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Home My WebLink About2/8/2021 - City Council - Minutes - RegularAPPROVED MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 8, 2021 A work session of the Council of the City of Salem, Virginia, was held in Parlor A of the Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard, Salem, Virginia, on February 8, 2021, at 5:30 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 (remote participation), 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, Michael D. Crawley, Chief of Police; and, Todd Clingenpeel, Captain Todd Clayton, Angela Sellers, Process Improvement-Business Efficiency Director; and Beth Rodgers, Director of Human Resources; 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. Taliaferro introduced Chief Crawley and Captain Clayton who gave a presentation on the Next Generation 911 Project; and WHEREAS, Mr. Taliaferro introduced Angela Sellers. Ms. Sellers gave a presentation on behalf of the Employee Performance team. The members of this committee are Jeff Ceaser, JP Phillips, Matt Rickman, Beth Rodgers, Angela Sellers, John Shaner, and Ben Tripp; 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 6:28 p.m. ____________________________________ Mayor _____________________________________ Clerk of Council City Council Meeting MINUTES Monday, February 8, 2021, 6:30 PM Community Room, Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Blvd., 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: Renee F. Turk, Mayor, James W. Wallace, III, Vice-Mayor, Council members: Byron Randolph Foley, William D. Jones, and John Saunders (remote participation); 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; Charles E. VanAllman, Jr., Director of Community Development; Mike Stevens, Communications Director; and Jim Guynn, Counsel. Mayor Turk requested Mr. Light read a request from Mr. Saunders to participate remotely in this Council meeting. The request from Mr. Saunders stated: "In accordance with Section 2.2-3708.2 l(A) of the Code of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Remote Participation Policy of the City of Salem, I hereby request to participate remotely for a medical reason." William Jones motioned to approve remote participation for this Council meeting by Council member John Saunders. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Turk, Wallace Abstain: Saunders 2. Pledge of Allegiance Mayor Turk welcomed from Salem Police Department Field Training Officer Joe Blackwell and the three current police trainees: Jair Tonce, Katherine Van Orden, and Ethan Fisher. The City of Salem would like to thank them for their hard work and commitment to their training and to wish them much safety and success in their future career as they strive to protect our citizens. 3. Consent Agenda A. Public Comment 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. John Breen of 142 Bogey Lane signed up to present comments to Council at this meeting. However, he was not able to attend to the meeting. B. Minutes Consider the acceptance of the minutes from the January 11, 2021 work session and regular meeting. Vice Mayor Wallace requested that minutes be amended to reflect that there was no closed session at the last meeting. The January 11, 2021 City Council meeting minutes were accepted as amended. C. Financial Report Consider the acceptance of the Statement of Revenues and Expenditures for the six months ending December 2020. Ms. Jordan provided feedback to questions about status of budget categories regarding sales, meal, and lodging tax revenues at this point and projections for this fiscal year. Questions were raised about the Enterprise Fund and Capital Funding which led to discussion on which funds are frozen at this point. It was noted that anything that is grant-funded by a Federal or State grant is not frozen at this time. A discussion was held on internet and e-commerce tax. Financial Report received for 6 months ending December 31, 2020. 4. Old Business A. Special Exception Permits Consider the request of Dominion Service & Parts LLC, lessee, and Premier Investments LLC, property owner, for the issuance of Special Exception Permits to allow an automobile dealership, used, and an automobile repair service, major, on the property located at 224 West 4th Street (Tax Map #161-7-1). (Continued from the November 23, 2020 and January 11, 2021, meetings.) Mr. Van Allman shared that he has new information for Council. The lessee would like to amend the Special Exception to include only the automobile repair service and withdraw the automobile dealership. Mr. Guynn spoke on the legal ramifications of amending special exceptions. Daniel Austin,1238 Red Lane, was present. A discussion was held. William Jones motioned to continue this item to February 22, 2021 meeting and vote on it at that meeting. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 5. New Business A. Taxicabs Consider setting the date for a public hearing in accordance with Section 98-94 of THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA, for the issuance of Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for the next twelve (12) months. (Suggest March 8, 2021). Mayor Turk noted that staff has recommended setting the public hearing for March 8, 2021. Randy Foley motioned to set a public hearing in accordance with Section 98-94 of THE CODE OF THE CITY OF SALEM, VIRGINIA, for the issuance of Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity for March 8, 2021. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace B. Workforce Development Board Change in Fiscal Agent Consider an ordinance on first reading amending the Charter Agreement to designate the WDB as the Fiscal Agent and authorizing the Mayor to execute an appropriate amendment to the Charter Agreement. Mr. Guynn addressed this item on the agenda. The Roanoke Valley and Allegheny Regional Commission will no longer serve as fiscal agent and the Workforce Development Board has agreed to serve as fiscal agent. The Charter had previously been amended by ordinance; therefore, this will need to be handled by ordinance as well. William Jones motioned to consider an ordinance on first reading amending the Charter Agreement to designate the WDB as the Fiscal Agent and authorizing the Mayor to execute an appropriate amendment to the Charter Agreement. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace C. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to amend the School Grants Fund budget as approved by the School Board on January 12, 2021. Audit - Finance Committee Vice Mayor Wallace addressed the request. The School Grants Funds budget was amended for fiscal year 2020-2021 by the School Board at their meeting on January 12, 2021. The School Board amended the School Grants Fund budget to increase revenues and expenditures by $125,519. James Wallace motioned to amend the School Grants Fund budget as approved by the School Board on January 12, 2021. John Saunders seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace D. Appropriation of Funds Consider request to reappropriate funding from Four-For-Life Funds. Audit - Finance Committee Each year, the City receives funding from the Virginia Department of Health for the Four-for-Life program, which must be spent in accordance with state guidelines. If funds are not spent in the fiscal year received, localities can carry over these funds. The Salem Rescue Squad has accumulated Four-for-Life funds from previous fiscal years and would like to utilize $40,698 of the carryover balance to purchase two Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) devices.at a cost of $63,778. The funding being reappropriated will be used along with current year funding for the purchase of the AED devices. James Wallace motioned to appropriating $40,698 from fund balance for the purchase of the AED devices. Randy Foley seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace E. Boards and Commissions Consider appointments to various boards and commissions. The Mayor brought attention to the citizens that there are other positions on boards, commissions, and committees that are vacant and urged citizens to consider serving. Randy Foley motioned to re-appoint John Shaner to the Local Office on Aging for a three-year tern ending March 1, 2024 and to re-appoint Daniel L. Hart to the Real Estate Tax Relief Review Board for a three-year term ending February 14, 2024. William Jones seconded the motion. Ayes: Foley, Jones, Saunders, Turk, Wallace 6. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:06 p.m. Footnote Audit Finance Committee Meeting, 5:15 p.m., Parlor A, Salem Civic Center Work Session, 5:30 p.m., Parlor A, Salem Civic Center