January 9, 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, Tracy Meisenbach, Richard Adams, Stacey Hailey, and Bob Jean, Council Members

Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer

Mike Crews, Public Works Director

Ricky Cousins, Police Chief

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Mayor Campbell took a moment to welcome new Council member Bob Jean.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Upon motion by Stacey Hailey, seconded by Kenneth Jennings and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the January 9, 2007, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council with the following additions: 1) Executive Session 2) Invoices from Auditors.

MINUTES

Councilperson Meisenbach noted on the December 12, 2006, work session minutes that she wanted the question and recommendation she requested concerning a contract for the new Clerk/Treasurer included in the minutes.  At the December work session, Ms. Meisenbach has asked if the new Clerk/Treasurer needed a contract since the previous Clerk/Treasurer had had a contract with the Town.  Mike Crews responded that the question was referred to the Town attorney who responded that with the new personnel manual that was put into effect in January  2006, the new Clerk/Treasurer did not need a contract.

With this correction, the motion to approve the October 10, October 19, and December 12, 2006, minutes was made by Richard Adams, seconded by Stacey Hailey and unanimously carried.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mayor Campbell asked that the January 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 Kenneth Jennings and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of December 13, 2006 to January 9, 2007 in the amount of $20,982.28.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. Charlie Bradley, of Brooke Street, Brookneal, appeared before the Council concerning his water bill that had went up to $66.44.  He stated that he had been told by Mr. Paul Francis to run the water to get the smell out of the water.  He was told by Mr. Francis that in doing so if he ran over the minimum of 2000 gallons to just pay the $27.00 minimum.  Mr. Mike Crews stated that he had checked Mr. Bradley’s meter to see if the reading was correct.  Mr. Crews came to the conclusion that the reading was correct.    Mr. Crews stated that he had given Mr. Bradley an adjustment to bring his water bill back down to the minimum of $27.00.   Mr. Bradley was told that he would only be given one adjustment within a 12 month period.

CITIZENS AGAINST TOXIC SLUDGE—REVIEW OF MODEL ORDINANCE

Jennifer England of 1575 McIvor Ferry Road, Gladys, appeared before Council representing the Citizens Against Toxic Sludge (CATS).    Ms. England presented a model ordinance to the Town Council entitled the “Brookneal Sewage Sludge Ordinance” with a request that the Town Council adopt this final ordinance to enforce the constitutional rights of the residents of Brookneal.  This ordinance will prohibit corporations from engaging in the land application of sewage sludge and guarantees that those corporations cannot use their constitutional right to attempt to overturn the ordinance.

Mayor Campbell stated that the Council had discussed the issue in their committee meeting  prior to the Council meeting, and that they had decided to pass the ordinance to the Town attorney for his review before deciding what action to take.  Mayor Campbell said that she wanted to go on record as saying that no one on the Council is for the bio-sludge.  Councilperson Meisenbach stated that we need to do whatever is necessary to protect our citizens and our community from sewage sludge.  Councilperson Jennings also stated that he was totally against the spreading of biosolids.  Councilperson Jean believed that there should be more testing done.  Councilperson Adams sympathized with the plight of farmers, but did not agree with the spreading of biosolids.  Councilperson Hailey stated that he also sympathized with the plight of the farmers, but did not agree with the spreading of biosolids.

POLICE REPORT

Chief Cousins reported to Council that the CVCJA would not pay the per diem for Officer Earhart, but would allow him to stay at the Academy during his training  The Town would have to cover Officer Earhart’s per diem.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Mike Crews asked that the Council set a date for discussing the pre-tax program and new pay scale with the employees.  Mr. Crews announced that the property at 112 Marshall Street, which had received a lot of complaints, would be torn down by spring of this year.

COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

Mayor Campbell announced that Richard Adams would move up to Chairperson of the Finance and Planning Committee to replace outgoing Councilperson Tibbs.   Bob Jean would be added to that committee.

SETTING THE MEETING DATES OF 2007

Be it resolved that motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Richard Adams and unanimously carried, Council voted to set the meeting dates for 2007 as follows:  January 9, February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, August 14, September 11, October 9, November 13 and December 11, 2007.

FY 07/08 BUDGET PREPARATIONS TIMETABLE AND BUDGET PHILOSPHY

Mayor Campbell announced that during the committee meeting budget preparations for budget year 07/08 were discussed.   The Finance and Planning Committee would start their work sessions in February.

DATES FOR BUDGET WORK SESSIONS

The Finance and Planning Committee is planning its first budget work session for February 10, 2007, at 9:00 a.m.

FY 05/06 AUDIT

Upon motion by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by Bob Jean and unanimously carried, Council voted to accept the financial audit from M. Jerry Reynolds, as presented to them and as discussed during the committee meeting prior to the Council meeting.

INVOICES FROM AUDITOR

Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Stacey Hailey, and unanimously carried, Council voted to pay the invoice for the audit of 05/06 in the amount of $15,000, $7500 coming from the General Fund and $7500 coming from the Water/Sewer Fund.

ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL

All Council members welcomed Bob Jean to Council.

CLOSED SESSION

Motion was made by James Nowlin to go into closed session under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3) for the purpose of discussing the disposition of publicly held real property and under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1) for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the performance of the water treatment plant operator.  The motion received a second from Richard Adams.  With all in favor, council went into closed session.

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION

Upon motion from James Nowlin, the Council returned from closed session.

CERTIFICATION

Mayor Campbell called for a vote certifying that only those items allowed under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (3) pertaining to the discussion of the disposition of publicly held real property and under VA Code Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1) for the purpose of reviewing and discussing the performance of the water treatment plant operator were discussed in the preceding closed session.

Voting was as follows:

Mr. Hailey       Aye Mr. Adams      Aye Mr. Jean          Aye

Mr. Nowlin       Aye Ms. Meisenbach  Aye Mr. Jennings       Aye

Mayor Campbell         Aye

ADJOURNMENT

Upon motion from Stacey Hailey, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the January 9, 2007, Council meeting was adjourned.

___________________________                  ____________________________

Bobbie A. Waller,                                            Phyllis Campbell,

Clerk/Treasurer                                               Mayor