December 14, 2004

The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on December 14, 2004, by Mayor Keith W. Clarke with the following present:

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, John J. Miller, Jr., Michael F. Moorman, Woodrow Packer and Robert F. Pecht, III; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Supt. of Public Works, Randall Lynch; Assistant Chief, B. N. Newcomb; Planning Commission members: Cheryl Robertson, William Samford and Michael Redman; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; citizens and the press.

Absent: Police Chief, Douglas R. Pond.

Roll was called.

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as received, suspend the reading and file. This received a second by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

As this time had been advertised for a Joint Public Hearing with the Planning Commission and with a quorum of both Council and the Planning Commission, Mayor Clarke declared the Hearing open. Mr. Dean was asked to explain the request to rezone the properties from Public Open Space to Residential (R-1) and Business General (B-G). Mr. Dean stated that the property was zoned Public Open Space in 1994; it is occupied by both residential and business. The Fountain Family Trust owes a house that has been unoccupied for over two years and would like to sell as residential. The current zoning would not allow for this. The request is to rezone so that the properties now used as residential will remain residential and the businesses will be business general. This will bring the zoning in compliance with it use as it is currently.

After a brief discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mrs. Bland to close the Public Hearing. This carried by all ayes. The Planning Commission left the room to consider their recommendation.

Mayor Clarke welcomed Assistant Chief Newcomb in Chief Pond’s absence.

Mr. Pecht gave an overview of the financial statement and reported that the audit may be ready by the end of the month.

Mr. Packer reported that the fire department had made 26 calls in the month of November.

CHRISTMAS BONUS

Mr. Miller made a motion to pay a Christmas bonus in the amount of $100.00 for full time and $25.00 for part time employees. This was seconded by Mr. Packer and carried by all ayes.

APPROVAL OF REZONING REQUEST

The Planning Commission returned to Council and recommended accepting the rezoning request as presented. Mayor Clarke reminded Council that they could accept the recommendation of the Commission or reject it or table for further study. Mr. Brockwell made a motion to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission and approve the rezoning as presented. This was seconded by Mr. Miller. Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy Miller, Packer and Pecht. Mr. Moorman abstained.

MOBILE PHONE TAX TABLED

Mr. Dean reported that he had checked into the mobile phone tax and was told by Bobby Tucker and Richard Starr of the State Corporation Commission that this tax was not already on the bills, this would be an addition charge to customers. Alberta is in their first year of collecting this tax and so far has not received what they thought they would. Mr. Moorman asked Mr. Dean to get more information and meet with the Finance Committee.

RENTAL INSPECTION PROGRAM

Mr. Dean has checked into the requirements for the Rental Inspection Program and the State Code states that the Town needs to adopt districts. Mr. Dean is going to check with Southside Planning and will meet with the Housing Code Committee to work on setting up districts.

Bids on the street construction in the Goodrich/Davenport project were over bid and all will be rejected. Mr. Dean stated that the town crew and local contractors might be able to get some of the work done.

Mr. Hardy reported that the Town’s first K-9 Dog, Jake had to be put to sleep.

Mr. Hardy stated that a new sewer pump was ordered and hoped to be in before the end of the year. He also stated that during the recent storm, the men had worked over to keep things going.

Mayor Clarke also commended the Street Department men for their help at the parade.

Mr. Pecht reported that he had talked with the County Administrator concerning the insurance at the airport. There had been a question at the last meeting concerning the insurance being with a company out of the county. Mr. Vincent is checking into this.

Mrs. Talbert thanked everyone who participated in the decoration contest and the Christmas parade.

Mr. Moorman made a motion to pay the bills in the amount of $58,385.33 as presented and charge to the proper accounts. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

Mayor Clarke stated that the Town still has not received a site plan for the proposed alley closing at Pearson Funeral.

Mayor Clarke stated that copies of the letters sent to Peebles and the Stage Company are in the packets.

Mr. Dean reported that he has received the agreement back from Saint Paul’s and has advertised for engineering RFP’s due on December 28.

Mr. Dean reported that the VA Department of Health in Danville had rejected our grant request to have a PER done on the Trihalomethanes. Mr. Dean also reported that he anticipates having to send letters out again in January. The quarterly report will done the end of this month.

Mayor Clarke wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

As there was no further business to come before Council, a motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Pecht to adjourn. This carried by all ayes.

_______________________Mayor

_______________________Attest