RA  1811 Minutes of Council Meeting Buchanan, VA  July11, 2022 Present:  Mayor Craig Bryant Vice Mayor Chris Witt Councilmember. James Manspile Councilmember Marlon Rickman Councilmember Chris Petty  Attending: 6citizens, Board of Supervisor Amy White, 3 employees  Mayor Craig Bryant called the. July 11, 2022 Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. This meeting was held int the Council Room. Mayor Bryant asked Town Manager Susan McCulloch to take roll call. With five councilmembers present, a quorum was established. A moment of silence was held, and all that were The first item of business was to consider approval of the consent agenda including the. June 2022 Financial Report and unpaid bills. A motion for approval for alli items under the consent agenda was made by Councilmember Manspile with a second from Vice Mayor Witt. Mayor Bryant asked for further Next on the agenda was Awards, Recognitions, and Presentations. Town Manager McCulloch wanted to verbally recognize all the wonderful volunteers and people who helped with the Carnival. There were a lot of new faces and so many people came and took part working their hearts out. It was very rewarding Next on the agenda was Citizen Comments and Petitions Regarding Agenda Items. No one had signed Mayor Bryant stated that since there were several people signed up to speak, he would cover the rules of the public meeting. This is to make the expectations clear on the meetings being professional and allow others their time to speak as well. Mayor Bryant stated that the sign-up sheets are outside of Council chambers. Members of Town Council, speakers, and audience must observe proper decorum at all times. Mayor Bryant reserves the right to gavel if necessary. All public input should be directed to Council at the times designated on the meeting agenda. The purpose of public comment is for Town Council to listen. Town Council will not engage in dialog with: speakers during Public Hearing or Public Comment. Discussion between speakers and attendees of the Public Hearing or meeting is prohibited.  present stated the Pledge of Allegiance.  discussion. With no further discussion, the motion carried with a vote of5-0.  working the Carnival this year.  up to speak.  1    A speaker shall not speak until recognized by the Mayor, Vice Mayor, or a Councilmember. Each: speaker must stand and state their name and address and the subject he/she will be addressing. Each speaker shall be limited to 3 minutes per person for all agenda items and non-agenda items. The Town Manager shall be the time keeper. The full version oft the Rules of Conduct is located outside of Council Next on the Agenda was New Business/ Action Items/ Public Hearings. The only action item was consideration of Resolution R22-0711-01: AI Resolution Granting Employees! Spring Bonuses. Town Manager McCulloch stated that each year, usually twice a year, in lieu of raises, bonuses are given to employees twice ay year. The resolution covers the total bonuses. Mayor Bryant stated that the resolution isi int the packet. The total is $5,100.00 to be divided by the employees with a $300.00 tip going to a contractor. There probably will not be raises in the upcoming budget. Town Manager McCulloch confirmed there will not be raises in the upcoming budget. Mayor Bryant made ar motion to approve the resolution with as second from Councilmember Petty. Mayor Bryant asked fori further discussion. With no further discussion, the resolution was approved with a vote of5-0. Next on the agenda was reports. Town Manager McCulloch stated that as everyone knows, the Carnival ended on Saturday. There were several rainy nights so the volume of attendees was not what we had hoped. But, even on evenings when we shut down early, people were still sitting in the pavilion eating and talking and enjoying themselves. That shows how much the Carnival means to the community. Also, there were at few glitches that were fixed like the fryer in thei fry stand. Town gotal loto of compliments on the music, and the games were well attended and well manned. Town staff felt the Carnival was as success. Upcoming is the Reggae by the River on. July: 231 from 51 to 10 pm. Regarding Planning Commission, Town Manager McCulloch and' Vice Mayor Witt were unable to attend the last meeting. The Planning Commission's main task was to go over the zoning ordinance and work on updates. Town Manager McCulloch stated that this will be an evolving document that will have to be updated as new things come along such as zoning changes and state and national trends change. We had planned to have it completed, but due to Carnival and software issues, the updates were lost and Planning Commission has had to go back and start over. Town Manager McCulloch stated that regarding Public Safety, there have been a few complaints about lights that Dominion has taken care of quickly. Town has received the parts for the bridge light. Leading Edge Services willl be working on that bridge light as soon as possible. They did have to come and work on lights at the park. Councilmember Rickman stated there are 2 lights out on1 the bridge now. Town Manager McCulloch stated she would check into that. Town Manager McCulloch stated that for Public Works, there was al leak on Lowe! Street that was repaired on Friday. We were looking for wateri int the park on. July 4th before the fireworks went off. We had Virginia Rural Water Association come and listen to different meters and hydrants. They found ai few leaks, but the worst was the one that was fixed on Friday. There were: 5 Miss Utilities, 6 water cut-offs, 5 water cut-ons, a repair that needed a new tap. For sewer, there was one line repair on 15th Street. Town Manager McCulloch stated she would answer any questions. Mayor Bryant asked if the one on Lowe Street was damaged due to someone driving over it? Town Manager McCulloch stated that is ai theory. When they turned the corner tol bring a ride into the park, a pylon was bent and it could have done that. There was another school of thought that it could have been wearing out and that just drove it to come apart. Town Manager McCulloch stated that she did not mention it to Cole's Rides because there was no proof. Mayor Bryant stated that it looked like it had been hit again aftert the repairs. It looks like the pipe has been crushed. Town Manager McCulloch stated that the water runoff  Chambers.  2    pipe was cut but, she would check and see. Councilmember Manspile stated that he had stopped and looked at the repair. Itis more the shoddy work catching up with Town. When it was previously installed, they used a ditch witch to cut the road. The sleeve starts 31 %to 41 feeti into the road instead of at the edge of the road like iti is supposed to be done. That is one place it had cut settling, with the road pounding on it, it cut the: sleeve. There have been instances ifit leaks ont the main side before it gets to the meteri it willl blow out on both sides of1 the road. Mayor Bryant thanked Town Manager McCulloch Next ont the Agenda was Citizen Comments and Petitions Regarding Non-Agenda Items. Mayor Bryant stated there were 4 people signed up to speak. Mayor Bryant stated they would be called int the order they signed up. He asked that they state their name and address, and move closer to the microphone. The first person to speak was Jenny' Wilson of 399. James River Terrace. First, she thanked everyone for their service. As an elected official, she knows that a lot of times we only hear the complaints, and there are things that we can do nothing about. This is something we can do something about. As we all know, we lost al beloved community member, Linda Wickline, last Friday righti in front of Good Times Café. As you come down. James River Terrace, you are coming into! 55 mile per hour traffic. Ifyou are making the left turn, youl have to make a quick decision if you are going to go. She started looking at the speed limits. Ify you come into Town, the speed limit is 45 miles per hour (mph). A lot of Towns like Troutville, or Fincastle, the speed limit is 45 mph or less. The Town of Boones Mill is 35. Isit possible to petition VDOTt to change the speed limit? Ms. Wilson stated that she would write letters. Ms. Wilson stated right as you get to Carilion, the speed limit goes back up to 55 mph. That is right at Carilion Clinic, Limestone Park with teenagers pullingi in and out, James River Terrace whichi is al blind turn. Then going into the main part of town, you drop from! 551 to 35. Could Town please check into lowering the speed limit to 45 to make it more consistent and help keep our kids safe? Mayor Bryant stated that would be added to the Work Session. Town Manager McCulloch stated that she had already reached out to Ashley Smith at' VDOT. Next to speak was Ruth Dudley of 404 Bridge Street North. Ms. Dudley stated that a couple of months ago 2 Town employees tried to drive through her flower bed to read the water meter. Instead of pulling up and parking at the road and walking 23 steps to the meter, they didn't. She hollered out to get the H@## off her property. Ms. Dudley called Town Manager McCulloch and left an ungodly message. She wants to ask the Town Manager now: Do you think the Town employees have the right to drive through citizens property and tear up our yards or whatever? Mayor Bryant stated that Council hears your question. The purpose of the public comment is to address Council with your question. Mayor Bryant stated that he would answer that he thinks he can give. This problem has been looked into, and employees have been told theya are not to do that. This happened a while back. Ms. Dudley stated it happened a couple months ago. Mayor Bryant asked ifi it had happened since. Ms. Dudley stated that she has not seen them do it but she hasn'tbeen home. She knows they park in another citizen's driveway, but theyv would have to walk. Ms. Dudley stated that when she went to her lawyer, he stated that she should have called al landscaper toi fixi it and then bill the Town. She told him Town wouldn't have paid it. The lawyer stated that is what he is there for. Ms. Dudley then stated she would like to ask" Town Manager McCulloch what she thought. Mayor Bryant stated again that the purpose oft the public comment is to address Council. Ms. Dudley asked Council ift they could give her an answer. Mayor Bryant stated that he would again tell her that this happened a couple of months ago, it has been addressed, and there have not been any complaints since. Mayor Bryant asked Ms. Dudley if there had been any more complaints. Ms. Dudley stated there have not because she has not been home. Mayor Bryant stated that ifi it happens again, Town wantst to know about it. Ms. Dudley stated  for her report and asked for any questions.  3    that Town would hear about it, definitely. Mayor Bryant stated yes, please, we want to know about it. Ms. Dudley asked if Councik was telling her that Town Manager McCulloch wouldanswerher. Mayor Bryant stated tMeppsedlimetgeN toaddress Council. Mayor Bryant asked Ms. Dudleyi if she was done. Councilmember Manspile stated that Mayor Bryant was getting out of line. Mayer Bryant stated that he has told her the answer. Ms. Dudley asked ift this ishow.allofCounci feels? Were they wrong?A Mayor Bryantstated-thatyes, they were wrong. It has been addressed. IfMs. Dudley sees ita again, please let us know. Ms. Dudley stated that they would. Ms. Dudley stated that she had one more question she would like to ask. How come the citizens have to pay for the full premium of the insurance for the Town employees. Town Manager McCulloch stated that time was up. Mayor Bryant stated he is not sure he understands the question. Ms. Dudley stated that according to the letter received with the water bill, the Town will cover the premiums for the Town employees. Mayor Bryant asked if she meant health insurance? Ms. Dudley answered yes. Mayor Bryant stated that Town has always done that. Ms. Dudley. stated that all she hears from other people is that the Town don't! have no money. Leti them pay part of theiri insurance. Because all of us senior citizens on Medicare and social security, nobody. pays our supplement but us. So, we need that, and Ithinkt the citizens should vote on it. Mayor Bryant stated that wheni iti is time to review that again Council will welcome the comments. Mayor Bryant stated that Town had found a cheaper plan that is saving the tax payers money. Ms. Dudley asked why the citizens are paying all ofit? Itis our money. Mayor Bryant stated that right nowi it has been approved, and it is actually saving thet tax payers money. Town would be glad to go over the amount. Ms. Dudley stated that what should be done is since you mailed the letter with the water bill, why not mail out al letter with a vote and let citizens mail it back to you. Town Manager McCulloch stated that it was way overt time. Mayor Bryant thanked Ms. Dudley for her comments. Ms. Dudley stated that she was sorry Town Manager McCulloch could not answer her. Next to speak was Board of Supervisor member Amy White of 905 Stinnett Road. Ms. White stated that to follow up on. Jenny's comment, she had called and asked Ms. White what she could do. Ms. White told her she could contact VDOT but, it is actually in the Town. Ms. White stated that ifs she could helpi in any way she would. As far as Buchanan business, there is a proposal for a convenience store at thei intersection of Greyledge Road and Frontage Road. It is at planning commission tonight. It will be heard at the Board of Supervisor'st two weeks from tomorrow. Ms. White wanted to make everyone aware oft that. The plans are available online. Any comments or questions, Ms. White would love to hear from anyone about that project. Ms. White stated that her real reason to be here is the Carnival. What a great time to be alive in Buchanan. Every year, sO thankful it all went well. And, thanks to everyone. It is such a community event. Itis sO much more than a place to get french fries, andi iti is a good place to get french fries. Al lot of people come to her and ask questions about Carnival. From the county's standpoint, we support this event 100%. We send volunteers for a night. Al lot of us work extra time too. That is the extent of the county's involvement here. This is a Town of Buchanan event so Ms. White cannot answer all the questions. Ms. White: stated that in listening to the people, it would be helpful once everything is done and the moneys are counted, it would be great to publish the budget. What was brought in, where it was brought in, and how iti is intended to be: spent. Ms. White thinks that would go a long way toward goodwill and transparency because she gets that question all the time. Secondly, ifa at all possible, to catalogue the volunteer hours from that week, that could be great data to use for grants and proposals going forward. Itis at tremendous community effort. We could use that and leverage what we do in those buildings for grants. There is great opportunity there. Councilmember Rickman stated that ify you file the long form on your taxes, the volunteer hours you put in at the Carnival can be taken off ofy your  4    taxes. Ms. White, jokingly stated that they would owel her money. Mayor Bryant asked the fourth speaker, Grace, to step up. Grace stated that Ms. White had covered it. Shej just wants the follow up information from the Carnival. Mayor Bryant stated that it takes several months to get all the data together. Itisavery cumbersome process. Vice Mayor Witt stated that Town started calculating volunteer hours last year. We havei that data from last year. Ms. White stated that if there wasa a uniform way of collecting that information it would be very powerful. Then, the public really wants to Next on the Agenda was Additional Comments. Councilmember Manspile stated that hel has been made aware of an issue during Carnival. Councilmember Manspile asked Town Manager McCulloch if there has been any movement on the building at the old school complex that the roof has falleni inc on? Deputies had to run kids out of it twice that he was made aware of during Carnival. The county building inspector has helped Town with other buildings in Town. What kind of help can we get to deny access to that building? Town Manager McCulloch stated that she had not been made aware of people going into the building. Town can definitely ask County to look intoi it. The building is on our targeted Brownfield assistance grant list. Vice Mayor Witt stated that the building is a rented property. Itisa rented in use property. Asa whole, the propertyi is not condemnable. It is just a matter of someone breaking into your house or your property and having them escorted off. Councilmember Manspile stated that windows arel broken out ont the property. Mayor Bryant stated Town has received multiple complaints about that property ini the last few years. Councilmember Manspile stated that it should go back to the landowner if the renter will noti fixi it. Vice Mayor Witt stated he has heard rumors about that property, but he doesn'thave anything concrete. He can discuss it lateri if needed. Mayor Bryant stated there was an insect issue at one time. Councilmember Manspile stated that issue was addressed Next on the Agenda was Upcoming Meetings and Events. Town Manager McCulloch stated all the upcoming events listed on the agenda. Amy' White stated that the Botetourt County Fair is on August 5th and 6th. Town Clerk Claudine Stump apologized for not putting the Fair in the upcoming events. Last on the agenda was adjournment. Councilmember Manspile made a motion to adjourn with a second from Mayor Bryant. Vice Mayor Witt asked how things will be handled since the laws have changed since personal recreational use ofTHCi is legal. Town Manager McCulloch stated that Town has requested coverage from the Sheriff's Office and willl bring that to their attention. Mayor Bryant asked for further discussion. With no further discussion, the motion to adjourn was passed with a vote of5-  know where the money goes. It would be motivational.  with the landlord. Mayor Bryant asked for any other comments.  0.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:30 p.m.  5    Respertfulysubmittes,  Cloudin Slump  Claudine Stump, Clerk  E   6