9-12-89 Minutes

City of Bedford, Virginia - At the Peaks of Perfection!

9-12-89 Minutes

A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Bedford, Virginia, was held in the Council Hall of the Municipal Building at 7:30 p.m., September 12, 1989.

Members present: Mayor G. Michael Shelton; Councilman Larry D. Brookshier; Councilman E. Thomas Messier; Councilman Ronnie C. Rice; and Councilman James A. Vest.

Members absent: Councilwoman Joanne A. Grahame; and Vice Mayor John M. Owen, III.

Staff present: City Manager Jack A. Gross; City Attorney W. W. Berry, IV; and Clerk of the Council Teresa W. Hatcher.

Mayor Shelton opened the meeting and led all present in saying the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

Mayor Shelton declared that the minutes of a regular meeting held on August 22, 1989, were approved as mailed.

The City Manager reported that the problem with the taste of the water has run through the system. He stated that plans have been made to improve the City's preventive maintenance situation on the carbon filters, and that he would not anticipate that situation happening again at the end of the summer next year when the reservoir does its annual inversion.

City Manager Gross reported that the first phase of the contract which is the concept for the designing of the Waste Treatment Facility has been completed. He stated that it will be designed to handle the new standards that will probably be in full legal status by the time the City finishes this project. The estimated total cost of the contract is approximately $285,600. Mr. Gross stated that he included $206,558 in the budget, which is about $80,000 short. The City Manager stated that he will have to bring this item to Council for an additional appropriation before the close of the fiscal year.

Councilman Brookshier brought up the matter of the City providing the use of the old gymnasium temporarily at the Bedford Middle School. Councilman Brookshier stated he would like to ask the City Manager to look at what would have to be done to use the gym. He suggested that a committee evaluate the feasibility of providing a new gymnasium.

Mayor Shelton asked the City Manager to evaluate the condition of that facility, if it is feasible to use the old gymnasium for that purpose, and report back to Council.

Councilman Rice stated that he attended the opening dedication of the Roanoke Municipal Airport and expressed what a fantastic facility it is.

Mayor Shelton thanked Council for the one hundred percent turnout of Council members to the dedication ceremony for the new Bedford Elementary school.

Mayor Shelton stated that Chief of Police Russell and several members of his department held a neighborhood meeting last night with the residents in the Washington Street, Edmund Street, Federal Street, and South Street area to discuss neighborhood concerns in reference to the Police Department. The Mayor commended the Chief in holding the meeting and opening the channels of communication.

Council concurred to authorize the City Manager to make the necessary changes in the Personnel Policy Manual holiday schedule, authorizing the Friday after Thanksgiving as a designated municipal holiday and eliminating the third Monday in February (President's Day) from the holiday schedule, in accordance with a survey of City employees.

The Clerk of Council read aloud the following Notice of Public Hearing:

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to Section 22.1-29.1 of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended, the City Council of the City of Bedford will hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on September 12, 1989, in the Council Hall of the Municipal Building, for the purpose of receiving the views of citizens on the appointment of a member to the City School Board.

Mayor Shelton opened the Public Hearing at 7:50 p.m. Mayor Shelton stated that the two citizens being considered for appointment were: Elizabeth Bailey, 846 College Street; and Jeffrey Krantz, 1414 Dawn Drive. As there were no comments, Mayor Shelton closed the public hearing at 7:51 p.m.

Mayor Shelton stated that a Report from the Water and Sewer Committee was received at the last Council meeting regarding the request of Tommy Reynolds and Oscar Padgett for water and sewer connections outside the city limits. The Water and Sewer Committee recommended that Council approve connections to 10 single family dwellings; that such approval would not imply approval of any other hookups; and would be subject to the usual conditions.

Councilman Brookshier moved to adopt the recommendation of the Water and Sewer Committee. The motion was seconded by Councilman Vest. Discussion ensued. Councilman Brookshier clarified his

motion by stating this approval would not imply any other hookups; would be subject to the usual conditions; and that there are 12 lots marked, 10 of which would be approved.

Councilman Vest asked Oscar Padgett if he understood that this approval is for 10 hookups only, and that after this approval the moratorium goes into effect. Mr. Padgett indicated that he understood this.

Councilman Rice stated that he had received a telephone call from Betty Fitzgerald who had planned to attend the meeting and was unable to. Councilman Rice stated that Mrs. Fitzgerald asked him to direct some questions to Mr. Padgett, and Mr. Rice proceeded to do so. Mr. Padgett responded to the questions.

Further discussion ensued.

Council then voted upon Councilman Brookshier's motion, which carried, three members voting aye, two members voting nay (Messier, Rice), and two members absent.

Mr. David Hill, Hill Studio, summarized his proposal for studying the policy and suitability of sewer and water extensions beyond the city limits. Dr. Will Shepherd also spoke for Hill Studio.

The City Manager stated that the total cost should not exceed $45,100.

Mayor Shelton asked the City Manager to include this on the next agenda for consideration.

The City Manager stated that Janie Mantooth, Executive Director of Bedford Main Street, Inc., is requesting permission to block the following streets in the Centertown area from 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 30, 1989, to 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 1, 1989, for Bedford Centerfest '89:

North Bridge Street to Depot Street

South Bridge Street to Washington Street

East Main Street to Center Street

West Main Street to South Street

He stated that Bedford Main Street, Inc., will obtain written permission from property owners bordering these streets.

Councilman Vest moved that Council grant the request of Bedford Main Street, Inc., to close the above streets from 7:30 a.m. on September 30, 1989, to 2:00 a.m. on October 1, 1989, contingent upon written permission being obtained from adjacent property owners by September 27 in the Manager's Office. The motion was seconded by Councilman Messier, voted upon and carried.

On motion by Councilman Vest, seconded by Councilman Brookshier, voted upon and carried by a roll call vote, Council adjourned into executive session to discuss: Commission on Local Government Structures and Relationships, and the City's obligations to provide utility services outside the city limits, pursuant to Section 2.1-344(a)(7) of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended. Roll call vote follows:

Councilman Brookshier aye

Councilwoman Grahame absent

Councilman Messier aye

Vice Mayor Owen absent

Councilman Rice aye

Councilman Vest aye

Mayor Shelton aye

Council adjourned into executive session at 8:22 p.m. Non-council members attending were: City Manager Gross, City Attorney Berry, Clerk of Council Hatcher, and Mr. Carter Glass.

The Clerk of Council read aloud the following resolution:

BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Bedford hereby certifies that, to the best of each member's knowledge, (1) only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the executive meeting to which this certification resolution applies,, and (2) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the executive meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Council.

Councilman Vest moved that the resolution be adopted as read. Councilman Brookshier seconded the motion, which was voted upon and carried by the following roll call vote: