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

Jack Woodell, James Nowlin, Lee Booker, Kenneth Jennings and Tracy Meisenbach Council members

Bill Gillespie ,Town Manager

Laurie C. Francis, Clerk/Treasurer

Kurland Roark, Chief of Police

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the May 11, 2004 regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council with one correction:  1) Change the order of the published agenda to place the public hearings after the approval of the invoices.

MINUTES

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Council approved the budget workshop and regular minutes of April 13, 2004.

TREASURER’S REPORT

The Treasurer’s Report was 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 April 13, 2004 to May 10, 2004 in the amount of $15,407.85.

Public Hearing for proposed Meals Tax

Mayor Campbell opened the public hearing for the proposed 5 percent meals tax.

Tom Keefer, owner of Burgers, Shakes, and Cream, spoke before Council in opposition of the meals tax.  In addition to other points, Mr. Keefer stated that the meals tax would place an undue burden on the elderly residents in the area and proposed that better government spending should be looked at instead of the implementation of another tax.

No one else appeared before Council.

Mayor Campbell closed the public hearing at 7:05 PM

PUBLIC HEARING FOR THE 2004/2005 GENERAL FUND AND UTILITY FUND BUDGETS

Mayor Campbell opened the public hearing for the General Fund and Utility Fund budgets at 7:05 PM.

No one from the public appeared to speak before Council.

Mayor Campbell declared the public hearing closed at 7:06 PM.

TOWN ORDINANCE REVIEW

Staff recommended that the entire code book be updated for compliance with the State Code.  Once this has been completed, it was suggested that the Legislative Committee establish itself as a working group to review the Code book and offer recommendations for appropriate additions/deletions to the code to meet the needs of the community and Council.

WAIVER OF WATER AND SEWER CHARGES FOR THE FORMER THOMASVILLE FURNITURE BUILDING

Upon motion by Lee Booker, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Council voted to waive the water and sewer charges for the former Thomasville Furniture building for 12 months beginning March 2004.

ENDORSEMENT OF PROCLAMATION FOR WORLD WAR II VETERANS

Ricky Cousins, representing the local chapter of the American Legion, requested that Council endorse a proclamation at the April meeting that would honor World War II Veterans.

Upon motion by Lee Booker, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach and unanimously carried, Council endorsed the proclamation designating May 29, 2004 as World War II Veterans Recognition Day.

SUPPORT OF BIOSOLIDS RESOLUTION FROM CAMPBELL COUNTY

Upon motion from Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Council authorized sending a letter to the Virginia Department of Health strongly supporting the Campbell County resolution allowing the application of biosolids to be a local option.

APPROVAL OF 501 BY-PASS ROUTING

VDOT provided Council with drawings of two possible by-pass routings of the proposed Route 501 by-pass.

Council member James Nowlin made a motion to accept the 2 proposed routings.  The motion received a second from Jack Woodell and was unanimously carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Tom Keefer spoke before council in opposition of the proposed 501 by-pass routing.  Mr. Keefer stated that he felt that putting a by-pass around Brookneal would harm the town instead of helping it.

ADJOURNMENT

Upon motion by Lee Booker, seconded James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell declared the May 11, 2004 meeting of the Brookneal Town Council adjourned.

___________________________           ____________________________

Laurie C. Francis,                                        Phyllis Campbell,

Clerk/Treasurer                                            Mayor