DECEMBER 8, 2008
Virginia:
At a regular meeting of the Council for the Town of Chatham, held at the
Chatham Fire Station at 7:00 P.M. on December 8, 2008.
Present: George O. Haley, Mayor
Robert Thompson,
Vice Mayor
Council
Members: Roy Byrd, Alvin Crider, C.B. Cundiff, Jim McDole, and Joe Rogers.
Attorney: Larry Gott.
The Pledge
of Allegiance and the Invocation was lead by Mayor Haley.
Council on
motion of Rogers and seconded by Cundiff approved the Agenda.
The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Thompson, Rogers,
Cundiff, McDole, and Byrd. (Crider unavailable for vote)
Gregg
Vickrey, Town Citizen, thanked Bob Hanson and the town crew for their overtime
work and diligence during the water main break crisis earlier in the month. He
said that town residents recognize the hard work they performed.
Bob Hanson thanked Mr. Vickrey and stated that there
was excellent communications among all people involved. He especially wanted to
thank Town Manager Mike Jones for keeping the public informed about the
problem.
Clerk/Treasurer
David Cothran informed Council that the Property Committee of the Pittsylvania
County Board of Supervisors has withdrawn the offer to convey the Old Chatham
Elementary School property to the Town. The Committee wants to study the issue
further before making a final decision.
Council on
motion of McDole and seconded by Rogers approved the Consent agenda including
salaries, wages and bills paid and unpaid in the amount of $189,583.78.
The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Cundiff, Thompson,
Rogers, Byrd, and McDole. (Crider unavailable for vote)
Stephen
Gay, CPA Auditor of Harris, Harvey, Neal & Co. reviewed with Council the
audit of the financial records of the Town for fiscal year 2007/08. He said
that the Town is in a very strong financial condition. Revenues and assets are
up and the Town had excess funds over expenditures for the year. Revenues
improved overall by $207k over fiscal year 2006/07. Water/Sewer funds were
down, net, due to the work being performed under the EPA Water Improvement
Grant. Reimbursement from the grant will come in 2008/09 fiscal year. Cash flow
has decreased due to that drain on cash. He commended Treasurer Cothran and
staff for managing the strong balance sheet.
Council on a motion by Byrd seconded by Cundiff
approved the report from the auditors.
The Vote: Aye: Council Members; Rogers, McDole,
Crider, Cundiff, Thompson, and Byrd.
Councilman
McDole reported to Council that the Ordinance Committee has studied at length
the issue of a Chemical Trespass Law for the Town aimed at protecting its
citizens and their properties in the event that the Legislature of Virginia
lifts the uranium mining moratorium. He said that recently the Virginia Attorney
General issued an opinion that such an ordinance that if enacted by a
municipality could not be enforced under present Virginia Code. The Committee
recommends that Council approve sending a letter to Delegate Terry Kilgore,
Chair of the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission that is conducting hearings to
decide the recommendation to the Legislature on the moratorium. The letter
should request a seat on the study commission as well as holding public
hearings in the Chatham area as soon as possible.
McDole continued by saying that the Ordinance
Committee does not endorse a Resolution from the Council concerning a Chemical
Trespass ordinance due to the Attorney Generals opinion that it would be
unenforceable. However, the study may allow for such an ordinance depending on
future actions by the Legislature.
On a motion by McDole per the consensus of the
Ordinance Committee Council approved the letter to Delegate Kilgore.
The Vote: Aye: Council Members; McDole, Byrd,
Cundiff, Thompson, Crider, Rogers.
Mayor Haley reminded Council that the Dillon Rule
(of Law) is only an opinion in Virginia and has not been tested for its
constitutionality.
Public
Works Director Bob Hanson stressed to Council the excellent work performed by
the Town Crew and Alvin Yeatts Construction Co. in the handling of the broken
water main on December 2, 2008. Town residents were without potable water for
three days and assistance came from the City of Danville, God’s Storehouse and
the Town of Gretna. He thanked all involved in resolving the crisis.
Councilman Rogers stated that the Water and Sewer
Committee must meet as soon as possible to begin planning to isolate the entire
problem water line located near Columbia Forest Products.
Rogers also reported to Council that the Town must
have performed a dam breach analysis on the Cherrystone Lake Dam by November
2009. Work should begin immediately as this is a sizeable project. He will keep
Council informed of progress.
Attorney
Larry Gott informed Council that the Planning Commission must hold an
additional public hearing on the Comprehensive Plan update on January 8, 2009.
The hearing in November did not muster a quorum. The Commission will present
the Plan to Council at the January 2009 regular meeting.
On motion
by Byrd seconded by Rogers council approved its annual monetary gift to Town
employees.
The Vote: Aye; Council Members; Byrd, Rogers,
Thompson, Crider, McDole, and Cundiff.
Mayor
Haley expressed his utmost appreciation to all involved in the resolution of
the water main break. He especially thanked Sherman Calloway, the town crew,
water plant employees Alan Coates and Adam Brooks, Fire Chief Landon Worsham,
the Chatham Volunteer Fire Department, the Chatham Town Police Department, Bob
Hanson, and Yeatts Construction Co.
Mayor Haley also expressed his gratitude to Chatham
First, the garden clubs, and all of the volunteers in making Christmas in
Historical Chatham a huge success.
He also commended Terry Kelly for his success in
handling the Chatham Volunteer Fire Department Christmas Parade
Having no
further business council was adjourned.
_____________________________
Mayor
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Attest: