* 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. [00:00:01] I LIKE TO WELCOME EVERYBODY TO A REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MONDAY, BUT, UH, APRIL THE 25TH, 2022. [1. MOMENT OF SILENCE] IF YOU WOULD PLEASE JOIN US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. THANK YOU. AND IF YOU WILL [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] PLEASE JOIN HIS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. LIVE BY COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN AND TO THE REPUBLIC, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY. UH, [3. ROLL CALL] MS. PRESLEY, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE? MAYOR HOLLOWAY, VICE MAYOR COCKREL EAR, COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE, COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN, COUNSEL MORRIS, PRESENT COUNSEL, A WOMAN THOMPSON HERE. THANK YOU. [4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] NEXT UP APPROVAL OF MINUTES, MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS OF TOWN COUNCIL AS PRESENTED REGULAR MEETING OF MARCH 28TH JOINT MEETINGS OF APRIL 11TH AND APRIL 12TH WORK SESSION OF APRIL 11TH AND SPECIAL MEETINGS OF APRIL 11TH AND APRIL 18TH, 2022 SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION ROLL CALL PLEASE. NICE MAYOR. COCKREL. YES. COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE, COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN, COUNSEL ON THE MORRIS SOUNDS WOMAN THOMPSON. THANK YOU. UM, NEXT [5. ADDITION/DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA] ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS FROM THE AGENDA. DO WE HAVE ANY ALL RIGHT. UH, NEXT RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS. UM, UP FIRST, UH, [6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS] RECOGNITION OF SERVICE, UH, THE BOARD HAS ZONING APPEALS. MR. . SO WAYNE HAS SERVED APPROXIMATELY I BELIEVE 17 YEARS, UH, SERVICE. LET ME READ YOUR PLAQUE HERE. SURE. STAND UP RESOLUTION FOR RECOGNITION OF SERVICE TO OUR WAYNE CEYLON MAY, 2005 MAY, 2022 FOR 17 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, YOUR DEDICATION TO HEAR AND DECIDE APPEALS FROM INDIVIDUALS IN AN EFFORT TO DECIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND ITS CITIZENS IS IMMENSELY. APPRECIATE IT, AND WILL BE GREATLY MISSED . TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. PERFECT. THANK YOU. WOW. THE HURT. ALL RIGHT. UP NEXT? WE HAVE RECOGNITION OF CORPORAL STEPHEN, W MAUKE COME ON UP. STEPHEN, READ YOUR PLAQUE HERE IN RECOGNITION OF 21 YEARS OF LOYALTY, HARD WORK AND DEDICATION TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT WAS SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR FELLOW EMPLOYEES, TEL MANAGER, MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL, JANUARY [00:05:01] THE THIRD, 2001 TO MAY THE FIRST 2022 MAY I REMEMBER HIS COUNSEL? I JUST WANT TO GIVE A, UH, A MOMENT FOR STEVE. HE, UH, STEVE, STEVE IS A HOMEBOY BORN AND RAISED HERE. HE, HE, UH, GRADUATED FROM FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL WAS IN 1990. STEVE THINK HE WAS TWO YEARS AHEAD OF ME. UM, SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES, SERVED HIS COUNTRY. THE UNITED STATES NAVY, UM, BEGAN AT THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN 1997. I SERVED WITH HIM 96. I SERVED WITH STEVE FOR A FEW YEARS OVER THERE BEFORE HE, HE CAME OVER TO THE TOWN IN 2001, UH, WHERE HE SERVED EVER SINCE. AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS SEEING HIM RIDING AROUND TOWN ON THAT, ON THAT MOTORCYCLE, THE, UH, THE, UH, MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, UH, EVEN THE ONES THAT HE GOT, HE GAVE, HE GAVE, UH, TICKETS TO. WE'RE ALWAYS, WE'RE ALWAYS VERY GRACIOUS AND WOULD GIVE US COMPLIMENTS ON HOW PROFESSIONAL STEVE WAS WHEN HE WAS DOING HIS JOB. SO HE WAS AFFECTIONATELY DUBBED ON, ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA AS THE BLACK KNIGHT RIDING AROUND ON THAT MOTORCYCLE LONG LIVED THE BLACK KNIGHT. THANKS. SO WHO'S GOING TO RIDE, WHO'S GOING TO RIDE A BIKE NOW, YOU, I WOULD ALWAYS GO ON THE BIKE, BUT I DON'T HAVE THE SAME, UH, THE SAME DESIRE TO DO THAT. THAT COUNTS. I'M MORE OF A, A, THAT'S A, THAT'S A, WHEN NOT AN F CHIEF. DO YOU WANT TO TAKE IN, UM, TALK ABOUT THE AWARDS AND EVERYTHING THAT WERE HANDED OUT? THE, SO LAST THURSDAY, THE, UH, FRONT ROW WARREN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, UH, DID A VALOR AWARDS. UH, THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY HAD DONE IT. UM, TYPICALLY WE'D KIND OF DONE SOME IN-HOUSE STUFF FOR OFFICER OF THE YEAR, SO BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. UM, BUT, UH, I GUESS SOME, SOME FOLKS FROM THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE, AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS GOT TOGETHER AND THEY, THEY MET WITH NIKKI FOSTER OVER AT THE CHAMBER AND DECIDED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO A PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, PERSONNEL THAT DESERVED SOME RECOGNITION. UM, SO THIS YEAR, UH, LAST WEEK WE DID, WE HAD A, UH, CELEBRATION OUT AT THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY GOLF CLUB, WHERE MEMBERS FROM THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE AND FEDERAL POLICE DEPARTMENT WERE RECOGNIZED FOR, UH, VARIOUS DIFFERENT THINGS, UH, WITHIN THE, WITHIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY REALM IN THE COMMUNITY. SO, UM, SEVERAL OF YOU WERE THERE. I APPRECIATE YOU COMING. UM, BUT I'D LIKE TO RECORD, IF YOU GUYS WOULD STEP UP HERE, THOSE OF YOU THAT WERE BETTER PRESENT, WE COULDN'T GET EVERYBODY BACK TONIGHT. UH IT'S BALL SEASON. SO, SO, SO WE HAD SOME FOLKS THAT HAD SOME, UH, SOME PRIOR ENGAGEMENTS. UM, SO NOT REPRESENTED TONIGHT IS, UH, JESSICA RACER, WHO IS OUR CRIME ANALYST, SHE'S OUR CIVILIAN EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR. UM, MARK RAMY IS NOT HERE THIS EVENING. UH, HE WAS ONE OF THE OFFICERS THAT WAS SELECTED FOR THE VALOR OF SERVICE AWARD, UH, AS IS LANDON WALLER. HE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT TONIGHT EITHER. HE WAS ALSO PART OF THAT VALOROUS AWARD, UH, INCIDENT, WHICH BRADLEY PENNINGTON WAS THE THIRD OFFICER THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THAT PARTICULAR INCIDENT. WE WERE RESPONDING TO A REQUEST FROM THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. THEY HAD A SUICIDAL SUBJECT. UM, WE KEEP THE INCIDENT SOMEWHAT AMBIGUOUS TO NOT IDENTIFY THE PERSON THAT WAS IN CRISIS, BUT THERE WAS A PERSON THAT WAS, UH, SUICIDAL, UM, AND IN A VERY VOLATILE ENVIRONMENT. UM, AND THOSE THREE OFFICERS, UH, OFFICER PENNINGTON, DETECTIVE WALLER AND DETECTIVE RAMY, UH, REALLY PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY AND WERE ABLE TO DEESCALATE THE SITUATION AND DISARM THE GENTLEMEN AND ULTIMATELY SAVE HIS LIFE AT THE RISK OF THEIR OWN. SO, UH SO SERGEANT DAVE FOGEL IS NOW SERVING IN OUR PATROL DIVISION, UH, AFTER HIS, UH, UH, HIS PROMOTION TO SERGEANT, BUT, UH, IN HIS PREVIOUS LIFE, A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, HE WAS A DETECTIVE, UH, AND HE'S BEEN SELECTED, UM, BY, BY OUR DEPARTMENT AS THE DETECTIVE OF THE YEAR. DAVE JUST COMES IN AND, AND, UH, GOES TO WORK EVERY DAY AND PUTS TOGETHER PHENOMENAL CASES. AND, AND IT GOES, GOES ABOVE [00:10:01] AND BEYOND. AND HE'S BEEN SELECTED AS THE, THE, UH, DETECTIVE OF THE YEAR. SO DAVID AND WE'VE WE'VE, WE'VE GOT STEVE UP HERE AGAIN, WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH, WE CAN'T GET ENOUGH, STEVE IT'S. SO, UM, AND STEVE'S BEEN, BEEN SELECTED AS OUR OFFICER OF THE YEAR. HE'S BEEN SERVING IN THE PATROL DIVISION FOR HIS, UH, HIS CAREER, UH, OVER HERE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. HOW DO I KEEP GOING BACK TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE WITH HIM? THAT'S WHERE WE STARTED TOGETHER. UM, BUT, UH, JUST, JUST ALWAYS ABOVE AND BEYOND, UH, COMING IN AND PUTTING IN, PUTTING IN THE WORK AND DOING THE THING. AND HE'S BEEN, UH, HE'S BEEN SELECTED THIS YEAR AS OUR OFFICER OF THE YEAR. SO THIS LAST YEAR HE'S, HE'S HE'S MINUTES AWAY FROM BECOMING A CITIZEN WELL-DESERVED WELL-DESERVED UH, AND THEN WE'VE GOT OFFICER BRYAN HOUSE, BRIAN HOUSE GOT THE POLICE CHIEF'S AWARD THIS YEAR. UM, AND THAT'S A, THAT'S A DESIGNATION OF AN EMPLOYEE THAT JUST IS ALWAYS, UH, COUNTED ON HE, HE COMES IN, HE VOLUNTEERS TO COME IN WHEN WE HAVE A SHORTAGE, UM, JUST KEEPS HIS HEAD DOWN, PLOWS THROUGH, AND, YOU KNOW, THE CITIZENS ARE ALWAYS RAVING ABOUT THE JOB THAT BRIAN DOES WHEN HE'S OUT ON THE STREET. HE'S JUST, UH, THE EPITOME OF WHAT A BORDER PATROL OFFICER IS. SO HE'S THE, UH, POLICE CHIEF'S AWARD RECIPIENT THIS YEAR. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. WE APPRECIATE IT. THANKS G OKAY. SO NEXT, UM, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, UM, ISAC AND S WHAT WE'RE USED TO SAYING. UM, WE'D LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THOSE MEMBERS AND TOWN STAFF. AND SO IF THEY'D LIKE TO COME FORWARD, UM, JIM OSBORNE, WHO IS ALSO OUR TOWN, ARBORS SORRY, FELLOWS, BUT WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO COME FORWARD, UM, JEREMY RAY, JUSTIN PROCTOR, HERSCHEL FINCH, AND THEN I'M NOT, I DON'T THINK LIZZIE LEWIS IS HERE. I'M NOT SURE. I KNOW LIZZIE LEWIS, JOHN MACDONALD, BOB HINTS, AND CHIP HODGES. I DON'T, I DON'T THINK THEY'RE HERE, BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY A LITTLE BIT, UM, UH, ABOUT THESE GENTLEMEN. SO, UM, THEY ACTUALLY PLANNED AND ORGANIZE OUR FIRST EARTH DAY CELEBRATION, AS WELL AS THE PLANTING OF THREE RIVER BIRCH TREES AT THE EAST END OF MAIN STREET IN HONOR OF ARBOR DAY, UM, COUNCILMAN THOMPSON AND MYSELF, OR WERE ABLE TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE THIS PAST SATURDAY. IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY DOWNTOWN. I'M SURE YOU ALL WOULD AGREE. UH, VERY FITTINGLY MOTHER NATURE WAS, GAVE US SOME BEAUTIFUL WEATHER TO ENJOY. THERE WERE ABOUT 40 VENDORS AND ORGANIZATIONS, RIGHT ABOUT 40 OR VENDORS AND ORGANIZATIONS. THEY WERE SET UP AND WE'RE ESTIMATING ABOUT 350 PEOPLE ATTENDED. I HEARD THAT NUMBER. I THINK IT'S MORE, BUT, BUT, WELL, IT'S OKAY. UM, IT SEEMED LIKE THERE WERE A LOT, AND IT STARTED FROM 10 AND DIDN'T END UNTIL THREE, AND THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, NEVER ANY PARKING AND THERE WERE TONS OF PEOPLE THERE THE WHOLE DAY. SO THAT WAS GREAT. UM, AND I HOPE WE CAN MAKE THIS A YEARLY EVENT. SO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. THIS WAS LIKE THEIR FIRST BIG VENTURE AND IT WAS A SUCCESS ALREADY. RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. [7.A. Annual Appropriation Ordinance for FY2022-2023 Budget – Steven Hicks] ALL RIGHT. UP NEXT. PUBLIC HEARINGS. FIRST, UH, ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR FYI 2223 BUDGET. MS. PRESLEY, COULD YOU READ THE SUMMARY, PLEASE? COUNSEL HAS REQUESTED TO APPROVE THE TOWN'S ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR THE F FYI 2020 TO 2023 BUDGET EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2022 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023 AS PRESENTED THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE INCLUDES THE FYI 23 BUDGET REVISIONS DISCUSSED DURING THE APRIL 11TH, 2022 WORK SESSION AND IS ATTACHED. THANK YOU. AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYBODY SIGN UP TO SPEED? NO, SIR. WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP. WAS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. THIS TIME I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE TOWN'S ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED FOR THE YEAR 2022 THROUGH 2023 BUDGET EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2022 THROUGH JUNE 30TH, 2023. THAT INCLUDES THE, UM, FISCAL YEAR 23 BUDGET REVISIONS DISCUSSED [00:15:01] DURING THE APRIL 11TH, 2022 WORK SESSION. SECOND, HAVE A SECOND ANE DISCUSSION. WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE. VICE MAYOR. COCKREL YES. COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE. YES. COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN. YES. COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS. YES. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON. YES. ALL RIGHT. LOOK, HEARING FAST IS [7.B. An Ordinance to Change the Street Name for A Portion of Edgemont Avenue and All of Scranton Avenue to George Banks Boulevard – Councilwoman Thompson] UP NEXT. AN ORDINANCE TO CHANGE THE STREET NAME FOR A PORTION OF EDGEMONT AVENUE AND ALL THE SCRANTON AVENUE TO GEORGE BANKS BOULEVARD. THIS PRESLEY, COULD YOU READ A SUMMARY? COUNCIL'S RECEIVED A REQUEST TO CONSIDER CHANGING THE STREET NAME OF A PORTION OF EDGEMONT AVENUE AND ALL OF SCRANTON AVENUE TO GEORGE BANKS BOULEVARD. STAFF HAS DETERMINED THAT 18 PROPERTIES WOULD BE EFFECTED BY THE CHANGE PURSUANT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 48 DASH EIGHT 20 NAMES OF EXISTING STREETS SHALL NOT BE CHANGED EXCEPT BY APPROVAL OF THE TOWN COUNCIL. IF APPROVED PURSUANT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 48 DASH EIGHT 20 ALL PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS FOR STREET SIGNS AND NAME SHALL BE CONSISTENT WITH THE NINE 11 DRESSING SYSTEM, A PROPOSED ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CHAINS OF THE STREET NAME OF SCRANTON AVENUE, AND A PORTION OF EDGEMONT AVENUE. ADDRESS IS 1308 THROUGH 1404 TO GEORGE BANKS. BOULEVARD IS ATTACHED AND UPON APPROVAL IS TO BE EXECUTED BY THE MAYOR CLERK OF COUNCIL AND DEPUTY TOWN ATTORNEY RECORDED AT THE WARREN COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS TO BE NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING. IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEED? YES. OR WE HAVE 10. OKAY. OR NINE I'M SORRY. UP FIRST. MARY BAILEY. OKAY. WHEN YOU PLEASE COME UP TO THE MIC, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS. THANK YOU. COME UP TO THE MIC OR TO THE PODIUM. THANK YOU. SORRY. MY NAME IS MARY BAILEY. I LIVE AT 1337 EDGEMONT AVENUE. I'VE BEEN THERE FOR 48 YEARS AND IT WOULD BE AN HONOR TO CHANGE THE STREET TO GEORGE BANKS BOULEVARD. AND I AM AN AGREEMENT AND WOULD LOVE IT VERY MUCH THAT IF IT WOULD TAKE PLACE. THANK YOU. NEXT, STEPHANIE BANKS. HELLO. MY NAME IS STEPHANIE BANKS. I AM THE DAUGHTER OF FORMER MAYOR GEORGE. THANKS. THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT. UM, I'M HERE TO ASK, UH, THE TALENT COUNCIL TO HEAVILY CONSIDER CHANGING THE NAME OF SCRANTON AVENUE AND A PORTION OF EDGEMONT AVENUE TO GEORGE E. BANKS BOULEVARD. MY FATHER WAS THE FIRST BLACK TOWN COUNCIL MEMBER, AND FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF THIS BEAUTIFUL TOWN, FRONT, ROYAL, VIRGINIA. HE WAS A LOVING FAMILY MAN AND FRIEND TO MANY. HE WAS A US ARMY VETERAN. HE SERVED IN VIETNAM. GEORGE MOVED TO FRONT ROYAL IN 1974 AND LIVED HERE UNTIL HIS PASSING ON JANUARY 13TH OF THIS YEAR. HE LOVED THIS COUNTRY AND HE ABSOLUTELY LOVED FRONT ROLE IN ITS CITIZENS AS HE WAS HIGHLY RESPECTED AND STILL CALLED MAYOR BANKS BY MANY. THERE'S A SAYING, LOOK FOR THE HELPERS. AND YOU'LL ALWAYS FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE HELPING AFTER LEAVING TOWN POLITICS. HE CONTINUED TO SERVE HIS COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS. HE WAS A VOLUNTEER IN THE NORTH RIVER DISTRICT VOTING PROCESS BY WORKING THE POLLS AND RECRUITING OTHERS AS WELL TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE LOCAL STATE AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS. GEORGE WAS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF MACEDONIA BAPTIST CHURCH, WHERE HE WAS A TRUSTEE MUSICIAN AND SINGER. HE ALSO SANG AND PLAYED A SAXOPHONE WITH OTHER LOCAL SCENE GROUPS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC. HE FOUND THE DOUBLE LESSON TO USE HIS TALENTS, TO UPLIFT OTHERS WHILE VISITING THE SICK AND SHUT-IN IN THE COMMUNITY IN THE FRONT ROW COMMUNITY. GEORGE WAS A MENTOR TO MANY THROUGHOUT HIS EMPLOYMENT WITH UPS FOR 25 YEARS AND WARREN COUNTY SCHOOL BUS, UH, UH, WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR 15 YEARS AS A DEDICATED SCHOOL BUS DRIVER, HE WAS ENCOURAGING, PROVIDED SUPPORT AND TOOK THE TIME TO LISTEN TO ALL FROM CUSTOMERS, COWORKERS, AND THE CHILDREN ON THE BUS WHOM HE LOVED DEARLY. AND THEY LOVE SOME MR. BANKS. THE MAJORITY OF THESE STUDENTS DID NOT KNOW THAT MY FATHER WAS PART OF FRONT ROW HISTORY AND THAT HE WAS THE FIRST BLACK TOWN COUNCILMAN. AND FIRST BLACK MAYOR, PLEASE, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND RENAMING THE STREET AFTER MY FATHER. HE COULDN'T THINK OF A BETTER PERSON WHO WAS, IS DESERVING OF THIS HONOR AND HAVE HIS LEGACY CONTINUE. UM, IF IT'S POSSIBLE. UM, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT, UH, FOR THE NAME CHANGE TO GEORGIE BANKS BOULEVARD. AND, UM, IF I COULD ACTUALLY GET EVERYONE THAT COULD STAND IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WERE IN SUPPORT OF THE GEORGIE BANKS [00:20:01] BOULEVARD, IF THAT'S OKAY, IF WE CAN HAVE EVERYONE STAY ON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, ANTHONY FLETCHER. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. UH, MY NAME IS TONY FLETCHER AND THE SON OF GEORGE BANKS, A BEAUTIFUL FACILITY. LAST TIME I WAS IN A DOWN COUNSELOR WAS ON NORTH ROYAL. HEY, WE'RE OUT OF BREATH WHEN HE WENT UP A COUPLE OF STEPS. SO AS A BOY SCOUT, I USED TO SIT IN THE CORNER AND WORK, UM, ON MY CITIZENSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY MIRROR BATCH. SO AT THAT POINT, FEELING HONORED TO SEE MY FATHER AND THE ACTION SOLVING ISSUES FOR OUR GREAT TOWN, BUT I WANTED TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT OF HIS, UH, OF HIS CITIZENSHIP ACHIEVEMENTS. UM, PREVIOUSLY, BEFORE IT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED WITH YOU, ALL I HEAR IS IN THE TOWN COUNCIL, HE WAS ASSIGNED HIS OVERSIGHT RECREATION OF THE YOUTH, UH, SATURN MARS U CENTER. HE SAW A NEED FOR ADDITIONAL BALLPARKS, SEVERAL BALLPARKS, AND WAS BUILT BY BING CROSBY AS MAYOR. HE WAS PART OF THE TOWN RUDDER REALIZATION PROJECT IN SOUTH TOWN WHERE GRANT MONEY WAS USED TO REF UH, FURBISH HOMES AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATER AND PSEUDO SEWER LINES AND CURBS AND GUTTERS IS ALSO WAS PART OF THE WATER EXTENSION PROJECT THAT CONNECTED FROM OUR TOWN AND TO THE COUNTY FOR BETTER ACCESS FOR RESIDENTS AND FOR INDUSTRY. HE ALSO WAS INVOLVED IN THE EXPANSION OF THE NORTHWEST COMMUNITY SER SERVICE CENTER, WHICH PROVIDES SERVICES TO THOSE WHO, UM, MENTAL ILLNESS, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, AND INTELLECTUAL ABILITY. THESE ARE GOOD ACHIEVEMENTS FOR A MAYOR, ANYONE THAT COMES THROUGH AT ANY AND FOR A TOWN COUNCIL. BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE STUFF THAT Y'ALL HAVE SEEN IN THE NEWSPAPER. YOU KNOW, MAGIC FELICIA CALLED I SAW SKILLS FOR GEORGE EDDIE. WE CALL IT LOVE SKILLS BECAUSE HE LOVED THIS TOWN. HE WAS A BLUE COLLAR WORKER AND UPS WORKING 10, SOMETIMES 12 HOURS A DAY, JUST TO COME BACK TO CHECK ON HER CITIZENS, RIGHT. I CALLED HIM A MAN THAT LED THIS TOWN WITH A SHOVEL, NOT A PEN, A MAN WHO COULD BRING COFFEE AND SANDWICHES TO THE LINEMAN AND SNOW CREWS AND POWER OUTAGES, HELP WITH TELL THEM PROJECTS BIG OR SMALL, A CREATED A GREAT CONVERSATION BETWEEN OUR BEAUTIFUL POLICE AND OUR COMMUNITY. THIS IS IN THE NINETIES. AMANDA ALWAYS KEPT HIS TOOLS IN THE BACK OF HIS TRUCK TO HELP OTHER FELLOW CITIZENS AND USE A COMMON SENSE APPROACH TO ADDRESS TOWN PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW, BUT HE RAN AS A MAYOR AS AN INDEPENDENT USING A REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN MANAGER, A DEMOCRATIC TREASURER, AND A DIVERSE TEAMS OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS TO COME UP WITH A COMMON PURPOSE TO BETTER OUR COMMUNITY, JUST LIKE YOU ALL BASED ON HISTORY. OUR TOWN IS ONE OF THE LAST HOUSING AREAS TO EVER INTEGRATE. SO EVEN THROUGH ALL THAT WE WENT THROUGH, YOU WERE ABLE TO ELECT A BLACK MAYOR FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE 1990S, HE SHOWS PROOF THAT DURING THIS TIME OF RACHEL, UH, DURING THAT TIME OR, OR RACIAL STRIFE, WE COULD COME TOGETHER TO BE BETTER, DO BETTER AND LIVE BETTER TOGETHER. THE STREET IS NOT JUST THE NAME OF THE PERSON, BUT IT'S ABOUT THE CITIZENS OF THIS TOWN, REGARDLESS OF YOUR BACKGROUND, REPUBLICAN DEMOCRATS, BLUE COLLAR, BLACK, WHITE, OR BROWN, WE ALL CAN COME TOGETHER TO SOLVE COMMON SENSE PROBLEMS. WE ARE ALL PART OF HIS LEGACY OF COMING TOGETHER ON PURPOSE. SO LET'S HONOR THAT. AND THANK YOU. JOHN I'M JOHN SURMAC. AND, UH, I LIVE AT 75 PATTI TACK LANE IN FRONT ROYAL. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THIS, UH, I DIDN'T KNOW GEORGE WAS MAYOR WHEN I FIRST MET HIM. HE WAS JUST A PERSON THAT WAS KIND TO ME. HE INVITED ME TO HIS HOME, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE, CORNELIA INVITED HIM AND WAS JUST A NICE GUY THAT I LOOKED UP TO BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH A, A PLEASANT AND YET KIND PERSON. HE ALSO IS A GREAT MUSICIAN. I LOVED [00:25:01] HIS MUSIC. I MEAN, HE DID, UH, A LOT OF THINGS HERE IN TOWN THAT JUST DREW PEOPLE TOGETHER. JUST THE MUSIC JUST DREW THEM TOGETHER. AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA TO SEE HIS NAME ON THE STREETS. YEAH, THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. RE HALLWORTH. MY NAME IS RAY HALLWORTH AND I LIVE AT ONE LAZY LIVE IN LANE FRONT, ROYAL, VIRGINIA. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I THERE'S VERY LITTLE LIKE AN AD WITH REGARD TO THE HISTORY OF, UM, GEORGE BANKS, UH, AND THE GIFTS THAT HE BROUGHT TO THIS TOWN AND THE LOVE THAT HE SHARED, ESPECIALLY WITH CHILDREN, I ATTENDED HIS FUNERAL AND, UM, WE WERE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT COVID AT THAT TIME. AND I NEVER SAW A HEAD OF GO TO A BIG CHURCH TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE PEOPLE THERE. AND THE THING THAT REALLY STRUCK ME THE MOST WAS THE LOVE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GOT UP TO SPEAK ABOUT THE IMPACT FOR THE GOOD THAT HE MADE IN THEIR LIVES. AS TEENAGERS SOMETIMES TROUBLED. HE HELPED GUIDE THESE YOUNG PEOPLE INTO BECOMING GOOD, PRODUCTIVE, WONDERFUL CITIZENS. HE SET A MARVELOUS EXAMPLE OF KINDNESS AND OF DUTY TO THE COMMUNITY. I JUST STRONGLY URGE YOU TO LIFT UP THIS GENTLEMAN AS THE GREAT LEADER THAT HE WAS AND CELEBRATE HOW HE BROUGHT THIS TOWN TOGETHER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ERIC OLSON, DO YOU EVEN, AND I'M ERIC OLSON. I LIVE AT 1 5 7 1 BLUE MOUNTAIN ROAD, FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA. UM, I'VE RESIDED THERE ABOUT 38 YEARS, WHICH MAKES ME A, NOT A NATIVE, BUT NOT A NEWCOMER EITHER. I'VE BEEN AROUND A WHILE. I'VE BEEN TUNING PIANOS FOR 42 YEARS. SOME OF YOU KNOW ME FROM THAT BACK, IF ANYBODY KNOWS ME, THAT'S OFTEN HOW THEY KNOW ME. AND I MENTIONED THAT JUST BECAUSE, UM, I, IT GETS ME IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT HOMES, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND I MEET A LOT OF WONDERFUL QUALITY PEOPLE. AND I HAVE A KIND OF INTERESTING INSIGHT INTO THE PULSE OF THE COMMUNITY. I MEAN, PEOPLE'S HOMES AND TALKING TO FAMILIES AND, UM, AND YOU KNOW, UM, THE TOWN HAS LIKE MANY TOWNS HAS A HISTORY OF, UH, HONORING, UH, LEADING CITIZENS. YOU KNOW, I THINK OF HILDA, J BARBER, UH, A GREAT TEACHER AND, UM, UM, RUSTY JEFFREY'S THE GREAT PRINCIPAL. I DIDN'T HAVE THE HONOR TO KNOW THOSE FOLKS, BUT I KNOW PEOPLE THAT KNEW THEM AND IT'S WONDERFUL THAT THE TOWN HONORED THEM THE WAY THEY HAVE. AND, UM, I WAS PRIVILEGED TO KNOW WALTER AND MARY DUNCAN AND, UH, YOU KNOW, WHAT A POWERHOUSE, BOTH OF THEM WERE. AND WALTER DUNCAN, UH, VERY FITTINGLY HAS A STREET NAMED AFTER HIM OVER THE PROPERTY YARDS KNOW. UM, SO, UH, I SEE GEORGE BANKS IN THAT KIND OF PANTHEON OF REALLY LEADING CITIZENS. AND IT WOULD BE JUST SO APPROPRIATE, UH, FOR THE TOWN TO, UH, TO HONOR HIM IN THE WAY THAT'S BEING PROPOSED. THANK YOU, WAYNE AND JOAN BROOKS. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS WAYNE H. BROOKS SENIOR. UH, WE RESIDE AT 1602 SCRANTON AVENUE, AND WE JUST WANT TO GET TO SAY GOOD EVENING IF IT'S AUDIBLE MAYOR, THE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS, THE TOWN OF PILCHARDS AND THE CITIZENS OF RURAL. MY NAME IS WAYNE H. BROOKS AGAIN, SENIOR, I AM 74 YEARS OLD AND HAVE BEEN ALIVE ABIDING TAX-PAYING CITIZEN AND FRONT WORLD. MY ENTIRE LIFE. MY ONLY TIME AWAY WAS WHEN I WAS SERVED FOUR TOURS IN VIETNAM. AND SO I STAND BEFORE YOU AS A RETRO TO THE UNITED STATES NAVY, MY FAMILY AND I LIVE IN SCRANTON AVENUE IN FRONT ROYAL FOR THE LAST 42 YEARS. AND EVER SINCE WE BUILD A HOME ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE BANKS IS IN 1980. I CONSIDER GEORGE BANKS TO BE AN OUTSTANDING NEIGHBOR [00:30:01] AND FRIEND FOR ALL THOSE YEARS. WE HAVE NO PROBLEM IN CHANGING THE NAME OF OUR STREET TO GEORGE BIKE'S BOULEVARD. WE ALSO HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH CONTACTING THE POST OFFICE, THE DMV OR WHOMEVER WE HAVE TO CONTACT REGARDING THE CHANGE OF ADDRESS. ADDITIONALLY, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY BRIEFLY STREET NAME AND AS A PROUD TRADITION WITHIN OUR COUNTRY, THAT IS RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO MAKE POSITIVE AND OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND OR COUNTRY. I BELIEVE MR. BANKS WAS DONE BOTH ALSO BELIEVE A PORTION OF A MAN'S LEGACY IS MOST OFTEN SEEN AT HIS FUNERAL. WELL, THOSE WHO ARE ABLE TO ATTEND JOYCE FUNERAL, YOU MISS THE OVER 300 PEOPLE IN SPITE OF THE COVID-19 WHO CAME TO PAY THEIR RESPECTS. IF YOU ATTENDED THIS SERVICE LIKE I DID, YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THE WHITES AS WELL AS THE BLACKS. WHAT I'VE SEEN THE REPUBLICANS AND THE DEMOCRATS, YOU WOULD HAVE SEEN THE EDUCATED ND ON THE EDUCATED AND YOU WOULD'VE SEEN THE YOUNG AND OLD THIS DIVERSITY WAS ALSO PRESENT PRESENTED TO THE PALLBEARERS BECAUSE GEORGE WAS A FRIEND WHO HAD NO LIMIT WITH HIS AFFILIATIONS OUT OF IT, OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE TIME FOR THE OFFICIAL RECORD OF THIS YEAR. AND I WISH TO SUBMIT THE COMMENTS AND A COPY OF THIS FUNERAL PROGRAM THAT I WILL SUBMIT LATER, WHICH NO LIMIT INCLUDES A BITCHY WORRY. AND THE DIVERSE REPRESENTATION OF THOSE WHO SPOKE ON THE WONDERFUL WORKS THAT OF FAITHFULNESS OF SERVICE FOR GEORGE DID IN OUR COMMUNITY, ON HIS VARIOUS JOBS HERE IN THE FRONT ROW. AND AS AN ACTIVE CIVIL SERVANT AND PROUD ARMY COMMENDATION, MEDAL SOLDIER, AND VETERANS STATEMENT ABOUT HIS CHARACTERS, HIS POSITIVE PERSONALITY, AND YOUR LAWYER TO THIS COMMUNITY MAY BUY ALL A SPECIAL NOTE. THERE WAS SOME WHO SPOKE TO TOWN, TOWN OF FRONT ROW REPRESENTATIVE, MR. LATASHA THOMPSON, WARREN COUNTY, SCHOOL OF TRANSPORTATION, MRS. VIRGINIA, HENRY. YOU HAD A PARTIAL, MRS. MRS. MICHAEL MOORE, MR. MICHAEL MOORE AND AMERICAN LEGION, MR. PERSONS. IT WAS A REPRESENTATIVE. WHY ARE THERE OTHERS WHO SPOKE AS WELL? THOSE PEOPLE OCCASIONALLY ORGANIZE AND REPRESENT THE CIVIC, EDUCATIONAL OCCUPATION AND MILITARY PILLARS OF OUR COMMUNITY. ALL OF THEM HAD FIRSTHAND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS TRUE PERSON. HE ADMITTED YEARS OF DEDICATION AND PERSONALLY RESPECTED GEORGE FOR THE OUTSTANDING AND GUARD FOR AN INDIVIDUAL. HE WAS, GEORGE DID NOT CURE WHAT BACKGROUND OR POLITICAL AFFILIATION WAS. HE SPOKE TO EVERYONE TO WORK HARD, TO FIND SOLUTIONS WHERE I COMMUNITY IN AND OUT OF THE OFFICE. HIS NAME IS WITHOUT A DOUBT OF A MODEL WE CAN UPHOLD NOW FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPE OF CITIZENS. WE ALL ASPIRE TO BE CONVERSED TO AM CONCERNED. LOOK, WHAT WE GOT SENT TO OUR CITIZENSHIP AT LARGE, IF WE DO NOT NAME US TO GET UP TO SUCH A DESERVING PERSON. YES, GEORGE BANKS WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR FRONT ROW, BUT HIS LEGACY TO THIS TOWN GOES BEYOND RACE, GENDER, AGE, AND POLITICS, TO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TODAY TO CELEBRATE. BUT THE GOODNESS OF ONE PERSON THAT HE SHOWED TO HIS FELLOW CITIZENS, HIS LEGACY TO OUR COMMUNITY IS ABOUT HOW HUMANITY CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR EVERYONE. WHEN WE PUT OUR DIFFERENCES ASIDE FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE GREATER GOOD GEORGIA DIDN'T BELIEVE IN GEORGIA PEOPLE BY THEIR RACE, BUT INSTEAD BY THE CONTENT OF THEIR CHARACTER, IT IS SOMETHING WE SHARED IN COMMON TODAY. I RESPECT THE EXTRA TOWN COUNCIL TO APPROVE THE STREET NAME CHANGED FROM SCRANTON AVENUE THROUGH TO GEORGE E-BIKES BOULEVARD, BECAUSE YOU HAVE REVIEWED THE CONTENT OF HIS CHARACTER, HIS MODEL, CITIZENSHIP, HIS LIFETIME COMMITMENT, AND THE MINI ACCOMPLISHED OF A MAN WORTHY OF A STREET BEGAN NAMED AFTER HIM IN FRONT ROLE FOR FORMER MAYOR, GEORGE E. BANKS DESERVES THIS RECOGNITION WAS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF, FOR ALL OF THIS COMMUNITY. AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. REVEREND NOW WOODS I AM RUBBING OUR WOODS. ONE OF THE ASSOCIATE PASTORS AT THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, I LIVE AT 1 6, 1 6 IS MY AVENUE HERE IN TOWN. I PURCHASED MY PROPERTY IN 1971 AND GEORGE AND I BECAME GOOD NEIGHBORS. NOW, A GOOD NEIGHBORS, BUT WE WERE FELLOW CHRISTIANS AND WE SAVED EACH OTHER. AND I VISITED HIS CHASE QUITE OFTEN, AS WELL AS [00:35:01] HE AND HIS WIFE AND FAMILY, THE AMOUNT OF VERNON CHURCH WHALES, PASTOR FOR DURATION, GEORGE BANKS, INVOLVEMENT AND LEADERSHIP IN THIS COUNTY WILL INSPIRE OTHER MINORITIES IN THIS TOWN AND COUNTY TO GET INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND SOCIAL ACTION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE, HIS INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION WHEEL. I FEEL YOU HAVE OTHER LOCAL STUDENTS, THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE SAME TO LEAD HERE AT HOME, LETTING THEM KNOW THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE HOME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. THE BARBER SAYS CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME. THEN IT SPREADS ABROAD. I'M SAYING TO THE TOWN COUNCIL TONIGHT, CONSIDER THIS. WHEN WE HERE HAVE GONE HOME TO REST AND OTHER YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS COME BY AND SEE THE NAME ON THE ST. GEORGE E. BANKS BOULEVARD. THEY WILL PUNCH THEM IN ONE DAY. WHO WAS THIS MAN? WHY DID THIS STRAIGHT? WHY WAS IT NAMED AFTER HIM? WE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE CAN PROUDLY SAY THAT GEORGE EBAGS NOT ONLY WAS A GOOD CITIZEN, BUT HE ALSO WAS A LAND MARKER. THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN COUNCILMAN, AS WELL AS MALE. AND AS WE MOVE FROM THESE SHORES, WE ALL CAN SAY, AS A GOOD MASTER WOULD SAY TO ALL OF US, WELL DONE. GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT. THEY'LL HAVE BEEN FAITHFUL OF A FEW THINGS. COME ON A HIGHER, I'LL GIVE YOU A REAL OPEN. MY NAME. GOD BLESS YOU. ADY CARTER. FIRSTLY, I'D LIKE TO SAY GOOD EVENING TO THE TOWN COUNCIL. YOU'VE GOT A JOB ON YOUR HANDS AND I'M EXPECTING YOU TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT NOW. I'M NOT GOING TO GO CRAZY ABOUT WHAT IS MR. BANK? ALL ABOUT TWO THINGS I KNOW ABOUT HIM. HE'S A VIETNAM VETERAN. SO I'M AT, WE GET A LITTLE UGLY WHEN WE HAVE TO, AND WE GET ABOUT THAT, BUT WE GET THE JOB DONE. MR. BANKS IS THE REASON I RAN FOR TOWN COUNCIL HERE IN FRONT OF OIL. HE TOOK, HE TOLD ME TO CALL HER, YOU GOT TO DO SOMETHING, STRAIGHTEN IT OUT, GET OUT THERE. DON'T TALK ABOUT IT, GET ABOUT IT. THAT WAS MY PERSONAL PROMISE TO HIM. AND I MADE SURE THAT I WOULD COP ALL THROUGH WITH THAT. MR. BANKS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PERSONAL FRIEND KIND OF GUY. AND YOU COULD SIT DOWN ON FIVE GALLON BUCKET AND TALK TO HIM FOR 30 MINUTES, BUT HE HAD HIS WORK TO DO, AND HE WAS GOING TO GET ABOUT HIS WORK. I RESPECTED THAT ABOUT HIM BECAUSE SIMPLY HE PUT A LOT OF ENERGY IN WHATEVER HE DID. MR. BANKS HAS AS DID EVERYTHING WITH ME, FROM THE HEART. A LOT OF THE GUYS DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT WHEN YOU DO IT FROM THE HEART, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT IT. YOU GET ABOUT IT. I WILL URGE THE TOWN COUNCIL TO REALLY CONSIDER THIS MATTER. I'M NOT GOING TO JUMP UP AND DOWN AND GET CRAZY ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT THERE'S AN OLD CHURCH SONG. LET THE WORKS THAT HE DID SPEAK FOR HIM. THAT'S ALL I GOT TO SAY. AND IF THAT DON'T TELL YOU WHAT HE WAS ABOUT NOTHING. WELL, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. I THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT THIS MATTER. [00:40:01] THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO OTHER SPEAKERS. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT. THIS TIME WE'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL. UH, YES. MR. MAYOR. UM, I WANT TO, AGAIN, THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING. UM, I JUST WANT TO, UM, ADDRESS THE BANK'S FAMILY, UM, AND SAY THAT THE MOTION FOR US, THEN WE HAVE DISCUSSION. CAN I DO IT? OKAY. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE AN ORDINANCE APPROVING THE CHANGE OF STREET NAMES OF SCRANTON AVENUE AND A PORTION OF EDGEMONT AVENUE, 1,308 TO 1404 TO GEORGE BANKS BOULEVARD AS PRESENTED. I FURTHER MOVED THAT THE MAYOR CLERK OF COUNCIL AND DEPUTY TOWN ATTORNEY EXECUTE THE ORDINANCE RECORDED AT THE WARREN COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND NOTIFY ALL AFFECTED PROPERTY OWNERS. SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? SO, SO, YEAH, SORRY. UM, SO I WAS TALKING TO LEGAL, UM, AND, AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO, TO MAKE A NOTE OR IN THE, IN THE RESOLUTION THAT THE STREET NAME WOULD NOT EVER BE CHANGED. SO I'M GOING TO BE VOTING FOR THE ORIGINAL MOTION. AND I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU ALL KNOW. I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL COMING. IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU. I GREW UP ON BELMONT AVENUE AND I SPENT A LOT OF MY TIME DOWN ON EDGEMONT AND SCRANTON. AND I MET MR. BANKS PROBABLY AROUND 10 YEARS OLD. AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS TOLD WHEN I WENT RIDING ON MY BIKE TO NEVER TALK TO STRANGERS, BUT MR. BANKS WASN'T A STRANGER TO ANYBODY IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD. I GREW UP THERE FOR MY WHOLE CHILDHOOD FOR THE MOST PART. AND HE WAS A WONDERFUL MAN. AND AS MR. CARTER SAID, UM, I KNEW HIM THROUGH SOME POLITICAL AVENUES AND, YOU KNOW, HE HAD NO JUDGMENT AND IT WAS NOTHING BUT LOVE IN HIS HEART. SO BLESS YOU GUYS FOR HONORING HIM. YES. IT'S THE FIRST THAT JUST, I WANTED TO SAY KUDOS TO HIS CHILDREN BECAUSE I KNOW THE EMOTIONAL STRENGTH THAT HAD TO TAKE FOR YOU TO STAND UP THERE AND SAY WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT YOUR FATHER. UM, EVEN THOUGH YOU FEEL IT, IT'S JUST HARD TO, TO, TO, TO DO THAT. UM, SO, UH, I KNOW THAT FELLOW COUNCILMAN, I REACHED OUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER HEARING ABOUT MR. BANKS PASSING BECAUSE ACTUALLY A, UM, A CITIZEN, ZACH, LOGAN, YOU GUYS PROBABLY KNOW ZACH. HE HAD REACHED OUT TO ME AND SAID, I HOPE WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO HONOR MR. BANKS. SO I, AND THAT WAS IMMEDIATE. UM, THAT'S AN M THAT'S ANOTHER PERSON HE MADE SUCH AN IMPRESSION ON, UH, I'VE ACTUALLY KNOWN MR. BANKS FOR YEARS BECAUSE HE SERVED ON COUNCIL WITH MY BROTHER. AND SO I'D ACTUALLY MET HIM AT THAT TIME. UM, AND THEN HE TRANSPORTED STUDENTS TO, AND FROM MY SCHOOL AT HILDA J BARBER. AND SO I MET HIM THROUGH THAT AND THEN HE WAS MY OWN CHILDREN'S BUS DRIVER. UM, AND I JUST, MY KIDS DIDN'T RIDE A BUS EVER BECAUSE THEY WENT WITH ME TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. SO WHEN THEY GOT TO RIDE THE BUS TO THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, HE WAS THEIR FIRST BUS DRIVER AND THEY, THEY THOUGHT THE WORLD OF HIM. AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE THEY KNEW HE CARED. AND WHEN KIDS KNOW AN ADULT CARES ABOUT THEM, THAT'S, THAT'S WHEN YOU MAKE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS. AND HE ABSOLUTELY DID THAT. UM, THERE WAS NEVER A TIME I SAW HIM THAT, THAT WE WOULDN'T TALK AND HAVE A CONVERSATION. THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS ACTUALLY ON ELECTION DAY IN 2020. AND WHILE I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE CAMPAIGNING FOR MYSELF, I WAS LIKE, SPEND A HALF HOUR TALKING TO HIM OVER AT ALLEN 15TH STREET, WHICH I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED. UM, BUT HE TRULY WAS A GOOD MAN. AND HE DESERVES ALL THE KINDS OF SENTIMENTS THAT, UM, THAT ALL THESE PEOPLE HAVE SHARED HERE. SO, UM, I I'M, I'M GRATEFUL THAT YOU ALL ARE ASKING AND I WILL DEFINITELY BE SUPPORTING IT. YEAH. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR COMING AND THANK YOU TO HIS KIDS. YOU GUYS DO AN AMAZING JOB SPEAKING. UM, AND ALSO JUST, JUST REALLY EXCITED THAT WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING GOOD AND WANTING TO SHAPE PINK JEAN KILBY. BECAUSE I THINK WHEN WE HAD THAT OTHER RESOLUTION ABOUT A DIFFERENT STREET NAME, I THINK IT WAS YOU WHO BROUGHT FORWARD. IF WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE IT, CHANGE IT TO GEORGE BANKS BOULEVARD, OR, YOU KNOW, CHANGE IT TO SOMETHING TO HONOR HIM. AND SO WHEN HE DID PASS, I WAS LIKE, HEY, JEAN, STILL WANT TO CHANGE THE NAME, LET'S DO THIS. AND HE WAS LIKE, I'LL GO GET THOSE SIGNATURES TODAY. AND OFF HE WENT, I WAS IN SAN ANTONIO AND WE WERE STILL TEXTING. UM, BUT YEAH, HE'S A REALLY GREAT MAN, VERY ENCOURAGING ANY SERVED FROM A PLACE OF LOVE. AND HE WAS JUST A VERY GENUINE AND AUTHENTIC PERSON AND, UH, REALLY BLESSED TO HAVE KNOWN HIM. ALL RIGHT. SO IT'S PRESLEY, DO WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE? VICE MAYOR. COCKREL YES. COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE. YES. COUNSEL MCFADDEN. YES. COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS. YES. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON. YES. [00:45:01] OKAY. WE HAVE A GEORGE BANKS BOULEVARD. YEAH. CAUSE YOU ALL SHOW UP AND CHEER LIKE THAT EVERY WEEK. THANK YOU ALL FOR SHOWING UP. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME. YOU'RE WELCOME. GOOD JOB. GOOD JOB. HE DID A GREAT JOB. [00:50:17] I'M SORRY, BUT WE, WE, WE HAVE TO FINISH OUR MEETING. HEY, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HANG AROUND NEXT TIME, BRING ALL RIGHT. THANKS FOR COMING. I PICKED HER POCKETABLE, MY MEMORIES. I WAS GOING TO STAY WITH ALL RIGHT. UP NEXT. UH, PUBLIC COMMENTS, MS. PRESTON. WE HAVING MY SON UP TO, WHEREAS NOBODY LEFT. ALRIGHTY. UP NEXT REPORT TO THE TOWN MANAGER. STEVEN, YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YES. I DO MIRROR A MIRROR, VICE MIRROR. MINE'S OLD PICTURE ON THERE. IT MINE'S ON, IT'S A TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY AND HE'S ON THE PHONE. HE'S SAYING HE'S NOT RIGHT AT THE NOTE. WHAT? THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT. BRANT. YES. WHAT KIND OF GRANT WOULD YOU LIKE? NO. YOU WANT THIS TO GET GRADED ON GREENSTONE? UH, I THINK, UH, WHAT'S HIS NAME? DWAYNE SHOWED UP. HE DID IN BERKELEY. THIS NAME. OKAY. THERE YOU GO. OKAY. CAN YOU HEAR US? YES. I CAN'T HEAR YOU. YEAH. WE'RE JUST GOING TO READ YOUR LIPS, STEPHEN, GO AHEAD AND START KNOW THE LETTERS WE GATHERED. LOVE. [9.B. Report of Councilmembers] WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE AHEAD TO, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND COME BACK TO YOU, UM, REPORT TO COUNCIL MEMBERS, ANYBODY I JUST WAS GOING TO SHARE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL EARTH DAY, BUT I THINK WE'VE ALREADY SAID, UH, NOT BETWEEN THE VALOR AWARDS AND THE EARTH DAY. WE'VE BEEN KIND OF BUSY THE LAST WEEK. SO IT WAS JUST WONDERFUL EVENTS. AND YET, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF FEEL LIKE ARE YOU SETTING THEM UP ABOUT THOSE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SHARE AGAIN AND JUST IN CASE. SO AT THE, THE TREE PLANTING EVENT, ROGER POSTED, IF SOMEBODY POSTS ARTICLE AND SAID LIKE THE TREES WERE ALREADY PLANTED, THEY WERE, WE JUST SHOWED UP AND MOVED. SOME MULCH, SURROUNDS THE GUY. EVERYBODY DID A GREAT JOB PLANTING EXCEPT FOR LAURIE AND I, WE JUST SHOWED UP IN SPREAD MOLDS. LET'S BE HONEST IF YOU WANTED, IF YOU WANTED THOSE TREES TO GROW, IT WAS PROBABLY BEST TO JUST LET ME THROW A LITTLE MORE NEW SKILLS. ANYBODY ELSE? ALRIGHT. [9.C. Report of the Mayor] UH, REPORT TO THE MAYOR. UM, THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY IS CHIEF, UH, YOUR GUYS, AREN'T THE ONLY ONES THAT SAVE LIVES. I WANT TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. THEY SAVED THREE YOUNG LIVES RECENTLY. UM, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE FOXES, UH, YEAH. UM, SO, UH, THEY WAS FOX [00:55:01] KITTENS OR PUFFS, WHATEVER YOU CALL THEM. BUT I BELIEVE THEY WERE STUCK IN A STORM. I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT IT WAS CALLED. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WENT DOWN AND COACHED THEM OUT. SO CONGRATS TO THOSE GUYS. THAT'S ALL I HAD. IT'S ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA. YEAH. YEAH. UM, ALL RIGHT. SO STEVEN, WELL, MAY GRANT, MAY I GREEN CUT HIM OFF? THAT WAS THE CALL QUALITY VERY BAD. UM, YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST MOVE ON? YEAH. [10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS] ALL RIGHT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION, MR. MAYOR? I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED SECOND DISCUSSION. NONE MS. PRESLEY. WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE. VICE MAYOR. COCKREL YES. COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE. COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN. YES. COUNSEL MORRIS. YES. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON. YES. THANK YOU. UP NEXT [11.A. Nomination to the Board of Zoning Appeals] BUSINESS ITEMS, NOMINATION TO BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS. MS. PRESLEY COUNSEL HAS REQUESTED TO PROVE A NOMINATION TO THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE AND THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS TO FILL A FIVE-YEAR TERM BEGINNING MAY 1ST, 2022. SURE. I MEAN THAT COUNCIL NOMINATE AND DA ROBINSON TO THE CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS TO A FIVE-YEAR TERM BEGINNING MAY 1ST, 2022 SECOND DISCUSSION VICE MAYOR COCKREL COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE, COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN COUNSELING MORRIS THOMPSON. YES. THANK YOU. UP NEXT [11.B. Resolution to Adopt “Shift Differential Policy” for Town Employee Handbook – Laura McIntosh] RESOLUTION TO ADOPT SHIP DIFFERENTIAL POLICY FOR TOWN EMPLOYEE SAMPLE MS. PRESLEY COUNSEL, AS REQUESTED TO APPROVE AN UPDATE TO THE TOWN'S EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK BY ADDING THE ATTACHED SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL POLICY DUE TO TOWN SERVICE RESPONSIBILITIES, CERTAIN EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO WORK IN SHIFTS. THIS INCLUDES POLICE OFFICERS, COMMUNICATION OFFICERS, WATER, AND WASTEWATER OPERATORS IN AN EFFORT TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE JOB MARKET, RETAIN EMPLOYEES AND IMPROVE OVERALL MORALE STAFF RECOMMENDS PAYING QUALIFYING SHIFT WORKERS AND ADDITIONAL PREMIUM OF A DOLLAR HOURLY FOR HOURS WORKED DURING A QUALIFYING NIGHT SHIFT. IF IT PROVES A POLICY WOULD BE EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL POLICY TO THE TOWN'S EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK AS PRESENTED AND EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE. SECOND, SECOND, I NEED DISCUSSION. UM, I JUST THINK IT'S A GREAT THING THAT WE'RE DOING AND IT MAKES US MORE COMPETITIVE. AS MOST OTHER EMPLOYER EMPLOYERS ARE OFFERING SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS. THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPETITIVE. THEY ARE SO EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS VICE MAYOR. COCKREL COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE, COUNSEL AND MCFADDEN. YES. COUNCILMAN MORRIS. YES. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON. YES. THANK YOU. UP NEXT [11.C. Proclamation for National Public Works Week – Robbie Boyer] PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, MS. PRESLEY NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IS MAY 15TH THROUGH THE 21ST, 2022. UM, WE LOVE TO CELEBRATE ALL THE HARD WORK OF THE APPROXIMATELY 68 PUBLIC WORK EMPLOYEES THAT WORK HARD EVERY DAY DURING THEIR SHIFT. AND WHILE ON CALL 24 7 FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY, THEY MAINTAIN 138.2 MOVING LANE MILES, PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ROADS. MAY THEY MAINTAIN 92 MILES OF STORM SEWER. THEY MOW WEEDED AND TRACTOR MOTOWN PROPERTIES, RIGHT OF WAYS. AND MEDIANS PLANS, DESIGNS INSTALLS AND MAINTAINS FLORAL LANDSCAPE AND TREE PLANTING COLLECTS TRASH RECYCLING YARD WASTE FROM 5,896. CUSTOMERS CLEANS AND DISINFECTS TOWN BUILDINGS AND PERFORM SKILLED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS TO TOWN BUILDINGS, FABRICATES, INSTALLS, AND REPLACES TOWN STREET SIGNS AND MAINTAINS CROSSWALKS PERFORMS, PAVING, POTHOLE, AND STREET REPAIRS, BRIDGE MAINTENANCE, AND STREET SWEEPING ASSIST TOWN WITH COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ROAD CLOSURES, SNOW REMOVAL, REPAIR, WATER BREAKS, SEWER BACKUPS TREAT SEWAGE FROM 5,980 RESIDENTS AND WARREN COUNTY CUSTOMERS WATER PRODUCES 2.3 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY PROVIDES WATER TO 6,406 RESIDENTS AND PROVIDE SEWER TO 6,093. RESIDENTS MAINTAINS [01:00:01] 119 MILES OF WATER LINE, 124 MILES OF SANITARY SEWER, AND 724 FIRE HYDRANTS REVIEWS AND INSPECTS ALL PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS WITHIN TOWN LIMITS AND IN THE COUNTY WHERE WATER AND SEWER ARE PROVIDED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH TOWN STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING MAY 15TH THROUGH MAY 21ST, 2022 AS PUBLIC WORKS WEEK IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL SECOND, ANY DISCUSSION? YES. I WANT IT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THINK OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE PEOPLE THAT KEEP OUR COMMUNITY LOOKING GOOD. THEY ALSO KEEP OUR LIGHTS ON EVEN THE WATER RUNNING, UM, WHICH I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR SERVICE AND TRULY VALUE THEM AND RESPECT THEM. AND THEY ALSO SAY RESCUE WILDLIFE AS WELL. APPARENTLY, JUST TO ADD TO WHAT LATASHA SAID, UM, I'LL SAY THAT I'VE ALWAYS SAID THAT TOWN COUNCIL AND THE TOWN'S JOB IS TO KEEP THE LIGHTS ON THE WATER RUNNING AND THE TOILETS FLUSHING. AND WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC WORKS WORKERS THAT WE HAVE. I'M ALWAYS SINGING THEIR PRAISES. WE HAVE THE PRETTIEST FLOWERS ON MAIN STREET IN FRONT ROYAL OF ANY TOWN. AND, UM, THE GUYS THAT COLLECT OUR TRASH AND RECYCLING AND DO ALL THAT, THEY JUST WORKED SO HARD. SO ANYONE ELSE? OKAY. AND I MIGHT SAY THAT THEY ARE PROBABLY SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKING EMPLOYEES THAT, THAT WE HAVE, UM, THE PROCLAMATION HERE I'M TO READ PART OF THIS, UH, MS. PRESLEY ALREADY HAD, UH, UH, WENT DOWN THE LIST OF, UH, THINGS THAT THEY DO AND WANT TO READ TOP SECTION HERE. WHEREAS PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES AND SERVICE SERVICES THAT ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO THE SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH, HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE OF THE FRONT ROYAL. AND WHEREAS THESE INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES AND SERVICES COULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES AT ALL LEVELS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REBUILDING, IMPROVING AND PROTECTING OUR NATION'S TRANSPORTATION, WATER, SUPPLY, WATER TREATMENT, AND SOLID WASTE SYSTEMS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES ESSENTIAL FOR CITIZENS. AND WHEREAS IT IS THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR THE CITIZENS, CIVIC LEADERS AND CHILDREN IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF AND TO MAINTAIN AN ONGOING INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. AND WHEREAS YOU'RE 2022 MARKS THE 62ND ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION SLASH CANADIAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION. BE IT NOW RESOLVED, UH, MAYOR CHRIS W HOLLOWAY DO HERE BY A DESIGNATE THE WEEK, MAY THE 15TH TO MAY 21ST, 2022 S NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK. I URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, AND CEREMONIES DOES CEREMONIES DESIGNED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES, AND TO RECOGNIZE THESE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO PROTECTING OUR NATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY AND QUALITY OF LIFE. ALL RIGHT. SO THAT BEING SAID, ROLL CALL. CAN YOU HEAR VICE MAYOR COCKREL YES. COUNSELING GILLESPIE. COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN. YES. COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS. YES. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON. YES. ALL RIGHT. UP NEXT [11.D. Memorandum of Understanding Between the Town of Front Royal, County of Warren, Valley Health Systems and Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition to Create a Drug Treatment Court Program] MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL COUNTY VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEMS AND NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION TO CREATE A DRUG TREATMENT COURT PROGRAM. THIS PRESLEY COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL COUNTY OF WARREN VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM AND NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION TO CREATE A DRUG TREATMENT COURT PROGRAM AS PRESENTED IN CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE TOWN'S ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR FY 22, 20 23 BUDGET AND THE APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF THE MOU BY THE COUNTY OF WARREN VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM AND THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION, COUNCIL'S FURTHER REQUESTED TO DIRECT THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE MOU ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN. MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL COUNTY OF WARREN VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM AND NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION TO CREATE A DRUG TREATMENT COURT PROGRAM AS PRESENTED [01:05:01] AND CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE TOWN'S ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR FYI 20 22, 23 BUDGET AND THE APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF THE MOU BY THE COUNTY OF WARREN VALLEY HOUSE SYSTEM AND THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COALITION COUNCIL IS FURTHER REQUESTED TO DIRECT THE TOWN MANAGER TO EXECUTE THE MOU ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN. SECOND, SECOND DISCUSSION. YES, MR. MAYOR. UM, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CONSIDERING THIS MOU TONIGHT. UM, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING THAT STARTED OVER TWO YEARS AGO AND, UM, IT'S SOMETHING VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. AND, UM, I JUST, UM, WANT TO SAY THAT IT IT'S GONNA DO SOME GOOD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'S GOING TO GIVE US ANOTHER TOOL IN OUR TOOLBOX TO HELP GET PEOPLE WHO ARE ADDICTED TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. I JUST WANTED TO THANK GARY FOR HIS SERVICE ON THAT PARTICULAR BOARD. I KNOW YOU SPENT A LOT OF TIME WITH THAT AND THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME TO AN AGREEMENT BECAUSE A DRUG ISSUE, AS WE KNOW, ISN'T A ONE PERSON ISSUE. IT'S NOT THE FAMILY ISSUE. IT BECOMES A COMMUNITY ISSUE. SO WHEN WE'RE OPENING THIS DRUG COURT HERE, WE'RE HELPING NOT ONLY INDIVIDUALS, NOT ONLY FAMILIES, BUT OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITY TO BE BETTER. AND, UM, I'M REALLY THANKFUL FOR THAT. THANK YOU, GARY. I WANT TO ECHO WHAT LATASHA SAID THAT THAT WAS, UH, UM, I KNOW THAT GARY IT'S, IT'S BEEN A LONG PROCESS AND LOTS OF MEETINGS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS DECISION, WHICH, YOU KNOW, ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS. SO, UM, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE TIME YOU INVESTED IN THIS. AND, UH, AS LATASHA SAID, IT'S DEFINITELY A COMMUNITY ISSUE. AND, UM, I REALLY HOPE THIS IS, IS ANOTHER TOOL YOU CAN USE TO, TO HELP PEOPLE. WHAT ELSE? ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LEARNED IS THAT WE ARE, WE HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF COMMUNITY. SO AS EVERYONE HEARS ECHO TONIGHT, WHEN IT'S A COMMUNITY ISSUE, WE HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE IT'S ATTACKING THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. SO, GARY, THANK YOU FOR THE WORK ON THIS AND THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS TO US. UM, I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT. I JUST WANT TO COMMENT THAT I'M A LITTLE BIT SKEPTICAL ABOUT THIS WHEN I FIRST STARTED HEARING ABOUT IT, BUT UNDERSTANDING, UH, ONE OF THE THINGS I BROUGHT WAS METRICS AND I TALKED TO THE CHIEF, SAT DOWN WITH HIM AND HE SAID THAT THE PROGRAMS THAT THE AREAS SURROUNDING AREAS THAT HAVE THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS HAVE REALLY GREAT SUCCESS RATES. AND SO THAT WAS SOMETHING, UH, AND THE PERCENTAGES THAT HE PRESENTED TO ME. AND THEN AGAIN, IN WORK SESSION, WE DISCUSSED THOSE AGAIN. SO, YOU KNOW, FOR ANYONE OUT THERE WHO MAY BE SKEPTICAL ABOUT A PROGRAM, SUCH AS THIS AS SOCIAL RELIEF PROGRAM OR WHATEVER, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, UM, THE SUCCESS RATE OF THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS. SO THANK YOU, UH, GARY, AND, UH, I THINK IT WAS, UM, COUNSELING, UH, SUPERVISOR OATS EATS, RIGHT. AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO WORKED ON THIS PROJECT. AND, UM, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A SUCCESS. SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. JUST ONE MORE THING. I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT THIS WAS A TEAM EFFORT. THERE IS SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK FOR THIS TONIGHT. UM, YOU KNOW, UM, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, UM, YOU KNOW, UH, OUR CHIEF, UH, THE GALAS, UM, THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, THE WARREN COALITION, UM, YOU KNOW, UM, SOCIAL SERVICES, UM, FIRE AND RESCUE, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT I MENTIONED THE WARREN COALITION AND, AND VALLEY HEALTH AND THE LIST JUST GOES ON AND ON. AND, UM, IT W IT WOULD, I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYONE, UM, FOR THIS. SO JUST THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? ALRIGHT. THIS PRESSING I SMEAR COCKRELL. YES. COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE. YES. COUNCILMAN MCFADDEN. YES. COUNCILMAN MORRIS THOMPSON. YES. OKAY. MOTION PASSES. ALL RIGHT. UP NEXT TO WANT TO TRY [9.A. Report of Town Manager] STEVEN AGAIN, I'M GOING TO CALL HIM HERE ON THE PHONE AND PICK THEM UP HERE ON SPEAKER. UH, SO NOW CAN YOU STILL HEAR ME NOW? YEAH, WE HEAR. ALL RIGHT. SO AT FIRST I WANT TO, UH, TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY AND, AND, AND RECOGNIZE, UH, BJ WILSON AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS THAT DID A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK STARTING BACK IN OCTOBER TO CREATE, UH, THIS YEAR'S BUDGET. UM, WE [01:10:01] DID IT WITHIN COUNCIL GUIDELINES, A LOT OF DEPARTMENT HEADS. THEY MET UP, UM, THEY DISCUSSED THE BUDGETS WITH, WITH, UH, EVERYONE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A BALANCED BUDGET AND IT TOOK A LOT OF ON A LOT OF MEETINGS. AND IT'S NOT ONLY IS IT A REFLECTION OF WHAT THE DEPARTMENT HAS TO DO. IT'S ALSO A REFLECTION THAT, UH, THE TOWN WITH THE GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL ORGANIZATION ASSOCIATION, AGAIN, CONTINUES TO CERTIFY THE ACHIEVEMENT FOR, UH, FINANCIAL REPORTING PROGRAM. AND THAT'S A RECOGNITION THAT GOES BEYOND THE BASIC, UH, ACCOUNTING PRACTICES. IT EXCEEDS THE REPORTING PROCESS. IT DEMONSTRATES TRANSPARENCY, AND IT ALSO DEMONSTRATES HOW THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT CONTINUES TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE FOLLOWING ALL THE RULES AND DOING EVERYTHING CORRECT. AND THAT'S ALSO REFLECTED IN OUR ANNUAL AUDIT. SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE THIS TIME. SO PERSONALLY, THANK DJ. UH, I WANT TO THANK COUNCIL FOR INPUT AND ALSO SOME OF THE GUIDANCE, BUT ALSO ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS FOR THOSE WHO BASE SOME SACRIFICE. AND FOR THOSE WHO ALSO CREATED NEW INITIATIVES, THAT'S GOING TO HELP THE TOWN MOVE FORWARD. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT. I ALSO WANT TO CONTINUE TO, UM, PIGGYBACK ON, ON WHAT COUNCIL HAS SHARE WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABLE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THAT COMMITTEE WAS ESTABLISHED, A COUNCIL APPOINTED THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE. AND SINCE THEY'D BEEN, UH, ESTABLISHED, THEY'VE ALREADY DONE A LOT OF TREMENDOUS WORK. UM, THIS WAS JUST ONE OF MANY INITIATIVES THAT THEY, UH, PLAN AND IT WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND I WORK LIKE THIS AND COORDINATING AN EVENT THAT YOU, UH, WERE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE. IT JUST DOESN'T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT. IT TAKES A LOT OF WORK AND DEDICATION, AND, AND WHEN I WAS THERE IN THE MORNING, I CAN JUST TELL A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE EXCITED ABOUT THE EVENT. UH, THEY CONTINUE TO WANT AND HAVE THAT EACH YEAR. SO AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL FOR, UH, PUT THIS TOGETHER. UM, IT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK, BUT IT TURNED OUT, UH, GREAT, UH, MAYOR VICE THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SHARE. ALL RIGHT, STEVEN. THANK YOU. [12. CLOSED MEETING] UM, MR. MAYOR, I MOVED THAT TOWN COUNCIL BE ANY GO INTO POST MEDIA. OH, SORRY. FOR THE DISCUSSION CONSIDERATION, ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, DEMOTION SALARIES, DISCIPLINING, OR RESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICER'S APPOINTEES OR EMPLOYEES OF ANY PUBLIC BODIES SPECIFIC TO THE TOWN COUNCIL VACANCY, AND THEN TOWN ATTORNEY'S POSITION PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 2.2 DASH THREE SEVEN ELEVEN.A.ONE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA AND TO A, A CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF MEMBERS OR CONSULTANTS PERTAINING TO PROBABLE LITIGATION WHERE SUCH CONSULTATION OR BRIEFING AND OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LITIGATING POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY. SPECIFICALLY THE WARREN COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A SEVEN OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA AND B FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF MEMBERS OR CONSULTANTS PERTAINING TO ACTUAL LITIGATION, SPECIFICALLY TOWN UP FRONT ROYAL, VIRGINIA VERSUS INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, UH, ET CETERA AT ALL WARREN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT CASE NUMBER C L 19 DASH 74, WHERE SUCH CONSULTATION OR BRIEFING AND OPEN, OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LITIGATING POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY. ALSO PURSUANT TO 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A SEVEN. THANK YOU. YEP. SECOND I HAVE A SECOND. ANY DISCUSSION? VICE MAYOR COCKRELL? YES. COUNCILMAN GILLESPIE. YES. COUNSELOR MAKE BAD COUNSELING WOMAN. MAURICE. YES. COUNCILMAN THOMPSON. YES. THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR REGULAR MEETING. * 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.