July 8, 2008

 

Mayor Keith W. Clarke called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. on July 8, 2008.

 

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, Scott E. Martin, Robert F. Pecht, III, and Esther B. Sanderson; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Assistant Chief B.N. Newcomb; Town Clerk Alice B. Talbert; citizens and the press.

 

Absent:  Town Attorney W. C. Outten, Jr. and Administrative Assistant Wanda Johnson.

 

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 Mrs. Jones and carried by all ayes.

 

WELCOME

Mayor Clarke welcomed J. G. Jones and his father Greg Jones. Mayor Clarke stated that J. G. is working on his Eagle Scout merit badge and is present to observe Council.

 

VCU PRESENTATION – JULY 17

Mr. Dean reported that on July 17th a meeting would be held at the Town Office from 4:00 until 6:00pm at which time representatives from VCU will present their findings of the recent surveys concerning the Downtown Project.  On September 4th and 5th a charrette will be held at the Temple of Glory on Main St.  Pastor Simmons had stated that the Church wanted to be involved with the town and offered the use of space in the Church to hold the charrette.  Members of the IDA, Board of Supervisors, Saint Paul’s College, storeowners and the public will be invited to attend.

 

RESPONSE TO GRASS NOTICE

Mr. Dean stated that at the last meeting there was a question concerning the grass notice.  A copy of his letter and the ordinance was in the packets.  Mr. Dean stated that the letter is only mailed once per season/year after that the Town will mow the grass and send a bill to the owner.

 

HIGH STREET EXTENSION

Mr. Dean reported that a letter has been sent to the State requesting an extension on the High Street Project Grant until December 2008.  Mr. Dean stated that this Grant has to be closed out before the Town applies for the Downtown Grant in March 2009. 

 

APPROVAL OF VARIANCES

Two requests for variance on setbacks had been received for 310 and 405 High Street.  The Board of Zoning had met and approved the variance request.  Grant money will be used for both 310 and 405 High and possibly on a demolition of a house on Third Avenue that belongs to Saint Paul’s College. 

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that he had received three positive comments on the improved appearance of High Street.

 

T21 AWARD

A copy of a letter from the Department of Transportation announcing the approval of the T21 Award in the amount of $468,000 was in the packets.  Mr. Dean stated that the funds would take the Trail from the water plant to 681 and from Brodnax to LaCrosse.

 

ZONING ISSUE ON SETBACKS

Mr. Dean stated that he and Mr. Outten had been studying the Town zoning concerning setbacks.  A request had been received from a citizen wishing to build a deck. According to our current ordinance, the side setbacks are a percentage of the lot size which would prevent the deck being built.  Mr. Dean requested authorization to advertise for a Joint Public Hearing with the Planning Commission to change from percent to feet on side setbacks.

 

After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to advertise for a Joint Public Hearing at the September meeting to receive imput on a Zoning Amendment to change the side setbacks from a percentage of the lot size to feet.  This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.

 

 

 

LAWRENCEVILLE LOGO

Mr. Dean handed out copies of the Lawrenceville Ad/Logo that will be used in the Lake Country Magazine and with the Taste of Brunswick Festival.  Mayor Clarke asked if it would be possible to have the Commonwealth in green like the logo on the water tank.  Mr. Dean is to check on this request.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Mr. Pecht stated that the last financial statement for fiscal year 07/08 was in the packets.  The Town is now on an accrual basis but the same cash type internal report will be used for Council.

 

FIRE REPORT

Mr. Holman reported that the fire department had responded to 47 calls in June with approximately 161.5 man-hours expended.  A copy of the break down on calls was in the packets.

 

POLICE REPORT

The police report was in the packets.

 

WATER/WASTERWATER

Mr. Brockwell stated that a request from Larry Carpenter listed on the agenda would be tabled until later and a meeting with the Water/Wastewater Committee would be set up before the August meeting.

 

SAFETY TRAINING

Mr. Dean stated that a copy of VML’s safety training schedule was in the packets and are available for Council members also.  A class on safe driving will be set up by VML to be held for our drivers in October.  This training is a request from VML.

 

CORRESPONDENCE

Mrs. Talbert stated that an invitation had been received Monday from Mayfield Recreation Center for an official grand opening on July 9th.  Members were asked to call the number on the invitation if they planned to attend.

 

RELAY FOR LIFE REPORT

Mrs. Talbert reported that Brunswick Relay for Life had been a successful event with $124,325.82 having been raised so far.

 

CHAMBER INVITATION

An invitation to the Brunswick Chamber picnic to be held on August 13 was in the packets. The deadline for tickets is July 28th.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to pay the bills presented in the amount of $128,794.00 and charge to the proper accounts.  This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.

 

ADJOURNMENT

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

 

 

 

______________________________MAYOR

 

 

 

______________________________CLERK