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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/19/2021 - Regular1 AT A REGULAR MEETING OF THE VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 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 Laurie J. Mullins Michael W. Stovall 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 Anita McMillan, Planning & Zoning Director Nathan McClung, Principal Planner Mandie Baker, Executive Assistant to the Police Chief The Vinton Town Council meeting was held 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 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 acc Town Ordinance No. 1016 and Section 4-0.01(g) 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. announcements: announcement soon about the 2021 Festival and the Chamber is considering events in March and May announcement in the near future. Vice Mayor McCarty made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented; the motion was Meeting of December 15, 2020 and the 2 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. Regular Meeting of January 5, 2021; adopted Resolution No. 2404 transferring Act Funding from the General Fund to the Capital Fund; adopted Resolution No. 2405 appropriating funds in the amount of $1,509.00 received to satisfy a five-year property recently sold and located at 107 South Pollard Street to the Façade Grant Account; adopted Resolution Vinton War Memorial Operating Supplies Account Under awards, introductions, presentations proclamations, Chief Drumond comments and introduced Brandon Settles, the new Police Officer in the Department, who was present at the meeting electronically. recently chosen as one of the Roanoker Magazine’s Top 40 under 40. Officer Alterio was present at the meeting electronically. promoted to Corporals in the Department. After brief Brandon Alterio, Corporal Dustin Bray and Corporal Andrew DiCarlo, who were all present at the meeting electronically. The next item under awards, introductions, p July 1, 2020 Department was the fifth year that the Department has received the award and expressed appreciation to all Town staff that contributed to the budget document. The next item on the agenda was a briefing to update on the meter and software upgrade project in the Utility Fund. Anne Cantrell reviewed a timeline, which was part of the agenda package and will be permanent record. Ms. Cantrell commented that a rate study was done with Davenport & Company in 3 in November of 2019. After that date, staff became concerned due to the fact that one of the Town’s top five customers reduced their consumption by 80% Also, with the COVID- March of 2020, there was another concern because the Roanoke County S customer. Ms. Cantrell next commented that staff began having teleworking capability potential with the CARES Act funding and one of the eligible expenses was items This presented a great opportunity since our employees are out in the field and oftentimes are being approached by customers. B radio-read system, it will allow them to telework once the upgrade is complete. Approximately $365,000 was funded from the CARES Act to get the project Company will present debt options to the Town since we now feel more comfortable with our revenues and have a portion of the project accomplished with the CARES Act funding. By the first of May, we should have all of the funding from the debt and can begin paying to complete the remainder of the project. Ms. Cantrell further commented the hope is to have the project completed by Fall of 2021. The Finance Department is also doing an ERP software upgrade to include utility billing software and will be moving to Tyler MUNIS, which should be complete by January 2022. Ms. Cantrell next turned the meeting over to Dave Miller with Core & Main for his presentation. Mr. Miller 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 permanent record. The presentation included an overview of the meter replacement project. The next item on the agenda was a briefing on proposed Ordinance to amend Article I, In General, Provisions, of the Vinton Town Code McClung next reviewed a PowerPoint presentation, which was a part of the agenda package and will be on file in the To permanent record. the amendments that deal with grass and storage and accumulation 4 noxious weeds which are already banned by the Virginia State Code. The two main amendments would allow for our Code Enforcement Officer or any Town official in the Code enforcement realm to charge either the owner or the enforcement owner regardless of who was held responsible. Mr. McClung next commented on the major hurdles amendments system which would allow fines to be imposed for present on the property for grass, one letter is sent per season. If the violation is for trash, sometimes they get a notice after the first initial warning that they are in violation. For those cases that are non- compliant, the system, which is a timely process. With the amendment, after there is a violation, there will be a notification and if it is still non- penalty can be imposed of $50 for the first offense and $200 for every other offense after that within a year. At no point in time during a year period will someone be charged more than $3,000. The ultimate goal is compliance and there is a provision for a court hearing if the need does occur. Mr. McClung further commented that a provision has also been added for parcels that are more than one acre stating that na within fifty feet from every property line. The Mayor commented these amendments will be a over the years has been someone to Court either they have taken care of the situation or it has continued and gotten really bad. was able to find a provision in the State Code that allowed towns to have this option, but not counties. The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of an Ordinance to amend Section 78-16 of Article I, In General, and Section 78-43 of Article III, Penalties, of Chapter 78, Solid Waste, of the Vinton Town Code. The Town Manager first commented 5 since we changed our solid waste ordinance. The most identifiable change to the citizen was the use of town-provided refuse carts. several Committee and our Public administrative and the refuse crew, we feel like we modifications that will help us continue to provide a good service to the citizens and have a process that they can better understand. proposed amendments to Section 78-16. With regard to revisions in Section 78- Manager commented that in the current ordinance, there were three notifications of violations. The amendments will refine the violations so that upon the first and second violation, the citizen will receive a tag notifying them of the violation. With the third violation they will also receive a tag, but in addition they will receive a visit from the Code Enforcement Officer. The tags have been updated and provide a duplicate wh team to keep a running log of the violations. Once the third violation is reached that will trigger a visit from our officer. When the Code Enforcement Officer makes the visit, we are hoping there will be a resident to explain there has been a history and a pattern that has developed and advise that on the would be issued a $50 civil penalty. The amendments also provide that if the penalty is not paid within 14 days, it can be referred to the General District Court and removes the reference to a Class 4 misdemeanor. The Public Works Committee reviewed this item at their meeting on January 13th has recommended that Council consider approving these amendments. The refuse team has already begun to implement the communicating to the residents what violations have occurred. The tags include items such as contact information and additional violation such as rental of an additional cart or the 12 7 families looking for affordable or free recreational opportunities which typically have always been free. For example, the Tinker Creek Canoe Vinton is owned and operated by the Town, but is listed on DWR’s website as a public access. The average citizen may not public access and because it is listed on the DWR site, they may be confused on whether they need the different access points throughout our area and the region. The Town Manager fur concerns relate to little or no landowners who own public access sites possible financial and operational businesses procedures, no specific indication properties for access. Other localities are adopting revise this new law. Council Member Stovall asked if DWR could control they would not, average citizen to know if they needed a permit or not if they do not Town operated and managed access versus a DWR access. Council Member Liles made a motion to adopt the Resolution as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Mullins following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mulli Grose; Nays (0) – None. Adopted Resolution No. 2407 opposing Boat Landing Access Fees by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources Council Member Stovall left the meeting at 8:06 p.m. adoption of a records to a permanent file. Anne Cantrell year 2015 and the 8 $5,005.65 and when compared to what was billed, there was a 99.02% collection rate. With regard to the Vehicle License Fee, which replaced the decal several years ago $12,284.13 compared to a 91.57% collection rate. Vice Mayor McCarty Resolution as presented; 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, Mullins, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Stovall. Adopted Resolution No. 2408 allowing the delinquent taxes and Vehicle License Fees over five years old from the active records to a permanent file The next item on the agenda was to consider water and sewer delinquent bills over five years old from the active records to a permanent file. Anne Cantrell commented this write-off is not required by State Code, but is recommended by our auditors so we do not have an unrealistic accounts receivable $14,260.79. They billed out $3.4 million for 2015, which amounts to a 99.59% collection rate. Vice Mayor McCarty made a motion to adopt the Resolution as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Mullins following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Mullins, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Stovall. Adopted Resolution No. 2409 allowing the delinquent bills over five years old from the active records to a permanent file The Town Clerk commented that Council Member Stovall had advised that he would need to leave the meeting and it would be documented in the minutes. The Town Manager first commented on the ribbon cutting today for the opening of Our Daily Bread and that Joe Goodpies at Vinyard Station will open on January 28th. Council should have received an invite from the Town Clerk for the February 19th Council Retreat. We are planning for a half-day retreat in the afternoon for a preliminary review of the upcoming budget, discussion of allocate toward immediate CIP items including traffic signals and an update on the Strategic Plan that was adopted by Council in July of 2020. 9 The Town Manager next reviewed a PowerPoint presentation on the Public Works Fleet leased vehicles through Enterprise, which will be on file in the Town Clerk’s Office as a part of the permanent record. The Town Manager next reviewed a PowerPoint presentation on the Municipal Building, which will be on file in the Town that have been made in the Police Department. The create a safer and nicer working environment for our employees and for the building. The Mayor commented that a majority of the improvements were funded by the CARES Act responded there were some Town funds that were re-appropriated toward non- items and the Police Department used some of their Asset Forfeiture Funds for s improvements, but the CARES Act covered most of them. also the Finance Department has had improvements to the front counter and the drive- better serve the citizens. The Mayor commented in program that worked by putting funds back into the economy, which was what it was designed to do. Under reports from Council Committees, Anne Cantrell provided a report on the Finance Committee which met on January 11, 2021. Ms. Cantrell next reviewed a PowerPoint presentation, which will be permanent record. Ms. Cantrell commented under other items that the Committee approved a request from the Vinton F merchandise for the volunteers. With regard to the Vinton Business Center Revenue, this was a stand- alone revenue for FY21 that was previously included in the Gain Sharing Agreement and we were never been able to know the full amount. When Roanoke County calculated the Town’s 50%, it was $122,000, which has been received and should be a continuing revenue as long as the Vinton Business Center stays occupied. 10 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, Mullins, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Stovall. Report Under reports from Council Committees, the Town Manager Committee met on January 13, 2021 and then reviewed a PowerPoint presentation, which will be permanent record. The Town Manager commented estimates that he is getting to update the traffic signal lights. There are 11 intersections in the Town, all of which are at least 50 years old and, in some cases, older. This information will be shared with Council at the Retreat on February 19th to get some guidance on what you might want to tackle with current year funds or program in the future CIP. There are some larger scale paving projects needed Hardy down to the town limits by Wolf Creek and a large section of Washington Avenue from Pollard to would take care of all of our primary travel routes in the Town. We have done a good job over the past several years in getting our neighborhoods paved, but these primary roads have not been paved in over 40-50 years. The refuse ordinance updates were discussed and operational adjustments that have been made when we have a violation which allows the crew to collect the trash and leave a tag rather than not collect the trash and leaving a tag. Committee was given an update on where we are with bulk collection since the change was made in August to go to bi-weekly bulk and alternating with recycling. As they transition out of the fall months and the Christmas season, they feel like they can get a better handle on a typical month collection cycle and will be collecting more data over the next few 11 and Council in the Spring or early Summer for consideration as to whether we want to make additional modifications to our bulk collection schedule. The Mayor expressed appreciation to staff for their hard work and all of the reports that were given tonight, the economic development still going on and how the leasing of the vehicles will help with Council to look at bill SB1157, which would remove elections anytime other than in November and to let our representatives know how we fee. The Mayor indicated that he is adamantly opposed. Comments from Council: Vice Mayor McCarty commented on the items that were covered during the meeting and although 2020 was bad, we did not Council Member Liles commented on the opening of which will hold employees accountable but also will boost morale and gives them Council Member Liles next commented that he does elections, that it would be difficult to stand out in an election that has multiple people on the ballot and that he would respond to our legislators Member Mullins commented on the assistance from renovations. Vice Mayor McCarty made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Mullins with all members voting: Vote 4-0; Yeas (4) – Liles, Mullins, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None; Absent (1) - Stovall. The meeting was adjourned at 8:56 APPROVED: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor ATTEST: ______________________________ Susan N. Johnson, CMC, Town Clerk