1 2 3 4 5 6 Minutes ofthe New Market Town Council Meeting Monday, December 16th, 2024 6:30 pm The New Market Town Council met in the Council Chambers oft the ArthurL. 7 Hildreth, Jr. Municipal Building on Monday, December 16, 2024, with the following 8 members present: Mayor Larry Bompiani, Vice-Mayor Peggy Harkness, Bob King, Peter 9 Hughes, Janice Hannah, and Daryl Watkins. Council member Scott Wymer was absent. 12 quorum with 6 members present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited in unison. Mayor 10 11 14 16 17 19 unanimous 5-0 vote. 20 21 Mr. King 22 Mrs. Hannah 23 Mr. Hughes 24 25 26 Consent Agenda: 27 28 Mayor Bompiani called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. and established. a 13 Bompiani welcomed all visitors and guests. 15 Approval oft the Agenda: Mr. King moved to approve the agenda as presented. Mr. Hughes seconded 18 the motion. With no further discussion, the motion was carried out with a Aye Aye Aye Mrs. Harkness Mr. Watkins Aye Aye Mr. Watkins moved to approve the Consent Agenda which included the 29 minutes from the November 18th,2024, meeting oft the New Market Town Council, 30 November: 215,2024, Special Called Work Session oft thel New Market Town Council 31 and the financial statements for November 2024. 34 was carried out with a unanimous vote of5-0. 32 33 35 36 Mr. King 37 Mrs. Hannah 38 Mr. Hughes 39 40 Public Hearing: 41 Mrs. Harkness seconded the motion, with no further discussion, the motion Aye Aye Aye Mrs. Harkness Mr. Watkins Aye Aye 42 Mayor Bompiani gave Mr. Garrison the floor to give aj presentation on the FY24-25 43 Budget Amendment #1, to explain the needs for the proposed changes to the budget. Mr. 44 Garrison discussed the increases in both the general fund, and water/sewer fund. He 45 discussed the general fund revenue topics ofloan proceeds for the maintenance building, 46 and the equipment loan, funds for the new server, ARPA remaining funds, and the grant 47 funds for the New Market Community Center Planning Study. He reported on the general 48 fund expenses to include the reserves at the end oft the year, increases in employee 49 salaries/benefits, bank fees, contractual services and pool utilities. Mr. Garrison explained 3of66 50 the ARPA/Capital Outlay. He noted that all approved ARPA expenses were transferred to 51 the Capital Outlay line items. The proposed budget amendment reflects the South 52 Congress Street property purchase, along with the loan expenses, the completion ofthe 53 maintenance building, the portion for the police vehicle, the police equipment 54 installation, and the New Market Community Center Planning Study. He explained the 55 enterprise fund revenues oft the proposed budget amendment. The water meter fees 56 increased, the interest revenue on savings decreased, and the Capital Reserves included 57 for the Congress Street Sewer project. Mr. Garrison explained the Enterprise Fund 58 Expense changes in the proposed budget that include ai net increase in salaries and 59 benefits, a water plant utility increase, and that it reflects the increase in the contractual 60 services, postage, and bank fess to the projected annual costs. He also explained the 61 ARPA expenses that would be transferred to the capital outlay for the Congress Street 62 Sewer project. A copy ofN Mr. Garrison' s Power Point presentation will be on file with 65 Mayor Bompiani thanked Mr. Garrison for the presentation. He opened the public 66 hearing at 6:40 p.m, for public comment on the proposed FY24-25 Budget Amendment 67 #1. There were no citizen comments, and the Mayor closed the public hearing at 6:41 63 these minutes. 64 68 p.m, 69 71 72 70 Citizen Comments and Petitions: Fire ChiefJeffl Mongold presented the quarterly report for the New Market Fire 73 and Rescue Department. Fire ChiefN Mongold reported on the call volume for quarter. He 74 reported that they continue to do the duty nights on Fridays and have added random other 75 days during the week as schedules allow. They have increased membership by 7 between 76 October and November. He reported this has been a great year for membership. Out of 77 the 20 running members 17 oft the members are certified, while the other three are 78 working on becoming certified. They continue to attend the Chiefs and Captains meetings 79 and host their monthly bingo. Hei reported they there were 285 duty hours, 102 training 80 hours, and 100 fundraising hours. Fire ChiefMongold gave an overview of the events 81 held over the past quarter. He reported on a solar training course they attended with other 82 companies, and how important this was in reference to the new solar farm off Craney 83 Island Road and learning more about lithium battery storage. He reported that they were 84 happy tol have been able to donate the 2003 Ford ambulance, and equipment to the Unicoi 85 County EMS and worked with Hart's Towing as they donated their time to deliver the 86 ambulance. This was in response to devastating hurricane flood impacts to the area. Mr. 87 Watkins thanked the Fire and Rescue Department for doing the Santa visits with the fire 88 truck around the community. Mr. Hughes complimented Fire ChiefMongold on their 89 increase in the volunteer membership. Mr. Bompiani thanked them for their service and 90 the continued 91 92 Mrs. Karen Whetzel of9424 Shenandoah Drive thanked the council for their 93 service and staff for everything they do. She explained that the report last month on the 94 Community Center brought back al lot ofmemories and ençourage council to read her 95 articles in' The Chronicle about the Community Center. She gave a copy to the staffto 96 keep in hand at the office. She also brought an item that was created as a memorial oft the 97 Community Center to show. 98 4of66 99 101 102 Committee Reports: none 103 104 105 Staff Reports: 106 107 108 Mr. Sonny Mongold of 163 Shady Lane wanted to congratulate the Town on the 100 wonderful Christmas Parade, and that it was the biggest one we. have had in al long time. 1.E Public Works Department Monthly Report - Mr.J. D. Fadley Mr. Fadley gave a power point presentation. Mr. Fadley reported that the public 109 works department: repaired a meter box leak on 9597 Cadet Road and 9946 Pleasant View 110 Drive, and a water leak on a lateral at 9623 South Congress Street. For the collection 111 system they fixed sewer main blockages at 162 East Old Cross Roads, and 9504. John 112 Sevier Road. He reported they had ai total of315-man hours on Christmas decorations. 113 They continue to do their regular monthly maintenance items. For the water department 114 the DEQ permit testing was completed. They replaced a frequency drive pump at the 115 Campbell Pump station. They replaced a water meter at SVA well and converted the 116 lights in the water plant area to LED. Mrs. Hannah complimented the Christmas 117 decorations, and explained how much it means for our small town to bring suchj joy to the 118 community. Mrs. Harkness thanked them for their work on the decorations, and 119 explained how a volunteer overheard a child ask, 'Is this the North Pole?'. She explained 120 that the work that is done for the decorations really does make it feel magical for the 121 children. A copy oft the presentation is on file with the minutes. 122 123 124 125 2. Planning Department Monthly Report - Ms. Summer Barden Ms. Barden reported on two approved zoning permits for home additions 164 126 Early Street, and 9498 Cadet Road. There was also al home occupation permit approved at 127 9996 Pleasant View Drive for a nail salon. She followed up on Mr. Hughes inquiry from 128 the previous council meeting about the total ofi new homes built in 2024. She reported 129 that there were five. 130 131 132 3. Public Safety Monthly Report - Chief Chris Rinker ChiefRinker gave aj power point presentation. He reported there were 351 calls 133 for the month, and a total of3 3651 calls for the year, 165 extra patrols, and 10: foot patrols. 134 He reported on notable events and training that he and his officers attended. He reported 135 that Benelli completed the annual service and facility dog training at Mutts with a 136 Mission in Virginia Beach, A copy of the presentation is on file with the minutes. 137 138 139 140 4. Events & Marketing Monthly Report - Ms. Savannah Frazier Ms. Savannah Frazier presented a power point presentation. She reported on the 141 Tis the Season Celebration and Parade. She talked about the Shop Local Passport event, 142 and that there were more ornaments for sale. They wrapped up their holiday food drive 143 with Reunite the Light. She reported that there were 50 entries in the parade and thanked 144 the New Market Rotary for their support with the line up, and the Stonewall FFA for the 145 smores station. The Flashlight Candy Cane Hunt was cold but had a good turnout. She 146 thanked the Stonewall Cheer' Team and Interact Club for their help. She is currently 147 working on the details of the 2025 events schedule. Mayor Bompiani thanked the 5of66 148 volunteers and acknowledged how nice the parade was. A copy ofthej presentation is on 149 file with the minutes. 150 151 152 Action Items: 153 154 157 158 161 162 Mr. King 163 Mrs. Hannah 164 Mr. Hughes 165 166 167 The first action item was the discussion and consideration oft the FY 24-25 Budget 155 Amendment #1.The Mayor asked the council ift they had any questions about the 156 presented proposed FY24-25 Budget Amendment #1. Mr. Hughes moved to approve thel FY24-25 Budget Amendment #1 as 159 presented, and Mrs. Hannah seconded the motion. With no further discussion with 160 no further discussion, the motion was carried out with a unanimous vote of5-0. Aye Aye Aye Mrs. Harkness Mr. Watkins Aye Aye The second action item was the discussion and consideration oft the 168 implementation of the Credit Card Usage Policy. Mr. Garrison explained that the auditors 169 recommended that we have a credit card usage policy inj place. Although we have internal 170 procedures for credit card usage and how to document them, we didn'thave a written 171 policy ora way to enforce them. Mr. Hughes asked ift this reflects our normal procedures, 172 and ifthere have been any abuses oft this. Mr. Garrison explained that we have not had 173 any abuse of credit cards. There may be times where a receipt has been lost, but the 174 purchases are accounted for. 175 176 179 180 Mr. King 181 Mrs. Hannah 182 Mr. Hughes 183 184 185 Mrs. Harkness moved to approve the Credit Card Usage Policy as presented, 177 and Mr. Hughes seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the motion was 178 carried out with a unanimous vote of5-0. Aye Aye Aye Mrs. Harkness Mr. Watkins Aye Aye The third action item was the discussion and consideration oft the implementation 186 oft the Capital Asset Policy. Mr. Garrison explained this was another recommendation 187 from the auditors. He stated this isn'ta a new policy, but an amended one. Due to the rise 188 in the cost of capital expenditures, they suggested that the minimum cost to be tracked be 189 increased to $5,000 from $2,000. Mayor Bompiani thanked Mrs. Green, the Treasurer, 192 Mr. Hughes seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the motion was 190 forl her work. 191 194 195 Mr. King 196 Mrs. Hannah Mr. Watkins moved to approve the Capital Asset Policy as presented, and 193 carried out with a unanimous vote of 5-0. Aye Aye Mrs. Harkness Mr. Watkins Aye Aye 6of66 197 Mr. Hughes 198 199 200 Aye The fourth action item was the discussion and consideration ofthe appointments 201 to the Planning Commission. Mr. Garrison explained that there are terms for the Planning 202. Commission expiring this month. The nominated individuals currently serve on the 203 Planning Commission. The nominated individuals for reappointment are Sherri Erbaugh, 206 Sonny Mongold to the Planning Commission for another four-year term that will go 207 into effect on January 15,2025. Mr. Hughes seconded the motion. With no further 208 discussion, the motion was carried out with a unanimous vote of5-0. 204 Tom Linski,Jr., and Sonny Mongold. 205 Mrs. Hannah moved to reappoint Sherri Erbaugh, Tom Linski, Jr., and 209 210 Mr. King 211 Mrs. Hannah 212 Mr. Hughes 213 214 Aye Aye Aye Mrs. Harkness Mr. Watkins Aye Aye 215 The fifth action item was the discussion and consideration of the appointments to the 216 Historic Overlay District Board. Mr. Garrison explained that Mr. Larry Hale's term is set 217 toe expire at the end oft the month for the Historic Overlay District Review Board. He 218 explained that staff are looking for a motion to reappoint Mr. Larry Hale to another three- 221 District Review Board for another three-year term that will go into effect on 222 January 15t, 2025. Mr. King seconded the motion. With no further discussion, the 219 year term. 220 Mr. Hughes moved to reappoint Mr. Larry Hale to the Historic Overlay 223 motion was carried out with a unanimous vote of5-0. 224 225 Mr. King 226 Mrs. Hannah 227 Mr. Hughes 228 229 231 Aye Aye Aye Mrs. Harkness Mr. Watkins Aye Aye 230 Mayor's Comments: Mayor Bompiani read and presented. aj proclamation of acknowledgment and 232 appreciation for Valley Sports Çonnections', and Mrs. Cathy Wittig-Donald's 233 contributions to the economic stability, and growth ofthe' Town and serving the citizens 234 for the past 15 years. Mrs. Wittig-Donald accepted the proclamation, and plaque. She 235 thanked the' Town for all the support over the past 15 years, and hopes they continue to 236 support Valley Sports Connections in the years to come. 237 238 Mayor Bompiani read and presented a proclamation of acknowledgment and 239 appreciation for the New Market Exxon, and Mr. Walter Daniel, Jr.'s contributions to the 240 economic stability, and growth ofthe Town and serving the citizens for the past 65 years. 241 Mr. Daniel accepted the proclamation, and plaque. He stated that the Town has been 242 extremely good to them, and they hope they did the same. 243 244 Mayor Bompiani was humbled to have the ability to present aj proclamation for 245 Mr. Allen Johnson and the award he received for his service with the Merchant Marines 7of66 246 from 1944-1946. Mr. Johnson was unable to attend the meeting, but Vice Mayor 247 Harkness, and Mayor-Elect Mr. Peter Hughes will present this to him at his home. 249 As his Mayoral term comes to an end, Mayor Bompiani explained how appreciative he 250 has been ofhis time serving as Mayor, but looks forward to continuing being on council 251 asac council member. He thanked staff again for their support and all the work they do. 253 Mr. Hughes talked about the number of events that are put together by the staff, and 254 volunteers, and how much it is appreciated. He thanked Mayor Bompiani for his 257 All council members thanked Mayor Bompiani individually for his leadership and time 260 Mr. Garrison stated he is looking forward to the new year, and thanked Mr. Jason Ham 261 fork his continued guidance and support. Mr. Ham noted that he enjoys working with the 262 council, and they do a good. job of exemplifying how to get along even ifyoud don't 248 252 255 leadership during his terms as Mayor. 256 258 on council. 259 263 alwaysagree. 264 265 Council Comments: 266 267 268 Staff Comments: 269 270 271 Closed Session: none 272 273 274 275 Adjournment: 276 277 280 281 282 283 284 With no further business to discuss, at 7:30 p.m. Mrs. Harkness made a 278 motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Hughes seconded the motion, with no further 279 discussion the motion passed on a unanimous 5-0 voice vote. Peter GE Clerk B 8of66