WHAT IS GOING ON

Council Workshop Minutes
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
7:30 p.m. Town Hall
Council Present: Harold Yuille, Linda Davenport, Connie Torres, Carolyn Hite, Weston Gupton, Kevin Allgood
Staff Present: Melinda Moran
Kevin opened the meeting and thanked everyone for coming out in the cold weather:
1.Budget (Connie Torres, Linda Davenport)
The Budget Committee presented the Annual Report. Council will review and make comment at the February Workshop meeting. Carolyn commented that it appeared to be a good piece of work. Connie commented that the format will be used for Budget preparation and communication with the public.
2.Buildings and Grounds (Linda Davenport, Weston Gupton)
A.Housing Rehab Planning Grant
Melinda reported that the PDC staff is still working with DHCD on securing a planning grant. They still need surveys from a number of residents to demonstrate support for the project.
B.Town Owned Buildings
Melinda stated that the Buildings and Grounds Committee should meet to consider the best use for the building vacated by Dr. Brown building and for the YMCA building which will be vacated once the new facility on Noblin Farm Rd. is completed.
3.Personnel (Carolyn Hite, Connie Torres)
The Police Department would like Council to recognize Sergeant Paul Hawkins for his service to the Town at the Regular Meeting. Paul is retired as of January 1. The newly hired police officer is certified and will start mid-January.
4.Streets & Sidewalks (Weston Gupton, Bill Nunn)
A. Streets and Sidewalks
VDOT is willing to pay for the additional drainage work needed in front of Strum and Co., but we have to comply with the Small Purchase Procurement requirements. The PDC is assisting us in this effort. 5.Utility Committee (Bill Nunn, Harold Yuille)
A. Planning Grants
Melinda reported that Town staff is still working with Dewberry on the Rural Development planning grant to look at town-wide sewer needs and to develop a grant application for construction funds from Rural Development.
Wiley & Wilson staff is working with Town staff on the two Health Department planning grants for storage, hydrology, and water audit issues.
6.Recreation (Harold Yuille, Carolyn Hite) 7. OTHER
A.Boundary Adjustment
Melinda reported that she has compiled owner information for the boundary adjustment area, but that the Town does not yet have distribution copies of the maps available for the public. An electronic copy of the map is available for anyone who wants it. The County has not yet set a meeting date in response to the Town's request last month. Also, a petition from the "Citizens Against Annexation" will be included in the Regular meeting agenda packet.
B.Fire Department Pumper Truck Request
Rural Development has been contacted regarding their financing options but they have not yet replied. Carolyn commented that she felt a request involving a large amount of money should be handled under some type of formal policy. Connie agreed that more time to consider the request would have been preferable, but she felt that the Council made the right decisions under the circumstances.
C.Website
Melinda advised that the website designer who developed the Town's site had closed his business. The Town staff will be able to add notices and post new items to the site, but we will not be able to do any further improvements. Carolyn commented that holiday and closing notices should be posted on the website.
D.Basketball Fence
Linda asked how the cost of the fence around the basketball court was handled in the budget. Carolyn replied that it was paid for with Town and Ruritan funds. Melinda commented that the Ruritan funds would have been placed under the Miscellaneous Revenue line item.
E. Dump Truck
Melinda reported that the engine in the Town's older Dump Truck blew while it was being used to push snow before Christmas. The truck was used primarily in hauling dirt away from utility repairs and to push snow.(reprinted from Public Record)