March 14, 2006

 

The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. on March 14, 2006, by Mayor Keith W. Clarke 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., and Dean Woodrow Packer;  Town Attorney, W. Curtis Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Chief of Police, Douglas R. Pond; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; citizens and the press.

 

Absent: Robert F. Pecht, III

 

Roll was called.

 

APPPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Miller to approve the minutes of the previous meetings as received, suspend the reading and file.  This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

 

CITIZEN COMMENTS

J. D. Somers of the Revitalization Committee thanked Council for their support.  Mr. Somers reported that the committee had started painting one building in town, and more were to come.

 

Mr. Somers asked if Council could put a moratorium on flea markets in the town or what could be done to block flea markets from locating inside the town. 

 

Mayor Clarke expressed appreciation to the committee for the work on the building on Hicks Street.  Mayor Clarke stated that the request on the moratorium was a legal one and would be studied.  Mr. Outten stated that there are restrictions in the Code concerning flea markets in downtown.

 

Mr. Martin asked about plans for the downtown area that may have been done in the past, and stated we needed to have a master plan for the area.  Mr. Dean reported that he had applied for a planning grant for the downtown area in January that would be a two-year study.

 

ADVERTISE FOR BOUNDARY LINE AGREEMENT

Mr. Outten stated Council had received copies of the boundary line agreement between the County and the Town and that Section 15.2-3106 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, requires we have a Public Hearing on the boundary line adjustment.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to advertise for a Public Hearing at the April meeting for the boundary line adjustment as proposed by the agreement.  Mr. Martin seconded this motion and it carried by all ayes.

 

BIKE VA

Mr. Dean reported that on June 25th approximately 2,000 bike riders will be eating lunch in Lawrenceville and plans are being developed.

 

OLD PRIMARY SCHOOL

Mr. Dean reported that the Property and Equipment Committee had met with the Property and Equipment Committee from the Board of Supervisors and would like approval to work with the County on the Old Primary School as a multi purpose building.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Martin and seconded by Mr. Miller to direct the Property Committee to continue to work with the County on the Old Primary School Building.  This was carried by all ayes.

 

CHARTER COMMUNICATIONS

Mr. Dean stated that Charter Communications was selling the cable franchise and Council may be asked by the FCC for permission to allow the sale.

 

 

LIBRARY SIGNAGE

Mr. Dean reported that he had met with Sarah A.P. Raible concerning signage for the Library.  Signs can be purchased from VDOT at a cost of $100 each.  After June 30th, a private contractor will be in charge and the price is unknown. Mr. Dean had presented the cost to Mrs. Raible and she was to talk with her Board.  Mrs. Raible wanted to get  20 signs.  After a discussion on the number of signs and the placement, Mr. Dean was asked to meet with the Downtown Committee and set up a reasonable plan to present at the next meeting concerning the number of signs allowed in the downtown area.

 

BUDGET REQUEST

Mr. Dean asked for all budget requests to be turned in so that work on the budget can begin.

 

PARKING LOT PLANS

Mr. Dean asked for authorization to advertise for RFP on the development of the parking lot behind the Town Office and adjoining Elm Acres.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Miller to authorize Mr. Dean to proceed with acquiring a RFP.  This carried by all ayes.

 

AIRPORT FUNDS

A report had been received from the County concerning funds from Homeland Security for the airport.  A meeting will be held on March 23 with the Airport Commission and Mr. Pecht will be attending.

 

RESEND TOWN CODE – FIRE MARSHALL

Mr. Dean stated that since the resignation of Mr. Clore, the Town does not have a Fire Marshall.  Mr. Dean asked for authorization for the Town to resend Section 34 Article 2 of the Town Code to allow the town to fall under the State Fire Marshall.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to resend Section 34 Article 2 of the Town Code and allow the Town to fall under the State Fire Marshall.  This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and approved by all ayes.

 

FIRE REPORT

Dean Packer gave the following fire report: The Lawrenceville Vol. Fire Department responded to 21 calls in the month of February, 2006.  17 were outside the town limits and 4 inside the town limits.  5 calls were to assist other departments, approximately 24 man-hours were expended.  A breakdown of these calls were as follows:

Disregard                                     3

EMS                                            5

Motor Vehicle Accident             6

Smoke Scare                                2

Brush Fire                                    3

Landing Zone set-up                   1

Structure fire                               1

 

Mayor Clarke thanked Joel Dodson, Bryant Rifkind, Trey Hardy, Ricky Rickman and Charles Hall for taking down the Christmas Banners and putting up the Downtown Banners.  A letter of thanks is going out to the Fire Department.

 

POLICE REPORT

Mr. Hardy stated that the police report was in the packets and asked that a new police car be included in the budget for FY06-07.

 

TOWN DEVELOPMENT

The Town Development Committee was asked to meet with Mr. Dean for a short meeting after Council.

 

SAFETY REPORT

The safety reports were in the packets.

 

 

 

APPROVAL OF USE OF AIRPORT

Letters had been received from the Lawrenceville Lions Club and Brunswick Academy requesting the use of the airport on May 3rd  for the Seafood Feast and on May 17th for the VA Beef and Dairy Festival, a motion was made by Mr. Miller and seconded by Dean Packer to approve the use on May 3rd for the Seafood Feast and on May 17th for the VA Beef and Dairy Festival with proper insurance and clean up as in the past.  This carried by all ayes.

 

BRUNSWICK SPRING FESTIVAL

Mrs. Talbert reminded members of the Brunswick Spring Festival on April 22nd and the annual clean up week set for April 17-21.

 

PAYMENT OF ACCOUNTS

A motion was made by Mr. Hardy and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to pay the bills as presented in the amount of $66,762.20 and charge to the proper accounts.  This carried by all ayes.

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by a motion from Mr. Miller and seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

 

 

 __________________________________MAYOR

KEITH W. CLARKE

 

 

 

__________________________________ATTEST

ALICE B. TALBERT, CLERK