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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/9/2023 - City Council - Minutes - RegularCity Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, January 9, 2023, 5:30 PM Organizational Special Meeting 5:30 P.M. Council Chambers Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 Regular Session to be held immediately following the Organizational Special Meeting. Council Chambers, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia 24153 ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING 1. Organizational Session An Organizational Session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 N. Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, on January 9, 2023, at 5:30 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council to wit: Council members; Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, Renée Ferris Turk, James W. Wallace, III and H. Hunter Holliday; together with James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager; Rob Light, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Rosemarie B. Jordan, Director of Finance; Mike Stevens, Director of Communications; Jim Guynn, City Attorney; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; and the Honorable J. Christopher Clemens, Circuit Court Judge for the 23rd Judicial Circuit in the Commonwealth of Virginia; and the following business was transacted; A. Organizational Session 1. Elect City Manager as Acting Chairman 2. Acting Chairman reports that Byron Randolph Foley was re-elected to Council for a four-year term commencing January 1, 2023. Acting Chairman reports that H. Hunter Holliday was elected to Council for a four-year term commencing January 1, 2023. 3. The Honorable J. Christopher Clemens administers Oaths of Office to Byron Randolph Foley and H. Hunter Holliday. 4. Acting Chairman reports the next order of business is the election of Mayor and Vice-Mayor for two-year terms. 5. Nominations taken and election held for Mayor for two-year term. 6. The Honorable J. Christopher Clemens administers Oath of Office for Mayor. 7. Mayor assumes duties as Chairman. 8. Nominations taken and election held for Vice-Mayor for two-year term. 9. The Honorable J. Christopher Clemens administers Oath of Office for Vice-Mayor. 10. A member of Electoral Board for the City of Salem will be present to present Certificates of Election to Byron Randolph Foley and H. Hunter Holliday. It was noted that this date and time had been designated as an organizational meeting of Council due to the election of two members of Council and the expiration of the terms of the Mayor and Vice Mayor of the City of Salem; and ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER TURK, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER WALLACE, AND DULY CARRIED, James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager, was hereby elected Temporary Chairman of the Council for this meeting of Council -- the roll call vote: Ayes: Jones, Foley, Turk, Wallace WHEREAS, the Acting Chair Taliaferro reported that Byron R. Foley was reelected to Salem City Council for a four-year term commencing January 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2026; and H. Hunter Holliday was elected to Council for a four-year term commencing January 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2026; further, the Honorable J. Christopher Clemens was there to administer the Oaths of Office to Mr. Foley and Mr. Holliday; and WHEREAS, the Honorable J. Christopher Clemens, administered the Oaths of Office required by law as a member of Council to Byron R. Foley and H. Hunter Holliday; and WHEREAS, the Acting Chair Taliaferro congratulated and thanked the Council members and stated that the next order of business was to elect a Mayor for the City of Salem for a two-year term; and WHEREAS, the Acting Chair Taliaferro opened the floor for nominations for the office of Mayor of the City of Salem; and WHEREAS, Council member Foley nominated William D. Jones for the office of Mayor for the City of Salem; Council member Jones seconded the motion; and WHEREAS, Council member Wallace nominated Renée Ferris Turk for the office of Mayor of the City of Salem; Council member Turk seconded the motion; and WHEREAS, Acting Chair Taliaferro asked if there were any further nominations for the office of Mayor. Hearing none, the nominations were closed; he asked if there was any other discussion. Hearing none, he asked the Clerk to call the roll--the roll call vote being as follows: H. Hunter Holliday - Mrs. Turk, William D. Jones - Mr. Jones, Byron Randolph Foley - Mr. Jones, James W. Wallace - Mrs. Turk, Renée Ferris Turk - Mrs. Turk; and WHEREAS, Acting Chair Taliaferro stated that Mrs. Turk is the Mayor; and THEREUPON, the Honorable J. Christopher Clemens administered the Oath of Office required by law to Renee F. Turk for the office of Mayor, and the same will be filed by the City. WHEREAS, Mayor Turk assumed the duties of the presiding officer and requested nominations for the office of Vice-Mayor; and WHEREAS, Council member Foley nominated William D. Jones for the office of Vice-Mayor of the City of Salem; Council member Jones seconded the motion; and WHEREAS, Mayor Turk nominated James W. Wallace, III for the office of Vice- Mayor of the City of Salem; Council member Wallace seconded the motion; and WHEREAS, Mayor Turk asked if there were any other nominations for Vice- Mayor. Hearing none, the nominations were closed. Mayor Turk asked if there were any questions or discussion. Hearing none, she asked the Clerk to call the roll--the roll call vote being as follows: H. Hunter Holliday - Mr. Wallace, William D. Jones - Mr. Jones, Byron Randolph Foley - Mr. Jones, James W. Wallace - Mr. Wallace, Mayor Turk - Mr. Wallace; and WHEREAS, Mayor Turk stated that Mr. Wallace is the Vice-Mayor; and THEREUPON, the Honorable J. Christopher Clemens administered the Oath of Office required by law to James W. Wallace, III for the office of Vice-Mayor, and the same will be filed by the City. WHEREAS, Katherin Elam, Secretary of the City of Salem Electoral Board, presented the Certificate of Election to Byron Randolph Foley, on behalf of the City of Salem Electoral Board; and WHEREAS, Zach Agee, Chair of the City of Salem Electoral Board, presented the Certificate of Election to H. Hunter Holliday, on behalf of the City of Salem Electoral Board; and 2. Adjournment Mayor Turk announced that there was no further business for this portion of the meeting. She stated that there would be a slight recess and the Regular Meeting would begin at 5:50 p.m. Mr. Foley questioned if it was posted that the regular meeting would begin at 6:30. Mr. Taliaferro responded that it had been posted that the regular meeting would begin this evening immediately following the Organizational Session. The meeting was adjourned at 5:44 p.m. REGULAR SESSION 1. Call to Order A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia was called to order at 5:54 p.m., there being present the following members to wit: Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor; James W. Wallace, III, Vice-Mayor; Councilmembers: Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, and H. Hunter Holliday; with Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor, presiding together with James E. Taliaferro, II, City Manager; Rob Light, Assistant City Manager and Clerk of Council; Rosemarie B. Jordan, Director of Finance; Mike Stevens, Director of Communications; and Jim Guynn, City Attorney. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Bid Openings, Awards, Recognitions Mayor Turk congratulated Mr. Foley and Mr. Holliday. She spoke on the experience that Mr. Foley brings and welcomed Mr. Holliday. She expressed the sentiment that it was difficult to begin a new year without Mr. Saunders and that he would be missed. She noted that he always kept an open mind and listened to both sides and that his decisions were always led by what was best for the City of Salem. She stated that John Saunders made a difference and that he was appreciated for his service to the City of Salem. A. Recognition of Katherin Elam Recognition of Katherin Elam for her impact and accomplishments as President of Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia, member of the Salem Electoral Board, and selfless service to our community. Mayor Turk requested that Katherin Elam come forward to the podium. She noted that Katherin retired in November after serving twenty-four years as President of Junior Achievement of Southwest Virginia where she was highly regarded by many. She shared a little about the mission and impact of this organization in providing opportunities and initiatives for students to learn about career paths through engaging learning experiences. In addition to her position as President, Ms. Elam has volunteered and given hours of her own time teaching classes. Katherin has also served on the City of Salem Electoral Board since November 2002 and is currently serving as Secretary on that board. A number of other boards were also noted that she has served or is currently serving on. Mayor Turk presented a Salem Salutes Award to Ms. Elam and Mike Stevens took a picture of her with Council as well as with her family. Ms. Elam commented on the role that her experiences with Junior Achievement had played in her own family as well. She stated that Salem has stood out in her career as JA served every school in Salem. She noted that she had been inspired by so many young people and thanked Salem for including Junior Achievement in the City's budget. She also encouraged anyone looking for an opportunity to look into volunteering with this organization and said that she would begin volunteering in a new class tomorrow morning. 4. Consent Agenda A. Citizen Comments Comments from the public, limited to five minutes, on matters not already having a public hearing component at the same meeting. John Breen, 142 Bogey Lane, was the first citizen to speak before Council this evening. He expressed appreciation to Council, the Administration, the Police, and all City employees for a job well done last year. He offered suggestions for Council's consideration in 2023 in the areas of Council meeting details, Code enforcement, citizen feedback, goals and objectives for the City, a comprehensive review of Salem's taxes and fees, and Salem's Reserve funds. He requested a response from Council on his suggestions by March 31, 2023. Ted Michals, 408 Deer Run Circle, was the last citizen to address Council this evening. He presented a proposal for Council's consideration for a Property Tax Freeze when a homeowner becomes eighty years old. He suggested specific criteria that would need to be met in order to qualify and spoke of the difficulty of living on a fixed income as citizens age. He requested that Council consider his proposal and possibly form a committee to analyze the proposal and present their findings to Council. B. Minutes Consider acceptance of the December 12, 2022, Work Session and Regular Meeting minutes. The minutes were accepted as written. C. Financial Report Consider acceptance of the Statement of Revenues and Expenses for the five months ending November 30, 2022. The financial reports were received. 5. Old Business There was no old business this evening. 6. New Business A. Amendment to the Zoning Ordinance Hold public hearing and conduct first reading to consider the request of Friendship Salem Terrace, LLC, contract purchaser, and White Whale Two, LLC, property owner of 1871 Harrogate Drive (Tax Map # 128-1-5), and Friendship Salem Terrace, LLC, property owner of 1851 Harrogate Drive (Tax Map # 128-1-13) for rezoning the properties from RMF Residential Multifamily District, with conditions to HBD Highway Business District, with conditions. (Advertised in the December 22, 2022, issue of the Salem Times-Register) (Continued until the February 15, 2023, Planning Commission meeting.) Staff recommends Council continue the public hearing and first reading to the February 27, 2023, Council meeting. Renee Turk motioned to continue the public hearing and first reading on the rezoning to the February 27, 2023, Council meeting. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace B. I-81 Southbound Widening Between Exit 137 and 128 Consider adoption of Resolution 1444 in support of the Transportation Planning Organization's SMART SCALE application to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for funding improvements for Interstate 81 Southbound widening between Exit 137 and Exit 128. Randy Foley motioned to adopt Resolution 1444 in support of the Transportation Planning Organization's SMART SCALE application to the Commonwealth Transportation Board for funding improvements for Interstate 81 Southbound widening between Exit 137 and Exit 128. H. Hunter Holliday seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Holliday, Jones, Turk, Wallace 7. Adjournment Mr. Wallace acknowledged Law Enforcement officers as this was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and thanked the deputy that was present this evening and all of the other personnel in the City that keep us safe. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:20 p.m.