July 14, 2009

 

 

Mayor Douglas R. Pond called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order on July 14, 2009, at 7:30 pm.

 

ROLL CALL

Roll was called with the following present:  Mayor Douglas R. Pond; Council members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Dora D. Hardy, Harry Holman, Robert F. Pecht, III and Esther B. Sanderson; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager, C. J. Dean; Police Chief, E. L. Gibson, Jr.; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert and the press.

 

Absent: Council member, Scott E. Martin

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to approve the minutes of the previous meetings in June, suspend the reading and file.  This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.

 

ADDITION TO AGENDA

Mayor Pond stated that there would be a brief closed session for the purpose of property acquisition.

 

HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY ORDINANCE

Mayor Pond stated that he, Mr. Outten and Mr. Dean had been working on the Historic District Overlay Ordinance.  This Ordinance would give the town control over structures in Downtown and also provide for mixed use in the buildings.  After a discussion, Mayor Pond stated that a Joint Public Hearing with the Council and the Lawrenceville Planning Commission would be advertised for the August meeting.

 

1864 MAPS

Mayor Pond also reported that the 1864 Maps of Brunswick County are here.  The maps have names of the families and where they settled.  The maps will sell for $20.00 and the proceeds will go to HLRA.

 

T21 FUNDS

Mr. Dean reported that a copy of the Amendment to Project Development and Administration Agreement (Appendix A) was in the packets.  Mr. Dean stated that Council would need to accept and authorize the signing for the T21 funds in the amount of $1,272,868 with a local match of $318,217.  After a discussion on this matter, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to accept the T21 Agreement Amendment-Revised Appendix A and to authorize the necessary signing.  Mr. Holman seconded this motion and it carried by all ayes.

 

Mr. Dean stated that the High Street Project had been extended until the end of the year.

 

ROSE CREEK SEWER LINE BIDS

Mr. Dean was authorized to put out bids for the 4500’ of Rose Creek Sewer Line and to seek bids from the banks for funding the project.

 

Mr. Dean reported that the Downtown Grant had not received funding but we can reapply next year in April.  A flow chart was given out showing what steps the town can take when we reapply.

 

A letter from the Southside Virginia Saddle Club was in the packets stating support for a horse track ad equestrian center in Lawrenceville.

 

ADMARK LTD UPDATE

A report from Admark, LTD was in the packets outlining what has been going on the past month.  Mr. Dean stated that a meeting was scheduled for next Tuesday with Town Development Committee, Admark and Mr. Dean.

 

MEHERRIN RIVER BLUEWAY INITIATIVE RESOLUTION

Mr. Dean stated that a Meherrin River Blueway Initiative Resolution was in the packets for Council consideration.  This Resolution would provide managed systems of public water access and use sites along the river.  Mr. Dean stated that most of the land under consideration for intakes/outtakes in Brunswick is owned by VDOT and would not be under this Resolution.  After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to adopt the Resolution, this carried by all ayes.  After additional discussion and questions, Mr. Brockwell made a motion to rescind the vote; this was seconded by Mr. Holman and carried by all ayes.  Concern was expressed as to lack of citizen input and concern as to the County’s stand.  Mr. Dean reported that Mrs. Woolridge was invited to all the meetings and the County had allocated $13,000 to the project.  Mr. Brockwell made a motion to accept the Resolution.  Mrs. Sanderson seconded the motion and the following roll call vote was taken:  Aye- Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Pecht and Sanderson.  Nay- 0, Abstain – Holman; Absent- Martin.

 

TOBACCO HERITAGE TRAIL UPDATE

Mr. Dean reported that the Tobacco Heritage Trail construction was going good.  The bridges are being restructured from the underside for safety.  He stated that  within the next 60 days a lot of change should be seen.  Mr. Dean asked Council members to hold October 27 for a possible ribbon cutting at the site.  This should be Monday, October 26.

 

Mr. Dean stated that he has not been able to get with Mr. Novey on an update on the broadband.    

 

Mr. Dean reported that he would be giving some safety programs to Mr. Brockwell and would like for the Safety Committee to look over for possible use by the Town.

 

A memo from VML was handed out concerning a “Go Green Virginia” program.  Mr. Dean asked if Council was interest to let him know and he would get information.

 

Mr. Dean stated that fire hydrant flushing would begin the first week of August.

 

SURPLUS VEHICLES

Mr. Dean stated that the Town had two vehicles that needed to be declared surplus, a Chevy van and Dodge pickup.  A motion was made by Mr. Pecht and seconded by Mr. Brockwell to declare the two vehicles surplus and put out for sealed bid.  This carried by all ayes.  Mr. Brockwell asked that they also be put on Public Surplus also.

 

FINANCIAL REPORT

Mr. Pecht reported that the financial statement was the last for the fiscal year.  The revenue was over budget and the expenses came in under budget.  He thanked Mrs. Talbert, Mr. Dean and Mayor Pond for a good job.

 

FIRE REPORT

Mr. Holman reported that 31 fire calls had been answered in June with 2 being house fires.  The report was in the packets.

 

POLICE REPORT

Mrs. Bland stated that the police report was in the packets.  She also stated that a letter had been received from Major Kent Washburn commending Assistant Chief Newcomb and Officer W. T. Moody for helping with the murder at Meljo’s Club on July 5th

 

Chief Gibson reported that 512 Maple Street had been broken into twice, once on July 3rd at night and again on July 4th during the day.  Two of the burglars have been identified and arrested, the other two have not been arrested as yet.  When the arrests were made $3,000 worth of stolen goods was recovered along with marijuana and crack.  Mr. Brockwell asked if letters of commendation could be sent to citizens who help in cases like this.

 

Chief Gibson also reported that the DMV “Click it or Ticket it” program had awarded the Town with an additional $1,000 Traffic Safety Council Award.

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that he felt it would benefit the town to use the Internet for selling of  surplus items.

 

DRIVEWAY CLOSURE IN OAKWOOD CEMETERY

Mrs. Talbert stated that a letter had been received requesting a closure of an unused driveway in Oakwood Cemetery.  Emory Samford of Williams Funeral Home had been contacted along with the Trustees of the Cemetery and could not see a problem with closing the drive.  A motion to close the drive at Oakwood Cemetery per the request was made by Mr. Holman and received a second by Mrs. Bland.  The motion carried by all ayes.

 

Mrs. Sanderson reported that the Town Development Committee was working on an incentive package for the enterprise zone and would present more at a later meeting.

 

Mr. Brockwell placed a small track in front of Council with two horses on it and stated that  that he felt we need to build on the “branding” we have in place, working a little at a time. 

 

AIRPORT REPORT

Mr. Pecht reported that the airport had excitement when an ultra-light was unable to take off and went into a tobacco field and had to be carried out.

 

RELAY FOR LIFE UPDATE

Mrs. Talbert reported that the Brunswick Relay for Life had their first rained out relay but still had a successful event bringing in $82,3030.23.

 

PAYMENT OF BILLS

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to pay the bills as presented and charge to the proper accounts.  This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.

 

CLOSED MEETING-PROPERTY ACQUISITION

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 property acquisition.

 

This motion was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

After a discussion, Mr. Pecht made a motion to adjourn the closed meeting and the Lawrenceville Town Council convene again in open session.  This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.

 

CERTIFICATION

Mr. Pecht made the following certification motion:  “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. Brockwell and  carried by a roll call vote as follows: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Pecht and Sanderson.

 

ADJOURNMENT

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

 

Douglas R. Pond, Mayor

 

Alice B. Talbert, Clerk