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Town of Farmville, Virginia |
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Home >> Town Government >> Town Council >> Meeting Minutes December 11, 2007 |
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REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE FARMVILLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON DECEMBER 11, 2007 At the regular monthly meeting of the Farmville Town Council held on December 11, 2007, at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers, located on the second floor of the Town Hall 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, C.H. Lafoon, O.S. Overton, A.D. Reid and E.I. Gordon. Also in attendance were Town Manager, Gerald Spates, Treasurer, Carol Anne Seal, Chief of Police, Stuart Dunnavant, Director of Public Works, Robin Atkins, Town Planner, Cindy Morris and Property Inspector, Kim Thompson. Prior to the meeting opening, Mr. Rick Youngblood with the Virginia Department of Transportation addressed Council. Mr. Youngblood spoke of the cooperative effort between the Federal Highway Administration, the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Town of Farmville in developing the Farmville 2035 Transportation Plan. He said VDOT would use the plan when considering requests from the Town for local roadway improvements, as well as when making decisions about improvements to larger thoroughfare routes. The Plan is the product of a study that evaluated the transportation system in Farmville. It recommends a set of transportation improvements to best satisfy existing and future transportation needs. Mr. Youngblood presented a power point presentation highlighting the three phases of the Plan. Council member Whitus opened the meeting with a prayer. On proper motion, duly seconded and carried, the regular order of business was dispensed with to hear from guests. Miss Jessie Green addressed Council sharing her views on the importance of Greenways in the Town of Farmville. She said Greenways are a safe way for the community to share in nature. Ms. Janet Green, Chairman of the Trails and Greenways Advisory Committee updated members on the committee’s progress. Ms. Green said the committee was established over two years ago with the goal that all entities work together and share information in creating a trail system that connects residential areas with schools, businesses and other points of interest throughout the community. She also spoke of the natural landscape of the piedmont district and the committee’s objective to increase awareness of the benefits of greenways. Ms. Green shared master maps that the committee had recently completed and identified them as one of their greatest achievements saying the maps were designed to reflect a different aspect of each trail. In closing, Ms. Green asked Council to appoint two new representatives to the committee replacing the recently vacated seats of Mr. Horton and Mrs. Nase. Mayor Newman spoke of his support of the committee and appointed Mr. Lafoon and Mrs. Thompson. Mr. Chris Dowdy, a resident of the Avenues and a member of the Neighbor Watch expressed his community’s appreciation for the work Council did on the 305 First Avenue matter. REZONING REQUEST AND REQUEST FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT – MR. GEORGE BRISTOL, 2740 LAYNE STREET On motion by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Overton and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council granted a request by Mr. George Bristol to rezone his property located at 2740 Layne Street from residential district R-5 to business district B-3. On amended motion by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Overton and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council granted Mr. Bristol a conditional use permit to operate a kennel at 2740 Layne Street with the following conditions: the Town is to review all landscaping plans, the property is to be enclosed or entirely fenced in and any noise complaints are to be addressed immediately. Prior to voting, Mr. Bristol shared his plans for the proposed facility. He spoke of the kennel being an in-door climate controlled facility for dogs and cats with grooming and day care available. REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT – MR. CHRISTOPHER DOWDY On motion by Mr. Whitus, seconded by Mr. Reid and with all Council members voting aye”, Council referred a request for a conditional use permit on behalf of Mr. Christopher Dowdy for .874 acres of property located between Main Street and Graham Road to the Farmville Planning Commission and authorized advertisement for a public notice. Mr. Spates informed Council that Mr. Dowdy is interested in operating a full service car wash. The property is zoned business district B-4 and this would be an allowed use with a conditional use permit. Mr. Dowdy was present to answer questions. Council members expressed concerns with egress, ingress and the anticipated increase in traffic volume. Mr. Dowdy spoke of the differences between a full service and self-service car wash, saying self-serve is an unmanned facility and full service would have people available to vacuum the vehicle and offer additional services. On motion by Mr. Reid, seconded by Dr. Gordon and with all Council members voting “aye”, Council approved the minutes of the regular November 14, 2007 Council meeting, the Joint November 15, 2007 Town/County meeting, and the Special Called Council meetings held on November 16, November 27 and November 28, 2007, as previously presented to each Council member. On motion by Mr. Whitus, seconded by Mr. Overton and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council approved the Treasurer’s Report. On motion by Dr. Gordon, seconded by Mr. Reid and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council approved payment of the following bills: (BILLS PRINTED IN MINUTE BOOK) REZONING REQUEST – 805 OSBORN ROAD, MR. ALEXANDER SAMMS On motion by Mrs. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Overton and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council granted a rezoning request on behalf of Mr. Alexander Samms, property owner of 805 Osborn Road. Mr. Samms requested his property be rezoned from business district B-3 to residential district R-2. Council also approved rezoning adjacent properties 809, 811 and 813 Osborn Road to residential district R-2. Mr. Spates reported that this matter has gone before the Farmville Planning Commission and they supported the rezoning. He also said there has been no opposition from the adjacent property owners. REQUEST FOR ZONING AMENDMENTS TO RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT R-4 Mr. Spates reminded members that this matter had been removed from the agenda at the December 5, 2007 work session. REQUEST FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT AT SUNCHASE BOULEVARD AND THIRD STREET On motion by Mr. Whitus, seconded by Mrs. Thompson and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council authorized the Town Manager to precede with installing a traffic light and pedestrian crossing at Sunchase Boulevard and Third Street. Members received copies of the Street Committee meeting held on December 6, 2007, Town Manager, Gerald Spates spoke of the committee’s recommendation of installing a traffic light and pedestrian crossing at Sunchase Boulevard and Third Street. He said the committee suggested he contact Mr. Steigman, Vice President of Development with MSC Management Services Corp. to request Sunchase contribute half of the cost of materials for the light. Mr. Spates informed Council he had not been able to reach Mr. Steigman but felt the light is needed regardless of Sunchase’s financial support. Council members agreed. The Street Committee also recommended Council take no action at this time on the request for a traffic light to be installed at the intersection of Cedar Avenue and Third Street. FINANCE AND ORDINANCE COMMITTEE UPDATE Mr. Spates informed Council that the Finance and Ordinance Committee is in the process of reviewing sample contracts offered to administrative officials from other localities and will be making their recommendations to Council in the near future. Farmville Town Council is interested in establishing a contract for the Town Manager position. COMMITTEE UPDATES Members received copies of the Joint Library meeting held on November 9, 2007 and the Town/University meeting held on November 16, 2007. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Council members received copies of the November 2007 Property Inspector’s Report, Fire Marshal’s Report and Building Official’s Report. 305 FIRST AVENUE PROPERTY On motion by Dr. Gordon, seconded by Mr. Lafoon and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council declared the property at 305 First Avenue as surplus and authorized the sale of the property by sealed bids, with a minimum bid of $35,000. Bids are to be opened by the Finance and Ordinance Committee. Members discussed the lack of frontage and narrowness of the lot and felt that requiring a minimum bid of $35,000 was acceptable. AMENDMENT TO TOWN’S ZONING ORDINANCE RE: FRATERNITY AND SORORITY HOUSES On motion by Mrs. Thompson, seconded by Dr. Gordon and with all Council members voting “aye”, Council continued the matter regarding amending the Town’s zoning ordinance in reference to fraternity and sorority housing. Council agreed to continue this matter and readdress it when reviewing the town’s zoning ordinances. VACANT FARMVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION SEAT On motion by Mr. Whitus, seconded by Dr. Gordon and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council agreed not to fill the vacant seat on the Farmville Planning Commission. With Mr. Lafoon’s recent appointment to Farmville Town Council, he is no longer eligible to serve on the Farmville Planning Commission. Mr. Spates recommended Council not appoint a person to fill the position and suggested the Commission be comprised of five members by attrition. Council supported his recommendation. COUNCIL COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS Mayor Newman appointed Mr. Lafoon to replace Mr. Horton on the 2007-2008 Council committees. Mr. Lafoon will be serving on the following committees Town Property Committee Street Committee Personnel Committee Town – University Committee Enterprise Zone Committee Voluntary Boundary Adjustment Committee Mr. Lafoon will also be serving on the Tree Board On motion by Mr. Whitus, seconded by Mrs. Thompson and with all Council members voting “aye”, Council approved the minutes of the December 9, 2007 work session, as previously presented to each member. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING LETTER OF CREDIT On motion by Mrs. Thompson, seconded by Mr. Whitus and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council adopted a resolution authorizing Town Treasurer, Carol Anne Seal to sign all the necessary documents on the Town of Farmville’s behalf to obtain a Letter of Credit from SunTrust Bank in the amount of $514,558. Mrs. Seal informed Council that the Letter of Credit is a requirement in order for the Town of Farmville Landfill to meet its financial obligations regarding the closure, post-closure and corrective action for 2007. AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE FORKLIFT On motion Dr. Gordon, seconded by Mr. Reid and with a recorded vote with Council members Whitus, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon voting “aye”, Council referred the matter of purchasing a forklift for $12,500 to the Finance and Ordinance Committee, with power act. Mr. Spates informed Council that the thirty plus year old forklift at the town shop is not working. A used forklift that is in good working order has been located and the cost is $12,500. THE TOWN MANAGER REPORTED ON THE FOLLOWING · Members received a list of the police vehicles and their current mileage · YMCA tap cost approximately $175,191, which does not include the $35,000 donation meaning the Town of Farmville donated over $200,000 this year towards the YMCA FARMVILLE TOWN COUNCIL REPORTED ON THE FOLLOWING · Expressed concerns with fire lanes being used as a loading area by the public and the misuse of designated handicap parking spaces · Praised the public works department for their expeditious repair of a 10 inch water main · Spoke of receiving community support in Council’s decision to purchase the property at 305 First Avenue There being no other business the meeting was declared adjourned at 8:20 pm. CLOSED MEETING MOTION On motion by Dr. Gordon, seconded by Mrs. Thompson 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 a 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, Thompson, Lafoon, Overton, Reid and Gordon NOES: none ABSENT DURING MEETING: Hunter _____________________________ Clerk There being no other business the meeting was adjourned at 8:20 pm. _____________________________ _____________________________ 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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