February 14, 2006
Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. on February 14, 2006 with the following present:
Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, J. Grady Martin, John J. Miller, Jr., Dean Woodrow Packer and Robert F. Pecht, III; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C.J. Dean; Chief of Police, Douglas R. Pond; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert, citizens and the press.
Roll was called.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Hardy to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, suspend the reading and file. This carried by all ayes.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Mr. Pecht stated that it would be necessary to add a closed session to the agenda for the purpose of property acquisition. The closed session to be after new business.
TAFT STREET CLOSURE
Mr. Dean reported that he had met with the viewers appointed to look at the possible closing of Taft Street on January 30, 2006. It was the recommendation of the viewers that the street be closed for the proposed development by Pearson’s Funeral Service. Mr. Dean stated three conditions for the closing as follows:
Mr. Outten stated that the State Code permits towns to place conditions and if not met the street closing will not take place. A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to accept the recommendations of the viewers and approve the street closure with the conditions presented. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
LIBRARY REQUEST
Sarah A. P. Raible of the Brunswick-Greensville Regional Library stated that approximately 5,000 people use the Library each month. She stated that there was a need for signs on Hwy 58 and Hwy 46 to show travelers where and how to get to the Library. After a discussion, Mr. Dean was asked to meet with Ms. Raible to discuss this matter.
CITIZEN CONCERNS
Edward Warsley of Thomas Street stated that coming off Hwy. 58 at night is dark and more lighting is needed both in the bottom and coming by Brunswick High School. Mr. Martin pointed out that both locations are outside the Town limits. Mayor Clarke stated that we could check into more streetlights inside the town limits however the County should be contacted for lighting beyond the town limits. Mr. Dean is to check into additional streetlights at the entrance to town.
J. D. Somers of the Historic Lawrenceville Revitalization Association thanked Mr. Brockwell, Mr. Martin and Mr. Pecht for attending the meetings. Mr. Somers gave an overview of the committee’s accomplishments, short-term goals and long-term goals. Mayor Clarke commended the committee on their work and what is going on.
BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT
Mr. Outten reported that the Town and County had discussed possible adjustments to the town limits. The Town’s infrastructure has extended out but a boundary adjustment was never sought. The Town now realizes that to keep the town healthy, we need to increase our tax base. A group has been studying this and has come up with a boundary line adjustment plan. Copies of the map showing the proposed boundary adjustment were given to Council. This plan if approved by the Board of Supervisors and agreed on by the two governing bodies, will be filed in Circuit Court where a Judge would order establishing the new boundary line as presented. After a discussion, Mr. Brockwell made a motion to adopt resolution to present to the Board of Supervisors for approval of boundary line adjustment. This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried with the following roll call vote: Ayes, Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Miller, Packer and Pecht. Nays: 0
PICTURES OF WATER AND WASTEWATER PLANTS
Mr. Dean presented to Council framed photographs of the water treatment and wastewater treatment plants given by B & B Consultants.
GOODRICH/DAVENPORT PROJECT
Mr. Dean reported that bids had been reviewed and tabulated by B & B Consultants for the street work on Goodrich/Davenport project. The low bid was from VA Carolina Paving Company at $240,650.00. This work will finish the Grant Project. Mr. Dean also stated that there is not enough money in the Grant to complete this work so the Town will need to borrow the balance. After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to award the bid to Virginia Carolina Paving Company. This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by the following aye vote: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Miller, Packer and Pecht.
FIRE MARSHALL RESIGNATION
A copy of the resignation from George Clore as Fire Marshall was in the packet. Mr. Outten stated that the State Code for Fire Marshall services would cover the town.
BIKEWALK VIRGINIA
Information on BikeWalk Virginia was in the packets.
BUDGET REQUEST
A letter was in the packets from Lake Country Area Agency on Aging asking to be considered for financial support in our FY06/07 budget.
LAWN CARE
A bid for lawn care for the cemeteries at a cost of $2,000 per cutting was in the packet. This was not a solicited bid. Mr. Dean was asked to check with others that might be interested in mowing at the cemeteries.
ROANOKE RIVER RAILS-TO-TRAILS
The annual report for the Roanoke River Rails-To-Trails was in the packets.
PLANNING GRANT WITH COUNTY
Mr. Dean stated that the County is looking at applying for a planning grant for the area of Simmons and Edmonds Drive and asked if the Town would be supportive of providing water and sewer to the area. A motion of support was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Brockwell. This carried by the following aye vote: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Miller, Packer and Pecht.
FINANCING
Mr. Pecht stated that the Finance Committee will be meeting to look at financing for the fire truck, the Goodrich/Davenport Project, a sewer jetter and possible land acquisition.
FIRE REPORT
Dean Packer reported that the fire department had responded to 26 calls in the month of January. Four of the calls were in town and 22 out of town. A breakdown of the calls was given.
The Personnel and Police Reports were in the packets.
CEMETERY CUTTINGS
Mrs. Bland stated that reimbursement for the grass cutting at the cemeteries for the years 2003, 2004 and 2005 were in the packets. Mr. Brockwell made a motion to reimburse the Town from the Cemetery Perpetual Care in the amounts of $4.423.95 from Oakwood Cemetery and $4,693.95 from Oakwood Park Cemetery. This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by the following aye vote. Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Miller, Packer and Pecht.
GARDEN CLUB REQUEST
Mrs. Bland reported that she had met with the Brunswick Garden Club and the cemetery trustees on January 31, 2006 concerning changes the Club would like to make in the cemeteries. The following changes were requested:
All of the changes were fine with the Cemetery Trustees. Mrs. Bland made a motion to approve the above changes. Mr. Miller seconded the motion and it carried with all ayes.
DOWNTOWN COMMITTEE
Mr. Brockwell reported that the Downtown Committee had met and would not be making any changes to the downtown parking at this time. Concerning merchandise on the sidewalks, Mr. Outten was asked to advise on how the ordinance could be changed to insert 42” of walkway where possible.
Mr. Brockwell stated that the committee is waiting to receive dates from the County to set a joint meeting on the old Primary School property.
Mr. Miller asked that the Town support keeping the School Board downtown A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to send a letter of support to both the Board of Supervisors and the School Board stating our desire to keep the School Board downtown. This carried by all ayes.
Mr. Brockwell stated that nothing takes place without grass roots efforts. And with the interest being shown by the Revitalization Committee and others, things will begin to happen. He thanked the groups out there for their efforts.
Mr. Brockwell also thanked the Brunswick Youth League and SCORE for coming together and working on activities for the youth of Brunswick County.
BLOOD DRIVE
Mrs. Talbert reminded Council of the Blood Drive set for February 22 from 1 –5 p.m. The drive is being held in memory of Lynette Wright who lost her fight with cancer in January.
BRUNSWICK SPRING FESTIVAL
Mrs. Talbert also stated that information was in the packets concerning the Brunswick Spring Festival to be held on April 22.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
A motion was made by Mr. Hardy and seconded by Mr. Pecht to pay the bills as presented in the amount of $34,005.03 and change to the proper accounts. This was carried by the following aye vote: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Miller, Packer and Pecht.
ARTBANK GRANT
A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to apply for the Local Government Challenge Grant for the ArtBank in the amount of $500, this is a 100% match grant. This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by the following aye vote: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Miller, Packer and Pecht.
BUDGET NEEDS
Mr. Pecht asked that committee chairman give capital or specific needs to Mr. Dean or Mrs. Talbert as soon as possible so that work on the budget can begin.
CLOSED SESSION
The following motion was made by Mr. Pecht, I move the Lawrenceville Town Council enter into a closed meeting pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended for the purpose of discussing Land acquisition. This was seconded by Mr. Miller and carried by all ayes.
CONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
After a discussion a motion was made by Mr. Pecht to adjourn the closed meeting and for Council to convene again in open session. This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.
CERTIFICATION
The following resolution was adopted by the Lawrenceville Town Council following a closed meeting held on February 14, 2006 on a motion by Mr. Pecht seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by the following vote:
“BE IT RESOLVED to the best of my knowledge only public business matters exempted from open meeting requirement, under Section 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion by which the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed or considered in the meeting.”
AYE NAY ABSENT ABSTAIN
Joyce D. Bland x
H. B. Brockwell, Jr. x
Wilbur Hardy x
J. Grady Martin x
John J. Miller, Jr. x
Dean Woodrow Packer x
Robert F. Pecht, III x
COURT STREET PURCHASE
Mr. Miller made a motion to purchase property on Court Street, 302 Court St., located behind Bank of America at the price of $80,000. $500. already deposited to hold. This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried by the following voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin, Miller, Packer and Pecht.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Hardy to adjourn. This motion carried by all ayes.
______________________________________MAYOR
______________________________________ATTEST