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Home My WebLink About3/1/2022 - Regular1 MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD AT 6:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2022, IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE VINTON MUNICIPAL BUILDING LOCATED AT 311 SOUTH POLLARD STREET, VINTON, VIRGINIA 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 Cody Sexton, Assistant Town Manager Susan N. Johnson, Executive Assistant/Town Clerk Anne Cantrell, Treasurer/Finance Director Jeremy Carroll, Town Attorney Fabricio Drumond, Police Chief Anita McMillan, Planning & Zoning Director Nathan McClung, Assistant Planning & Zoning Director Fayula Gordon, Associate Planner The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Town Clerk called the roll with Council Member Liles, Council Member Mullins, Council Member Stovall, Vice Mayor McCarty and Mayor Grose present. Roll call After a Moment of Silence, Anne Cantrell led the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag. Under upcoming community events/ announcements, Vice Mayor McCarty announced the following: March 1 – 5:30-9:00 p.m. – Charity Night; Wednesdays – 6:30 p.m. - Hump Day Bingo; Thursdays – 6:30 p.m. - Flamingo Brothers Trivia; March 4 – 6:30-9:30 p.m. – music by Tommy Gill; March 5 – 1:00 p.m. - Twin Creeks Brewery; live music – March 4 – 8:00 p.m., March 5 – 8:00 p.m., March 6 – 2:00 p.m. – T Foxx; March 11 – 8:00 p.m. – Karlee Raye Band; March 12 – 8:00 p.m. – Vinyl Nation – Rosie’s; March 9 – 12 Noon - Vinton Chamber Lunch n Learn - Rosie’s; March 10 – 7:30 a.m. – State of the Town – War Memorial; March 22- 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. - Vinton Chamber Senior Expo - War Memorial; March 31 – 8:00 a.m. - Vinton Chamber presents Coffee with Cops – Bojangles. Vice Mayor McCarty also commented on the recent Employee Chili/Wing Cook off for United Way and the winners. Council Member Mullins made a motion to approve the Consent Agenda as presented; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and 2 carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Approved minutes of the Council Strategic Planning Retreat of February 11, 2022 Under awards, introductions, presentations and proclamations, Council Member Stovall read a Proclamation recognizing Anne Cantrell, Treasurer/Finance Director who has accepted the position of Finance Director for the Town of Bedford. After Vice Mayor McCarty presented a framed Vinton print to Ms. Cantrell, the Mayor and Council expressed their appreciation to Ms. Cantrell for her service to the Town. The next item under awards, introductions, presentations and proclamations was the recognition of Nathan McClung as an Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM). Anita McMillan made brief comments on Mr. McClung’s achievement as a CFM, which will be beneficial in the administration of the floodplain management and for the Town to remain in good standing the Level 8 Community Rating System (CRS). Ms. McMillan next commented on Mr. McClung’s other accomplishments such as the revision to the Zoning Ordinance. After Mr. McClung expressed appreciation to the Town for providing the resources for employees to receive further training and certifications, the Mayor and Council congratulated Mr. McClung. The next item under awards, introductions, presentations and proclamations was a presentation by Chief Drumond to Anne Cantrell on behalf of the Police Department. After brief comments, Chief Drumond presented Ms. Cantrell with a plaque. The next item under awards, introductions, presentations and proclamations was the recognition of Kellie Moore and Amanda “Mandy” Fullen in their completion of Certified Board of Zoning Appeals Program. After the Mayor made brief comments, he presented Ms. Moore and Ms. Fullen with their certificates The next item on the agenda was the consideration of public comments concerning the proposed amendment to the Town of Vinton’s FY 2021-2022 budget to appropriate funding as follows: from the FY21 Federal and State Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG)/Road Surface 3 Transportation Program (RSTP) for the Gus Nicks Boulevard Midblock Pedestrian Crosswalk Project in the amount of $403,912.00; from the FY20 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) for the Hardy Road Midblock Pedestrian Crosswalk Project in the amount of $497,911.00. The Mayor opened the Public Hearing at 6:29 p.m. Anita McMillan first commented that the Town applied for the FY2019 Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds in 2017 for the Hardy Road project and for the Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) formerly known as Road Surface Transportation Program (RSTP) funds in 2019 for the Gush Nicks Boulevard project. For the Hardy Road project, we applied for $183,000 and for the Gus Nicks Boulevard it was $168,000. After a cost estimate was done for both projects, the Hardy Road went up to $497,000 and the Gus Nicks Boulevard went up to $403,000. The Virginia Department of Transportation (Salem District) was able to find additional funding for the Hardy Road project and the Roanoke Valley Transportation Planning Organization (RVTPO) provided additional funding for the Gus Nicks project. A Public Hearing was required since the total of both projects is more than one percent (1%) of the Town’s annual budget. Ms. McMillan next commented they have advertised for the Request for Proposal. The resolutions have all of the line items for the projects and will authorize the Town Manager to sign all of the needed paperwork in order to hire the engineering firm for the professional engineering and the construction engineering inspection services. Council Member Stovall commented that the increase in the costs is going to be a normal occurrence for the next couple of years. Council Member Mullins commented on the cost and the importance of doing the crosswalks right. Hearing no other comments, the Mayor closed the Public Hearing at 6:34 p.m. Council Member Stovall made a motion to approve the Resolution for the Gush Nicks Boulevard project as presented; the motion was seconded by Council Member Mullins and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members Opened Public Hearing Closed Public Hearing Adopted Resolution No. 2479 to appropriate funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) formerly known as Road Surface Transportation 4 voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Council Member Liles made a motion to approve the Resolution for the Hardy Road project as presented; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Program (RSTP) funds for the Gus Nicks Boulevard Midblock Pedestrian Crosswalk Project in the amount of $403,912.00; Adopted Resolution No. 2480 to appropriate funding from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) funds for the Hardy Road Midblock Pedestrian Crosswalk Project in the amount of $497,911.00 Under the Town Attorney, Jeremy Carroll commented that it has been a pleasure working with Anne Cantrell over the past three years. The next item on the agenda was a briefing on the adoption of the newly revised Zoning Ordinance and the repealing of the existing Zoning Ordinance for the Town of Vinton. Nathan McClung first commented that last Thursday the Planning Commission had a Work Session and Public Hearing on the adoption of the new Zoning Ordinance and it passed. On March 15, 2022 Council will conduct their Public Hearing and take action. Tonight, he would address the revisions that have been made after feedback at the two Joint Work Sessions with Council and the Planning Commission concerning signage and comment on the section relating to towing, vehicle storage and impoundment lots. With regard to signage, Mr. McClung commented that the regulations regarding special event signs in reference to inflatable signs, moving and windblown signs in the current Zoning Ordinance are called animated signs. In the new Ordinance, the definition has been expanded to include tube man signs, pennants, streamers, balloons and inflatable signs. These signs were previously under the broad category of grand opening signs and allowed new businesses 14 days to use them. The proposed language is to make sure these signs would be used in some kind of format with a balance of making sure they were regulated in some way. The only way to regulate them would be with a permit. The Town already has an existing sign permit that can be tailored to fit this use. The recommendation is that a business, new or existing, can obtain a permit each calendar year to allow them to use these signs for up to 12 calendar days. They could use the sign for 12 straight days beginning January 1st or they could 5 do one a month or however they see fit. For traffic safety, we will require that such signs not be located within 15 feet of a street line or other property lines and they cannot be illuminated or utilize lighting in any form. They will be allowed in the R-B, CB, GB, M-1, or M-2 districts. With regard to the vehicle storage or impoundment lot use, Mr. McClung commented that in late January a gentleman requested to apply for a towing business in the Town in the M-2 General Industrial District. The current zoning ordinance required a Special Use Permit (SUP) in M-2 and the definition was tailored so that only a towing business that worked for a law enforcement agency or a financial institution could operate in the Town and vehicles could not be stored for more than 90 days. Mr. McClung next commented that only one SUP has been issued for a towing business and conditions were placed on that property relative to screening of the property. Mr. McClung next commented on the recommended changes contained on the Fact Sheet that was a part of the agenda package and will be on file in the Town Clerk’s Office as a part of the permanent record. Any towing business in M-1 Limited Industrial District: would still require a SUP, but those in M-2 General Industrial District would be By Right. The next item on the agenda was to consider adoption of a Resolution appointing an Interim Treasurer effective March 3, 2022. The Town Manager commented that his recommendation is to appoint Cody Sexton as the Interim Treasurer. Council Member Stovall commented that Mr. Sexton’s last name needs to be corrected on the Resolution and made a motion to adopt the Resolution as corrected; the motion was seconded by Council Member Mullins and carried by the following roll call vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Adopted Resolution No. 2481 appointing an Interim Treasurer effective March 3, 2022 as corrected The Town Manager commented on two additional grants the Town has received, a $50,000 grant from Virginia Brownfields Assistant Fund to do additional site assessment for environmental for the Vinton Dry Cleaners to potentially redeveloping the property in the future and a $45,000 grant from the Virginia Department 6 of Housing to do some conceptual planning and a market analysis along the By-pass corridor. The Town Manager congratulated Nathan on his certification and expressed appreciation to Anne Cantrell for all the assistance she provided to him since he has been with the Town. The Mayor commented on the number of grants that have been received, the amount of work required to apply for the grants and to administer them once they are awarded and expressed appreciation to Staff. Under appointments to Boards/Commissions/ Committees, Council Member Liles made a motion to appoint Nathan McClung to the Greater Roanoke Transit Company to complete Anne Cantrell’s unexpired term ending June 30, 2022; the motion was seconded by Vice Mayor McCarty and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None. Appointed Nathan McClung to the Greater Roanoke Transit Company to complete Anne Cantrell’s unexpired term ending June 30, 2022 Council Members expressed appreciation to Debbie Adams for her work with the Vinton Messenger and commented on the fact that the Rite Aid building has been sold. The Mayor commented on the recent Vinton Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at Rosie’s on February 17th and recognized his wife, Debby, who was in the audience. Council Member Mullins made a motion to adjourn the meeting; the motion was seconded by Council Member Liles and carried by the following vote, with all members voting: Vote 5-0; Yeas (5) – Liles, Mullins, Stovall, McCarty, Grose; Nays (0) – None. The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m. Meeting adjourned APPROVED: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor ATTEST: _________________________________ Susan N. Johnson, CMC, Town Clerk