March 8, 2022
MINUTES OF THE BROOKNEAL TOWN COUNCIL
7:00 PM – The regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the municipal government of the Town of Brookneal met at the Brookneal Community Building, 261 Main Street, so that social distancing could be practiced properly, with the following members present:
Richard Adams, Mayor
Mark Wilkes, Vice Mayor
Barbara Laprade, Joseph David, Cynthia Johnson, and Conner Francis, Council Members
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Richard Baldwin, Chief of Police
Absent: Russell Thurston, Town Manager, and Scott Fisher, Council Member
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the March 8, 2022, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council with the following addition: 1) Approval of the FY21 audit
MINUTES
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes seconded by Barbara Laprade, and unanimously carried, Council approved the minutes for the February 8, 2022, Town Council meeting.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor Adams asked that the March 2022 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Conner Francis, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of February 9, 2022 through March 8, 2022, in the amount of $6,856.99.
GARY CHRISTIE—CENTRAL VIRGINIA PLANNING DISTRICT COMMISSION
Mr. Gary Christie, of the Central Virginia Planning District Commission, appeared before the Council to update the Council on the activities of the commission. The Council had been presented with an annual report in their Council packets. He said they continue to work on regional projects and regional plans. He said they just finished a long-range transportation plan which will position Campbell County and other communities to chase VDOT grants and Smart Scale grants. He said they also just finished a hazard mitigation plan that helps communities plan for natural disasters. He said a regional housing study to determine where needs are particularly for working families will be starting soon. He said they have invested $150,000 of planning district commission funds in the possible redevelopment of the Central Virginia Training Center which is now sitting empty on the river on about 300 acres. They want to encourage Amherst County to zone it well and for developers to use it well; they will work with the alliance on how to do that. He said Campbell County will be added to the public safety radio system in November; he said all public safety departments on the system will be able to talk to each other.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appearing during public comment.
POLICE REPORT
Police Chief Richard Baldwin presented the police report for February 2022. He said of the 163 calls for service, 151 were answered by the Brookneal police department and 12 by the Campbell County Sheriff’s office. He said the new police explorer will be ready and in service this week. He said that there was a break-in at Brookneal Drug last week, and they were working on that; these same break-ins have been happening in other area drugstores as well. He said the criminals are looking for narcotics.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that fall cleanup will be held March 25 through April 8, 2022. He also said the new Freightliner trash truck is back in the shop, but the truck is still under warranty. He said the Dixie Girls and Boys will be starting their seasons in April. He said the Dixie Girls will be hosting the All-Star Tournament here in Brookneal this year.
He said that he has reached out to the temp agency for some temporary help, but he has not had any luck so far. He said he called the health department concerning a landlord’s property in Town that has raw sewage running down on some other people’s properties. He said he received a quick response from the health department. He also said that Foster Fuels is going to be getting water from the Town at one of the fire hydrants to be used for their emergency response program.
APPROVAL OF THE FY21 AUDIT
Upon motion by Barbara Laprade, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve the FY21 audit.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT
Upon motion by Barbara Laprade, seconded by Joseph David, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to appoint Councilperson Conner Francis to the finance and planning committee as well as the personnel committee.
APPROVAL OF A MOTION TO REMOVE JAMES NOWLIN FROM THE SIGNATURE CARD AT BANK OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY AND ADD MAYOR RICHARD ADAMS
Upon motion by Conner Francis, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve the removal of former Mayor James Nowlin from the signature card at Bank of Charlotte County and add current Mayor Richard Adams to that signature card.
REQUEST FOR TRANSFERS OF APPROPRIATION
Upon motion by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Cynthia Johnson, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve the following transfers of appropriation.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Vice Mayor Mark Wilkes said that he would like to see Mr. Gary Christie given some recognition, upon his retirement, for his service to the Town of Brookneal.
Councilperson Johnson commented about the trash problem in the Town of Brookneal. She said that there has been a crew in Halifax picking up trash on Hwys. 501 and 360. She wanted to know if someone could reach out to VDOT and find out about this being done in Brookneal. Councilperson Laprade said that the new Brookneal Alliance group is looking at some solutions to the trash problem in Brookneal, but they have not met yet this year. Vice Mayor Wilkes noted that in all the time he has been in Brookneal, there has been a problem with trash. Mayor Adams suggested everyone putting their heads together and see what can be done.
Ms. Waller reminded everyone of the next budget meeting on March 17, 2022 at 4 p.m. She noted that in the general fund there is a shortfall of $12,000 in being able to balance. Council members suggesting changing the time to 5 p.m. so that more of them could attend the meeting. Ms. Waller said she would talk with Mr. Thurston and email everyone the time.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Joseph David, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, Mayor Adams announced that the March 8, 2022, Council meeting was adjourned.
Bobbie A. Waller: Clerk/Treasurer
Richard Adams: Mayor
