Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/10/2007 - City Council - Minutes - RegularDecember 10, 2007 A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in the Council Chambers, City Hall, 114 North Broad Street, on December 10, 2007, at 7:30 p.m., there being present all the members of said Council, to wit: Howard C. Packett, John C. Givens, Jane W. Johnson, John Christopher Clemens, and Byron R. Foley; with Howard C. Packett, Mayor, presiding; together with Forest G. Jones, 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; William L. Simpson, Jr., Assistant City Engineer; and Stephen M. Yost, City Attorney; and the following business was transacted: The minutes of the regular meeting of November 26, 2007, were approved as written. The report by the Director of Finance of the City’s financial status for a four-month period ending October 31, 2007, was received and ordered filed. Mayor Packett requested that Council consider adopting Resolution 1098 in honor of the Salem Rescue Squad’s 75th Anniversary; and WHEREAS, the Clerk of Council read the resolution to Council; and WHEREAS, the Mayor presented the resolution to Ken Cook, Captain of Salem Rescue Squad, on behalf of the Council; and WHEREAS, Ken Cook appeared before the Council to thank City Council and the citizens of Salem for supporting the Salem Rescue Squad; he stated that the number of volunteer EMS agencies are declining throughout the state, but the support of the City and its citizens has allowed the Salem Rescue to maintain its volunteers and continue to operate; he again thanked Council for its support and partnership throughout the years; ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN CLEMENS, SECONDED BY VICE ITEM 1 RESOLUTION 1098 PASSED IN HONOR OF THE SALEM RESCUE SQUAD’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY 2 MAYOR GIVENS, AND DULY CARRIED, Resolution 1098 was hereby adopted in honor of the Salem Rescue Squad’s 75th Anniversary: (Here set out Resolution 1098) -- the roll call vote: all - aye. Mayor Packett requested that Council consider a donation to the Health Focus of Southwest Virginia in the amount of $132.98, equal to the amount of the admissions tax paid in connection with the Salem Family Fall Festival event held on September 29, 2007; ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN CLEMENS, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, AND DULY CARRIED, a donation to the Health Focus of Southwest Virginia in the amount of $132.98, equal to the amount of admissions tax paid in connection with the Salem Family Fall Festival event held on September 29, 2007, was hereby approved -- the roll call vote: all – aye. Mayor Packett reported that Council at its regular meeting held on November 26, 2007, held a public hearing in accordance with Section 22.1-29.1 of the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended to date, to receive views of citizens and candidates regarding appointments to fill the expiring terms of two members of the City of Salem School Board (Sarah W. “Sally” Southard and William Sinkler); and WHEREAS, it was noted that the following applications have been received for the Salem School Board position: Sarah W. (Sally) Southard, 118 Par Drive; William Sinkler, 17 Hale Avenue; Michael Chiglinsky, Ph.D., 2722 Titleist Drive; David C. Wells, 2008 Millstream Drive; and David H. Preston, 1511 Ashley Drive; and WHEREAS, all members of Council stated that Mrs. Southard and Mr. ITEM 2 DONATION APPROVED FOR HEALTH FOCUS OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA IN THE AMOUNT EQUAL TO THE AMOUNT OF ADMISSIONS TAX PAID IN CONNECTION WITH THE SALEM FAMILY FALL FESTIVAL EVENT HELD SEPTEMBER 29, 2007 ITEM 3 ORDINANCE PASSED ON FIRST READING REZONING TWO PARCELS LOCATED IN THE 400 AND 500 BLOCK OF ELECTRIC ROAD (T/M #’S 150-3-1 AND P/O 155-2-2) FROM HM TO HBD 3 Sinkler have done an excellent job on the City of Salem School Board in previous years; ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN CLEMENS, SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, AND DULY CARRIED, Sarah W. (Sally) Southard and William Sinkler were hereby reappointed to the City of Salem School Board for three - year terms, said terms will expire on December 31, 2010 -- the roll call vote: all – aye. Mayor Packett reported that Council at its regular meeting held on November 26, 2007, passed an ordinance on first reading rezoning the properties of Wiley Development LLC located in the 400 and 500 blocks of Electric Road (Tax Map #’s 150-3-1 and P/O 155-2-2) from HM Heavy Manufacturing District to HBD Highway Business District; ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN CLEMENS, AND DULY CARRIED, the following ordinance was duly passed and adopted on second reading: (Here set out ordinance rezoning the property of Wiley Development LLC, located in the 400 and 500 blocks of Electric Road from HM to HBD) -- the roll call vote: all – aye. Mayor Packett requested that Council consider adopting Resolution 1099 regarding Council’s concerns of specific items that may come before the 2008 session of the Virginia General Assembly; ON MOTION MADE BY COUNCILMAN CLEMENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FOLEY, AND DULY CARRIED, Resolution 1099 was duly passed and adopted: (Here set out Resolution 1099) -- the roll call vote: all – aye. ITEM 4 ORDINANCE PASSED ON SECOND READING REZONING PROPERTY OF WILEY DEVELOPMENT LLC LOCATED IN THE 400 AND 500 BLOCKS OF ELECTRIC ROAD (TAX MAP #’S 150- 3-1 & P/O 155-2-2) FROM HM TO HBD ITEM 5 RESOLUTION 1099 ADOPTED REGARDING COUNCIL’S CONCERNS OF SPECIFIC ITEMS THAT MAY COME BEFORE THE 2008 SESSION OF THE VIRGINIA GENERAL ASSEMBLY 4 Mayor Packett requested that Council consider appointments to fill vacancies on various boards and commissions; WHEREAS, no action was taken. Mayor Packett requested that Council consider an ordinance on first reading amending the water rates in the City of Salem; and WHEREAS, Vice Mayor Givens stated that the Audit-Finance Committee met regarding this item and recommends continuing the ordinance until a future meeting of Council; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, AND DULY CARRIED, an ordinance amending the water rates in the City of Salem was hereby continued until a future meeting of Council -- the roll call vote: all – aye. Mayor Packett requested that Council consider an ordinance on first reading amending the sewer rates in the City of Salem; and WHEREAS, Vice Mayor Givens stated that the Audit-Finance Committee met regarding this item and recommends continuing the ordinance until a future meeting of Council; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN JOHNSON, AND DULY CARRIED, an ordinance amending the sewer rates in the City of Salem was hereby continued until a future meeting of Council -- the roll call vote: all – aye. Mayor Packett requested that Council receive a presentation from the Director of Finance and John Aldridge with Brown Edwards and Company regarding the financial report for fiscal year ending June 30, 2007; and ITEM 8 CONTINUED UNTIL A FUTURE MEETING OF COUNCIL ITEM 6 NO ACTION TAKEN ITEM 9 COMPREHENSIVE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT RECEIVED REGARDING THE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2007 ITEM 7 CONTINUED UNTIL A FUTURE MEETING OF COUNCIL 5 WHEREAS, the Director of Finance appeared before the Council and introduced John Aldridge with Brown Edwards and Company; he stated that Council has a copy of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the year ending June 30, 2007; he further stated that he would like to point out a few pages in the report to Council; he stated that the report is required to be formally presented to Council according to Section 8.9 of the City of Salem Charter, as well as a requirement of the Auditor of Public Accounts; he stated that the report is divided into four sections: an introductory section, a financial section, a statistical section, and a compliance section; he stated that the City was presented with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the 2006 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report by the Government Finance Officers Association; he further discussed key issues in the report; the Director of Finance stated that the report has not been audited, but a lot of the information contained in the report has been audited; he stated that the report is for Council to review, and he is available to answer any questions concerning the report; and WHEREAS, John Aldridge with Brown Edwards and Company appeared before the Council; he stated that the City has an unqualified opinion, which is the highest level of assurance placed on statements; he further stated that approximately four years ago, governments started being audited by guidelines called Gatsby 34 where governments were audited more like a business; he stated that Virginia is unique, because when a school system issues debt, the debt does not go on the schools’ books, it goes on the primary government’s or the city’s books, but the buildings go on the schools’ books; he stated that it creates an unequal situation with the debt on one set of books and the buildings on the other; he stated that another unique statement is the “Statement of Activities”; he stated that the first thing is the expense column broken down into the governmental activities (i.e. public safety, public works), which are activities 6 financed by taxes; and business-type activities (i.e. electric, water and sewer, civic center, catering and concessions) where there are user charges in place to cover those costs; he went on to discuss some of the statements and tables in the report; he stated that this year was the first year that this report was prepared by City staff and he commended the staff on the report; and WHEREAS, the City Manager commended the members of the Finance Department for their hard work on this report, as well as for the work they perform everyday; THEREUPON, said presentation was received. 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 8:08 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the following specific matter: 1. Discussion of real estate the City may wish to sell, which is authorized by Section 2.2-3711 A. 3. of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended to date; and -- the roll call vote: all - aye. Upon reconvening at 8:23 p.m.; ON MOTION MADE BY VICE MAYOR GIVENS, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FOLEY, AND DULY CARRIED, in accordance with Section 2.2-3712 D. 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 - aye. There being no further business to come before the Council, the same on CLOSED SESSION FOR PROPERTY THE CITY MAY WISH TO SELL 7 motion adjourned at 8:24 p.m.