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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5/10/2021 - City Council - Minutes - RegularAPPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION May 10, 2021 A work session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in Parlor A at the Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, Virginia, on May 10, 2021, at 6:15 p.m., there being present the following members of said Council, to wit: Renee F. Turk, James W. Wallace, III, Byron Randolph Foley, John Saunders, and William D. Jones; with Renee F. 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; Crystal Williams, Assistant to the City Manager; Laura Lea Harris, Deputy Clerk of Council; and Jim Guynn, City Attorney and the following business was transacted: Mayor Turk reported that this date, place, and time had been set in order for the Council to hold a work session; and WHEREAS, Mr. Guynn presented further information on Local Election law changes related to Bill 1157. Council continued the discussion from the April 26, 2021 Work Session on the options for dealing with this change. Council requested that Mr. Guynn look at the Charter for anything that would need to be changed prior to next General Assembly and report back with this information ; and There being no further business to come before the Council, the work session was adjourned at 6:24 p.m. ____________________________________ Mayor _____________________________________ Clerk of Council City Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, May 10, 2021, 6:30 PM Community Room, Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, Virginia 24153 1.Call to Order A regular meeting of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia was called to order at 6:30 p.m., there being present the following members to wit: Renée Ferris Turk, Mayor; James W. Wallace, III, Vice- Mayor; Council members: Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, and John Saunders; 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 remarked that as Mayor of The City of Salem, in Virginia, she has taken the National Wildlife Federation's Mayor's Monarch Pledge. She gave details on the pledge that she has taken and said that there is no cost to The City for taking the pledge as we are already taking steps that are suggested by the National Wildlife Federation. She emphasized the importance of this challenge due to the fact that cross-pollinators such as the Monarch Butterfly are rapidly decreasing. They are the foundation of our food chain. She recognized the following citizens that have communicated with her about accepting this pledge: Ellen Holtman, planted and maintains a Monarch waystation at the History Museum; Frances Ferguson, Executive Director of the Salem Museum and Historical Society has been requested to place the Proclamation at the museum; Jeff Ceaser, City of Salem Horticulturist; Ann Tripp and Teresa Baga from the Salem Library where they work with the Children's Garden and currently have pollination plantings; Beverly Reger, President of the Salem Garden Club; Connie Stone, past President and member of the Salem Garden Club; Michael Bentley, environmental advocate and founder of RAISE (Roanoke Area Interfaith Stewards of the Environment); and Judy Harveycutter, who maintains an area at their home. Mayor Turk read the Proclamation and presented it to Ms. Ferguson. She thanked these citizens for providing the interest and support in this activity. 4.Consent Agenda A.Citizen Comments Comments from the public, limited to five minutes, on matters not on the regular meeting agenda. The following have signed up to speak at this meeting: 1) John Breen, 142 Bogey Lane, Salem. 2) Michele Meinhart, 901 N. Broad Street 3) Tonya Elliott, 620 E. Main Street 4) Chris Yeakel, 808 Scott Circle John Breen, 142 Bogey Lane, appeared before Council. Mr. Breen's topic for the evening was "Salem Water Service". He expressed concerns related to limits on accepted lawn irrigation systems and the associated sewer fees for people watering their yards. Michele Meinhart, 901 N. Broad Street, was the second citizen to appear before Council. She discussed how she felt she could work with the City to develop Air BnB lodging in our community and how this might benefit the City of Salem. She provided information for Council to use in consideration of her request. Tonya Elliott, 620 E. Main Street, had a conflict in scheduling for this evening and has rescheduled for a later meeting. Chris Yeakel, 808 Scott Circle, was the third citizen to appear before Council. He expressed concerns related to the lack and timeliness of communication by Shentel and their sub-contractors for notification of work to homeowners. B.Minutes Consider the acceptance of the minutes for the April 26, 2021 Work Session and Regular Meeting. The April 26, 2021 Work Session and Regular Meeting minutes were approved as written. 5.Old Business 6.New Business A.Appropriation of Funds Consider request to amend the School Operating Fund, Grants Fund and Cafeteria Fund budgets as approved by the School Board on April 13, 2021. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned to approve the School Board's appropriation changes of $262,448; $37,546; and $0 to the School Operating Fund, Grants Fund, and Cafeteria Fund, respectively.. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace B.General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2021 Consider adoption of Resolution 1392 authorizing, the issuance, sale and award of General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2021. Audit - Finance Committee James Wallace motioned that City Council adopt Resolution 1392 which provides for the issuance, sale and award of a general obligation refunding bond, series 2021, in a principal amount not to exceed $1,585,000 and providing for the refunding of all or a portion of the City's outstanding general obligation public improvement bonds, series 2010D. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Vice-Mayor Wallace commented that our advisors (Davenport and Company) stated that our net present value of savings would be in the range of 7 to 8 percent. Mayor Turk stated that this would be approximately $130,000. She asked if Director of Finance Jordan had anything to add. Ms. Jordan commented that Davenport distributed this RFP on April 13, bids came in on April 30, and even with the small size of this refunding, Davenport received fourteen proposals from banks. The recommendation from Davenport to the City upon Council's acceptance is that we refund this through a key bank with an interest rate of 1.238%. She also stated that this is the last issue that needs to be refunded. Mayor Turk thanked her for this information. C.Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various boards and commissions. Randy Foley motioned to re-appoint William R. Shepherd for a two-year term ending June 9, 2023 to the Personnel Board and to re-appoint Wendel Ingram for a three-year term ending June 11, 2024 to the Real Estate Tax Relief Review Board. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Mayor Turk encouraged citizens to look at the website and consider serving on a Board or Commission. 7.Closed Session A.Closed Session Item A Hold a Closed Session pursuant to Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended to discuss a personnel matter, specifically regarding the appointment of a permanent City Attorney. B.Closed Session Item B Hold a Closed Session pursuant to Section 2.2-3711 (A) (1) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended to discuss a personnel matter pertaining to a School Board appointment. James Wallace motioned to move that in accordance with Section 2.2-3711 A(1) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, Council hereby convenes to closed session at 6:58 p.m. for the purpose of discussing the following specific matters: 1) a personnel matter, specifically regarding the appointment of a permanent City Attorney and 2) a personnel matter pertaining to a School Board appointment. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace James Wallace motioned to reconvene at 7:54 p.m. in accordance with Section 2.2-3712 D. of the Code of Virginia, 1950 as amended to date, Council 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. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Randy Foley motioned to appoint Jim Guynn as City Attorney. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace Mr. Guynn expressed his appreciation and stated that he was looking forward to working with Council. 8.Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.