January 8, 2024 Council meeting minutes  -1-  TOWN OF ABINGDON COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY,JANUARYS; 2024- - 6:30 pm COUNCILCHAMBERS- MUNICIFALBUILDING  The meeting oft the Abingdon Town Council was held on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 6:30  pm ini the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building.  A. WELCOME- - Mayor Pillion B. ROLL CALL Members of Council Present:  Wayne Austin Donna Quetsch Derek Webb Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor Pillion  C.P PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE  D. PRAYER  E.A APPROVAL OF AGENDA (VIDEO 7:03-7:33)  On motion of Vice Mayor Anderson, seconded by Mr. Webb, approved the agenda as  presented.  The roll call vote was as follows:  Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor Pillion December 4, 2023  Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye  F.A APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES (VIDE07:33-7:59)  On motion ofl Mr. Austin, seconded by Vice Mayor Anderson, approved the December 4,  2023 minutes as presented.  The roll call vote was as follows:  Mr. Austin  Aye    January 8, 2024 Council meeting minutes  -2-  Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Vice Mayor. Anderson Mayor Pillion  Aye Aye Aye Aye  G. PUBLIC COMMENTS (VIDEO 8:00-20:41)  Katie Brown on behalf of" The Barter Theatre Matt Campbell on behalfofThe Barter' Theatre  Dixie McVey Jolly Eddie Copenhaver  Kyle Craig on behalf oft the Town's Veterans Advisory Board  H. PROCLAMATIONS  I PUBLIC. HEARING (VIDEO 20:54-26:06)  1. Proposed amendment includes additions to revenue from grants, interest on. ARPA funds, and an insurance claim. The total general fund budget amendment will increase the budgeted  expenditures and offsetting revenues by $1,050,849.43.  Director of Finance Steve Trotman provided the Council with information regarding the proposed amendment. Mayor Pillion opened the public hearing. Hearing no comments, Mayor  Pillion closed the public hearing. J. RESOLUTIONS (VIDEO 26:08-3 38:12)  1.1 Resolution approving proposed comprehensive sign at property located at 370. E. Main Street Abingdon, VA, Tax Map 013-1-82 advertising the entryway to the shared parking area of Sweet Bay Brewing Company, al bike shop, an adventure retail store, and The Girl & The Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development Manaya Rice conveyed that easements were conveyed as an internal agreement and not ai road. She said the proposed Resolution is to consider aj proposed comprehensive sign permit. Councilmember Quetsch questioned ift the Town would have any liability. Mrs. Rice responded that it looks connected and would allow traverse across the parts, however it is not aj public street. Councilmember Webb questioned if the Town would own the right of way. Mrs. Rice responded that it was on private property and not a right of way and should a traffic issue come up, the Town would refer to the staff engineer and/or hire a consultant with mix-use in that area. Mayor Pillion questioned whether the signage was the only matter they were voting on tonight. Mrs. Rice confirmed the comprehensive sign plan is the only matter, and not the opening/closing of Park Street or the internal movement oft the traffic, ori ifthe fences remain as  Raven.  that is all private property.    January 8, 2024 Council meeting minutes  -3-  Oni motion by Mrs. Quetsch, seconded by Mr. Webb, after review and consideration of the application materials, staff report, and public comment, and in accordance with the requirements of Section 44-8-4-2C of the Town ofAbingdon Zoning Ordinance, approve  the special use permit for the comprehensive sign.  Councilmember Webb added the sign was lovely. Councilmember Austin also agreed Mr. Austin agreed that it was a beautiful sign, addressed the issue of sign clutter, and consolidated those into a very nice, proposed project. He also believed it was important to encourage businesses ini the Town. He also wished to make it clear, particularly to Ms. McVey  that iti is a beautiful sign and issues regarding sign clutter were. addressed.  and others, the Council is only voting on the signage issue.  Mr. Austin stated the second issue is the easements are on private property. However, he felt compelled to vote in favor oft the motion approving the signage. Mr. Austin stated he does not want to be misinterpreted that he approved or would give an approval vote to the opening of Park Street, through this project as previously discussed in prior meetings. He stated that coming offa state-maintained road onto perhaps a gravel parking lot that is not delineated in any fashion as a roadway and going to connect it to another state-maintained roadway was not proper. He further added that maintenance of a dead-end street stops just as it gets to the brewery property and from his perspective should continue in that fashion and did not want to mislead anyone. Mr. Austin also stated it is going to be expensive to place a sign on Park Street and perhaps placing a sign at  adead-end street.  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 (VIDE038:14-393)  1.1 Proposed amendment includes additions to revenue from grants, interest on ARPA funds, and an: insurance claim. The total general fund budget amendment will increase the budgeted On motion of Mrs. Quetsch, seconded by Vice Mayor Anderson, approved the proposed amendment as presented and approve on first reading, waiving the second reading, to take  expenditures and offsetting revenues by $1,050,849.43.  effect immediately.    January 8, 2024 Council meeting minutes  4-  The roll call vote was as follows:  Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor Pillion  Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye  L. SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES M. CONSIDERATION OF BIDS N. NEW: BUSINESS O. OLD BUSINESS (VIDEO 39:40-  P. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS FROM TOWN MANAGER  Town Manager Mike Cochran wished everyone a Happy New Year. Q. C COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS (VIDEO 58:59-1:04:56)  Mrs. Quetsch attended the Infrastructure Advisory Committee meeting and thanked Janet Woolwine, Charlene Truhlik and Charlie Fugate for serving on the committee. Vice Mayor Anderson attended the Historic Preservation Review Board where discussion was held regarding rewording language and adding images to make the Committee'sjob: easier. R. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES (VIDE01 1:04:56-1:05:44)  1.4 Abingdon Redevelopment and Housing Authority  A Appointment to fill vacancy for Mike Rush, who isi ineligible to serve an additional term Appointment to fill vacancy of Richard Macbeth, who is ineligible to serve an additional  2. Board ofZoning Appeals term 3. Tree Commission  Reappointment of Stuart Hale, who is eligible to serve an additional term Reappointment of Vice Mayor Anderson, who is eligible to serve an additional term Town Clerk Kim Kingsley communicated no applications were received to fill vacancies on the Abingdon Redevelopment and Housing Authority or the Board of Zoning Appeals. She also conveyed that she received ai resignation and there would now be two vacancies on the  4. District Three Governmental Cooperative  Board of Zoning Appeals.    January 8, 2024 Council meeting minutes  -5-  Mayor Pillion encouraged citizens to apply for vacancies on the Town's boards and  committees. She said it was a great way to find out about your community.  On motion ofMr. Austin, seconded by Mrs. Quetsch, reappointed Stuart Hale tos serve an additional term on the Tree Commission and Vice Mayor Anderson to serve an additional  term on District Three Governmental Cooperative. Thei roll call vote was as follows:  Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor Pillion  Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye  S. CLOSED SESSION  Mayor Pillion declared the meeting adjourned.  Olne  Mayor Amanda Pillion  ymgsly  Kimberly Mingsley, Clerk