October 9, 2007

 

The regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council was called to order on October 9, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Keith W. Clarke with the following present:

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Wilbur Hardy, Harry S. Holman, J. Grady Martin and Robert F. Pecht, III; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Chief of Police, Douglas R. Pond; Members of the Lawrenceville Planning Commission: Cindy Pecht, Cheryl Robertson, William Samford and Michael Redman; Town Clerk, Alice Talbert, citizens and the press.

 

Absent: Council member, Esther B. Sanderson

 

Roll was called.

 

JOINT PUBLIC HEARING

As this time had been advertised for a Joint Public Hearing with the Planning Commission to hear citizen comment on a request from Jim and Mary Truman for a Special Exception Permit to open a family fun center with pool tables and arcade games at 221 North Main Street, Mayor Clarke declared the hearing open.  The following citizens asked to speak:

1)      Edward Warsley of 404 Turnbull Street stated that he was invited to join the Downtown Revitalization Committee when he moved to Lawrenceville.  He felt things were going back instead of forward and commended Mr. & Mrs. Truman for what they are doing for the community.  Mr. Warsley stated that we need to consider the young people and the students in college and have something for them.  Mr. Warsley was in favor of the game room and asked Council for approval of the permit.

2)      Jamal Smith stated that he was a senior at St. Paul’s College and felt it was important that the approval for the game room permit be granted.  He stated that St. Paul’s student union is open one day and closed the next.  Even the Church is not open all the time.  He stated that the students need things to do and a place to go.  He asked that Council approve the request.

3)      Tywanda Stith stated that she felt the game room would be a positive for younger children as well as older students.  She felt that there was nothing for the young people here and that they need outlets such as the game room.  Ms. Stith was in favor of the request.

4)      Joel Warsley of 404 Turnbull St. stated that he was speaking for the students at SVCC.  He felt the students need an outlet and the game room would be a positive outlet.

5)      Patricia Warsley of 404 Turnbull St. stated that when her children were growing up they did things as a family and she felt the game room would be a place where parents and children could be involved in events together.  She felt the Trumans had contributed so much to the community with the Cinnamon Café and was in favor of Council approving their request for a game room.

6)       William Bassett stated that he grew up in the Brunswick and felt it was a family community and that the game room would be a positive step.

 

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED

As no one else asked to speak on the subject, a motion was made by Mr. Martin and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to close the Public Hearing.  This carried by all ayes.

 

Mayor Clarke stated that the Planning Commission would leave to discuss the matter.  Mayor Clarke reminded Council that the Commission would meet and Council can accept their recommendation; reject it or table until a later date.

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.

 

501( c )3 FUNDING

Mr. Pecht stated that the Finance and Fire Committees had met with James Wesson and Brian Rifkind of the Fire Department.  Mr. Pecht asked for approval for funding for the Fire Dept. to apply for a 501(c ) 3 application.  The cost to be between $500 and $2,000 depending on what work our auditors would have to do.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Pecht to authorize Mr. Dean and Creedle, Jones and Alga to pursue the application for 501 ( c ) 3 for the fire department, subject to review by Mr. Outten.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell.  Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin and Pecht.

 

POLICE REPORT

Mr. Hardy stated that the police report was in the packets.  Chief Pond had attended an in service training program on fraud.  Officers Moody and Layton had assisted Chief Pond with Saint Paul’s homecoming.

 

VDOT

Mayor Clarke reported that he had written a letter, as requested by Council at the last meeting, to Dale Goodman of VDOT concerning the storm water problems, signs and crosswalks.  Mr. Goodman had called Mayor Clarke and stated that he would be unable to attend the October meeting but would be at the November meeting. The problem on New Street is still being studied and VDOT is waiting on a study from their engineers.  A letter from Mr. Goodman was in the packets concerning a request for a crosswalk at the intersection of Windsor Ave and Church Street.  Mr. Goodman stated that a crosswalk would give a false sense of security to pedestrians and based on their field review, pedestrian warning signs installed in advance of this location would be better.

 

WATER/WASTEWATER REPORT

Mr. Hardy reported that there are two new water lines in the construction stage. One is on Hwy 58 toward the brick plant and the other is on Railroad Street to replace the old lines there. 

 

SAFETY REPORT

Mr. Brockwell reported that the staff had presented updated reports for each month on the safety meetings held. 

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that a copy of a letter from Bladen Finch was in the packets in support of the Rails to Trails project.

 

Mr. Martin stated that he was concerned with Saint Paul’s students not having the student union, library or Church open for them to use at all times.  Mayor Clarke asked Mr. Martin and Mr. Pecht to contact Dr. Satcher and meet with him concerning this matter.

 

Mr. Pecht reported that the airport terminal work should be completed in another month.  The airport report was in the packets.  Mr. Pecht stated there had been an issue with fuel but it should be back on board and back to normal.

 

Mrs. Talbert stated that an invitation to a Candidate’s Forum was in the packets.  The Forum is being held at First Baptist Church on October 20th.

 

Copies of two news articles were in the packets.  Mrs. Talbert stated that it was nice to see something positive concerning Brunswick and Lawrenceville instead of all the negative views.

 

Mrs. Talbert reminded Council of the Halloween Parade to be held on Oct. 26th  and asked if anyone wanted to donate for candy or drinks to please come by the Town office.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to pay the bills presented in the amount of $100,991.36 and charge to the proper funds.  This was seconded by Mr. Hardy. Voting aye:  Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin and Pecht; absent: Bland

 

PLANNING COMMISSION

Mrs. Bland and the Planning Commission returned to Council.  Mrs. Bland stated that the Commission voted to table their recommendation until the November meeting in order to get more information from Mr. Truman.

 

WATER LINE REPLACEMENT ON RAILROAD ST

Mr. Dean reported that a proposal had been received for the water line replacement work on Railroad Street.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr.  Pecht to accept the bid from Biggs Construction and use the Railroad Street Repayment Funds.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell.  Voting aye Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin and Pecht. 

 

LEAD SAMPLE VIOLATIONS

Mr. Dean had received a letter from the Health Department concerning lead sample violations.   Mr. Dean explained that the lead is from old pipes in homes not from the water plant.  By 2009 the town has to have corrosion control treatment in place.  A proposal from B & B Consultants in the amount of $3,000 had been received.  A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Hardy to accept the proposal from B & B Consultants for the engineering in the amount of $3,000.  Voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin and Pecht.

 

T21 FUNDING

Mr. Dean stated that the deadline for the grant application for the T21 funding was November 1st.  Three cost estimates were presented to Council.  The town would have a 20% match of either in-kind or monetary.  The cost for this would not be until FY2012.

 

RAILS TO TRAILS

Mr. Dean stated that a copy of a resolution being adopted by South Boston was in the packets.  The funds for their grant would be coming to Lawrenceville as Mr. Dean is treasurer for Rails To Trails.  The resolution passed by South Boston would guarantee us $100,000 from South Boston for their 20% match.

 

Mr. Pecht commended Mr. Dean for taking a position with Rails to Trails and for his commitment to the project.

 

After a discussion on the three cost estimates, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to adopt the Resolution as presented, authorizing Mr. Dean to work with the grant not to exceed $150,000 as the town’s 20% in cash or in-kind contributions match.  Mr. Pecht seconded the motion and voting aye:  Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin and Pecht. 

 

A list of miscellaneous services costs from other towns along with the cost for connection to the town’s system was presented showing how Lawrenceville stands compared with other towns.  Our rates are lower.

 

A copy of the wastewater permit approved September 11, 2007 was in the packet.  Mr. Dean stated that the plant is performing better that the State thought, allowing us to cut out some of the testing.  If things change, we will have to resume testing.

 

BRUNSWICK MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Mr. Dean stated that a membership application was also in the packets for membership in the Brunswick Museum & Historical Society.  Mr. Dean encouraged the town to consider joining.  Also council members were encouraged to join. 

 

CLOSED SESSION - LEGAL

Mayor Clarke stated that Council would need to go into Closed Session.  Mr. Pecht made a motion 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 legal matters. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin and Pecht.

 

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

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

 

CERTIFICATION

On the following motion by Mr. Pecht: “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. Martin and carried by the following roll call vote:

Bland, aye; Brockwell, aye; Hardy, aye; Holman, aye; Martin, aye; Pecht, aye.

 

ADJOURNMENT

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

 

KEITH W. CLARKE, MAYOR                                    ALICE B. TALBERT, CLERK