April 1,2024 -22-  Council meeting minutes  TOWN OF ABINGDON COUNCIL MEETING MONDAVAPAILA,BA-EN Pm COUNCIL CHAMBERS - MUNICIFALBUILDING  The meeting of the Abingdon Town Council was held on Monday, April 1, 2024, at 6:30  pm in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building.  A. WELCOME - Mayor Pillion B. ROLL CALL Members ofCouncil Present:  Wayne Austin Donna Quetsch Derek Webb Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor Pillion  C. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  D. PRAYER  E. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (VIDEO 8:31-9:17)  On motion of Mr. Austin, seconded by' Vice MayorAnderson, amended the agenda toi include a discussion regarding a public forum between citizens and Council under Item N. New  Business to say consideration ofa public forum. The roll call vote was as follows:  Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Vice Mayor. Anderson Mayor Pillion  Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye  F.A APPROVAL OF MINUTES (VIDEO 9:18- 11:07)  March 4, 2024 March 21, 2024  March 21, 2024 Finance Committee Budget Meeting  On motion of Mr. Austin, seconded by Mr. Webb, approved the March 4, 2024 minutes as  presented.  The roll call vote was as follows:    Aprill 1,2024  Council meeting minutes  -23-  Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor Pillion  Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye  On motion of Mr. Webb, seconded by Vice Mayor Anderson, approved the March 21, 2024 Finance Committee Budget Meeting minutes and the March 21, 2024 Council meeting  minutes as presented.  The roll call vote was as follows:  Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor Pillion  Abstained (work commitments)  Aye Aye Aye Aye  G. PUBLIC COMMENTS (VIDEO 11:07-13:58)  Greg Lilly  H. PROCLAMATIONS (VIDEO 14:11-15:50) 1. Proclamation designating April 5, 2024 as. Arbor Day Mr. Webb read the Proclamation into the record. PUBLIC HEARING (VIDEO 15:51 -22:22)  1. Public hearing regarding the sale of real property located on French Moore, Jr. Boulevard owned by the Town of Abingdon, namely 1.20 acres total, specifically 0.20 acre ofLot 8 (Tax  Map No. 104-10-8) and 1.0. acre ofLot 10 (Tax Map No. 104-10-10)  Mayor Pillion opened the public hearing.  Mayana Rice, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development presented Wellspring Foundation recently reached an agreement to purchase 848 French Moore, Jr. Blvd. Itwas during the process, Wellspring determined that the building would need aj parking lot and structure addition. Wellspring approached Town staff and it was ultimately determined that the most economically viable option would be to sell aj portion ofal lot to the east and west of the    April 1,2024 -24-  Council meeting minutes  parcel. This would allow the Town to retain two future developable lots and Wellspring to Sean McMurray, Executive Director of Wellspring addressed the Council. Hearing no further  precision purchase for their expansion.  comments, Mayor Pillion closed the public hearing. J. RESOLUTIONS (VIDEO 22:22-23:37)  1. Resolution approving a sale ofaj portion of property from two tax parcels, Tax Map  No. 104-10-8 and Tax Map No. 104-10-10  On motion of Vice Mayor Anderson, seconded by Mr. Webb, approved the Resolution as presented to sale a portion of property from two tax parcels, Tax Map No. 104-10-8 and' Tax Map No. 104-10-10, authorizing the Town Attorney to draft paperwork and the Town  Manager to endorse as necessary.  The roll call vote was as follows:  Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor. Pillion  Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye  K. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES (VIDE023.37-26.05)  1. First reading of an ordinance to repeal, amend and reenact Chapter 58 Solid Waste, Town Manager Mike Cochran advised the Council that last year a massive revision oft the Ordinance was completed, however as it stands it was not the intent that a vacant house receive a trash can waiver. The intent was ifa a house had storm damage, someone cannot live in it under On motion of Mrs. Quetsch, seconded by Vice Mayor Anderson, approved the Ordinance as  Division 2 -Town Collection and Division 3 - Containers.  major renovations or uninhabitable.  presented and waived the second reading. The roll call vote was as follows:  Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb  Aye Aye Aye    April 1,2 2024  Council meeting minutes  -25-  Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor Pillion  Aye Aye  L. SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES M. CONSIDERATION OF BIDS N. NEW BUSINESS (VIDEO 26:10- 34:26)  1. Consideration ofaj public forum between citizens and Council  Mr. Austin conveyed that Greg Lilly had a valid point that often time the Town Council and the citizens who attend the meetings do not have an opportunity to exchange information and discuss various topics of importance. Mr. Austin stated that he considered Mr. Lilly's comments and thinks that the Town Council should add a public forum at the mid-month meeting, regardless of whether the mid-month meeting takes place. Mr. Austin suggested a meeting agenda to discuss matters of importance to the public and to the Town Council, with some restrictions on how it is handled. The topic will be added to the mid-month meeting no less than five business days prior ifs someone is interested in discussing something with the Council that they communicate either with Mr. Cochran's office or Kim Kingsley, Clerk. He suggested no more than five individual topics each public forum with an allotted maximum time of fifteen minutes and if there is more Vice Mayor Anderson suggested instead offive topics, maybe three peri meeting. Mr. Austin stated that would allow time for the Council toi investigate and be prepared to do an intelligent exchange ofinformation. Mayor Pillion stated that she did not feel it would be useful if Council wasn't prepared. It was agreed that the items should be received within seven business days prior to the agenda being finalized, and three topics per meeting. Mr. Bell requested that we call it something other than a "public forum" as he felt that had some weight toi it and suggested "public discussion." Mr. Bell also stated that just because something was submitted that it doesn't mean it will automatically go on the agenda as Council is elected to control the agenda and run the public meeting, sO it would be a suggestion of public discussion to send to the Manager and then to Council as to whether to include it on the agenda for that meeting. Mayor Pillion stated that this isn new, and she thinks all are in favor oftrying the public discussion, and as we are approving this On motion of Mr. Austin, seconded by Vice Mayor Anderson, begin a public discussion each mid-month meeting, beginning with the month of May, that any person who would like to suggest a discussion, or a topic would notify Mr. Cochran's office or Mrs. Kingsley at least seven business days prior to that meeting such that can be given to Council and discussed that there be a maximum of three topics at each of these public discussion sessions, and the Mayor Pillion added that anyone interested can come and speak in public comments during the  than five then they would be placed on the following month.  just understand that we may adjust along the way.  maximum time that we would have on a topic would be fifteen minutes.  regular meeting ifthey prefer.    April 1,2024  Council meeting minutes  -26-  The roll call vote was as follows:  Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Vice Mayor. Anderson Mayor. Pillion  Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye  0. OLD BUSINESS  P. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS FROM' TOWN MANAGER 1. Annual State ofthe Tree" report - Kevin Sigmon, Town Arborist (VIDEO 34:31 - 45:14) Town Arborist Kevin Sigmon provided Council with an update including Tree City USA; tree plantings at Veterans Memorial Park, Abingdon Visitors Center, The Meadows splash pad, and the Creeper Trail parking area; tree giveaway; inflation reduction act grant funding for Ash tree removal on the Virginia Creeper Trail; a memorial tree for Firefighter Cameron Craig; expanding the mulch beds at Veterans Memorial Park; speaking engagements; and continued association with the Town of Marion, Trees Virginia Board of Directors and MAC-ISA Board of Directors. Mr. Sigmon also discussed the. Arbor Day Celebration at. Abingdon Elementary 2. 2023 - Year in Review - Mike Cochran, Town Manager MDE04515-11639) Town Manager Mike Cochran provided Council with a 2023 - Yeari in Review covering infrastructure, pedestrian safety, tourism, recreation, public works and discussed challenges and  School on Friday, April 5, 2024.  opportunities in 2024.  Q. COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS (VIDEO 1:16:38 - 1:17:04)  Mayor Pillion reminded everyone ofthe Day of Service and Earth Day on Saturday, April 20th  R. APPOINTMENTSTO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES  S. CLOSED SESSION T. ADJOURNMENT  Mayor Amanda Pillion phR  Kimberly Kingley,