12-8-92 Minutes

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

12-8-92 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., December 8, 1992.

Members present: Mayor G. Michael Shelton; Councilman Larry D. Brookshier; Councilwoman Joanne A. Grahame; Councilman Payton M. Otey (arrived at 7:50 p.m.); Councilman Ronnie C. Rice; Councilman W. D. Tharp; and Vice Mayor 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 Council meeting held on November 24, 1992, were approved as mailed.

Topics discussed during the Council Comments section of the agenda included the following:

Success of the Christmas parade; leaf collection; status of the Library Fund Raising Campaign; provision of Christmas consideration for city employees.

On motion by Councilwoman Grahame, seconded by Councilman Tharp, voted upon and carried, five members voting aye, one member voting nay (Rice) and one member absent (Otey), the following item was added to the agenda:

Discussion - Provision of Christmas Consideration for City Employees

The Mayor stated that members of Council had received information regarding a cablevision survey form. The City Manager is to proceed with sending out the survey and scheduling a public hearing for the first Council meeting in February to take comments from the public regarding Bedford CableVision.

The City Manager stated that Council had received copies of a preliminary plat for a proposed subdivision known as Piedmont Court, to be located at the end of Piedmont Street. Mr. Gross indicated that the Planning Commission recommends that Council approve the plat for Piedmont Court, which is located in an R-3 High Density Residential District, subject to compliance with the subdivision plat requirements of the City of Bedford Land Development Regulations, as listed in a memorandum to Jack Gross, dated December 4, 1992, from Jimmy English, Director of Community & Economic Development. The City Manager stated that Mr. English is also recommending that Council attach the condition that the final plat documents be submitted and approved within six (6) months of their approval.

On motion by Councilman Rice, seconded by Councilman Brookshier, voted upon and carried, Council approved the preliminary plat for a proposed subdivision known as Piedmont Court, with the condition that the final plat documents be submitted and approved within six (6) months of their approval, and with the conditions as submitted by the Planning Commission.

The City Manager stated that the Virginia Municipal League has asked local governments to adopt a resolution opposing the action of the Governor's Commission on the Dillon Rule and Local Government adopting the 1990 proposals of the Commission on Local Government Structures and Relationships, commonly known as the Grayson Commission.

The Clerk of Council read aloud the following proposed resolution:

RESOLUTION

BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Bedford, Virginia, is opposed to the action of the Governor's Commission on the Dillon Rule and Local Government adopting the 1990 proposals of the Commission on Local Government Structures and Relationships, commonly known as the Grayson Commission. Said proposals would bar cities such as Bedford from annexation, create a new type of municipal government, allow the Commission on Local Government to make a final determination in town, class A city annexation cases, allow towns and class A cities to expand their boundaries by ordinance every eight years, contribute 25 percent of net lottery proceeds to local governments, 20 percent of which would go directly to counties and cities and 5 percent of which would be reserved as an incentive for reversions and functional consolidations.

These proposals would effectively destroy the ability of the City of Bedford, Virginia, to grow and expand and to meet the educational, vocational and governmental needs of its citizens in the future.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Elliot S. Schewel, the Honorable Lacey E. Putney, Governor Douglas Wilder, The Virginia Municipal League, and the Governor's Commission on the Dillon Rule and Local Government.

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

Councilman Brookshier aye

Councilwoman Grahame aye

Councilman Otey absent

Councilman Rice aye

Councilman Tharp aye

Vice Mayor Vest aye

Mayor Shelton aye

The City Manager explained the holiday schedule for City operations if Council authorizes December 31, 1992, as a city holiday. Mr. Gross stated that taxes would be due on January 4, 1993.

Councilman Rice moved that Council authorize City offices to observe December 31, 1992, as a holiday, with all offices authorized to close except for those requiring a twenty-four hour day continuous operation. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Grahame.

Councilman Otey arrived at 7:50 p.m.

After a brief discussion, the motion was voted upon and carried, six members voting aye, one member voting nay (Vest).

Councilman Brookshier moved that Council authorize the City Manager to spend a amount not to exceed $2,000 (for turkeys or hams, at the City Manager's discretion) for Christmas consideration for city employees in appreciation. The motion was seconded by Councilwoman Grahame.

Discussion ensued.

It was the consensus of Council that if any of the turkeys or hams are not picked up by employees, these be given to an organization that would distribute them to needy persons.

The motion was then voted upon and carried, six members voting aye, one member voting nay (Rice).

Mayor Shelton adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.