2-12-91 Minutes

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

2-12-91 Minutes

A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Bedford, Virginia, was held at the Liberty Lake Park Community Building at 7:30 p.m., February 12, 1991.

Members present: Mayor G. Michael Shelton; Councilman Larry D. Brookshier; Councilwoman Joanne A. Grahame; Councilman Payton M. Otey; 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 an adjourned Council meeting held on January 19, 1991, and the minutes of a regular Council meeting held on January 22, 1991, were approved as mailed.

Councilman Rice stated that he had received complaints about potholes on Jackson Street.

Vice Mayor Owen suggested that a resolution be prepared by the City Manager showing Council's support of the troops stationed in the Middle East, and that copies of the resolution be sent to the families in the Bedford area that have someone stationed in the Middle East (with the names to be obtained from the "Support Group" that has recently been started). Mayor Shelton stated that the resolution will be included on the next agenda.

Vice Mayor Owen reported that Student Government Day is scheduled for May. Mr. Owen asked Council for suggestions for topics that the students could discuss.

Mayor Shelton reported that the Virginia Municipal League Legislative Day was informative, with the Governor not being very optimistic because of the revenue situation in the State.

Mayor Shelton stated that he received a letter from the Chairman of the Bedford County Board of Supervisors which requested the City to notify the County by March 1 of its intention to pursue the Joint Certification Program. Mayor Shelton stated that on January 16, 1990, Council, jointly with the Board of Supervisors, adopted a Resolution of Participation in the Community Certification Program, with unanimous support on the part of Council for the resolution. The Mayor stated that as of this date, the unanimous support still stands and has not been changed.

Mayor Shelton directed the City Manager to inform the County Administrator, and the Mayor will inform the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, that the City remains supportive of that resolution of January 16, 1990, and has been supportive of it through this day. Mayor Shelton stated that a jointly developed industrial park was not a part of the January 16, 1990, resolution; and, therefore, a joint industrial park and joint certification do not necessarily go hand in hand. Mayor Shelton stated that a joint park is not a requirement of the certification program.

The Clerk of Council read aloud the following public hearing notice:

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

Notice is hereby given of a public hearing to be held by the City Council of the City of Bedford, Virginia at 7:30 p.m. on February 12, 1991, at Liberty Lake Park for the purpose of considering a request for the following:

To consider rezoning from R-1A, Low Density Residential District, to B-1, Limited Business District, from Elkton Way to W. Franklin Street fronting on the west side of S. Bridge St. and from Mill St. to S. Bridge St. fronting on the south side of Elkton Way. Also to consider a conditional use of property located at 238 S. Bridge St. to be used as a multi-family dwelling. This property is owned by Henry H. Carey.

The application is on file in the Office of Community and Economic Development.

The requests are being made by Mr. Henry H. Carey, Robert F. Johnson, Florence Spinner, Bedford Housing Corporation, Peaks Motors, and Pure Gospel Holiness Church.

Anyone who is in favor of or opposed to the request will have an opportunity to express their view at this hearing.

By the Authority of the Council of

the City of Bedford

Mayor Shelton opened the public hearing at 7:48 p.m.

Mr. Stan Stanzer, 1509 Oakwood Street, asked a question concerning plans for the remaining area to be rezoned.

Mr. Henry Carey spoke regarding the proposed use.

Florence Spinner, Mill Street, spoke in favor of the rezoning.

As there were no further comments, the Mayor closed the public hearing at 7:53 p.m.

The City Manager stated that the Planning Commission met on February 7, and recommended that Council approve the request to rezone the properties bordering South Bridge Street and Elkton Way, as shown on the map previously forwarded to Council, from R-1A, Low Density Residential, to B-1, Limited Business District.

Councilwoman Grahame moved that Council approve the request to rezone portions of South Bridge Street and Elkton Way from R-1A to B-1, Limited Business District. The motion was seconded by Councilman Rice, voted upon and carried unanimously.

The Planning Commission also approved and recommended that Council approve the conditional use request to allow the property located at 238 South Bridge Street to be used as a three-family dwelling.

Councilman Brookshier moved that Council approve the conditional use request to allow the property located at 238 South Bridge Street to be used as a three-family dwelling. The motion was seconded by Councilman Otey, voted upon and carried unanimously.

Mr. Jim Ottinger, Fire Commissioner, made a presentation regarding a training center which is being developed by the Central Virginia Firemen's Association. He asked that Council contribute $10,000 for this center, and that Council appoint a representative to serve on the council for the administration of the duties for the burn center.

The City Manager is to provide Council with additional information at the next Council meeting.

On motion by Councilman Brookshier, seconded by Councilwoman Grahame, voted upon and carried unanimously by a roll call vote, Council adjourned into executive session for consultation with legal counsel and staff regarding pending litigation and an amendment to the Business License Ordinance, pursuant to Section 2.1-344(a)(7) of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended:

Councilman Brookshier aye

Councilwoman Grahame aye

Councilman Otey aye

Vice Mayor Owen aye

Councilman Rice aye

Councilman Vest aye

Mayor Shelton aye

Council adjourned into executive session at 8:20 p.m. Non-council members attending were: City Manager Gross, City Attorney Berry, and Clerk of the Council Hatcher.

Council reconvened into open session at 9:56 p.m.

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.

Councilwoman Grahame, moved that the resolution be approved as read. The motion was seconded by Councilman Otey, voted upon and carried unanimously by the following roll call vote: