10-24-89 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., October 24, 1989.

Members present: Mayor G. Michael Shelton; Councilman Larry D. Brookshier; Councilwoman Joanne A. Grahame; Councilman E. Thomas Messier; Vice Mayor John M. Owen, III; Councilman Ronnie C. Rice; and Councilman James A. Vest.

Members absent: None.

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 of October 10, 1989, were approved as mailed.

City Manager Gross stated that he had been contacted by Mr. Don Rowe, Attorney for Carriage Hill Retirement Center. Mr. Rowe asked for Council to postpone agenda item "Request for Water and Sewer Connections - Carriage Hill Retirement Center" to an unspecified date in the future. Mayor Shelton stated that item would be omitted from the agenda.

Discussion ensued regarding setting timetables for decisions on a new library site and the study concerning water and sewer connections outside the city limits. Mayor Shelton stated that as soon as the library report is received, copies will be distributed; and he is going to ask the joint committee of Council and the Library Board to meet to discuss that document in addition to other alternatives that have been proposed in terms of a library site. Mayor Shelton stated that the proposal for conducting the water and sewer report will be placed on the agenda of the next regular meeting.

On motion by Councilman Vest, seconded by Vice Mayor Owen, voted upon and carried unanimously, the following item was added to the agenda: Discussion - Target Date for Library Site Study.

Councilman Rice and Mayor Shelton reported on a hearing held at the Virginia Municipal Convention before the Senate Local Government Committee and the House Counties and Towns Committee relative to the discussion about the Grayson Commission. Mayor Shelton stated that Council had copies of letters from Delegate Lacey Putney and Senator Elliot Schewel regarding the Mayor's editorial response that he wrote for the Roanoke newspaper pertaining to the Grayson Commission proposal.

Councilman Messier commended the City Manager on the negotiation of a new bridge agreement for the Route 43 North Bridge, whereby the Department of Transportation has agreed to pay one-half of the cost of maintenance and repairs to the bridge and to be responsible for future inspections.

Mr. Ronald B. Goodman, Political Liaison for the Bedford Chapter of the AARP, spoke before Council regarding what help is available to senior citizens in the area. Mr. Goodman spoke of several needs of senior citizens which include: Meals on Wheels; an every day telephone call to check on senior citizens; adult day care center; in-home care. Mr. Goodman suggested that Council call a meeting of interested parties, such as the YMCA, Recreation Department, social clubs, Christian ministries, and nursing homes to discuss funding and how the money is being spent.

Ms. Cindy Sherman, Coordinator, Keep Bedford Beautiful Commission, reported on the $20,000 matching grant for the recycling program from the Department of Mines, Minerals & Energy. Ms. Sherman stated that Barry Thompson, Assistant to the City Manager, has been designated as the contact person for the program.

Councilman Messier moved that Council authorize the City Manager to sign the Agreement for Services and appropriate matching funds in the amount of $10,000 from the unappropriated surplus to Account No. 0808108107056044. The motion was seconded by Councilman Rice, voted upon and carried unanimously by the following roll call vote:

Councilman Brookshier aye

Councilwoman Grahame aye

Councilman Messier aye

Vice Mayor Owen aye

Councilman Rice aye

Councilman Vest aye

Mayor Shelton aye

Discussion ensued regarding a target date for the study of a new library site. Mayor Shelton stated that when the report is received it will be given to Council and the Library Board and the committees will begin the process of reviewing the study and come back to Council and the Library Board with a recommendation.

Mayor Shelton adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.