July 10, 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 Richard Adams and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the July 10, 2007, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council.
MINUTES
Upon motion by James Nowlin, seconded by Kenneth Jennings and unanimously carried, Council approved the June 12, 2007 Town Council minutes.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Mayor Campbell asked that the July 2007 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of June 13, 2007, to July 10, 2007, in the amount of $18,478.84.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Mr. Kevin Parker of Evington, VA, appeared before Council to request use of the Community Building on August 7, 2007 at 7 p.m. for an informational meeting for the Sons of Confederate Veterans Organization in Campbell County. Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, Council approved the use of the community building by the Sons of Confederate Veterans Organization on August 7, 2007 at 7 p.m.
POLICE REPORT
Chief Cousins announced that Officer A. S. Earhart graduated from the Police Academy on June 28, 2007, and he is presently working shifts with Chief Cousins and Sergeant Carr until July 18, 2007, when he can go out on his own.
PUBLIC WORKS REPORT
Interim Town Manager Mike Crews announced that the Town has a vacancy at the Water Plant with the resignation of Paul Francis.
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES REQUEST FOR BALL PARK
Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Council approved the use of the ball park for a softball tournament by the Halifax Department of Social Services in September 2007 for a fund raising event. However, this comes with the stipulation that they be required to pay for the operating costs of the ball park during that time as determined by Interim Town Manager Mike Crews and be responsible for the police protection.
CONTRACT RENEWAL FOR C. W. GILLESPIE, JR. FOR FY 07/08
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by James Nowlin, and with a 4-1 vote, with Councilperson Meisenbach opposing the motion, Council voted to accept the contract for C. W. Gillespie, Jr. as presented for the 07/08 fiscal year and make it retroactive to July 1, 2007.
RESOLUTION FOR SOUTHERN RIVERS FUNDS FOR LAGOONS
Mr. Gary Christie of the Local Government Council appeared before Council to talk about the Southern Rivers Funds available for the Staunton River and Falling River Lagoons. There is $7 million available during the first round of grants. The proposal is to seek $20,000 in planning grant funds to pay for engineering services to update a Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) which will recommend changes to the system to reduce/eliminate the permit violations. The following resolution was presented to the Council for their approval:
RESOLUTION TO ENDORSE THE PLANNING GRANT APPLICATION
TO THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SOUTHERN RIVERS WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development has announced available funding for the Southern Rivers Watershed Enhancement Program; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Brookneal has recognized the need to update the infrastructure within the Town and as a result developed an implementation plan to correct deficiencies that will sustain the community and the local resources; and
WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has provided discharge reports that indicate that the Falling River and Staunton River Lagoons are currently deficient and under certain conditions eliminating directly into the receiving streams of the Falling and Staunton Rivers; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Brookneal is committed to eliminating any infrastructure deficiencies that threaten the health and well-being of the environment; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Brookneal is committed to the preservation and enhancement of the historic, cultural and natural resources with the Town, County, and region; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Brookneal recognizes that the Staunton and Falling Rivers are key resources to the community and Commonwealth and serve as a vital link to the community history, community recreation, and economic well-being of the community.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Town Council of Brookneal wishes to apply for a $20,000 Planning Grant from the Southern Rivers Watershed Enhancement Program to develop Preliminary Engineering Plans to eliminate current design deficiencies from both the Staunton River and Falling River Lagoons. Be it further resolved Phyllis L. Campbell, Mayor of Brookneal, is here by authorized to sign and submit the appropriate documents for submittal of this Southern Rivers Watershed Enhancement Planning Application.
Upon motion by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, adopted this 10th day of July, 2007.
__________________________
Phyllis L. Campbell, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Bobbie Waller, Clerk of Brookneal
A roll call vote was taken as follows:
Mr. Jennings Aye
Ms. Meisenbach Aye
Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mr. Adams Aye
Mr. Jean Aye
Mr. Christie also updated the Council on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that the Town applied for in March. Unfortunately, the Town did not receive the Downtown Revitalization grant this year. The Department of Housing and Community Development wants to meet with Town officials in August to discuss the application and what the next step might be.
According to Mr. Christie, they were very impressed with the Town’s application, but there was just not enough money to go around.
RESOLUTION FOR AMERICAN FIDELITY FLEXIBLE FRINGE BENEFITS PLAN
Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried, the Council approved the following resolution for American Fidelity Assurance Company:
BOARD RESOLUTION
FOR
Town of Brookneal—501
At the meeting of the Brookneal Town Council held at Brookneal, VA on July 10, 2007, the following motion was made by Kenneth Jennings, Councilperson.
I move that the Brookneal Town Council adopt a Section 125 Flexible Fringe
Benefits Plan for the employees of Town of Brookneal to be effective on 8/1/07.
This motion was seconded by Tracy Meisenbach and passed unanimously.
____________________________________
Secretary of the Board
A roll call vote was taken as follows:
Mr. Jennings Aye
Ms. Meisenbach Aye
Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mr. Adams Aye
Mr. Jean Aye
RESOLUTION FOR EPA GRANT
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Kenneth Jennings, and unanimously carried, Council voted to adopt the following resolution for the EPA Grant:
TOWN OF BROOKNEAL
RESOLUTION OF APPOINTMENT
WHEREAS, the Town of Brookneal desires to enter into a grant agreement with the United States Environmental Protection Agency for the purpose of upgrading the towns potable water system, and
WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency requires that the Town Council of the Town of Brookneal provide a list of approved representatives which will be authorized to execute official documents related to the securing of federal funds from the proposed federal grant awarded to the town of Brookneal which will be administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency for improvements to the towns water system, and
WHEREAS, it is the town’s intent to proceed with these improvements recognizing that without the financial assistance of this grant these improvements would not be possible.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Brookneal does hereby appoint Phyllis L. Campbell, Mayor for the Town of Brookneal and J. Michael Crews, Interim Town Manager for the Town of Brookneal as its authorized representatives to execute any of the required documents relating to the Federal Grant mentioned above in the body of this resolution.
On the motion of Richard Adams, seconded by Kenneth Jennings and
carried by a voice vote of 5 members, the Town Council of the Town of Brookneal
approves this resolution.
_______________________________________________________________________
Phyllis L. Campbell – Mayor – Town of Brookneal DATE
ATTEST:________________________________________________________________
Bobbie A. Waller - Clerk - Town of Brookneal DATE
SEAL:
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Upon motion by Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, Council moved to approve the proposed fee structure of $25.00 for in town groups and $50.00 for out of town groups to use the community building as long as it is a community service type of group and that all groups using the community building at the present time be grandfathered in at their previous rate and applications. Upon motion by James Nowlin, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried, Council voted to allow Minister Princeton Clark to use the Community Building on Wednesday nights for a fee of $25.00 as long as Wednesday night continues to be open.
ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Councilperson Meisenbach expressed her concerns and concerns of a passerby to the area about the eyesore as you approach the Town limits from the Falling River Bridge. There are junk cars, appliances, and trash at several homes on Wickliffe Avenue as you pass the Falling River Bridge. She said she would like to see this area cleaned up.
Councilperson Jean again expressed his concerns about repairing the railroad crossing in the Town.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Robert Jean, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the July 10, 2007, Council meeting was adjourned.
___________________________ ____________________________
Bobbie A. Waller, Phyllis Campbell,
Clerk/Treasurer Mayor
