2-26-91 Minutes

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

2-26-91 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 26, 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 stated that the next regular meeting will be held in the renovated Council chambers of the Municipal Building.

Mayor Shelton declared that the minutes of a regular Council meeting held on February 12, 1991, were approved as mailed.

Councilman Rice stated that he has received requests from senior citizens for a place to walk during bad weather, such as a school auditorium.

Councilman Rice indicated that he had received complaints regarding the moving of a street light on Valleyview Drive. The Electric Utility Director will look into this.

Ms. Linda Kochendarfer, Bedford Main Street, Inc., reported on the "Remembrance Tree" collections for the troops in the Middle East and the items that were purchased and sent to the troops with these funds.

The City Manager stated that he met with Mr. Jim Ottinger to discuss his request for a $10,000 appropriation for a capital expenditure for the construction of a fire training center. The City Manager recommended that the request be reduced to $5,000 because of the fact that the City has only one fire company

(and perhaps one lifesaving crew which may be able to utilize the facility) as compared to other jurisdictions which have many more volunteer fire departments.

Councilman Rice moved that Council appropriate $5,000 from the unappropriated surplus to Account No. 0303203201056041, Contribution to Fire Training Center, with the understanding that the City will be allowed to appoint a representative from either the Fire Department or the Life Saving Crew as they see fit. The motion was seconded by Councilman Otey.

Discussion ensued.

Councilwoman Grahame offered an amendment to the motion: that the City be allowed to appoint a representative of its choice. Councilman Vest seconded the amendment.

Council voted upon the amendment; all members voting aye.

Council then voted upon the motion: that Council appropriate $5,000 from the unappropriated surplus to Account No. 0303203201056041, Contribution to Fire Training Center, with the understanding that the City will be allowed to appoint a representative of its choice. (For clarification; Council would be appointing a representative to the commission which is being established to govern the use of the fire training center.) The motion was carried unanimously by the following roll call vote:

Councilman Brookshier aye

Councilwoman Grahame aye

Councilman Otey aye

Vice Mayor Owen aye

Councilman Rice aye

Councilman Vest aye

Mayor Shelton aye

Mayor Shelton stated that he, Vice Mayor Owen, and Councilman Rice would come back at the next regular meeting with a recommendation for appointment of a representative with regard to the fire training center.

The Clerk of Council read aloud a resolution in support of the troops serving in the Middle East. The resolution follows as amended:

RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, recent events in the Middle East have led to the deployment of United States armed forces to that area; and

WHEREAS, a number of servicemen and women serving in the Persian Gulf have families who reside in the Bedford area; and

WHEREAS, Operation Homefront Support Group was recently formed by the Bedford Chapter of the American Red Cross to provide assistance, counseling and information to the families and friends of military personnel serving in the Persian Gulf; and

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Bedford has demonstrated its support of the troops stationed in the Middle East by displaying United States flags and yellow ribbons on city streets and by flying a POW-MIA flag at the Municipal Building; and

WHEREAS, City Council wishes to further demonstrate its support of the troops stationed in the Middle East;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that by this resolution the City Council of the City of Bedford hereby proclaims its support for the men and women of the United States armed forces who are serving in the Middle East during the present hostilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City Council encourages all of its citizens to display support for the men and women of the United States armed forces through the flying of United States flags, hanging of yellow ribbons or any other appropriate displays of their choice; and to participate in activities of support for the troops while they are in the Middle East, and upon their return home.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to each of the servicemen and women from the Bedford area presently serving in the Middle East and to their families.

Vice Mayor Owen moved that the resolution be approved as amended. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Grahame, voted upon and carried unanimously by the following roll call vote:

Councilwoman Grahame aye

Councilman Otey aye

Vice Mayor Owen aye

Councilman Rice aye

Councilman Vest aye

Councilman Brookshier aye

Mayor Shelton aye

Councilman Brookshier suggested that the City display a banner showing support of the troops; and the Mayor suggested including the veterans as a part of that.

Mayor Shelton declared a five minute recess from 8:02 p.m. until 8:07 p.m.

The City Manager reviewed the proposed Capital Improvement (CIP) Budget for Fiscal Year 1991-92.

Discussion ensued regarding items in the CIP Budget. The City Manager is to furnish Council further information on the following items: copy machine and IBM compatible PC in the Recreation Department; and a list of what streets need to be paved and when the streets were paved last.

The City Manager is to schedule a Street Committee meeting regarding the paving budget.

Councilman Vest moved that Council instruct the City Manager to fund the CIP budget in an amount not to exceed $347,800. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Grahame, voted upon and carried unanimously.

On motion by Councilman Brookshier, seconded by Councilman Otey, voted upon and carried unanimously by a roll call vote, Council adjourned into executive session for consultation with legal counsel and staff regarding annexation petition, pursuant to Section 2.1-344(a)(7) of the Code of Virginia of 1950, as amended. Roll call vote follows:

Councilman Otey aye

Vice Mayor Owen aye

Councilman Rice aye

Councilman Vest aye

Councilman Brookshier aye

Councilwoman Grahame aye

Mayor Shelton aye

Council adjourned into executive session at 8:50 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 9:16 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 Brookshier, voted upon and carried unanimously by the following roll call vote:

Vice Mayor Owen aye

Councilman Rice aye

Councilman Vest aye

Councilman Brookshier aye

Councilwoman Grahame aye

Councilman Otey aye

Mayor Shelton aye

Mayor Shelton stated that a meeting was held with the Chairman of the Bedford County Board of Supervisors, the Bedford County Administrator, the City Manager, and himself regarding the acreage requirements for the joint certification program. He reported that the results of the meeting was an agreement to make a recommenda-tion that the County provide at least 85% or 85 acres of the land towards the 100 acre requirement, and that the City provide at least 15% or 15 acres towards that to begin the process of certification. He stated that the City Manager and County Administrator are to work towards the procurement of options on property.

City Manager Gross stated that the developer of Emerald Crest subdivision has decided pay for a road which will be constructed off of Industrial Avenue into the Emerald Crest subdivision.

Mayor Shelton adjourned the meeting at 9:25 p.m.