Special Call Meeting, October 6, 2009

 

 

Mayor Douglas R. Pond called a Special Call Meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order at 5:15 p.m. on October 6, 2009.

 

Roll was called. Present were the following: Mayor Douglas R. Pond; Council Members: Joyce D. Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Dora D. Hardy, Harry S. Holman, Scott E. Martin and Esther B. Sanderson; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson, Town Clerk, Alice B. Talbert and the press.

 

Absent: Council Member, Robert F.Pecht, III; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; and Town Manager, C. J. Dean.

 

Mayor Pond stated that the purpose of the meeting was the possible hiring of Hunton & Williams for government relations work during the 2010 Virginia General Assembly.  The Board of Supervisors of Brunswick and Mecklenburg had entered into an agreement with Hunton & Williams and Mr. Dean had received a letter from Hunton & Williams asking if the Town wanted to join also.  Their scope of work will be to lobby against the proposed closing of Brunswick Correctional Center and to lobby for State funding of a new jail facility for the Regional Jail Authority and include a portion of funding for a satellite jail in Mecklenburg County.

 

Mrs. Sanderson asked about our representatives and if they could do the work.  Mr. Holman stated that this was taxpayer’s money and he had talked with citizens who were guarded about money being used.  Mayor Pond stated that the closing would cost the town 22% of our water revenue, loss of revenue to businesses and would be a big impact on the town and the county.  Hunton & Williams would be appealing to the General Assembly not to the Governor.

 

Mr. Brockwell stated that he had mixed feelings, we do not have the connections Hunton & Williams has and we need to provide them the ammo needed.  Mr. Brockwell stated that we need to let a lot of people know the impact the closing is having and the lobbyist can get our message out.

 

Mr. Holman asked if we were coming to grip with reality by continuing to say proposed closing.

 

Mrs. Sanderson stated that without Hunton & Williams we do not have a voice, she hated to spend the money but we may not be heard at all without this.

 

Mayor Pond stated that in the number of layoffs, 28% were in Lawrenceville alone.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell for the Town of Lawrenceville to enter into an agreement with Brunswick and Mecklenburg Counties to hire Hunton & Williams and to share in the cost of $35,000 to be paid equally by the three ($11,666.67 each).  This was seconded by Mr. Martin.  Mr. Brockwell pointed out that there would be reasonable and ordinary expenses not included in this amount and would like Council to be made aware of them.

 

The motion was carried by the following roll call vote.   Voting aye, Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Martin and Sanderson. Voting nay: Holman.  Absent: Pecht.

 

A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell and seconded by Mrs. Sanderson to adjourn.  

 

 

 

Douglas R. Pond, Mayor

 

 

Alice B. Talbert, Clerk