APRIL 11, 2000
Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. on April 11, 2000, with the following present:
Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, William E. James and Michael F. Moorman; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, Douglas R. Pond; Supt. Of Public Works, Derick Thomas; Assist. Supt. C. J. Dean; Town Citizens, Kay Outten, John Miller and Stan Lawhorne; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; citizen and the press.
Absent: Council member, Robert F. Pecht, III
Mr. Hardy called the meeting to order with prayer.
A motion was made by Mr. Moorman and seconded by Mr. Hardy to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, suspend the reading and file. Voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
PUBLIC HEARING-DOG ORDINANCES
Mayor Clarke stated that this time had been advertised for a Public Hearing to receive citizen comment on the proposed adoption of Section 3-16a, 3-16b and 3-16c dealing with certain dogs within the town limits and Section 3-20 dealing with dog confinement periods. Mr. Outten explained each of these. The meeting was opened for citizen comments. Kay Outten of 110 Crescent Drive spoke in favor of the adoption as presented and asked that Council find them to be sufficient in handling the dog problems in town. Stan Lawhorne of 401 Windsor Avenue stated that he felt the proposed ordinances fell short of what was needed. He stated that dog owners should be more responsible in knowing where their dogs are at all times John Miller of 306 S. Main Street stated that he was in favor of the ordinances on the table and was against having a leash law. Mr. Miller stated that he felt we had enough laws and rules to live by now. As no one else asked to speak to Council, a motion was made by Mr. Hardy to close the Public Hearing. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
Mayor Clarke explained that Council could now do one of three things: 1) approve the adoption of ordinances as presented; 2) deny the adoption, or 3) table the matter until another date. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to adopt the ordinances as advertised. This received a second by Mr. Hardy. Mr. James asked if the adoption of these ordinances would prevent a stricter law at a later date, Mayor Clarke replied no and that ordinances already on the book for barking dogs, etc. are not affected. Voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, and James. Voting nay: Moorman
RESOLUTION - HIGH STREET CDBG
Mr. Pond, Town Manager, stated that if Council wished to go ahead with the High Street CDBG application it would be necessary to adopt a resolution. Members were given copies of the resolution Mr. James asked how many of the houses to be rehabilitated were rental units. Mr. Pond stated that approximately 23 of the 28 were rental. Mr. James stated that the landlords were the reason the housing was in the condition it is in and he was not in favor of rewarding the landlords. Mr. Brockwell stated that he felt High Street needed to be improved for the Town. Mr. Brockwell made a motion to adopt the resolution as presented. Voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, and Moorman. Voting nay: James.
PROPOSED BUDGET
In Mr. Pecht’s absence, Mr. Moorman presented the proposed budget. He explained the new format for the financial statement. Mr. Moorman made a motion to advertise the proposed budget for a Public Hearing to be held at the May meeting. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
RESOLUTION – DEBBIE EDMONDS
Mayor Clarke stated that he had sent a letter to Mrs. Debbie Edmonds accepting, with regrets, her resignation. A resolution was presented to Council. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. James to adopt the resolution presented and spread upon the minutes of the April 11, 2000, council meeting. Voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
POLICE – LOUD NOISE
Mr. James asked Chief Pond what action was being taken concerning loud radio noise from cars. Mr. James stated that he had called in tag numbers and descriptions of cars on Saturday and asked that police come up Park and Windsor. He stated that when the officer came he seemed to not be concerned and did not like being bothered. Mr. James stated that in order to control the noise constant efforts were needed. Mr. Pond reported that no tickets had been issued since May 1999.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Mr. Brockwell reported that a copy of the property and equipment report was in the packets. Some of the items on the report have been included in the proposed budget and other items will need to be taken care of in a later budget year.
GRASS CUTTING AT CEMETERY
In Mrs. Bland’s absence, Mayor Clarke stated that Council needed to approve the reimbursement for grass cutting in the cemetery. Mayor Clarke explained that the perpetual care fund reimburses the Town for cutting grass. A motion was made by Mr. Moorman and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to reimburse the Town from the perpetual care in the amount of $3,033.30 for grass cutting in 1999. Voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
DREAM 2000 UPDATE
Mr. Moorman reported that a project update from Chris Guvernator was in the packets. It is anticipated that this phase should be complete in less than 6 months. Mr. Pond reported that the pre-allocation hearing was postponed and he had not received notice of a new date.
WATER PLANT UPDATE
Mr. Hardy stated that it was almost time to shut down the water plant to install a new filter. Several options were presented. Mr. Outten reported that he had talked with Dr. Bugg, our engineer, and the contractors would be required to work on weekends, when the larger users would be down in order to prevent running short of water. Also the contractors would have everything in place before starting so there would be no hang-ups. The new tank will be on line also before shut down.
BEACH FEST
In Mr. Pecht’s absence, Mayor Clarke stated that the Brunswick Rescue Squad had requested use of the Airport on Sept. 2, 2000, for their annual Beach Fest. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to allow the use of the airport with the same conditions as in the past subject to approval by the county and the airport commission. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
THANK YOU NOTE
Thank you notes were received from the family of John Bayley Rawlings and from Lawrenceville Baptist Church for a donation made in his memory.
PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS
A motion was made by Mr. Moorman and seconded by Mr. Hardy to pay the bills in the amount of $46,825.41 and charge to the proper accounts. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
DOG CONFINEMENT
Mr. Brockwell made a motion to advertise for three weeks in the two local papers that all dog owners within the Town confine their dogs and prevent them from running a large. The confinement to run from May 11 to May 20, 2000. During this period any dogs not confined would be impounded and owners fined. This motion was seconded by Mr. James and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to go into Executive Session for legal, personnel and possible property acquisition. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
RETURN TO REGULAR SESSION
After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. James and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to return to Regular Session. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
CERTIFICATION
Mr. Brockwell made a motion certify that no matters were discussed other than that stated in the motion and that no action was taken. This motion was seconded by Mr. Hardy and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, James and Moorman.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.
______________________MAYOR
______________________ATTEST