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Town of Farmville, Virginia |
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Home >> Town Government >> Town Council >> Meeting Minutes November 7, 2007 |
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REGULAR WORK SESSION OF THE FARMVILLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON NOVEMBER 7, 2007 At the regular monthly work session of the Farmville Town Council held on November 7, 2007 at 11:00 am in the Town Hall, Town Manager’s Conference Room located at 116 North Main Street, there present were Mayor S.C. Newman, Jr. presiding and Council members D.E. Whitus, D. L. Hunter, S.B. Thompson, H.L. Horton, O.S. Overton, A.D Reid and E.I. Gordon. Also in attendance were Town Manager, Gerald Spates and Town Attorney, Donald Blessing. Mayor Newman called the meeting to order. Town Manager, Gerald Spates updated members on the agenda items for the regular Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 14, 2007. Council members took action on the following items: VOLUNTARY BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT Mr. Horton made a motion directing the Town Manager to notify Prince Edward County of Council’s intent to accept the request for voluntary boundary adjustments on behalf of the Woodland Inc. and Blalock Real Estate, Inc. properties. The town has received requests asking that the above-mentioned properties be brought into the town limits. Discussions turned to unresolved issues dealing with water and sewer. MORATORIUM ON WATER SYSTEM HOOK UPS OUTSIDE TOWN LIMITS On motion by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Hunter and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Hunter, Thompson, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, and Council member Horton voting “no”, Council passed a moratorium on new water connections outside the town limits. The moratorium is to take affect immediately and stay in affect until an Agreement is in place with Prince Edward County on water from the Sandy River Reservoir. This moratorium will not affect anyone in Cumberland and Prince Edward County that has already applied for a building permit. Prior to voting members discussed this issue at length. They spoke of their concerns with the drought of 2002, the current water situation and frustration in lack of action from Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors on the Sandy River Reservoir project. Council member Horton said he felt this would be sending a negative message and asked that no action be taken until after the joint meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 15th. Council member Gordon said the Town is trying to preserve the town’s infrastructure and felt this might expedite the negotiation process. Discussions continued and Mayor Newman asked if members were ready to make a motion. Council member Whitus spoke of Hugh Jenkins and Dave Farmer, who worked diligently to build the Sandy River Reservoir. VOLUNTARY BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT REQUEST Mr. Spates reminded members of Mr. Horton motion to accept the request on behalf of The Woodland, Inc. and Blalock Real Estate Inc. for a voluntary boundary adjustment. The motion was seconded by Mr. Hunter and with a recorded vote with Hunter, Thompson, Horton, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, and Council member Whitus abstaining stating “potential conflict ” Council agreed to accept the properties into the Town limits and directed the Town Manager and Town Attorney to draw up the necessary documents. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT – DENIED Mr. Spates informed members that the Town had received a request from Mr. Mike Wood property owner of 1205 Fifth Avenue for a conditional use permit. The property is zoned residential district R1A and a conditional use permit is required to operate a home occupation. Mr. Wood listed is home occupation as construction and indicated he would be placing a shed on his property for storage. This does not meet the definitions of allowed uses in an R1A zone and the request was denied. Council expressed support of this decision. 305 FIRST AVENUE PROPERTY On amended motion by Mr. Whitus, seconded by Dr. Gordon and with all Council members voting “aye”, Council authorized the Town Manger to advertise for a public hearing to notify the community of Council’s intent to sell the property located at 305 First Avenue on sealed bid with a minimum bid starting at $75,000. The property is zoned residential district R1A and only a single-family dwelling will be permitted. The original motion by Mr. Whitus was to place an advertisement soliciting bids on the 305 First Avenue property, with a minimum bid of $75,000. After discussion, the motion was amended to authorize advertisement of a Public Hearing to notify the community of Council’s intent to sell the property. 5 PERCENT INCREASE TO ALL EMPLOYEES IN LIEU OF A CHRISTMAS BONUS On a mended motion by Mr. Hunter, seconded by Dr. Gordon and with all Council member voting “aye”, Council referred a request by the Town Manager to give all employees a 5 percent pay increase, effective immediately, in lieu of this year’s Christmas bonus. The original motion was for the 5 percent increase to take effect immediately. Council member Thompson and Horton supported the increase but felt that any large expenditure not appropriated in the budget should be reviewed by the Finance Committee, prior to Council taking action. The Finance and Ordinance Committee agreed to meet before the Wednesday, November 14 regular Council meeting to make their recommendation to Council. Mr. Horton left the meeting, prior to his leaving Dr. Gordon informed Mr. Horton that Council would be going into a closed session and he would be asked to leave. CLOSED MEETING MOTION On motion by Dr. Gordon, seconded by Mr. Hunter and with all Council members voting “aye”, Council went into a Closed Session pursuant to Section 2.2-3711.A.7 of the Code of Virginia for consultation with legal counsel and briefings by staff members, consultants or attorneys, pertaining to actual or probable litigation, or other specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by counsel. CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED MEETING WHEREAS, the Farmville Town Council has convened an closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of The Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and WHEREAS, Section 2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the Farmville Town Council that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Farmville Town Council hereby certified that, to the best of each member’s knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Farmville Town Council. VOTE: 6 “AYES”, 0 “NOES” MOTION: Dr. Gordon SECOND: Mr. Reid
AYES: Whitus, Hunter, Thompson, Overton, Reid and Gordon
NOES:
ABSENT DURING MEETING: Council member Horton
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Mayor S.C. Newman, Jr.
Lisa M. Hricko, Clerk
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Town of Farmville, 116 North Main Street, Farmville, VA 23901 Telephone: 434.392.5686 |
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