SEPTEMBER 8, 2008

Virginia: At a regular meeting of the Council for the Town of Chatham, held in the Chatham Fire Station, at 7:00P.M. on September 8, 2008.

Present: George O. Haley, Mayor

Robert B. Thompson, Vice Mayor

Council Members: Roy Byrd, Alvin Crider, C.B. Cundiff, Jim McDole, and Joe Rogers.

Attorney: Larry Gott.

Mayor Haley led the Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation.

Council on motion by Byrd and seconded by McDole approved the agenda.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Thompson, Rogers, Cundiff, Crider, McDole, and Byrd.

Town Manager Mike Jones informed council that there have been complaints concerning speeding within the town limits. He recommends more clearly posted speed limit signage and other road markings as well as police radar enforcement. He will follow up on this problem.

Jones said that before reaching a decision on the Board of Supervisors offer on the Chatham Elementary School the issue should be studied from all perspectives and ramifications of

ownership.

Jones notified council that eight employees will be taking the

CPR and AED operations classes within the next month.

The Bluebird Grant has been approved and will be administered

through the Friends and Flowers Garden Club.

The low bidder on the Waste Water Plant Security System is Chatham Communications.

Mayor Haley said that he is pleased with the new E.G. Coles Insurance office on Main Street and that a parking space needs to be added in front of the building.

Clerk Treasurer Cothran stated that the recent audit went very well and a report should be ready by the November council meeting. He also said that the grading is near completion on the Chatham Nursing Home and construction will begin soon.

On motion of Byrd and seconded by Cundiff the minutes were approved by Council as presented.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Crider, Cundiff, Thompson, Rogers, Byrd, and McDole.

On a motion by Rogers seconded by Cundiff council approved the paid bills, salaries, and wages.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Rogers, McDole, Crider, Cundiff, Thompson, and Byrd.

On a motion by Rogers seconded by McDole council approved the unpaid bills.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Byrd, Rogers, Thompson, Crider, McDole, and Cundiff.

Total of all bills paid, unpaid and salaries and wages $199,207.38.

Councilman Crider reported that in the past month the Fire Department Committee had met with the Chatham Volunteer Fire Department members and concerned citizens on the purchase of a 1993 used ladder truck. The truck will be purchased with funds appropriated by Pittsylvania County and donations from local businesses and citizens. The need is for the Town to pledge the title of the truck to a financing agent for collateral against the loan. The Town would not enter into the loan contract.

Attorney Gott stated that under Virginia code it is permissible

for the Town to pledge the truck as collateral if it is for the public good.

On a motion by Rogers seconded by McDole council approved allowing a lien to be placed on the purchased vehicle by First Citizens Bank.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Thompson, Crider, Rogers, Cundiff, Byrd, and McDole.

On a motion by McDole seconded by Thompson council approved a Resolution pledging the truck title to First Citizens Bank on a security agreement.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Cundiff, McDole Thompson, Byrd, Rogers, and Crider.

Councilman Rogers reported that the request of Laura Adcock to place an additional water meter on her property for a rental unit had been approved by the W/S Committee. The meter has been installed.

Public Works Director Bob Hanson said that the low bidder on the Water Plant control bypass line was Yeatts Construction in the amount of $18,000.00. This work should be completed within the next 30 days.

Attorney Gott stated that the property on Whitehead Street can be sold for delinquent taxes but the town must sue the heirs as owners. He requested additional time to trace the heirs.

On a motion by McDole seconded by Thompson council approved initiating the procedure for sale of the property.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Rogers, Byrd, Crider, Cundiff, Thompson, and McDole.

Mayor Haley reviewed with Council the letter from Co. Administrator Dan Sleeper offering the Town ownership of the Old Chatham Elementary School on South Main Street. The offer is for the building only with no adjacent property. He said that under the circumstances that there is no need to rush to a decision in accepting ownership. Haley requested that TM Mike Jones meet with the Town Properties Committee to resolve a decision.

Councilman Jim McDole stated that this action by the Board of Supervisors is a backhanded move to avoid having to face the issue of use of the building. The indication is that the County will be giving no consideration to moving any of its administrative offices to the abandoned school. Their decision is completely political.

Council on a motion by Cundiff seconded by Rogers approved the Chatham 5K race to be held on town streets on October 18, 2008.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Rogers, Thompson, Crider, Byrd, and Cundiff. Abstain: McDole.

Councilman McDole said that the Ordinance Committee would meet on September 23, 2008 to discuss the Chemical Trespass Ordinance as requested by Mayor Haley.

Council on motion of Thompson and seconded by McDole adjourned to closed session for the purpose of discussion or consideration of or interviews of prospective candidates for employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining or resignation of specific public officers, appointees or employees of any public body, pursuant to §2.2-3711A(1).

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Byrd, Cundiff, McDole, Thompson, Crider, and Rogers.

Council on motion of Byrd and seconded by Rogers returned to regular session.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Thompson, Rogers, Cundiff, Crider, McDole, and Byrd.

EXECUTIVE SESSION CERTIFICATION

Whereas, the Town of Chatham has convened an executive 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, §2.2-3712 of the Code of Virginia requires a certification by this Council of the Town of Chatham that such executive meeting was conducted in conformity with Virginia law;

Now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the Town of Chatham hereby certifies 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 executive meeting to which this certification resolution applies, and (ii) only such public business matters as were identified in the motion convening the executive meeting were heard, discussed or considered by the Council of the Town of Chatham.

Council on motion of Thompson and seconded by McDole certified the closed session.

The vote: Aye; Council members; Crider, Cundiff, Thompson, Rogers, Byrd, McDole, and Mayor Haley.

Council on a motion by Thompson seconded by McDole approved a $1.00 per hour pay increase for Brian Haskins and job title change from laborer to mechanic.

The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Rogers, McDole, Crider, Cundiff, Thompson, and Byrd.

Having no further business council was adjourned.

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Mayor

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