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HomeMy WebLinkAbout8/24/2015 - City Council - Minutes - RegularUNAPPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 24, 2015 A work session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in the Council Chambers Conference Room, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, on August 24, 2015, at 6:30p.m., there being present the following members of said Council, to wit: Byron Randolph Foley, John C. Givens, Jane W. Johnson, William D. Jones, and Lisa D. Garst; with Byron Randolph Foley, presiding; together with Kevin S. Boggess, City Manager; James E. Taliaferro, II, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council, Rosie Jordan, Director of Finance; Stephen M. Yost, City Attorney, Linda M. Carroll, Commissioner of the Revenue, Sidney Kuzmich, Business License Inspector, Mary Ellen Wines, Zoning Administrator, and visitor, Barney Horrell; and the following business was transacted: Mayor Foley reported that this date, place, and time had been set in order for the Council to hold a work session; and WHEREAS, a discussion was regarding licensing of financial services; and WHEREAS, a discussion was held regarding licensing of flea markets; and WHEREAS, a discussion was held regarding the upcoming budget calendar; and WHEREAS, a discussion was held regarding upcoming VML conference; and WHEREAS, there were no other topics for discussion. There being no further business to come before the Council, the work session was adjourned at 7:24p.m. ____________________________________ Mayor _____________________________________ Clerk of Council UNAPPROVED MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING August 24, 2015 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, on August 24, 2015, at 7:30 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council, to wit: Byron Randolph Foley, John C. Givens, Jane W. Johnson, William D. Jones, and Lisa D. Garst, with Byron Randolph Foley, Mayor, presiding; together with Kevin S. Boggess, City Manager; James E. Taliaferro, II, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Rosie Jordan, Director of Finance; Melinda J. Payne, Director of Planning and Economic Development, Charles E. Van Allman Jr., City Engineer, and Stephen M. Yost, City Attorney; and the following business was transacted: The July 27, 2015, work session and regular meeting minutes were approved as written; and The financial report through July 31, 2015 was received and ordered filed; and Mayor Foley requested Council consider setting bond for erosion and sediment control for the Bethel Baptist Church Multi-Purpose Building project; and WHEREAS, Mr. Givens stated the Audit- Finance Committee reviewed the estimate for erosion and sediment control measures for the Bethel Baptist Church Multi-Purpose Building Project; this committee concurs with the Engineering Department’s recommendation that the bond be set in the amount of $13,175.00 with time limit of 12 months for completion; and WHEREAS, Mr. Jones questioned Mr. Yost that since he attends that church, should he be voting on this matter; and WHEREAS, Mr. Yost stated, in his opinion, he as a member would not have a financial interest, he is not a shareholder nor an employee; he could vote on it, but if he is more comfortable abstaining, he certainly has that right; and WHEREAS, Mayor Foley asked for the location of the building; and WHEREAS, Councilman Jones responded the proposed location is Front Street, in place of the first three houses and all the trees; and ON A MOTION MADE BY MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GARST, AND DULY CARRIED, the Engineering Department’s recommendation for the Bethel Baptist Church Multi-Purpose Building Project bond be set in the amount of $13,175.00 with time limit of 12 months for completion was hereby approved – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – ITEM 1 BOND SET AT $13,175.00 FOR EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL FOR BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH MULTI- PURPOSE BUILDING PROJECT aye, William D. Jones – (abstain), Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye. Mayor Foley requested Council consider request to appropriate interest earned on the unspent proceeds of the 2013 General Obligations Bonds; and WHEREAS, Mr. Givens stated the City earns interest on the escrow account holding the unspent proceeds of the 2013 general obligation bonds; this interest is used to supplement grant and local funding for capital projects, particularly Greenway Projects; the City contributes a local match to the funding of the Greenway Projects to aid in the progress and completion of these projects; this Committee recommended appropriating $3,254.00 in general fund monies to Phase 4 of the Roanoke River Greenway Project; and WHEREAS, Councilman Jones stated, there was discussion regarding how the money will be used and it is yet to be determined at this point; and WHEREAS, Mayor Foley requested, for the public’s information, the details pertaining to Phase IV of the Roanoke River Greenway Project; and WHEREAS, Mr. Van Allman stated, currently the funds are slated for Phase IV, which is for sidewalk extension to the Apperson Drive Bridge; or however due to technical difficulties, Phase II- B may be substituted, which is the section near the Roanoke City border along Cook Drive to the bridge on Apperson Drive; or to Phase V, which is the Eddy Street pedestrian bridge, which would eliminate a gate crossing; and ON A MOTION MADE BY VICE-MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCLILMAN JONES, AND DULY CARRIED, the request to appropriate $3,254.00 in General Fund monies to the Roanoke River Greenway Project is hereby approved– the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – aye, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye. Mayor Foley requested that Council consider setting a date for a public hearing in accordance with Section 22.1-29.1 of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended, regarding the expiration of terms for school board members Dr. Nancy Bradley and Dr. Michael Chiglinsky; and ON A MOTION MADE BY VICE-MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, AND DULY CARRIED, the request to set the date for a public hearing for candidates and interview times to be held September 28, 2015 was hereby approved-- the roll vote: Lisa D. Garst – aye, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – aye, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye. ITEM S1 APPROPRIATION OF $3,254.00, INTEREST EARNED ON UNSPENT PROCEEDS OF THE 2013 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS ITEM2 ESTABLISH PUBLIC HEARING DATE FOR EXPIRATION OF TERMS FOR SCHOOL BOARD Mayor Foley requested that Council consider ordinance on first reading amending Chapter 66, Article III, Division 6, Section 66-182 of the CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA, pertaining to the regulations applicable when application is made for erection of awning, marquee or canopy; and WHEREAS, Mr. Boggess explained that the City currently does not allow awnings or canopies within the downtown area and that has been something the Council has asked staff to review and apply appropriate rules and requirements to allow awnings to be utilized as part of the downtown development and future downtown development; the Code change would set those standards and allow the City to permit the appropriate awnings as described in the proposed ordinance; and WHEREAS, Mrs. Garst asked for and received confirmation that the amended changes were just aligning some of the existing language, and would not be exclusive to downtown development; she also asked for clarification of the Building Official; and WHEREAS, Mr. Boggess defined the Building Official’s position; and WHEREAS, `Mr. Givens added the Building Official is an official designation under the Building Code, and has full authority to enforce the sign ordinance; and WHEREAS, after much discussion regarding the lack of detail, the need for specifics on the changes or criteria, it was decided to revisit this topic in a future work session; and Mayor Foley requested that Council consider holding a closed session for specific purposes of 2.2-3711 A (3) the acquisition and disposition of property and 2.2-3711 A (1) personnel matter; and ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, AND DULY CARRIED, in accordance with Section 2.2-3711 A. of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended to date, Council convened to Closed Session at 7:46 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the following specific matters: 1. Discussion of a personnel matter pertaining to performance and evaluation, which is authorized by Section 2.2-3711 A(1) of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended to date; and 2. Discussion of a real estate matter pertaining to property the City may desire to sell, as authorized by 2.2-3711 A (3) of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended to date; ITEMS 3 & S3 CLOSED SESSION ITEM S2 AMENDMENT TO CITY CODE PERTAINING TO REGULATIONS FOR AWNINGS, MARQUEE OR CANOPY -- the roll call vote: all present aye. Upon reconvening at 8:44 p.m.; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, AND DULY CARRIED, in accordance with Section 2.2-3711 A(1) and Section 2.2-3711 A(3) of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended to date, Council hereby certifies that in Closed Session only items lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act and only such items identified in the motion by which the Closed Session was convened were heard, discussed, or considered by the Council -- the roll call vote: all present - aye. There being no further business to come before the Council, the same on motion adjourned at 8:44 p.m.