February 10, 2009
Mayor Douglas R. Pond called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order on February 10, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Roll was called with the following present: Mayor Douglas R. Pond; Councilmembers: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Harry S. Holman, Vanessa Y. Jones, Scott E. Martin and Esther B. Sanderson; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Police Chief, E. L. Gibson, Jr.; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert; Citizens and the press.
Absent: Councilmember, Robert F. Pecht, III and Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson.
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Martin to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, suspend the reading and file. This motion carried by all ayes.
Mayor Pond introduced Steve Wagner of Summerfield Forestry. Mr. Wagner gave an overview of the forestry wood industry in Brunswick County. There are 3 companies with offices located in the town.
Keith Barber of Keith Barber Construction asked to speak to Council concerning the bid for the Tobacco Heritage Trail Project. Mr. Barber was the second low bidder and asked Council to consider awarding him the bid as the first low bidder had been disqualified. The Town has the option of either awarding the bid to the second low bidder or to re-bid the project.
Sarah A. P. Raible, Director of the Brunswick/Greenville Library, asked to speak on two subjects. First as a member of HLRA, she asked that Council consider hiring either a part-time or full-time consultant to help with the downtown revitalization grant. Then as Director of the Library, Ms. Raible stated she was concerned about the safety of people using the library and crossing at the crosswalk. She stated that she had asked that signs be put up to help with the crossing and she was again asking for either signage or blinking lights.
Mayor Pond welcomed the new police chief and stated that Chief Gibson had been cleaning out the chief’s office and changing things around.
Mayor Pond stated that he had met with Joan Moore of the IDA.
Mr. Dean reminded Council that the HLRA Mega Happening is February 12th at 6:00 p.m. and asked that all members attend. Copies of the report to be presented by VCU were handed out. Mr. Dean also handed out copies of a report from Admark, a company here in Brunswick County, concerning “branding” the town image to get people to come to Lawrenceville. All of this will be discussed at the Mega Happening.
Mr. Dean reported that bids had been received from local banks for the financing of the wastewater treatment plant generator. A copy of the bid amounts was in the packet. After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to award the bid to First Citizens Bank for a six-year term. This motion was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
Mr. Dean stated that the town had a $10,000 grant to study two buildings and Mr. Bob Adams and Mr. Chris Stephenson will start next week.
A request from Southside Planning for our Regional Priorities List was included in the packet. After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to leave the list the same as last year. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.
Mr. Dean requested all budget needs to be turned in by the end of February.
Mr. Dean also reported that the Spring Festival would be held on April 18.
Mr. Dean reported that the wireless broadband tower has arrived and will be stacked next week.
As there is still $300,000 in the High Street Grant and Mr. Dean stated that he would be exploring the possibility to purchase lots and working with a developer on building on vacant lots.
Mrs. Sanderson stated that the Finance Committee had met with members of the fire department concerning an increase in the fire capital. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to amend the budget line item under fire capital from $20,000 to $30,000 for FY08/09. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.
Mr. Holman reported that 423 calls had been answered by the fire department for the year 2008. Copies of their monthly report were in the packets.
Mrs. Sanderson reported that the Personnel Committee had met and would like to adopt the Emergency Vehicle Driver Selection Criteria. A copy was in the packets and is a requirement for our insurance carrier. After a discussion, Mr. Outten was asked to review and report back at the March meeting.
Mrs. Sanderson reported that the Personnel Committee had met and recommended the hiring of Jonathan Brown at rate of $30.00 per hour to help with writing the Downtown Grant. Mr. Brown would be paid out of the $10,000 grant the Town has already received. After a discussion, a motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson to hire Jonathan Brown as a consultant planner at a rate of $30.00 per hour. Mr. Brown would be required to attend Council meetings and report to Council. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
Chief Gibson reported that everything was going smoothly and a lot of good things were going on. He thanked Council again for the opportunity to serve the Town as Chief.
Mr. Brockwell reported that an updated copy of the town property and equipment was in the packets.
After a discussion on possible billboard on Hwy 58, Mayor Pond was asked to bring a couple more designs to the next meeting.
Mr. Dean stated that engineering plans and steps are being taken to move forward at the water and wastewater plants should funds become available.
Mr. Dean gave an update on the meter changeover to radio read meters. Approximately $41,025.00 will complete the meter changeover.
Mr. Brockwell reported that copies of the Executive Summary on the Hotel Study were given to Council.
Mr. Brockwell made a motion to approve the use of the airport on May 13th for the Beef and Dairy Festival. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
Mrs. Talbert reminded Council to purchase decals before the first of March.
Mrs. Sanderson made a motion to approve the bills as presented and charge to the proper funds. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
A motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson to appoint Chief Gibson as Town Sergeant to fill the unexpired term to end on June 30, 2009. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
Chief Gibson stated that the police department would like to honor former Chief Pond for his 33 years of service to the Town and 24 years as Chief. At this time all members of the Police Department, former members of the department and officers from the Sheriff’s Department along with friends and family came in. The Department presented Mayor Pond with a gift card from Bass Pro Shop. Chief Gibson invited everyone to a reception after Council.
Mr. Brockwell made the following motion: “Mr. Mayor, I move the Lawrenceville Town Council 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 contractual matters”
This was seconded by Mr. Martin and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Jones, Martin and Sanderson. Absent: Pecht
After a discussion on the above purpose, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell that the closed meeting be adjourned and the Lawrenceville Town Council convene again in open session. This was seconded by Mrs. Jones and carried by all ayes.
The following certification was made by Mr. Brockwell: “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 motion was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by the following aye vote: Bland, Brockwell, Holman, Jones, Martin and Sanderson. Absent: Pecht.
Mrs. Bland made a motion to re-bid the Tobacco Heritage Trail Project. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
There being no further business to come before Council, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mr. Martin to adjourn, this carried by all ayes.
Douglas R. Pond, Mayor
Alice B. Talbert, Clerk