MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN COUNCIL FOR THE TOWN OF STRASBURG, HELD ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2007 AT 7:30 P.M. IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF THE TOWN HALL.
Mayor Crisman opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and the invocation was given by Rev. Clarence Acklin, minister of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.
ROLL Called with the following members present: Mayor Tim Crisman, Vice Mayor Taylor, and Council Members Le Vine, Mauck, Nicholson, Rinker, Terndrup, Wallace, and Whittle.
Minutes for the January 9, 2007 Town Council meeting, the January 9, 2007 Public Hearing, and the January 11, 2007 Public Hearing were passed as presented.
Mayor Crisman welcomed all in attendance and said all petitions and communications had been directed toward the appropriate committees.
Mayor Crisman read a Proclamation regarding the birthday of George Washington. He signed the proclamation proclaiming February 22, 2007, George Washington’s 275th Birthday.
Visitors:
Victoria Avvenire, representing Signal Knob Middle School FFA gave a short speech telling about FFA. She presented a Proclamation for National FFA Week. Mayor Crisman signed the proclamation and thanked Tori for attending the meeting and also for all of the work the FFA does in the community and recognized Mr. James Hisghman, the Agriculture teacher at Signal Knob.
Citizen Comments:
Rev. Jay Ahlemann, Church of the Valley: Rev. Ahlemann explained their new church will be located on John Marshall Highway, beside the Strasburg water tower. He thanked the Council and area citizens for the opportunity of having their church in the Strasburg area. He said his main reason for coming before Council was to bring all up to date on the building project. They have received a permit for the construction of the crosses, and also, erosion, sediment control, and excavation work has begun.
Their big challenge currently is they do not have the issue of the water for fire protection resolved so they cannot receive a building permit. The house in front of the water tower has a hydrant for fire protection and the church, too, would like this. They cannot move on until this approval is granted. He introduced Mr. Dave Bushman of Bushman Engineering to give more detailed information.
Dave Bushman said they are asking to be able to place a few fire hydrants in front of the building and to have a tap for a sprinkler system. He feels it is a easy request, but they do understand with the growth in the area and the “politics of the utilities,” they realize careful consideration needs to be given.
Council Member Rinker asked how they proposed to meter this and pay for water that might be used if there was a fire. Mr. Bushman said a master meter or a fire service meter could be installed for this. He said they are flexible and would “bend” to the Council’s wishes.
Council Member Nicholson said he would like to discuss this at a Utilities Meeting on March 5 at 7:30 p.m.
Reports and Communications from Town Officers:
Town Attorney Neal: Absent
Town Manager Fauber: Reported he should be receiving some correspondence from Town Attorney Neal on the Church of the Valley and he will forward this onto Council.
He thanked all the departments for their hard word during the snow and ice situation of last week. He reported some workers stayed overnight and he thinks all went well. The Town did receive some complaints, but nothing out of the ordinary.
Mayor Crisman, too, thanked the Town employees for their work and said a great job was done.
Director of Finance Mullins: Absent (sick)
Director of Public Utilities Tewalt: Archeological work was finished today and paperwork has been sent back to the consulting firm to begin the permitting process for water withdrawal from the river at the new plant.
Director of Public Works Rhodes: Monthly report was provided to Council. He added that during the short spell of sub-freezing weather, some water services were reported frozen. Most of these were on the customer side of the service. Two water leaks were reported and one was just before the snow removal started last week.
Mayor Crisman asked for an update on the Crim Drive issue. He explained the situation saying there is a property on Crim Drive that has a natural spring which was diverted into a Town storm water drain. The pipe leading from the spring to the Town water system is clogged. Town Staff has checked into this and the Town’s lines are clear so the problem is on private property. The Town is trying to help the residents resolve this issue as it does affect several residents. There is a clean-out that is blocked and Town officials are waiting for a plumber to come and clean this so a camera can go further into the pipe to see where and what the blockage is on the private property. The weather has been an issue and Mayor Crisman asked that this be looked into as the temperatures rise.
Chief of Police Sutherly: Thanked all for the help he has received during the first month and said Vice Mayor Taylor would be giving the monthly report.
Town Planner Amos:
First application, RZ2006-08 Virginia Savings Bank, was pulled from the agenda for this month as there are unresolved issues concerning VDOT.
Planner Amos explained this was tabled at last month’s Council meeting. She said the applicants are requesting a minor subdivision of 163.32 acres into four parcels. Much of the discussion from the previous meeting concerned the quarry property and in the proffer it stated that once that quarry property was subdivided off, the Town would have 90 days in which to decide if they wanted to take it over or let it be turned over to a homeowners association or a non-profit organization. Staff and Council did not feel this was enough time to decide on this. There was a meeting held with the owners, engineers, Staff, Mayor Crisman, and Council Member Mauck and an agreement (included in Council Packet) was agreed upon that basically states that “Strasburg Land will not offer the lake or quarry property prior to February 1, 2008. In any event, it will offer the lake parcel to the Town no later than the date that the lake parcel has access to a public street which is also part of the proffer. Whenever it is offered they are giving the Town an additional 30 days, or 120 days, to decide if they (Town) want to take it over.”
Council Member Le Vine asked if the offer of 120 days from Mr. Bernstein supersedes the proffer of 90 days. Planner Amos said the proffer is for 90 days, but the agreement added an additional 30 days. Mayor Crisman said Town Attorney Neal attended the meeting and fully authorized the agreement.
Brian Ball, representing the applicants, stated the applicants have removed the lake parcel from the plat so it is no longer isolated. He said, “some of the issues last month were it created a parcel around the lake which would then in turn start the 90 day clock and we’re just taking that completely out of play by not creating a parcel, but just subdividing the other lots or the other parcels that were part of the original agreement. The proposal that Mr. Bernstein sent to everyone is them saying this is what we propose and it is a separate item to that; it is two separate items entirely.” They want some feedback and this is more of a discussion item than a voting item at this time.
Council Member Le Vine asked if the quarry is now embedded into a bigger piece and he was answered that he was correct. Mr. Ball said they are asking for it to be divided into four parcels and in addition they could talk about what the process would be for the Town to decide if they want the quarry or not. This area would later have to be further subdivided and at that time the “clock would start”. Mayor Crisman said this portion of the agreement was begun by Town Attorney Neal on the Town’s behalf. By joining the quarry with a larger parcel, questions from last month’s meeting will be delayed and will be negotiated later. Originally the request was for five parcels and now it is for four – they have joined two of the parcels together so there is surrounding land around the quarry for negotiations. Planner Amos reminded Council they are only being asked to approve the parcel plat and not the agreement. Mr. Ball said they do want to move toward the approval of the agreement, but it doesn’t have to happen at this meeting.
Mayor Crisman said he had asked that Chairman of the Planning Commission Smith be contacted on this and asked if he had been contacted. Chairman Smith said he has not seen it and he would like to see it before a decision was made. Council Member Rinker asked if this meant this had not come before the Planning Commission and Planner Amos said the Commission recommended the approval of the five parcels and now it has been amended to four, but the Planning Commission has not seen the amended proposal. Council Member Rinker said it would be a “no no” to move on this without it going to the Planning Commission. Mr. Ball said the applicants had asked at the meeting if it had to go before the Planning Commission and Planner Amos said she had said she would contact the Commission. Mr. Ball said it was Mayor Crisman’s “strong recommendation that it did not need to go in front of the Planning Commission.” Mayor Crisman said he said, with Mr. Smith’s approval it would not need to go before the Planning Commission. Mr. Ball said when this was placed on the agenda, the applicants thought or had an understanding that all had been contacted. Mayor Crisman asked Mr. Smith if the Planning Commission would like to see this again and he answered he would like for it to as he didn’t want to speak for the other Commissioners. Council Member Rinker didn’t think legally Mr. Smith could speak on behalf of all the Commissioners and that anytime any modifications are made, it has to go back to the Planning Commission --- “that’s the way the rules are written, I’m sorry.” Mr. Ball said this would cost them another month for something that they asked to be done and the Town of Strasburg assured them would be done and it was not done. Mayor Crisman said it “was assured with conditions.”
Council Member Rinker moved to send this issue back to the Planning Commission for re-review in the fact that modifications have been made to the record plat that were not originally there. Second by Vice Mayor Taylor.
Discussion:
Council Member Terndrup said he is feeling some pressure and he is not sure why there is pressure. He is “still not completely understanding what property around the lake/quarry is being proffered to the Town, that will grant road access, that will grant parking, does it include the current paint ball facility. I would like some information about what exactly you intend to proffer to make that quarry a usable and functional recreational site.” Mr. Ball said the purpose is to delay the discussion on the lake; they are not subdividing it out or setting boundaries to it; “we are allowing the Town to discuss what, if they want it, what they need to get it. We are essentially now taking it off the table. The properties that are now being subdivided are the same as they were before, the only difference being that the lake is not a separate parcel; it is still now a part of a larger parcel.” Council Member Rinker asked Mr. Ball if he would have to admit it is a definite change from the first request. Mr. Ball said it is a change that was done “at the request of the Mayor and …” Council Member Rinker said if a change is made to something that was originally submitted, “this Council would be remiss, it is too bad that Mr. Neal is not here tonight because I would like a ruling on it before we go any further.” Mr. Ball said Mr. Neal had been at the meeting and he did not seem to object to what has been proposed. Council Member Rinker said he understands that, but he thinks “we might be breaking our own rules and regulations if we don’t require this to go back and be re-reviewed. And it maybe, also, setting some sort of precedence, if somebody else comes in here with something at the last minute and they decide they’re going to make some changes; they make them, haul them in to us and expect us to approve it. To be honest with you, as Mr. Terndrup pointed out, there are some questions still about this thing that aren’t answered in my mind as to accessibility and everything – he just spelled them out…I think all these things ought to be answered in Planning Commission and they should be really spelled out.” Mr. Ball said the Planning Commission had approved the more specific plat showing the parcel around the lake and he doesn’t think anybody would really have an issue with it they just feel they are getting punished for a mistake the Town of Strasburg made. They knew there was a possibility it would have to go back to the Commission and they asked and this wasn’t done; “instead of coming here, we could have gone to the Planning Commission and got it approved. It has cost us another month before it can get approved.” He added they would not have had a problem with going back before the Planning Commission, but now they have already missed that meeting. Planner Amos asked Chairman Smith if the Planning Commission could discuss this at their regular meeting on February 27 instead of at the next Worksession. Chairman Smith said he would not be at the next meeting so he doesn’t want to speak for them, but it could be added to the agenda and the Commissioners could decide to act on it or not. Planner Amos said if it is acted on, the applicants wouldn’t be put off an additional month. Council Member Nicholson asked if the Commission has someone who steps up when Mr. Smith is absent. Planner Amos said Vice Chair Kepler would be in attendance so Council Member Nicholson doesn’t see where the problem would be with acting on this. Council Member Whittle said it was said it would be brought up, but it would be the first time the Commission would have the opportunity to look at the new plat. He thinks it can be discussed, but they ultimately might not vote on it that night. Council Member Nicholson said he doesn’t think the applicants would have changed it, but the Town had problems with it and now the Town is trying to delay it longer. Mr. Ball said the purpose was not to force “anyone’s hand on the lake parcel, but to subdivide the parcels for financial reasons and organizational reasons which we felt that we could accomplish without starting the clock. We modified the plat at the request of the Town; if you want to vote on the original plat that was approved by the Town Council that is absolutely fine with us. We did it as a favor to the Town to remove that parcel at their request and now it is costing us two extra months. It really wasn’t our intention to make it about the lake; it’s just an administrative thing and our clients would appreciate that it get done. We hate to see something like this just dragging on.”
Council Member Rinker said it sounds like a misunderstanding to him and he apologized for that, but he thinks the rules and regulations need to be followed.
Council Member Terndrup said there has been some interest expressed from the County in terms of a recreational Town/County partnership and this is why there is a need for more information as to the amount of land around the lake might be considered. One thing has led to other things so “if we are going to do this thing, we should do it properly.”
Mr. Ball again said this is not about the lake, it was never intended to be about the lake, “it is about making some clear subdivisions to some clearly different areas of the project. We are trying to make it as little about the lake as possible. We are trying to do what we can to make it about what its intent is and we thought we were doing that and we thought it would be pretty much guaranteed we would have this taken care of following the Town’s request.”
Town Manager Fauber said the main reason for taking it out of the original plat that we saw was to give the Town more time to make a decision. “I don’t think coming back next month we are going to be prepared to answer the question of whether or not we want the lake, but I think this gives us the opportunity to study it and work with the County; that’s my perception. I think that’s the reason why we met.” Mr. Ball agreed, but said that is still separate and there is the agreement the applicants have offered to further clarify what the exact time limits are and what the process is going to be.
Vice Mayor Taylor said, then, this is two separate issues and the things Mr. Terndrup and Mr. Rinker have brought up can be dealt with at a later time; the parcels will not affect that. He continued by saying he understands this would be okay as long as Chairman Smith got a chance to look at it which he did not. He also understands Mr. Ball’s position and asked if there was anyway the Planning Commission could get together ASAP to meet and discuss this issue. Chairman Smith said this could be dealt with at the voting session - it can be added to the agenda of the regular meeting and if they cannot come up with a recommendation, then they will set up a special meeting prior to the next Council meeting.
Council Member Whittle said he likes the breakdown of the lake parcel and he thinks we are looking at two separate things. Council Member Le Vine agreed it is two separate issues, but it does need to go back to Planning Commission and he thinks the motion is a fair compromise.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Ball asked about the proposal of the lake parcel and Planner Amos said this could go before the Recreation Committee and brought back to Council.
Planner Amos reminded Council this would only be on the parcel plat and not on the agreement.
Planner Amos said these are four different rezonings along Capon Road and that all are X-Transitional asking they be rezoned to R-2. Three of the applications are for small parcels less than an acre, but the RZ2006-09 is for a larger parcel of 11.8 acres. She continued by saying the
Planning Commission would like to take the time to review and update the Comprehensive Plan. The current Comprehensive Plan shows this as Planned Development, but the Commission was not comfortable with this. They would like to make a recommendation to Council on these rezonings after the Comprehensive Plan is updated. They would like to expedite that review and hopefully the review of the plan will take no more than a year and if they come to a decision on the land use, then this could possibly come before Council sooner. Another reason for denial is that no proffers have been received from any of the projects and VDOT is concerned about entrances along Route 55.
Council Member Le Vine asked if the applicants have agreed to this delay and Planner Amos said the applicants are concerned about the delay and if Council did not approve, then have the proposals tabled instead of denial so they do not have to re-file. But, most of the applicants understand about the review of the Comprehensive Plan. Council Member Le Vine asked about the concerns of VDOT and Planner Amos said there are concerns with the improvements that would need to be made to Capon Road and Route 55 and they would like the applicants to enter into the signalization agreement for the lights planned on Route 55. Council Member Rinker said he has heard VDOT is concerned with right-of-ways if Route 55 is widened. He asked if it is tabled, how this will be affected as time goes on and the owners of properties change, etc. He would rather see it be denied because he doesn’t think the Comprehensive Plan is in the position to say what should go there and also because of issues with VDOT and he thinks there are a lot of unanswered questions on the Capon Road area. He thinks the Planning Commission had very valid reasons for recommending what they did.
Council Member Rinker moved to deny the requests for these four rezonings because of the issues stipulated by Planner Amos and the Planning Commission, items he stipulated, and the problems in the area involving traffic, right-of-way, traffic lights, environmental safety hazards, and other issues and until the Comprehensive Plan is completed and that the Planning Commission expedites work on this area; second by Council member Le Vine.
Discussion:
Council Member Nicholson asked if the Planning Commission is saying nothing should be done for a year or more all through Town until the Comprehensive Plan is reviewed. Planner Amos said there are certain areas that were not studied in depth during the process of the last Comprehensive Plan and she thinks the Route 55 area and maybe all through Town should be held off on until the land use portion of the plan is reviewed. Council Member Nicholson asked if the Route 55 area is the only area they are talking about and Planner Amos replied she didn’t want to speak for the Planning Commission, but she would think that if any rezoning application came up in the next few months, they would probably request that it not be looked at until the Comprehensive Plan can be fully reviewed. Council Member Nicholson then asked if this was a way to stop growth because as long as the Comprehensive Plan is being reviewed, there will be nothing built. Planner Amos said she does not think this is not the intent, but to make sure the right thing goes in certain areas and she believes it would be on an application basis. Council Member Rinker said this is a way to make sure building is compatible with what the Town wants in certain areas. It might be decided to have commercial in the area being discussed which would increase the values of the property.
Council Member Mauck asked what happens if the property is sold - do the applicants/owners have to re-apply. Planner Amos said she thinks they would have to, but would have to talk to the Town Attorney to be sure. Council Member Rinker said they may want to re-apply under a different zoning.
Council Member Nicholson said he would like it to all be commercial, but he is concerned with the amount of time it is going to take to revise the Comprehensive Plan. He sees other jurisdictions around Strasburg getting business and we don’t know what we want yet. Council Member Rinker said that Comprehensive Plans do not happen overnight and “we would be extremely remiss on this Council and this Planning Commission if we let it occur overnight. Things take time and time is very important; it gives you time to study these issues…and come up with the proper answers.” Council Member Nicholson said he just thinks a year or a year and a half seems like an awful long time. Planner Amos said all they are doing now is reviewing it as the State requires every five years; the entire plan needs to be reviewed every ten years.
Council Member Rinker called for the question. Vice Mayor Taylor abstained from voting as one of the applicants, Thomas Price, is his brother-in-law.
The motion to deny passed unanimously with one abstaining
Planner Amos said on February 27, as part of the Planning Commission meeting, committees will be set up for the various parts of the Comprehensive Plan and meeting dates for each committee will be set. One person from the Planning Commission will be on each committee and they will notify Council Members of when the committee will be meeting that deals with each Council Member’s committee. During the next few months, they would also like to attend Council committee meetings to bring them up-to-date as to what is being considered. The Planning Commission would also like more citizen involvement during this process so the Plan will not be so Planning Commission based.
Council Member Terndrup complimented Planner Amos and the Planning Commission for the work done at the Public Forum
Council Member Le Vine said he does not know where finance fits in this, but he does want to be involved.
Standing Committee Reports:
Public Safety: Vice Mayor Taylor said the committee met on February 1, 2007. People in attendance were: Fire Chief R.G. Bauserman, Police Chief Tim Sutherly, Rescue Squad Captain Gary Dalton, Retired Police Chief Marshall Robinson, Town Manager Kevin Fauber, Councilman Scott Terndrup, Councilman Mike Whittle, Mary Ann Littrell, Elizabeth Wilkerson from the NVD and Council Member Sarah Mauck. Major items discussed were:
i. cross training of staff
ii. purchase of generators for facilities (water plant, fire, and rescue, etc.)
iii. supplying of emergency kits in town facilities
i. Town Manager Fauber
ii. Council Member Whittle
iii. Council Member Taylor
iv. Citizen Mary Ann Littrell
Personnel Committee: Council Member Whittle said the committee met on January 31, 2007, with Council Members, Le Vine, Mauck, Terndrup, and Whittle (Chair), in attendance. Interviews were conducted for vacancies on the Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals. He said he will be requesting a Closed Session to discuss personnel matters. The next meeting of the committee will be February 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Public Utilities: Council Member Nicholson said the committee met January 25 with representative with R. Stuart Royer to discuss the water plant. In reference to the archeological studies Director of Public Utilities Tewalt had discussed earlier, Council Member Nicholson said Royer had done archeological studies and had moved the plant accordingly and then they found out they had to do a cultural resources study on a certain spot. The work was to begin on February 12 and be done by March 5 (the work was completed today). They are still working on the easement on the road with the school board. They were given a preliminary plan of the water plant and all the equipment and also a schedule of work. Waste Water treatment plant was discussed and preliminary engineering reports have been submitted to DEQ and they have received some comments back on this. Director of Public Utilities Tewalt said he has received the paperwork on the right-of-way at the high school.
Council Member Le Vine gave some thoughts on the meeting and said the design consultants are good and the idea is to expand the plants from 1 million to 3 million with ease of expanding to 6 million gallons. No new technologies will be used and he explained the risks he sees in the building. You cannot build in ground that has archeological finds in it so it has been redesigned so as to avoid these sites. Another problem with the plants is DEQ and EPA changes the rules at any time. The cost is estimated at $10 million he explained the risks he sees in the building.
Council Member Nicholson said it will be almost impossible to meet the numbers DEQ proposes.
Recreational Advisory Committee: Council Member Mauck said the committee met twice, the latest on February 12 with 13 people attending: Advisory Members Mike Whittle, Jeff Stern, Carol Haycock, Council Members Mauck, Whittle and Terndrup, Pam Sheets of Shenandoah County Parks and Recreation, Supervisor Helsley, Director of Finance Mullins , Planning Commission Chair Person Smith, Tom and Linda Carver, and Beth Stern. Pam Sheets gave a report on the state of Shenandoah County Parks and Rec and her plans for updating the department by using plans from the Virginia Outdoors Plan. She will update the department’s Master Plan and wants to develop good working relationships with all of the towns in the County. She will also give input to the Comprehensive Plan and will do some preliminary work on a study on the quarry site in case it is decided to use this as a government owned recreation site.
Also, four Boy Scouts attended who gave updates on their Eagle Scout projects. All projects will be in the vicinity of the new walking trail.
Finance Committee: Council Member Le Vine did not present the Power Point presentation as he was not feeling well. He reported the committee had met on February 1 and James Kelly of the accounting firm of Robinson, Farmer, and Cox presented the results of the audit. Council Member Le Vine explained what he learned by hearing the results of the audit. He added the Town came through in flying colors and he complimented Director of Finance Mullins for the work she does to make sure all procedures are followed, etc. Major issues that will be presented in the next few years were discussed. Decided the Personnel Committee will look at the pros and cons of how the Town hires and retains employees. Council Member Fauber discussed the Administrative budget at the meeting. Town gives much money to Town organizations and the impact is enough that a different procedure will be looked at. The money will be disbursed when the group shows what the money will be used for. The committee wants more accountability for where the money is going and at the end of the year have a report given of how the money was spent. He added he is impressed with the quality of the people working for the Town and he thanked all who have been very generous with their time in talking to him and explaining to him how things work in the Town. He also spoke about how growth has slowed, but because of this there have not been the hook-ups to the system. The water and sewer plants are still needed because the growth will come again and so the question is how these should be financed.
How much do we raise rates or how much do we borrow?
The next meeting will be on March 6 at 7 p.m..
Ordinance Committee: Council Member Terndrup said the committee met on February 7 with the following person present: Vice Mayor Taylor, Planner Amos, Planning Commission Chair Smith, Elizabeth Wilkerson with the Northern Virginia Daily, and Council Member Terndrup.
Discussed at the meeting were some community concerns about dog noises. There was also and extended discussion on Signal Knolls. Town Manager Fauber is working on bringing the concerned parties together to help resolve these issues.
He added the committee will be bringing a number of ordinances before Council at next month’s meeting for approval.
Building and Grounds Committee: Did not meet
Streets Committee: Council Member Rinker said the committee met on February 7, with the following people present: Council Members Rinker, Terndrup, Le Vine, Mauck, Town Manager Fauber, Director of Public Works Rhodes, and from VDOT, Mr. Jerry Van Lear and his assistant Scott Alexander.
Director of Public Works Rhodes is looking into Massanutten Street crossover and the complaints on the entrance onto Lincoln Street and if it can be made one way. Mr. Rhodes is also getting some costs for Terry Hamrick concerning North Street and he is also looking into the drainage problem behind the theatre. Letters will be going out to property owners regarding this.
The Strasburg United Methodist Church requested one parking place be put in for “special use” in front of the church. It was decided to recommend not granting this space because the committee felt it would set precedence.
Mr. Van Lear discussed the Queen Street project with the committee. He explained the money will not have to be paid back as long as the project keeps on going; it only has to be paid back if the entire project is cancelled. It was recommended by the committee to eliminate the connection to Stover Avenue at this time.
Council Member Rinker moved to eliminate the connection of Queen Street to Stover Avenue, add approximately 330 ft. of roadway to the project from Sharpe Street to Mt. Zion United Methodist Church and to continue with the preliminary engineering and right of acquisition of the Queen Street project; second by Council Member Mauck.
Council Member Le Vine said what the Council is doing is instructing Town Manager Fauber to write a letter to VDOT stating how the Town Council wants to modify the project. He thinks the money can be better used on other streets in the Town.
Council Member Terndrup said it is a prudent time with the Comprehensive Plan coming up and the transportation committee will look into all of major plans, He thinks it is a good solution for this time.
The motion passed unanimously.
Special Committee Reports:
Shenandoah Telephone Advisory: Council Member Wallace reported this committee will no longer be meeting at this time.
Strasburg Heritage Society: Council Member Whittle said the annual meeting had been held on Sunday, February 18 with a presentation on Civil War archeology. New board members and officers were voted on. The next Board meeting will be on March 14 at 7:15 p.m.
Chamber of Commerce: Town Clerk Keller reported the Board of Directors met this morning. There are still tickets for sale for the March Madness fundraiser. Kate Sowers has been appointed as Chairperson for Mayfest and plans are moving forward. There will be a beauty pageant, a street dance, car show, and wine tasting. Applications are coming in for crafters and food vendors. The annual banquet is scheduled for April 7, but because this is the day before Easter, other dates are being looked into. Also, there will be a Memorial Day parade beginning at 10:30 a.m. with a program following at Riverview Cemetery.
HomeTown Strasburg: Mrs. Carla Wallen said Hometown and the Vision Committee met and then an informal coffee was held later. Fourteen different projects are being worked on as a result of these meetings and she listed some of the ideas. They did receive a copy of the letter written by Delegate Gilbert on behalf of the grant application. She has had a telephone conversation with Ed McMan and he sent her a book about smart development for commercial development. The next meeting will be March 1 at 7 p.m.
Council Member Mauck said it has been discussed the possibility of rolling over the Beautification Committee funds to HomeTown Strasburg.
Council Member Mauck moved to rollover the money identified as Beautification Committee funds to HomeTown Strasburrg for projects as designated; second by Wallace.
The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Crisman said when Main Street committee first started out, it was a good experiment. He wanted to focus on volunteerism and this committee has run with it and made it successful.
Council Member Whittle said the Heritage Committee will be sending a letter in support of the grant application, as will Mayor Crisman.
Vision Committee: Council Member :Le Vine said there is a lot of interest in the Town and people are getting motivated.
Tourism Committee: Mayor Crisman said the committee has dwindled down in membership, but he wants this to continue to move forward.
Old Business and Unfinished Business:
New Business:
Mayor Crisman said he has been contacted by Mayfest and they need more help in the Duck Race and he asked for Council volunteers to join him in the Town Run. He said he has also had a request for representatives to be readers at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Council Member Mauck had a complaint about the old laundry mat on E. King Street. Mayor Crisman instructed Town Staff to look into this.
Committee Meeting Dates as Follows:
COMMITTEE DATE TIME
Public Safety Committee March 22 7 p.m.
Personnel Committee February 28 7:30 p.m
Utilities Committee March 5 7:30 p.m.
Recreation Committee February 28 (CANCELLED) 6:30 p.m.
Finance Committee March 6 7 p.m.
Ordinance Committee March 7 7 p.m.
Streets Committee March 12 7:30 p.m.
Buildings and Grounds Committee March 22 7 p.m.
Vision Committee
Council Member Whittle moved that the Strasburg Town Council go into Closed Session pursuant to Code of Virginia section 2.2-3711.A.1, to discuss personnel issues relating to appointments of public officers to the Strasburg Planning Commission, the Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Architectural Review Board; ;second by Council Member Le Vine. Passed unanimously.
Adjourned to Closed Session at 9:29 p.m.
Returned to Regular Session at 10:11 p.m.
Mayor Crisman said, “The Council of the Town of Strasburg hereby certifies by Roll Call vote that to the best of each member’s knowledge (1)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 (2)only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the closed meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Council of the Town of Strasburg.” He continued by saying each member should respond “I so certify” by Roll Call vote and the following responses were recorded:
Council Member Le Vine “I so certify”
Council Member Mauck “I so certify”
Council Member Nicholson “I so certify”
Vice Mayor Taylor “I so certify”
Council Member Rinker “I so certify”
Council Member Terndrup “I so certify”
Council Member Wallace “I so certify”
Council Member Whittle “I so certify”
Mayor Crisman “I so certify”
Council Member Whittle nominated Hank Dean to fill an unexpired term on the Strasburg Planning Commission; second by Council Member Le Vine.
Council Member Wallace nominated Richard Orndorff to fill an unexpired term on the Strasburg Planning Commission; second by Council Member Nicholson.
Council Member Mauck nominated Ronnie Cromer to fill an unexpired term on the Strasburg Planning Commission; second by Council Member Rinker.
Council Member Terndrup nominated Brett Kelly to fill an unexpired term on the Strasburg Planning Commission; no second to the nomination.
Mr. Hank Dean was appointed to the Strasburg Planning Commission. The results of the vote were as follows:
Mr. Dean 4
Mr. Cromer 2
Mr. Orndorff 2
Council Member Whittle nominated Ronnie Cromer to a five year term on the Board of Zoning Appeals; second by Vice Mayor Taylor.
Council Member Wallace nominated Richard Orndorff to a five year term on the Board of Zoning Appeals; second by Council Member Nicholson.
Mr. Cromer was appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals with the following vote results:
Mr. Cromer 6
Mr. Orndorff 2
Council Member Whittle nominated Mary Ann Littrell to complete an unexpired term on the Board of Zoning Appeals; second by Vice Mayor Taylor.
Council Member Nicholson nominated Richard Orndorff to complete an unexpired term on the Board of Zoning Appeals; second by Council Member Wallace.
Ms. Littrell was appointed with the following vote results:
Ms. Littrell 5
Mr. Orndorff 3
Being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 10:19 p.m.