December 8, 2009
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

Tracy Meisenbach, Robert Jean, and Phillip Sheppard, Council Members

Buster Nicholson, Town Manager

Mike Crews, Public Works Director

Bobbie Waller, Clerk/Treasurer

Absent:  Kenneth Jennings and Richard Adams, Council Members

INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED ISSUANCE OF A WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OBLIGATION BOND

7:10 p.m.  Mayor Campbell called to order the public hearing on the proposed issuance of a water distribution system construction improvement general obligation bond, series 2009, in an estimated maximum amount of $2,500,000 for the purpose of financing improvements to the Town’s overall water system.  No one spoke in favor of or in opposition to the proposed issuance of the bond.  Mayor Campbell closed the public hearing at 7:11 p.m.

Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried, the Council approved for the Mayor and the Town Manager to execute and sign for the Town of Brookneal documents pertaining to the proposed issuance of a water distribution system construction improvement general obligation bond, series 2009, in an estimated maximum amount of $2,500,000 for the purpose of financing improvements to the Town’s overall water system.  The following verbal vote was taken:

Mr. Sheppard              Aye

Mr. Jean                      Aye

Mr. Nowlin                   Aye

Ms. Meisenbach         Aye

Mayor Campbell         Aye

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the December 8, 2009, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council with the following addition 1) Amendment to the owner/engineer agreement with WW Associates for the water system improvement project.

MINUTES

Upon motion by James Nowlin, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, Council approved the November 10 and 13, 2009, Town Council meeting minutes.

TREASURER’S REPORT

Mayor Campbell asked that the December 2009 treasurer’s report be filed for audit.

PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES

Be it resolved that motion was made by James Nowlin, seconded by Robert Jean, and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of November 11, 2009, to December 8, 2009, in the amount of $15,753.15.

CAMPBELL COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DAVID LAURRELL AND CAMPBELL COUNTY SUPERVISOR J. D. PUCKETT

Mr. Laurrell talked a little bit about the challenges that lie ahead for the state budget next year.  The county has extended the hiring freeze for another year.  Any non-essential positions that become vacant will be held open for at least a year.  He said they would be looking at opportunities within the County, between departments, with the schools, and other regional jurisdictions (with Towns) to combine services to save money.  The County is also putting a freeze on all capital improvement projects.

BRIAN DAVID—REGION 2000 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL

Mr. Brian David of the Region 2000 Economic Development Council presented the Annual Report for 2008-2009 titled “Virginia’s Region 2000 Partnership Annual Report.”  He also presented a report titled “The Contribution that Virginia’s Region 2000 Partnership makes to Region 2000’s economy.”

PUBLIC COMMENT

J. D. Puckett, Campbell County Supervisor, commented that we are in difficult times right now and he asked that everybody work together, not pull separate ways.  He said there may be times when County services are slower because of vacancies in some departments.

PUBLIC WORKS REPORT

Mike Crews, Public Works Director, announced that due to Christmas Eve falling on a Thursday, residential pickup for those residents will be on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.  Mr. Crews said that the previous Friday there was a tree that fell on a line at the Falling River Lagoon.  Mr. Crews said there is a whole side at the Lagoon that needs to be cleared of trees that could take out all the power.  He said the line is the Town’s responsibility because that line only serves the Town.

TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

Buster Nicholson, Town Manager, delivered the following police report:

5 speeding tickets

11 tickets for other traffic violations

Arrest for domestic assault on Dec. 3, 2009

Assist Campbell Co. with a 911 phone misuse case

Accident on E. Rush St. and Lusardi Drive

Mr. Nicholson updated the Council on the downtown grant.  He updated the Council on the money spent, the progress of the streetscape project, and the progress of the façade work.  He also said that the economic re-structuring plan would be adopted on at the December 16 management team meeting.   He advised the Council that Louise Brierre from Department of Housing and Community Development is adamant that Brookneal needs to form a committee of volunteers to guide downtown marketing activities.  Scott Smith from Region 2000 has ordered some materials to help guide this process.

On the USDA water line project, the contracts are going to be awarded as soon as the interim financing is in place.  On the wastewater project, the pre bid on December 7 went very well, with the bid opening being held on December 22, 2009.  Mr. Nicholson then discussed interim financing for the USDA water project.  There is only one bid for the interim financing, and that bid is not for the entire amount that we need of $2.5 million.  The bid is only for $2 million.  There are a couple of banks that are willing to bid on the financing contingent upon an updated letter from USDA that more emphatically guarantees the loan.  That process is being worked on now.  He asked that this meeting tonight be continued to Friday, December 11, 2009.  At that point, the Council can approve the award of the interim financing and authorize the mayor to sign for the bond for the interim financing with the bank.

Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to continue the meeting until Friday, December 11, 2009 at 5 p.m.

AMENDMENT TO OWNER/ENGINEER AGREEMENT (WW ASSOCIATES)--ORIGINAL DATED MAY 16, 2008—WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS GRANT

Mr. Nicholson addressed the amendment to the owner/engineer agreement with WW Associates for the water system improvement project.  He reminded Council of Herb White’s visit to the Council meeting in November to explain the “shopping cart” or “wish list” of items that are hoping to be accomplished with funds left after the bids came in low for the water line and water plant projects.  This amendment will cover engineering fees for the part of the grant that was not used up in the bids from Haymes Brothers and Littleton and Associates.  Upon motion by James Nowlin seconded by Tracy Meisenbach, and unanimously carried, Council approved the amendment to the owner/engineer agreement dated May 16, 2008, for WW Associates on the water system improvement project.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

Councilperson Robert Jean clarified the motion that was made at the November 10, 2009, meeting concerning allowing the Town Manager Buster Nicholson to complete the comprehensive plan.  Frank Wright, the town attorney, suggested clarifying the wording of the motion.  Upon motion by Robert Jean, seconded by James Nowlin, and unanimously carried, the Council voted to clarify the motion made at the November 10, 2009, meeting concerning Buster Nicholson, Town Manager, completing the comprehensive plan.  Councilperson Jean explained that Mr. Nicholson doing the comprehensive plan is not a separate contract but it is additional duties that will be paid for on this particular project with the standard types of deductions being taken through the regular payroll process.  He said that when the project is complete, that will be the end of it.

ITEMS FROM TOWN COUNCIL

Councilperson Jean said that a Town citizen complimented the Town crew on the handling of a recent sewer situation.  Mr. Jean also noted that 8 of the Town Christmas lights are not working.  He also noted that the road next to the Staunton River Community Church is closed off for the public’s use, and he has had some citizens complain about that.

Mayor Campbell congratulated the Chamber of Commerce on the Christmas parade.  Councilperson Meisenbach commended the many people that came out to help with the fire at Brookneal Milling on November 20, 2009.  She commented, in light of this event, that she wanted to see the Town keep the water tower in the middle of town.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Campbell continued the meeting until December 11, 2009 at 5:00 p.m.

___________________________                  ____________________________

Bobbie A. Waller                                             Phyllis L. Campbell

Clerk/Treasurer                                               Mayor