April 14, 2009
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, Tracy Meisenbach, Richard Adams, Robert Jean, and Phillip Sheppard, Council Members
Mike Crews, Public Works Director, and Interim Town Manager
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Ricky Cousins, Police Chief
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by James Nowlin, seconded by Kenneth Jennings, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the April 14, 2009, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council with the following additions: 1) Transfer of Appropriations
MINUTES
Upon motion by James Nowlin, seconded by Phillip Sheppard, and unanimously carried, Council approved the March 10, 2009, Committee and Town Council meeting minutes.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor Campbell asked that the April 2009 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Kenneth Jennings, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of March 11, 2009, to April 14, 2009, in the amount of $40,224.41.
APRIL BIRCHFIELD, FAMILY, FRIEND, AND NEIGHBOR PROGRAM
April Birchfield, of the Alliance for Family and Children in Lynchburg and the Childcare Resource Center Program, appeared before Council to request use of the community building. Her group focuses on early childhood education from ages 0-5. They are teachers for childcare providers so that they have the resources and tools that they need to teach the children. They are also a resource for childcare for parents. She said she was here tonight to represent the Family, Friend, and Neighbor Program which she is contracted to work for and which is separate from the Alliance for Family and Children. She distributed a packet outlining some information about this program. The mission of the program is to provide resources and support to the Brookneal community on quality child care and development through training and advocacy. Brookneal was chosen for this program because of the high poverty rate.
She said she needed the Council to be her advocate for this program, to let people in Brookneal know that she is available and ready to help them in these areas. She requested use of the community building for a central space to have parent training and play and learn groups. She said that she might need to use the community building twice a month right now. She said she would work around the existing community building schedule. Mayor Campbell recommended that the Physical Development Committee look at this and get back with Ms. Birchfield.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Howard Wells, of Booker Road, said that Bill and Linda Gallimore complimented the Town on the great job done on the restrooms and grass cutting at the boat dock.
POLICE REPORT
Chief Ricky Cousins reported that from March 11, 2009 to April 14, 2009, the police department wrote tickets for the following:
6 speeding tickets for 15 miles over the speed limit
1 speeding ticket for 25 miles over the speed limit
1 for expired registration
1 for expired inspection
1 failure to appear warrant in Lynchburg
2 bad checks
A missing fire hydrant
1 identity theft
1 breaking and entering for computer crimes
1 sending obscene material on a cell phone to a juvenile
1 simple assault
Chief Cousins said that the fee for accident reports needs to be increased. The fee is presently $5.00. He felt it needed to be increased to $12.00. He also discussed the upcoming Fun Float Day, and that the County is going to crack down on alcohol use and display during Fun Float Day this year.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that the Department of Environmental Quality was down on April 13, 2009 for their inspection. He said he was awaiting their report. He said there were 12 lights out on the ball fields, and he has contacted Elliott Electric to come out and fix these.
Mr. Crews also reported on the playground equipment at the ballpark. He said several of the items have been damaged, and are in need of replacement. He got a quote on replacing four of the items with a cost of about $9,000. After much discussion, Mr. Jennings recommended that the issue be turned over to the Physical Development Committee for their consideration.
FINANCE AND PLANNING COMMITTEE PRESENT THE FY09/10 BUDGET TO COUNCIL
Finance and Planning Committee Chairperson Richard Adams thanked everyone who worked on the budget. He said revenues and expenses for the general fund totaled $572,418.00, while revenues and expenses for the utility fund totaled $427,254.26. He said no positions or cuts in salary were incurred. The Town absorbed the benefit increased for the employees for FY09/10.
RECOMMENDATION TO ADVERTISE PUBLIC HEARING FOR FY09/10 BUDGET
Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to advertise the budget in the Union Star to the public for a public hearing to be held on May 12, 2009.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Physical Development Committee Chairperson James Nowlin said that his committee would be working on several items for the next meeting including the community building, the playground equipment, and the community building usage for the Family, Friend, and Neighbor program.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Mr. Sheppard again brought up the fire hydrants at the school that are bagged. Mr. Crews said that the fire hydrants are working, but they are cut off at present because they are wasting water. He said they are going to be fixed with the water grant.
Mr. Nowlin reminded everyone about Day in the Town approaching on May 2, 2009.
Ms. Meisenbach again brought up the inventory that she requested a couple months back. She asked where things stood on that. Mr. Crews said that a list has been made, and he was working on it.
Mr. Jennings asked about the owners of the Tarkett property having a demo or burn permit. Mr. Crews said that you do not have to have a burn permit if you burn after 4 p.m. and are 300 ft. away from any structures.
TRANSFERS OF APPROPRIATIONS
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by James Nowlin, and with a 4-2 vote with Ms. Meisnbach and Mr. Jennings voting nay, the Council approved the following transfers of appropriation:
REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATION
To: Brookneal Town Council
Date: April 14, 2009
The following Appropriation Transfers are requested:
General Fund
Category—Expense ADD New Total
Police—K-9—01-3101-5806 $1,890.00 $ 4,390.00
Category—Expense DELETE New Total
Police—Liability Insurance—01-3101-5308 $1,890.00 $ 5,310.00
To cover feeding and kenneling fees for the K-9 from February 9—April 12, 2009.
General Fund
Category—Expense ADD New Total
Police—Supplies—01-3101-5401 $ 620.85 $ 4,120.85
Category—Expense DELETE New Total
Police—Liability Insurance—01-3101-5308 $ 620.85 $ 4,689.15
To cover Police Supplies for FY2009.
General Fund
Category—Expense ADD New Total
Police—Repairs—01-3101-5407 $ 500.00 $ 4,000.00
Category—Expense DELETE New Total
Police—Liability Insurance—01-3101-5308 $ 500.00 $ 4,189.15
To cover Police Repairs for FY2009.
General Fund
Category—Expense ADD New Total
Public Works—Overtime—01-4101-1002 $ 2,000.00 $ 7,000.00
Category—Expense DELETE New Total
Insurance—Property—01-1229-5310 $ 2,000.00 $16,900.00
To cover overtime for the Public Works Director/Interim Town Manager for FY2009.
General Fund
Category—Expense INCREASE New Total
Sanitation—Fuel—01-4203-5409 $ 2,500.00 $ 9,000.00
Category—Revenue INCREASE New Total
Waste Collection—01-1608-0200 $ 2,500.00 $ 3,934.00
To cover diesel fuel costs for the sanitation truck through FY2009.
General Fund
Category—Expense ADD New Total
Heating Service—01-4302-5102 $ 2,004.01 $ 7,200.00
Category—Expense DELETE New Total
Contingency Fund—01-8102-7010 $ 2,004.01 $13,350.99
To cover heating costs for FY2009.
Respectfully requested by:
_________________________________
Treasurer
_________________________________
Date
CLOSED SESSION
Finance and Planning Committee Chairperson Richard Adams asked for a short closed session to tie up some loose ends on a personnel issue. Ms. Meisenbach asked if the supervisor of the employee that the closed session is about was present. Mr. Adams replied yes, so she requested that to stay on the right side of all things FOIA, that the supervisor of the employee make the request to go into closed session. By recommendation of Chief Ricky Cousins to go into closed session concerning Officer A, Tracy Meisenbach made a motion to go into closed session under Chief Cousins’ recommendation regarding VA Code 2.2-3711(A)(1) for the purpose of discussing Officer A. The motion was seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried. The vote was as follows:
Mr. Sheppard Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mr. Jean Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Jennings Aye
CERTIFICATION
Mayor Campbell called for a vote certifying that only those items were discussed as allowed under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A)(1) for the discussion of performance and disciplinary matters of Employee A of the Town of Brookneal:
Voting was as follows:
Mr. Sheppard Aye Mr. Jean Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Jennings Aye
Mr. Nowlin Aye Ms. Meisenbach Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
The motion carried.
Upon motion by Personnel Committee Chairperson Richard Adams, seconded by Kenneth Jennings and unanimously carried, the Council voted to reinstate Officer Earhart to full duty status with back pay for the normal hours he would have been scheduled to work.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from James Nowlin, seconded by Kenneth Jennings, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the April 14, 2009, Council meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ ____________________________
Bobbie A. Waller Phyllis L. Campbell
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
