September 11, 2007
MINUTES OF THE BROOKNEAL TOWN COUNCIL

7:00 PM – The regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council

The municipal government of the Town of Brookneal met with the following members present:

Phyllis Campbell, Mayor

James Nowlin, Vice Mayor

Kenneth Jennings, Richard Adams, Tracy Meisenbach and Robert Jean, Council Members

Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer

Mike Crews, Public Works Director and Interim Town Manager

Ricky Cousins, Police Chief

Absent:  Stacey Hailey, Council Member

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the September 11, 2007, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council with the following additions 1)  Motion to advertise for public hearing for the USDA bond 2) Use of the Community Building by the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service 3) Closed Session

MINUTES

Upon motion by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Council approved the August 14, 2007 and August 16, 2007, Town Council minutes.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mayor Campbell asked that the September 2007 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.

PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES

Be it resolved that motion was made by Richard Adams, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of August 15, 2007, to September 11, 2007, in the amount of $27,808.54.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No one appeared before Council during public comment.

MIKE DAVIDSON (COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY)

Mike Davidson from the Campbell County Economic Development Office presented a report entitled “Campbell County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Update 2007.”  Mr. Davidson discussed some key points in the document.  Campbell County has experienced a modest growth of 2.5% while the Towns of Altavista and Brookneal have experienced declines in population of 1.2% and 0.6% respectively.  The two towns in Campbell County are showing signs of weak economies while Campbell County’s overall economy continues to be strong and diverse.  An important point brought out by Mr. Davidson was that Campbell County knows that the vitality of the two towns is important to the county.  The county cannot succeed as a whole if the two towns do not succeed; therefore, both towns need to realize they can not succeed without the county.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Mr. Mike Crews, Interim Town Manager, announced that he had met with WW Associates and Bill Gillespie on September 10, 2007 to proceed with the agreement for WW Associates to design the water lines for the USDA Water Grant.  This design will take approximately 6 to 8 months.  He also told the Council that the auditors were here to do their review of the financial records at the end of August and that we should be able to close out FY07 in the near future.

ADVERTISE FOR PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE USDA BOND

Motion was made by Robert Jean, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried to advertise for a public hearing to be held at the next council meeting on October 9, 2007, for the proposed issuance by the Town of Brookneal of its Water System Improvement General Obligation bond, Series 2007, in an estimated maximum amount of $866,000 for sale to the United States of America for the purpose of financing improvements to the Town water system.

USE OF THE COMMUNITY BUILDING BY THE VIRGINIA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Robert Jean and unanimously carried, Council voted to waive fees and grant use of the community building on Thursdays to Juliane Thurston of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service for the purpose of the “Smart Choices Nutrition Education Program.”

ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL

Mr. Jennings stated that he would like to see the Town form a committee to organize a trip to visit the Town of Floyd to see the improvements they have made to their town and to help get some insight and ideas for the Town of Brookneal.  Mr. Nowlin suggested a door knob sign for the Public Works department that would be left on the citizens’ door knob to indicate the Town had checked into problems that were reported.  He said he had received calls from citizens complaining that the Town had not checked into the problem they reported, when actually the Town had, but no one was at home when a Town employee came out to check the problem.

CLOSED SESSION UNDER VA CODE 2.2-3711 (A)(7) FOR A BRIEFING BY STAFF MEMBERS

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Council voted to convene in closed session, pursuant to $2.2-3711 (A) 7 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, for the purpose of briefings by staff members pertaining to actual litigation, where such briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body, specifically being briefed by staff regarding the pending lawsuit filed against the Town by Laurie Francis.

CERTIFICATION

Mayor Campbell called for a vote certifying that only those items were discussed as allowed under $2.2-3711 (A) 7 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, for the purpose of briefings by staff members pertaining to actual litigation, where such briefing in open meeting would adversely affect the negotiating or litigating posture of the public body, specifically being briefed by staff regarding the pending lawsuit filed against the Town by Laurie Francis.

Voting was as follows:

Mr. Nowlin                   Aye                              Mr. Adams                  Aye

Mr. Jean                      Aye                              Mr. Jennings               Aye

Ms. Meisenbach         Aye

Mayor Campbell         Aye

Upon motion by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, the Council authorized Interim Town Manager Mike Crews to enter into legal negotiations towards the settlement of the suit with former clerk/treasurer Laurie Francis.

Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried, the Council authorized Mr. Mike Crews to do an appropriations transfer to the legal line item to cover payment of the settlement.

ADJOURNMENT

Upon motion from James Nowlin, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the September 11, 2007, Council meeting was adjourned.

___________________________                  ____________________________

Bobbie A. Waller                                             Phyllis L. Campbell

Clerk/Treasurer                                               Mayor