Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/8/2010 - City Council - Minutes - RegularUNAPPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION November 8, 2010 A work session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in the City Manager’s Conference Room, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, Salem, Virginia, on November 8, 2010, at 6:30 p.m., there being present all the 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; Frank P. Turk, Director of Finance; and Krystal M. Coleman, Deputy Clerk of Council, 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, an update was given regarding the Red Sox lease; and WHEREAS, a discussion was held regarding the Electric Department sign; and WHEREAS, a discussion was held regarding a project at Elizabeth Campus; and WHEREAS, a discussion was held regarding the holiday schedule; 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 7:26 p.m. Mayor Clerk of Council UNAPPROVED MINUTES COUNCIL MEETING November 8, 2010 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, on November 8, 2010, at 7:30 p.m., there being present all the 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; Frank P. Turk, Director of Finance; Melinda J. Payne, Director of Planning and Economic Development; Todd W. Sutphin, Building Official; Mike Stevens, Communications Director; and Stephen M. Yost, City Attorney, and the following business was transacted: The October 25, 2010, work session and regular meeting minutes were approved as written. Mayor Foley reported that this date and time had been set to hold a public hearing and receive views of citizens and candidates regarding the appointment to fill the expiring terms of two members of the Salem School Board (Sarah W. “Sally” Southard and William Sinkler); notice of such hearing was published in the October 28, 2010, issue of The Roanoke Times, a newspaper having general circulation in the City of Salem; and WHEREAS, Mayor Foley stated that interviews will be conducted on Wednesday, November 10, 2010, beginning at 5 p.m. and asked that the applicants see the City Manager at the conclusion of the meeting to schedule an interview; he asked that the incumbent, Sally Southard, speak first and stated that the other applicants can come forward in no particular order; and WHEREAS, Sarah W. “Sally” Southard, 118 Par Drive, appeared before the Council to request to be reappointed to the Salem School Board for a final term; she stated that there are several items in the Comprehensive Plan she would like to see accomplished or at least well on their way to completion before her final term on the School Board; she stated that in her current three -year term as the chair of the policy making body for the school division, the School Board voted to approve a balanced budget for the second consecutive year, which is less than the previous year ($2 million or 5.1 percent less); the budget for FY 2012 will al so be even tighter because there will not be anymore ARRA/stimulus money left for K-12 public education; she stated that each of the six schools, as well as the division as a whole, has met or exceeded all of the No Child Left Behind targets in ITEM 1 PUBLIC HEARING HELD REGARDING EXPIRING OF TWO TERMS ON SALEM SCHOOL BOARD 2 math and reading for the 2009-10 school year; Salem is one of seven among 132 school divisions in the Commonwealth to reach this level; she further stated that the School Division passed an accreditation review last week to continue full accreditation by the Advanced Ed Organization which accredits schools and colleges; she stated that the per pupil expenditure for Salem City Schools is $10,289, which is $1,027 less than the state average (data is from 2009, which is the most recent data available at this time); she further stated that Salem High School won the VHSL Prestigious Wachovia Cup for Academic Excellence and the School Board voted to preserve Staff Development funding and continue to promote National Board Certification for teachers; she stated that 18 teache rs have earned National Board Certification; she further stated that if she is reappointed, she would like to plan proactively for the FY 2012 budget, help lead and support the efforts to renovate South Salem Elementary or Salem High School, promote and expand the use of intervention enrichment opportunities in all students in all schools to focus on every child every day; she would like to continue efforts to improve retention and graduation rates and to support opportunities for students to improve peer interactions; she further stated that with the retirement of Mr. Sinkler there will be three new board members appointed within the last three years; she would like to remain on the School Board for one additional term in order to provide continuity during this transition; she hopes that Council will allow her to continue to serve her community in this way; and WHEREAS, Artice M. Ledbetter, 1906 Millstream Drive, appeared before the Council and stated that she is a parent, a volunteer, and a part -time church secretary; she stated that this year has been an exciting year of challenges for her; she stated that she has a varied background but feels that her greatest asset is raising three boys (one is motivated to learn, one has to work a little bit harder, and one likes to socialize); she stated that it is a blessing for her to try to find different resources to try to help these three young men become the best individuals they can be; she is able to help out in the school system and hopes that she has the opportunity to help the already wonderful School Board mold other individuals in the school system; she stated that she feels that her rapport with the students and appreciation of the children will help give her the opportunity to help the City of Salem Schools to become better than it already is; and WHEREAS, David Wells, 177 Forest Circle, appeared before the Council and expressed his thanks for the opportunity to speak; he stated that he is seeking appointment to the School Board; he stated that he has been involved with the school system for a considerable length of time through the PTAs, and the individual schools; he stated that the secret to Salem is one thing —being 3 involved; if you get involved with your children, neighbors, and with the schools that is all it takes to be successful in the City of Salem; he thanked the School Board for its hard work and dedication in making Salem Schools one of the best; he would like to have the opportunity to serve on the School Board to be able to set the “compass” and continue the right north arrow that it is in to make it better not only for the children currently in school, but for the children who will be in the schools in the future; and WHEREAS, Tom Cook, 8 Rickenbacker Place, appeared before the Council and stated that he moved here from New York in 1969, started children in the Salem School System in 1975 and had children in the school system through 1992 (one child was in the gifted program and was in the first two years of students to attend the Governor’s School for Science and Technology at Patrick Henry; the second child was an average student that did well, and the third was a special needs child they adopted who went through the Special Education Program the whole time she was in school); he stated that he was active in the PTA, worked through the school system and considered applying for the School Board at that time, but his business did not afford him the time to serve in that capacity; he stated that he sold his business in 1999 and felt at that time that at least some of the school board members should have children in the school system so he did not apply at that time either; he discussed the things he was involved in while he was active in the schools (spearheaded the fund raising drive for the first drug awareness program at Salem High School); he stated that he remarried a year ago and has a fourth-grader and a ninth-grader in the school system; he stated that he wants to try to return some of what Salem has given him over the last 40 years; he stated that he feels that Salem is an incredible place and he would like to keep the school system moving in its current direction; he stated that being appointed to the School Board would be a learning process for him, but he would like to have the opportunity to serve; he thanked Council for their time; and WHEREAS, it was noted that Mrs. Darby did contact the office to let us know that she would be unable to attend the meeting this evening; and WHEREAS, no other person(s) appeared; THEREUPON, said public hearing was held. Mayor Foley stated that this date and time had been set to hold a public hearing and consider Resolution 1173 appointing viewers to vacate and close a 16.5 foot alley between East Calhoun Street and East Burwell Street; notice of ITEM 2 PUBLIC HEARING AND RESOLUTION 1173 ADOPTED APPOINTING VIEWERS TO VACATE AND CLOSE A 16.5’ ALLEY BETWEEN E. CALHOUN STREET AND E. BURWELL STREET 4 such public hearing was published in the October 14 and 21, 2010, issues of The Salem Times-Register, a newspaper published and having general circulation in the City of Salem; and WHEREAS, James Jordan, 201 South College Avenue, attorney representing the petitioner, appeared before the Council and stated that he is available to answer any questions; and WHEREAS, the Clerk of Council stated that Bob Rotanz and Joe Dishaw are purchasing the property at the corner of Thompson Memorial Drive and Calhoun Street; there is an alley that runs between that property and the bank building on South College; he stated that it’s the same alley that runs between the Sheriff’s Department and Mac and Bob’s; he stated that Mr. Rotanz and Mr. Dishaw have discussed the possibility of putting offices, etc. in the building and would like to vacate the alley, which is not in use by the City and staff has no objection; the Clerk of Council then showed those present at the meeting the map of the alley requesting to be vacated; and WHEREAS, Councilman Jones asked the Clerk of Council to clarify what property was purchased by Mr. Rotanz and Mr. Dishaw; and WHEREAS, the Clerk of Council stated that the small, square building is the property; and WHEREAS, Councilman Jones added that it is the small gray building located behind Mac and Bob’s; and WHEREAS, no other person(s) appeared related to said request; ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, AND DULY CARRIED, Resolution 1173 appointing viewers to vacate and close 16.5’ of alley between East Calhoun Street and East Burwell Street was hereby adopted: (HERE SET OUT RESOLUTION 1173) – 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 adopting Resolution 1174 withdrawing from the Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Facility Authority; and ITEM 3 RESOLUTION 1174 ADOPTED WITHDRAWING FROM THE VIRGINIA’S FIRST REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL FACILITY AUTHORITY 5 WHEREAS, the City Manager stated that Salem has been dealing with this issue for the past year or so as Salem has evaluated its need to continue in the Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Facility Authority partnership; he further stated that Salem has been a partner of this Industrial Facility Authority for almost 15 years; Salem as well as several other communities that are a good distance away from this Pulaski County Authority have asked permission from the state legislature and from the Authority itself to withdraw from the Authority and lose voting privileges and its financial obligation; he stated that if Council adopts Resolution 1174, it will formalize Salem’s request to withdraw and will formalize Salem’s request to have some portion of the dues paid over the years that have not been expended in the parks that is covered ret urned to the City of Salem; he stated that it has not been determined how the distribution of monies will occur; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN JONES, AND DULY CARRIED, Resolution 1174 withdrawing from the Virginia’s First Regional Industrial Facility Authority was hereby adopted: (HERE SET OUT RESOLUTION 1174) – 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 a request from the Salem Band Boosters for a donation ($3,726.20) equal to the admissions tax paid in connection with the Drum Corps International Summer Music Games held August 3, 2010; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN GARST, AND DULY CARRIED, a donation to the Salem Band Boosters in the amount of $3,726.20 equal to the amount of admissions tax paid in connection with the Drum Corps International Summer Music Games held August 3, 2010, was hereby approved – the roll call vote: Lisa D. Garst – aye, William D. Jones – aye, Jane W. Johnson – aye, John C. Givens – absent, and Byron Randolph Foley – aye. There being no further business to come before the Council, the same on motion adjourned at 7:56 p.m. ITEM 4 DONATION APPROVED FOR SALEM BAND BOOSTERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,726.20 EQUAL TO THE ADMISSIONS TAX PAID IN CONNECTION WITH THE DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL SUMMER MUSIC GAMES HELD AUGUST 3, 2010