The regular meeting of the Boydton Town Council was held on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, beginning at 7:30 P.M., in the Town Hall Council Chambers with Mayor Christopher D. Starke presiding. This meeting was postponed from January 9, 2024, due toi inclement  weather. THOSE PRESENT Christopher D. Starke, Mayor T.G. Gill, Vice Mayor W.H. Coleman Bill Thompson David M. Crowder (Absent) Paul "Ray" Cherry Mr. Ronny Worley Chief Nathan Bowen Rhita M. Burton, Deputy Clerk Shirley S. Bowen, MMC, Clerk-Treasurer  GUESTS  R.H. Park III, WWTP Chief Operator John P. Roberts, Maintenance Supervisor Ron Sciamacco-1 HBR, President  The Mayor, Christopher "Chris" Starke, welcomed the council, employees, and guest to the regular monthly meeting and called the meeting to order. Thel Mayor led the audience Mayor Starke requested a motion to approve the regular monthly meeting minutes of December 12, 2023. Councilman Bill Thompson moved to approve the minutes as submitted, and Vice Mayor T.G. Gill seconded the motion. All members voted in favor. Thel Mayor requested a motion to approve the bills to be paid for the month ofJ January 2024. Councilman Paul "Ray" Cherry moved to approve the bills as presented. Vice Mayor T.G. Gill seconded the motion, and all remaining members voted in favor. Chief Bowen gave his monthly activity report from December 8th, 2023 thru January 4t, 2024. His report. included two (2) traffic stops, two (2) traffic citations, one (1) call for Mr. R. H. Park III's public works monthly report from the Waste Water Treatment Plant 1. Mr. R. H. Park III reported Boydton's Department of Water, RRSA Meter Readings report of water pumped for December 2023, was 906,000 gallons of water purchased from the RRSA with the DMR results being returned as satisfactory. 2. Mr. Park III updated the council regarding Mr. Mike Grimley, employee at the WWTP, obtaining his Waste Water III license, which is the second license he has obtained. Mr. Park II stated he can now run the WWTP on his own, ifneeded. He would now be preparing and applying for his Waste Water II license and will possibly be ablei to take this test in the fall. Thei first test he'd taken was a Water License and that is the only test that's require for a water license. 3. Mr. Park III informed the council that we'd been given funding a while back with approximately $200,000 remaining to spend. He further stated the council needs to be considering what they'd like to spend these funds on. Mr. Park III advised there were three (3) options we could use to spend this funding on and one of those was to  with the pledge of allegiance to the flag, followed by an invocation.  service, and one (1) call to assist the County.  was requested by Mayor Starke. Mr. Park III reported the following:    replace the water line from Virginia Homes, since it's our main water line coming into town from the RRSA. The line will be upgraded from a six (6) inch line to an eight (8) inch line, and two (2) new fire hydrants will bei installed. Also, we will be installing a' "tee" and a cut-off valve in case those apartments go in there. The second option is toj put liners inside the old pipes and the third option would be toj put in some manholes. Hej personally felt the Virginia Homes water line to the WWTP should take precedence. Mr. Park III asked that the council think about what they felt would be the best of the three (3) options and he would begin seeking prices. The grant funding would have to be designated by 2024 and spent by 2026, so Mrs. Bowen, Clerk of Council, stated, but she would check to make sure oft those dates. Mr. Roberts was called upon by the Mayor for his monthly maintenance report for  December 2023.  1. Mr. Roberts reported the two (2) gateway signs, built by Signs and Designs, had been 2. He also advised the council that the door to the shop, which houses the tractor was broken and would need to be repaired or replaced. He stated one quote on repairs to the door was around $3,995.00. To havei it replaced would be around $4,495.00. He noted he hadn'theard from the other person who was to givel him al bid, as yet. 3. Mr. Roberts stated he'd been looking at purchasing new garbage cans to relieve the workers from having to lift thel heavy garbage cans, since the garbage truck has the ability to actually pick them up, but he'd need the council's approval to make this purchase, since the cost for this type of can, is approximately one hundred ($100+), dollars. Vice Mayor Gill stated the Town of Clarksville gives the homeowner the first one at no cost, but the second one would have to be paid for by the homeowner. The Mayor asked Mr. Roberts to get a price for these to present at next month's meeting. 4. Mr. Roberts informed the council of repairs that need to be made to the garbage truck. He reported the PTO pump had gone out last Friday and stated the cost of this could range from about $2,000 to $3,000.00 tol have it replaced. It will take about a week tol have it repaired. It was the consensus of the council to get the truck repaired.  completed and installed.  Mayor Comments:  1. The Mayor informed the council that he and the Chief had been fervently trying to take care oft the situation with the dog that keeps running loose. He stated he'd talked to the owner, and she assured him she was looking to find the dog a new 2. Mayor Starke advised he'd reached out to Mr. E. B. Harris, Jr. regarding the corner building on Bank Street owned by their family, to see ift there was any interest in selling the building, but received no response as yet. He advised if he continues to receive no response, he'd start tol look at our ordinances regarding unkept property and what options we can take regarding derelict buildings.  home as quickly as possible.    New Business:  1. The Mayor noted that we had been contacted by the granddaughter of Mrs. Mildred Winn to attach a sign to the Hull Street sign, adding "Winn's Way." He contacted VDOT, but they won't: approve this type of thing on their right-of-way. 2. Virginia Rural Water Association had spoken to Rhita about coming to check leaks in our water lines, but we've not heard back as to a date they can come. 3. Mrs. Veronica Everett with "Books and Me," the organization who donated the bench over at the County library, notified us that they'd like a formal dedication of 4. Dr. Eason has retired and is moving to Chesterfield around March. He will soon discontinue his role as the Planning Commission chairman and the committee will have to appoint someone else to be the chairman with approval from the council. 5. Mayor Starke noted the County will be having a meeting in South Hill on January 25, 2024, at: 3:30 P.M. regarding the CoumvysComprehemihe Plan. The Mayor 6. The Mayor stated we have received the County's! FY 2024-2025 budget procedures from Mr. Gottschalk, thei incoming County Administrator, asking us to submit our annual request ofi funds from the County. He advised that he and Shirley had been working on that request and this yeari it is to be ini no later than February 16, 2024. 7. Mayor Starke reported that he and Mr. Brankley met last Monday to discuss acouple ofissues, one of which was the bank situation and how the County stood on that; however, he was told negotiations were still in progress with Benchmark. He advised that Mr. Brankley was very supportive of the town and was willing to help us in any way he could. Councilman Worley interjected with a comment concerning Mr. Young and ifl he'd been in contact with the office or the Mayor, since he was to attend a council meeting a few months ago. Vice Mayor Gill responded by saying, he didn't think he'd be continuing his quest to come and do what he had wanted to do initially. Mayor Starke agreed with Vice Mayor Gill. Councilman Coleman asked Mrs. Bowen, the Clerk of Council, if the town had passed an ordinance years ago regarding small signs being placed in town, saying itc couldn't be done. Mrs. Bowen, stated we have sign ordinances in the R-1,R-2, and Commercial places, but she couldn'trecall exactly what was written; however, she told him she'd look at our ordinances regarding signage and let him know. 8. Thel Mayor passed out a' "revised" personnel policy and urged the council to review it, so we could hopefully move ahead and approve. it in order to send it to VML for their final review, to make sure: it was in compliance with the law. Vice Mayor Gill urged the council to take a "real hard look at it," as well, since there was a lot of information provided and several ways tol look at it and the way it should go. The Mayor also stated he'd included a lot ofi information from VML that is required.  thel bench when the weather turns nicer, possibly in the spring.  advised he plans to attend and take notes.  Public Comments:  Mr. Sciammaco informed the council that he'd been approached by Mr. Walter Beales, who stated he could not be present at tonight's meeting due to a conflict, but asked him to present ar resolution he'd drawn up regarding the First Citizens Bank closure. The Mayor explained that Mr. Beales drew up this resolution for the council to approve and send to various officials, since there are some citizens that felt the council had not taken the appropriate or adequate action on the closure of First Citizens Bank. The Mayor heard part of the conversation Mr. Beales and Mr. Sciammaco had and asked Mr. Beales ifl he could see the    resolution. Upon reading it, he asked Mr. Beales ift this was what was being referred to. He then assured Mr. Beales there were things being done that not many knew of, discussions being had, with decisions to be made, but pointed out that this would not be a quick process. Mr. Beales advised Mayor Starke that he was aware of banking thel laws, and that this was a foundational piece, if we are to move forward in this process. Mr. Beales was adamant in his request for the council to act upon this tonight. Councilman W.H. Coleman said there were two (2) hurdles to overcome first. One was to find someone (bank) who would want to come and then find a place to go. Vice Mayor Gill informed the council that Benchmark met with the county and they asked if they came to Boydton, would they inherit all the funds the County had and ifs so, they would come, but ifnot, they wouldn't. The Mayor stated that he'd heard the same thing, but he hadn't tverified it. Councilman W. H. Coleman stated that the bank will go on the market the day iti is closed, but it would more than likely be a stipulation that they would not sell to another bank. Councilman Bill Thompson reiterated that statement, except to say that it would possibly bei in effect for at least five (5) years. The Mayor advised he would follow-up with Kim King of] Benchmark to see if he could find out more information regarding this. After more discussion, Councilman Bill Thompson moved to adopt the resolution prepared by Mr. Beales with Councilman W.H. Coleman seconding There being no further comments or business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:28 P.M.  the motion. All remaining members voted in favor.  Shirley S. Bowen, MMC Clerk of Council & Treasurer January 16, 2024  Christopher D. Starke Mayor