May 13, 2014
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:
James Nowlin, Vice Mayor
Richard Adams, Joseph B. David, Jr., Barbara Laprade, and Mark Wilkes, Council Members
Russell Thurston, Town Manager
Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Clif Mason, Police Officer
Absent: Mayor Phyllis Campbell, Robert Jean (due to illness), and Chief Richard Baldwin
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the May 13, 2014, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET
Vice Mayor James Nowlin opened the public hearing for the general fund budget at 7:00 p.m. No one appeared in favor of or in opposition to the general fund budget; therefore, Vice Mayor Nowlin closed the public hearing at 7:01 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE WATER FUND BUDGET
Vice Mayor Nowlin opened the public hearing for the water fund budget at 7:02 p.m. No one appeared in favor of or in opposition to the water fund budget; therefore, Vice Mayor Nowlin closed the public hearing at 7:03 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE SEWER FUND BUDGET
Vice Mayor Nowlin opened the public hearing for the sewer fund budget at 7:04 p.m. No one appeared in favor of or in opposition to the sewer fund budget; therefore, Vice Mayor Nowlin closed the public hearing at 7:05.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF ACT (PPTRA) OF 2014
Vice Mayor Nowlin called to order the public hearing for the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA) for 2014 at 7:06 p.m. Treasurer Bobbie Waller explained the tax relief act and how it works. No one appeared in favor of or in opposition to the Personal Property Tax Relief Act (PPTRA) for 2014; therefore, Vice Mayor Nowlin closed the public hearing at 7:07 p.m.
PUBLIC HEARING FOR A SEWER BASE RATE INCREASE OF $1.00 PER ACCOUNT FOR FY15 AND FY16
Vice Mayor Nowlin called to order the public hearing for the proposed sewer rate increase of $1.00 per account for FY15 and FY16 at 7:08 p.m. No one appeared in favor of or in opposition to the proposed sewer rate increase of $1.00 per account for FY15 and FY16; therefore, Vice Mayor Nowlin closed the public hearing at 7:09 p.m.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Barbara Laprade, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, Council approved the April 8, 2014, Finance and Planning committee meeting and Town Council meeting minutes.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Vice Mayor James Nowlin asked that the May 2014 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by Mark Wilkes, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of April 9, 2014 to May 13, 2014, in the amount of $27,904.20.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared before Council for public comment time.
POLICE REPORT
Police Officer Clif Mason presented the police report to the Council for April 2014. He said of the 121 calls for service in April, 98 calls were answered by the Brookneal Police Department. Officer Mason said that the drug take back program was a success with 25 pounds collected compared to 7 pounds collected last year.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Public Works Director Mike Crews said that Darren Massey has been hired for the team leader position in public works. He said a new water pump and motor has been ordered for the water treatment plant to have for a backup.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Joseph Harvey of Church Street appeared before Council to address the Day in the Town. He said he had a few ideas including having a skit on Main Street with actors. He said he knew different high schools had drama teams that would be excited to participate. He also suggested games such as basketball hoop games and various fair games for the day in the town. Vice Mayor Nowlin said that he welcomed his suggestions and ideas. Town Manager Russell Thurston welcomed Mr. Harvey to help partner with the Town and organize a theatrical performance or youth games for Day in the Town 2015.
TOWN MANAGER REPORT
Town Manager Russell Thurston said the inmate worker program is going well. He said this week would be the 4th week that he has gone to Rustburg and picked them up. He said they have worked on the cemetery and reset 25-30 grave markers with some putty donated to the Town by Baer Monuments. He said there are about 5 grave markers that are so large that they can’t be handled by the Town crew. He said they raked leaves and picked up limbs and debris. He said the inmates helped set up for the fishing tournament and for Day in the Town. He said they have also worked on the Church Street property. He said that Bart Smith from Region 2000 held a social media marketing class here a couple of weeks ago.
Mr. Thurston said that the VDOT project did go out to construction bid. The bid opening is May 22, 2014. He said that Morgan Bomar in the front office is leaving the Town to accept a full time position. He thanked everyone who helped during Day in the Town, and he said everything went well. Mr. Thurston said he had a long conversation with a local physician last week who is concerned about the status of the health care in the Town of Brookneal. He said that he is going to draft a letter concerning this and send to some “higher ups”.
Mr. Thurston also said a big thank you to Mr. John Vincent for all his efforts in putting together the car show held on May 3, 2014.
REQUEST FOR TRANSFERS OF APPROPRIATION
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Mark Wilkes, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to approve the following transfers of appropriation:
REQUEST FOR TRANSFER OF APPROPRIATION
To: Brookneal Town Council
Date: May 13, 2014
The following Appropriation Transfers are requested for FY2014:
Category—Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Town Council—Other—01-1101-5801 $1,000.00 $ 8,400.00 $ 464.47
Category--Expense DECREASE New Total Balance in Account
Legal & Professional—01-1204-3002 $1,000.00 $ 3,000.00 $ 2,267.30
To cover the costs of day in the town and miscellaneous expenses
Category--Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Ins. General Liability—01-1229-5306 $ 165.76 $ 4,844.76 $ 0.00
Category—Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Ins. Auto—01-1229-5309 $ 99.84 $ 2,906.84 $ 0.00
Category--Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Ins. Property—01-1229-5310 $ 72.00 $18,706.56 $ 0.00
Category—Expense DECREASE New Total Balance in Account
Legal & Professional—01-1204-3002 $ 337.60 $ 2,662.40 $ 1,929.70
To cover the unanticipated increase in flood insurance for FY14.
Category--Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account.
Heating Service—01-4302-5102 $ 523.79 $ 8,465.38 $ 0.00
Category--Expense DECREASE New Total Balance in Account
Sanitation—VSRS—01-4203-2002 $ 523.79 $ 2,772.21 $ 774.24
To cover the unanticipated increase in the cost of heating for the winter of FY13/14 .
Category--Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account.
Recreation--Heating—01-7104-5102 $ 1,198.50 $ 8,390.03 $ 0.00
Category--Expense DECREASE New Total Balance in Account
Sanitation—VSRS—01-4203-2002 $ 774.24 $ 1,998.19 $ 0.00
Category--Expense DECREASE New Total Balance in Account
Sanitation—Overtime--01-4203-1002 $ 424.26 $ 3,575.74 $ 1,362.21
To cover the unanticipated increase in the cost of heating for the winter of FY13/14.
Category--Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account.
Public Works—Overtime—01-4101-1002 $2,000.00 $ 5,500.00 $ 1,744.87
Category--Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Public Works—Health Ins.—01-4101-2005 $ 642.96 $13,344.96 $ 1,112.08
Category--Expense DECREASE New Total Balance in Account
Legal & Professional—01-1204-3002 $1,629.70 $ 1,032.70 $ 300.00
Category--Expense DECREASE New Total Balance in Account
Sanitation—Overtime--01-4203-1002 $ 1,013.26 $ 2,562.48 $ 348.95
To cover the costs of increased overtime and variance in health insurance for the public works dept. for FY14.
Category--Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account.
General Property Repairs--01-4302-5407 $ 4,738.04 $ 7,738.04 $ 200.00
Category--Revenue INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Sale of Cemetery Lots--01-1899-1200 $ 3,410.00 $ 3,910.00 N/A
Category--Revenue INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
DMV/Rolling Stock Tax--01-2201-0800 $ 1,328.04 $ 9,680.91 N/A
To cover the dumpsters purchased (which will be reimbursed through billing of businesses) for the sanitation department.
Category--Expense INCREASE New Total Balance in Account.
Recreation—Repairs&Maint.--01-7104-5407 $ 781.00 $ 2,581.00 $ 275.28
Category--Revenue INCREASE New Total Balance in Account
Other Misc. Revenue--01-1899-1300 $ 781.00 $ 5,039.00 N/A
To show the reimbursement received by VML for the fence repairs at the ball park.
Respectfully requested by:
_________________________________ __________________________________
Treasurer Date
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
There were no committee recommendations.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Councilperson David reminded everyone that Brookneal is hosting the district all-star tournament starting June 20, 2014. Councilperson Adams asked if local media outlets such as Channel 13 would be contacted to make them aware that Brookneal is hosting this tournament. He said that other localities get advertisement when hosting ball tournaments, and he felt like Brookneal should too.
Councilperson Wilkes said that he would volunteer his services for next year’s day in the town to help with the musical lineup. He said people were disappointed that more gospel groups were not here for that Saturday event.
Clerk/Treasurer Bobbie Waller commented that she would like for the Town to add something to the paperwork for vendors for the Day in the Town that they cannot leave before the festival is over. She said that it was not good when some groups started packing up at 1:00 p.m. She also said that she had been working with Paymentus for online bill pay, and hopefully the program will go live on July 1, 2014.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Mark Wilkes, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the May 13, 2014, meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ ____________________________
Bobbie A. Waller Phyllis L. Campbell
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
