June 12, 2007

The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council was called to order on June 12, 2007, at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Keith Clarke with the following present:

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, Harry S. Holman, J. Grady Martin, Robert F. Pecht, III and Esther B. Sanderson; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Chief of Police, Douglas R. Pond; Admin. Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Chief Water Operator, Randy Spence; Fire Department President, James Wesson; Jeff Wells from the Virginia Department of Health; Alice Talbert, Clerk, citizens and the press.

Absent: Council member, Joyce D. Bland

Roll was called.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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

PUBLIC HEARING SEWER ORDINANCE

As this time had been advertised for a Public Hearing on the proposed Sewer Ordinance, Mayor Clarke declared the hearing open. As no citizens asked to speak on the proposed Sewer Ordinance, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to close the Hearing. This carried by all ayes.

PRESENTATION

Mr. Jeff Wells of the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Drinking Water was introduced. Mr. Wells thanked Council and stated that he was in attendance to present the 2006 Silver Virginias Excellence in Waterworks Award. Mr. Wells gave an overview of the criteria for awarding the Award. One hundred and thirty six water plants in Virginia were eligible with 30 being awarded. Mr. Wells stated that he enjoyed working with Mr. Dean and Mr. Spence and that they were committed to making the purest water possible. The Award was presented to Mr. Dean and Mr. Spence, Chief Water Plant Operator. Mr. Wells commended the Town for their efforts in getting water clean and healthy.

No citizens asked to come before Council.

Mr. Outten stated there would be a need for a closed session for possible litigation.

TOWN MANAGER REPORTS

Mr. Dean reported that the Saint Pauls project is complete and was within budget and on time. Mr. Dean stated that he would have a recommendation for the Town to accept the system at the next meeting.

Mr. Dean reported that the grant application for the Artisan Center had been submitted by the County to the Tobacco Commission.

Information on the Virginias Retreat was in the packets. Brunswick County is a member but they may need our help financially.

A list of surplus equipment was in the packets. These will be advertised for sealed bids due by July 6, 2007.

RECOMMENDATION ON SEWER ORDINANCE

Mr. Outten recommended that three items in the proposed Sewer Ordinance be changed. 1) the word superintendent should be changed to town manager though out the document . 2) On page 29 the word daily newspaper should be changed to weekly newspaper. 3) Insert Division 3 Subdivisions into the Ordinance. These changes are to be done and the Ordinance on the agenda for the July meeting. The proposed Ordinance gives more detail on amount of discharge and issuance of permits.

YEARLY WATER NOTICE

Mr. Dean reported that the TTHM and yearly water notices had been sent out.

FORMAL ADOPTION OF FY 07/08 BUDGET

Mr. Pecht made a motion to formally adopt the FY07/08 Budget. This received a second from Mr. Hardy and voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

ACCEPTANCE OF BIDS ON FINANCING GARBAGE TRUCK

Mr. Pecht stated that a finance meeting was held and had discussed the three bids from the local banks for the new garbage truck. A motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to accept the low bid from First Citizens Bank for 5 years at 3.97%. Voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

Mr. Pecht reported that the finance committee had discussed action to take on delinquent accounts. Mrs. Talbert and Mr. Dean are to get a list of delinquent accounts together and meet with Mr. Outten.

The Fire reports for April and May were in the packets.

FIRE DEPARTMENT INQUIRY

James Wesson, president of the fire department stated that the Emergency Services wanted to know what action is being taken to purchase a generator as each fire department was given funds to help with the purchase and Lawrenceville still had not purchased a generator. Mr. Dean stated that the Town building and fire department have one electrical system coming into the building. To purchase one large enough to cover both the upstairs and downstairs the cost is around $50,000. The money given by Emergency Services is in a separate account and is in the amount of $11,153.91.

Mr. Martin reported that employee benefits and salaries were passed in the budget.

POLICE REPORT

Mr. Hardy stated the Officer Layton is still on injury leave until June 28^th. Mr. Hardy also reported that a citizen walking on Lawrenceville Plank Road was struck by a vehicle on May 30^th. He is out of the hospital with no permanent injuries. Mr. Dean has talked with VDOT about the possibility of a sidewalk in this area.

TOWN DEVELOPMENT

Mr. Brockwell reported that he and Mr. Dean had attended a Town Development Meeting today on rural community development initiative involving representatives from S.C.O.R.E, Brunswick County, Town of Lawrenceville and Telemon Corporation. Ideas on how we can expand plans and programs we have going on were discussed. Funds do not go to the projects but for technical assistance or planning. Another meeting will be scheduled in about 3 months.

ROANOKE CONFERENCE

Mrs. Sanderson reported that she and Mr. Dean had attended a conference in Roanoke about bring attention to downtown and effective ways to foster economic development. She thanked the Town for allowing her to attend. Mrs. Sanderson was very excited and stated that we all need to work together to bring about economic growth. One suggestion was to hire a young person to see what young adults under 25 were interested in or looking for when trying to decide on a locality to move into. On line tools were also very important in growth of a locality.

Mrs. Talbert reminded members of the Comprehensive Plan form in the packets to be completed.

Mrs. Talbert also reminded everyone of the Relay for Life to be held on June 22 and again thanked Mayor Clarke, Mr. Outten and Mr. Pecht for their continued sponsorship of Relay.

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to pay the bills in the amount of $68,381.42 as presented and charge to the proper funds. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

REAPPOINTMENTS

As it was again time to reappoint the positions of Town Manager, Town Attorney, Town Clerk and Town Sergeant, the following motions were made:

A motion was made by Mr. Hardy to reappoint C. J. Dean as Town Manager for the period 7/1/2007 to 6/30/2008. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to reappoint W. C. Outten, Jr., as Town Attorney for the period 7/1/2007 to 6/30/2008. This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and carried by all ayes.

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to reappoint Chief Douglas Pond as Town Sergeant for the period 7/1/2007 to 6/30/2009. This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried by all ayes.

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to reappoint Alice Talbert as Town Clerk for the period 7/1/2007 to 6/30/2009. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

CLOSED SESSION

A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to 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 possible litigation. This was seconded by Mr. Hardy and voting aye: Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

OPEN SESSION CONVENED

After a discussion on the above, a motion was made by Mr. Pecht to adjourn the closed meeting and convene again in open session. This was seconded by Mr. Hardy with following aye vote: Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.

CERTIFICATION

Mr. Pecht made the following motion of certification: Be it resolved to the best of my knowledge ( i ) only public business matters exempted from open meeting requirement, under Section 2.2-3711 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, and ( ii ) 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. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by the following roll call vote: Ayes: Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson. Absent: Joyce Bland. Nays: none.

LETTER FROM FIRE DEPT

Mr. Dean stated that last month the Treasurer of the Fire Department submitted his letter of resignation as of 6/30/3007. The Towns CPA firm was contacted on how to go about changing positions in the fire department. A letter was received from Creedle, Jones and Alga concerning this matter. Copies were given to members of Council. After a discussion, Mr. Outten recommended that the fire department and the finance committee meet as soon as possible to discuss the matter.

Mr. Brockwell thanked the Town of South Hill for the use of one of their garbage trucks.

There being no further business, a motion was made by Mr. Hardy and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to adjourn. This carried by all ayes.

__________________________________MAYOR

__________________________________ATTEST