AUGUST 10, 2009

 

Virginia: At a regular meeting of the Council for the Town of Chatham, held in the Town Hall, at 5:30P.M. on August 10, 2009.

 

                      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.

 

Council on motion by Byrd seconded by McDole added to the agenda approval of the Chatham 5K Race and beautification work at the corner of N. Main St. and Hargrave Blvd.

 

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

 

     Council on motion of Byrd and seconded by Cundiff approved the agenda with additional two items.

 

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

 

     Town Manager Mike Jones report: a Grant has been requested for playground equipment from the Dan River Community Foundation.

 

An emergency existed since the last council meeting concerning a sewer line break near Jefferson Drive. A.L. Yeatts Contracting repaired the break for a cost of $6100.00.

 

He requested that council look into the issue of police department overtime.

 

Installing a screen in the line at the jail site may solve that sewer line problem. He is negotiating with the sheriff’s department on shared expenses for these repairs.

 

He stated that future w/s bills will need to be in sealed form in order not to reveal any customer personal information, per Federal regulation.

 

Treasurer David Cothran stated that the annual audit by Harris, Harvey, Neal & Co. would begin on 8-17.

 

     On motion by Cundiff and seconded by McDole the minutes of the as well as salaries and bills paid for the month of July in the amount of $134,789.44 were approved by Council as presented.

 

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

 

     Jennie Lee Sanders, Registrar for Pittsylvania County, spoke with council concerning moving town elections from May to November. She said that in addition to having a larger voter turnout, expenses of the election would be reduced by several thousand dollars. The Town Charter would have to be amended and approved by the Virginia Legislature. Council will take this under advisement.

 

     Councilman Rogers explained to council the effects of the Dam Break Analysis that must be performed on the town water sources, Cherrystone and Roaring Fork Lakes. The analysis is intended to identify flooded areas in the event of a dam break. The county would need to be involved from an EMS standpoint as most effected areas are in the county. The county should aid the town in paying for the study.

 

Rogers also discussed a Virginia Department of Health Rural Water Grant. It appears that town revenue is too high to qualify. However, the town needs to have in place a master plan for the development of the infrastructure system for water and wastewater to service the area.

 

On a motion by Rogers seconded by McDole council approved $1k for Dewberry to develop a VDH grant application and up to $35k to set up a master plan for the town.

 

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

 

     On a motion by Byrd seconded by Cundiff council approved a resolution honoring Health Center Week.

 

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

 

     On a motion by Byrd seconded by Rogers council approved partial reimbursement to a property owner on Whittle Street in repairing a sewer line in the amount of $465.99.

 

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

 

     On a motion by Cundiff seconded by Byrd council approved the Chatham 5k Race on October 10, 2009.

 

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

 

     Councilman Byrd reported that the Personnel Committee is developing a job description for the Town Manager position.

 

 

 

     Having no further business council was adjourned.

 

 

 

                                 _____________________________

                                 Mayor

 

 

_______________________

              Attest: