, Vice Mayor Nowlin announced that the January 8, 2013, meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ ____________________________
Bobbie A. Waller Phyllis L. Campbell
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
