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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/1/2020 - RegularAT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020, AT 7:00 P.M. BY ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15.2 -1413, CODE OF VIRGINIA (1950), AS AMENDED, AND ORDINANCE NO. 1016 MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor Sabrina McCarty, Vice Mayor Keith N. Liles Laurie J. Mullins Michael W. Stovall STAFF PRESENT: Pete Peters, Acting Town Manager /Director of Economic Development Susan N. Johnson, Executive Assistant /Town Clerk Jeremy Carroll, Town Attorney Anne Cantrell, Finance Director /Treasurer Fabricio Drumond, Interim Police Chief Donna Collins, Human Resources Director /Risk Manager Anita McMillan, Planning & Zoning Director William Herndon, Assistant Public Works Director Chasity Barbour, Community Programs & Facilities Director Nathan McClung, Principal Planner Julie Tucei, Planning & Zoning Coordinator 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 Mullins, Council Member Stovall, Vice Mayor McCarty and Mayor Grose present and announced there was a quorum of Council. 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. After a Moment of Silence, Council Member Liles led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Under upcoming community events/ announcements, Vice Mayor McCarty announced the following: December 3 — 6:00 p.m. — Vinton Christmas tree lighting (live on Facebook) and the Vinton Lions Club Roll call Spaghetti Dinner - 4-7:00 p.m. -Vinton Moose Lodge; December 5 -10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. - History Museum Holiday Open House; December 8 -6:30 p.m. -Santa Claus Crawl -Vinton Neighborhoods and December 17 -5-7:00 p.m. -Vinton Chamber Holiday Open House -Charles R. Hill Community Center. Chasity Barbour gave further details regarding the Santa Claus Crawl Council Member Liles made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Stovall and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) -Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) - None. The next item on the agenda was the appointment of the Town Manager to be effective January 1, 2021. Vice Mayor McCarty made a motion to appoint Richard W. Peters, Jr. as Town Manager effective January 1, 2021, the motion was seconded by Council Member Liles and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) - Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) -None. Adopted Resolution No. 2389 appropriating $20,213.00, received from the Department of Motor Vehicles, $13,475.00 in Federal funds and the Town's required in-kind match of $6,738.00 for Overtime Selective Enforcement, training, and equipment; adopted Resolution No. 2390 appropriating $105,507.00 received from the Department of Motor Vehicles, $70,338.00 in federal funds and the Town's required $35, 169.00 in-kind match, for the participation in the DUI Task Force Grant; adopted Resolution No. 2391 appropriating funds in the amount of $7,906.00 from the Police Assistance (HB 599) 200.2201.009 in the amount of $7,906.00 to the Police Department Operating Budget Materials & Supplies 200.3101.553 to purchase materials to build new storage for weapons; adopted Resolution No. 2392 appropriating $2,286.00 received from the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Town's required 50% in-kind match to purchase bulletproof vests; adopted Resolution No. 2393 appropriating funds in the amount of $11,907.45 from the ATF Forfeitures Revenue Fund to the Police Department Operating Budget Material and Supplies to purchase office furniture; adopted Resolution No. 2394 appropriating funds in the amount of $463.90 for the receipt of an insurance claim made on a Town Vehicle involved in an accident Appointed Richard W. Peters, Jr. as Town Manager effective January 1, 2021 2 The next item on the agenda was the appointment of the Police Chief to be effective December 1, 2020. After brief comments, Council Member Stovall made a motion to appoint Fabricio Drumond as Police Chief effective December 1, 2020, the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 5 -0; Yeas (5) — Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) — None. Under awards, introductions, presentations and proclamations, the Town Clerk commented the Town's had received the National Association of Government Web Professionals NAGW) 2020 Pinnacle Award for City /County Small Population for the new website. The Town Clerk next made brief comments about the award and recognized the members of the Redesign Project Team and all of the Town departments who contributed to the new design. Julie Tucei, who was in attendance, expressed appreciation for the opportunity to oversee the website for the Town and for all of the departments that assist her in keeping it up to date. The next item on the agenda was the consideration of public comments concerning the Petition of Giacomo Montuori, for a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a proposed commercial indoor amusement use, located at 700 Hardy Road, Vinton, Virginia, tax map number 060.20- 05- 64.00 -0000, zoned GB General Business District. The Mayor opened the Public Hearing at 7:15 p.m. Nathan McClung first commented that Council was briefed on this request at their November 17, 2020 meeting. The Planning Commission had a Work Session and a Public Hearing on November 19, 2020 and voted unanimously to approve the Petition with two proffered conditions. The first condition was that no gambling devices or skill games as defined by the Virginia State Code would be allowed within the building associated with the arcade use. This condition would prevent the arcade from becoming a sweepstakes or internet cafe. Mr. Montuori has indicated that the intent is for it to be a family -based arcade. The second Appointed Fabricio Drumond as Police Chief effective December 1, 2020 Public Hearing Opened 3 condition would require the petitioner to go through the Change of Use process. In 2016 a site plan and associated building plans were approved for an ice cream and coffee shop with a drive -thru. With the addition of an arcade, the Building Commissioner will require a Change of Use to accommodate for the new building code that includes entertainment uses. Mr. McClung next showed the building plans on his screen and commented that staff did find that the plan matches the characteristics and intent of the General Business District and the surrounding area. The prior use was a dry cleaner, which is currently vacant. The arcade is intended to be family - friendly under the umbrella of the New York Pizza Restaurant and can be accessed from the patio area between the two buildings. Mr. Montuori participated in the meeting electronically. Hearing no comments, the Public Hearing was closed at 7:20 p.m. Council Member Mullins made a motion to approve the Ordinance as presented; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 5 -0; Yeas (5) — Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) — None. The next item on the agenda was a briefing on the extension of the roll -over accrual date for vacation hours from December 31, 2020 to June 30, 2021. Donna Collins commented that due to the COVID -19 impact this year and the CDC and VDH guidelines that inhibited travel, a number of Town employees have not been able to take vacation. Staff is recommending that any vacation time that has exceeded the limits according to the employee handbook be extended through June 30, 2021. The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution approving changes to the FY2021 Classification Plan and to appropriate funds from sales tax revenue, utility contingency, and available stormwater expenditure budget. Pete Peters first commented that the FY2021 budget adopted in Public Hearing Closed Adopted Ordinance No. 1024 approving the Petition of Giacomo Montuori, for a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a proposed commercial indoor amusement use, located at 700 Hardy Road, Vinton, Virginia, tax map number 060.20 -05- 64.00 -0000, zoned GB General Business District M June included the freezing of several positions in anticipation that revenues would be impacted due to the COVID -19 pandemic. Council directed staff to monitor the revenues and come back to Council at a future date with a recommendation on when they could start releasing some funds to unfreeze those positions. Mr. Peters next commented on the four positions to be unfrozen and the one position to be reclassified. Council Member Liles commented that Mr. Peters and Ms. Cantrell met with all of Council individually on the matter and they support what they are trying to do. Council Member Stovall made a motion to approve the Resolution as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Mullins and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 5 -0; Yeas (5) — Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) None. The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution approving and initiating the National League of Cities NLC) Service Line Program. Anne Cantrell first commented that Council had previously been briefed on the NLC Residential Water and Sewer Service Line Program and the Water Loss Protection Program. After the briefings, Town Staff further discussed both programs and recommend moving forward with the Service Line Program only, but continue to analyze the Water Loss Protection Program. The Service Line Program is handled by the Company through direct mailing. Customers can select the coverage they want; the time period covered and can opt in and out at any time. The Company will handle all the billing and customers will be provided a telephone number to call 24 -7 to file claims and the Company will handle the repairs. Council Member Liles made a motion to approve 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 5 -0; Yeas (5) — Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) — None. Adopted Resolution No. 2395 approving changes to the FY2021 Classification Plan and to appropriate funds from sales tax revenue, utility contingency, and available stormwater expenditure budget Adopted Resolution No. 2396 approving and initiating the National League of Cities (NLC) Service Line Program. 5 The Acting Town Manager made comments and congratulated Fabricio Drumond on being appointed the new Police Chief. He also expressed appreciation to Council for the confidence in appointing him as the new Town Manager and thanked his family, current and previous co- workers for their support. Under reports from Council Committees, Pete Peters provided a report on the Public Works Committee which met on November 18, 2020. Mr. Peters first commented on the Walnut Avenue Bike and Ped Improvement Project, which is a VDOT funded project that extends from the City limits on Wise Avenue to the 5t" Street Bridge. The design of the project is at approximately 60 -70% and staff has met with the affected property owners to get their feedback on the improvements and have begun the process of acquisition of right -of -way to accomplish the improvements. The Glade Creek Greenway Phase 2A sewer realignment has been completed and the Fall paving is currently underway. With regard to the 2n1 Street Traffic Study, following a meeting of the Highway and Public Safety Committees to address a citizen's concerns about speeding, staff was directed to hire a consultant to do a traffic study on 211 and 3rd Streets. The Police Department also conducted their own internal speed analysis. The Town has implemented several improvements to 2nd Street and the traffic analyses indicate that the vast majority of the traffic in that corridor honors the speed limit and maintains pretty safe practices. Mr. Peters next commented that the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority Board has provided some updates on their analysis of potential transition to rail versus truck. The final outcomes have yet to be determined, but we anticipate a recommendation from that Board in the near future. With regard to the Right -of -Way Mowing Ordinance that staff has been working on for quite some time, it has been recommended that we put it on hold at this time in order to get the Public Works Department fully staffed and to L• make sure we are addressing the issues adequately and communicating those to the citizens before rolling something out. There is ongoing discussion regarding the refuse and bulk collection operations and the need to make some adjustments. Staff has been meeting with the service delivery staff who have provided some great feedback on our current solid waste ordinance, the new truck and how we collect refuse in the Town. These adjustments are necessary to better provide these services to our residents with the ultimate goal to keep the Town looking good. Under appointment to boards /commissions/ committees, Council Member Liles made a motion to appoint Richard W. Peters, Jr. to the Roanoke Regional Partnership to replace Barry W. Thompson; the motion was seconded by Council Member Mullins and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5- 0; Yeas (5) — Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) — None. The Mayor congratulated Pete Peters on his appointment as Town Manager and Fabricio Drumond on his appointment as Police Chief followed by brief comments. The Mayor also expressed appreciation to their predecessors, Barry W. Thompson and U.S. Marshal Tom Foster for their leadership. Comments from Council Members: Vice Mayor McCarty and other Members of Council also made comments and congratulated Mr. Peters and Chief Drumond on their appointments. Council Member Mullins reminded everyone to support the local businesses in Town during the holidays. Chief Drumond expressed appreciation to Mayor and Members of Council for the confidence shown in him by appointing him as Chief of Police and to U.S. Marshal Tom Foster for the confidence he showed in him and his succession plan. Chief Drumond also thanked his law enforcement family along with his wife and family for their sacrifice and support. Council Member Mullins made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded Appointed Richard W. Peters, Jr. to the Roanoke Regional Partnership to replace Barry W. Thompson 7 by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5 -0; Yeas (5) — Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) — None. The meeting was Meeting adjourned adjourned at 7:58 p.m. APPROVED: 4'*o Bradley E. Grose, Mayor ATTEST: Susan N. Johnsen, CMC, Town Clerk