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
Meg Tibbs, Kenneth Jennings, Tracy Meisenbach, Richard Adams, and Stacey Hailey, Council Members
Bobbie Waller, Secretary
Mike Crews, Public Works Director
Ricky Cousins, Police Chief
INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Upon motion by Richard Adams, seconded by Kenneth Jennings and unanimously carried, Council approved the agenda for the December 12, 2006, regular meeting of the Brookneal Town Council with the following addition: 1) Request from Sgt. Brian Carr concerning the Kersey building 2) Request from Ricky Cousins concerning Officer Earhart.
PUBLIC HEARING ON AMENDMENT TO THE TOWN CHARTER
Mayor Campbell opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Mayor Campbell explained that the purpose of the public hearing was for changing some language in our town charter. The Town Charter would now state that the town manager does not have to be a resident of the Town of Brookneal while serving as the Town Manager. We will be checking with Kathy Byron on the language that states that the town manager does not have to live in the State of Virginia. We would want that to read that he does need to live in the State of Virginia while serving as town manager. This would have to be approved by Delegate Byron and the General Assembly.
No one appeared before Council for the public hearing on the Town charter. Mayor Campbell then closed the public hearing at 7:05 p.m. She also announced that the Council would go back into its regular session at that point.
Motion was made by Tracy Meisenbach to send our amended Town Charter to Kathy Byron for the State Legislature to make the change regarding our Town Manager position. This motion received a second from Stacey Hailey. Mayor Campbell called for a vote as follows:
Mr. Hailey Aye Mrs. Tibbs Aye
Mr. Jennings Aye Mrs. Meisenbach Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
With all in favor, the motion carried.
MINUTES
Upon motion by Meg Tibbs, seconded by Stacey Hailey and unanimously carried, Council approved the November 14, 2006, Town Council minutes.
TREASURER’S REPORT
There was no treasurer’s report for this month presented at this meeting. Ms. Bobbie Waller explained that she was still working on reconciling the accounts from June until this point. She stated that she hoped to have an accurate treasurer’s report mailed out to the Council within the next couple of weeks.
PRESENTATION AND APPROVAL OF INVOICES
Be it resolved that motion was made by Kenneth Jennings, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, authorizing the payment of the invoices for the period of November 15, 2006 to December 12, 2006 in the amount of $10,965.78.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No one appeared before Council for public comment.
CITIZENS AGAINST TOXIC SLUDGE
Jennifer England of 1575 McIvor Ferry Road, Gladys, appeared before Council representing a newly formed group called Citizens Against Toxic Sludge (CATS). They wanted to extend an invitation to Council members to attend their next meeting at the Rustburg Ruritan Club on December 16, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.
POLICE REPORT
Chief Ricky Cousins introduced Officer Scott Earhart to the Council. Officer Earhart began his duties on December 4, 2006. Chief Cousins requested permission from Council to allow him to write a request for Officer Earhart to stay at the Police Academy in Lynchburg while completing his training. Since Officer Earhart would be driving 51 ½ miles one way from his home to the Academy, this would allow him more time to study and would save money on gas expenses for the Town. This would not cost the Town anything extra as we already pay a $900.00 fee per year to the Academy, and this would be included in that fee. Upon motion from Richard Adams, seconded by Meg Tibbs, and unanimously carried, Council authorized Chief Cousins to write a request to the Police Academy for Officer Earhart to reside at the Academy while completing his training.
APPOINTMENT OF NEW CLERK/TREASURER
Upon motion from Meg Tibbs, seconded by Richard Adams and unanimously carried, Council voted to appoint Mrs. Bobbie Waller as the new Clerk/Treasurer for the Town of Brookneal and to authorize her to provide the necessary signatures to conduct the Town’s business.
INTRODUCTION OF NEW EMPLOYEES
Mayor Campbell introduced Bobbie Waller as the new Clerk/Treasurer. Chief Cousins introduced Officer Earhart earlier, and Mike Crews told Council that a new employee had been hired for the Water Plant by the name of Donna Snodgrass. Mr. Crews welcomed all new employees to the Town of Brookneal.
REQUEST FROM SGT. BRIAN CARR
Sgt. Brian Carr has written a letter of request to the Physical Development Committee for permission to remove a pipe used for ventilation in the old Kersey Body Shop. The pipe is extraneous to the function of the building and it is not necessary to have it in the building. With that point made, upon motion from Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by Stacey Hailey and unanimously carried, Council voted to approve removal by Brian Carr of the venting pipe that runs from the mixing room to the roof in the old paint booth of the Kersey building with Mr. Carr assuming all liability and responsibility for the removal of the pipe. Mr. Carr will provide the Town with a signed release and hold harmless agreement for the removal.
PRESENTATION BY MAYOR TO OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER MEG TIBBS
TOWN OF BROOKNEAL
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION
Margaret “Meg” Tibbs
December 12, 2006
WHEREAS, Mrs. Margaret “Meg” Tibbs has dedicated eight and one-half years to the service of the citizens of the Town of Brookneal while serving as a member of their Town council, and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Tibbs has provided leadership and stability to the Town Council during those years of
service while enjoying the respect and admiration of her fellow council members, and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Tibbs has always been able to maintain her humble nature and calm demeanor, even during times of the most heated debate, thereby providing a living testimony of her character and integrity before her fellow council members, and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Tibbs has spent countless hours in service to the citizens of Brookneal through her efforts to coordinate events such as Day in the Town, the Bicentennial Celebration, and being instrumental in the planning and fund raising for the Community Building Park, and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Tibbs’ stellar public service career stands as an example to those that will follow her as well as to those citizens that she represented via her Council seat, and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Margaret “Meg” Tibbs, who will always be known as “MEG” to the Brookneal community she has represented so well, serves as a living portrait of what it means to be a dedicated public servant, and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Town of Brookneal hereby expresses its sincere appreciation to Margaret “Meg” Tibbs for her time, talent, and dedication in representing the citizens of Brookneal while serving as a member of the Brookneal Town Council.
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED THAT, this “RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION” be recorded in the permanent records of the Town of Brookneal as a testimony of the Town’s gratitude to Meg for her service and dedication.
Motion to approve this resolution made by Councilperson Hailey and seconded by Councilperson Adams this 12th day of December, 2006
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Phyllis S. Campbell
Mayor, Town of Brookneal
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
Upon motion from Tracy Meisenbach, seconded by James Nowlin and unanimously carried, Council voted for the Town to send a resolution against the spreading of bio-solids or sludge to Campbell County, Delegate Kathy Byron, Senator Charles Hawkins and the VDH-OWP because this type of industry would certainly affect our waterways and our way of life in the Town of Brookneal. Mayor Campbell called for a vote as follows:
Mr. Hailey Aye Mr. Jennings Aye Mrs. Tibbs Aye
Mr. Adams Aye Mrs. Meisenbach Aye Mr. Nowlin Aye
Mayor Campbell Aye
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion from Meg Tibbs, seconded by Richard Adams, and unanimously carried, Mayor Campbell announced that the December 12, 2006, Council meeting was adjourned.
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Bobbie A. Waller, Phyllis Campbell,
Secretary Mayor
