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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4/20/2021 - Regular1 AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 20, 2021, AT 7:00 P.M. BY ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15.2-1413, CODE OF VIRGINIA (1950), AS AMENDED, ORDINANCE NO. 1016 AND SECTION 4-0.01(G) OF CHAPTER 1289 OF THE 2020 ACTS OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor Sabrina McCarty, Vice Mayor Keith N. Liles Michael W. Stovall MEMBERS ABSENT: Laurie J. Mullins STAFF PRESENT: Pete Peters, Town Manager Susan N. Johnson, Executive Assistant/Town Clerk Jeremy Carroll, Town Attorney Anne Cantrell, Finance Director/Treasurer Fabricio Drumond, Police Chief Donna Collins, Human Resources/Risk Management Director Bo Herndon, Public Works Director The Vinton Town Council meeting was held via Zoom with livestreaming on the Town of Vinton, Virginia Government Facebook Page. The Mayor called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Town Clerk called the roll with Council Member Liles, Council Member Stovall, Vice Mayor McCarty and Mayor Grose present and announced there was a quorum of Council. Council Member Mullins was absent. The Town Clerk next announced the names of staff and others present, confirmed that the meeting was being held in accordance with Town Ordinance No. 1016 and Section 4-0.01(g) of Chapter 1289 of the 2020 Acts of the Virginia General Assembly and that everyone present was participating by electronic means. Roll call After a Moment of Silence, Council Member Liles led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Under upcoming community events/ announcement, Vice Mayor McCarty announced the following: April 23 – 6-10:00 p.m. – Concert in conjunction with Dogwood Festival – Farmers’ Market and April 24 – 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. – craft vendors, car show, kids’ zone and crowning of the Queen – Downtown and a movie at dusk at the Vinton War Memorial; April 29 – 9:00 a.m. – Glade Creek Greenway Ribbon Cutting and Arbor Day Tree Planting behind Billy Byrd Apartments; pril 29 - 6- 2 7:00 p.m. - Melt Yoga - Vinton Farmers’ Market Stage; beginning May 1 – Tuesday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Farmers’ Market Open with local produce and crafters and May 15 – 1-6:00 p.m. - Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce, Grapes & Grains Festival – location TBA. Council Member Liles made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Mullins. Approved minutes of the Council Retreat of March 5, 2021 and the Regular Council Meeting of March 16, 2021; adopted Resolution No. 2422 appropriating $21,772.00 from DCJS– Recoveries Restricted Cash Account from fund balance to the Police Department Operating Budget-Other Equipment in order to purchase 6 new replacement TASERs and accessories; adopted Resolution No. 2423 transferring funds in the amount of $54,500 from the Valley Metro Transportation account in the General Fund to the Council Special Project account and the Building Maintenance account for several projects Under awards, introductions, presentations and proclamations, Chief Drumond recognized the recipients of the 2020 Police Department Awards and made brief comments about each recipient and their award: Distinguished Service-Traffic Safety, DUI Award and Drug Safety Award-Corporal Jeremy Shrewsbury; Distinguished Service-Traffic Enforcement-Officer Christopher Shively; Leadership Award–Corporal Brandon Alterio; Officer of the Year- Corporal Andrew DiCarlo and Life Saving Award– Officer Justin Baker. All of the recipients except Corporal Shrewsbury participated in the meeting electronically. The next item under awards, introductions, presentations and proclamations was the Proclamation for National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. Bill Hunter, Roanoke County Director of Communications and Information Technology made brief comments and then introduced Bekki Craft, the new Emergency Communications Manager. Ms. Craft then made brief comments following which Council Member Stovall read the Proclamation. The next item under awards, introductions, presentations and proclamations was the 3 Proclamation for National Drinking Water Week. Bo Herndon made brief comments after which Council Member Liles read the Proclamation. The next item on the agenda was a briefing on a request from the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (RVARC) to amend its Charter to reduce membership requirements. The Town Manager commented this request is the result of the Commission’s 2019 strategic plan that was adopted which suggested the restructuring of the Commission’s Board. The RVARC currently has the second largest Board within the entire Commonwealth. In February of 2021, a Restructuring Committee was established that studied the matter, considered how other Planning District Commissions within the State were organized and provided two options. Wayne Strickland, the RVARC Executive Director, reviewed the options with the Chief Appointed Officers for each member locality and their preference was that the Commission retain its proportional representation of larger populations while retaining a minimum of two members per locality. The Committee then made a recommendation to the Board that each member locality would appoint two members with at least one being an elected official and the other option being the CAO. Localities with a population between 25,000 and 50,000 would receive one additional appointment for a total of three and localities with a population over 50,000 would receive a fourth appointed member for a total of four. Alternate members could also be appointed to attend meetings if the primary members were going to be absent for a meeting. The Town will retain two members, Roanoke City and Roanoke County would each lose two; Franklin County, Botetourt County, Alleghany County and Salem would each lose one and Covington, Craig, Rocky Mount and Clifton Forge would remain the same, resulting in a total reduction of 8 members from 38 to 30. All local governing bodies must approve this Charter amendment before it can be implemented. Council will be asked to take action on the matter at their next meeting. The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution approving the 2021-2022 operating budget for the Roanoke Valley Regional Cable Television Committee. Scott Ramsburg first commented that Roanoke Valley Television is a 4 government and educational access station serving the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, Town of Vinton and their respective school systems. Since 1993 they have provided media productive services for all three localities and currently cablecast on Cox Cable Channel 3 in Roanoke and Comcast Channel 3 in Salem as well as a newly implemented 24/7 live streaming on RVTV.org. Mr. Ramsburg next commented on the types of media content generated by their five-person staff. The Town’s representatives are Council Member Laurie Mullins, Town Clerk Susan Johnson and citizen representative Ray Sandifer. In the past year RVTV has produced unique media projects for the Town and Mr. Ramsburg highlighted a few of those projects. RVTV’s capital budget is provided through cable franchise agreements and has been recently invested in upgrades to the studio, cameras and lighting equipment to better serve public relations initiatives. The annual operational budget is provided by the three governments through their portion of revenues from the Virginia’s Communications Sales and Use Tax and EG fees from local communication providers. The Town’s percentage of subscribers based on last year’s numbers is 4%, which is $18,832.09 out of a total annual operating budget of $470,802.22. Vice Mayor McCarty made a motion to adopt the Resolution as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Liles. Before calling the roll, the Town Clerk commented on serving on the RVTV Board and working with Scott and the other RVTV Staff and expressed appreciation for all they are doing for Vinton and the entire region. The motion was carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Mullins. Adopted Resolution No. 2424 approving the 2021-2022 operating budget for the Roanoke Valley Regional Cable Television Committee The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution approving the 2021-2022 operating budget of the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority. Dan Miles, Chief Executive Officer, first commented that the Resource Authority provides regional solid waste management for the disposal of the waste that is collected and that there are four member communities of which the Town of Vinton is one along with the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County and the City of Salem. 5 The budget for the upcoming fiscal year totals $14,874,72, which is an increase of almost $2.3 million or 18.1%. The total operating budget is being reduced by approximately $1.4 million and revenues are up approximately $2.6 million. The net result will be going toward replenishing the reserve funds. Over the past several years, they have been having to use the reserve funds to balance the budget to keep from raising the tipping fees. This year they are actually projecting they will be increasing the contribution to the reserve by approximately $3 million. The net result is coming about through the operational change in converting the transportation system from a rail mode of moving solid waste to the landfill to using tractor trailers to haul the solid waste. Mr. Miles further commented that they anticipate the road will become operational by mid-summer. The rail track has been removed and they are moving forward with getting a road in place. In the meantime, all of the garbage is being hauled from the region to the New River Resource Authority’s landfill in Dublin. They are excited about the project and believe they are going to have a system that the region is going to be extremely proud of. Council Member Liles made a motion to adopt the Resolution as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Stovall and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Mullins. The Town Manager commented that the RVRA has been able to maintain the Town’s ability to use the Tinker Creek Transfer Station during the construction period which has been a huge benefit to the Town. Adopted Resolution No. 2425 approving the 2021-2022 operating budget of the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution authorizing the renewal of the Town of Vinton Employees’ group health insurance coverage with The Local Choice Program for the contract year July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022. Donna Collins commented that this year the Town received a 4% decrease in the renewal rates due to COVID-19 and the Key Advantage 500 and the Key Advantage 1000 Plans will continue to be offered as in the previous year. Council Member Stovall made a motion to adopt the Resolution as presented; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members Adopted Resolution No. 2426 authorizing the renewal of the Town of Vinton Employees’ group health insurance coverage with The Local 6 voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) – Mullins. Choice Program for the contract year July 1, 2021 through June 30, 2022 The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution authorizing the execution of amendments to financing agreements between the Town and Virginia Resources Authority (VRA), as administrator of the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund, and amendments to certain bonds of the Town to decrease the interest rates, or cost of funds, on the bonds. Anne Cantrell commented that this relates to the bond issuances for our water and sewer fund that were Series 2003, 2004 and 2006. On April 1, 2021 that VRA informed Town Staff that the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) had authorized Cost of Funds reductions on these bonds to 1% per year. The current rate on these bonds were anywhere from 3% to 3.3%. Council needs to approve the Resolution to amend the financing agreements and decrease the interest rates. Council Member Liles made a motion to adopt the Resolution as presented; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Mullins. Adopted Resolution No. 2427 authorizing the execution of amendments to financing agreements between the Town and Virginia Resources Authority, as administrator of the Virginia Water Facilities Revolving Fund, and amendments to certain bonds of the Town to decrease the interest rates, or cost of funds, on the bonds The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of an Ordinance amending certain sections of Chapter 86, Taxation, of the Vinton Town Code. Anne Cantrell first commented that a revised Ordinance was provided to Council prior to the meeting to correct a transposition of a Code number and to add language that this Ordinance would repeal the previous Ordinance No. 1017 which allowed for the Town to extend the date that penalty and interest was applied for personal property taxes. Ms. Cantrell next commented on the proposed changes. Council Member Stovall made a motion to adopt the Ordinance as revised; the motion was seconded by Council Member Liles and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Mullins. Adopted Ordinance No. 1033, as revised, amending certain sections of Chapter 86, Taxation, of the Vinton Town Code The Town Manager commented that the activity at Vinyard Station continues with improvements to the pedestrian walkway and the Dogwood Restaurant has begun construction of the patio as part of their 7 expansion. With regard to the Gish Mill project, the Town has hired a contractor to do some clean-up activities as part of our responsibility to deliver that property to the new owners prior to closing. The Town Manager next commented that at the request of Mayor Grose, he polled Council regarding the new law that moved local elections from May to November. It was the consensus of Council that we retain even year elections and each of the current members would extend their term by six months. The next election would occur in November of 2022. Staff is closely monitoring the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which is the next round of stimulus funding that the Town expects to get and we anticipate getting our first allotment in June of this year. Staff will give Council a full briefing on the funding at a later date. The Town Manager announced that Chief Drumond was successful in receiving the DCJS Bodycam Grant Award in the amount of $49,000.00, which covers 50% of the total cost. With regard to getting back to in-person meetings in Council Chambers, staff is doing research on the ability to broadcast the meetings live or record and replay them for the general public. There are some legal requirements for providing closed captioning for public meetings and we want to make sure we have the proper infrastructure in place. Town Staff and the Historical Society have recognized approximately $37,000 of improvements needed at the Museum relating to electrical upgrades, sealing of the basement and repairing the back porch. Council was gracious to appropriate revenues toward these improvements and the Historical Society is also contributing to the cost of these improvements, which should all be completed by mid-summer. Cody Sexton, the new Assistant Town Manager will begin work on May 3rd. Under appointments to Boards/Commissions/ Committees, Vice Mayor McCarty made a motion to adopt the 2021 Proposed Slate of VML Policy Committee Members as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Liles and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 8 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Mullins. Approved the 2021 Proposed Slate of VML Policy Committee Members as presented Under reports from Council Committees, Anne Cantrell provided a report on the Finance Committee which met on April 12, 2021. Ms. Cantrell next reviewed a PowerPoint presentation, which was a part of the agenda package and will be on file in the Town Clerk’s Office as a part of the permanent record. Ms. Cantrell commented that the Capital Fund is not at 100% of budget expectations because when budget amendments are loaded into the system, they apply fully to the month they upload to and they have been transferring them monthly. With regard to the FY22, Ms. Cantrell commented that we do have a balanced budget which will be presented to Council in May and after a Public Hearing will be adopted at either the June 1st or June 15th Council meeting. She is hearing that several localities are pushing their budget adoption to the last minute due to the ARPA funds because there are to many questions up in the air. Council Member Stovall made a motion to approve the March 2021 Financial Report as presented; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Mullins. Approved March 2021 Financial Report The Mayor expressed appreciation to the Town Manager and staff and commented on the upcoming Dogwood Festival. Comments from Council: Council Member Stovall commented on the upcoming wedding of his son and congratulated the Officers who received the awards. Council Member Liles commented on the Police Department awards, the Finance Committee report and the hiring of Cody Sexton as the Assistant Town Manager. Vice Mayor McCarty echoed the other comments and expressed appreciation to Debbie Adams for coming out for the Clean Valley Day and doing an article. Council Member Liles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Mullins. The meeting was adjourned at 8:29 p.m. Meeting adjourned 9 APPROVED: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________ Susan N. Johnson, CMC, Town Clerk