3-23-93 Minutes

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

3-23-93 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., March 23, 1993.

Members present: Mayor G. Michael Shelton; Councilman Larry D. Brookshier; Councilwoman Joanne A. Grahame; Councilman Payton M. Otey; 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 March 9, 1993, were approved as mailed.

Members of Council spoke during the "Council Comments" portion of the agenda:

Councilman Otey reported that the seventh grade students at Bedford Middle School will meet with the City and County registrars on March 25 at 9:00 a.m. regarding voting for Local Government Day.

Councilman Rice indicated that he had received positive comments concerning the work of City employees during the recent blizzard that occurred in this area.

Mayor Shelton expressed appreciation to City employees for their outstanding efforts during the blizzard.

Mayor Shelton reported that he and the City Manager attended the Virginia Department of Transportation's Pre-allocation hearing on VDOT's Six Year Plan for Highway Funds and the City's highway needs were presented.

Mayor Shelton stated that forms for the annual evaluation of the City Manager and the City Attorney have been distributed to members of Council. The Mayor indicated that Councilwoman Grahame will collect the forms and tabulate the information. The forms are to be given to Mrs. Grahame by the April 13th Council meeting and will be reviewed by Council at the April 27th Council meeting.

Councilwoman Grahame commended Bedford Main Street for the breakfast it served to downtown workers.

The Consent Agenda consisted of the following item:

Appointment of Rick Gardner, Carl G. Saunders, and John P. Messier to serve four-year terms on the City Planning Commission, said terms to expire March 31, 1997.

On motion by Councilman Brookshier, seconded by Councilman Vest, voted upon and carried unanimously, the consent agenda was adopted.

Ms. Nancy Donahoo, Director of the Bedford Public Library, stated that the Library is requesting in the 1993-94 budget an increase of $20,656.42 over the 1992-93 budget. Ms. Donahoo reviewed the proposed library budget, and Mr. Steve Preston reviewed the proposed book budget.

Discussion ensued.

Ms. Donahoo is to provide Council with information regarding the proposed increase in the salaries category of the library budget.

Further discussion ensued.

Ms. Barbara Ring, Executive Director of the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Chamber is requesting $5,000 in the 1993-94 budget.

Ms. Sue Gilbert, Chairman of Bedford Area Tourism Committee, reviewed the aspects of the Tourism Accreditation Project, and asked Council to consider appropriating $6,647.50 in the 1993-94 budget for Tourism Accreditation.

Mr. John C. Myers, President of Board of Directors of the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce, reviewed activities of the Chamber.

Ms. Ellen Wandrei, Director of the Bedford City/County Museum, reviewed the programs presented by the Museum, and stated that the Museum is requesting in the 1993-94 budget an increase of $2,000 over the 1992-93 budget.

Ms. Renee C. Fisher, Executive Director of the Sheltered Workshop of Bedford, Inc., reviewed activities of the Workshop. Ms. Fisher stated that the Workshop is requesting level funding in the 1993-94 budget of $5,429.

Ms. Elizabeth Berry-Moseley, Executive Director of Bedford Main Street, Inc., reviewed various activities of Bedford Main Street, and stated that Bedford Main Street is requesting $25,000 in the 1993-94 budget and $500 to help supplement the Christmas Parade, which is being organized by Bedford Main Street.

The Clerk of Council read aloud the following proposed resolution:

RESOLUTION

BE IT RESOLVED that the citizen participation requirements having been met, by the holding of two public hearings, the City of Bedford wishes to apply for $981,011.00 of Virginia Community Development Block Grant funds for the King Street Neighborhood Revitalization Project.

WHEREAS $71,204.00 of Virginia Housing Partnership funds, $200,000.00 of Farmers Home Administration funds and $109,500.00 of City funds, of which $45,000.00 will come from the general account, $5,000.00 from the 1982 Block Grant account and $59,500.00 from in-kind contributions, will also be expended on this project. It is projected that 32 owner-and renter-occupied houses will be rehabilitated, 3 vacant houses will be rehabilitated, 2 vacant houses will be acquired, rehabilitated and resold to low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers, 6 vacant dilapidated properties will be acquired for demolition of the substandard structures and the lots resold to first-time low-to-moderate income homeowners for $1.00 each, and 2 vacant properties will be acquired, the dilapidated structures demolished and the lots used for the extension of Bondurants Alley. It is projected that 163 low-and moderate-income persons will benefit from these activities.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that City Manager, Jack A. Gross is hereby authorized to sign and submit the appropriate documents for submittal of this Virginia Community Development Block Grant application and to negotiate and sign the final contract with the Department of Housing and Community Development, upon grant award.

Councilwoman Grahame moved that the resolution be adopted. 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 abstained

Councilman Rice aye

Councilman Tharp aye

Vice Mayor Vest aye

Mayor Shelton aye

The City Manager stated that Council had received executive summaries from the Central Virginia Planning District Commission and the Chief of Police on the project status for the Regional Radio Communications System Study. The member localities have reached an agreement with Communications Technology Associates, a division of Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, Inc., to conduct this study for a total cost of $225,887. Mr. Gross indicated that the City's share of that cost will be $7,235, which is available in the E911 account. The agreement has been reviewed by all of the City and County Attorneys in the Planning District Commission.

On motion by Councilman Rice, seconded by Councilman Tharp, voted upon and carried unanimously by the following roll call vote, Council approved the award of the contract for the Regional Radio Communications System Study to Communications Technology Associates, a division of Hayes, Seay, Mattern and Mattern, Inc.; authorized the City Manager to sign the agreement on behalf of the City; and approved the expenditure of $7,235 from the E911 account as the City's share of the cost. Roll call vote: