HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/24/2016 - Regular MINUTES OF A STRATEGIC PLANNING RETREAT OF VINTON TOWN COUNCIL HELD
AT 8:00 A.M. ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2016, AT THE VINTON WAR MEMORIAL
LOCATED AT 814 WASHINGTON AVENUE, VINTON,VIRGINIA.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Bradley E. Grose, Mayor
Matthew S. Hare, Vice Mayor
Keith Liles
Sabrina McCarty
Janet Scheid
STAFF PRESENT: Barry Thompson, Town Manager
Susan N. Johnson, Town Clerk
Pete Peters, Assistant Town Manager
Donna Collins, Human Resources Director
Joey Hiner, Public Works Director
Anita McMillan, Planning &Zoning Director
Anne Cantrell, Interim Finance Director
Chris Linkous, Deputy Chief, Fire& EMS
Mary Beth Layman, Special Programs Director
Tom Foster, Police Chief
Chasity Barbour, Facilities Manager
Mike Faw, Deputy Director of Public Works, Utility
Division
OTHERS PRESENT.- Allen Moyer
Justin Davison
Stephanie Brown-Mead
Angie Chewning
The Mayor opened the meeting and then turned the meeting over to the Town Manager, After
the Town Manager commented on the purpose and expectations of the morning session, he
turned the meeting over to Allen Moyer. Mr. Moyer gave a brief overview of the agenda and
set the ground rules.
The next item was the Group Session led by Pete Peters. Mr. Peters asked everyone to
envision what they would like for the Town to look like in 15 years. Then Mr. Peters listed
items that the participants indicated they would like to keep and items they would like to
change.
After a short break, the participants disbursed to another room where they were divided into
groups of four at five tables. Prior to the Retreat, each participant was asked to prepare a
SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis. Each table was given a
consolidated list of the SWOT analysis prepared by the members of their table and they were
asked to rank as a group their top eight to ten in each category.
The next exercise was for each table to share their top ranked items in each category (that
were not duplicates)while Mr. Peters assigned them to one of six categories—Neighborhoods
& Community, Business Environment, Land-Use Development, Public Safety, Infrastructure &
Facilities and Government/Administration. Then, participants were each given 12 dots and
were asked to place their dots beside the items that they deemed most important.
After the items were ranked in each of the six categories, the top three were selected (Gain
Sharing, Under Developed Property and the Vinton War Memorial-Hotel Development) and
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participants listed tools that could be used to try and address each of these significant items in
the Town.
After a break for lunch, the afternoon session began at 12:30 p.m. The first item on the
afternoon agenda was a presentation by Andrew Kassoff of EBB Consulting in Blacksburg
entitled "Stormwater Compliance'. A copy of the presentation is on file in the Town Clerk's
Office and will be made a part of the permanent record.
The next item on the agenda was a presentation by Joey Hiner of a virtual tour of the Town's
utility systems followed by information on sinkholelstorm drain repairs in May, June, July,
September and October of 2016 showing man-hours, equipment and material costs. A copy
of the presentation is on file in the Town Clerk's Office and will be made a part of the
permanent record.
The next item on the agenda was a presentation by Anne Cantrell of the Vinton-Roanoke
County Gainsharing Agreement, A copy of the presentation is on file in the Town Clerk's
Office and will be made a part of the permanent record.
Following discussion on the Gainsharing Agreement, Council requested that a committee to
be called the "Vinton Advisory Committee' be established to begin a review of the components
of the Gainsharing Agreement. The following individuals were recommended to be a part of
the Committee:
Bradley Grose, Mayor Joey Hiner, Public Works Director
Janet Scheid, Council Member Chris Linkous, Deputy Chief, Fire/EMS
Anne Cantrell, Interim Finance Director Stephanie Brown-Meade
Justin Davison Barry Thompson, Town Manager
Theresa Fontana,Town Attorney Sherri Winkler
Tom Foster, Police Chief An individual from East Roanoke County
The Town Clerk was directed to put this item on the November I't meeting for action by
Council.
Discussion was had regarding the number of rental properties in the Town. Pete Peters
commented that he would investigate potential housing and home ownership grants and
provide Council with an update on various options. Mr. Peters also suggested that he will
request a meeting with several of the prominent rental property owners to see what steps the
town might take to encourage these owners to make improvements to their properties to
increase values and improve esthetics.
After closing comments, the retreat was adjourned at 5:00 pm.
APPROVED:
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""' ..............Bradley E. Grose, Mayor
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Susan . JohLnson, wnU N Clerk
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