January
12, 2010
Mayor Douglas R. Pond called the regular meeting of the Lawrenceville Town Council to order on January 12, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.
Roll was called as follows: Present: Mayor Douglas R. Pond; Council members, Joyce Bland, H. B. Brockwell, Jr., Dora Hardy, Harry Holman, Scott Martin, Robert Pecht, III and Esther Sanderson; Town Attorney, W. C. Outten, Jr.; Town Manager. C. J. Dean; Administrative Assistant, Wanda Johnson; Betsy Draper with the Victim Witness Program; Alice B. Talbert, Clerk and the press.
A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, suspend the reading and file. This motion was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
Mrs. Talbert stated that several items would need to be added to the agenda. Under the Town Manager’s report, the following were added: T21 Sponsorship Change, Lobbyist Letter and Chamber Ad request. Under Airport, the request from Brunswick Academy to hold the Beef and Dairy Festival was added.
Mayor Pond stated that the police department had received a V-Stop Grant and Betsy Draper Victim Witness Coordinator for Brunswick County and the Town of Lawrenceville had come to speak to Council on the program. Ms. Draper stated that the grant was in the amount of $39,863 in Federal funds and $41,725 in matching funds for a total award of $81,588. Chief Gibson stated that the match funds would be in kind and not cash from the Town. The grant is to provide an officer for 2 years to work with victims of sexual assaults. The Grant had 7 conditions attached that she and Chief Gibson did not receive until today. One of the conditions was for the officer to work only on these crimes. This condition was not one she felt would be beneficial to the Town and she did not recommend the signing of the award acceptance until she and Chief Gibson had time to investigate further. Mayor Pond suggested that Ms. Draper and Chief Gibson meet with the police committee and come back at the February meeting. Ms. Draper stated that we have 60 days to accept the Grant.
Mayor Pond thanked Ms. Draper for coming.
Mayor Pond stated that an article on Telpage wireless broadband was on the front page of the newspaper and seems like it is going great.
Mayor Pond also commended the town crew for doing a great job with cleaning the streets during our recent snow.
Mr. Dean stated that 1.833 acres of land next to Oakwood Park Cemetery was owned by the Dept. of Corrections and had been declared surplus. DOC wants to preserve this as green space along the Tobacco Heritage Trail and Mr. Dean ask Council to approve a Resolution requesting the transfer of this property to Roanoke River Rails to Trails, Inc. A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to authorize the Mayor to sign the Resolution as presented. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
Mr. Dean stated that a letter to Erica Jeter requesting that sponsorship of the TEA21 grants be transferred to Southside Planning Commission. After a discussion, a motion was made by Mr. Pecht to send the letter requesting transfer of sponsorship to Southside Planning. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
A letter from our Lobbyist Whit Clement was in the packets for Council information.
A request from the Brunswick Chamber for an ad in the Membership Directory had been received. Mr. Dean stated that last year the Town had a half page in the Directory. A motion was made by Mr. Brockwell to approve $150.00 for a half page with updated logo and web site. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.
Mr. Dean had received green power information from Dominion VA Power and would be looking at this with the budget for next year.
Mr. Dean stated that our cable company, JetBroadBand had been awarded a grant to bring
Wi Max to three towns and Lawrenceville was one of the towns. He hoped to get more information on this.
Mr. Dean asked Council how they wanted to proceed with the Rose Creek Sewer Rehab Project. Biggs Construction was low bidder and was still willing to honor his bid. Mr. Biggs said he would bore under the road to check on rock before starting. Mr. Dean stated that financing with Benchmark was still in place. He reminded Council that this project had been put on hold when we received word of the prison closing. After a discussion, Mr. Pecht made a motion to proceed with the Rose Creek Project based on the bid with Biggs Construction and financing with Benchmark Bank. This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and carried by all ayes.
Mr. Dean reported that the Alberta Contract had been sent to Alberta for their meeting on Monday night January 11.
Mayor Pond reminded everyone that the Town Office would be closed tomorrow, Jan. 13 so that the electrical switchover can be made for the generator.
Mr. Pecht stated that an additional line item on the financial statement was needed in water revenue and water expense for the ARRA Grant. These would offset each other. Mr. Pecht made a motion to amend the budget to add the two line items. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.
Mr. Pecht also stated that the Finance Committee would be meeting before the February meeting.
Mrs. Sanderson reported that the Personnel and Police Committees had met concerning hiring a police officer. We had advertised for the position of full time police officer and had received numerous applications with two from applicants that were certified however one accepted a position with another department. Scott Vincent, the other applicant had worked for the Town as a part time police officer and it was the recommendation of the two committees to hire Mr. Vincent full time. A motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson to hire Scott Vincent as a full time police officer effective January 20, 2010. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
Chief Gibson reported that steps have been taken to find out who has been pulling the fire alarms at St. Paul’s College.
Mr. Brockwell reported that the Property and Equipment Committee had met concerning use of the old firehouse and their recommendation was for it to be used for training or display of fire department memorabilia. The building was not to be used for meetings by profit or non-profit groups.
Mrs. Sanderson stated that a copy of incentives for existing and new businesses had been presented last month and she made a motion to adopt the incentives as presented. Mr. Brockwell seconded this motion and it carried by all ayes.
Mr. Brockwell handed out definitions of site standards that can be used for vacant buildings in town. We need to specify what is available not just stating vacant buildings available. Mr. Brockwell stated that more information and forms would be presented at a later meeting.
Mr. Brockwell commended Mayor Pond for the letter he sent to Senator Jim Webb concerning re-use of the Brunswick Correctional Center. A copy of the letter was given to Council.
Mr. Dean reported that there had been several water line breaks due to the weather. One line inside at Brunswick Correctional Center near the kitchen had broken today. Mr. Dean and Mr. Spence had gone out to the Center but were not allowed in. The maintenance said they would take care of it.
Mr. Pecht made a motion to approve the use of the airport on May 12th for the Brunswick Academy Beef and Dairy Festival subject to approval by the Airport Commission and with the usual insurance and conditions. This was seconded by Mr. Martin and carried by all ayes.
Mayor Pond stated that a Joint Public Hearing with the Planning Commission would be held on February 9th concerning the house at 701 Windsor being used to hold weddings.
A motion was made by Mr. Pecht to pay the bills in the amount of $47,853.55 and post to the proper accounts. This was seconded by Ms. Hardy and carried by all ayes.
The following motion was made by Mr. Pecht: “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 a contractual matter.” This was seconded by Mr. Brockwell and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.
After a discussion on the above motion, Mr. Pecht moved the closed meeting be adjourned and the Lawrenceville Town Council convene again in open session. This was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and carried by all ayes.
Mr. Pecht read the following Certification: “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 was seconded by Mrs. Sanderson and voting aye: Bland, Brockwell, Hardy, Holman, Martin, Pecht and Sanderson.
There being no further business to come before Council, a motion was made by Mrs. Sanderson, seconded by Mrs. Bland to adjourn. This carried by all ayes.
__________________________Mayor
__________________________Clerk