* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:00:02] HEY, GOOD EVENING. I [1. MOMENT OF SILENCE] WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE FRONT ROW TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, JANUARY 25TH, 2021 TO ORDER. AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE. [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] NEXT. WE'LL HAVE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE LED BY COUNCILMAN JOE MCFADDEN. OKAY. ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL. [3. ROLL CALL] OKAY. CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE? MAYOR HOLLOWAY, ABSENT. VICE MAYOR COCKEREL HERE. GILLESPIE. THANK YOU, COUNCILMAN LLOYD HERE. NOW. IT'S MY MCFADDEN HERE. COUNCILMAN. MEZA HERE. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON HERE. [4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES for Regular Council Meeting of January 11, 2021] OKAY. NEXT ITEM IS NUMBER FOUR APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF JANUARY 11TH, 2021. DO I HEAR A MOTION? VICE MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY THE 11TH, 2021. THAT'S PRESENTED SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY. SINCE THERE'S NO DISCUSSION, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SAY AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED MOTION CARRIED. [5. RECEIPT OF PETITIONS and/or CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PUBLIC (Part 1 of 2)] NEXT ITEM IS NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE RECEIPT OF PETITIONS AND OR CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PUBLIC MRS. PRESLEY. DO WE HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK MAYOR? WE HAVE TWO TO SPEAK AND THE FIRST ONE, THE PAUL GABBER. OKAY. MR. CAVERT. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION THAT WE HAVE HAD A LITTLE CHANGE THAT, UM, WHEN YOU STATE YOUR NAME, YOU CAN JUST STATE WHETHER YOU'RE A MEMBER OF THE TOWN OR WHICH COUNTY, OKAY. CALL GABBERT ONE, TWO, TWO, ONE VALLEY VIEW DRIVE FRONT ROYAL. FIRST THING I HAVE TO SAY IS ABOUT JENNIFER BERRY, WHICH I'M SURE YOU ALL WOULD KNOW THAT I'VE WOULD SAY SOMETHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS A TRULY SICKENING ORDEAL. ANYONE WHO ALLEGEDLY THAT WOULD ALLEGEDLY COMMIT THESE ACTS OR ANYONE WHO WOULD ALLEGEDLY COVER UP. THESE ACTS ARE SICK CRIMINALS. WHEN MR. HOLLOWAY WAS A COUNCILMAN, ONE OF HIS BIGGEST ITEMS ALONG WITH INTERIM TOWN MANAGER WAS REDUCING TAP FEES. THEY MADE SURE THAT THAT GOT THROUGH NOW THAT MR. HOLLOWAY IS MAYOR. HE WANTS AN INSPECTION AND PERMIT OFFICE OF THE TOWN. MR. GABBERT. I JUST WANTED TO, UM, MENTION THAT ONE OF THE RULES OF DECORUM WAS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, ADDRESSING THE ISSUES WERE MEASURES, BUT UM, NOT NECESSARILY THE PERSON OR THE MAN. OKAY, THAT'S FINE. I CAN DO THAT. THANK YOU. I HAVE ANOTHER MINUTE I HAD IT ON SINCE WE DID THIS. THAT'S FINE WITH ME IF IT'S OKAY WITH EVERYBODY ELSE. OKAY, GO AHEAD. WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE MORE TAXES, HIGHER TAXES. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE PEOPLE TO DO THIS OFFICE, TO DO THE INSPECTIONS. SO I DON'T KNOW WHY THE COUNTY ALREADY DOES IT. WHY DO WE NEED ONE FOR THE TOWN? JUST MORE MONEY AT THIS TABLE OVER HERE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, THE INTERIM TOWN MANAGER SAID HE KNEW NOTHING ABOUT OVER FOUR INCH TREES BEING CUT DOWN AT HAPPY CREEK PROJECT. THAT WAS A LIE. AND YOU ALL KNOW IT WAS, AND YOU DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. HE SAID THE NEXT DAY AFTER HE FOUND OUT THE NEXT DAY, THE, UM, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T KNOW HOW HE COULD SAY THAT BECAUSE THE, UH, ENGINEERING FIRM CALLED FOR THESE TREES TO BE REMOVED. DIDN'T EVERYONE. SEE THE ENGINEERING REPORT THAT CALLED FOR THESE, IF YOU DIDN'T SOMETHING'S WRONG. I'M SURE THE INTERIM TOWN MANAGER [00:05:01] SAW THEM. I SPOKE WITH THE CONTRACTOR WHO SUPPOSEDLY WAS FIRED WHEN I ASKED HIM IF HE WAS THE CONTRACTOR WHO CUT THESE TREES WHEN HE SHOULD NOT HAVE AND WAS FIRED THE NEXT DAY, HIS RESPONSE TO ME WAS, AND I QUOTE, THAT'S WHAT THEY SAY. I DID. WHAT I WAS TOLD TO DO. IF THIS MAN WAS FIRED, WHY IS HE STILL A CONTRACTOR FOR THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, WHICH HE IS. AND EVERY ONE OF YOU KNOW THAT AND EVERYONE WHO KNEW IT BEFORE THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PROBABLY HERE KNEW THAT. BUT YET YOU LET MR. TEDRICK, THE INTERIM TOWN MANAGER SAY THIS ON MAY 27TH, 2020, A NEW CONTRACT WAS SIGNED WITH THIS CONTRACTOR. IT WAS SIGNED BY MR. TEDRICK AND BY MR. NAPIER, AND THE MAN STILL HAS A CONTRACT WITH THE TOWN. AFTER WE WERE TOLD HE WAS FIRED. CAN YOU ALL KNOW THAT TOO? RENAMING THE STREET AFTER DONALD TRUMP, MAN, I TELL YOU, I CAN'T EVEN, THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE. THE APPOINTMENT OF A VICE MAYOR WAS JUST MORE REPUBLICAN PARTY COMMITTEE ARROGANCE FOR PARTY DOMINANCE OF THE TOWN. THIS POSITION WAS MRS THOMPSON'S AND MRS. THOMPSON'S ALONE. MRS. VICE MAYOR, YOU SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED IT. YOU SHOULD HAVE PASSED IT ON THE COUNCIL MEMBER WHO SAT IN FRONT OF A BILLBOARD AT THE 15TH STREET VOTING PRECINCT. WHEN THE TOWN CHARTER STATES, NO CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR OFFICE OR RUN UNDER A PARTY AFFILIATION. I WOULD LIKE THIS COUNCILMAN TO EXPLAIN TONIGHT WHY HE SAT IN FRONT OF A BILLBOARD AT A TABLE, HANDING OUT PAMPHLETS FOR CANDIDATES WITH A BIG BILLBOARD SAYING VOTE REPUBLICAN, AND THEN HAD EVERYBODY'S EVERYBODY THAT WAS IN THE REPUBLICAN, UH, NOMINATE OR COMMITTEE, EVERYONE THAT WAS IN THERE FOR REPUBLICANS. THEIR NAME WAS UP ON THAT SIGN. THAT WAS A TRUE VIOLATION OF THE TOWN CHARTER. AND I WOULD LIKE THAT COUNCILMAN TO TELL ME TONIGHT WHY HE WAS DOING THAT, WHY HE WOULD WOBBLY GO AGAINST THE TOWN CHARTER. A COUNCILMAN VOTED TWICE FOR HIS EMPLOYER ON BIG, ON BIG DEALS FOR THE HOSPITAL. HIS LAST VOTE WAS FOR A PETTY LITTLE SIGNAGE WORK FOR THE HOSPITAL. MR. GABBERT, I JUST, I BELIEVE I HEARD THE TIMER GO OFF. ARE YOU WRAPPING UP? TOLD ME I WAS GOING TO HAVE MORE TIME. DID YOU ADD THE EXTRA MINUTE? OKAY. CAN I JUST HAVE YOU JUST WANT TO FINISH THAT REAL QUICK? THANKS. HIS LAST, UH, VOTE. THE LAST VOTE THAT CAME UP WAS FOR SIGNAGE FOR THE HOSPITAL, WHICH WAS A LITTLE TWO-BIT VOTE. HE RECUSED HIMSELF FROM THAT VOTED TWICE ON BIG ITEMS THAT SAVED THE HOSPITAL MONEY, RECUSED HIMSELF ON SIGNAGE. I WOULD LIKE THIS TOWN COUNCILMAN TO TELL ME TONIGHT WHY HE RECUSED HIMSELF ON THAT. AND IF HE RECUSED HIMSELF ON SIGNAGE, IS HE GOING TO RECUSE HIMSELF ON ANY ISSUES COMING UP FOR THE HOSPITAL WHILE HE IS HERE TILL NOVEMBER? HOPEFULLY NOT TILL THEN. THANK YOU, MR. HIGGS, I BELIEVE YOU HAVE THE LIST FOR SPEAKERS THIS YEAR. ANYONE ELSE THAT WISHES TO SAY YES, VICE MAYOR, KAREN PATTON, KAREN, KAREN PATTEN, FRONT ROYAL. WHILE I AM MOURNING THE LOSS OF MORE KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY. I SEE A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL ABOUT A ROAD NAME, NOT ABOUT THE DEADLY DRUGS FLOATING AROUND IN OUR TOWN, BUT OVERRODE NAME. I FIND IT DISGUSTING TO KNOW WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE WHILE YOU WERE WORRIED OVER A ROAD NAME AND THROWING EACH UNDER A BUS, EACH OTHER UNDER A BUS, PEOPLE ARE BURYING THEIR KIDS. THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE SEEN WHAT IGNORING PEOPLE AND HIDING THINGS DOES TO OUR COUNTRY. AND HERE WE ARE DOING THE VERY SAME THING AT A LOCAL LEVEL. [00:10:01] I REQUESTED INFORMATION FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WAS GOING IN AND IN OUR COMMUNITY. JUST TO BE TOLD THAT SOME OF THE INFORMATION I ASKED FOR, I COULDN'T HAVE, I WAS LOOKING FOR THE NUMBERS OR, OR ARREST FOR DRUGS AND WHAT TYPE OF DRUGS AND WHAT COMMUNICATION WAS GOING ON BETWEEN THE FRONT MORE A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR, OR WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. AND WHAT'S SOCIAL SERVICES IN REGARDS TO KIDS WHO WERE IN HOMES THAT PEOPLE BEING ARRESTED, WHY WOULD THIS INFORMATION NOT BE GIVEN OUT? AND WHY, WHY DON'T YOU ASK THESE QUESTIONS MONTHLY, HAVE SOME KIND OF IDEA OF WHAT IS GOING ON. I SUGGEST INSTEAD OF FIGHTING AMONGST YOURSELVES ABOUT PETTY THINGS, YOU FOCUS ON ISSUES THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY AND SOLUTIONS TO THOSE PROBLEMS THAT WILL ACTUALLY SAVE OR IMPROVE LIVES INSTEAD OF PRETTY WORDS AND PROMISES THAT ARE NEVER FULFILLED AS TO JUST GIVING PEOPLE HONEST ANSWERS. VICE MAYOR. WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CITIZENS SIGNED UP FROM THERE. OKAY. THANK YOU. I DID JUST WANT TO MENTION BEFORE WE MOVE ON THAT DURING THE RECEIPT OF PETITIONS AND OR CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PUBLIC THAT'S, UM, THAT'S WHEN YOU SHARE YOUR, YOUR CONCERNS AND THOUGHTS WITH US, AND IT'S NOT A TIME WHERE THE COUNCIL ACTUALLY ADDRESSES OR ANSWERS THE QUESTIONS, I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNEW THAT. SO NEXT STEP IS NUMBER SIX REPORTS. [6A. Report of Special Committees or Town Officials and Town Manager] UM, AND THE FIRST ONE IS REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEES OR TOWN OFFICIALS AND TELL MANAGER. WE HAVE NO, UNLESS COUNCIL HAS ANY, ANY COMMITTEES THEY SERVE ON. THEY LIKE TO GET, UH, THE REPORT ON, BUT, UM, FOR, UH, THE TOWN MANAGER'S OFFICE, WE WILL BE OPENING TOWN HALL FEBRUARY 1ST. IT'S GOING TO BE OPENED BACK UP. AND THEN ALSO IN REGARDS TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, UH, WE WILL BE MONITORING IT AND MAKE A DETERMINATION. IF WE NEED TO DELAY OPENING A TOWN HALL OR CLOSING IT, WE'RE WORKING WITH, UH, WARREN COUNTY EOC FOLKS ON, UH, ON THIS ISSUE. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. OKAY. THANK YOU. [6B. Requests and inquiries of Councilmembers.] UM, NEXT OR ANY REQUESTS OR INQUIRIES OF COUNCIL MEMBERS, DOES ANYONE? YES. MRS. VICE MAYOR. I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE. SO, UM, THE FIRST ONE, UM, AS WITH MS. BERRY, UM, IT'S A LITTLE DISINGENUOUS TO SIT THERE AND SAY THAT THIS COUNCIL COVERED IT UP. IT, IT WAS COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE'S SPEAKING THE VML THE SAME DAY THAT IT W THAT, THAT IT WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS NO COVERUP, THE CHARGE WE TOOK THE VERY, THE CHARGES VERY SERIOUSLY. AND THAT WAS THE REASON WE HAD TURNED IT OVER. NUMBER TWO, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS, AS ME WORKING AT THE POST, I'VE WORKED AT THE POST. UH, A LOT OF TIMES I'VE WORKED IN THE POLLS FOR A LOT OF YEARS. OKAY. I WAS STANDING ALL OVER THAT PARKING LOT THAT DAY. YEP, SURE. WAS, UH, MR. LLOYD, UH, AND MISS MR. MCFADDEN, UM, LAURIE, I WAS SUPPORTING THE CANDIDATES AND, UM, THAT WAS WHAT I WAS DOING THERE. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. RESPOND TO THOSE, MR. CABERNET, THIS ISN'T MR. GABBERT REALLY SAY WHY HE BROKE DOWN SHORTER. AND WE DIDN'T SAY WHY MR. GABBERT PLEASE. MR. GAM. OKAY. WE HAVE THE PUBLIC PORTION. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCILMEN WHO WOULD LIKE TO HOW MANY REQUESTS OR INQUIRIES? YES. I'D LIKE TO, UM, RESPOND TO A FEW OF THE THINGS THAT I CAN RESPOND TO, UM, IN RELATIONS TO THE JENNIFER BERRY THING. UM, IT WAS TAKEN SERIOUSLY. I CAN'T SPEAK AT LENGTH ON THAT BECAUSE IT IS A LEGAL ISSUE AND IT IS AN EMPLOYEE ISSUE. UM, LET'S SEE ONTO THE INSPECTIONS CURRENTLY, WE'RE TRYING TO ESTABLISH SOMETHING BECAUSE OF THE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO GET COUNTY SUPPORT IN THAT AREA. UM, AS FAR AS THE HAPPY CREEK SITUATION. NOPE. I DID NOT SEE THAT ENGINEERING REPORT ABOUT THE FOUR-INCH THINGS. I WAS TOLD THE SAME INFORMATION. YOU ALL WERE TOLD THAT THAT CONTRACTOR WAS FIRED. AND I TOOK THAT AT FACE VALUE AS IT WAS GIVEN TO ME, UM, STREET RENAMING. I'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED THAT BEFORE, BUT I'LL SAY IT AGAIN. I DON'T AGREE [00:15:01] WITH THAT. AND MAKING PEOPLE CHANGE THEIR ADDRESSES, UM, THE VICE MAYOR POSITION. I'M NOT GONNA SIT HERE AND PRETEND LIKE I WAS, UM, SIDE SWIPED BY THAT OR CAUGHT OFF GUARD. CAUSE I WASN'T, LAURIE TOLD ME AT A BREAKFAST THAT SHE WAS, UM, WOULD DO IT IF GARY AND I DID NOT WANT TO DO IT. AND THEN GARY NOMINATED HER. SO I, IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT SURPRISING TO ME. AND I KNOW THAT SHE HAS ASPIRATIONS TO BE MAYOR. SO VI VICE MAYOR POSITION IS A STEPPING STONE. I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, VALLEY HEALTH, I DON'T HAVE MUCH TO SAY ABOUT THAT. UM, FOR, I JUST DON'T AS FOR THE, UM, THE CHILDREN WHO PASSED AWAY AND THE DRUG EPIDEMIC, MY DAUGHTERS WERE FRIENDS WITH ONE OF THE YOUNG MEN WHO PASSED AWAY. I THINK HE WAS 20, 21 VERY YOUNG AND ONE DAUGHTER WORKED WITH THE OTHER GIRL. AND, UH, THOSE ARE SAD INCIDENCES. AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THIS AND JAKE CAN COVER HIS EARS CAUSE IT'S GOING TO INVOLVE VALLEY HEALTH. BUT I THINK THAT IF WE PUSH ON THIS PILOT AND WE GET SOME MONEY FROM VALLEY HEALTH, WE CAN PUT THAT MONEY INTO DRUG COURT AND INTO SOME PROGRAMS FOR THESE KIDS. WE SEE IT WORKING. I'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SITTING ON DIFFERENT BOARDS WITH THE UNITED WAY. UM, AND IT HAS WORKING IN WINCHESTER WHERE THEY HAVE PROGRAMS AND THEY HAVE THE PEER GROUPS BECAUSE YOU AND I TALKING TO SOMEONE WHO'S ADDICTED WHO, AND WE DON'T HAVE THOSE SAME BACKGROUNDS. WE'RE NOT GETTING THROUGH TO THOSE PEOPLE, BUT WITH THE PEER GROUPS THEY ARE. SO THAT'S MY HOPE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH SOMETHING LIKE THAT OR WHAT ROANOKE IS DOING IN THEIR COMMUNITY, WITH ALL THE GROUPS INVOLVED, THE SCHOOLS, THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, UM, THE GOVERNMENT EVERYONE'S INVOLVED. UM, IT'S DEFINITELY A COMMUNITY EFFORT. AND WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND THE ADDICTS AND AT THOSE FAMILIES THAT ARE AFFECTED AS A PERSON WHO GREW UP IN A HOUSEHOLD WITH AN ADDICT, I TELL YOU, IT AFFECTS THE KIDS. IT AFFECTS THE OTHER ADULT IN THE HOUSE. IT AFFECTS EVERYBODY. IT'S NOT JUST THE ADDICT WHO NEEDS THE HELP. SO, UM, THAT'S HOW I THINK I HAVE TO SAY FOR THE PUBLIC PORTION. THANK YOU. UM, IF I CAN JUST SPEAK REAL QUICKLY, I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE, UM, THAT INTERNAL INSPECTION. UM, THAT WAS MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, I WAS ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION WHEN WE TRIED TO, UH, PUT THROUGH A RENTAL INSPECTION ORDINANCE, UM, TO DEAL WITH THE BLIGHTED BUILDINGS, TO DEAL WITH, UH, SOME OF THE, UH, SLUMLORD ISSUES THAT, THAT WERE REALLY WELL-SPOKEN ABOUT AND TALKED ABOUT AND THAT THEN THIS, THIS CITIZEN COMMUNITY SEVERAL YEARS AGO, UM, UNFORTUNATELY THAT, THAT ORDINANCE NEVER MADE IT THROUGH. I THINK THIS IS THE NEXT EVOLUTION OF THAT, YOU KNOW, IN ORDER TO, UM, IN ORDER TO TAKE CHARGE OF WHAT'S WITHIN OUR BOUNDARIES OF THE TOWN, UM, I'M NOT FOR DELAYING ON OUR OWN ON EVERYTHING, BUT I THINK IN THIS CASE, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTY INSPECTOR IS WORKED. I MEAN, IT'S NOT LIKE THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO. UM, HAVING SOMETHING THAT'S INTERNAL THAT'S WITHIN OUR CONTROL. UM, AND ALSO THE COLLECTING OF TAP FEES AND OTHER ISSUES, YOU KNOW, OTHER FEES THAT ARE ISSUED AS A BUSINESS OWNER, I'VE PAID THOSE TAP FEES TO BOTH COUNTY AND TOWN. UM, IT WAS A LITTLE FRUSTRATING PAYING TAP FEES TO THE COUNTY. I MEAN, TO THE, TO THE COUNTY WHEN I KNEW MY WATER WAS GOING TO BE COMING FROM THE TOWN. UM, BUT IT WAS PART OF THE INSPECTION PROCESS AND DEALING WITH, UM, THE COUNTY INSPECTOR. SO, YOU KNOW, I HONESTLY THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND LOOK AT IT FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF, UM, OUR FUTURE AS A TOWN AND OWNERSHIP OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS WITHIN OUR TOWN THAT WE WANT TO SEE FIXED. AND I KNOW THE CITIZENS ARE CRYING OUT TO SEE BLIGHTED BUILDINGS GONE. AND IF WE CAN, YOU KNOW, WORK ON THAT, YOU KNOW, THROUGH OUR, OUR NEW TOWN MANAGER, THROUGH SOMEBODY WHO'S AN EMPLOYEE OF THE TOWN, I THINK WE'LL SEE SUCCESS VERSUS WAITING FOR THE COUNTY TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PROBLEMS ON THIS FRONT. AND, UH, THE EXPENSES THAT MAY COME I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT WE COULD, WE COULD PUT, WE'RE LOOKING TO SEE IF THOSE EXPENSES WOULD BE COVERED BY THE FEES COLLECTED FROM THE NEW DEVELOPMENT. SO I THINK THAT'S WORTH TAKING A SECOND LOOK AT AND UNDERSTANDING A LITTLE BIT FURTHER AS WE, AS WE DEVELOP THAT. UM, SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS THE DRUG EPIDEMIC ISSUE. YOU KNOW, WE WE'VE SEEN FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS ON CNN AND OTHER NEWS STATIONS, THE COVID DEATHS PORTRAYED ON THE SCREEN. UH, SUDDENLY THOSE HAVE DISAPPEARED OFF THE SCREEN. UM, I THINK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE THE REAL EPIDEMIC HERE IN WARREN COUNTY IS THE OPIOD EPIDEMIC. I THINK IT'S PROBABLY HAVING A REPORT EVERY MONTH. UM, BRINGING THOSE NUMBERS TO THE FOREFRONT, UM, IS PROBABLY SOMETHING THAT CAN HELP US THEN FIGHT THAT AND, AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT IF WE'RE VERY, VERY AWARE OF IT. UM, SO I, I'M GOING TO SEE WHAT THAT MEANS. TALK ABOUT IT, MAYBE IN A WORK SESSION TO SEE WHAT CAN WE DO AS A TOWN COUNCIL TO BRING THAT TO THE FOREFRONT AND THEN HELP WITH THAT. BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN, ESPECIALLY WITH SOME OF THE NEW LAWS PASSED IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THEY'VE BEEN HANGED. THEY THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN HANDCUFFED ON SOME OF THE ISSUES. UM, UH, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING ON A GRAND JURY PAST THREE MONTHS AND I GOT TO HEAR ABOUT OUR DRUG EPIDEMIC PROBLEM FIRSTHAND. AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT IT'S, IT'S AWFUL. [00:20:01] UM, AND, AND THE, THOSE THAT ARE AWARE, KNOW THAT IT'S AWFUL. UM, BUT, UH, WE'RE DEFINITELY, IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT. I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OTHER ISSUES AS WELL, UM, BUT WE CAN DO MORE THAN ONE THING AT A TIME. IS THERE ANYONE ELSE JUST WANTED TO SPEAK BRIEFLY TO ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, MS. PATTON'S, UH, COMMENTS AND, UM, JUST TO EXPRESS THAT, UH, I, I'M SORRY THAT, UM, THE ORDER OF PRIORITIES MAY HAVE GAVE YOU A NEW, THE IMPRESSION THAT, UM, WE'RE NOT TAKING THE OPIOID CRISIS SERIOUSLY, UH, REALLY IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, UM, THE NAMES OF STREETS REALLY DO NOT MATTER AS MUCH AS THE LIVES THAT WE'RE LOSING TO THAT EPIDEMIC. AND I FEEL THAT VERY SINCERELY AND, UM, ALSO WANT TO MY SINCERE COMMITMENT TO, UM, DOING WHATEVER WE CAN TO ADDRESS IT. OKAY. YEAH. UM, MRS. PATTON, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SPEAK TO THAT AS WELL. UM, WE, WE HAVE STARTED, UM, A COMMITTEE HERE AND, AND FRONT ROLE IN WARREN COUNTY. UM, AND, AND BELIEVE ME, WE, WE ARE WORKING ON, ON TRYING TO PUT A STOP TO ALL THIS, UH, AND I UNDERSTAND WHOLEHEARTEDLY WHERE YOU'RE COMING FROM. I HAD RECENTLY BACK DURING THE SPRING, LOST SOMEBODY WHO WAS VERY CLOSE TO US, TO IT AS WELL. SO I KNOW IT'S A PROBLEM. IT IS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE PROBLEM IN OUR COMMUNITY. AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, WE ARE AWARE OF IT. AND WE ARE, UM, CHIEF MIGUEL, THIS IS, IS, IS, IS HELPING AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S, THERE'S NUMBERS AND NUMBERS OF AGENCIES. WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR HANDS AROUND THIS, ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. BEFORE, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I JUST WANTED TO SAY HOW MUCH I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE PEOPLE WHO'VE REACHED OUT TO ME AND MY FAMILY, UM, IN THE COMMUNITY FOR OFFER, UM, REGARDING THE LOSS OF MY FATHER LAST WEEK. UM, IT'S VERY HARD TO MOVE FORWARD, UH, WITH, WITH THE LOSS OF SUCH A GREAT MAN AS MY DAD. AND I JUST WOULD ASK Y'ALL TO KEEP US IN, KEEP MY FAMILY IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS, AS WE TRY TO ADJUST TO OUR NEW NORMAL, UM, NEXT UP WOULD BE THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR. AND SINCE COUNCIL, UH, MAYOR HOLLOWAY IS ILL AND CANNOT BE HERE. UM, AND, UM, I KNOW WE'RE ALL SENDING HIM WELL, WISHES TO FEEL BETTER SOON, BUT SINCE THERE IS NO REPORT OF THE MAYOR, I BELIEVE WE WILL MOVE ON TO NUMBER SEVEN, WHICH ARE PROPOSALS FOR ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS OF ITEMS. UM, YES, I'M SORRY. IT'S THE VICE MAYOR, EVEN THOUGH THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR, IS THERE, DO WE STILL WANT TO DO THE APPOINTMENTS FOR THE AUDIT FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE TOWN SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE? AND WE ALREADY DECIDED THAT I BELIEVE THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE MAYOR WAS, UM, HE, YES, I BELIEVE I, UM, BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE HIS APPOINTMENT BECAUSE HE APPOINTS TO THE COMMITTEE AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S MY AUTHORITY, SO I'M NOT GONNA, WELL, WE'LL JUST WAIT FOR THE NEXT MEETING UNLESS MR. MR. X HAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. NO, WE CAN BRING IT TO THE NEXT FEBRUARY 1ST MEETING. SECOND. THANK YOU. SO BACK TO NUMBER SEVEN, UM, ARE THERE ANY PROPOSALS FOR ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO, UM, THE ITEMS VICE MAYOR COCKEREL, IS THE AUDIENCE ALLOWED TO SPEAK AT ALL? OH, I'M SORRY. YOU GUYS JUST SPEAKING. I'M SORRY, SIR. DURING THE, UM, RECEIPT OF PETITIONS AND OR CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PUBLIC, THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE OPERA, THAT WAS THE SECTION OF THE COMMITTEE SECTION OF THE MEETING WHERE YOU WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK, UNLESS IT WAS SOMETHING TO ONE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, IF THERE'S, UH, A TIME FOR US TO TALK DURING THEN. SO I'M SORRY. UM, UNLESS THAT THAT'S, THAT'S WHY THEY'RE SECTION FIVE. UM, AND, AND YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST LIKE THE OTHER CITIZENS THAT SPOKE, YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK DURING THAT TIME. UM, IT, THIS IS DIFFERENT FOR ME, MR. NAPIER. UH, WE, WE HAVE, SINCE WE'VE MOVED ON, ARE WE ALLOWED TO, WE CAN OPEN THAT BACK UP WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF COUNCIL, IF YOU WANT TO ALL THREE MRS. [5. RECEIPT OF PETITIONS and/or CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE PUBLIC (Part 2 of 2)] NIGHTMARE. UM, UH, I, I SAW THE GENTLEMAN WALK IN, UH, RISE. WE STARTED ON I'M COMFORTABLE IF THE REST OF COUNCIL IS I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE HIS READING SECOND. OKAY. ANY, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR. AYE. AYE. AND [00:25:01] NOBODY'S OPPOSED. SO WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD? OKAY. AND JUST BECAUSE THIS MIGHT BE NEWER TO YOU JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND, AND AGAIN, YOU REALLY ONLY HAVE TO SAY THE TOWN OR COUNTY OR FROM, OKAY. UH, MY NAME IS SEAN O'REILLY, I'M A LOCAL BUSINESSMAN. OUR FAMILY HAS BEEN HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME. I'VE BEEN HERE FOR ABOUT 15 YEARS. UM, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS SOMETHING VERY SIMPLE, AND I APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. WHEN I FIRST HEARD THAT YOU GUYS WERE THINKING ABOUT NAMING A STREET HERE AFTER DONALD TRUMP, I WAS DELIGHTED. AND THE REASON IS, IS VERY SIMPLE. THERE WERE PEOPLE HERE TALKING ABOUT DRUG PROBLEMS, ISSUES OF, YOU KNOW, BASIC MORALITY AND, UM, CRIME AND EVERYTHING ELSE. AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO SEE THAT ALL OF THESE THINGS ARE CONNECTED. THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TRUTH. THAT'S NOT ALL OF ONE PIECE. I HAD AN OLD CHINESE DOCTOR TELLING ME, HE GOES, LOOK CLOSER, EVERYTHING CONNECTED. AND THERE'S A REAL TRUTH TO THAT. AND I THINK THE ISSUE ABOUT NAMING A STREET AFTER DONALD TRUMP IS IMPORTANT FOR A VERY SIMPLE REASON. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT DONALD TRUMP. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER HE WAS WHETHER HE WAS A BASTARD, WHETHER HE WAS A GOOD GUY, IT DOESN'T MATTER. HE WAS NOT TREATED WELL BY THE PRESS. HE WAS NOT TREATED WELL BY A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF AMERICANS. AND I THINK IT'S EXTREMELY UNFAIR. AND IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS FOR THE REST OF US, EXTREMELY DANGEROUS THAT THIS KIND OF BEHAVIOR CONTINUES. SO I THINK ALL I'M GOING TO SAY IS THAT THE, I THINK THE IDEA OF NAMING A STREET AFTER DONALD TRUMP IS LIKE A COUNTERWEIGHT TO SOME OF THIS STUFF. THAT'S IT? THANKS. THANK YOU, MR. RILEY. O'REILLY RIGHT. YES. CORRECT. OKAY. [8. APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS] NUMBER EIGHT IS THE APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. WE HAVE FIVE ITEMS AND THEY ARE F ONE F Y 21 BUDGET TRANSFER RELEASE OF STREET CONTINGENCY FUNDS RESOLUTION TO INCREASE STIPENDS FOR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AUTHORIZATION TO SELL EXCESS PROPERTY THROUGH PRIVATE SALE AWARD FOR LEGAL SERVICES, INCLUDING BOND COUNSEL FOR UPCOMING ON I ABATEMENT AND REDUNDANT WATERLINE BOND AND POTENTIAL BOND VALIDATION. AND ALSO FYI 21 BUDGET AMENDMENT FOR INSURANCE REIMBURSEMENT. DO I HEAR A MOTION? THIS IS VICE MAYOR. I MOVE TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS PRESENTED SECOND. OKAY. CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE? VICE MAYOR. COCKERELS YES. COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE. YES. COUNCILMAN LOYD. YES. COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN. YES. COUNCILMAN MEZA YES. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON. YEAH. OKAY. MOTION CARRIED. [9. APPROVAL - Authorize to Advertise for Public Hearing for McKay Springs Property: Approval of Letter of Intent and Approval of Sales Process] AND NOW WE'RE ON ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS THE APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE, TO ADVERTISE HER PUBLIC HEARING FOR MCKAY SPRINGS PROPERTY APPROVAL OF LETTER OF INTENT AND APPROVAL OF SALES PROCESS. MS. PRESLEY, UM, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY FOR THAT ITEM? SURE. IN 2011, THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY OF WARREN ENTERED INTO A MOU WHEREBY THE TOWN AND COUNTY AGREED TO CARRY OUT AN EARLIER 2004 MOU BETWEEN THE TOWN AND COUNTY FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE MCKAY SPRING AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY AND ASKED TO THE PROPERTY NOT NEEDED FOR THE MCKAY'S SPRING ITSELF TO CONSOLIDATE IT AND TITLE IT JOINTLY BETWEEN THE TOWN, THE COUNTY AND THE EDA FOR THE PURPOSES OF MARKETING AND SELLING IT FOR DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT TO THE DESIGNATION AND THE PERPETUAL PRESERVATION EASEMENT OF AN AREA OF AT LEAST 0.5 ACRE OF LAND IN THE RUINS OF THE FORMER ROBERT MCKEE JUNIOR HOUSE AND OUTBUILDINGS AS PROVIDED FOR IN PROFFERED CONDITIONS OF THE REZONING CD AND CLOSED MOU SINCE THEN MARSH AND LEG LAND SURVEYORS PLC HAVE PLANTED THE MCKAY PROPERTY BY ENCLOSED PLAT DATED APRIL 20TH, 2020, THE FIRM OF BODIE NOEL ENTERPRISES, INC, HAS SUBMITTED A LETTER OF INTENT FOR PURCHASE OF REAL ESTATE TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY FOR THE SUM OF $475,000 IN [00:30:01] ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THE LOI. THE PROPERTY TO BE SOLD IS 1.4, TWO FIVE, THREE ACRES IS OUTSIDE THE FLOOD. PLAIN. IT IS A COMPOSITE LOT COMPRISED OF PORTIONS OF PARCELS TAKEN FROM PROPERTY OWNED BY THE TOWN, THE COUNTY EDA AND THE COUNTY WITH THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE TOWN WILL RECEIVE 29 POINT 19% OF THE PROCEEDS OR $124, $124,402 AND 50 CENTS. AND THE COUNTY WILL RECEIVE 73 POINT 18% OF THE PROCEEDS EXCLUSIVE OF ANY FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALE FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SALE ARE ASSUMED TO BE NORMAL TITLE, COMPANY FEES, RECORDING FEES, ET CETERA. NOTE THAT THIS LETTER OF INTENT IS NON-BINDING UPON THE PARTIES. AND THAT ONLY A FULLY EXECUTED PURCHASE AGREEMENT SHALL CONSTITUTE A BINDING PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE PROPERTY PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SEVEN, SECTION NINE OF THE CONSTITUTION OF VIRGINIA AND VIRGINIA CODE 15.2 DASH 2100. A NOTE PUBLIC PLACES OF A MUNICIPALITY SHALL BE SOLD EXCEPT BY AN ORDINANCE PASSED BY A RECORDED AFFIRMATIVE VOTE OF FREE FORCE OF ALL THE MEMBERS ELECTED TO THE COUNCIL. ACCORDING TO CASE LAW, THIS PROPERTY WOULD MEET THE DEFINITION OF A PUBLIC PLACE AND WOULD THEREFORE REQUIRED AN ORDINANCE PASSED BY FIRMS FREE FORCED VOTE OF COUNCIL. GIVEN THE COUNCIL IS COMPRISED OF SIX MEMBERS THIS PRIOR FIVE MEMBER VOTE COUNCIL TO PASS BY ORDINANCE BEFORE A SALE COULD BE RESET. ACCORDING TO VIRGINIA CODE 15.2 DASH 2100 POINT B BEFORE GRANTING ANY SEPARATE FRANCHISE OR PRIVILEGE FOR A TERM EXCESS OF FIVE YEARS, EXCEPT FOR A TRUNK RAILWAY, THE CITY OR TOWN SHOW AFTER DO ADVERTISEMENT, PUBLICLY RECEIVED BIDS, THEREFORE IN SUCH MANNER IS PROVIDED BY 15.2 DASH TWO ONE OH TWO AND SHELDON ACT. THIS MAY BE REQUIRED BY LAW. THANK YOU, MS. PRESLEY, DO I HEAR A MOTION? THIS IS VICE MAYOR. I MOVED THAT TOWN COUNCIL AUTHORIZED THAT A PUBLIC HEARING UPON THE QUESTION OF THE SALE OF THE MCKAY SPRINGS PROPERTY BE HELD AFTER TWO PUBLICATIONS IN ANY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED OR HAVING GENERAL CIRCULATION IN FRONT ROYAL BE HAD I FURTHER MOVED THAT BIDS ARE RECEIVED IN ACCORDANCE WITH TOWN CODE ONE DASH 22, A ONE AND VIRGINIA CODE 15.2 DASH TWO ONE ZERO TWO SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND OR IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION AT THIS TIME? YES, MS. VICE MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UM, THIS IS, UH, A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THE TOWN AND COUNTY WORKING TOGETHER, AND I WANT TO THANK THE COUNTY FOR THEIR COLLABORATION ON HELPING TO MOVE TO SELL THIS LAND. UM, AT LEAST SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL AND WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS PROPERTY, AND I KNOW THAT IT WAS PROBABLY TALKED ABOUT, UH, FOR YEARS PRIOR TO ME COMING ON BOARD AS WELL. UM, AND SO IT'S NICE TO GET, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST A PIECE OF IT, UH, THAT CORNER TAKEN CARE OF AND HOPEFULLY DEVELOPED HERE SOON. UM, BUT AGAIN, THIS IS A NICE EXAMPLE OF, UM, THE, THE, THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN COLLABORATING, UH, COMING TO AN AGREEMENT ON THE CELL, UM, AND REALLY PUTTING THE COMMUNITY OF FRONT ROYAL, UH, FIRST, UM, BY SELLING THE PROPERTY AND ALLOW FOR ITS DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? NO. OKAY. UH, CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL VICE FOR YOUR COCK ROOM? YES. COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE. YES. COUNCILMAN LLOYD. YES. COUNCILMAN MAKE BADDEN YES. COUNCILMAN MEZA. YES. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON. YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. UM, NUMBER OUR [10. CLOSED MEETING - Personnel - Boards and Commissions (Urban Forestry Advisory Commission, Front Royal-Warren County Joint Tourism Committee and Board of Architectural Review)] NEXT ITEM TONIGHT IS NUMBER 10, WHICH IS A CLOSED MEETING. DO I HEAR A MOTION? UM, MS. VICE MAYOR I'LL MOVE. UM, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL GO INTO CLOSE MEETING FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, DEMOTION, SALARIES, DISCIPLINING, OR RESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICER'S APPOINTEES OR EMPLOYEES OF A PUBLIC BODY SPECIFIC TO THE URBAN FORESTRY ADVISORY COMMISSION, THE FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY JOINT TOURISM COMMITTEE AND BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 0.371 ONE.A.ONE DOT OF THE VIRGINIA CODE OF CODE OF VIRGINIA. SECOND, ALL THOSE IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. OKAY. JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT. I ALSO MIGHT ADD, PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY HOME. AND THE MEETING IS A DIRECT. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.