Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the
Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. on
Roll was called with the following present:
Mayor Keith W. Clarke; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Harry S. Holman, Vanessa Y. Jones, 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; Fire Dept. President, James Wesson; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert and the press.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to approve the minutes of the previous meetings, suspend the reading and file. This was seconded by Mr. Pecht and carried by all ayes.
NEW COUNCIL MEMBER
Mayor Clarke took this time to welcome our new Council member, Vanessa Y. Jones.
MID-ATLANTIC BROADBAND LEASE AGREEMENT
Mr. Dean stated that members had a copy of the lease agreement with Mid-Atlantic Broadband in their packets. Mr. Outten stated that he had been in contact with Mid-Atlantic and tightened a couple items in the contract. The term of the lease had been changed from 20 years to 10 years and that only improvements made to the tower can be removed and not improvements made to the old firehouse. A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to enter into the lease agreement with Mid-Atlantic Broadband. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
HIGH STREET UPDATE
Mr. Dean reported that the High Street Project is moving along. The Virginia Department of Historic Resources had cleared two houses. Mr. Dean asked the Town Development Committee to meet with him and come up with a recommendation for use of the money. Mr. Dean was asked to keep Rev. Thornhill updated as he has been working on his houses on High Street.
FY 08/09 BUDGET INFORMATION
Mr. Dean asked all committee chairs to begin looking at needs for FY08/09 and get information to him as he wanted to start work on the budget to present to Council in March.
BAB
Mr. Dean stated that at the December meeting he was asked to bring information to Council concerning the BAB bus line. Mr. Dean presented a breakdown of the number of riders for each month of 2007 and total of fares collected. Mr. Dean stated that they are asking $3500 from the Town for 2008. Mr. Dean was asked to find out how many riders were picked up in Lawrenceville.
NEW FINANCE CHANGES
Mr. Pecht explained that due to changes with auditing procedures, the Town has changed from cash accounting to accrual and the Financial Statement council was accustomed to seeing would be changed. Mr. Pecht stated that the Town would probably be one of the first to be in compliance.
FIRE DEPARTMENT BRUSH TRUCK
Mr. Pecht reported that the Fire Dept. had requested the purchase of a fire brush truck and the Town had solicited bids from Benchmark, Bank of America and First Citizens for a loan for $35,000. Bids had been received from Benchmark and First Citizens. A copy of the bids were in the packets. The low bid was from First Citizens Bank for 3.98% for both a 5 and 6-year term. Mr. Pecht made a motion to approve and sign on the low bid from First Citizens Bank for the 6-year term at 3.98%. A second was made by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Jones, Pecht and Sanderson. Mr. Pecht stated that with the history of the fire department in the past, this would be paid off early.
FIRE REPORT
Mrs. Bland stated the fire department had responded to 30 calls in December with 3 in town and 27 out of town. Mrs. Bland gave the following breakdown: 11 disregard, 5 MVC, 3 smoke scare, 2 structure fire, 2 brush fire, 2 EMS, 1 chimney fire, 1 alarm activation, 1 car fire, 1 electrical short and 1 LZ set up.
FIRE DEPT REQUEST
James Wesson of the Fire Department asked to speak to Council. Mr. Wesson stated that the fire department would like to have the GMC pumper and the Ford Rescue truck declared surplus and put up for sale so that the department could buy two additional trucks. He stated that the department would not sell the pumper until ready to purchase a tanker and that the pumper will be used until then. After a discussion, Mayor Clarke asked Mr. Wesson to meet with Mr. Brockwell of the Property and Equipment Committee on this matter.
POLICE REPORT
Chief Pond stated that an advertisement would be in the paper this week for a police officer to replace Officer Clary who will be leaving the middle of January.
FORCE MAIN UPGRADE
Mr. Dean reported that the Department of Corrections will be replacing the force main at the prison at no cost to the Town.
IDA REPORT
Mr. Brockwell stated that he attended the IDA meeting and they have the same issues the Town has addressed on housing and improvements in down town. Mr. Brockwell stated that he will be meeting again soon with Mrs. Woolridge on the old primary school property.
AIRPORT TERMINAL
Mr. Pecht reported that the new terminal at the airport is being used but still has a few fix up items to be taken care of.
ARTBANK GRANT REQUEST
Mrs. Talbert stated that information on the Art Bank Grant had been received. After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to apply for the grant and continue at the present level of $500. This was seconded by Mr. Holman and carried by all ayes.
PAYMENT OF BILLS
A motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to pay the bills as presented in the amount of $48,174.11 and charge to the proper accounts. This carried by all ayes.
APPOINTMENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER
Mayor Clarke asked if District 2 members had a
recommendation for the unexpired term of Grady Martin. Mr. Brockwell stated they recommended Scott Martin to fill the
unexpired term. A motion was then made by Mr. Brockwell
and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to appoint Scott Martin to fill the unexpired
term of Grady Martin. This motion carried by all ayes. Mr.
Martin’s term expires
Mayor Clarke commended Council members in District 1 and 2 for the hard work done in filling the two vacancies. Mayor Clarke stated that he would be getting with Mr. Dean and rearranging Committee assignments now that we have a full council again.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business to come before Council, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Pecht to adjourn. This carried by all ayes.
Keith W. Clarke,
MAYOR
Alice B. Talbert
CLERK