REGULAR MEETING OF THE FARMVILLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON AUGUST 8, 2018

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1 REGULAR MEETING OF THE FARMVILLE TOWN COUNCIL HELD ON AUGUST 8, 2018 Mayor Whitus called to order the regular meeting of the Farmville Town Council held on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chamber of the Town Hall, located at 116 North Main Street, Farmville, Virginia. Mayor Whitus set aside the agenda for a presentation by the Farmville Lions Club. Council member, Mr. Greg Cole as President of the Farmville Lions Club, presented the Town of Farmville with a check for $65,000 for the purchase of new playground equipment, which will be installed at a new play area at Wilck s Lake. Mr. Cole stated the Farmville Lions Club raised $32,500 and received a matching grant of $32,500 from the Virginia Foundation Lions Club. The $65,000 will cover the cost of the equipment. Mr. Cole spoke briefly on the Farmville Lions Club history and the club s strong community involvement. He said the Farmville Lions Club was established 95 years ago and was the fourth civic club formed in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. Cole spoke of the instrumental role that Dr. Jarmon played in getting the club started. He mentioned the Farmville Lions Club assistance with the Hotel Weyanoke being built and getting the hospital started. Mr. Spates thanked the Farmville Lions Club and Mr. Cole for his hard work. He said the $65,000 donation is the largest single donation from a civic organization that the Town of Farmville has received. The meeting returned to the regular order of business. The roll was called by the Town Clerk. There present were Mayor D.E. Whitus, presiding and Council members D.E. Dwyer, B.R. Vincent, T.M. Pairet, A.D. Reid, J.J. Davis and G.C. Cole. Council member D.L. Hunter was absent. Staff present was Town Manager, Gerald Spates; Town Attorney, Gary Elder; Chief of Police, Andy Ellington; Town Treasurer, Carol Anne Seal; Assistant Town Manager, C. Scott Davis; Administrative Assistant, Jackie Vaughan and Town Clerk, Lisa Hricko. Reverend Mark Bartow, Associate Pastor of New Life Church, gave the invocation; and Vice Mayor Reid led the Pledge of Allegiance. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Mr. Bill Firth addressed Council. Mr. Firth expressed concerns with motorist speeding on West Osborn Road. He described West Osborn Road being used as a cut through for motorist to get to Route 45. He said it s a residential area and the houses are close to the road. The speed limit

2 is 25 mph and the vehicles travel much faster than the posted speed limit. He stated the enforcement efforts are inadequate and asked that they be increased. Chief Ellington stated that several weeks ago he had received a letter from Mr. Firth and the Police Department had installed a radar box on Osborn Road, along with additional patrols. Chief Ellington stated a report was provided to the Town Manager and Mr. Firth. He added that after speaking with Mr. Firth, he understands that the radar box needed to be placed further down the road. He said once the radar box is moved from its current location, it will be moved back to Osborn Road. He assured Mr. Firth that patrols have been increased and they will continue to monitor the situation. Ms. Jen Cox, Director of Local and Community Relations addressed Council. Ms. Cox shared with Council important dates for Longwood s Fall 2018 sesmester. Included in the report were: August 16 first-year students move in, August 18 upperclassmen arrive and August 20 classes begin. Ms. Cox thanked the town for its help with the new academic building and the admission building site. She expressed appreciation to the Town Manager and Director of Public Works, on behalf of the university, for their assistance with the street closures and utility work on both projects Mr. Adam Yoelin, a resident of Farmville addressed Council on the Martin project. Mr. Yoelin stated he was not present at the Council meeting when Council acted on the Martin s request for a conditional use permit. Mr. Yoelin thanked Council for the time and consideration in making their decision. He assured Council that it was not his intent, nor that of others, to stand in anyone s way. He said that they are just trying to come together as a community and work it out as a community. He thanked Council for their thoughtful consideration. REQUEST APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA On motion by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Dwyer and with all Council members voting aye, the motion was granted to approve the consent agenda as presented. The consent agenda included the draft minutes of the July 11, 2018, regular Council meeting. REQUEST APPROVAL OF THE TREASURER S REPORT On motion by Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Davis and with all Council members voting aye, the motion was granted to approve the Treasurer s Report as presented. BACKGROUND: Mrs. Seal, Town Treasurer, provided Council with an overview of the June final and year-end Treasurer s Reports and the July Treasurer s Report. She also informed Council

3 that on July 17, the town received the five-year and seven-year notes for the capital improvement equipment that was approved in the budget. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO PAY THE BILLS On motion by Mr. Cole, seconded by Mr. Davis and with all Council members voting aye, the motion was granted to authorize the Town Treasurer to pay the bills as amended. BACKGROUND: The Town Treasurer reported that the bills, as presented needed to be amended. She stated an invoice, which should have been paid through the Special Account fund, was processed with the regular bills. Mrs. Seal stated the invoice was for cameras that will be installed at the intersections in town. REQUEST ON BEHALF OF MRS. FRANKIE TODT FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT On motion by Mr. Reid, seconded by Mr. Davis and with a recorded vote with Council members Dwyer, Vincent, Pairet, Reid, Davis and Cole voting aye, the motion was approved to accept the recommendation of the Farmville Planning Commission and grant the request on behalf of Mrs. Frankie Todt for a condition use permit to operate a home occupation to bake and decorate cakes and provide items for catered events. BACKGROUND: At the June 27 Planning Commission meeting, members agreed to recommend Council approve the request for conditional use permit on behalf of Mrs. Frankie Todt. Mrs. Todt submitted a request for a conditional use permit for a home occupation to bake and decorate cakes and provide items for catered events from her home located at 714 Second Avenue, Farmville. The property is zoned Residential R1-A, which requires a conditional use permit for home occupations. REQUEST ON BEHALF OF MR. BRUCE FINCH FOR THE ABANDONMENT OF THE ALLEY LOCATED BETWEEN FOURTH AND FIFTH AVENUE AND LEE AND GILLIAM DRIVE On motion by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Pairet and with all Council members voting aye, the motion was granted to continue the request on behalf of Mr. Bruce Finch for the abandonment of the alley located between Fourth and Fifth Avenue and Lee and Gilliam Drive. BACKGROUND: Mr. Spates stated the request for the alley abandonment is before the Infrastructure Committee. The Committee directed staff to contact adjacent property owners, notifying them of the request and to ask if they support or oppose the abandonment of the alley. Mr. Spates reported the response to the request was approximately 50/50 split opposed and support

4 of the request. Currently, Council s policy has been to abandon the alley, if all adjacent property owners agree. Council directed the Town Manager have the Town Attorney review the Town policy on alley abandonments before proceeding with the request. REQUEST ON BEHALF OF MRS. MICKIE CARRINGTON TO CLOSE A PORTION OF IRVING STREET, FROM GRIFFIN BOULEVARD TO HILL STREET ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, 2018 FROM 6:00 AM TO 3:00 PM On motion by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Reid and with all Council members voting aye, the motion was granted to approve the request on behalf of Mrs. Mickie Carrington to close a portion of Irving Street, from Griffin Boulevard to Hill Street on Saturday, August 18, 2018, from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. BACKGROUND: Mr. Spates reported that Mrs. Carrington requested the Town to close a portion of Irving Street from Griffin Boulevard to Hill Street for the Jericho Baptist Church yard sale. He stated that barricades will be provided to close off the street. REFER REQUEST ON BEHALF OF FRED PEARSON FOR A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT A 52 UNIT APARTMENT DEVELOPMENT ON VERNON STREET TO THE FARMVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION On motion by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Pairet and with all Council members voting aye, the motion was approved to refer the request for a conditional use permit on behalf of Mr. Fred Pearson to construct a 52-unit apartment development on Vernon Street to the Farmville Planning Commission. BACKGROUND: Mr. Fred Pearson submitted a request for a conditional use permit to construct a 52-unit apartment development on Vernon Street. The request was presented to the Board of Zoning Appeals on July 10, The Board approved two variances. One variance of having more than one building erected on any lot or parcel. The second variance was for the lot width of 457 feet, which is less than the section s minimum required lot width of 815. Mr. Spates stated the housing development is targeted towards college and professional tenants and will go to the Planning Commission for public hearing and recommendation to Council. INFORMATION STREET PAVING Mr. Spates updated Council on the plans for streets to be paved. He stated in the Town Budget there is approximately $495,000 for materials, which includes street paving. He said the train station parking lot is scheduled to be paved first. Streets to be paved included:

5 South Main Street, from the Corporate Limits to Williams Street, with an approximate cost of $42,330; Fourth Avenue Extended, from Gilliam Drive to the end, with an approximate cost of $52,539; Bridge Street, from Second Street to Haynes Street, with an approximate cost of $45,000; North Main Street from the High Bridge Trail to the Corporate Limit, with an approximate cost of $151,000 and Chamber, Glenn Street and Watson Street. Mr. Spates reported the total projected cost of paving all the streets listed is $316,064. He stated he would like to get the streets paved this fall and then work on any streets Council would like to recommend in the spring. He mentioned there were approximately $2.9 million dollars carried over from last year s budget that could be used to fund some of the paving projects for next spring. APPROVAL OF STREET PAVING On motion by Mr. Davis, seconded by Mr. Pairet and with all Council members voting aye, the motion was approved to pave the streets as presented. COMMITTEE REPORTS Parks and Recreation Committee, Chairman Cole Mr. Cole reported the Committee, along with the Developer Land Planner and Design Architect (LPDA), held a community meeting on July 25 to present and discuss Farmville s 2018 Parks and Recreation Needs Master Plan. The Committee will hold additional meetings to discuss the best way on how to use the Plan. He added that the Committee will be viewing a webinar about recreation later this month. Finance and Ordinance Committee, Chairman Davis Mr. Davis reported that the Committee met and discussed the monthly financial reports, delinquent taxes and utility accounts. He advised that the Assistant Town Manager and Treasurer are working on financial policies and procedures and the Committee hopes to present the drafts to Council in the next few months. Personnel Committee, Chairman Reid Mr. Reid spoke of the VML meeting he attended where the Farmville Police Department was mentioned when discussing law enforcement and mental patients. He then asked Chief Andy Ellington to speak on the program presented at VML. Chief Ellington stated he has been working with Dana Schrad, Director of Virginia Association of Chief of Police to ask Legislators to seek ways to assist local law enforcement agencies with hospitals within their jurisdictions. Chief Ellington stated the issue is with the amount of time Officers use when dealing with mental patients that have been issued an Emergency Custody Order (ECO). The legislation would provide funds for off-duty officers to be on-site at the hospital, with mental patients when issued an ECO, while waiting to be issued a

6 Temporary Detention Order (TDO). Chief Ellington explained that because Centra Southside Hospital is located within the Corporate Limits of the Town of Farmville, the Farmville Police Department must respond to Centra and stay with the patient the until the TDO is issued, and the individual is released to the transporting law enforcement agency. He said when this occurs, the Officer can be unavailable for regular duty for up to 8 hours, if not more. Chief Ellington further explained that this could be a strain on the Department if there is more than one ECO at one time. Infrastructure Committee, Chairman Pairet no report (will schedule a meeting shortly) Town Property/Building, Chairman Dwyer Mr. Dwyer spoke of the request on behalf of the Railroad Club to install a handicap ramp at the entrance of the back of Crute Stage. Mr. Spates then showed Council pictures of the current steps and spoke of the cost and details to add a handicap ramp. Mr. Spates stated the Railroad Club has several members that are handicapped and are willing to pay the cost to install the ramp. The ramp will have a door to access the drain that is currently there. He said the ramp will extend from the sidewalk at Fourth Street, to the entrance of the back of the Crute Stage. Mr. Spates stated that the Railroad Club will be required to get a building permit, at no cost and the ramp must meet the Virginia Building Code. TOWN MANAGER AND STAFF REPORTS The Town Manager presented Council with pictures of the new directional signs for downtown municipal parking. He said the signs are to replace the green square signs. He shared pictures of the parking signs for the Farmville Train Station parking lot. He made special mention that the signs state for guests only and towing will be enforced. Also presented a picture of the designated parking sign for the Third Street Brewing. He noted that the Brewing has eight spaces in the train station parking lot and that the Brewing will be paying for the parking signs. Council viewed pictures of the train station parking lot, with the improvements. Mr. Spates stated the lot is ready paving. He added that the airport apron project will take place the first or second week in September and will take approximately 30 days to complete at a cost of $1.5 million. He shared with Council that the Farmville Water Treatment Plant received the Silver Water Certification Award from the Department of Health. Mr. Spates stated The Rosemyr Corporation, the company that owns the Tractor Supply and old Schewels Building, would like to convert the other half of Tractor Supply into a climate self-storage facility, inside the existing building. The town does not have anything in its current ordinances addressing storage buildings, but Mr. Spates stated he, nor Mr. Davis, foresee any

7 problems with the project. He said the company s long-range plans is to build a new freestanding climate-controlled self-storage building, in front of the initial facility. They are also considering providing boat and RV parking behind and beside the initial facility. Mr. Spates announced that Sergeant Detective David Ragland received the 2018 Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Award for Valor. The award recognizes individuals for the valor of law enforcement officers, who in the line of duty performs acts of extraordinary heroism, while engaged with an adversary at imminent personal risk. The award is the most prestigious award that the Association makes to Officers. Detective Ragland will receive his award at the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police Conference on September 11. Chief Ellington thanked everyone for their support of National Night Out. Mr. Robin Atkins expressed his support of any decision Council makes regarding alley abandonments. Mr. Scott Davis reminded Council of the joint meeting with the Farmville Planning Commission on Monday, August 13 at 5:30 p.m., with the Berkley Group, to give input on the revision of the comp plan update, zoning and subdivision ordinance revisions. He said the community meeting on August 23 is open to the public. The meeting will explain the process of updating the comp plan and revising the zoning and subdivision ordinance. It will also be an opportunity to answer questions and gather information from the community. Mr. Davis advised the Finance Committee, Mr. Spates, Town Treasurer and himself will be meeting on August 16 and August 23 to view demonstrations on financial software from two different companies. MAYOR WHITUS AND TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS COMMENTED ON THE FOLLOWING MATTERS Mr. Dwyer spoke of the Farmville Municipal Golf Course being in spectacular shape. Mr. Davis commented on National Night Out and the positive effect that it has on the community. He spoke of the residents at Sunchase that were very appreciative of the event and parents of a Longwood student commenting they felt a sense of comfort being a part of the community event at Sunchase. CLOSED SESSION - LAND ACQUISITION AND PERSONNEL MATTERS On motion by Mr. Davis, seconded Mr. Pairet and with all Council members voting aye, Council went into closed session under Section A.3 of the Code of Virginia, for discussion or consideration of the acquisition of real property for a public purpose, where

8 discussion in an open meeting would adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the Town of Farmville, and for the discussion with the Town Manager pursuant to the exemption provided for in Section (A)(1) of the Code of Virginia. CERTIFICATION OF CLOSED MEETING WHEREAS, the Farmville Town Council has convened a closed meeting on this date pursuant to an affirmative recorded vote and in accordance with the provisions of The Virginia Freedom of Information Act; and WHEREAS, Section of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by the Farmville Town Council that such closed meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Farmville Town Council hereby certifies that, to the best of each member s knowledge, only public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements by Virginia law were discussed in the closed meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Farmville Town Council. VOTE: Six (6) MOTION: Davis AYES: Dwyer, Vincent, Pairet, Reid, Davis and Cole NOES: No one ABSENT DURING VOTE: Mr. Hunter ABSENT DURING MEETING: Mr. Hunter SECOND: Reid Clerk There being no other business, the meeting adjourned. APPROVED: ATTEST: David E. Whitus, Mayor Lisa M. Hricko, Clerk