HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/20/2011 - Regular MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 7:00 P.M,
ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE VINTON
MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET, VINTON,VIRGINIA.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor
Carolyn D. Fidler,Vice Mayor
Robert R.Altice
Matthew S. Hare
William W. Nance
STAFF PRESENT: Christopher S. Lawrence, Town Manager
Theresa Fontana, Town Attorney
Susan N. Johnson, Town Clerk
Consuella Caudill, Assistant Town Manager/Economic
Development Manager
Ben Cook, Police Chief
Joey Hiner, Assistant Public Works Director
Lijah Robinson, Accounting Manager
The Mayor called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Roll call
The Town Clerk called the roll with Council Member
Altice, Council Member Hare, Council Member Nance,
Vice Mayor Fidler, and Mayor Grose present.
The Mayor welcomed those in attendance and after
a Moment of Silence, Mr. Altice led the Pledge of
Allegiance to the U.S. Flag.
Under consent agenda, the Town Manager commented Approved minutes of December 6,
on his appointment to the Roanoke Valley Resource 2011 and December 8, 2011;
Authority. Upon the resignation of Mike Kennedy and adopted Resolution No. 1947
during the process of hiring a Public Works Director, he is reappointing Robert W. Benninger
requesting to be appointed in the interim so that the to Vinton Board of Appeals;
Town will have a voting member on the Board, Upon adopted Resolution No. 1948
motion by Mr. Hare, seconded by Mr. Nance, with a 5-0 appointing Christopher S.
vote, Council approved the consent agenda as Lawrence to Roanoke Valley
presented. Resource Authority
Mr. Nance read a letter from Chief Cook naming
Officer Stephen Foutz as Officer of the Month of
November.
The next item on the agenda was to conduct a Public
Hearing on the request from Appalachian Power
Company, a Virginia corporation, a unit of American
Electric Power, (AEP) to purchase from the Town certain
permanent rights of way and easements for the
Huntington Court Transmission Line,
The Town Manager made opening comments that a
new 138kV power line is needed to support and provide
continuity of power to the Huntington Court substation.
The original easement documents were amended to
remove references to allowances of guy wires in all
easements and to state that a greenway is permitted
within-easement No. 37 on Walnut Avenue provided it
does not interfere with the operations of the power line.
Surveys and appraisals have been completed on the
properties owned by the Town and AEP and the Town
have agreed on a final offer of $126,205 for six
easements;
The finial easement documents were reviewed by our
Town Attorney and AEP's Attorney and some
amendments were made regarding indemnification and
insurance requirements. Ms,. Fontana, Town Attorney,
explained that the insurance provisions were amended
to omit a specific amount of coverage, but that the
easements would be adequately insured for any type of
problems that could arise within the easement
premises.
The Mayor opened the Public Hearing. There were no
public comments. Mr. Hare asked when construction
would begin and Tom Rotenberry with AEP answered
in the first quarter of 2012 and would take 10 to 1
months to complete. The target date to be completed
is December of 2012. Mr. Nance and Mayor Grose
expressed appreciation to Staff and-AEP for working
together to came up with a final agreement;.
The Mayor then closed the Public Hearing, Upon Adopted Ordinance No. 920
motion by Mr. Altie, seconded by Mice Mayor Fidler, approving purchase and
with a .0 vote, the Ordinance was adopted as conveyance of rights of way and
presented. easements to AEP for the
Huntington Court Transmission
Line
The Town Manager announced the appointment of
Joey Hiner as the Interim Public Works director and
that he will report directly to Consuella Caudill,
:Assistant Town Manager.
The Mayor commented that due to the fact that there Approved combining two Council
are no significant items for the January 3, 2012 regular meetings in January into one
Council meeting, that the two meetings in January be meeting on ,January 17, 2012,
combined into one meeting on January 17, 2012. Mr.
Hare asked about meeting on January 10, 2012. He
will not be at the January 17, 202 meetings The Town
Manager indicated that his plans were to present the
Water Study at the first meeting in February. After
further discussion, upon motion by Mr. Hare, seconded
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by Mr. Nance, with a 4-0-1 vote, with Vice Mayer Fidler
abstaining, the motion passed,
The Mayor commented that the City of Roanoke is
using power poles for traffic sgnage and he asked the
Town Manager to follow up on the matter and report
back to Council. The Mayor then expressed holiday
wishes to Council, staff and citizens,
Mr, Hare made brief comments on the Financial Deport Approved Financial Deport of
for October and upon motion by Mr. Hare, seconded by October 2011
Mr, Hence, with a 5-0 vote, the report was approved as
presented.
Comments by Council Members: Mr, Hare commented
on the white and black posts in the middle of
intersections that either creed to be painted or removed;
The Town Manager indicated that he would work with
Public Works to evaluate the current posts and
consider other options and Mr. Hiner indicated that he
has it on his to do list.
Mr, Nance acknowledged all the Town employees,
specifically mentioning Chief Cooley, Darlene Bailey
and Mike Kennedy who left the Town this year. He
expressed appreciation to Susan Johnson, Town Clerk,
and best of luck to Chief Cook in his new position and
to Joey Hiner in his interim position, He commented
on growth in the Town and on the significant investment
for the future Vinton Library. He mentioned Sam
undif and the tObenchain family, The Mayor
commented as well on hilly Obenchain and the
contributions he made to the Town. Mr. Altice wished
everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Vice Mayor also extended holiday wishes and reminded
everyone of the New Year's Eve Gala at the War
Memorial sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.
Upon motion by Mr. Hare, seconded by Mr. Nance; with
a -0 vote, the meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p,m.
7EST;]'/J ._Bradley Ci° , Mayor
Susan N. Johnson,41'own Clerk
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