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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/7/2020 - Regular MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 7:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE VINTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET, VINTON,VIRGINIA MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor Keith N. Liles, Vice Mayor Sabrina McCarty Janet Scheid Michael W. Stovall STAFF PRESENT: Barry W. Thompson, Town Manager Susan N. Johnson, Executive Assistant/Town Clerk Mike Lockaby, Town Attorney Pete Peters, Assistant Town Manager/Director of Economic Development Anne Cantrell, Finance Director/Treasurer Tom Foster, Police Chief Anita McMillan, Planning &Zoning Director Joey Hiner, Public Works Director The Mayor called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The Town Clerk called the roll with Council Member McCarty, Council Member Scheid, Council Member Stovall, Vice Mayor Liles and Mayor Grose present. Roll call After a Moment of Silence, Justin Davison led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Under upcoming community events, Council Member McCarty announced the following: January 8 — 12:00-1:00 p.m. — Chamber Lunch N Learn — Charles Hill Community Center; January 9 — 11:30 a.m. — ribbon cutting — Mountain View Real Estate; January 10 — 7:30 p.m. — Virginia Tech v. V\fVA— Lancerlot; January 11 —7:30 p.m. — Virginia Tech v. UNC — Lancerlot and January 24 — 5:00-7:00 p.m. — Chamber After Hours — Rosie's. Chief Foster made comments on the beginning of a New Year and how all of the departments are working together to create an amazing future for Vinton. He then read a quote from Abraham Lincoln, "The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself." The next item on the agenda was the Consent Agenda. The Town Clerk commented that two corrections needed to be made to the December 3, 2019 minutes. On Page 5, third line from the bottom, the word "not" needs to be inserted after the word "does". On Page 6, the second paragraph, the type of dogs needs to be corrected from bulldogs to boxers. Vice Mayor Liles made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as corrected; the motion was Approved minutes of the Regular Council seconded by Council Member McCarty and meeting of November 19, 2019; Regular carried by the following vote, with all members Council meeting of December 3, 2019, as voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) — McCarty, Scheid, corrected and Regular Council meeting of Stovall, Liles, Grose; Nays (0) — None. December 17, 2019 Under awards, introductions, presentations, Justin Davison reviewed a PowerPoint presentation on the 2nd quarter report of the Vinton Area Chamber of Commerce, which was a part of the agenda package and is on file in the Town Clerk's Office as a part of the permanent record. The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of an Ordinance amending Chapter 82, Streets, Sidewalks, and Other Public Places,Article III, Public Rights-of-Way Use Fee and Chapter 86, Taxation, Article IV, Tax on Purchasers of Utility Service, Division 2, Telephone and Division 3, Enhanced Emergency Telephone Service of the Vinton Town Code. The Town Attorney first commented that the public rights-of-way fee is calculated by VDOT and has been charged since the late 90's to every company that runs lines in the Town's rights-of-ways. When the application for small cell facilities was received from Cox, he reviewed the Town Code and discovered that the State law had been updated, but not the Town Code. The revisions will bring our Code in line with State law, With regard to the two items being deleted from the Code, one relates to the Consumer Utility Tax on telephones and the other relates to the Enhanced Emergency Telephone Service tax. We continue to receive these taxes, but now they are charged under the Virginia Communications Sales and Use Tax and the Virginia Enhanced Public Safety Telephone Services Act, which support our telecommunications sales and use tax revenue streams as well as support the enhancements that we have on our E-9-1-1 system. In response to a question regarding the amount of revenue we receive each year, Ms. Cantrell responded we received $4-5,000 each year for right-of-way fees. The Town Manager commented that we get a schedule each year with the updated numbers from VDOT, which is what we have been charging even though the Code had not been updated. Adopted Ordinance No. 1012 amending Chapter 82, Streets, Sidewalks, and Other Council Member Scheid made a motion to adopt Public Places, Article 111, Public Rights-of- the Ordinance as presented; the motion was Way Use Fee and Chapter 86, Taxation, seconded by Council Member Stovall and carried Article IV, Tax on Purchasers of Utility by the following roll call vote, with all members Service, Division 2, Telephone and Division voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) — McCarty, Scheid, 3, Enhanced Emergency Telephone Stovall, Liles, Grose; Nays (0)—None. Service of the Vinton Town Code The Town Manager commented that several months ago Council was asked to provide three topics for the upcoming Council Retreat to be held on February 21s'. A copy of the proposed topics was furnished to Council and the Town Manager explained that he had grouped the topics into five categories. He requested Council to advise him or the Town Clerk if there are other topics that need to be included on the list. The broad categories are comprehensive planning or visioning, personnel and compensation, community and economic development, capital improvement program and water and wastewater system. Anne Marie Green with the Council of Community Services has been contacted about serving as our facilitator. The Town Manager next commented that the purchase of the Goodwin property was completed on December 27th. We are now working on any environmental issues that were left and scheduling the demolition of the structures on the property, The Town Manager next expressed appreciation to Council for all of the support shown to him and his family in the loss of his Mother following which the Mayor and Members of Council made comment. The Mayor commented on the past year and how excited he is about the New Year. He expressed appreciation to staff and Council for everything that was accomplished in 2019. He also expressed thanks to the citizens who supported Council and entrusted them with their Town and their taxes. Comments from Council: Vice Mayor Liles and Council Member McCarty reiterated the Mayor's comments and that they were looking forward to the New Year. Council Member Scheid commented on the Brownfield meeting held today and that she looked forward to working on that project. She next announced that she was also looking forward to a great 2020, but that she would not be seeking re-election. Council Member Stovall expressed appreciation to staff for getting the Town calendars out. He also commented on the purchase of the Goodwin property and the fact that it will leave a legacy once something is built there to enhance the Town. The next item on the agenda was appointments to Boards/Commissions/Committees. Vice Mayor Liles made a motion to re-appoint Frederick J. "Mick" Michelsen's to the Board of Zoning Appeals to a new five-year term beginning January 17, 2020 and ending January 16, 2025; the motion was seconded by Council Member Scheid and carried Re-appointed Frederick J. "Mick" Michelsen by the following vote,with all members voting: Vote to the Board of Zoning Appeals to a new 5-0; Yeas (5) — McCarty, Scheid, Stovall, Liles, five-year term beginning January 17, 2020 Grose; Nays (0)—None. and ending January 16, 2025 The next item on the agenda was a request to convene in Closed Meeting, pursuant to Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1) of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, for discussion, consideration, or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of specific public officers, appointees, or employees of any public body; namely the Chief of Police; Section 2.2-3711 (A)(3) for the purpose or consideration of real property for a public purpose, or of the disposition of publicly held real property, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the Town, specifically relating to a sanitary sewer easement on the Methodist Church property and Section 2.2-3711 (A)(7) for discussion or consideration of the disposition of publicly held real property, namely Gish's Mill, where discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public body. Council Member Stovall made a motion to convene in Closed Session; the motion was seconded by Council Member McCarty and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) — McCarty, Scheid, Stovall, Liles, Grose; Nays(0)—None. Council went into Closed Session at 7:42 p.m. At 9:25 p.m., the regular meeting reconvened and the Certification that the Closed Meeting was held in accordance with State Code requirements was approved on motion by Vice Mayor Liles; seconded by Council Member McCarty and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0;Yeas(5)—McCarty, Scheid, Stovall, Liles, Grose; Nays (0)—None. Certification of Closed Meeting Vice Mayor Liles made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member McCarty and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) — McCarty, Scheid, Stovall, Liles, Grose; Nays (0) — None. The meeting was adjourned at 9:27 p.m. Meeting adjourned APPROVED: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor ATTEST: JLt'aa'tj ff..Q�&, Susan N. Johnson,[CMC, Town Clerk 5 AT A CLOSED MEETING OF THE VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2020 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE VINTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING,311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET,VINTON,VIRGINIA. CERTIFICATION THAT A CLOSED MEETING WAS HELD IN CONFORMITY WITH THE CODE OF VIRGINIA WHEREAS, the Town Council of the Town of Vinton, Virginia has convened a closed meeting on this date, pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and, WHEREAS, Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the Vinton Town Council that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia Law. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Vinton Town Council hereby certifies that to the best of each member's knowledge: 1. Only public business matters lawfully exempted from opening meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification applies; and 2. Only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Town Council. Motion made by Vice Mayor Liles and seconded by Council Member McCarty with all in favor. JLL4uj N�2&1 �VYL-1 Clerk d Council