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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7/21/2015 - Regular MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 7-15 P.M. ON TUESDAY, JUL Y 21, 2015, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE VINTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET, VINTON, VIRGINIA MEMBERS PRESENT.- Bradley E. Grose, Mayor Matthew S. Hare, Vice Mayor 1. Douglas Adams, Jr. Sabrina M. Weeks STAFF PRESENT: Christopher S. Lawrence, Town Manager Theresa Fontana, Town Attorney Susan N. Johnson, Town Clerk Ben Cook, Police Chief Donna Collins, Human Resources Specialist Barry Thompson, Finance Director/Treasurer Chris Linkous, Fire & EMS Captain Joey Hiner, Assistant Public Works Director The Mayor welcomed everyone to the Recognition Ceremony honoring Council Member Wes Nance. Vice Mayor Hare read a proclamation for Mr. Nance which was presented to him along with a framed picture of the Town clock and a gift basket. After comments from members of Council and from the audience, Mr. Nance made closing comments. The Mayor called the regular meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. The Town Clerk called the roll with Council Member Adams, Council Member Weeks, Vice Mayor Hare and Mayor Grose present. After a Moment of Silence, Council Member Adams led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Roll call Under upcoming community events/ announcements, Council Member Weeks announced the next Mingle at the Market on August 8 th The Breakfast Lions Club draw down event will be August 15th. Vice Mayor Hare announced the Gladetown Reunion on July 31't through August 2 d. Chief Cook announced the National Night Out on August e at the Farmers' Market. Council will not have their regular meeting and will be participating in the event. Under the consent agenda, Vice Mayor are referred to the section in the minutes relating to the LIDA Planning Grant and the requirements of the Grant. He requested that the Town Manager provide some additional clarification to Council regarding the requirements of the grant. The Town Manager commented that we were approved for the $65,000 grant to do the development study, He will get the requested information to Council, Vice Mayor Hare made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented, the motion was, seconded by Council Member-Adams and carried by the following vote, with all members voting; Vote -0, Peas 4 --Adams, Weeks; Hare, Grose; days Approved minutes for the regular (0)- None. meeting of July 7, 2015 The Mayor announced that it has been a tradition for several years for Wes Nance to handle the Police Officer of the Month presentation. He invited Mr. Nance to read the Memo from Chief Cook naming Officer Michael Caldwell as Officer of the month for June which he did from the audience; The 'Town Manager requested to add an item to the agenda after the briefing relating to the hiring of a new Assistant Town Manager. The next item on the agenda was a briefing on the historical assessment of fish Mill property located at 350 Gus licks Boulevard, Vinton, Virginia, Debbie Pitts with the Vinton Historical Society first recognized members of the Historical Society and two summer interns from William Byrd High School. She also introduced Susan Fleming and her father Richard Kidd, both of wham are direct descendants of the fish Family. Ms. Pitts next gave a brief history of the hill and commented that the Historical Society is interested in exploring options with the Town to preserve the Mill. She then introduced Michael Police from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources: Mr. Pulice first commented that he was contacted by Ms;. Pitts in April to do a site visit of the Mill. He began with a Power Point presentation showing several showing various pictures of the outside of the building. He stated that he is not an engineer or architect, but an architectural historian. His purpose was to try to determine the ace of the Mill, assess the historical integrity and significance, 1 study on the structural integrity would be necessary if something is to be done with the building. e uses brick work to try to determine the age of buildings and he believes the brick on the Mill dates to post-civil war era,Another dating clue was the six over six pane windows and the fact that the bricks were handmade which pre-date the late 166s. His preliminary assessment of the age is between the late 1366s and the late 1680s, which makes it approximately 150 years old. With regard to the roof, that type did not become popular until around 10 in this area for barns, so probably the roof was reconfigured. With regard to the interior of the building, he showed some slides and commented the basement has a 16 feet high ceiling and has set untouched for a very Tong time. A lot of old equipment was found that could be sandblasted and cleaned up. A lot of belt wheels, shoots and pulleys are still intact in the upper level. There is evidence of fire in the building. He also showed a picture of a Mill in Bedford County with very similar structural qualities. Mr. Pulice next commented that the property is in flood plain„ has been on the market for some time and is not a very good location for a business; Perhaps someone could contact the owner and indicate that the Historical Society and/or the Town would like to see it preserved and see if they would consider making a charitable donation. Another option would be to find a use for the building and have it evaluated for the National Register, which program he administers for Western Virginia. This would also have to be with the owner's consent. If it is determined to be eligible, then rehabilitation tax credits would be available and up to 4 of what is spent on the building could be reimbursed by these tax credits. A third option would be to snake it a tourist attraction to include the whole area along the creek a park and possibly some grants would be available for this. In closing, Mr. Pulice showed a slide of the Barboursville Ruins near Charlottesville. The Ruins were not restored or rehabilitated, but preserved as an artifact. They have been braced so that it is safe for visitors. As a last resort, this could be done with the Mill. If a roof was Maintained on the Mill, it would preserve the building much Conger. This would not take as much money as bringing the Mill back to viable use again. Ms. Pitts commented that the historical Society is still in their fund raising campaign to make necessary improvements to the Museum, She mentioned that Mr, Pulice had visited the Museum and had submitted it to the National Register. Mr. Pulice reported that it was not deemed eligible at this time; however, he felt like there would be an opportunity to reapply at a future time. The Town Manager next commented on hiring replacement for Ryan Spitzer, the Assistant Town Manager. This is an important position to the Town with regard to economic development as well as serving as the Assistant Town Manager. One of the current policies established by Council relates to residency requirements. This policy states that the Assistant Town Manager is required to live within the corporate boundaries of the Tower, The Town Manager commented that this may be a barrier to recruit the best candidate for the position: This policy which was established about four years ago required the Town Manager, Police Chief, Public< Works Director and the Assistant Town Manager to live inside the corporate boundaries of the Town. The Finance Director was allowed to live within the service area. The Town Manager requested Council to amend the policy to allow the Assistant Town Manager to at least live in the service area or perhaps an every broader area. He would life to advertise this position and the residency requirements would need to be disclosed at that time; After further discussion by Council, the Town Manager clarified that when Mr; Spitzer was initially hired, the position was Assistant to the Town Manager, which did not require him to live in the Town. When he was promoted to Assistant Town !Manager, he had already purchased a home outside the Town limits and was not required to move. Council Member Adams made a motion to amend the residency policy to allow the Assistant Town Manager to live within the service area of the Town. The Town Manager clarified service area to mean the area where the Town provides water and sewer service which is from the boundary of the Town to the Bedford County line. We do not provide any service to the City of Roanoke. The motion was seconded by Council Member Weeks Approved amending the residency and carried by the following roll call vote, with all policy to allow the Assistant Town members voting:: Vote -0, `leas (4) Adams, Manager to live within the service Meeks, bare, Grose; flays (0)_ Gone. area of the Town The Mayor referenced comments that were made during the recognition ceremony for Mr. Nance of some very monumental decisions that were made during his tenure on Council. He also commented on the fact that the Town got hit really 4 hard during the recession. During that time, our Town Manager, staff and Council made some difficult decisions with regard to the Town' finances. It may not have always appeared on the outside that all that hard work was being done, but these decisions have brought the Town to where we are today. Comments from Council embers: Ms. Weeks announced the ribbon cutting on August 12 to at 11:00 a.m. for the business incubator at the Health Department; Mr. Adams commented on the Farmers' Market and requested the `hewn Manager to schedule a Public Safety meeting. The Mayor asked about questions to be used for the interviews of the candidates for Mr. lance's vacancy. After discussion, the Town Manager recommended that Council email any specific questions they have to the Town Clerk and she will distribute them to Council. Vice Mayor Hare made a motion to adjourn the meeting, the motion was seconded by Council Member Adams and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote -0 Yeas ( — Adams, Weeks, Fare, Grose, bays (0)—bone. The meeting was adjourned at 8:80 p.m. Meeting adjourned APPROVED: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor A EST: Susan 1 . Johnson own Clerk 5