January 6, 2025 Organizational and Council meeting minutes -1- TOWN OF ABINGDON ORGANIZATIONAL AND COUNCIL MIEETING MONDAYANUARY 6, 2025-6 6:30 pm COUNCIL CHAMBERS-MUNICIPAL BUILDING The meeting oft the Abingdon Town Council was held on Monday, January 6, 2025, at 6:30j pm in the Council Chambers oft the Municipal Building. A. WELCOME, ROLL CALL, ADMINISTRATION OF OATHS - Kim Kingsley, Clerk (VIDEO 7:18-8:19) Members of Council Present: Wayne Austin Donna Quetsch Derek Webb Vice Mayor Anderson Mayor Pillion B. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE D. Election of Mayor (VIDEO 9:45-10:54) C. Prayer Clerk Kim Kingsley announced the floor was open for nomination for the position of Nomination by Mrs. Pillion, seconded by Mrs. Quetsch, Dwyane. Anderson was nominated to serve as the Mayor of the Council. Hearing no further nominations for Mayor, the Clerk declared the floor closed. Mayor. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mr. Anderson Mrs. Pillion Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye The Clerk turned the meeting over to newly elected Mayor Anderson. ELECTION OF VICE MAYOR - Mayor Anderson declared the floor open for nomination for the position of Vice Mayor. (VIDE011:02-1136) Nomination by Mrs. Quetsch, seconded by Mr. Anderson, Wayne Austin was nominated to serve as the Vice Mayor of the Council. E. January 6, 2025 Organizational and Council meeting minutes -2- The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mayor Anderson Mrs. Pillion Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye F. Appointment ofTown Manager (VIDE01136-12.08) On nomination by Mr. Webb, seconded by Mr. Austin, appointed Mike Cochran as Town Manager. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye G. Appointment ofTown Treasurer (VIDEO 12:09-12:35) On nomination by Mrs. Quetsch, seconded by Mrs. Pillion, appointed Tammy Baldwin as Town Treasurer. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye H. Appointment ofTown Clerk (VIDEO 12:37-13:01) On nomination by Mr. Austin, seconded by Mr. Webb, appointed Kim Kingsley as Town Clerk. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Aye Aye Aye January 6, 2025 Organizational and Council meeting minutes -3- Mrs. Pillion Mayor. Anderson Aye Aye I. Appointment ofTown Attorney (VIDEO1 13:02-13:27) On nomination by Mrs. Pillion, seconded by Mrs. Quetsch, appointed Cameron Bell as Town Attorney. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Mayor. Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye J. Appointment of one member of the Council to the following boards, commissions On motion by Mrs. Quetsch, seconded by Mr. Austin, to convene in Closed Session, pursuant to the Code of Virginia, 1950, as amended, Section 2.2-3711(A)(1) for the purpose of considering applications for pantmeatrappalntment the and committees: (VIDE01329-33.14) position(s) on boards, commissions and committees. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye On motion of! Mr. Webb, and seconded by Vice Mayor Austin, reconvened in open session. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye January 6, 2025 Organizational and Council meeting minutes -4- Mr. Webb moved the Town Council certify, that in the closed session just conducted, nothing was discussed except the matter or matters (1) specifically identified in the motion to convene in closed session and (2) lawfully permitted be discussed under the provisions of the Virginia Freedom ofInformation Act cited in that motion. Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Mayor. Anderson Iso certify Iso certify Iso certify Iso certify Iso certify On motion of Mr. Webb, seconded by Mrs. Quetsch, made the following appointments: 1. Abingdon Planning Commission = Mr. Austin 2. Historic Preservation Review Board - Mrs. Pillion 3. Tree Commission - Mr. Webb 4. Sinking Spring Cemetery Committee - Mr. Austin 5. Mount Rogers Planning District Commission - Mrs. Quetsch 6. District' Three Governmental Cooperative - Mayor Anderson 7. Tourism Advisory Committee - Mrs. Quetsch 8. Recreation Advisory Commission - Mr. Webb 9. Infrastructure Advisory Committee - Mrs. Quetsch 10. Finance Committee- - Mayor Anderson and Mrs. Pillion 11.Abingdon Arts Committee - Mrs. Pillion 12. Veterans Advisory Board - Mrs. Pillion The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye January 6, 2025 Organizational and Council meeting minutes -5- REGULAR MEETING A. APPROVAL OF AGENDA (VIDE03321-3345) Oni motion by Mrs. Quetsch, seconded by Mrs. Pillion, approved the agenda as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye B. PUBLIC COMMENTS C.A APPROVAL OF MINUTES (VIDEO 34:09-34:39) December 2, 2024 meeting On motion by Mr. Webb, seconded by Vice Mayor Austin, approved the December2, 2024 minutes as presented. The roll call vote was as follows: Mr. Austin Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye D. PROCLAMATIONS E. PUBLIC HEARINGS (VIDEO 34:45-1 1:06:43) 1. Proposed Special Use Permit for an. Adult Recreational Substance retail business at 827 Cummings Street ini the General Business District (B-2). Senior Planner Gabe Cristofari informed the Council that. Adam Woodson, applicant, and Jim &. Jim, LLC, the property owner, had requested approval ofa Special Use Permit to operate an adult recreational substance business at 827 Cummings Street. The proposed property is within the General Business District (B-2) and requires a Special Use Permit before completion, along with meeting other requirements as outlined by Mr. Cristofari. Mr. Cristofari explained the Planning Commission denied the Special Use Permit due to the proximity ofthe proposed location to the residential area and the public comments received January 6, 2025 Organizational and Council meeting minutes -6- during the Planning Commission's. January 6, 2025 meeting. Counsel Cameron Bell noted the technical reasoning behind the decision, emphasizing that the applicant must demonstrate that thel business would not cause undue adverse impacts ont thes surrounding neighborhood.in terms of public health, safety or general welfare, as well as outlined measures to achieve such Mayor Anderson opened the public hearing. Adam Woodson and Christie Parker spoke during the public hearing. Hearing no further comments, Mayor Anderson closed the public standards. hearing. F. RESOLUTIONS 1. Resolution regarding Special Use Permit for an Adult Recreational Substance business at the property 827 Cummings Street in the General Business District (B-2). (VIDEO 1:06:48-1 1:11:28) On motion of Mrs. Quetsch, seconded by Mr. Webb, denied the Special Use Permit based on the same reasoning as the Planning Commission's due diligence. Mr. Webb asked Counsel Cameron Bell ift the Council has ever, gone against the Planning Commission's guidance. He clarified that his position was not against the business model but just cannot go against the Planning Commission's decision. The roll call vote was as follows: Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Vice Mayor Austin Mayor. Anderson (VIDEO 1:11:28-1 1:14:25) Aye Aye Aye Aye Abstained (adjoining property owner) 2. Resolution authorizing the Town Manager to dispose of certain personal property Assistant Director of Public Works Matt Henderson presented the Council with information about personal property deemed no longer necessary, useful, or ini the best interests of the' Town. Hei requested authorization for the Town Manger to dispose of] listed personal property through public surplus. On motion of Vice Mayor Austin, seconded by Mr. Webb, to authorize the Town Manager, Director of] Public Works and Assistant Director of Public Works to dispose of the public property which is listed in the Council packet. The roll call vote was as follows: January 6, 2025 Organizational and Council meeting minutes -7- Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Vice Mayor Austin Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye G. FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES H. SECOND READING OF ORDINANCES CONSIDERATION OF ANY BIDS 1:14:38-1:18:59) 1. Consideration of award for commercial community kitchen construction - (VIDEO Assistant Director of Public Works Matt Henderson announced that he Town has received a $500,000 grant to develop a commercial kitchen. The project aims to support business incubation from the farmers market, provide resources for catering companies, encourage food trucks, and enable the adjacent senior center toj produce their goods in a commercial environment. Mr. Henderson stated he received two proposals for the project, with the primary difference being travel costs. He recommended that the Council award the contract to Appalachian Contracting Company. In response to Mayor Anderson's inquiry, Mr. Henderson confirmed that the Town had previously worked with Appalachian Contracting and found their work to be satisfactory. On motion of Mrs. Pillion, seconded by Mr. Webb, to award the bid to Appalachian Contracting Company. The roll call vote was as follows: Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Vice Mayor Austin Mayor. Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye 2. Consideration of award for wayfinding signage construction (VIDEO 1:18:59-1:26:44) Assistant Director of Public Works Matt Henderson informed the Council that the Town's budget for the wayfinding signage project was $350,000, which falls short of the three proposals received. Mr. Henderson explained that staff selected Jerry's Signs, a local company, as the preferred vendor, citing the advantage of mobilization not being a factor. He suggested that the Town staff could handle portions of the work, such as setting posts, while Jerry's Signs focused on the design. January 6, 2025 Organizational and Council meeting minutes -8- Vice Mayor Austin expressed his concern about allocating $350,000 for what he described as a $1,000,000 project. Town Manager Mike Cochran responded by stating the Town would explore additional funding options and suggested further discussions with Jerry's Signs. Vice Mayor Austin requested detailed costs estimates before the Council moved forward with approval. Discussion ensued. On motion of Mr. Austin, seconded by Mr. Webb, to table the discussion until The determination ofwhat we can get for $350,000. The roll call vote was as follows: Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Vice Mayor Austin Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye J. NEW BUSINESS K. OLD BUSINESS MANAGER L. MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATION FROM TOWN 1.Consideration of Banner Display Permit for Appalachian Peace Education Center (VIDEO On motion by Mrs. Quetsch, seconded by Mr. Webb, to approve the banner 1:27:02 - 1:28:22) display permit for Appalachian Peace Education Center. The roll call vote was as follows: Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Vice Mayor. Austin Mayor Anderson (VIDEO 1:28:36-1 1:29:48) Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye Town Manager Mike Cochran conveyed that a small working group met, and thel National Park Service will be the official spokesperson for the hurricane relief effort, and he will keep Council updated. January 6, 2025 Organizational and Council meeting minutes -9- M. COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS (VIDEO 1:29:51-1:32:36) Mrs. Quetsch shared that former Mayor Wayne Craig passed on December 2nd and a lovely memorial service was held on December 12th. Mrs. Pillion reminded everyone of the January Jams. Mayor Anderson thanked the public works department for keeping the roads clear and the N. APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMITTEES (VIDEO . 1:32:36-1 1:33:47) Coomes Recreation Center for doing a wonderful job. Sinking Spring Cemetery Committee Economic Development Authority Reappointment of] Donnamarie Emmert, who is eligible to serve an additional term -Appointment to fill the vacancy ofCharlie Fugate Tree Commission Reappointment of Stuart Hale, who is eligible to serve an additional term On motion of Mr. Webb, seconded by Vice Mayor Austin, reappoint Donnamarie Emmert to Sinking Spring Cemetery for an additional term; appointment of Kelly West to fill the vacancy of Charlie Fugate on the Economic Development Authority; and Stuart Halei for an additional term of the' Tree Commission. The roll call vote was as follows: Mrs. Quetsch Mr. Webb Mrs. Pillion Vice Mayor Austin Mayor Anderson Aye Aye Aye Aye Aye O. CLOSED SESSION Mayor Dwyane Anderson Ew K4