We'll bring this January 2nd, 2024 meeting of the Ashland Town Council to order. I'll explain a little bit of why this meeting may seem a little bit different to those watching at home and in the audience today is our organizational meeting for the town council. What that means is this is the meeting where they select amongst themselves, the mayor, and vice mayor, and for that purpose, I'll be running the meeting until we select a mayor and go through the typical process that everyone would be used to if you've watched a national and town council meeting. So go ahead and we'll start with with a moment of silence and unlike our mayor, I have not had the chance to think of a very nice thing for us to think about during that moment of silence. So I would just say since it's a new year, let's think about new beginnings and new opportunities for a moment. You're here. Thank you. Mr. Hodges, would you mind leading us in the Pledge of Lead? As you're able, please stand and join me in the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice from. Now we'll move on to the announcement of Council Business. As I said, this is a little bit of a different meeting, so I'll run through it so you have an understanding. The first thing we'll do is have the administration of the Oath of Office for Mr. Trivette, Ms. Barnhart, and Ms. Soapal, and that will be done by the honorable Frank Hargrove, the Circuit Court. We'll then move on to presentation of certificates, which maybe we don't have those or we do I Have those you have those great good there And then we'll move to the election of officers starting with the mayor and then the vice mayor That's what we'll pass it off to whoever becomes the mayor and they will then lead the meeting after that Whoever is the mayor will make appointments to the various committees listed here and For the public's information, that is essentially assigning council members to serve as a liaison to various regional bodies or even our local committees, like the Planning Commission, the Parks and Rec Committee, or the Economic Development Authority. After that, we have the consent agenda. And on the consent agenda, we have minutes from the last meeting, a few invoices. We have a setting of the town council meeting calendar for 2024. We do have two of those dates that are off the typical schedule, so it will be important to pay attention to those. Then we have a referral of CUP 23-122O Cally Commons, and that's a conditional use permit. Then we have two proclamations, one honoring the service of Parks and Recreation Committee Member Rob Dull, and then a second honoring the service of Parks and Recreation Committee Member Judith McKinney. And then finally, on the consent agenda, the 2023 Personal Property Tax Relief Act percentage certification. Then we'll move on to citizen input, which is a time where any citizen or anyone may come forward and speak to council on anything that is not on the agenda tonight for a public hearing, which is just about everything. And then we'll have reports, council member reports, mayor's report, public works report, and then my report to end the evening. Is there consent among council to adopt the agenda? Yes. Yes. Thank you. And I'm going to go slightly off script and probably should have added this, But I do want to introduce a new space on the dius for those watching at home and new to the building here. Mr. Andrew McRoberts is with Sans Anderson and is going to be representing the town as legal counsel moving forward. Do you want to just say no or say anything? Thank you very much. Very good, thank you. Very heavy and very nice great with that we will move down to the administration of the oath of office so we would ask mr. Trevette ms barnheart ms. so Paul to step down to the dice. So Paul, you're the first. So let's see. I think you're going to take a picture. I'm going to take some photos. Yes, sir. Okay, so face me. Let's see if you want to have a panel in the back. I think the flag will be a wonderful flag. So if you kind of face me straight up. Should I move the flag? Is it a little bit left? It's a picture. I'll raise your right hand. The panel will sit up all. You're solidly squared. You will and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. And the Joffa-Leyton portion we discharge all the babies in California as a member of the National Cal Council for a term law that began in Virginia at verse 24, and then even December atst, 2027. And according to the investment you will build at the self-taught, I will give you a picture and sign your own name. You can just, if there's an error, we'll fix it. Thank you very much. I'll get you to step over where Ms. Barnard was. Thank you. Any more? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions? Any further questions We're adjourned, may the time be on January 1, 2024. And any on December 31, 2027, according to the bus through the bill, please help me out. Good. Thank you. Sign here, neighbor. Okay. Stephen, I wrote the school bus together right in 1962. You see, of course, you know, if I couldn't see it, I'd have to stay in the mean. Yeah, I didn't bring a. She was always nice with us. I'm a little older. Oh, people. Stephen, I'll be here. You saw what's made of the first four constitution in the United States in the Constitution of the Capitol of the J.A. The children of faith were unfortunately destroyed at all the ways to help them find you. As a member of the action panel council, we're adjourned in January 1, 2024, and December 3, 2021. According to the best year bill in the East helping bill, I don't know. Good. Thank you. Excuse me. Thank you. Thank you. Here. All right. All right. Good to see you. Thank you. Yeah, congratulations. Appreciate it. Could I get a proof photo of the three of you? Otherwise, Marko would not be pleased with me. Yeah. One, two, three. One, two. Thank you very much. And I have your certificates. Oh, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you One, two, three, one, two, thank you very much. And I have your certificates. I am just the delivery. Thank you very much. All right. We are now at the portion of the agenda for the election of officers and we will start with the mayor. So I will ask are there any nominations for the position of mayor? Yes, I move for the appointment of Stephen P. Trivet as mayor of the town of Ashland. Are there any other nominations? I move to close nominations. Thank you, sir. Is there a second for that? I second. Vice Mayor Hodges. Aye. Mr. Soapal. Aye. Ms. Barnhart. Aye. Dr. McGraw. Aye. Mayor Hodges. Aye. Miss Soapal. Aye. Miss Barnhart. Aye. Dr. McGraw. Aye. Mayor Trevett. And now, so we have actually have the official vote, is there a motion to appoint Mayor Trevett now that he is the only nominee or Mr. Trevett? So moved. Is there a second? Aye. Second. Miss Soapal. Aye. Miss Barnhart. I Dr. McGraw. I vice mayor Hodges. I Thank you very much Thank you very much Sononner welcome. I appreciate What move all deserve very well deservedly. I'll move on. For the office of Vice Mayor. Yes I would like to make a nomination please. It's my honor to nominate John Hodges as Vice Mayor for the Ashland Town Council. Is that a second? I second. Well, we're not. This is appointment phase. We're not. Yeah, so nomination. That's just a nomination. There's there's no voting on the nominate on the nominees. It's just voting on. Yeah, right. So I moved to close nominations. I good deal your head. It's a lot to learn. And I second that. If we need to second that. Yes. Dr. McGraw. Aye. Ms. Barnhart. Aye. Ms. Soapall. Aye. Vice Mayor Hodges. Aye. Mayor Chavette. Aye. For the record, there is no vice mayor at this point. Am I correct? Correct. Councilor Mayor Hodges. Aye. Okay. Dominations, that's done? That's for the nominations. Okay. I move to a point, John Hodges as the vice mayor. I second it. Ms. Barnhart. I. Ms. Soapall. I. Vice mayor Hodges I Dr. McGraw I may your trivet All right now we'll kind of bring it back to the Similar resemblance of our usual meeting and back to the similar resemblance of our usual meeting. And obviously, we want to welcome Ms. Pam Soapall. I mean, we've had the ceremony. She's gotten the certificate and done the oath, but at the same time, it's an honor to have you and a pleasure to have you up here as part of the team. And I know we're looking forward to four years. And who knows what after that, of the five of us can do for the town of Ashland, so I'm honored to be here. All right. All right, so at this point, we have a number of appointments to consider, to cover liaisons and to various town bodies as well as regional governments. And so I will do them in the order of what they are on the agenda. All right. So for a planned RVA representative, Dr. McGraw, alternate, Mr. Trivet, Richmond Transportation Planning Organization, Representative Vice Mayor Hodges, and alternate Miss Barnhart, Central Virginia Transportation Authority, Representative Vice Mayor Hodges, and alternate Dr. McGraw. Hannah McKowney-Leeon, Vice Mayor Hodges, and Mr. Trevett, Ashland Planning Commission Leaison, Ms. Barnhart, Board of Zoning Appeals, Leaison, Ms. Soapall, Economic Development Authority, Leaison, Dr. McGrath, Parks and Recreation Committee, Leaison, Ms. Barnhart, authority liaison Dr. McGraw parks and recreation committee liaison Miss Barnhart public arts commission liaison Miss Barnhart market Ashland partnership liaison Miss Soapall downtown Ashland Association ex officio board member Miss Soapall rent offolph-Macon College liaison, Vice-Minor Hodges, Mr. Trevet, Ashland Theater liaison, Dr. McGraw, Richmond Region Tourism liaison, Mr. Trevet, Central Virginia Waste Management Authority, Representative Citizen, Mr. Steve Chidsey, and alternate staff member, Mr. Jennifer Shontag, Richmond Transportation Planning Organization, Technical Advisory Committee, Representative of our Planning Director, Ms. Amos, and alternate staff member, Ms. Raglan, Central Virginia Transportation Authority, Technical Advisory Committee, Representative, Planning Director, Miss Amos, and alternate again, Miss Raglan. The TPO, or Community Transportation Advisory Committee, Representative, Mr. Charlie Martin, and alternate, Mr. Don Root. So we have a number of citizens who are serving the town in that way, and we have our liaisons for responsibilities as council members. Is there consensus for these appointments? Yes. Yes, there is. I just want one point of addition, if we will. Brent Chambers is our current citizen representative for plan RVA. I'm assuming he's still going to remain on. Because we got one exit representative. So just point of reference for people, just so that people in the audience understand. Sometimes there's alternates on here, sometimes there's not. But it's because there's regional bodies that we have to declare who are representative and our alternate is. We can't just willingly choose somebody to represent us sometimes and other times we can depending on And we grew in our numbers so plan our VA gave us that extra position last year and Brent Chambers was appointed now just okay. I just wanted to make sure and I appreciate it consensus for that addition. Yes. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Sorry. I should have talked to you earlier Oh, that's all right. I'm going by the old record and things do change. So appreciate that and thanks for everybody for the willingness to serve for individuals if you've had a change in what you've been doing and from a soap all stepping into this role and you're not stepping in cold because you've been attending meetings anyway. But for individuals who are alternates, it's probably a good idea to try to set up a meeting sometime in the near future to talk to the representative to get an idea of the time, the scheduling, and the nature of the meetings and responsibilities. So I would just suggest that and take that suggestion for myself as well. Mr. Mayor, if I may. And just so, especially for Mr. Paul's information, we are also gonna make sure we let all the organizations know who the representative is and the staff person, whether it be for a town staffed committee, we'll reach out to the individual or if it's plan RVA or whatever you may be appointed to at the regional body, they'll reach out the staff of that particular organization. So keep an eye on your email because soon as they find out, I am confident they will reach out quickly. Yes, indeed. And I do want to say that the citizens named, they were asked in advance if they were willing to continue to serve. So we thank them for doing that. All right. That brings us to the consent agenda. Yes, sir. Mr. Mayor. I had a question, and I hate to throw this at the attorney without raising it. I was not here for the December 19th was out of the country with family. My intent would be to abstain from voting for those, although I support the rest of the consent agenda. Should I ask for the consent agenda to be removed from, or excuse me, the minutes to be removed from the consent agenda? I think you can take the consent agenda in two motions. We want to approve the item in question and the other to approve the rest of the agenda. I defer to the mayor on it. Makes makes good sense to me. All right. So the consent agenda has already been presented by our town manager. In the matter of change we did add an invoice item I guess today. So I just want to make note for anyone who may have looked at the agenda online item one in the invoices as project home's home revitalization American Rescue Plan Act funded $71,116. The second one was sand-of-all custom creations, law enforcement technology, and that's a DCJS. I guess that's a Department of Criminal Justice Services, yes sir. All right, and that's ARPA funded as well, $82,775, and we've added a third one today, hand over a King William Habitat for Humanity. And this is another American Rescue Plan Act, Arpa funded community grant issuance to assist with development on Arlington Street for $32,500. So we have that in our consent agenda for invoices. We have set in the town council meeting for the 24 calendar year of referral, cup 23-1220 cally commons, proclamations honoring the service of parks, the service two parks and rec committee for member Robert doll who's been on that, serving and the staff members of the staff members Relief Act included in the consent agenda. So we'll take those items separately and then follow that with the potential for a motion concerning the minutes. So is there a motion or questions for the consent agenda as red minus item A? I move we accept the consent agenda as amended and pay the bill. There you go. Nice second. All right. There was a second. Do you second? Yes I did. Okay, very well. Thanks Mayor Hodges. Aye. Ms. Barnhart. Aye. Ms. Soapall. Aye. Dr. McGraw. Aye. Mayor Trevette. Aye. All right. Aye. Ms. Soapall. Aye. Dr. McGraw. Aye. May I have a trivet? Aye. All right. Thank you all. All right. And now we have the minutes for the December 19th, 2023 town council meeting. Any questions, comments or is there a motion for approval of those minutes? I move to approve the minute. To approve the minutes as presented. Nice second. All right. approve the minute to approve the minutes as presented. Nice second. Miss Opal. Aye. This barnheart. Aye. Vice Mayor Hodges. Abstain. Dr. McGraw. Aye. Mayor Trevet. Aye. All right. Thank you. All right. That brings us to citizen input time and just invite anyone who'd like to come forward and speak to council on any matter to come up at this time and just invite anyone who would like to come forward and speak to council on any matter to come up at this time and just identify yourself by name and address. We have a illustrious guest here with us. No we have our former council member for a number of years and former vice mayor and mayor, Dr. George Spagna and the Mrs. here with us tonight. So thank you all for being here. Another former council member, Ms. Terry Abrey with us tonight. Thank you for being here, Ms. Brey. And we have a new member to Ashland's Parks and Ruck Committee, Ms. Joyce Smith. Sorry. No offense to having the honorable members of the National Police Department at our Director of Public Works. We just wanted to make mention of those guests here. And seeing no one coming forward to speak, we'll close it as an input time and move forward with our reports. Council member reports, we generally start on the right there. Mr. Martin. OK. Well, I'd like to begin with the theater and thank you very much for everyone who made the 2023 season such a success. It was a great year for the theater across the board and they are planning a fundraiser on Sunday March 3rd you can we see some more information about that. Park and Rex will meet next week we'll be swearing in two members and getting started with some of the projects that will be, I think, very exciting for our community. And then finally, I just attended a secretariat update meeting today. They are planning on a March 30. I guess celebration, trying to figure out some of the last minute details about, you know, the color of the granite and those kind of fun things because they just want to do it right and they want it to be perfect. So hopefully March 30, we will see our Secretary statue here downtown Ashley. Thank you. All right, thank you very much. Mr. Vice-Mayer. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Tended the December Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization meeting. It was reported that the Commonwealth Transportation Board adopted policies for smart scale around six for transportation funding, including several recommendations that were raised by regional bodies. that were raised by regional bodies, it was a split vote by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, but we were successful in not limiting the number of applications that gets submitted by region, which was the recommendation of the staff. Also in the meeting, Ms. Patricia Page of New Kent County had been recently passed away. She was a long time member of that body and was honored for her successful long-term advocacy of the widening of I-64, which is now under construction due significantly to her efforts. And later that week, with other representatives of the Richmond Regional Transportation Planning Organization, I attended Miss Page Funeral at the New Kent County High School. Other things that occurred in December assisted the mayor and staff and interviewing candidates to fill the economic development authority vacancy. Unfortunately, I had to miss Miss Abbott's last meeting in December due to a family trip out of the country for the holidays. I would offer my sincere thanks to Miss Abbott for her wonderful service and to her service to the town and wish her best in her future endeavors. Thank you. You're here. Thank you. Dr. McGraw. I attended the Plan RVA social for newly elected and elected officials along with many of you as well. We got our new headshots in. That was fun. You kind of jumped the gun with me with Patricia page, but I do want to add a little more to that. I've asked that our manager draft a letter, or I assist with drafting that letter after Plan RVA writes one. Plan RVA voted to draft a letter for the region asking V. to name a portion of that widened 64 in honor of Patricia Page because it would not be widened without her. She's the one who was the the lone horse, if you will, at every meeting saying this has to happen and she got to see it, the vote go through that says it's going to happen. But unfortunately she's not going to see it happen. And so we think that in honor of that, she'll be written, then Planner Vee asked each jurisdiction, if they would also write a letter, because we just feel like numbers and numbers and repetition. Sometimes people forget, sometimes people lose sight of things. And so if there's one month, it's Planner Vee, another month is town of Ashland, one month it's Hanover, it's so forth. So I just hope you'll see that in the consent agenda going forward, I mean, unless you think differently, but I'm pretty sure the consent would be true for all. And then I just want to share something of enlightenment for me anyway. If you're looking to get a little bit more optimistic about human nature, our condition, and the future of our nation, then I want to invite all of you to go on free-v, free if you have electricity. I understand you have to have certain things, but free-v is a app that is joined with Prime Video and they've created a series called Jury Duty. Jury Duty is a, it's kind of like the Truman show. They set this guy up to be the only person who's really the person in the story. And it's a 16-week endeavor. And everyone else in the show is an actor, except for this one person. And each show is 40 minutes long. And the entire series is eight episodes. I'm telling you it will warm your heart, but have tissues ready for that last episode. And that concludes my report. Very interesting. Councillor Wilmer-Sopal. Yes. I'm Pamela Soapal for those of you at home. Thank you for electing me to serve. I also attended the Plan RVA reception as Council Member Elect, and it was very wonderful to get to meet elected officials from all over. I also enjoyed the holiday events here in town and the decorations of volunteer at light up the tracks, the Ashland Christmas Market, and of volunteered as a greeter for the Christmas Carolers. That was lots of fun. Thank you. Excellent. Thank you. Mayor's report. I do want to mention that we have Virginia Municipal League has elected officials conference this Friday. I know I think three of us are going if others are interested in available. Let me know and be a good opportunity just to refresh skills, learn some new ones, and also get a little preview of the General Assembly session that's coming up, so looking forward to that. And I had opportunity just to say a few words by way of the talk of the town. And I took opportunity to do something that I should have done maybe a month or so ago. I was asked to, but I had an email from an individual who rides the rails to Ashland, a past member of Randolph-Making Class of 66, and he was talking about how an employee with Amtrak welcomes people to Ashland and tells them in advance on the train to let the passengers know were coming up on the town of Ashland, and he mentions to them, Randolph-Macon College. Well, this individual, Mike, who sent me the email originally, he's in Florida, but travel's back to Randolph-Macon pretty frequently. He and five other couples came to the homecoming, the most recent Randolph-Macon homecoming, the most recent rent off making homecoming. But the individual that he was referring to that works for Amtrak, his first name is Ernest. I won't give his last name. I haven't asked his permission, but Ernest said, yes, they all enjoy it. The passengers do and that he and the employees wanted the talent to know that they say thank you for the lights, that the they say thank you for the lights. The original idea for light up the tracks was that it would be a warm welcome, like a living Christmas card to Amtrak. So I just wanted to say that by way of Ernest, mission accomplished. And not just the light up the tracks, but he says, during the year, the festivals, just the charm and the look of the town that is always a welcoming place, and they take note of it. And so, again, mission accomplished, not just by organizations, but just by the citizens themselves in supporting things and being out there to let the town shine as best it can. So anyway, I wanted to share that. I was asked to a while back and I did share it, maybe with an organization or two, but wanted to do that publicly and let council know. I had the opportunity to attend the Plan RVA reception as well and it was a great time talking to individuals from across the region and you can see how much it matters that we can get to know people and express ourselves and look for allegions and corporations. And then the same thing with the rich and region tourism have a similar function, not long after that. So anyway, thanks to everyone for the work that you're doing and full speed ahead. I'll stop the mayor's report at that time and turn it to public works report from Mr. Jennings. Welcome, sir. time and turn it to public works report from Mr. Jennings. Welcome, sir. Thank you, Mayor. Good evening, members of town council. The public works report for December's in your packet, but I'll hide a few things going on. Town crews completed the official ending of our leaf vacuuming program going through all three zones around town for the second time. Which of course I say official ending because you know we're always picking up leaves and there's still more piles out there so we'll get them as needed. So Stormwater Arena, the Swany Road or Swany Drive, BMP, the drainage improvement project still going on by Italian Armstrong, our contractor is still working on that project. Staff also reviewed the 70% plans for our Stoney Run, Stream Restoration Project. That's the portion of Stoney Run that runs long-leab in the between Hanover and the Jarnit Park. That was designed by one of our on-call engineers, Timon's Groups. So we've reviewed those and we get that project going soon. DEQ, or the Department of Environmental Quality also reviewed our MS4, our Municipal Separate Stormsour system report, our annual report, and found that it was complete and technically solid, so we're good to go. They didn't need any additional information or any changes or any work needed. The sidewalk easement needed for the Maple Street sidewalk project, the project that goes between Murdo Street and McMurdo Street was a prodigy or last meeting on the 19th. So right now we're scheduled to go to construction sometime this month, either mid to late January. The 100% plans for the PIDs, the passenger information display system for our visitor center here have been reviewed. So we just need CSX buy-in, and then they will, excuse me, they'll solicit bids for construction, award the contract, and finalize the schedule, but it's expected to go to construction mid spring, mid spring to spring, so in 2024. So more and more progress, we're getting there. So another big project, the Fallline Trail, the spring so in 2024 so more and more progress we're getting there so another big project the fall line trail the northern section to complete I mean to connect the boardwalk section that we finished in 2021 is that the 90% plan phase the town's also working with V.I. to review multi-use multi-use trail easement because they're actually going to maintain the new portion, the portion south of the boardwalk. So I expect to bring that to you all. It's all the next meeting on the January 16th. So in construction for that project, I expect to go, expect it to go from spring of this year through spring of 2025. So we're moving forward. So and with that, I'd be happy to answer any questions. Any questions, comments? Yes sir. I was going to commend public work staff for their wonderful work with the leaves. Even today there were piles of leaves on our street and by midday they were gone and I think you all did a terrific job. I did have a question. The 70% plans for Stony Run are they publicly available to the folks in that area where the improvements? They haven't seen where they're aware of the improvements. We've met with all the neighbors. We're getting some eas they're aware of the improvements we've met with all the neighbors they're we're getting some easements from some of the backs of those properties there but they haven't actually seen the 70% plans they could if they wanted to. They're publicly available. Yeah they could be publicly available yes sir. There was some interest in the past so. Oh yes yes yeah we've been working with the neighbors along the way so that's great great. Thank you, sir. Good to you. Yes, sir. I got two points, and I keep forgetting the name of the street. So I'm going to ask the manager to help me with it. Had a citizen call concerned about trash on one of the streets, it's over by cookout where that light is. How does green? Cottage green, I'm sorry, sorry. And it was taking, I went out that very day, picked up some trash. I didn't, it didn't seem like an excesses of amount, but it was not pleasant. And within the next day, the town took care of it. It was great. Public works took care of it. It was great. The citizen called me right away. So I never called the think the town. That was just wonderful and it was beautiful and it was beautiful and I was just curious has there been any discussion about ways to make that, continue to stay clean and by way of doing that I mean is there a discussion about putting a trash can strategically or working with the property owner to make sure that any wind that might be blowing, you know, that's pushing trash along the woodlands and getting caught kind of like a fish net if you will. I just didn't know if there was any plans for that. At this point we didn't have any plans. We just regularly go through there to clean it up. But you're right, some of the businesses along there unfortunately generate trash and sometimes the wind does move them around. We can talk to some of the businesses see if they can help us out. I appreciate it. Honestly I'm not asking if nothing moves beyond. I'm just giving you a data point or a datum point. And another datum point that I wanted to give is as I was leaving here after my meeting with Justin and Anita, I turned left to Hanover and there were people using the loading zone properly. It was three vehicles, but there was a fourth vehicle behind them that was not sure what was going on and stayed there for about 30 seconds before going around them, which there's no need to go around them because the road goes around them. So I just thought I'd just put that data point out there. There still might be some people confused about what a loading zone looks like and I don't know why, but it has the stripes and I know what a loading zone looks like and it's striped for that reason. But anyway, it's just a data point because I don't know if more and more things will happen and I don't want to just drive by something and not say something that's all. Thank you, Dr. Murrell. All right. I'm not going to read the whole thing but just to vice mayor's point and looking at your report. You know, I know people frequently praise public works in other departments as well but reading in your report streets sweeping 307 lane miles brush collection 96 loads that's 172 hours leaf collection 33 loads 89 bags 209 hours and that's just part roadside trash collection 42 hours so