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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/18/2020 - Regular1 AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 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 Brandon Gann, Financial Services Analyst Nathan McClung, Principal Planner The Vinton Town Council meeting was held via Virginia Government Facebook Page. The Mayor The Town Clerk called the roll with Council Member Liles, Council Member Mullins Member Stovall, Vice Mayor McCarty Grose present announced the names of staff and others present, confirmed that the meeting 2020 Reconvened Session of the Virginia General 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/ announcements, Vice Mayor McCarty announced the following: August 22 - 7-10:00 p.m. – Mingle at the Market with Seven Mile Ford – Farmers’ Market; September 12 – 7-10:00 p.m. – Mingle at the Market with Harddrive Crew – Farmers’ Market; September 26 - 7-10:00 p.m. – Mingle at 2 Market and September 17 – Vinton Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament – Botetourt. Stovall Tournament and the possibility of postponing it to Festival. Council Member Stovall made a motion to seconded by Council Member Liles and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Grose; Nays (0) – None. Approved minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of July 21, 2020; adopted Resolution No. 2373 approving the amended Title VI of the Civil Rights Act Implementation Plan The next item on the agenda was a briefing on Policy current Purchasing Policy since 2013. The changes that are being proposed manner. Current purchase benefits received from collecting multiple quotes on smaller items does not outweigh the cost and staff time in seeking out those additional quotes. Mr. Gann next which was a part of the agenda package and will be on permanent record. The Acting Town Manager commented the item was discussed with the Finance Committee and the The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of an Ordinance permanently abandoning, vacating, and deeding an unnamed 12’ right-of-way to Longwood Apartments, LLC. Nathan McClung first commented that the original plat for the Midway Land Company in 1989 referred to Block No. 5. In Street to Bell Street was vacated by Ordinance No. 381. selling the property and the title search provide any concrete proof that the alley running east to west had been vacated. 3 on the plat that the alley was vacated, it was never properly done by an Ordinance. 15.2-2272.1 since the extent of Block 5 through a Deed of Vacation. Staff is recommending Deed. The T because we are using Section 15.2-2 around the vacated alley, Public Hearing. Council Member Liles made a motion to adopt the Ordinance as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Mullins and carrie following roll call vote, with all members voting: with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Adopted Ordinance No. 1020 permanently unnamed 12’ right-of- Apartments, LLC The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution adopting the new Town of Vinton Employee Handbook. commented that Handbook. The previous handbook was updated in November of 2008 and takes into consideration 2020. One addition to the original draft was the 2001 Council approved Em Recognition Policy which was added as Addendum H. Council Member Mullins seconded by Council Member Stovall voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Adopted Resolution No. 2374 adopting the new Town of Vinton Employee Handbook The Acting Town Manager next commented that Development (DHCD). had a strong funding due to reallocating some towards COVID- 4 approximately $7 million. The Town had applied for $1.4 million of that total award. We have requested a debriefing with DHCD to review our application to gain some insight on where we could make some improvements and be more competitive at the next grant cycle. They are anticipating a second-round application cycle in were not used throughout the year and intend to reapply. The Acting Town Manager next commented that another allocation of funding from the CARES Act which brings our total to approximately $1.4 million Staff has been working extremely hard and this has touched every aspect of our local government. Mr. Peters next commented Department has established a process to work with Roanoke County. Because the recipient of the grant funds and we are the sub- recipient, for payment. Also, we have to obtain pre-approval with our auditors to make sure that the projects we are submitting meet the requirements of the CARES Act. O coordinating all of the contractors/vendors, keeping track of the different projects meeting with contractors overseeing the building rehab and remodeling projects in all of our facilities. Police Department and Council Chambers. We are making a significant upgrade to software to allow us to be teleworking when necessary or during an emergency and assist with teleworking so we do not have to be in community. Other items relate to water meter replacement and radio read antennas cons Act funding to who were on the front-line during this difficult time. 5 Under reports from Council Committees, the Acting Economic Development Committee met on August 12, 2020 and then reviewed Clerk’s Office as a part of the permanent record solicitation from an adjacent business owner about business and that the second slide showed what a potential concept of that space might look like. The Committee provided feedback on the proposal and he has reached back out to the business owner for their consideration. Mr. Peters next commented showing the proposed Gish Mill project. A $250,000 grant application was submitted for a DHR Grant to help stabilize the structure and a $600,000 application for an IRF Grant to be administered in the form of a loan to the developer to help rehab and renovate the structure. If we are successful in receiving these funds, it would almost assuredly allow us to move forward with the project and we are optimistic that we will get the funding. Mr. Peters next commented on slides showing the progress of Vinyard Station. The project is still on landscaping in late September. The owner o restaurant is considering using the War Memorial to do a job fair to hire 35- underway for the space you see on the slide as well as the former parts component. Mr. Peters next also discussed the Billy Byrd Annex. Through the EPA Assessment Grant, the Phase I lead paint and provide some information that the developer would want to move forward and submit a formal proposal Chief Drummond next provided a report on the Joint Public Safety/Highway Safety Committee 6 discuss a traffic concern by a resident of 130 Cedar Avenue and a request to have stop signs placed at the intersections of both 2nd Street and Cedar and 2nd make both of those intersections four-way stops. statistics from the Police Department applied to the intersection of 2nd Street and Cedar Avenue relating to speeding and crashes. The Department had recently installed the electronic speed limit signs on 2nd Hiner, Public Works Director, discussed recent road enhancements to 2nd Street of double-yellow striping from Walnut to Virginia Avenue, placement of two additional speed limit signs directions and stop bars at Virginia and Walnut Avenues. Mr. Varney from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) discussed roadway tendencies along with citizen accountability Varney’s comments illustrated that generally installing four-way stop signs does not alleviate the problem or but may actually stress the issue further increasing traffic-relevant concerns. Chief Drummond next commented that both Committees recommended be placed on both 2nd and 3rd Streets the quantity of traffic on the roadways. VDOT will be installing them for a week to allow a comparison since they are both truck routes. Anne Cantrell next provided a report on the Finance Committee Ms. Cantrell next reviewed a PowerPoint Ms. Cantrell commented that real estate, personal property and sales taxes, business license, VLF and interest income all came in above budget as of June 2020. Communications sales and use, bank stock and pari-mutuel taxes and fines and charges for services missed the mark. We had appropriated $500,000, but it looks like we may have to dip into the fund balance around $3- from the fund balance this year. 7 Ms. Cantrell next commented on debt set-off program. Each November the Finance Department have outstanding bills for personal property and real estate taxes and utility bills. When those individuals file their State taxes throughout the year and there is a match on their Social Security Number, it puts a hold on their refund and we there is an amount still owed. Brandon Gann is in $48,000 in revenue and as of this year we have received $74,891 and processed 1,465 claims This does not include the 500 that he has handled that have already been paid or came to pay in the office to avoid the admin fee. Council Member Stovall made a motion to approve the May 2020 Financial Report 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. Approved May 2020 Financial Report The Mayor commented that Council wants to always adhere to the current rules and regulations that are in effect and we want our citizens and staff to be as safe as possible; however, we had to have two meetings in Council Chambers recently. The July 7th following the May elections. At that meeting we are and re- have them sign their Oaths of Office in person. At Interim Police Chief and have them sign their Oaths of Office in person. that were necessary at those two meetings. For meetings such as tonight when our business items are pretty general in nature, having them electronic during the Pandemic is preferred abundance of caution. The Mayor next expressed appreciation to staff and commented on Council Member Liles recent birthday. Comments from Council Members: Vice Mayor McCarty expressed appreciation to staff; Council Member Mullins commented on Vinyard Station; Council Member Stovall commented on the Finance Committee meeting and 8 beneficial to our citizens. Council Member Liles also expressed appreciation to staff and how they have pandemic and that he is very excited about all of the going on around Vinton. Council Member Liles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Stovall with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – The meeting was adjourned at 8:06 p.m. Regular Meeting adjourned APPROVED: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________ Susan N. Johnson, CMC, Town Clerk