[00:00:01]
LIKE TO CALL THE FRONT ROW RECORD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONEY NOVEMBER THE 23RD TO ORDER.
[1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
YOU PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? JUST[2. MOMENT OF SILENCE]
TIME.WE'LL HAVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEASE.
[3. ROLL CALL]
MAYOR T WALT.YEAH, VICE MAYOR C LOCKE, COUNCILMAN COCKRELL HERE.
COUNCILMAN HOLLOWAY, COUNCILMAN MEZA IS ABSENT AND COUNCILMAN THOMPSON HERE.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
TIME TONIGHT AS ITEM NUMBER FOUR, APPROVE OF THE MINUTES.UH, REGULAR CANCEL MEDIA MINUTES OF NOVEMBER THE NINTH, 2020.
TO HEAR A MOTION, MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER, THE NINTH, 2020 IS PRESENTED AND MOTION TO SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION HEARING? NONE ALL IN FAVOR.
[5. RECEIPT OF PETITIONS and/or CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PUBLIC]
NEXT ITEM IS ITEM FIVE, RECEIVED A PETITION AND CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PUBLIC.HOW MANY SPEAKERS DO WE HAVE? THE CV? THERE'S 16.
BEFORE WE START TO SEE ME AND I WANT TO SET SOME GUIDELINES, I CALL YOU TO COME FORWARD, GAVE YOUR NAME ADDRESS.
YOU'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK.
I TRY TO HOLD IT TO THREE MINUTES OR MAYBE JUST A LITTLE LOWER, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO TOLERATE ANY MUCH LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES.
SO I LIKE FOR YOU TO COME FORWARD AND LIKE SAY GAVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
AND WHEN YOU ADDRESS, ADDRESS THE CANCEL NOT INDIVIDUALS.
AND I'D APPRECIATE IF YOU DO THAT TO SAVE HIM, WOULD YOU CALL THE FIRST PERSON PLEASE? ANNA ARENA? MY NAME IS ANN ARENA AND I HAVE GOURMET DELIGHTS, GIBSON FRAMING ON MAIN STREET, 240 EAST MAIN STREET.
UM, AFTER VIEWING YOUR LAST WORK SESSION, UM, I HAD CALLED THE TOWN MANAGER IN REGARDS TO THE STREET CLOSING AND THEY ASKED WHAT THE REASON WAS SINCE MOST OF THE MERCHANTS WERE TOLD THAT THE STREET CLOSINGS WERE GOING TO BE DONE BY NOVEMBER.
HE COULDN'T GIVE ME AN ANSWER AND TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED TO COME HERE TO THE COUNCIL AND SAID, THAT'S WHY I'M HERE.
I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHY THE STREET IS BEING CLOSED EVERY WEEKEND AT THE WORK SESSION, IT WAS STATED THAT WE'LL KEEP THE STREET CLOSED UNTIL SOMEBODY COMPLAINS.
THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD JOKE, BUT YOU KNOW, LOSING REVENUE IS NOT A JOKE THIS WEEKEND FOR MOST RETAILERS HOLIDAY SEASON IS STARTING SHOPPERS.
YOU WANT TO CLOSE THE STREET ON WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, AND SUNDAY.
MY QUESTION IS WHY ARE YOU AWARE THAT A LOT OF US GET DELIVERIES ON THE WEEKENDS SOMETIMES EVEN ON SUNDAYS, DEPENDING ON WHO THE VENDOR IS.
ARE YOU ALSO AWARE THAT ON FRIDAYS AT FOUR O'CLOCK, THE POLICE COME DOWN AND USHER THE VEHICLES OFF THE STREET? AND IF THERE'S CUSTOMERS IN THE STORE, THEY LEAVE TOO.
THAT'S REVENUE THAT'S LOST, OR ARE YOU ALSO AWARE THAT A LOT OF THE SENIORS THAT USE THE HANDICAP PARKING ON MAIN STREET ARE NOT COMING DOWN ON THE WEEKENDS BECAUSE IT'S TOO MUCH FOR THEM TO WALK FROM THE GAZEBO AREA DOWN TO THEIR STORES.
WINTER WEATHER IS NOW COMING UPON US.
ARE WE GOING TO EAT OUTSIDE IN 32 DEGREE WEATHER? IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO CLOSE THE STREET.
YOU'VE MADE A LOT OF CONCESSIONS FOR THE RESTAURANTS, BUT THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST RESTAURANTS ON
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THE STREET.WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE OUR STREET BACK.
WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE IT OPEN FOR SHOPPERS.
I WOULD HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU WOULD RECONSIDER OPENING THE STREET.
SAMUEL PORTER, SAMUEL PORTER, TWO 16 FLUSHER STREET, FRONT ROW, VIRGINIA.
THE PURPOSE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND A FREE SOCIETY IS TO PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY AND TO UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW.
SO THAT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTY MAY FLOURISH, TRUST AND ACCOUNTABILITY BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE COMMUNITIES THEY ARE SWORN TO PROTECT IS ESSENTIAL TO ADVANCE IN THESE GOALS AND COMMUNITIES.
THERE IS A LACK OF MUTUAL IN COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE IS A LACK OF MUTUAL TRUST, RESPECT BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MINORITY COMMUNITIES, ALLEGATIONS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT, PERCEPTIONS OF RACIAL PROFILING, EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE, AND OTHER INCIDENTS CAN LEAD TO COMPROMISE PUBLIC SAFETY, INDIVISIBLE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO, FRONT RURAL UNITES WAS MADE AWARE OF SEVERAL SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS FROM A SERGEANT ON THE SWAT TEAM OF FRONT ROYAL.
HE USED HIS BADGE, OUR TOWN'S NAME, HIS CANINE AND HIS DEPARTMENT TO MAKE IN THEM BACK UP HIS STATEMENTS AND POSTS PUBLIC TRUST WITH THOSE COMMENTS BEING MADE ARE GONE AS IT CONCERNS THAT SPECIFIC ORIGIN, THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS YET TO MAKE A STATEMENT PUBLICLY.
THERE IS NO STATEMENT ON THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGE PER THE HEAD OF THE DEPARTMENT.
A STATEMENT TO THE COMMUNITY IS NOT WARRANTED.
AND IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU SHOULD JUST CALL HIM PERSONALLY.
THAT'S HOW MANAGER AGREES WITH THIS POOR SENTIMENT.
THE FRONT ROYAL POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS NO PROBLEM UTILIZING SOCIAL MEDIA TO GIVE HONORARY SHOUT OUTS TO PEOPLE WHO MAKE DELIVERIES TO THEIR DEPARTMENT.
LIKE THE GOOD CAKES THAT WE ALL SEE, AND I GET JEALOUS OF AND THE GOOD COOKIES AND COFFEE.
UH, THEY DON'T CARE IF IT'S POST ABOUT THE INFORMATION TO CITIZENS, AS IT CONCERNS THE TROUBLE SIGNS THAT WE'RE BEING VANDALIZED AND TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHO WERE THE PERPETRATORS, BUT THEY WON'T TALK ABOUT AN OPEN AND ACTIVE INVESTIGATION THAT OUR CITIZENS ARE PAYING THEM FOR AND DIRECTLY APPLIES TO MINORITIES AND PEOPLE OF COLOR.
IT IS RIDICULOUS AND REALLY 1950 AND REALLY IN 1950 AMERICAN EXPERIENCE, IN MY OPINION, AND JUST SO HAPPENS TO BE ONE THAT I'M IMMERSED INTO.
NOW, I'VE TALKED TO OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS, MOSTLY IN SURROUNDING AREAS.
AND A FEW FROM AFAR, THIS KIND OF INVESTIGATION WOULD HAVE REQUIRED THEM TO MAKE A STATEMENT TO THEIR CITIZENS AND THE EXACT IN THAT DAY, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE WAITED.
AND SO I KNOW IT'S A PERSONNEL ISSUE WHEN I HAVE MORE TO SAY HERE, BUT I WON'T GET INTO IT.
BUT FORT ROYAL ALWAYS DOES STUFF BACKWARDS.
I MEAN, LOOK AT THE HAPPY, NO MORE SAD CREEK, MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT AND DO WHAT YOU'RE ELECTED TO DO OUR CENTER UNDER THE COMMAND OF A MAYOR WHO HAS HAD ALLEGATIONS OF RACIAL PROFILING AS A TOWN EMPLOYEE BACK IN 2000 OR THEREABOUT, MAYBE YOU JUST DON'T CARE TO BECAUSE HE MAY AGREE WITH THE SERGEANT'S STATEMENTS.
AND THAT'S JUST UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE CLEARLY Y'ALL MUST ALL AGREE TO SILENCE IS COMPLICIT.
WHAT ELSE DO I, WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? WHERE'S YOUR STATEMENT AT YOU WORK WITH, I CAN'T BE PERSONAL, BUT EVERYBODY HERE IS IN THE COMMUNITY.
PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
GIVE US A STATEMENT, PUT IT OUT ONLINE.
I SAID I WAS MAKE A PROTEST AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CAUSE THEN Y'ALL GOING TO SAY, OH, MR. PORT IS COSTING ALL OF US TAX DOLLARS.
CAN WE JUST GET A STATEMENT? DANG.
BUT THAT JUST SAY YOU HEARD ME, KRISTEN ITIN.
ON NOVEMBER 11TH, I HAVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
KRISTIN ITIN FOUR OH SEVEN WASHINGTON AVENUE ON NOVEMBER 11TH, THE FRONT ROYAL POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS INFORMED.
ONE OF THEIR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS MAY POSTS ONLINE THAT WERE THREATENING TO OUR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
BLACK LIVES MATTER AND PEACEFUL PROTESTORS, VIOLENT HATEFUL, AND ALSO UNPROFESSIONAL POSTS.
12 DAYS HAVE PASSED SINCE THEN.
[00:10:02]
I UNDERSTAND THAT BEING A PERSONNEL MATTER, MANY THINGS CAN'T BE DISCUSSED PUBLICLY.HOWEVER, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE TRANSPARENT AND TO THE COMMUNITY BY SIMPLY AFFIRMING THIS, THE FRONT ROYAL POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED THE ALLEGATIONS OF A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, MAKING VIOLENT AND INAPPROPRIATE STATEMENTS AND OR SHARING VIOLENT AND INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT CONDONE SUCH SUCH ACTIONS.
AND WE'LL BE CONDUCTING A FULL AND THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.
AGAIN, I UNDERSTAND THAT EMPLOYMENT INVESTIGATIONS ARE COMPLEX.
I UNDERSTAND THEY TAKE TIME AND THEY'VE REQUIRED DUE DILIGENCE.
I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL HAVE BEEN SILENT AND HAVE NOT GIVEN ITS CITIZENS.
THE COURTESY OF A CLEAR AND REASSURING MESSAGE VIOLENCE AND HATE DO NOT HAVE A PLACE IN FRONT ROYAL AND THEY DON'T HAVE A PLACE WITHIN ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
MAYOR 12 MEMBERS OF COUNCIL MANAGER.
UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT THE HEAVY, OH YES.
TWO 10 WEST FIRST STREET, FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE HAPPY CREEK RIPARIAN BUFFER.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, IT'S LOCATED BETWEEN PROSPECT STREET AND SOUTH STREET, UH, AND IT'S BEEN THE SUBJECT OF MOST INTEREST TO MANY PEOPLE.
I LEARNED ABOUT THIS BACK IN OCTOBER 24TH, I THINK 25TH, I ACTUALLY WENT ON SITE ON THE 26TH.
I THINK IT WAS MONDAY AND, UH, TALKED WITH THE FELLOW WHO IT WAS THE END OF HIS DAY, WHO WAS OPERATING THE EXCAVATOR IN THE STREAM.
AND HE WAS WORKING WITH THOMPSON TREE SERVICE, BUT DIDN'T KNOW ANYTHING REALLY TO TELL ME ABOUT THE PROJECT.
SO THAT'S WHEN I DECIDED TO CONTACT ROBBIE BOYER AND ASKED FOR A PERMIT AND I'VE GOT TO SAY, ROBBIE'S BEEN GREAT.
HE GOT ME A PERMIT RIGHT AWAY.
AND THAT SENT ME ON MY INVESTIGATION.
I SHOULD MENTION THAT I WAS AN EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL INSPECTOR FOR NINE YEARS.
AND UH, SO I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN IT AND I UNDERSTAND THE PROCESSES AND WHAT CAN GO WRONG.
UH, I WAS, I'M ALSO A CERTIFIED ARBORIST.
MY DEGREE IS IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.
SO WHEN I LOOK AT THINGS IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE THAT BACKGROUND, THE REMOVAL OF THE TREES WAS ASTONISHING.
I'M NOT QUITE SURE WHY WE'RE DOING IT THAT WAY, BUT I GOT TO SAY, ROBBIE DID LISTEN TO ME BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER SEEN A PROJECT UNDERTAKEN FOR ANY STREAM WORK WHERE THEY ACTUALLY SCOURED OUT ALL THE ROUTES, ALL THE STUMPS, UNLESS THEY HAD A PLAN TO REGRADE THE ENTIRE AREA.
AND IF THEY HAD A PLAN, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON PAPER.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TO GUESS THERE WAS NO PERMIT ON SITE.
SO I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT AGENCIES HAD SIGNED OFF ON IT.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF THERE WAS A PERMIT AND THAT'S HOW I STARTED MY INVESTIGATION.
UM, THIS HAS BEEN, UH, SO UNUSUAL, THE STRATEGY THAT, THAT THIS DESIGN SEEMS TO BE BASED ON HIS PAST PRINCIPLES OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY THE, UH, ACT OF DURING THE CLOSE OF THE LAST CENTURY, UH, FOR THE LAST 20, 25 YEARS, THE EVOLUTION OF ADDRESSING STREAM WORK HAS BEEN BASED ON NATURAL CHANNEL DESIGN, TECHNICALLY KNOWN AS ROSKIN GEO MORPHIC CHANNEL DESIGN, THIS THE DESIGN STANDARD YOU MUST MEET IN ORDER TO MEET THE EXPECTATIONS OF THE HAPPY CREEK COALITION AND CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL WITHOUT USING SOME STANDARD OF VELOCITY AND VOLUME AND TWO YEAR STORM EVENTS OR TEN-YEAR STORM EVENTS.
HOW CAN YOU DESIGN SOMETHING? YOU CAN'T NOT WITH A
[00:15:01]
FLUID, UH, SUCH AS A STREAM OR A RIVER OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.THIS IS, THIS IS A LIVE LITTLE, LITTLE BEAM, UH, AND YOU REALLY NEED TO ADDRESS IT AND SUCH, AND IT HAS TO BE STUDIED AND YOU HAVE TO DO CROSS SECTIONS AND POINT POINT CALCULATIONS.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I DON'T THINK ROBBIE HAS THE BACKGROUND TO KNOW THAT WHAT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO BE IN PLACE SO THAT HE HAS A SET OF PLANS IN HIS HAND THAT HE CAN FOLLOW BECAUSE WHAT HE WAS GIVEN, UH, WE CALL IT A NAPKIN PLAN AND IT'S BASICALLY SOMETHING THAT WAS DONE ON A COFFEE SHOP TABLE AND AN IDEAS WERE SPREAD OUT.
AND, UM, IF YOU LOOKED AT IT, YOU'D SEE THAT AREA LOOK LIKE IT WAS DONE WITH A MAGIC MARKER.
YOU KNOW, JUST INCREDIBLE, NO SURVEYS, NOTHING.
THERE'S STILL NOTHING TO SHOW ME WHERE THE SILK FENCE OR THE, THE TOP OF THE LOD IS OUT, OUT THERE ON SITE.
THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING, ALL YOUR CONTROLS THAT YOU CAN FIT IN, HAVE TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE YOU START A CHAINSAW BEFORE YOU DIG THE DIRT, EVERYTHING.
AND NONE OF THAT'S BEEN FOLLOWED.
I ASKED THAT, UH, WELL, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A LOT OF THINGS BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE MISSING.
UM, UH, SO WHEN I RESEARCHED IT, I TALKED TO VMRC, UH, VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION.
AND, UM, IT TOOK ME A LITTLE BIT, BUT HE FINALLY, UH, THE PERSON WHO HAD SIGNED OFF ON THE PERMIT SAID, WELL, WE DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER ANYTHING ABOVE HIGH WATER.
UH, OKAY, WELL THAT CHANGES MY DIRECTION IN CONTACTING YOU.
I CONTACTED DEQ AND THAT CONTACTED DACE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOMEHOW THIS, THIS PLAN GOT KIND OF SHUFFLED IN WITH A LOT OF OTHER THINGS BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF THE INI.
AND, UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY EXCEPT NOT GOOD, ESPECIALLY AS POOR AS IT WAS.
UM, THIS MEANS YOU BUY FINISHED PRODUCT, YOU BUY FINISHED, YOU'VE GONE OVER 30 MINUTES QUITE A BIT.
WELL THEN WHAT I'LL DO IS I'LL SIMPLY GIVE MY LAST PART.
UM, THERE IS NO NEED TO RIP RAP AND ARMOR THE ENTIRE FROM BANK TO BANK ROSKIN METHOD.
YOU HAVE SCOURING GOING ON UP TO FOUR TO FIVE FEET IN STREAM.
THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH.
IF YOU PUT IN THE RIGHT CONTROLS, YOU WON'T HAVE THESE PROBLEMS. YOU CAN, YOU CAN STILL EXCAVATE OUT THERE BY THE BRIDGE AND REMOVE SOME OF THIS MATERIAL, BUT WHAT'S THE POINT I'M PUTTING IT ALONG THE TOP OF THE BANK, EXCEPT YOU'RE DESTROYING WHAT SHOULD BE THERE.
AND THAT FLOOD PLAIN, REALLY YOU, IF YOU BLOCK THAT OFF, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? YOU'VE NOW SHOVED IT DOWN INTO EVERYBODY ELSE'S YARD PAST THE BRIDGE OR AT THE BRIDGE.
UM, DAVID, ARE YOU, ARE YOU ABOUT FINISHED PLACE? OKAY.
RASKIN JIM MORPHIC, CHANNEL DESIGN, VIRGINIA EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL HANDBOOK AND RIPARIAN BUFFERS MODIFICATION AND MITIGATION GUIDANCE MANUAL.
AND I ASK THAT YOU MAKE THOSE NEXT BIGGER PLACE.
MY NAME IS MARK
AND I'M HERE TODAY SPEAKING AS THE SHENANDOAH RIVER KEEPER.
UM, I'M HERE TO ALSO TALK ABOUT THE HAPPY CREEK PROJECT, VICE MERCY LOCK.
UM, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING OUT THIS PAST SATURDAY AND LISTENING TO OUR CONCERNS AND WALKING THE PROJECT AND SEEING IT FOR YOURSELF.
IT'S OBVIOUS BY NOW THAT ALL SIGNATORY SIGNATORIES TO THE CONSENT ORDER AND TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT COULD HAVE DONE BETTER AS CURRENTLY CONFIGURED THIS PROJECT DOES NOT MEET THE PURPOSE OF AN STP AND SEP IS TO PROVIDE TANGIBLE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS TO THE EFFECTED COMMUNITY OR ENVIRONMENT.
AND THIS DOES NOT MEET THAT OBJECTIVE.
I THINK ONE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO REVIEW ON THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEVER MADE IT INTO THE SAP.
AND THOSE ARE THE COMMENTS PROVIDED BY THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE RESOURCES, CONCERNING HAPPY CREEK.
[00:20:02]
WE RECOMMEND AVOIDANCE OF AS MUCH ESTABLISHED NATIVE VEGETATION, INCLUDING TREES AS POSSIBLE IS THEY PROVIDE STREAM BANK STABILIZATION, STREAM SHADING AND LEAF LITTER, WHERE TERM, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF AQUATIC HABITAT.WE RECOMMEND RESTORING ORIGINAL STREAM BED AND STREAM BANK CONTOURS.
REVEGETATING BARREN AREAS WITH NATIVE VEGETATION AND THE USE OF NATIVE SPECIES FOR ALL PLANNINGS.
AND THIS IS, UH, AND THEN THEY GO ON TO STATE.
WE RECOMMEND ALTERNATIVES TO THE CREATION OF A HARDENED SHORELINE.
THE USE OF RIPRAP AS SUCH AREAS CAN PROHIBIT ACCESS TO AQUATIC HABITATS ALONG STREAM MARGINS.
NONE OF THIS WAS DONE OR WILL BE DONE IF WE ALLOW THIS PROJECT TO CONTINUE AS IS URBAN GREEN SPACE IS SO CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
IT PROVIDES ECOLOGICAL BENEFITS AND HABITAT FOR THE, UM, FOR THE CREATURES THAT CALL HAPPY CREEK HOME, THE STOCK TROUT WATERS, JUST DOWNSTREAM OF THIS PROJECT.
IT NEEDS COOL CLEAN WATER FOR THOSE FISH TO SURVIVE.
AND THE 2,600 FEET OF LINEAR RIPRAP THAT'S 1300 FEET ON EACH SIDE, IT'S GOING TO ELEVATE WATER TEMPERATURES AND ABSORB ZERO RAINWATER AND ACTUALLY INCREASE THE SEDIMENT SEDIMENT LOAD ENTERING THE RIVER IN THE SCREEN SPACE.
IT ALSO PROVIDES IMPORTANT SOCIAL BENEFITS.
IT'S A PLACE FOR THE KIDS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD TO PLAY.
IT'S A PLACE FOR FOLKS TOGETHER TO RECREATE, TO COMMUNE WITH NATURE AND SOCIAL DISTANCE.
UM, IT FOSTERS A CONNECTION BETWEEN COMMUNITY RESONANCE AND A NATURAL ENVIRONMENT THAT SURROUNDS THEM.
AND IT ALLOWS FOR MORE LIVABLE FRONT WORLD, WHICH WILL TRANSLATE AND TO INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES AND A GREATER SENSE OF PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY.
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT OFTEN IN LIFE THAT WE GET A DO-OVER TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE CAN DO BETTER CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING.
THE STP CAN BE AMENDED AS LONG AS THE SIGNATORIES AGREED TO IT.
THE TOWN JUST NEEDS TO SUBMIT A LETTER REQUESTING THAT IT BE REVISED.
SO THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO HELP THE NATURAL LIFE RESIDING AND HAPPY CREEK.
AND THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF FOLKS LIVING AND WORKING IN FRONT ROYAL.
AND THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND PUT FORTH A PROJECT THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS JUST BRING TOGETHER ALL THE PARTIES TO THE SEP, ALONG WITH OUR URBAN FORESTRY ADVISORY COMMISSION, THE TREE CITY USA STEWARDS, AND THE OTHER CONCERNED CITIZENS AND NEIGHBORS, AND COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT ACTUALLY WORKS.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, MY NAME IS CHRIS ANDERSON.
I LIVE AT 1312 FARM V ROAD IN LOU RAY.
I AM THE PAGE AND WHARTON COUNTY COORDINATOR FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
THE ALLIANCE ADVOCATES EDUCATES AND CONNECTS PEOPLE TO CONSERVE THE NATURAL RESOURCES, CULTURAL HERITAGE, AND RURAL CHARACTER OF OUR AREA.
WE'VE BEEN DISAPPOINTED AT THE WORK WHICH OCCURRED ALONG HAPPY CREEK IN EVERYTHING WE SEEK BALANCE, INCLUDING OUR IMPACT ON THE LAND BY CUTTING THE TREES.
THE NATURAL ECOSYSTEM OF THE STREAM HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY ALTERED BY LINING THE BANKS WITH RIPRAP FURTHER WILL OCCUR AS RIP REP PROVIDES NO BENEFIT TO AQUATIC OR TERRESTRIAL ANIMALS, TREES AND SHRUBS ARE ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO PROTECT WATER QUALITY, SLOW AND MITIGATE STORM WATER, AND PROVIDE HABITAT FOR A HAPPY, HEALTHY ECOSYSTEM.
PLANTING AND PROTECTING RIPARIAN.
BUFFERS IS A WAY TO ACHIEVE BALANCE FOR WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY.
WE HOPE THAT THE TOWN COUNCIL WILL FIND BALANCE IN ITS PATH FORWARD AND CREATING A PLAN FOR THE STRETCH OF HAPPY CREEK, WHICH WAS CLEAR-CUT BALANCE AND A VISION FOR THE AREA THAT IS SHARED WITH THE CITIZENS AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS IN THE AREA.
WE LOOK, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE HAPPY CREEK A DEMONSTRATION SITE OF WHICH EVERYONE CAN BE PROUD.
I DO HAVE SOME INFORMATION TO SHARE WITH YOU ALL ON NATIVE PLANTS FOR REPAIRING AREAS AND ALSO, UM, WHY TREES ARE IMPORTANT INTERRUPT PERIOD AREA.
SO I WILL JUST LEAVE THEM WITH YOU ALL.
[00:25:01]
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.SUSAN SHEER HEART
I LIVE AT THREE 27 SILENT PLACE, AND TONIGHT I'M SPEAKING AS THE CHAIR OF THE FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY, APPALACHIAN TRAIL COMMUNITY COMMITTEE, UM, ARCHITECT AND APPALACHIAN TRAIL VISIONARY, BENTON MACKAY UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF THE TRAIL AS BEING MORE THAN A FOOT PATH, BUT INSTEAD IT'S A REALM OF PROTECTED LANDS.
HE UNDERSTOOD AFTER SEEING THE RAPID EXPANSION OF INDUSTRIALIZATION FIRSTHAND THAT A 2000 MILE FOOTPATH ALONE, AS IMPRESSIVE AS IT WAS, WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH IN ORDER TO PRESERVE THE TRAIL FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, A REALM OF FORESTS, CLEAN WATER AND OTHER SOURCES OF LIFE SURROUNDING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL THAT INCLUDE THRIVING TRAILSIDE COMMUNITIES AND A COMMUNITY OF NATURE.
ENTHUSIASTS MUST BE ESTABLISHED, NURTURED, AND PROTECTED.
AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHY I AM HERE TONIGHT.
THIS LITTLE STRETCH ALONG HAPPY CREEK IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THIS TRAIL SIDE COMMUNITY.
FIRST, IT IS PART OF THE TOWN'S GREENWAY TRAIL THAT WINDS THROUGH DIVERSE AREAS, CONNECTING GREENSPACES NEIGHBORHOODS AND HISTORIC MARKERS.
IT CONNECTS NOT ONLY PLACES, BUT PEOPLE AND TIME.
THE GREENWAY TRAIL ALSO SERVES AS CONNECT OR PATH TO TRAILS AND SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, INCLUDING THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL, LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE SOUTH STREET COMMERCE AVENUE CORNER IS THE DICKY RIDGE TRAIL HEAD THAT TAKES YOU UP INTO THE PARK.
A FEW MILES SOUTH ALONG ROUTE FIVE 22 FROM THIS LITTLE STRETCH OF HAPPY CREEK IS WHERE THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CROSSES ROUTE FIVE 22 HIKERS WILL EXIT THE TRAIL HERE AND EITHER HIKE INTO TOWN OR HOP ON THE TRIALING, A SHUTTLE OR HAIL A RIDE FROM HELPLESS CITIZEN TO PATRONIZE ALL THE VARIOUS BUSINESSES IN TOWN.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS THE FIRST MAJOR INTERSECTION OF TOWN THAT THESE HIKERS WILL COME TO SOUTH STREET AND COMMERCE AVENUE.
IT IS THEIR FIRST VIEW OF THE FRIENDLIEST TRAIL TOWN AS FRONT ROYAL WAS DESCRIBED BY THE, AT T HIKING COMMUNITY IN 2019.
IT IS ALSO THE FIRST MAJOR INTERSECTION OF VISITORS TRAVELING TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK.
THE ROUTE 52 WE'LL COME TO THIS IS THE FIRST VIEW.
THEY WILL HAVE A FRONT ROYAL AFTER PASSING SIGNS PROUDLY IDENTIFYING IT AS A TREE CITY, THE GATEWAY TO SKYLINE DRIVE AN APPALACHIAN TRAIL COMMUNITY, AND THE CANOE CAPITAL OF VIRGINIA AND PEOPLE ARE TRAVELING TO SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK IN RECORD NUMBERS, AN ARTICLE IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY DATED OCTOBER 3RD, 2020 SHARED THE RESULTS OF THE S ANNUAL REPORT THAT LISTED AN INCREASE OF VISITORS FOR 2020 JULY SAW A 38% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR.
THERE WAS 167,335 IN 2019 AND 232,473 VISITORS IN 2020 AUGUST HAD MORE THAN 216,000 VISITORS.
THE LAST TIME OVER 200,000 PEOPLE VISITED THE PARK IN ONE MONTH WAS IN 1998.
THE ARTICLE REPORTED THAT THE EFFECTS OF COVID WERE CERTAINLY PART OF THE INCREASE WITH PEOPLE SEEKING RESPITE AND MENTAL, PHYSICAL REJUVENATION IN THE OUTDOORS.
WHAT'S THE NOTATION THAT THESE VISITORS WERE NOT USING THE PARK AMENITIES LIKE LODGINGS OR RESTAURANTS IN RECORD NUMBERS.
SO WHERE WOULD THEY GO AFTER A DAY IN THE PARK NEARBY TOWNS, THE GATEWAY COMMUNITIES, WHERE THEY CAN CONTINUE TO ENJOY NOT NATURAL SURROUNDINGS ALONG WITH GREAT FOOD AND ENTERTAINMENT.
SO AS THE TOWN OF FRONT ROW RESPOND, RESPONDING TO THAT AND MAXIMIZING ITS POSITION AS A GATEWAY COMMUNITY, HOW DOES A CONSERVATION PROJECT THAT D GREENS, UH, GREENSPACE DO THAT? WHEN THE TOWN TOOK ACTION TO REBOOT THE ECONOMY AFTER THE COVID RESPONSE SHUTDOWN, THE PANT CAMPAIGN SLOGAN WAS HASHTAG BACK TO BUSINESS AND HASHTAG BACK TO NATURE.
MAIN STREET IS NOW CLOSE TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON WEEKENDS TO BE WELCOMED HOME WITH A VARIETY OF THEME DAYS TO ENTICE VISITORS TO MAIN STREET.
IN FACT, BACK TO NATURE, THEME DAY WAS HELD IN OCTOBER ONE OF THE MANY OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHTED THAT DAY WAS THE QUESTION AND DO A PROGRAM SPONSORED BY OUR ORGANIZATION.
AND THE MOST POPULAR QUEST OF THE DAY WAS THE ARBORETUM QUEST THAT RUNS RIGHT ALONG HAPPY CREEK.
IT'S HARD TO COMPREHEND THAT THE PRO PROPOSED FINAL PLAN AND LOOK OF THIS 1300 FEET OF HAPPY CREEK REFLECTS THIS IDENTITY THAT HAS BEEN PROMOTED A FRONT ROYAL AS A TRAIL TOWN, A TREE CITY, A GATEWAY COMMUNITY, AND AN OUTDOOR DESTINATION RECREATION AREA.
HE SENSES THAT IT IS A TOWN COMMITTED TO ITS NATURAL SPACES, NOT THIS IS WHERE THOSE NEEDING
[00:30:01]
TO ESCAPE FROM THE CONFINES OF DENSELY URBAN SPACES SHOULD COME TO GET BACK TO NATURE.THE FIRST THING THEY WILL SEE UPON ENTERING THE TOWN FROM ROUTE 55 IS A 1300 FOOT CHANNEL OF ROCK.
SOMETHING FOUND FREQUENTLY IN THOSE DENSELY URBAN LANDSCAPES.
YES, THE ROCKS ARE NATURAL ELEMENTS, AND I LOVE THEM.
HOWEVER, THIS PROPOSED USE AND DESIGN IS NOT ONE SHOULD FIND WHEN THEY GET BACK TO NATURE.
SO I DO URGE YOU TO PLEASE PAUSE ON THIS PROJECT AND RETHINK WHAT THIS FINAL LOOK SHOULD BE FOR OUR TOWN.
SO I'M MAD AT Y'ALL, BUT IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
SO I'M SONYA CARL BORG, TWO 10 WEST FIRST STREET, FRONT ROYAL.
UH, I'M HERE ALSO TO TALK ABOUT HAPPY CREEK AND, UM, I'M GOING TO SCRAP MY FIRST COMMENTS BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO ADDRESS IS I KEEP HEARING IT'S JUST LIKE THE EIGHTH STREET PROJECT AND IT IS, BUT THAT'S LIKE SAYING THESE, UH, CLOTHES THAT FOR THREE-YEAR-OLD OR ALSO FOR THE 12 YEAR OLD, IT'S TWO DIFFERENT SITES.
UM, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT YOUR PROBLEM ON EIGHTH STREET IS NOT SOLVED.
YOU HAVE TO REPLACE THAT LOW WATER BRIDGE.
AND IF YOU WANT TO WALK OVER THERE SOMETIME WITH MY HUSBAND, DAVID OR MYSELF, AND WE CAN SHOW YOU AROUND, WE CAN SHOW YOU WHY, WHAT THE PROBLEM REALLY IS.
YOU'VE ADDRESSED SYMPTOMS, BUT NOT THE PROBLEM.
SO BACK TO MY COMMENTS HERE, UM, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO MR.
UM, AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, I WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM EACH OF YOU, UH, SOMETHING THAT YOU LEARNED FROM THE WEBINAR OR FROM THE EVENT ON SATURDAY.
UM, I WOULD ALSO, I ALSO VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THAT THE TOWN CREW HAS STOPPED CUTTING TREES WITH TRUNKS FOUR INCHES OR GREATER IN DIAMETER.
FINALLY, ADHERING TO YOUR STATED COMMITMENT ON YOUR WEBSITE.
UM, THE MOST RECENTLY CUT SECTION ACTUALLY LOOKS PRETTY GOOD THE WAY THAT A PROPERLY MAINTAINED BUFFER SHOULD LOOK.
UM, BUT IN THE INTERIM WE HAVE LOST 161 TREES HAVE BEEN CUT THAT SHOULD HAVE REMAINED.
AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY WERE UPROOTED.
WE COULD NEVER COUNT THAT IF YOU GO DOWN THERE, YOU'LL SEE THAT MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE MEASURED THE DIAMETER OF EACH OF THE TREES AND MARKED IT IN, UM, A MAGIC MARKER ON THE STUMP.
SO MOST DISAPPOINTING IN THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN THE BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST IMPLICIT TO THIS PROJECT.
UM, THE FAILURE TO DISPLAY PERMITS ON SITE MAKES US WONDER WHAT ELSE IS HIDDEN? HOW HARD IS IT TO GET PERMITS ON A PIECE OF PLYWOOD AND STICK THEM OUT THERE AND A $34,000 PROJECT, UM, THE LACK OF PUBLIC INPUT BEFORE DEFACING A BELOVED PUBLIC SPACE, THE REGULATORY AGENCIES ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL AND YOUR CONSULTING ENGINEER'S FAILURE TO COMPILE A DESIGN, THE FELLOWS, EVEN THE MOST BASIC STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES.
HE OWES YOU A REFUND BIG TIME TO SAY NOTHING OF THE FAILURE OF THE, THE FAILURE TO CONSULT THE WEALTH OF EXPERTISE THAT WE HAVE RIGHT HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY FOR FREE YOUR OWN TOWN CODE STATES, THAT YOU MUST CONSULT YOUR OWN URBAN FORESTRY ADVISORY COMMISSION BEFORE MESSING WITH THE TREES ON PUBLIC LAND.
YET THE VAST KNOWLEDGE OF PEOPLE LIKE CARRIE HALL'S AND VINNIE RUSH WERE NEVER SOUGHT.
CARRIE, YOU WON'T BELIEVE THIS IS SENIOR URBAN FORESTER WITH WETLANDS STUDIES AND SOLUTIONS, A DIVISION OF DAVEY TREES, WHICH IS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR THE FIELD.
HE SITS THERE ON UFAC AND NO ONE'S TALKING TO HIM.
DOESN'T HE SOUND LIKE SOMEONE WHO WOULD, COULD HELP THE TOWN CREW LEARN SOMETHING ABOUT CONSTRUCTION AT A SITE THAT COMBINES TREES AND WATER, BUT THEIR NAMES AREN'T EVEN ON THE TOWN WEBSITE.
WHY NOT GIVING YOU THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT? I ASSUME A PERFECT STORM OF ERRORS.
UM, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, POOR ADVICE.
THERE WAS A CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT PLACED IN THE NORTH, IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY, BUT GUESS WHAT? WE WERE ALL BUSY, UH, BLEACHING OUR COUNTERS.
UM, AND YES, WE'RE ALL HEARING FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO THINK THE BAD HAIRCUT IS PRETTY.
BUT WHEN I EXPLAIN THAT MORE, THAT MORE THAN PRETTY IS AT STAKE, THEY USUALLY ARE LIKE, OH, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
SO IT BECOMES A QUESTION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AS COMMUNITY LEADERS, YOU SHOULD BE ALL OVER THAT.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THE CEP HAS NO FUNDS FOR PLANTING TREES, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE AT THIS POINT THAT DEQ WILL BE EAGER TO ENTERTAIN A PROJECT EXTENSION AND THE COST OF REVENGE.
REVEGETATION UM, I'M JUST GOING TO PICK ONE MORE POINT HERE.
AND THAT IS THAT, UM, I PRE COVID.
I WALKED THE HAPPY CREEK GREENWAY ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
[00:35:01]
I MET PLENTY OF PEOPLE ENJOYING THE STROLL, IT JUST GETTING FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER.I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE I SUSPECT ARE HOMELESS THERE AS WELL, AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN POLITE.
AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN POLITE.
HOWEVER, CHOPPING DOWN TREES IS NOT THE APPROPRIATE POLICY TO ADDRESS THEIR SITUATION FOR THAT.
YOU NEED TO VISIT OUR SHELTERS, TALK WITH THE GOOD PEOPLE WHO RUN THEM AND LISTEN TO THE HOMELESS THEMSELVES.
NO ONE SHOULD, AND I WILL STOP THERE.
UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.
I'M DAVID BROTMAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FRIENDS OF THE NORTH FORK OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVER.
I USED TO RUN MY CUSTOM WOOD SHOP ABOVE MAC MCINTYRE DOWNTOWN HERE ON MAIN STREET.
I LIVE ON NINE 38 SHANGRILA ROAD BENTONVILLE.
UM, I'D LIKE TO TALK TONIGHT ABOUT DAMAGE CONTROL FOR THE PROJECT, THAT HAPPY CREEK, UM, EXTENDING FROM THE CURRENT PROJECT.
HERE'S A SHORT LIST OF DAMAGES WORTH NOTICE NOTING, UM, FIRST EXPANDING ON WHAT SONIA WAS SAYING ABOUT TRUST BECAUSE THIS WORK STARTED WITH, UH, WITHOUT POSTING PERMITS OR CONTACTING NEIGHBORS OR THE UFAC OR BRAINSTORMING WITH OUR CO-INVESTORS ABOUT REMOVING THEIR INVESTMENTS WITHOUT REGARD FOR WHAT HAD GROWN FROM THEM FOR THESE REASONS.
AND MORE TRUST HAS BEEN DAMAGED.
THE CURRENT SITE WORK HAS UNDONE THE WORK AGREEMENTS AND INVESTMENTS OF AT LEAST 15 ORGANIZATIONS, FIVE OF THEM BEARING THE TOWN'S NAME, INCLUDING THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL ITSELF.
SO LOCAL TAXPAYERS DOLLARS ARE AT PLAY HERE AS IS LOCAL DECISION-MAKING PROCESSES AND POLICIES HAPPY CREEK.
AND THE INITIATIVE OF THE PEOPLE IN FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY ALSO GARNERED THE HELP OF VIRGINIA'S DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND OF GAME AND INLAND FISHERIES.
WHEN $17,000 WERE INVESTED IN THIS SHOWCASE WATERSHED, THERE IS CURRENTLY A DOF GRANT THAT WOULD FIT ABSOLUTELY PERFECTLY WITH THIS SITE AND AT ZERO COSTS, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO THE TOWN OR ITS CITIZENS.
WE CAN NOW NOT APPLY FOR THIS SITE, UM, AND STILL BE GIVEN SERIOUS CONSIDERATION.
AND I THINK THE REASONING FOR THAT SHOULD STAND CLEAR.
SECOND NOTEWORTHY SITE FOR OUTDOOR EDUCATION HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND RIGHT WHEN WE NEED SUCH PLACES MORE THAN EVER THE DEQ, THE CAC UPON INSTITUTE AND THE PURE WATER FORUM HAVE ALL SHOWCASED THIS VERY STRETCH OF HAPPY CREEK AS A DEMONSTRATION OF BOTH SOUND ENGINEERING AND A HEALTHY WATERWAY FOR AT LEAST FIVE YEARS.
GOVERNOR SCHOOL CHILDREN HAVE COME TO TEST THE WATER QUALITY OF HAPPY CREEK.
THEIR WORK ADDS TO OUR ABILITY TO CARE FOR PERHAPS THE MOST WELL-KNOWN AND BELOVED RIVER IN THE NATION AS PROPOSED THE PLAN CHANNEL WOULD NOT REPLENISH THAT VALUABLE EDUCATION RESOURCE, BUT INSTEAD STRIP IT AWAY.
IF WE ENLIST KNOWLEDGE THAT IS AVAILABLE TO US, THIRD CAR IMAGE AND OUR VALUES BOTH HAD SUSTAINED DAMAGE HERE.
MOST OF US VALUE OPEN SPACES AND NATURAL LANDSCAPES OF THE VALLEY OVER THE CONCRETE OF THE CITIES.
THAT SAME VALUE IS THE REASON SOME HUNDRED PLUS THOUSAND VISITORS OF SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK DRIVE RIGHT THROUGH FRONT ROYAL, RIGHT PAST THIS SITE.
IF WE WANT THEIR ATTENTION TO UPLIFT OUR ECONOMY THAN THE VERY GREEN VALLEY, WE LOVE SHOULD BE SHOWN OFF TO OUR GUESTS AS WELL.
AND TO SHOW THAT WE MEAN TO CARE FOR IT, PUT OUT THE GOOD CHINA WHEN THEY COME AND KEEP IT ON THE TABLE FOR OUR OWN ENJOYMENT.
WHEN THEY LEAVE THIS SITE, THIS SPECIFIC CORNER OF TOWN IS FRONT ROYAL'S FRONT DOOR, WHETHER YOU'RE COMING FOR A VISIT OR COMING HOME.
WHEN YOU SEE THE FRONT DOOR OF YOUR HOME, YOUR HOMES, HOW DO YOU FEEL AND HOW DO YOU WANT YOUR GUESTS TO FEEL WHEN THEY COME TO YOUR HOME AND YOUR CHILDREN? WHEN THEY COME HOME, THE GREENWAY ALONG HAPPY CREEK AT ITS ENTRANCEWAY HAS BEEN, HAS AT THIS ENTRANCEWAY HAS BEEN OUR REEF AND WE JUST TOOK THE WREATH OFF THE DOOR.
I DON'T BELIEVE THE PROPOSED ROCK CHANNEL WILL HAVE THE SAME WELCOMING IMPACT.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE COURSE AND REDESIGN THIS INTO SOMETHING WE CAN BE PROUD OF.
AND I RESPECTFULLY ASK THAT YOU INVITE MYSELF AND OR OTHERS TO THE TABLE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT YOU REPRESENT TO DECIDE TOGETHER HOW WE, HOW WE WANT TO MINIMIZE THE DAMAGE AND MAXIMIZE OUR COMMON VALUES.
[00:40:12]
GOOD EVENING.MY NAME'S MELODY HOLTEC AND I'M AT 1879 CATLETT MOUNTAIN ROAD.
TWO WEEKS AGO, I STOOD BEFORE YOU TO BRING CONCERNS FROM CITIZENS AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENVIRONMENT GROUPS ABOUT THE DESTRUCTION OF HAPPY GREEK, WHAT FOLLOWED WAS AN OFFER OF A MEETING.
AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT A MEETING NEVER GOT SET UP RATHER THAN AN EARNEST COMMUNICATION.
IT SEEMED TO BE A HOLLOW ATTEMPT TO PLACATE.
THE VOICES A LOT HAS HAPPENED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS.
AND TODAY I STAND BEFORE YOU WITH EVEN MORE ORGANIZATIONS AND MORE VOICES OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
WE'VE SPOKEN WITH THE RESIDENTS ON FRONT FRONT STREET MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND REACHED OUT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA.
FOR FEEDBACK, WE HAVE HELD AN EDUCATIONAL WEBINAR THAT MS COCKRELL ATTENDED AND A PUBLIC EVENT FOR THE CITIZENS TO MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD JUST ON SATURDAY THAT MR.
THE, THE SATURDAY EVENT WAS FOR A NUMBER OF CITIZENS, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FOR THEM TO LEARN ABOUT THE PROS AND CONS OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE AT HAPPY CREEK TONIGHT, WE REPRESENT AN EVER-GROWING OUTCRY OVER THE LOSS OF THIS SPECIAL SPACE.
THE RESIDENTS DON'T WANT ROCK WALLS.
THEY WANT BACK THE TRANQUIL PATH.
THEY WANT TO PLAY IN THE CREEK.
THEY WANT THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT THE PEOPLE OF FRONT LORE ROYAL LOVES SO MUCH.
I'M WONDERING IF YOU'RE AWARE OF THE HISTORY OF THE SPACE ALONG THE CREEK, THIS HISTORIC AND EDUCATIONAL SIGN ALONG FRONT ROYAL ALONG FRONT STREET OUTLINES THE BENEFITS OF A PROPER RIPARIAN BUFFER ZONE AND DESCRIBES THE WORK THAT DONE TO INSTALL ROCK VEINS BACK IN 2008.
IT PROUDLY BOASTS OF COMMUNITY COLLABORATION AND FUNDING BETWEEN THE TOWN COUNCIL COUNTY PARKS.
UFAC THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND INLAND FISHERIES, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY TROUT UNLIMITED THE BOY SCOUTS AND EIGHT LOCAL NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN CLUBS.
THIS RIPARIAN BUFFER ZONE WAS A MODEL SOURCE OF PRIDE AND AN EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
IT SHOWED FORWARD THINKING BACK IN 2008, BY THE COUNCIL RIPARIAN BUFFER ZONES LIKE THESE ALONG HAPPY CREEK OR THE ENVY OF MANY SURROUNDING TOWNS WHO ARE LEARNING TO REMOVE THEIR ROCK AND REPLACE THEM WITH WHAT WE HAD 12 YEARS AGO, WE WERE ABLE TO COLLABORATE SO SURELY WE CAN COME TO THE TABLE IN 2020, WE CAN COMPROMISE.
AND THE PASSIONATE SPEAKERS THAT YOU'RE HEARING TONIGHT ARE HERE TO HELP.
AND WE CAN SAVE THE TOWN FROM UNNECESSARY EXPENDITURES.
THIS IS AND A DETAILED LIST, BUT IN SIMPLE TERMS, THESE ARE THE KEY POINTS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
WE'RE ASKING FOR AN EXTENSION OF THE DECEMBER DEADLINE, WHILE A NEW STEP CAN BE PUT INTO PLACE.
WE ASK THAT YOU USE THE RIP RAP THAT ROCK THOSE LARGE ROCKS ON THE SIDES OF THE BRIDGES.
ACCORDING TO V DOT STANDARDS, NOT FOR LINING BOTH BANKS AS SET OUT IN THE ORIGINAL PLAN, LEAVE EXISTING STUMPS IN PLACE TO STABILIZE THE SOIL, REDUCE EROSION AND ALLOW FOR REGENERATIVE GROWTH, REPLANT, NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS.
AND WE SPOKE TO ON SATURDAY TO MANY CITIZENS WHO ARE READY TO GET IN THERE AND PLANT SOME TREES.
AND PLEASE RE-ENGAGE THE PUBLIC.
CLEARLY THE COUNCIL HAS BEEN GIVEN BAD ADVICE AND A BAD PLAN BY ITS EMPLOYEES AND CONTRACTORS.
NOW IT FALLS TO YOU TO STOP FURTHER DESTRUCTION.
WILL YOUR LEGACY BE THAT OF INFLICTING A BLIGHT ON THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL? RATHER LET YOUR LEGACY BE THAT OF LISTENED TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
A LEGACY OF HAVING, HAVING TAKEN THE REINS TO COLLABORATE.
AND ONCE AGAIN, BE THAT FORWARD THINKING COUNSEL, WE HAVE FAITH IN YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU CAN MAKE THIS RIGHT.
[00:45:11]
KIM RADEK AND SIX ZERO SEVEN NINE STONEWALL JACKSON HIGHWAY FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA.I APOLOGIZE FOR THE NEXT PHRASE, BUT I FEEL IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND AND SITUATION PINKS AND A BLANKET, FRY THEM LIKE BACON GREEN, LASER LIGHTS BEING SHOWN INTO THE POLICE.
OFFICER'S FACES AND EYES, POLICE OFFICERS BEING CALLED TO RESPOND TO AN INCIDENT.
THEY ARRIVE ONLY TO BE SHOT DEAD.
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON THE OFFICER IN QUESTION, HIS PERSONAL INFORMATION AND HIS PERSONAL POSTS WERE DOXED SIMPLE AS THAT.
WHEN HE FOUND OUT AN UGLY TRUTH THAT PEOPLE DO SAY UGLY THINGS, AND THE PEOPLE RESPONDED TO IT.
WHEN HAS ANYBODY BROUGHT UP A FACT THAT THIS INFORMATION WAS BROUGHT OUT BY A N T FUCK GROUP, AND AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE TOWN IN FRONT ROYAL TOWN MANAGER, DO THEIR JOBS AND INVESTIGATING THIS AND WE ENCOURAGE IT, BUT WE MUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION WHETHER WE LIKED THE COMMENTS OR DON'T AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS WE MUST TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION.
THIS INDIVIDUAL'S CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH.
THE THINGS THAT HE SAY SAYS CAUSES ME TO SHAKE MY HEAD AND DISCUSS, BUT HERE IN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, NONE OF DEMOCRACY WHEN OUR CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, UNFORTUNATELY, THAT ISN'T EVENTUAL HAS A RIGHT TO SAY THOSE THINGS.
NOW, SHOULD HE HAVE POSTED HIS SELF DRESSED IN A POLICE UNIFORM THAT GIVES THE APPEARANCE OF ACCEPTANCE BY THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND THE FRONT ROYAL POLICE? I DON'T THINK SO.
I DON'T THINK HE SHOULD HAVE USED HIS BADGE OR HIS UNIFORM MONTH-END POINT IS UNLESS HE'S RESTRICTED BY THE TOWN OF FRONT ROW.
NO, AND THEY HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL TO NOT BRING ON A WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWSUIT.
THE POINT I WANT TO MAKE IS WHEN YOU MUST BE CAREFUL, WE MUST TREND THAT THIN LINE BETWEEN DOING THE RIGHT THING, RECOGNIZING HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS TO FREE SPEECH.
I SERVED IN THE NAVY AND I FOUGHT FOR THOSE RIGHTS.
I SIMPLY ASKED AT THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DO DUE DILIGENCE TO THIS INDIVIDUAL AND WALK THAT THIN LINE TO ENSURE THAT HIS CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED AND THAT WE DO NOT OPEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO ANY WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWSUIT.
ONCE YOU HEAR NOT EMPHASIZE, DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, BUT AS AN AMERICAN CITIZEN AND A CITIZEN OF THIS CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC, HE HAD THE RIGHT TO SAY IT.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR TOWN COUNCIL.
I'M HERE, UH, I GUESS BECAUSE OF OUR BUSINESS AT ONE 17 EAST MAIN STREET.
UM, FIRST I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SWIFT ACTION IN HELPING TO SAVE THE RESTAURANTS ON MAIN STREET BACK IN THE SPRING.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY ENTREPRENEURIAL OF YOU GUYS AND YOU SWOOPED IN AND YOU MADE IT SO THE RESTAURANTS COULD PUT SEATING OUTSIDE.
BUT THE TIME HAS COME FOR US TO ROLL THAT THING UP.
[00:50:01]
I READ WITH A LITTLE BIT OF ALARM THAT EITHER YOU WERE HAD APPROVED OR WERE CONSIDERING APPROVING, EXTENDING THAT THROUGH DECEMBER.WELL, I JUST TOOK MY JACKET OFF CAUSE IT'S REALLY COLD OUT THERE TONIGHT.
AND I, I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO GET A LOT WARMER AND I DON'T REALLY THINK SEATING OUTSIDE IN DECEMBER.
SO I WOULD URGE YOU TO COME UP WITH SOME SORT OF BETTER PLAN THAN CLOSING THE STREET.
I THINK THE, THE, UH, ECONOMIES OF SCALE WE'VE PASSED THOSE NOW, WHERE THERE ARE SOME INCREMENTAL REVENUES.
IF THE WEATHER IS ABSOLUTELY PERFECT, OF COURSE, BUT AS SOON AS THE SUN GOES DOWN, THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S CHILLY.
AND I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS, IS, YOU KNOW, EITHER HAS LITTLE FURNACES OR OUTSIDE, YOU KNOW, WARMERS, AND THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE A WAY TO HOLD THAT HEAT IN.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON FUEL, TRYING TO HEAT OUTSIDE.
I THINK A BETTER APPROACH MIGHT BE FOR YOU GUYS TO HAVE MAYBE A MORE LIBERAL APPROACH TO USE OF THE SIDEWALKS BECAUSE LET'S FACE IT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO NEED AS MUCH SEATING AS WE DID IN JUNE.
SO PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, MORE TABLE SEATING ON SIDEWALKS AND LEAVE THE STREET OPEN.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULDN'T BE THAT HARD TO DO.
MOST OF THE BUSINESSES ARE CLOSED IN THE EVENING AND DURING THE DAY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY GET PERMISSION FROM THE ADJACENT BUSINESSES, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THEY CAN SET UP IN FRONT OF THE ADJACENT BUSINESSES, MAYBE EVEN A FEW PARKING SPACES COULD BE UTILIZED, BUT A FULL STREET CLOSURE IN DECEMBER, JANUARY, FEBRUARY DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY OPINION.
AND I THINK THE TOWN IS SPENDING QUITE A BIT OF MONEY ON THIS.
SO THAT WOULD TAKE ME TO MY NEXT THING IS OF FULL STREET CLOSURE OF MAIN STREET.
MAYBE WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THAT SOMETIME, BUT NOT NOW.
I WILL SIT DOWN AND HELP PLANS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
IF, YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT, BUT THE THEATER HAS LOST $350,000 THIS YEAR.
AND YOU KNOW, WHAT, IF THE STREET WAS OPEN, IT WOULDN'T HAVE MATTERED.
CAUSE WE REALLY HAVEN'T HAD STUDIO RELEASES, BUT THEY ARE STARTING TO COME OUT NOW.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND WE DO WANT MOMS AND DADS TO BE ABLE TO LET THEIR KIDS OFF IN FRONT OF THE THEATER OR MAYBE THEIR SENIOR PARENTS.
SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO WALK SO FAR AS MS. IRENA MENTIONED EARLIER, AND WE JUST WANT TO TRY AND HOPEFULLY START BACK TO NORMAL.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER THAT, SORRY, I'M GOING TO GO OVER CAUSE I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT ONE OTHER THING AND THAT'S THE CARES ACT FUNDS.
UH, THANK YOU FOR THOSE AS WELL.
WHAT YOU DID FOR, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE BUSINESSES THAT SUFFERED.
UM, BUT AS I JUST MENTIONED, WE'VE LOST $350,000 IN REVENUE THAT'S REVENUE.
UM, AND WE'VE LOST A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AT OUR BOWLING CENTER.
SO OVER HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IS MISSING FROM OUR BUSINESS MODEL.
SO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DID WITH THE FIRST ROUND OF CARES ACT MONEY.
IF I HAD BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN, I WOULD HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE FOR $40,000 PER BUSINESS.
SO IT WAS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEING IN TOWN, MAYBE NEEDED A BIGGER ALLOCATION FROM THE COUNTY.
I'M NOT SURE, BUT I WOULD URGE YOU.
YOU GOT A SECOND ROUND OF CARES, ACT MONEY.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET THAT OUT TO BUSINESSES.
UM, I, MY, MY THEATER BUSINESS IS DOWN 70%.
IF YOU GUYS WERE DOWN 70%, IT'S HUGE.
UH, LET'S GET HERE 20, 21, BUT I'VE TAKEN TOO MUCH TIME.
HAVEN'T I SEEN ME NEXT PAPER, PLEASE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW PEOPLE DEAL WITH THESE, UH, NASCAR ON, BUT I'LL DO MY BEST.
UH, BRUCE RAPPAPORT, 300 WEST MAIN STREET, FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA.
[00:55:01]
ABOUT THE HAPPY CREEK COALITION ISSUE TONIGHT, AND YOU'VE HEARD THE EXPERT.I'M NO EXPERT IN LUMINOL OR GEOLOGY, BUT, UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF SMART PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND YOU SHOULD HEAR WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY, BUT, UH, I HAVE A STATEMENT TONIGHT AND E INFAMOUS WORDS OF THE LATE JOHN LEWIS.
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING WRONG, SAY SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING.
I ATTENDED THIS SAVE HAPPY CREEK COALITION DEMONSTRATION AND SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21ST, AND WAS APPALLED BY THE DESTRUCTION DONE TO THE CREEK BANK.
THE VEGETATED RIPARIAN BUFFER ALL FOR SHADE TO PARTIALLY PROTECT THE CREEK FROM THE IMPACT OF ADJACENT LAND USES.
IT PLAYS ROLE IN INCREASING WATER QUALITY IN OUR STREAMS, RIVERS, AND OTHER ASSOCIATED WATERWAYS THAT SUPPORT THE COALITION'S POSITION FOR EROSION PREVENTION VIA REGROUP BY LEAVING THE EXISTING STUMPS IN PLACE TO PREVENT FURTHER CREEK BANK EROSION, AS WELL AS PLANTING NATIVE GRASSES IN THE AREAS WHERE ROOTS WERE REMOVED FOR AT LEAST A COUPLE OF YEARS, WHILE NATIVE TREES AND SHRUBS CAN REESTABLISH THEMSELVES.
FURTHERMORE, I SUPPORT THE COALITION SUGGESTION TO ONLY USE RIP RAP ROCK IN A VERY LIMITED SETTING, MAINLY NEAR THE BRIDGES, BUT ONLY UNDER CONSERVATIONIST SUPERVISION WHERE THEY ARE SPACED APPROPRIATELY, THEREBY ALLOWING NATIVE VEGETATION GROWTH BETWEEN THE ROCKS TO HELP SECURE THE CREEK BANKS.
ALSO A SUPPORT THE COALITION SUGGESTION TO LEAVE THE CREEK'S BENCH IN PLACE SO THAT FLOOD WATERS CAN NATURALLY SPREAD OUT THEREBY FORMING PUDDLES AS IT RECEDES, WHICH WILL IN TURN FEED NATIVE TREE ROOTS AND OTHER NATIVE VEGETATION.
I'M ENCOURAGING COUNCIL TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED BY THE HAPPY CREEK COALITION ENDORSED BY THE DEQ VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN ORDER TO MITIGATE THE DAMAGE CAUSED TO OUR RIPARIAN BUFFER BY THE PROJECTS, LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT.
IN CLOSING, THE ONLY SITTING COUNCILMAN OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL I SAW AT THE EVENT WAS BILL CEYLON.
AND THEN WITH THAT SAID, I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR ENGAGING HIS INTEREST IN THIS VERY IMPORTANT SUBJECT MATTER IN MEANT A LOT, BILL.
PAUL GABBERT FALL GAVRIK ONE, TWO, TWO, ONE VALLEY VIEW DRIVE.
GOOD EVENING, MR. MAYOR COUNCIL LIKE, UM, WAS JUST SAID, THANK YOU BILL FOR BEING THERE ON SATURDAY.
IT WAS APPRECIATED AT THE LAST MEETING.
WHEN I WAS UP HERE, I WAS CALLED DISRESPECTFUL FROM MY TALKING TO THE INTERIM TOWN MANAGER AND I WAS CALLED DISRESPECTFUL BY A COUNCILMAN.
TO ME, RESPECT IS EARNED, NOT GIVEN.
SO I WOULD SAY THE COUNCIL IS RIGHT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING TO EARN MY RESPECT.
BUT IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT DISRESPECT, LET'S TALK ABOUT HAPPY CREEK, THE CLEAR CUTTING OF TREES, THE LACK OF CARE FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, THE LACK OF CARING FOR THE ECOSYSTEM, THE LACK OF CARING FOR WILDLIFE, THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CREEK BANK STABILIZATION AND FLOODING.
WHEN BOTH OF THESE WERE BEING TAKEN CARE OF BY NATURAL ELEMENTS, THIS DEVASTATION IS ON YOU.
THE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL AND THE INTERIM TOWN MANAGER, HAPPY CREEK DOES NOT BELONG TO THE SEVEN OF YOU.
IT BELONGS TO ALL OF US AND MOTHER NATURE.
SO IN THE FUTURE DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND NOT JUST FOLLOW ONE, MAN, EACH OF YOU HAVE A MIND OF YOUR OWN USE THAT AND DON'T FOLLOW A TERMINATOR.
ALSO THE SAID PURPOSE OF DOING THIS DEVASTATION WAS FOR FLOODING ISSUES.
THE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE ABOUT THE CURRENT FLOODING ISSUES ARE TRUE TO FORM FALSEHOODS.
[01:00:01]
COME TO EXPECT THE CITIZENS KNOW THE FACTS ABOUT FLOODING AT THIS PART OF THE CREEK.THE COUNCIL AND THE INTERIM TOWN MANAGER ALSO KNOW THAT FLOODING IS NOT AN ISSUE AT THIS PART OF THE CREEK.
AND YET THE DEVASTATION WAS STILL DONE UNDER THE FALSE WHO HAD A FLOODING, JUST ANOTHER WASTE OF TAXPAYER'S MONEY TO THE CITIZENS.
THIS, THESE ARE PLAIN SIMPLE AND EASY TO SEE FACTS, BUT YET YOU WANT RESPECT THE NES RESPECT.
HOBBLE BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION IS A COUNCIL MEMBER WHO USED HIS SEAT TO VOTE.
YES FOR HIS EMPLOYER TO BUILD A NEW HOSPITAL THAT IS NO MORE THAN AN OVERPRICED EMERGENCY ROOM WITH NO BIRTHING DEPARTMENT.
IT WAS SAID BY THE TOWN ATTORNEY.
THIS WAS NOT A CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
ALTHOUGH THE SAME COUNCIL MEMBER WITHDREW HIMSELF FROM VOTING ON SIGNAGE FOR THE SAME HOSPITAL, USING THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
RESPECT IS EARNED, NOT JUST GIVEN.
I WANTED TO BRING A PIECE OF PAPER.
MAYBE I CAN GET ONE
THIS IS YOUR NICE LITTLE YARD WITH TREES WITH BUSHES, YOUR NICE LITTLE PARADISE.
WE, THE TAXPAYERS COME IN, TEAR EVERYTHING UP.
TREES, SHRUBS, EVERYTHING, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
WE'LL MAKE A BEAUTIFUL, WE'LL PUT SOME ROCKS DOWN AND BRING IT BACK.
I LIVE AT NINE 39 SOUTH MARSHALL STREET OWN A BUSINESS AT ONE OH FIVE EAST MAIN STREET.
AND THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TO TALK TO YOU TODAY.
I WANT TO REITERATE WHAT RICK NOVAK SAID ABOUT THE CARES ACT.
YOU WERE ABLE TO GIVE US DURING THIS TIME.
I LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS JUST RECENTLY.
30% OF WHAT I MADE LAST YEAR IS WHAT I'M MAKING THIS YEAR.
SO WHEN I READ IN THE PAPER THAT AN AGREEMENT THAT WE ALL HAD EARLIER THIS YEAR TO CLOSE THE STREET UNTIL THE END OF AT FIRST, IT WAS SEPTEMBER.
THEN IT WAS EXTENDED TO NOVEMBER.
NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLOSING IT UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR.
I'M APPALLED THAT THAT DECISION MAY BE MADE WITHOUT ANY OF YOU WALKING INTO MY BUSINESS AND SAY ANYTHING TO ME ABOUT IT.
I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE TO FACE THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET THAT MAY LOSE THEM.
IF WE DON'T OPEN THE STREET, THERE'S PLENTY OF SIDEWALK SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK.
IF I WANTED A BUSINESS ON A WALKING MALL, I'D HAVE BUILT MY BUSINESS ON A WALKING MALL.
I WANTED MY BUSINESS ON AN ACTIVE MAIN STREET, WHICH I'VE HAD IN THAT SAME LOCATION FOR 14 YEARS.
MAKING A LIVING AS AN ARTIST IN A SMALL TOWN IS NOT EASY, BUT I'VE DONE IT.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE ENJOYED THE LOCATION.
I THINK THEY'VE ENJOYED WHAT WE DO AT THE STUDIO, BUT IF WE CLOSE THAT STREET, YOU'RE GOING TO END SOME SMALL BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET.
AND IS THAT WHAT WE WANT? DO WE WANT TO CLOSE MAIN STREET AND ONLY HAVE RESTAURANTS ON MAIN STREET? THAT'S NOT AN ACTIVE STREET.
WE NEED A STREET THAT'S OPEN SO PEOPLE CAN DRIVE DOWN AND SEE WHAT'S THERE.
I HAPPENED TO BE AT THE END OF MAIN STREET, RIGHT ACROSS FROM TOWN HALL.
SO I SEE A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING IN AND OUT OF TOWN HALL WHO COMES IN, WHO GOES OUT.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT THAT YOU WONDER WHY THE HECK ARE THEY IN THERE SO MUCH ALL THE TIME.
I ALSO SEE CARS THAT TURN IN, IN FRONT OF THE COURTHOUSE TO COME DOWN MAIN STREET ON THE WEEKENDS WITHOUT A STATE TAGS.
AND THEN THEY STOP BECAUSE THERE'S A BARRIER SIGNS HAVE LED THEM TO MAIN STREET TO COME TO THE VISITOR CENTER, TO COME TO MAIN STREET.
THEY TURN IN AND THEY'RE BLOCKED.
AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH SIGNAGE AND ARROWS YOU PUT THERE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HELP.
PEOPLE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DRIVE DOWN MAIN STREET.
THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO WALK DOWN MAIN STREET.
AND IF YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE A DECISION AS SERIOUS AS A DECISION TO CLOSE
[01:05:01]
MAIN STREET, POSSIBLY TO MAKE IT A WALKING MALL.AND WHAT I JUST RECENTLY READ FOR GOOD, WHICH I HOPE IS CERTAINLY NOT THE CASE, BUT IF YOU DO THAT WITHOUT COMING INTO MY BUSINESS AND TALKING TO ME, THEN SHAME ON, IT'S HARD TO MAKE A BUSINESS IN A SMALL TOWN WORK, SHAME ON YOU.
IF YOU CAN'T COME LOOK ME IN THE EYE AND TALK TO ME ABOUT MY BUSINESS.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY I MAKE A LIVING.
SMALL BUSINESSES NEED TO HAVE THOSE CARS COMING UP AND DOWN THE STREET.
BEING ABLE TO PARK THERE, COME IN AND OUT OF OUR SHOPS.
I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE COME TALK TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS BEFORE YOU MAKE THIS DECISION.
THANK YOU, SUE LAWRENCE, GET ANYTHING.
I OWN THE PROPERTY AT FOUR OH THREE EAST MAIN STREET IN FOUR OR FIVE EATS MAIN STREET.
WE'RE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING.
AND EVERY DECISION THAT'S MADE, SOME OF US WEREN'T ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE CARES ACT BECAUSE OUR BUSINESSES HADN'T BEEN OPEN LONG ENOUGH, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH ABOUT THE MAIN STREET CLOSURE OF THE PAST FIVE MONTHS.
THOSE OPPOSED HAVE INSISTED THAT THE CLOSURE IS KILLING SMALL BUSINESSES.
THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ABOUT PARKING IN HANDICAPPED SPOTS ON MAIN STREET THAT ELLER ELDERLY CUSTOMERS CAN NOT CAN NOT ACCESS.
BUT REMEMBER THERE ARE ONLY FOUR HANDICAP PARKING SPOTS ON MAIN STREET, NOT INCLUDING THE GAZEBO SPOTS, BUT IS IT THE STREET CLOSURE OR IS IT COVERED THE COVID CLOSURE? MAKING THE DIFFERENCE HERE? THERE ARE A FEW OLDER BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET THAT DESPAIR JEFFERTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE TO THRIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
MOST OF THE BUSINESSES HAVE NOT SEEMED TO CHANGE THE WAY THEY DO THINGS.
WE WORRIED EARLIER THIS YEAR ABOUT THE UNSURITY AND THE STREET CLOSING.
BUT ONCE A DECISION WAS MADE, MANY OF US COULD SEE A WAY FORWARD THRIVING BUSINESSES, OR AT LEAST THOSE NOT DROWNING THIS YEAR HAVE ADAPTED TO CHANGES.
ALL COMPANIES HAVE HAD MAKE CHANGES THIS YEAR.
AND SADLY THERE WAS NOT WILLING TO ADAPT, WILL FAIL COMMON MISTAKES THAT SMALL BUSINESSES MAKE IN TIMES LIKE THESE WE'VE GOTTEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN, TRIED TO EXPLAIN, TRIED TO GET OUR POINT ACROSS, SORRY, FAILURE TO MARKET ONLINE FAILURE TO LISTEN TO THE CUSTOMER'S FAILURE TO LEVERAGE GROWTH.
OFFLINE MARKETING EFFORTS HAVE HAD SHORT TERM IMPACT.
ONLINE MARKETING EFFORTS CAN LAST A LONG TIME FAILURE TO ADAPT AND GROW WHEN THE MARKET CHANGES AND FAILURE TO TRACK AND MEASURE MARKETING EFFORTS.
THE FACT IS NO ONE REALLY KNOWS FOR SURE ABOUT THE EFFECTS COVET HAS HAD ON SMALL BUSINESSES.
YET WE WON'T KNOW UNTIL THIS WHOLE THING IS OVER AND RESEARCHERS CAN COME THROUGH THE DATA.
THEN THAT'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW YEARS.
I'M SURE THEY'LL FIND THAT MANY BUSINESSES DID CLOSE PERMANENTLY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.
BUT THEN AGAIN, HOW MANY OF THESE BUSINESSES MIGHT'VE CLOSED ANYWAY, OVERWHELMINGLY WE HEAR FROM CUSTOMERS AND VISITORS THAT THEY LOVE THE STREET CLOSURE THAT ALLOWS THEM TO GET OUT SHOP, SEE WHAT BUSINESSES ARE ON MAIN STREET, SOMETHING YOU ACTUALLY CANNOT DO IN YOUR CAR.
WE KNOW AS IT GETS COLDER, THE BENEFITS OF LEAVING OUR DOORS OPEN WILL LESSEN THE EXTENSION THROUGH DECEMBER WILL ALLOW US TO CARRY ON THE SALES THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS MARKET THAT'S BEING PLANNED.
CUTTING OFF PART OF MAIN STREET HAS HELPED ALLOWING THE TRAFFIC TO GO THROUGH THAT.
CAN'T CONTINUE BECAUSE OF THE WATER BARRIERS.
AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND WE'VE ASKED THAT WE CONTINUE WITH THE CLOSURE THROUGH THE END OF THIS YEAR, AND WE CAN TAKE IT UP AGAIN AT THE, AT THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR.
IS THERE ANY OTHER SPEAKERS, NO SPEAKERS TO OUTSIDE.
[01:10:10]
GREAT VINCENT RASH.I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF UFAC AND A MEMBER OF THE FRONT WORLD ADDRESS.
FIRST VINCENT RUSH, THREE SEVEN SEVEN SHANNON WOODS DRIVE.
I'M A MEMBER OF UFAC AND THE TOWN ALSO THE WARREN COUNTY FRONT RURAL TREE STEWARTS.
I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS THAT HAPPY CREEK AND THE TOWN'S FAILURE AND CONTINUED FAILURES TO ADDRESS THE URBAN FORESTRY ADVISORY COMMISSION ON THE NAME OF THIS WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE BASED ON YOUR OWN TOWN CODE ONE 56 DASH THREE, PARAGRAPH NINE, REVIEW PLANTING MAINTENANCE, REMOVAL OF TREES AND OTHER VEGETATION ON TOWN, OWN PROPERTY, LANDSCAPING, EASEMENTS, AND RIGHTS AWAY.
ALSO IN TALENT CODE ONE 56 DASH THREE, PARAGRAPH 10 REVIEW AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE DIRECTOR OF PLANNING AND ZONING REGARDING LANDSCAPE PLANS.
AS A MEMBER OF UFAC, WE HAVE STILL NOT BEEN CONTACTED OR HEARD ANYTHING FROM THE NEW PLANNING AND ZONING.
UM, THE HEAD OF PLANNING AND ZONING AFTER JEREMY WAS RELEASED.
ALSO, WE HAVE THE VIOLATION OF VMRC PERMIT NUMBER 2020 DASH 1561 ITEM 20.
THIS IS TO CONFORM WITH THE 1992 THIRD EDITION AT VIRGINIA EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL HANDBOOK THROUGHOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS, OF THIS PROJECT, WITH THE FAILURES TO INSTALL A PROPER EFFECTIVE EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROLS, INCLUDING AN EXCAVATOR WORKING IN THE STREAM BED WITHOUT PROPER ACCOMMODATIONS.
ALSO JUST REGARDING THAT, THERE ARE TOWNS, TREE CONTRACTOR IS NOT A CERTIFIED ARBORIST OR HAVE WORKMAN'S COMP.
IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE JUST DISREGARDED.
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE THESE THINGS.
IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABIDING BY THEM AND FOLLOWING YOUR OWN RULES.
ANOTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS WHY DO WE STILL HAVE NO HEAD OF THE TOWN HORTICULTURE DEPARTMENT AFTER 11 MONTHS, WHO'S RUNNING THAT DEPARTMENT, WHERE ARE WE GOING WITH THAT? IS ANYBODY EVER GOING TO ADVERTISE IT? ARE WE GOING TO POST THIS JOB? AND WE'RE JUST GOING TO LET IT RIDE.
IT'S PRETTY DISAPPOINTING AND APPALLING THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF VOLUNTEERS IN THIS TOWN THAT HAVE GIVEN THOUSANDS OF HOURS TO WORK ON OUR GREENWAYS TO WORK ON DIFFERENT PROJECTS THROUGHOUT TOWN.
AND NOW WE'RE BEING DISREGARDED.
WE'D LIKE TO BE MORE THAN JUST A MEANS TO KEEP YOUR TREE CITY USA FLAG FLYING A TOWN.
UM, I LIVE AT 79 BLUE JAY COURT, FRONT ROYAL.
I WORK FOR PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS AND ALSO OUR, UM, HEAD OF THE STREAM RESTORATION PROGRAM IN OUR COUNTY.
WHEN I WAS OUT THERE SATURDAY, I SAW A BUNCH OF PROTESTORS AND I WAS WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE TREES WERE CUT AND THE STREAM WAS SLATED FOR RESTORATION AND OKAY.
AND THEN I WAS LIKE, DID ANYBODY KNOW ABOUT THIS PRIOR? WHAT WAS THE, WHAT WAS THE DESIGN ON THE ANSWERS TO THE WORD THAT THE ONLY NOTIFICATION WAS A SMALL AD IN THE PAPER.
MANY TIMES I IGNORED AND THE CITIZENS REALLY DIDN'T HAVE ADEQUATE NOTIFICATION.
I MEAN, WHEN I DO MY WORK IN PRINCE WILLIAM, I GO OUT AND I MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PUBLIC TOWN HALL MEETINGS WITH THE SO THEY CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REALLY ABOUT TO HAPPEN.
APPARENTLY A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE CAUGHT OFF GUARD.
I CAN'T DO THAT IN PRINCE WILLIAM MIGHT BE TARRED AND FEATHERED IN FOR AN OUT OF TOWN.
SO, UM, I HAVE TO HAVE MEETINGS.
I SAID THIS SINCE I WORKED FOR AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO.
THE OTHER THING I NOTICED, UH, DESIGNED TODAY AND IT REMINDS ME OF A DESIGN THAT WOULD BE UTILIZED BACK IN THE 1970S.
THAT'S A HARD, HARD CORE DESIGN, WHICH BASICALLY IS TAKEN AWAY ALL THE ECOLOGICAL VALUE AND MAKING THE STREAM EFFECTIVELY A PIPE, JUST CHANNELIZING, ALL THAT WATER STRAIGHT THROUGH.
YOU GET RID OF IT FASTEST POSSIBLE, WIPING OUT IT'S IT'S
[01:15:01]
MICRO LITTLE FLOOD, PLAIN.IT HAS, AND BUILDING A BERM AT THE TOP.
I'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN PRINCE WILLIAM BEFORE.
AT TIMES IT GETS RENDERED INEFFECTIVE, BUT YOU'RE JUST DESTROYING THE ENTIRE ECOLOGICAL VALUE OF THAT STREAM AND THE AESTHETIC VALUE OF THAT STREAM IN THE PARK OF NO LESS.
SO, I MEAN, THAT'S SHOCKING TO ME.
I COULDN'T GET AWAY WITH THAT.
THERE'S SOMETHING CALLED NATURAL CHANNEL DESIGN AND NOWADAYS NATURAL CHANNEL DESIGN IS WAY MORE WHERE MOST REGULATORS REQUIRE ME AT LEAST THE GO TO CONSIDERED ECOLOGICAL VALUE OF THE CHANNEL OF THE STREAM TO TRY MY BEST, TO GO AHEAD AND FACILITATE PROPER FLOOD CONNECTION TO A FLOOD PLAIN OF SOME SORT TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S A RIGHT PERIOD CORRIDOR THAT KEEPS THE WATER COOL FOR A TROUT OR FISH THAT MAY EXIST IN THAT STREET.
THAT'S GOING TO BE WIPED OUT AND REPLACED BY RIPRAP.
WHAT BENEFIT IS THAT? WHO'S GOING TO WANT TO GO OUT, EVEN TRY TO FISH, OR YOU GOT A GYM THERE THAT COULD PROBABLY BE ENHANCED FOR FISHING AND A FUTURE IT'S ABOUT TO GET GONE.
UM, I COULD GO ON AND ON AND I'M SURPRISED YOU GOT THE PERMITS FOR THIS.
I DID TALK TO SOME OF THE REGULATORS ABOUT IT TODAY.
UM, AND ONE OF THE FACTS WAS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING.
I GO CAUSE THE PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE MISTAKE.
AND IF THIS DOESN'T SWAY YOUR THOUGHTS OR STOP THE PROJECT OR MAKE A REDESIGN FOR THE PROJECT TO START OVER AGAIN, MAYBE YOU SHOULD TAKE ALL THIS IN CONSIDERATION FOR FUTURE PROJECTS THAT MAY INVOLVE STREAM RESTORATION BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF HARD LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.
YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A PRETTY UGLY RIPRAP CHANNEL THAT LOOKS ALMOST INDUSTRIAL AND IT'S NOT NATURAL AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR THE ECOLOGY OR THE FISH.
AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL I HAD TO SAY.
ANY MORE SPEAKERS? NO MORE SPEAKERS.
LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TO ME.
[6a. Report of Special Committees or Town Officials and Interim Town Manager]
CONTINUE ON WITH OUR NEXT ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.THIS EVENING IS, UH, CANCELED SE CANCEL.
LET ME FIND THE, WHERE I'M AT HERE.
LET ME PUT MY GLASSES ON WEARING C UH, WE HAVE REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER.
THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO, UH, COMMEND THE SPEAKERS THIS EVENING.
I THOUGHT THERE WAS A LOT OF, UM, VERY GOOD AND THOUGHTFUL COMMENTS MADE.
UM, I DO HAVE TO ADDRESS A FEW, QUITE A FEW, UH, A FEW OF THE COMMENTS.
AND WHEN I THOUGHT I WOULD DO IS JUST KIND OF REITERATE, UM, SOME COMMENTS THAT I MADE AT THE LAST TOWN COUNCIL MEETING AND JUST FOR SOME PERSPECTIVE AND HISTORY, UH, ON APRIL 13TH, UH, THIS, UH, PROJECT WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL.
UH, IT WAS TAKEN TO A WORK SESSION PRIOR TO THAT APRIL 13TH, WE APPROVED IT.
UM, THE SUMMARY, UM, I WON'T READ, READ ALL OF IT, BUT, UM, COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE A CONSENT ORDER FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY DEQ TO IMPLEMENT SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO CORRECT ISSUES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN A VIOLATIONS OF THE VPD YES.
PERMIT, UM, BY THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT.
AND THAT WAS DUE TO, AS YOU GUYS KNOW, UM, HIGH FLOWS DURING HEAVY RAINS AND STORM WATER, ET CETERA.
AND SO A SUPPLEMENTAL IS SEP WAS, WAS PUT IN AND, UH, EVENTUALLY, UH, IT WAS APPROVED AND FOR, AND SOME OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE REALIZED THIS NOW, UM, YOU KNOW, THE TOWN RETAINED THE SERVICES OF, OF AN EXPERT AND, AND NOW, UH, THAT CAN BE DEBATED.
I'M SURE THERE ARE MANY EXPERTS, UH, IN THIS ROOM.
UM, THERE ARE MANY EXPERTS AT HOME AND THERE'S MANY EXPERTS ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT WE DID HIRE, UM, AN ENGINEER WHO HAS 33 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, UM, HAS A BACHELOR'S OF SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY FROM VIRGINIA TECH AND A MASTER'S IN BIOLOGY FROM UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE.
UH, DOES ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING FOR NPDS PERMIT PROGRAMS, NCPA, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT PERMITTING, UM, THAT ENGINEER PUT TOGETHER THE PLAN AND SUBMIT IT TO OTHER, OTHER ENGINEERS, UM, OTHER, UH, PROVEN AUTHORITIES, SUCH AS THE VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION, THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND DEQ.
THERE WAS AN AD PLACE ON SEPTEMBER 9TH IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY THAT RAN FOR 15, 15 DAYS.
UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NO COMMENTS WERE RECEIVED, UM, DURING THAT, DURING THAT PERIOD.
[01:20:02]
SO THOSE ARE THE OBJECTIVES, AND THIS IS THE OBJECTIVE THAT I'M THE, UM, ENGINEERED DRAFTED THIS SECTION AND SAYS THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT IS TO STABILIZE A CREEK BANKS TO REDUCE EROSION, PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WHERE EROSION IS APPROACHING COMMERCE AVENUE STABILIZING TO BE PERFORMED USING STREAM ROCK AND RIP RAP.NEXT OTHER OBJECTIVE IS TO REMOVE OBSTRUCTIONS, TO FLOW, UH, SUCH AS VEGETATION AND LARGE ROCK THAT CAN CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO BACKUPS OR FLOODING DURING HIGH FLOW EVENTS, UH, ROCKS WILL BE PLACED ON THE BANK TO HELP STABILIZE.
UM, SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE, UH, SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT I MADE AT THE LAST MEETING.
UM, AGAIN, UH, TREE STUMPS HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND SOME GRADING DONE, AND SOME OF THE AREAS, UH, SOME OF THE BRUSH HAS BEEN CUT BACK AND I WILL, AS I STATED IN THE LAST MEETING, AND I'VE STATED TO YOU, UH, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UM, AND ROBBIE CORRECT ME, I'M WRONG, BUT THE TOWN HAS NOT CUT ANY TREES LARGER THAN FOUR INCHES.
HAS THE TOWN HAS A TOWN CUT, ANY CONTRACTOR, THE CONTRACTOR, THE CONTRACTOR CUT, UM, THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE CONTRACTOR.
THERE WAS NOT TO CUT ANY TREES LARGER THAN FOUR INCHES ALONG THE BANK.
UM, WE HAD IT INSPECTED, UH, EVERY DAY WE WOULD HAVE SOMEONE INSPECTING THIS ONE PARTICULAR AREA CLOSE TO SOUTH STREET.
THE CONTRACTOR DID, UH, CUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT MORE THAN IT WAS.
UM, HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO CUT AND HE WAS TERMINATED THAT DAY.
UM, AND SO THE GOAL IS TO, IS TO PUT ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 15 FEET OF RIPRAP ALONG THE BANK, AND, UM, COME IN IN THE SPRING AND SUMMER AND, AND PLANT TREES AND BUSHES ALONG THE TOPS OF THE BANK.
SO THAT'S JUST SOME PERSPECTIVE AND HISTORY AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THERE'S, THERE'S HIGH EMOTION AND HIGH, UM, UM, SENSITIVITY TO THE PROJECT.
BUT AGAIN, UH, THIS WAS NOT, THIS WAS NOT A PROJECT THAT WAS ADVOCATED, UM, BY ME OR BY THE STAFF.
IT WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS, UM, IT WAS DISCUSSED INTERNALLY OR IT WAS DISTRESSED AT MEETINGS, WORK SESSIONS AND AT THE REGULAR MEETING TO, UH, TO TRY TO REMOVE THE FINE OF $58,000 FOR A CIVIL PENALTY OF 3,900 DUE TO OUR, UM, OUR ISSUES.
AND WE ARE UNDER A CONSENT ORDER THAT THE WORK BE DONE BY DECEMBER 31ST.
SO THAT'S JUST SOME, SOME OF THE HISTORY, UM, AS IT RELATES TO MAIN STREET, I DO WANT TO REMIND, UM, THE CITIZENS THAT, UH, MAIN STREET, UM, IS SCHEDULED TO REMAIN CLOSED.
UM, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO CLOSE IT WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON UNTIL SUNDAY.
I'M SORRY, UNTIL MONDAY MORNING, AS WELL AS, UM, UM, CLOSING IT INTO THE WEEKENDS OF DECEMBER, IF THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO, UH, RE ENTERTAIN THAT, THAT MATTER.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO PUT OUT ANOTHER PUBLIC NOTICE.
UH, AS IN, AS IN THE CURRENT PUBLIC NOTICE, THERE ARE BALLARDS THAT ARE IN PLACE AT BLUE RIDGE AT CRESCENT AND ON CHESTER, UH, DUE TO, UH, POTENTIAL TEMPERATURES.
UH, SO WE WILL BE PUTTING THOSE BALLARDS UP.
UM, I, FRANKLY, WE TALK A LOT ABOUT STAFF AND WE DIDN'T KNOW A BETTER SOLUTION THAN TO DO THAT AT THIS TIME.
UM, TOWN OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, UH, DUE TO THANKSGIVING, UM, WANT TO WISH EVERYONE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
AND THEN ALSO I DO WANT TO STATE THAT THIS COULD LIKELY BE MY LAST MEETING AS TOWN MANAGER, I THINK, UM, I THINK IT MAY PLEASE, PLEASE SOME PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND, UM, I'VE ENJOYED LIVING IN SOME OF THEIR HEADS RENT FREE, BUT, UH, IT'S BEEN A GREAT, IT'S BEEN A GREAT EXPERIENCE ALTOGETHER.
UM, I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SOME GREAT STAFF, HAS BEEN A, IT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE.
UH, THE STAFF ARE VERY DEDICATED AND, UM, I'VE ENJOYED WORKING WITH THEM.
UM, I DO PLAN TO HAVE PLAINTIFFS SAY IN THE FUTURE, HOPEFULLY ON THAT SIDE OF THE PODIUM AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN AGAIN.
UM, BUT WE DID, UH, I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE A LIST OF SOME OBJECTIVES THAT WERE ACCOMPLISHED.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT WHAT WE FACED WAS THE COVID-19 AND A REACTION TO THAT.
UM, I, UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU ENOUGH.
MANY OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADS WERE RECOGNIZED BY REGIONAL AUTHORITIES AND REGIONAL OTHER TOWNS AND CITIES AND COUNTIES ACROSS, UM, ACROSS OUR REGION AS LEADING THE WAY IN THEIR PARTICULAR DEPARTMENT AND HOW THEY REACTED TO COVID.
UM, AS YOU KNOW, THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT HAD TO PRODUCE THREE BUDGETS IN A MATTER OF SIX MONTHS, IT WAS, UH, IT WAS QUITE A FEAT TO, UH, TO DO THAT.
THE INI ABATEMENT WAS REALLY THE LAST YEAR.
IT WAS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT, UM, SIGNIFICANT ITEM THAT COUNCIL WANTED TO ATTACK IS IN THIS GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
UM, WE'VE SPENT, UH, WE HAVE $8 MILLION TOWN'S MADE APPLICATION
[01:25:01]
FOR AN $8 MILLION LOAN.WE HAVE MANHOLE REHABILITATION CONTRACT AWARDED FOR 200, $6,000.
UH, WE HAVE A MILLION DOLLARS IN CURED IN PLACE PIPE LINING CONTRACT $887,000 FOR OPEN CUT REPLACEMENT CONTRACT.
WE HAVE $990,000 PLUS FOR CCTV INVESTIGATION AND A MILLION DOLLARS FOR ENGINEERING CONTRACTS BEEN AWARDED.
UM, SO YOU'RE REALLY THE COUNCIL REALLY ATTACKED THAT, THAT ISSUE HEAD ON TO PREVENT THE BYPASSES AT THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, WHICH JUST DUMPED ROLL SEWAGE INTO THE CHANDELLE RIVER.
UM, THE REDUNDANT WATER LINE IS ANOTHER PROJECT THAT THE COUNCILS MOVING FORWARD ON ENGINEERING IS BEING DONE ON THAT RIGHT AWAY.
DISCUSSIONS ARE HAVING HAPPENING AS WE SPEAK WE'VE.
UM, THE FAIRGROUND ROAD WATER TANK WAS REHABBED COMPLETED AN $887,000 PROJECT STONEWALL BRIDGE EPOXY WAS DONE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT.
YOU KNOW, THAT WAS A REALLY, THAT'S A REALLY BEEN A REALLY CHALLENGING PROJECT.
UM, WE, UH, FRANKLY IT WAS, IT WAS ABOUT DEAD ON ARRIVAL AT ONE POINT, AND WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE SOME SIGNIFICANT ADJUSTMENTS TO IT.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY, I BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND ALL OF THE FACADE MONEY, UH, WHICH AT ONE TIME, I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO SPEND ANY, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FACILITY IS COMPLETED.
UM, AND SOON WE WILL HAVE A LOAN FOR THAT.
UM, TENTATIVE IS, UM, DECEMBER 9TH, WE SHOULD HAVE A LOAN TO PAY THAT, YOU KNOW, TO PUT A PERSPECTIVE OF HOW BUSY WE'VE BEEN THIS YEAR.
I HAD STAFF PULL THE NUMBER OF RFQ THAT, UM, THAT WERE PUT OUT IN 2019, THE TOWN PROCESS, 18 REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS RFQ.
WE PROCESS 49 IN FISCAL YEAR 20 IT'S 172% INCREASE.
I F BS IN 2019, WE HAD 15 AND WE HAD 20 THIS YEAR, A 33% INCREASE IN CONTRACTS.
AND MR. NAPIER COULD PROBABLY ATTEST TO THIS IN 27 AND 2019.
WE SUBMITTED AND SIGNED 27 CONTRACTS.
UH, WE'VE HAD A 78% INCREASE AND ACTUALLY HAD 48 CONTRACTS IN FISCAL YEAR 20.
UH, WE DID THE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY PLAN ON PERFECT AVENUE AND INSTALLED TWO CROSSWALKS.
I KNOW ALL OF COUNCIL WAS EAGER TO GET THAT DONE.
THE SHENTEL DEVELOPMENT IS, IS ROLLING.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THAT.
AND THE TOWN HAS MOVED FORWARD ON ESTABLISHING A TOWN EDA FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT OF TOWN ASSETS.
WE'VE RECEIVED SEVERAL AWARDS THIS YEAR.
AND AGAIN, I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
I WAS ASKED TO SHARE THAT AND COULDN'T THINK STAFF ENOUGH AND THANK YOUR EFFORTS DURING THE YEAR.
[6b. Requests and inquiries of Councilmembers]
NEXT ITEM.IS REQUESTS OR REQUIRES OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANYBODY WATER? OH YES.
MR. MAYOR, I JUST, UM, I GOT JUST A COUPLE OF POINTS.
I WANT TO MAKE OUT TO SOME OF THE COMMENTS TONIGHT.
UM, I'D LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING AND SPEAKING.
UM, TONIGHT, UM, YOU GUYS ARE A WEALTH OF INFORMATION.
UM, UM, MR. S AND I'M SORRY IF I GET ANYBODY'S NAME WRONG.
UM, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S KINDA HARD TO GET IT JOTTED DOWN QUICK ENOUGH BEFORE THE, YOU KNOW, THE POINTS START COMING.
UM, SO ANNA, UH, MR. NOVAK, AND, UH, THERE'S A COUPLE MORE WHO WERE, WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLOSURE AGAIN OF MAIN STREET THEN, AND AGAIN, AND YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL WHOLEHEARTEDLY WHEN THIS BEGAN, UM, WAS, WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO HELP YOU GUYS.
AND, UH, WE KNEW THE STRUGGLE THAT YOU WERE HAVING.
AND THAT WAS THE REASON, UH, WE HAD CLOSED AT WESTER ALLOW SOME, YOU KNOW, MORE SEATING, UH, FOR PEOPLE OUTSIDE.
I KNOW MR. NOVAK, IT WAS GREAT COMING DOWN AND WATCHING THE MOVIES ON THE WEEKENDS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT THAT POINT BEING SAID, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UH, MR. TEACHER CAN MS. MR. MAYOR AND MR. VICE MAYOR, SEE IF WE COULD POSSIBLY PUT THIS BACK ON WORK SESSION, UH, THIS COMING MONDAY, IF WE CAN, BECAUSE I THINK WE NEED TO EXPLORE THIS A LITTLE BIT MORE, YOU KNOW, UH, AND I THINK I, THERE'S NOT A COUNCIL MEMBER UP HERE THAT, THAT DOESN'T NOT, UM, YOU KNOW, CONSIDER THE THOUGHTS OF, OF ALL BUSINESSES.
WE DON'T LIKE TO, TO FAVOR ONE OVER THE OTHER.
UH, WE THINK EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE AN EQUAL SHOT.
UM, SO THAT'S MY COMMENTS, UM, TO THAT.
UM, THERE WAS ALSO, UH, MR. PORTER, UM, KRISTEN, YOU KNOW, THIS COUNCIL TAKES THESE KINDS OF THINGS VERY SERIOUSLY.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE, IT'S NOTHING THAT WAS OVERLOOKED BY COUNCIL.
[01:30:01]
IT, EVERY ONE OF US HATED WHAT WE SAW.UM, YOU KNOW, BUT THIS AGAIN WAS TURNED OVER TO INVESTIGATION.
UH, THE VERY NEXT DAY IS A MATTER OF FACT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THE REASON WE CANNOT COMMENT ON IT IS BECAUSE WHEN THERE'S AN INVESTIGATION GOING ON WITH SOMETHING AS SERIOUS AS THIS, IT IS NOT WISE OF THIS COUNCIL TO MAKE A COMMENT JUST YET.
UM, DAVID, I DON'T KNOW IF HE'S STILL HERE OR NOT.
UM, I THINK, UH, MARK, UM, I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T CATCH YOUR LAST NAME, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO MEET WITH Y'ALL SOMETIME THIS WEEK DOWN AT HAPPY CREEK.
AND LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME THINGS THAT THAT'S GOING ON AND THINGS THAT CONCERN YOU.
I WOULD LOVE TO, UH, MY NUMBERS ON THE TOWN WEBSITE, IF YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE MEETING, I WROTE IT DOWN AND I WANT TO WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
AND, UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO NIGHTMARE.
UH, WE DON'T HAVE A MEETING NEXT MONDAY NIGHT, BY THE WAY, IF YOU WANT TO ADD IT, IF YOU WANT TO ADD IT TO THE NIGHT'S AGENDA WORKS, I SHOULD NOT PAY MORE THAN GLAD TO PUT IT ON THERE TO SAVE ME.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD IT TO THE NEXT WORK SESSION, PLEASE.
THAT WON'T BE A TOTE THE SEVENTH OR SEVENTH DECEMBER THE SEVENTH, UH, NEXT MONDAY AS IT IS THE FIFTH MONDAY, WE'D NORMALLY DON'T HAVE A MEETING.
SO AGAIN, IF YOU WANT TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING, I'LL ENTERTAIN THAT.
UH, JUST FOR A WORK SESSION, WE DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
I MEAN, WE CAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT TONIGHT.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO SPEAK TO SAFETY? YES, I'D WANT IT TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
UM, I TOOK NOTES AS WELL, AND, UM, BUT THIS MIGHT BE A LITTLE DISORGANIZED HERE.
UM, LET'S SEE, WHEN IT TO START WITH THE HAPPY CREEK, UM, SITUATION, UM, I AM NOT AN EXPERT ON CREEKS OR ECOLOGY OR ANY OF THOSE THINGS.
I ALSO DIDN'T KNOW THAT WE NEEDED TO CONSULT WITH YOU FAQ AS WELL.
HOWEVER, I THINK MY LEGAL COUNSEL SHOULD HAVE TOLD US, UM, THE WEBINAR THAT WAS HOSTED.
IS THERE A REPLAY? AND IF THERE IS, IF SOMEONE COULD SEND ME A LINK, I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S MY THING TO SAY, OR TO, TO FORM, BUT A COMMITTEE, UM, SHOULD BE FORMED.
THAT INCLUDES TO THE UFAC AND THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS ALONG WITH SOMEONE FROM COUNCIL, SO THAT WE CAN COME UP WITH A GOOD DESIGN PLAN THAT, UM, IS PLEASING TO OUR CITIZENS, UM, OUR LOCAL EXPERTS AND ALSO SATISFIES DEQ REQUIREMENTS FOR US TO HAVE PART OF THAT, UH, FIND FORGIVEN.
UM, ALSO THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY IS NOW A PAID ONLY PAPER.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT AFFECTS HOW PEOPLE SEE NOTIFICATIONS.
SO WE SHOULD PROBABLY POST THEM ON OUR WEBSITE AS WELL, AND OUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS AS WELL.
SO PEOPLE CAN SEE THOSE, UM, DECEMBER STREET CLOSURE.
WE'LL DEFINITELY NEED TO TALK ABOUT THAT SOME MORE.
UM, BUT THROUGH NOVEMBER 30TH WAS ALREADY ESTABLISHED, UM, THE FRP D SITUATION.
ONCE I WAS ALERTED TO IT, I CONTACTED THE TOWN MANAGER AND THE CHIEF AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE ALREADY WORKING ON IT SINCE EARLIER THAT MORNING, WHICH MADE ME HAPPY THAT THEY WERE ALREADY LOOKING AT IT.
UM, I MET WITH THEM THE FOLLOWING DAY AND, UM, A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION IS BEING COMPLETED COMPLETELY BY THE BOOK.
AND, UM, I DID, UM, AT FIRST REQUEST THAT THERE WAS SOME SORT OF BRIEF PUBLIC THING, UM, PUT ON THE FRONT ROYAL POLICE DEPARTMENT WEBSITE.
AND THEN I WAS GOING TO CHIME OFF OF THAT ON MY OWN COUNCIL PAGE, UM, THAT DID NOT HAPPEN.
UM, BUT IT IS BEING LOOKED INTO AND IT'S UNDER INVESTIGATION.
AND I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE GOING TO WRAP THAT UP SOON.
LIKE A COUPLE OF DAYS, MY HUSBAND TIGHT.
WE MIGHT HAVE A STATEMENT TONIGHT.
I THINK THAT'S EVERYTHING, UM, THAT I TOOK IN.
AND, UM, I WILL CONTACT A FEW OF YOU WHO, I MEAN NOTES ABOUT THE WEBINAR, JUST TO TRY TO GET A COPY OF THAT.
ANYONE ELSE? I WENT TO THE HAPPY CREEK MYSELF THIS WEEKEND, BASICALLY THE LISTEN AND THANKS TO MY NEWSPAPER GUY OVER HERE.
UM, I'VE GOT POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES.
I LOOKED AT THAT SITUATION THAT THE SOUTH STREET AND THAT CONTRACTOR HAS BEEN TERMINATED FROM OUR PROJECT.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT GOT OUT INTO THE PUBLIC OR NOT, BUT THAT IS, THAT'S A SECTION I ALSO NOTICED IN MY CONVERSATIONS WITH, AND I'LL SEE IF I CAN PRONOUNCE IT PROPERLY OR FALL FALLING DORF.
AND WE HAD QUITE EXTENSIVE CONVERSATION.
THERE ARE TWO AREAS DOWN THERE WHERE IT WAS COMPLETELY DIVORCED AWAY, ERODED,
[01:35:03]
RIP.REP'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO IN THERE.
THE BIGGEST DISCUSSION WE HAD WAS VELOCITY OF FLOODWATER.
AND, UM, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
AFTER READING THIS, IT WAS APPLIED TO HAPPY CREEK STREAM BANK AND CHANNEL RESTORATION, SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS.
UM, OF COURSE THAT CREATED MORE DISCUSSION FOR ME.
AND I WENT INTO A DISCUSSION WITH THE TOWN MANAGER AND MR. BOYER TODAY 20 TO 30% OF THE WORK IS, UH, NOT EVEN STARTED BASICALLY YET.
AND ONE BAD, UH, CONTRAST SUBCONTRACTOR REALLY MAKES US LOOK BAD.
UH, THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD READING THINGS OUT THERE, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE I HAVE A FLY FISHERMAN.
MR. NAPIER CAN APPRECIATE THAT.
MY GRANDDAUGHTER CALLED HER FIRST TROUT DOWN AT THE MARLO DOWN ON THE OTHER END DOWN WHERE THE PARK IS, WAS A HAPPY MOMENT IN MY LIFE.
SO SOMEBODY ASKED ME, WELL, WHY DID YOU GO DOWN? WELL, I WANTED TO FIND OUT FOR MYSELF.
SO MR. TOWN MANAGER, MR. BOYER, I GOT ONE CONCERN.
I THINK WE NEED TO LISTEN TO THESE PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT IF WE NEED AN EXTENSION, THEN WE SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THAT.
BUT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS PLANS FROM UFAC AND DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE TYPE OF TREES THAT SHOULD BE PUT IN WHAT EXACTLY GRASSES.
CAUSE I NOTICED ONE PLACE DOWN ALONG, UH, SOUTH STREET, THERE'S AN OLD REFRIGERATOR AND A STOVE, SOMEBODY DITCHED OVER THE SIDE.
I JUST LIKED THAT 13 YEARS LATER, UM, WE'RE FINALLY GETTING AROUND TO DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT THAT BOTHERED ME.
THERE WAS A LOT OF SCRUBS STUFF, STUFF AT US, ALL IN VIETNAM THAT, UH, WAS JUNK TREES AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED LONG BEFORE.
MR. MAYOR HARRIS TOLD ME THAT WE USED TO DO IT EVERY OTHER YEAR.
SOMETHING SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE LONG BEFORE THAT COUNCILS BEFORE US SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUTTING OUT IN THE BUDGET AND MAKE IT HAPPEN TO BEAUTIFY THAT THE RIP RAP.
I THINK THAT THE DESIGN PIECE THAT I'VE READ ON VELOCITY, UH, AND LOOKING AT MR. BOYER'S TABLET, I FOUND OUT QUITE A BIT TODAY.
UM, BUT I DO THINK FOR THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THAT, UH, PIECE OF PROPERTY THERE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO REALLY HAVE TO STUDY WHAT KIND OF TREES AND GRASSES I'D MENTIONED THE SOUTH, UH, STREET, AND THERE'S GOTTA BE CREEK, UH, GRASSES THAT QUICK GROWN THAT HELP WITH THAT, UH, ECOLOGICAL PIECE.
THE OTHER PIECE THAT, UH, MR. FOND ORF AND I DISCUSSED WAS CHANNELING.
I LEARNED A LOT ABOUT CHANNELING.
A LOT OF THE CHANNELING THAT I HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT TONIGHT IS NOT THERE.
IT'S ERODED, IT'S GONE NOW, WE'RE GOING TO CHANNEL PROPERLY, WHICH SOMEBODY TONIGHT GAVE US A WHOLE, UH, DORSEY EA ON IT.
UH, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO USE SOME KIND OF RIVER ROCK TO PREPARE THAT.
SO THAT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME EXPERTS THAT CERTAINLY NOT ON THIS COUNCIL.
SO I WOULD X WOULD, UH, RECOMMEND MR. UH, TOWN MANAGER THAT WE LOOK AT AN EXTENSION AND HOW WE CAN PLAN FOR THESE GRASSES AND NATIVE TREES AND USE SOME RESIDENT EXPERTS.
SO THAT'S MY TAKEAWAY AS A FORMER FLY FISHERMEN WHO FISH, STATE CREEK I WANTED BEAUTIFUL.
I WAS GOING TO SOME OF WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID, SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE REDUNDANT.
ONE THING THAT I WAS GOING TO ASK THOUGH, UM, IN REGARDS TO THE MAIN STREET AND THE CLOSURES OR MAIN STREET, I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS BACK IN THE SPRING.
WHEN I, WHEN THERE WAS, WE WERE HAVING LIKE MEETINGS AT THE GOVERNMENT CENTER, UM, WITH A
[01:40:01]
MEDIATOR ABOUT MAIN STREET AND CLOSING FOR FESTIVALS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.AND I ASKED, WAS THERE LIKE AN ORGANIZATION FOR MAIN STREET, YOU KNOW, AN ORGANIZATION WHERE ALL OF THEIR INTERESTS WOULD BE REPRESENTED.
AND, AND THERE IS NOT, UNLESS THAT EVERY TIME I ASKED PEOPLE, THEY'VE SAID, THERE'S NOT, UM, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US GATHER THE TOWN, GATHER, UM, ALL THE MAIN STREET BUSINESSES AND THEIR CONTACT, WHETHER IT'S EMAIL, UM, PHONE NUMBERS, ADDRESS, WHATEVER.
SO MAYBE WE COULD SEND OUT A SURVEY AND GET INPUT.
I FEEL LIKE THIS WHOLE YEAR THERE'S BEEN THE UP AND DOWN WERE, YOU KNOW, UM, CLOSING.
IT WAS A GOOD THING, NOT CLOSING.
AND SO DEPENDING ON WHO YOU TALK TO, AND I JUST, I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE IN ALL OF THEIR BEST IF WE COULD JUST GET LIKE, UH, A SURVEY AND JUST GATHER SOME DATA AND FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
I AGREE WITH GARY, WE SHOULD GO IN AND TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE TOM IS EMINENT AND IT'S GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US, UM, IF THEY DON'T HAVE AN ORGANIZATION AT LEAST, UM, A WAY FOR US TO HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION IN ONE PLACE.
SO THE STRATEGIC, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT SURE I'M THINKING THROUGH BUSINESS LICENSES, THEY MAY HAVE EMAIL ADDRESSES AND STUFF.
SO WE HAVE A, WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD LIST THAT WE CREATED DURING COVID SOME OF THE LOCKDOWNS AND, UM, WE CAN DEFINITELY SEND OUT WHATEVER INFORMATION COUNCIL WANTS TO SEND OUT SO WE CAN GET IT OUT PRETTY QUICKLY AS WELL.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THE HAPPY CREEK, UM, BANK STABILIZATION PROJECT, I HAD LOTS TO SAY, BUT I'M GOING TO SHORTEN IT UP CAUSE I KNOW WE'VE ALL BEEN LISTENING TO A LOT AND I'M WORDY.
SO, UM, I WANT TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT TASHA SAID AND ACTUALLY BUILDS.
I'M DEFINITELY NO EXPERT, UM, ON THIS TOPIC THAT I'M REALLY NOT EVEN AN OUTDOORSY KIND OF PERSON.
SO, UM, BUT I, WE HAVE HEARD FROM SO MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE, UM, AND THEIR VIEWS.
I, IT, I FEEL LIKE EVERY EMAIL I'VE READ, I'VE BEEN EDUCATED AND I'VE LEARNED SOMETHING, UM, AND I'M NATURALLY DRAWN TOWARDS LEARNING.
I VIEWED THE WEBINARS ON FRIDAY NIGHT, UM, ABOUT THE RIPARIAN BUFFERS.
AND I KNOW THAT LADY LEFT, BUT SHE ASKED ABOUT WHETHER WE LEARNED SOMETHING I DEFINITELY DID.
UM, I DO KNOW THOUGH, AND BILL KIND OF ADDRESS THIS, THAT, UM, WE KEEP HEARING ABOUT WHAT WE RIPPED OUT AND HOW IT'S CHANGED THINGS.
AND I'M, I'M STILL TRYING TO WRAP MY HEAD AROUND IF IT WAS IN GOOD SHAPE TO START WE'RE WHY ARE WE HAVING FLOODING? SO I DEFINITELY THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT, BUT, UM, REGARDLESS I'M WILLING TO LISTEN TO CONCERNS, TAKE INPUT FROM CITIZENS AND GROUPS AS WELL AS TOWN EMPLOYEES, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE START LOOKING AT SEEKING INPUT ABOUT WHAT TO PLANT FOR THE FUTURE.
UM, IN THE END, I'D LIKE TO HAVE ALL INVOLVE AS MANY DIFFERENT CITIZENS AND GROUPS WHO ARE INTERESTED, UM, WHICH IT SEEMS LIKE THERE ARE A LOT JUST TO REMEMBER THE PROJECT.
IT WAS THE WHOLE GOAL WAS TO REDUCE FLOODING AND ADDRESS THE FLOODING PROBLEM, WHICH WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO.
SO THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE THE GOAL IN FRONT OF US.
BUT, UM, I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION BEFORE US.
AND AS SOMEBODY SAID EARLIER TONIGHT, NOBODY ON THIS COUNCIL WANTED TO DO ANYTHING TO DAMAGE HAPPY CREEK OR, UM, UPSET ANYONE.
IT'S VERY HARD TO PLEASE EVERYBODY WE'VE HAD PEOPLE THAT HAVE SAID IT LOOKS GREAT.
AND THEN WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO SAY, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S MESSED UP.
AND SO I JUST HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE IT BE SOMETHING EVERYBODY CAN ENJOY AND LIKE, AND BE PROUD OF.
MR. MAYOR, UM, UH, TO, UH, I THINK A WORK SESSION WOULD BE APPROPRIATE, UH, FOR THE CLOSURE MAIN STREET, BUT, UH, MS. COCKRELL WAS TALKING ABOUT A SURVEY I WOULD LIKE TO SEE, I WOULD LIKE US TO HAVE A, LIKE AN OPEN WORK SESSION WHERE THE BUSINESS OWNERS COULD POSSIBLY COME.
UM, AND WE COULD ALL TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES AND SEE IF WE CAN'T COME TO A MEDIUM COME TOGETHER.
AND, AND, AND I LIKE RICK'S IDEA MAYBE OF, UH, USING THE SIDEWALKS, UM, AND OPENING UP THE STREET.
UM, I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY DO.
UM, I THINK COVID HAS REALLY, I MEAN, PUT A DAMPER ON 2020 FOR SURE.
UM, AND YOU KNOW, WE'VE TRIED OUR BEST TO HELP ALL BUSINESSES ON MAIN STREET, UH, IN THE TOWN, UM, ITSELF.
UM, AND WE DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO HURT A BUSINESS.
[01:45:01]
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT IF WE CAN TAKE AND GET TOGETHER WORK SESSION, INVITE THE BUSINESS OWNERS.I THINK IT'S BETTER THAN A SURVEY SURVEYS GET LOST.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T REALLY SEE THE SURVEY.
UM, I WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO COME AND HAVE AN OPEN DISCUSSION WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYBE WE CAN TAKE IT AND, UH, COME TO AN AGREEMENT, UM, THAT'LL WORK FOR EVERYONE.
UM, AND AS FOR HAPPY CREEK, BELIEVE ME, I AM NO EXPERT BY FAR.
UM, BUT IT WAS GREAT TO SEE ALL THE SPEAKERS HERE TONIGHT.
UM, AND I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO GET TOGETHER.
UM, KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, UM, GET A PLAN TOGETHER AND IF WE CAN TAKE AND, UM, LEARN FROM THIS, UH, FOR FUTURE, UH, ENDEAVORS THAT WE HAVE TO DO THEIR OWN HAPPY CREEK.
AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN, UH, WORK TOGETHER AND GET THIS THING STRAIGHTENED OUT AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE.
[6c. Report of the Mayor]
I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TO SEE EVENING.IT'S GOOD TO HEAR FROM OUR CITIZENS THAT COME OUT AND HAVE AN ISSUE WITH, WITH WHAT THE COUNCIL HAS DONE IN THE PAST.
AND, AND, YOU KNOW, UNLESS LET'S SAY YOU COME OUT THAT WE, AS THEY, WE JUST DON'T KNOW I'M NOT CONSIDERED PART OF THE COUNCIL, BUT I HAVE BEEN ON THE CASTLE AND KNOWS THE SITUATION PRETTY WELL.
UH, YES, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THIS HAPPY CREEK ISSUE AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE INFORMATION WE RECEIVED THIS EVENING.
AND I THINK IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO BE INVITED TO SOME OF THE MEETINGS SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THINGS DONE.
I KNOW OVER THE TENURE, WHEN I WAS PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, WE DID CLEAN, HAPPY QUITE A FEW TIMES.
WE HAD A FIVE-YEAR RENEWAL PERMIT EACH YEAR FROM THE VMRC AND THE DEA AT THAT TIME, IT WAS WATER CONTROL BOARD AND WE CLEANED THE HAPPY CREEK.
WE TRIMMED THE BRUSHES AND I NEVER DID TAKE THE ROOTS BATS OUT.
WE JUST TOOK THE, TOOK THE TIPPERARY ALONG THE EDGES AND MADE THE CHANNEL A LITTLE BIT WIDER.
BUT, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S A DIFFERENT STORY OUT THERE TONIGHT.
IT HASN'T BEEN DONE FOR 22 YEARS CAUSE THAT'S HOW LONG I'VE BEEN RETIRED.
SO ANYWAY, I HOPE THAT WE CAN COME TO A GOOD AGREEMENT AND GET THIS PROJECT DONE WITH AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CITIZENS, THE FRONT ROW AND EVERYBODY THAT'S INTERESTED ARE SATISFIED WITH THE PROGRESS THAT THE CATS WAS GOING TO BE MAKING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
UM, THE ONLY OTHER THING I HAVE THE SAME THING AGAIN, THANKS TO GOD FOR COMING OUT AND THANKS AGAIN AND HOPE YOU HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING AND, UH, MAKE SURE THAT YOU STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER EXCEPT FAMILY AND NOT HAVE THE COVID COME INTO YOUR HOMES AND OTHER PLACES.
SO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF THE GOVERNOR AND MAKE SURE THAT WE, WE HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY AND A SAFE HOLIDAY.
SO WITH THAT, THEY COULD JUST NIGHT AGAIN FOR COMING OUT.
NEXT ITEM TONIGHT IS ITEM SEVEN PROPOSALS OF ADDITION, DELETIONS OF ITEMS TO THE AGENDA.
NEXT ITEM IS ITEM EIGHT, CANCEL APPROVAL PRIVILEGE, CONSENT AGENDA, WHICH WE DO NOT HAVE ANY CONSENT AGENDA.
[9. COUNCIL APPROVAL – Rezoning Application by EDA for Rezoning of Approximately 62.7 Acres from R-1 to I-2 at the End of Progress Drive (2nd Reading)]
CANCELED APPROVAL REZONING APPLICATION BY THE EDA FOR REZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 62.7 ACRES FROM OUR ONE DOC I WON AT THE END OF PROGRESS DRIVE, COULD YOU READ THE SUMMARY PLEASE? COUNSEL IS REQUESTED TO APPROVE ON ITS SECOND AND FINAL READING.A REZONING APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND THE COUNTY OF WARREN ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OR EDA FOR THE REZONING OF APPROXIMATELY 62.7 ACRES ADJACENT AND CONNECTING TO HAPPY CREEK TECHNOLOGY PARK.
THE REQUEST IS TO IMPROVE SITE STATUS FROM TIER ONE TO TIER TWO OF THE VIRGINIA BUSINESS READY SITES PROGRAM AND POSSIBLE FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE ADJACENT HAPPY CREEK TECHNOLOGY PARK AND THAT THE REZONING APPROVAL INCLUDE THE FOUR PROFFERS AS INDICATED IN THE PROFFER STATEMENT TO HEAR MOTION.
YES, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE ON ITS SECOND AND FINAL READING THE REQUESTS FROM THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, AND THEN COUNTY OF WARREN ALSO REFERRED TO AS THE FRONT ROW WARREN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, EDA TO REZONE APPROXIMATELY 62.7 ACRES TAX MAP, 20 A TO 21 DASH ONE AND 20, A 22 DASH ONE BE ADJACENT AND CONNECTING TO HAPPY CREEK TECHNOLOGY PARK TO SITE STATUS FROM TIER ONE TO TIER TWO OR THE VIRGINIA BUSINESS READY SITES PROGRAM AND POSSIBLE FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE ADJACENT HEAVY CREEK TECHNOLOGY PARK.
I FURTHER MOVE THAT THE REZONING APPROVAL INCLUDE
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THE FOUR PROFFERS AS INDICATED IN THE PROFFER STATEMENT.CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE? VICE MAYOR PSYLOCKE.
[10. COUNCIL APPROVAL – FY21 Budget Amendment for Insurance Reimbursement]
DENIES ITEM 10 CASTLE PREAWARD FYI BUDGET AMENDMENTS FOR INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT.COULD YOU READ YOUR SUMMARY PLEASE? COUNSEL IS REQUESTED TO APPROVE AN F Y 21 BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,732 AND 15 CENTS TO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM VIRGINIA RISK SHARING ASSOCIATION TO REIMBURSE THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL FOR EXPENSE INCURRED DUE TO A WATER BREAK ON ROUTE FIVE 22 NORTH NEAR FAIRGROUNDS ROAD.
MR. MAYOR, I MOVE TO APPROVE AN F Y 21 BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $31,732 AND 15 CENTS TO RECEIVE FUNDS FROM THE VIRGINIA RESHARING ASSOCIATION TO REIMBURSE THE TOWN OF FRONT ROW FOR EXPENSES INCURRED DUE TO A WATER BREAK ON FA ROUTE FIVE 22 NEAR FAIRGROUNDS, A RUDE SECOND MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY DISCUSSION MR. MAYOR? UM, THERE'S A TYPO ON THIS.
IT SHOULD BE FROM THE ACCOUNT 96 OH TWO NINE 96 OH ONE.
SO WE NEED, UH, WE NEED TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT.
IS THAT PROBLEMATIC, MR. NAPIER? IF WE, THIS IS CLERICAL.
ANY DISCUSSION AT ALL? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
COUNCILMAN MEZA IS ABSENT AND COUNCILMAN THOMPSON.
[11. CLOSED MEETING ]
THERE'S A CLOSED OBEDIENT ON PERSONNEL.I MOVED TO TOWN COUNCIL GO INTO CLOSE MEETING FOR DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION OR INTERVIEWS OF PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT, ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, SALARIES OF, OR RESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICER'S APPOINTEES OR EMPLOYEES OF THE PUBLIC BODY PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 37, 11.8 0.1 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.
UH, WE WILL BE COMING BACK AND RECONVENING AS A CANCEL OR RELATEDLY FALL IN OUR WORK SESSION.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE WILL BE GOING INTO A, INTO A WORK SESSION SAVING.
SO YOU'RE WELCOME TO STAY OR WHENEVER YOU PREFER TO DO HERE'S YOUR SAVINGS.
LIKE TO REOPEN OUR TOWEL CASTLE MEDIA TONIGHT.
UH, WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THINGS WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION ON AT LEAST ONE.
SO I LIKE TO TURN IT OFF AT THIS TIME TO MR. UH, UH, MAYOR ELECT MR. HOLLOWAY, MR. MAYOR, I'LL MOVE THAT TOWN COUNCIL EXECUTE AN EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, HIRING STEVEN HICKS AS FRONT ROYAL TOWN MANAGER EFFECTIVE DECEMBER THE SEVENTH, 2020.
I FURTHER MOVE THAT EXISTING TOWN MANAGER, MATT TEDRICK PROVIDE APPROPRIATE ONSITE AND ON-CALL ASSISTANCE TO MR. HICKS TO FAMILIARIZE HIM WITH HIS NEW JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
SECOND, THAT LOGIN IS SECOND AND HE JUST GOT YOU HERE.
I WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE, UM, SELECTION GROUP.
WE'VE GONE THROUGH ABOUT 80 CANDIDATES.
I KNOW IT'S TAKEN A WHILE TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THIS, BUT I THINK WE'VE COME UP WITH A TOP NOTCH CANDIDATE AND WITH DETAILED EXPERIENCE.
AND NOT ONLY AS THE TOWN MANAGER, BUT DEPARTMENT HEAD, HE'S HAD EACH SEGMENT OF TOWN, BUSINESS AND AREAS.
SO HE'S QUITE VERSED IN EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE GOING ON IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
SO I'M QUITE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, UH, MR. HICKS WILL BE HERE, UH, DECEMBER 7TH.
MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK, YOU KNOW, UH, MR. SENIOR LUCK, UH, MR. MEZA AND ALL OF COUNCIL FOR, FOR BEING PATIENT IN THIS PROCESS.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT, IT WAS MY OBJECTIVE FROM THE BEGINNING WAS TO FIND THE RIGHT ONE, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY WHO FIT INTO OUR COMMUNITY, SOMEONE WHO WILL BE ABLE TO STEP IN AND, AND, AND IT TAKE, TAKE THE LEAD OF, OF OUR, UH, OF OUR TOWN.
[01:55:01]
AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, YOU KNOW, UM, A LOT OF THINGS, YOU KNOW, WENT INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, OUR CITIZENS, UM, AND, AND ESPECIALLY OUR, OUR EMPLOYEES HERE AT THE TOWN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, UM, FINDING THE RIGHT MANAGER FOR THEM IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.AND, UH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT SINCE THEY GIVE ANYONE ELSE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UM, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT WORKING WITH MR. HICKS, UH, AS MR. GILLESPIE SAID, AND MR. SILOG, WE SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME, UM, TRYING TO FIND WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE THE RIGHT PERSON.
I WOULD VENTURE TO SAY THAT THAT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION THAT WE WERE GOING TO MAKE THIS YEAR.
UM, I APPRECIATE THE CITIZENS PATIENTS, UH, WHILE WE, WHILE WE, UM, WENT THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
AND, UM, I THINK YOU GUYS ARE GONNA REALLY, UM, AND ENJOY AND, UH, AND YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU'RE REPRESENTED BY MR. ANYONE ELSE.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I TOLD YOU GUYS, WE WERE WORKING ON IT.
UM, PEOPLE STARTED DOUBTING US AFTER A WHILE THAT WE WEREN'T ACTUALLY ACTIVELY SEEKING A TOP MANAGER, BUT WE WERE, UM, JUST AS MR. CLX SAID, UM, MR. HICKS HAS BEEN IN EVERY SINGLE DEPARTMENT.
SO I THINK THAT HE'S GOING TO BE MORE RESPECTED BY THE PEOPLE WHO REPORT INTO HIM, BECAUSE HE'S ALSO DONE THE WORK THAT THEY'RE DOING.
UM, VERY GREAT GUY, AND I'M SUPER EXCITED FOR HIM TO BE STARTING.
THANK YOU COUNSEL, BECAUSE THIS WAS REALLY HARD AND IT WAS ABOUT 80 OR SO CANDIDATES, AND IT WAS A LOT OF WORK.
ANYONE ELSE JUST, JUST, JUST DO IT NOW OR AFTER WE VOTE? JUST ONE MORE, READ IT AT ALL.
NO, I WANT TO READ IT, BUT I MEAN, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO VOTE AND THEN I'D READ IT.
OTHERWISE IT DOESN'T DOES IT EITHER WAY.
I JUST HAD ONE MORE THING, YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, NOT, NOT TO BE ON, NOT ON THE SERIOUS SIDE, BUT UH, MR. C LEFT, WE FOUND THEIR PIPE FITTER.
LATASHA RE READ THAT INFORMATION FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE STEVEN HICKS TO START HIS FRONT ROYAL TOWN MANAGER ON DECEMBER 7TH, 2020, THE FRONT WORLD TOWN COUNCIL IS PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE SELECTION OF STEVEN HICKS IS THE NEW TOWN MANAGER.
HICKSVILLE ASSUMED THE POSITION MONDAY, DECEMBER 7TH, MAYOR EUGENE T WALT STATED.
I KNOW I SPEAK FOR COUNCIL THAT WE COULD NOT BE MORE PLEASED TO HAVE STEVEN SERVE AS OUR TOP MANAGER AND THANKFUL FOR MATT WHO FILLED IN AS INTERIM DURING OUR TOWN MANAGER START VICE MAYOR.
BILL CLX SAID, FINDING THE RIGHT CANDIDATE TOOK LONGER THAN WE EXPECT IT.
COUNCIL KNEW THAT THEY WANTED WHAT THEY WANTED.
AND THE MANAGER WAS PATIENT TO FIND THE RIGHT TOWN MANAGER FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE OUR EFFORTS HAVE PAID OFF BY HAVING THE BEST CANDIDATE POSSIBLE.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT STEVEN WILL BRING TO THE TOWN GOVERNMENT BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY MAYOR LIKED.
CHRIS HOLLOWAY COMMENTED HICKS WAS SELECTED BECAUSE OF HIS IMPRESSIVE LEADERSHIP AND OPERATIONS, BRINGING BUSINESS IN COMMUNITIES, DEVELOPING FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE BUDGETS, MANAGING ENTERPRISE DEPARTMENTS IN DELIVERING AND DELIVERING COMPLEX INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS ON TIME AND ON BUDGET.
I AM HONORED AND APPRECIATE THE CONFIDENCE THE FRONT WORLD TOWN COUNCIL HAS IN ME TO LEAD AND BE PART OF A GREAT ORGANIZATION SAID HICKS.
MY DAUGHTERS ARE EXCITED TO BECOME PART OF THE COMMUNITY WHILE THEY GO TO COLLEGE.
AND FOR ME TO BE PART OF THE FRONT WORLD TEAM TO SERVE THE CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES HICKS HAS OVER 25 YEARS OF STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE.
HE WAS PREVIOUSLY AT THE TOWN MANAGER OF SELMA NORTH CAROLINA THAT PROVIDED A FULL RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING SOLID WASTE WATER SEWER IN ELECTRIC, AS WELL AS POLICE AND FIRE.
DURING HIS TENURE, HE WAS ABLE TO DEVELOP A TRANSPARENT OPERATIONS BUDGET AND MANAGE THE TOWN'S ENTERPRISE FUNDS, DELIVERING POSITIVE OPERATING REVENUE.
AS PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS HICKS WAS ABLE TO ESTABLISH SOME AS FIRST EVER FIVE-YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WITH MAJOR EMPHASIS IN ADDRESSING GROUNDWATER AND STORM WATER.
I AND I THAT ENTERS INTO THE TOWN SEWER SYSTEM FOR TREATMENT HICKS ALSO PARTNERED WITH EASTFIELD CROSSING DEVELOPERS AND DUKE ENERGY TO MINT THE 400 ACRE MIXED USE DEVELOPMENT AND INCENTIVE AGREEMENT TO INCREASE THE TOWN'S TAX BASE AND CREATE 3,100 JOBS.
PRIOR TO THAT POSITION HICKS WITH THE GENERAL SERVICES DIRECTOR FOR THE CITY OF DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA, HE CREATED THE DIVISION OF ARTS CULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES TO COVER THE SOCIAL ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL WELLBEING TO EMPOWER CITIZENS, TO ADVANCE EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND EQUAL ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITIES AND SERVICES.
WHILE SERVING AS A DIRECTOR, HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR $300 MILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM THAT INCLUDED CAPITAL INVESTMENTS FOR PARKING GARAGES, TWO FIRE STATIONS, PARKS, AND A NEW POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION CENTER.
HE ALSO WORKED IN VIRGINIA AS THE PETER BURKE PETERS.
BERG'S PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITY DIRECTOR ACTING ASSISTANT JAMES CITY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, AND IN WILLIAMSBURG RESIDENT ENGINEER FOR THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.
WHILE IN JAMES CITY COUNTY HICKS HAD AN IMPRESSIVE
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RECORD WITH THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHERE HE OVERSAW THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES.HE ESTABLISHED A BUSINESS BUSINESS FRIENDLY ONE-STOP SHOP, WHERE CITIZENS AND THE DEVELOPMENT COMPUTING COMMUNITY WERE ABLE TO GET ADMINISTRATIVE SITE PLAN APPROVAL WITHIN ONE BUSINESS DAY.
I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION TIME AND MONEY IT TAKES TO ACCOMPLISH A HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT OR A STRAIGHT-FORWARD DEVELOPMENT.
THE BUSINESS FRIENDLY APPROACH I DELIVERED ENSURED THE COUNTY'S APPROVAL PROCESS DID NOT OUTSMART COMMON SENSE AND EXPEDITED APPROVALS FOR THE CITIZENS AND BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHO EXPECTED AND DESERVED IT.
SO SIX HICKS HAS A MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING FROM GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE IN URBAN STUDIES FROM VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY.
HE IS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA DARDEN SCHOOL, SENIOR EXECUTIVE INSTITUTE, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATION, AND THE VIRGINIA TECH TRANSPORTATION CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE.
HE SERVED AS THE COMMISSIONER OF NORTH CAROLINA, EASTERN MUNICIPAL POWER AGENCY, TRIANGLE EAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTOR IN UPTOWN SELMA BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP BOARD DIRECTOR.
HE IS A MEMBER OF THE INTERNATIONAL CITY MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION IN NORTH CAROLINA LEAGUE OF MUNICIPALITIES HICKS WAS A FORMER MEMBER OF VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE, MATT CAESAR, BUT BEGAN WORKING AS THE INTERIM TOWN MANAGER IN NOVEMBER OF 2019 AND HAS A GREAT TO ASSIST STEVE.
AND AS PART OF THE TRANSITION, TJ CONCLUDED TO DATE, I HAVE HAD VERY LIMITED TIME GETTING TO KNOW STEVEN, BUT THIS MUCH I'VE ALREADY OBSERVED.
HE APPEARS TO BE THE PERFECT SELECTION FOR OUR TOWN.
THAT TASHA COULD HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE.
COUNCILMAN METHOD IS ABSENT AND COUNCILMAN THOMPSON.
UH, MATT, UH, TURN IT OVER TO YOU.
MR. MAYOR MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I BELIEVE THE POLICE CHIEF HAS SOMETHING HE WANTED TO ADDRESS WITH COUNCIL CHIEF.
THANK YOU, MR. TIDRICK MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
I APPRECIATE YOU GIVING ME A FEW MINUTES TONIGHT, UH, TO, UH, TO MAKE, UH, TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT.
UM, A POLICE OFFICER IS OFTENTIMES MAKING LIFE OR DEATH DECISIONS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS.
UM, AND FORTUNATELY THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION WAS NOT ONE OF THOSE.
SO, UH, I APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE AND ALLOWING US THE TIME TO PROPERLY CONDUCT THIS INVESTIGATION, WE HAD TO CONSIDER CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES FROM ALL SIDES OF IT.
UH, WE HAVE TO FOLLOW PROCEDURE AS OUTLINED IN STATE CODE.
UH, WE'VE HAD TO FOLLOW HR AND EMPLOYMENT LAW AND MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS HAD BEEN, BEEN DONE IN THE, IN A CORRECT FASHION TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS.
WOULD THAT BE AND SAID, PLEASE, LET ME READ YOU THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC STATEMENT.
THE FRONT ROOM POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS MADE AWARE ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER THE 11TH, 2020 OF CONCERNING SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS THAT HAD BEEN MADE BY AN OFFICER WITHIN OUR GROUP AND WITHIN OUR DEPARTMENT, THESE COMMENTS DO NOT REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL OR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
OUR MISSION REMAINS TO SAFEGUARD THE LIVES OF ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE TAKE THIS BEHAVIOR VERY SERIOUSLY UPON RECEIPT OF THE COMPLAINT, THE OFFICER WAS IMMEDIATELY PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE PURSUANT TO AN INTERNAL INVESTIGATION.
THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CONDUCTED A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION, THE RESULTS, THE RESULTS OF WHICH WERE ALSO VETTED EXTERNALLY BY THIRD PARTY.
IT WAS DETERMINED IN THE INVESTIGATION THAT THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT, GENERAL ORDER 27.0 1.04 PUBLIC INFORMATION, WHICH REFERS TO INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA HAD BEEN VIOLATED BY THIS EMPLOYEE.
SPECIFIC VIOLATIONS INCLUDE D 0.3, THE DEPARTMENT SANCTIONED USE AND SECTION E PERSONAL USE OF AN OFF-DUTY CONDUCT IN LIGHT OF THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES APPROPRIATE PUNITIVE AND CORRECTIVE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS HAVE BEEN TAKEN, WHICH INCLUDES EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN CULTURAL DIVERSITY, ANTI-BIASED POLICING AND THE ROLE OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THE OFFICER IS A 15 YEAR VETERAN VETERAN OF THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT, ALL 15 YEARS OF PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS SHOW ABOVE AVERAGE WORK PERFORMANCE.
IN THE PAST THREE YEARS ALONE, THIS OFFICERS RESPONDED TO OVER 3000 CALLS FOR SERVICE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THE OFFICERS HAS NEVER HAD ANY DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS, NO CITIZEN COMPLAINTS AND NO EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE INCIDENTS OVER THE COURSE OF HIS CAREER.
AGAIN, WE TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE DO NOT CONDONE THE STATEMENTS MADE BY THIS OFFICER.
WE ARE INSTITUTING SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING FOR THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT, AND WE'LL BE CONDUCTING ANTI-BIASED POLICING TRAINING IN ADDITION TO THE MANDATE MANDATED YEARLY CULTURAL DIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF COLONEL OH JUSTICE SERVICES.
SO THAT IS, UH, THAT IS WHERE WE STAND AGAIN.
I APPRECIATE THE, UM, THE PATIENTS OF EVERYBODY, UM, AND DEALING WITH THIS AGAIN.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION AND WE ONLY HAD ONE SHOT
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TO, TO GET IT RIGHT.AND WE, WE REALLY, UH, TOOK OUR TIME AND MADE SURE THAT WE CONSULTED WITH THE APPROPRIATE PARTIES, UH, TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE MADE AN ACCURATE, INFORMED DECISION ON WHAT TO DO.
YOU HAVE, YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CHIEF? I HAVE SOME THINGS I WANTED TO ADD, UH, TO THOSE COMMENTS.
UM, AND I'VE STATED THIS TO YOU PRIVATELY AND MILES HAVE STATED HERE IN FRONT OF COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC, UH, AS INTERIM TOWN MANAGER, UM, ALL EMPLOYEES WORKED FOR ME EXCEPT FOR THREE, THE CLERK, THE CLERK, AND THE, UM, ATTORNEY THOSE TWO.
UM, SO I, I HAVE, UM, I HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY WITH REGARDS TO THIS MATTER, AND I FEEL AS IF, UM, I FAILED COUNSEL THE PUBLIC IN AND THE DEPARTMENT TO SOME DEGREE THAT I DIDN'T FORESEE, UM, ENSURING THAT THE GENERAL ORDERS WEREN'T BEING FOLLOWED, UM, UH, AS IT'S A REAL CHALLENGE, HOW DO WE, HOW DO WE FOLLOW, UM, SOME OF THESE, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS, IT'S A CHALLENGING AS AN EMPLOYER.
UM, IN ADDITION, I'VE TALKED TO THE CHIEF IN LEADERSHIP, UM, IN THE DEPARTMENT, UM, I'M GOING TO BE FORMALLY, UM, HAVING A COUNSELING SESSION WITH THEM AS WELL.
AND, UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT THAT I APPRECIATE THE CHIEF COMING UP AND, AND, UM, MAKING THOSE STATEMENTS.
BUT I DID WANT TO, I DID WANT TO LET COUNCIL KNOW THAT I, I ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT CONCLUDES OUR MEETING TONIGHT, UH, MEETING NEW JERSEY.