Oct 24, 2022 Town Council

COUNCILMAN JACKSON? HERE.

COUNCILMAN COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS.

HERE.

COUNCILMAN ROGERS? HERE.

COUNCILWOMAN THOMPSON.

HERE.

UP NEXT APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

UM, MR. MAYOR? I AM, UM, I MOVE MOVED.

THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE MINUTES OF THE FOLLOWING MEETINGS OF TOWN COUNCIL AS, UM, AT THE MINUTES OF TOWN COUNCIL.

UM, FOR THE JOINT MEETING, SPECIAL WORK SESSION OF AUGUST 16TH, THE REGULAR MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 26TH, THE SPECIAL MEETING OF OCTOBER 1ST, AND WITH A CHANGE TO THE SPECIAL MEETING WITH WORK SESSION OF OCTOBER 11TH TO STATE, UM, THAT, TO SHOW THAT IT WAS TUESDAY INSTEAD OF MONDAY.

TO REVISE THOSE WORK SESSION MINUTES TO SAY TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11TH INSTEAD OF MONDAY, OCTOBER 11TH.

A ROLL CALL PLEASE.

VICE MAYOR C**K ROLL.

ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA.

OF NEXT

[5. ADDITION/DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA]

CONSIDERATION ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE MOTION, SALARIES, DISCIPLINING OR RESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICERS.

MR. MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD TO THE CLOSE, UH, UH, MOTION.

I KNOW THERE WAS, SORRY, ONE MOTION, BUT THIS WOULD BE A SECOND ONE OF THE DISCUSSION.

SORRY, APPOINTEE.

DO I NEED TO READ IT AGAIN SINCE THE MIC WAS NOT ON? I'M SORRY.

COULD YOU HEAR ME? YES.

SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICERS, APPOINTEES OR EMPLOYEES OF ANY PUBLIC BODY, SPECIFICALLY TOWN MANAGER.

TOWN ATTORNEY, PURSUANT TO THE, UM, 2.2 3 7 11 A, ONE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.

A DISCUSSION.

HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

VICE MAYOR CORO.

COUNCILWOMAN MEMOIRS? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN THOMPSON.

NEXT RECOGNITIONS AWARDS, REPORTS, PRESENTATIONS UP.

AS IS.

AND ADD UP

[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS ]

FIRST WE HAVE RETIREMENT OF TOWN EMPLOYEE SAM GRIMSLEY.

LET ME JUST SAY THAT, UH, SAM HAS WORKED IN THE SOLID WASTE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS SINCE HE STARTED IN 1990.

HE STARTED AS A LABORER AND WAS PROMOTED TO AN EQUIPMENT OPERATOR 96, WHICH IS WHERE HE IS TODAY.

SO I'M SURE EVERYBODY'S SEEN SAM OUT AND ABOUT.

I'LL JUST READ THE PLAQUE HERE, PRESENTED TO THE SAMUEL L GRIMSLEY IN RECOGNITION OF OVER 32 YEARS OF LOYALTY, HARD WORK, AND DEDICATION TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR WELL-DESERVED RETIREMENT WITH SINCERE GRATITUDE FROM FELLOW EMPLOYEES, TOWN MANAGER, MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL.

FEBRUARY THE 22ND, 1990 TO DECEMBER THE FIRST, 2022.

THANK .

I'M, I GOT, I GO THERE.

ALL RIGHT GUYS.

STAND TOGETHER.

WE'LL TAKE A PICTURE.

I .

[00:05:01]

WE'RE IN THE SAME, THAT, THAT T REALLY WHEN YOU, YOU TOMORROW.

UP NEXT UPDATE ON SHANDOO RAIL TRAIL PROJECT.

GREAT EVENING.

UM, MAYOR HOLLOWAY, I'M EMBARRASSED THAT YOU AND I HAVE NEVER MET VICE MAYOR CORO, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

AND, UH, THANK YOU ALL FOR INVITING ME.

I'VE BEEN ASKED TO GIVE A SHORT UPDATE, UM, AND SO INSTEAD OF MY USUAL 60 SLIDES, I'M GONNA GONNA SHOW ONE.

THAT'S IT.

AND I HOPE YOU FALL ASLEEP TONIGHT.

THINKING ABOUT THESE FOLKS.

YOU'LL NOTICE THAT, UH, THEY ARE NOT OLYMPIC ATHLETES.

THEY COULD BE YOU OR YOUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS OR YOUR RELATIVES VISITING ON, UH, MEMORIAL DAY OR THANKSGIVING.

UM, AND THIS IS OUR VISION.

THIS IS WHAT WE WANT TO TURN THIS 50 MILE UNUSED RAILROAD CORRIDOR, UH, INTO A GREEN TRANSIT HEALTHY TRAIL THAT'S GONNA IMPROVE THE MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC HEALTH OF THE ENTIRE VALLEY.

UH, MY NAME IS, UH, DON HYMAN.

I'M A RETIRED EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIAN.

UH, I WORKED FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS FOR VALET HEALTH, UM, HERE A LITTLE BIT, MOSTLY AT SHANDO MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND, UH, SOME UP THE BIG SHOP IN WINCHESTER.

UM, I'M WEARING MY WHITE COAT TONIGHT BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROJECT.

AND, UM, SINCE WE ADDED, UH, IT, THE CORRIDOR FINALLY CAME UP FOR SALE IN JULY OF 2020.

SINCE THAT TIME, UH, THANKS TO OUR MULTIPLE, UM, UH, VIRGINIA LEGISLATORS, UH, WE GOT A FEASIBILITY STUDY DONE.

AND THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY SHOWS THREE THINGS.

ONE, I I'M BY THE BY.

I'M GONNA TALK FOR ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR MINUTES AND THEN OPEN THIS UP FOR QUESTIONS.

UM, ONE, THIS IS VERY FEASIBLE.

IT'S VERY FEASIBLE.

IT'S A HUNDRED PAGES TO SAY THAT, BUT IT'S VERY, VERY FEASIBLE TO, UM, IT'S A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE AND COMPLICATED THAN I EVER THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

UM, I THOUGHT WE WERE GONNA TEAR UP SOME RAILROADS AND PUT DOWN SOME GRAVEL AND RIDE OUR BIKES.

UH, THAT'S THE WAY IT USED TO BE DONE.

IT'S A WHOLE LOT MORE COMPLICATED NOW.

UH, BUT THREE, UM, IT IS WILDLY POPULAR.

IT IS WILDLY POPULAR.

EVERY MAYOR AND AND TOWN COUNCIL ALONG THE CORRIDOR.

THERE'S NINE TOWNS.

THERE'S THREE COUNTIES.

UM, WE GOT RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FROM EVERY ONE OF THEM, UH, PLUS RESOLUTIONS OF SUPPORT FROM BOTH HOSPITAL SYSTEMS, SENTARA AND, UH, VALLEY HEALTH, UH, AS WELL AS MULTIPLE OTHER, UM, NON-PROFITS AND THE TWO PLANNING DISTRICTS.

SO, UM, THE NEXT THING THAT WE'VE, THAT IS NEW IS THAT WE HAD TO REPEAT OUR FEASIBILITY, NOT FEASIBILITY STUDY, OUR ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS, BECAUSE WE ADDED WARREN COUNTY AND FRONT ROYAL, BOTH ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS THAT WE HAD DONE ARE WILDLY SUPPORTIVE OF, OF THIS, UH, CORRIDOR.

UM, THE SECOND ONE, THE MOST RECENT ONE, UM, ESTIMATES THAT WE WILL HAVE, UM, $32 MILLION IN ADDITIONAL INCOME SPENT ALONG THE CORRIDOR IN 2030 WHEN WE THINK THIS WILL BE DONE.

UM, THE OTHER THING I DIDN'T SAY ABOUT THE FEASIBILITY STUDY IS THAT IT'S WILDLY POPULAR.

UH, WE DID A, UM, WE DIDN'T DO IT.

THE VDOT DID A, A METRO QUEST SURVEY SHOWING OVER 9,000 RESPONDENTS, WHICH IS 4,000 MORE THAN THEY'D EVER RECEIVED ON ANY PROJECT IN THE STATE.

UM, 94% OF THOSE RESPONDENTS SAID THAT YES, THEY WOULD USE THIS CORRIDOR WHEN IT'S DONE.

UM, SO, SO AT NORFOLK SOUTHERN'S REQUEST, WE GOT A, A REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL, AND WE BOTH AGREED ON WHICH COMPANY TO DO IT.

IT WAS MILLER LONG AND ASSOCIATES OUT OF, UH, ROANOKE.

UM, THAT WAS COMPLETED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

UM, AND IT CAME IN RIGHT WHERE WE THOUGHT IT WOULD, UM, IN BETWEEN 15 AND 25 MILLION.

I'M NOT GONNA SAY EXACTLY WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE WE'RE NEGOTIATING.

UM, BUT IT'S IN THAT, IT'S IN THAT WINDOW, WHICH WAS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.

UM, IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY, THE ENGINEERS ESTIMATED THAT THE ACQUISITION COST WOULD BE IN THAT RANGE.

UM, WE ASKED NORFOLK SOUTHERN BY THE BUY TO DONATE IT,

[00:10:01]

NO DICE.

WE ASKED THEM TO LEASE IT, NO DICE.

AND FINALLY THEY SAID, YEAH, WE'LL, WE'LL SELL IT.

AND FOR THE LAST, UM, YEAR AND A HALF NOW, SINCE THEY HAVE PUT IT UP FOR SALE, WE'RE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE, UH, GIVEN THEM ANY, UH, COMMUNICATION ABOUT DISCUSSING, UH, ACQUIRING THE CORRIDOR, BUYING IT.

SO, UM, WHERE ELSE ARE WE? WE ARE, UM, WE'VE GOT $3 MILLION IN THIS YEAR'S FEDERAL BUDGET PROPOSED FOR 2023, THANKS TO SENATOR, UM, WARNER AND KANE.

WE ALSO, THANKS TO OUR VIRGINIA LEGISLATORS AND ESPECIALLY TODD GILBERT, UM, WE HAVE 103 MILLION THAT WAS SIGNED INTO THE BIANNUAL BUDGET IN, IN, UH, JUNE OF THIS YEAR TO BE SPENT ON, ON RAIL OR TRAILS IN THE, IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.

HOW MUCH WILL THIS PROJECT GET? PROBABLY A THIRD, UH, WOULD BE MY GUESS.

AND, UH, BUT, UM, MOSTLY WHAT WE WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW, WE GOT A MILLION DOLLARS LAST MONTH FROM THE COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD TO HELP US GET STARTED.

UM, WE'RE STARTED, AND, UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY VERY FAR ALONG IN NEGOTIATIONS.

I'M GOING DOWN TO VIRGINIA BEACH TONIGHT TO ATTEND THIS CTB MEETING TOMORROW.

AND, AND WEDNESDAY, UH, WE HOPE TO GET CTB APPROVAL OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE CONSERVATION FUND TO PURCHASE THIS, UH, IN THE SPRING OF THIS, OF THIS COMING YEAR, UM, PENDING VDOT S ACQUISITION, WHICH WILL TAKE A YEAR OR TWO, UH, TO GET ALL OF THE BROWNFIELD STUDIES AND OTHER TECHNICAL THINGS DONE.

I TOLD YOU THIS LOOKS SIMPLE, BUT IT'S REALLY QUITE COMPLICATED, BUT WE KEEP PEDDLING ON AND WE'RE MAKING LOTS AND LOTS OF PROGRESS.

AND, UM, WITH THAT, WHAT DO WE HAVE COMING UP? WE HAVE NINE TOWN HALL STYLE MEETINGS, UM, IN EACH OF THE NINE TOWNS ALONG THE CORRIDORS.

UM, WE HOPE TO HAVE THOSE IN THE NEXT, UH, SIX TO EIGHT WEEKS AND FOLLOWED BY NINE MORE TOWN HALL STYLE MEETINGS IN THE SPRING.

AND, UH, WE'VE ALSO, UM, UH, WE'VE JUST ESTABLISHED A NON-PROFIT ARM OF OUR PARTNERSHIP.

AND, UM, SO WE HOPE TO START A, A PRIVATE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, UM, IN THE SPRING OR MAYBE IN THE WINTER.

SO WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO STOP AND TAKE ANY OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

I DID LEAVE A, UH, A BROCHURE, UH, FOR EACH OF YOU.

AND, UM, EACH OF THE STUDIES THAT I MENTIONED IS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE.

AND, UM, AND I'M AVAILABLE TO, UH, ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.

YES, I GOT ONE.

UM, IS THERE ANY PUSHBACK FROM ANYBODY ON THIS SO FAR? YES.

BECAUSE WHEN I WAS, YEAH.

CUZ WHEN I WAS IN SH AT, IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY, THERE WAS AN ORGANIZATION SET UP AND SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE PRETTY INTENT ON, ON, ON DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENT WITH IT.

SO THEY HAVE, I'VE SPOKEN TO THAT ORGANIZATION, UM, AND, AND I'M, I'M FRIENDS WITH BILL HOLTZMAN WHO IS BEHIND THAT ORGANIZATION.

UM, BILL IS SUPPORTIVE OF THIS TRAIL.

HE PATS ME ON THE BACK AND SAYS, ANYTHING I CAN DO, DON, YOU JUST LET ME KNOW.

AND I TOLD MR. HOLTZMAN, I SAID, WELL, BILL, YOU COULD STOP ADVOCATING FOR RAILS WITH TRAILS ON SOMETHING THAT IS TOO NARROW FOR BOTH BECAUSE HAVE, AND THAT WAS MY ARGUMENT THAT NIGHT AT, AT, YOU CAN HAVE ONE OR YOU CAN HAVE THE OTHER, BUT YOU CAN'T HAVE BOTH BECAUSE IT'S, UM, MUCH OF THE TRAIL.

AND I'VE WALKED THIS WHOLE TRAIL BY THE BY.

I WAS BORN WITH A LOT OF ENERGY AND I STILL HAVEN'T SPENT IT.

UM, SO, UM, MUCH OF THIS TRAIL IS, UM, STEEP ON BOTH ENDS.

SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THERE'S BEEN PUSHBACK.

BUT THEY HAVEN'T CONTACTED NORFOLK SOUTHERN.

THEY DON'T HAVE, UM, THEY DON'T HAVE THE ORGANIZATION OR THE MONEY.

AND, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THE REASON THAT NORFOLK SOUTHERN GAVE IT UP WAS BECAUSE THERE'S NO FREIGHT, NO, THERE'S NO FREIGHT BUSINESS ON THIS.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHY IT FINALLY CAME UP FOR SALE.

UM, SO YEAH, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

BUT, UM, THIS IS ACTUALLY, UH, ESPECIALLY WITH, UM, WE, WE, WE GET THE CORRIDOR.

ANYBODY ELSE? I WAS JUST GONNA ADD THAT IT WAS PROMISING TO HEAR AFTER HEARING IT CAME IN AT 15 TO 25 MILLION, THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER OFFERS OR NEGOTIATIONS.

IT SHOULD HELP A LOT .

I, TO ME THAT'S WILDLY EXPENSIVE, BUT, UM, IT IS A UNIQUE CORRIDOR.

AND, AND I'M TOLD BY THE FOLKS WHO DO THESE THINGS ALL THE TIME, DON, THIS IS THE GOING RATE.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE MEDICAL BILLS.

UM,

[00:15:01]

WE BUILD THE CORRIDOR, UM, WE'LL PAY FOR THIS, UM, WITHIN JUST A FEW YEARS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE IT, UM, THE BENEFIT.

SO WHAT IS THE ESTIMATED COST OF BUILDING IT AFTER ACQUIRING IT? IT'S ALSO EXPENSIVE NOW.

THEY WERE DONE MOSTLY BY BAKER.

THE ESTIMATES FOR MM-HMM.

CONSTRUCTION.

THEY'RE IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

I DON'T HAVE THEM MEMORIZED, BUT THEY'RE IN THE 70 TO 80 MILLION RANGE.

THAT'S OKAY.

I REMEMBER SOMETHING AROUND THERE.

UM, AND, UM, YOU, YOU KNOW, WE JUST SPENT A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS SMARTLY IN THIS COMMUNITY TO BUILD A BRAND NEW HOSPITAL.

THAT TAKES CARE OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AFTER YOU ARE INJURED OR AFTER YOU GET SICK.

THIS IS DESIGNED TO KEEP YOU WELL, OR TO GIVE YOU THE OPTIONS TO STAY WELL.

KIDS WILL BICYCLE.

PARDON? BOY, KIDS WILL BICYCLE TO SCHOOL.

PEOPLE WILL BICYCLE AND WALK TO WORK.

UM, THIS IS A GAME CHANGER AND IT'S GONNA BE INCREDIBLY, UM, ATTRACTIVE TO TOURISTS.

GOOD DEAL OF TIME.

GOOD DEAL OF MONEY.

IS THERE A PHASE IN YOU LOOKED AT TERMS OF YEAH, HE'S ASKING YOU TO, THE QUESTION WAS, IS THERE A PHASE IN PLAN? AND YES, IT'S IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

THERE ARE SIX PHASES THAT BAKER ENGINEERING RECOMMENDED THAT.

NOW WHICH PHASE COMES FIRST.

I DON'T KNOW.

AND FORTUNATELY THAT WOULD ACQUISITION MY DECISION.

EVERY GROUP THAT I TALK TO SAYS WE SHOULD BE FIRST.

AND EVERYBODY DOES HAVE SOME CLAIMS. MY GUESS IS THAT IT'S GOING TO BE THE LOW HANGING FRUIT FIRST.

THIS IS LOW HANGING FRUIT HERE.

AND THIS IS LOW HANG BECAUSE THIS RAIL, THIS CORRIDOR WAS USED UP UNTIL JUNE OF 2020.

THE OTHER LOW HANGING FRUIT IS DOWN ON THE OTHER END.

UH, I EAT BROADWAY TO TIMBERVILLE TO, UM, MOUNT JACKSON AREA.

THAT'S LOW HANGING FRUIT BECAUSE THAT RAIL WAS USED UP UNTIL 2014 ON A REGULAR BASIS.

AND THERE AREN'T 30 FOOT TREES.

I HAVE SEVERAL OTHER PICTURES ON MY CAROUSEL OF 40 FOOT TREES IN WOODSTOCK.

AND, UH, AND WE HAVE A LOT MORE BRIDGES IN THE SHENANDOAH COUNTY PORTION OF THIS.

SO I SUSPECT, UM, I SUSPECT THAT IT'LL BE THE LOW HANGING FRUIT, BUT THERE ARE OTHER OFFERS ON THE, THE TABLE, OTHER ARGUMENTS ON THE TABLE TO BUILD A MILE HERE AND A MILE THERE AND A MILE IN THE MIDDLE.

AND THEN THERE'LL BE THE PRESSURE TO, YOU KNOW, TO CONNECT THOSE THREE MILES.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FINAL ANSWER'S GONNA BE, BUT IT IS A VERY POPULAR QUESTION.

, THANKS.

TOWNS CAN GET THEIR FUNDING ORGANIZED, WHICH IS, WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.

ANYONE ELSE? I WAS JUST GONNA OFFER IT TO COUNCIL.

UM, THE REASON WHY MR. HEMAN SAID IT'S NICE TO SEE ME AGAIN.

I, I, UM, REPRESENT COUNCIL ON THIS COMMITTEE.

AND, UM, WE ACTUALLY MEET TWICE A YEAR, JUNE AND DECEMBER.

UH, EACH OF THE LOCALITIES THAT ARE A PART OF IT HAVE TWO REPRESENTATIVES.

UM, AND SO IF YOU GUYS EVER HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER OR QUESTIONS, BUT SKIP, JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, SO FRONT ROW WILL ACTUALLY BE THE TRAIL HEAD.

UM, AND WE WERE ADDED ON, UH, AS IN, UH, DAWN STATE JULY OF 2020.

RIGHT.

SO OTHER GROUPS WERE ALREADY ON BOARD FRONT, ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY WERE THE LAST TO GET ON BOARD.

IN FACT, NORFOLK SOUTHERN WANTED US TO GET ON BOARD, RIGHT? THERE WAS, WELL, WHEN THE, WHEN THE FACTORY CLOSED IN EAST ROSBERG IN JUNE OF 2020, UM, WE INVITED THE VICE PRESIDENT OF NORFOLK SOUTHERN TO COME ON UP TO WOODSTOCK.

WE WERE GONNA WHINE AND DINE HIM AND HIS FAMILY.

AND HE SAID, WELL, LET ME KICK THE, THE, THE TIRES AROUND THE OFFICE HERE, AND I'LL GET BACK TO YOU IN A COUPLE WEEKS.

HE DID.

SO HE CALLED BACK, HE SAID, SORRY TO TAKE SO LONG, BUT YOU'RE GONNA LIKE MY EXCUSE ONE.

I DON'T NEED TO SEE, UH, WHAT AN UNUSED RAILROAD LOOKS LIKE.

DON .

AND TWO, UH, THE CORRIDOR IS NOW FROM FOR SALE, FROM MILEPOST 51 TO MILEPOST 99 5.

AND I'M GOING, WELL, THAT'S TIME MISTAKE BECAUSE IT'S MILE POST 61 TO 99 5.

AND IT'S NO MISTAKE, WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WE WANT TO NEGOTIATE WITH SOMEBODY OF MEANS.

AND PARDON ME, DR.

HYMAN, YOU'RE NOT A PERSON OF MEANS, WHICH IS WHY WE GOT THE COMMONWEALTH, UH, THE CONSERVATION FUND FOLKS.

UM, THEY DO THIS EVERY YEAR.

THEY'RE BUYING, UH, 150, $250 MILLION WORTH OF PROPERTY ON A TEMPORARY BASIS UNTIL THE STATES OR COUNTIES OR

[00:20:01]

SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

I AM GOING TO EXIT.

UM, ALL RIGHT.

UM, NEXT UPDATE, THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ROBBIE BOYER.

MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

UH, I WANNA START OUT TALKING ABOUT SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE COMPLETED, UM, AND THEN SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE ONGOING.

UH, THE FIRST PROJECT I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT WAS THE CURB AND GUTTER PROJECT AS PART OF THE PAVING PROGRAM, UH, FOR THE 10 STREETS, IT WAS 9,000 FOOT OF CURB AND GOOD CURBING GUTTER.

UH, THAT PROJECT IS NOW 100% COMPLETE, UH, HAS BEEN WRAPPED UP.

UM, THE SECOND PART OF THAT WAS THE ADDED WAS THE, UH, SOUTH COMMERCE AVENUE SIDEWALK THERE ALONG, UH, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CREEK.

UH, THAT PROJECT WILL BE WRAPPED UP NEXT WEEK.

UM, THERE'S FINISHING POURING THIS WEEK, AND THEN THERE'LL BE, UH, CLEANING UP.

UM, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT THE, UH, DRAIN, UH, ON THE ED PART THERE OF THE WEST 11TH STREET WHERE WE HAD TO GET THE RITE OF ENTRY AGREEMENT.

UM, THAT HAS ALSO BEEN WRAPPED UP.

UM, THE LAST 50 FOOT OF PIPES IN ALL THE FENCES BACK UP, EVERYTHING'S BEEN RESTORED.

UM, SO THAT IS ALSO COMPLETED.

UH, BRAXTON MANAS AVENUE WATERLINES, UM, WAS APPROVED BACK IN AUGUST.

UH, WE'VE GOTTEN THE ASSIGN CONTRACTS BACK FROM BUSHONG CONTRACTING.

UM, THE ORDER MATERIAL'S BEEN ORDERED, AND WE'RE HOPING TO START EARLY, UH, JANUARY, 2023.

UM, WE'RE FIGURING FOR BOTH STREETS ABOUT THREE MONTHS TO COMPLETE BOTH WATERLINE UPGRADES.

UH, JOHN MARSHALL HIGHWAY.

UM, THIS ONE WAS JUST APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON SEPTEMBER 26TH.

UH, WE HAVE SENT, UH, BOWMAN AND GRIFFIN THE CONTRACTS AND, UH, SHOULD BE GETTING THEM BACK ANY TIME, AND HE'S ALREADY ORDERED HIS MATERIAL.

UM, SO WE'RE JUST KIND OF WAITING TO SEE ON THAT WRAP MATERIAL.

UH, ROBIN HOOD LANG, THAT'S THE PRV VAULT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE, UH, THE END OF LAST MONTH.

UM, WE ACTUALLY TALKED TO THEM THIS MORNING, THE HATCH.

THE, UH, ROAD GRADE HATCH IS STILL ANOTHER TWO WEEKS OUT.

UM, SO ONCE THEY GET IT, WE'RE LOOKING AT NOW, IT'LL PROBABLY BE THE END OF, UH, MID TO END OF DECEMBER FOR THE DELIVERY, UH, FOR THE VAULT.

UH, ROBIN HOOD LANE IS AN OLDER PRV, I'M SORRY, RICHMOND, TIM, OURS, RICHMOND ROAD .

UM, IT'S ACTUALLY ON FOR TONIGHT'S CONSENT, UM, FOR APPROVAL.

THAT ONE, UM, IF APPROVED, UM, ONCE IT GETS ORDERED, WE'RE LOOKING AT LATE JAN, LATE JANUARY OF 2023.

THAT DOESN'T HAVE A ROGUE GRADE HATCH, SO THAT'LL BE A LOT QUICKER.

SO WE'LL PROBABLY, ACTUALLY, PROBABLY GET THAT ONE IN RIGHT AFTER THE OTHER.

UH, THE REDUNDANT ORDER LINE, UM, HAS THE PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT, AND THEN THERE'S ONE CONSENT AGENDA AFTER THAT FOR THE, UH, UH, CORRIDOR PROJECT, UH, WEST 12TH STREET.

UM, I'M STILL WORKING ON MAPPING AND, UH, SOME BID STUFF FOR THAT.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL GO OUT MID-NOVEMBER.

UM, THAT'LL BE A WORLD LINEUP UPGRADE FOR WEST 12TH BETWEEN VIRGINIA AND RURAL AVENUE.

UH, TRYING TO GET FINISHED UP, UH, PAVING THE SECONDARY AND PRIMARY PAVING, UH, WE'RE ABOUT 20, 24% DONE.

UH, WE'RE ACTUALLY HOPING HERE OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS TO GET, STEP THAT UP, UM, TO FINISH THE REST OF IT BY FIRST PART OF DECEMBER ON THOSE STREETS.

UM, THE WATER TREATMENT SCADA, WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT THAT IN A WHILE.

UM, DNR CONTROLS HAS ACTUALLY FINISHED THE SCADA.

UM, THEY'VE GOT ALL THE NEW SCREEN DESIGN.

UM, THE SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY 100% OPERATIONAL.

UM, THE ONLY THING WE'RE WAITING ON, THE TANKS AND THE PUMP STATIONS WILL HAVE, UH, RADIO BACKUPS IN CASE WE LOSE SERVICE.

SO THOSE WE'RE WAITING ON, THEY'RE ON ORDER, BUT THE, THE SCADA SYSTEM NECESSARILY IS DONE AND CAN BE USED.

UM, WE'RE FINISHING UP TRAINING THIS WEEK, UH, IN PART OF NEXT WEEK.

UH, WE TALKED ABOUT THE FRONT ROW.

A LETTER COUNCIL HAD FUNDED 50 50, 1 50 FOR SOME BEAR PROOF TRASH CANS.

UH, THOSE COME IN LAST WEEK.

UM, SO OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, WE'RE GONNA POUR SOME PADS DOWN TO LURAY AVENUE BOAT LANDING, UM, SO WE CAN PUT THEM DOWN AND SECURE 'EM DOWN TO GET THOSE IN PLACE.

UM, SO THAT'LL WRAP THAT UP.

UM, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO HAVE TALKED WITH THEM ABOUT GETTING SOME RETI RECYCLING CONTAINERS TO PUT DOWN THERE.

THERE'S, PEOPLE GATHER THE RIVER, THEY HAVE SOME PLACE TO RECYCLE HOPEFULLY THIS YEAR FROM THEM.

UH, HAPPY CREEK, I DON'T KNOW IF ANY SEEN OR NOT.

THE, UH, NOVEMBER 19TH IS GONNA BE COMMUNITY PLANT PLANTING DAY, UH, WHERE S A'S GO PUT SOME TREES BACK.

THERE WAS A FLYER.

UM, SO WE ACTUALLY STARTED TODAY, THIS WEEK AND MAYBE INTO NEXT WEEK, CLEANING UP SOME STUFF THAT NEED TO BE CLEANED UP FOR THAT ALONG THE, UH, BRUSH AND WEEDS.

SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT.

UM, AND THEN THE LAST ONE I HAVE IS THE SANITARY SEWER POINT REPAIRS, WHICH IS PART OF THE I I PROJECT.

THIS WAS THE NEXT PHASE.

UH, WE HAD A VIRTUAL PRE BID MEETING OCTOBER 13TH.

WE HAD A, A

[00:25:01]

LOT OF INTEREST FROM DIFFERENT CONTRACTORS, WHICH IS REALLY GOOD ON THE BIDS.

UH, WILL BE DUE BACK, UH, WEDNESDAY, THIS WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26TH.

UM, THIS PROJECT'S 25,000 FEET OF C I P P LINING, UM, DIFFERENT SIZE MAINS AND, UH, LINING OF 192 SEWER LATERALS IN THIS PHASE.

SO, OH.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL HELP TAKE A DENT IN THE I AND I.

UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS, UNLESS ANYBODY'S THANKS, ROBBIE.

I JUST WANNA SAY THAT I, I'VE SEEN SOME OF THE PROJECTS, THE CURB AND GUTTER AND THE PAVING, AND ESPECIALLY IN THESE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS, WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES.

GOOD.

I'M GLAD.

AND THE, THE SIDE WALL AND THE CURB UP ALONG, UH, COMMERCE, WHAT A DIFFERENCE.

YEAH, I LIKE THAT, ROBBIE.

IT REALLY LOOKS GOOD.

YEAH, EVERYTHING LOOKS GREAT.

THANK ROBBIE.

ABSOLUTELY.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I LIKE THESE UPDATES THAT YOU PROVIDE.

I THINK IT'S GOOD FOR US AND, AND EVERYBODY RIGHT ABOUT LIKE, WHAT'S GOING ON AND WHEN IS IT GONNA BE DONE.

I REALLY LIKE IT.

I HOPE WE CONTINUE BEING THESE AT LEAST TWO MORE, TWO MORE MONTHS, RIGHT? WHAT ? THANK Y'ALL.

UP NEXT, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS.

[7 A. Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rental at 30 Fairview Avenue – VESTA Property Management - Lauren Kopishke]

UP.

FIRST WE HAVE PUBLIC HEARINGS, SPECIAL USE, SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 30 FAIRVIEW AVENUE.

MS. PRES, COULD YOU READ A SUMMARY? COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT SUBMITTED BY VEST MANAGEMENT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT 30 FAIRVIEW AVENUE.

IT IS ZONED R ONE.

THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO RENT THE ENTIRE HOME.

THE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON AUGUST 25TH, 2022, AND THE APPLICANT PASSED.

THERE IS PARKING PROVIDED ON SITE FOR UP TO TWO VEHICLES.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION HELD A PUBLIC HEARING ON SEPTEMBER 21ST AND RECOMMENDED APPROVAL.

DO WE HAVE ANYBODY HERE TO SPEAK? THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN UP THE COUNSEL.

MR. MAYOR, I MOVED.

SORRY.

MR. MAYOR MAYRA MOVES THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT SUBMITTED BY VEST MANAGEMENT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT 30 FAIRVIEW AVENUE TAX MAP 28 3, SECTION FIVE WATTS 49 AND 52ND.

ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT.

HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE.

VICE MAYOR CORO? YES.

DIDN'T CLOSE THE PUBLIC CARE.

HE DIDN'T, YOU DIDN'T? YEAH.

CLOSE, CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.

NO, TINA SAID I DIDN'T, I DIDN'T.

YOU DIDN'T.

YOU JUST ASKED IF ANYBODY WANTED TO SPEAK, BUT YOU DIDN'T CLOSE IT DIDN'T CLOSE.

I DON'T KNOW.

DON'T ASK ME.

THEN I OPENED, THEN I OPENED IT UP, THEN I OPENED IT.

THEN I THOUGHT I CLOSED IT AND OPENED IT UP TO COUNSEL.

MAYBE I, MAYBE I DIDN'T.

WHEN HE OPENED UP THE PUBLIC HEARING, I MUST SAY THAT HE SCANNED THE ROOM AND NOBODY EVEN FLESHED AS THOUGH THEY WANTED TO SPEAK.

SO I WAS ASSUMING THAT WE WERE CLOSED.

AND IN YOUR DEFENSE, I YOU CLOSED IT WHEN YOU OPENED IT TO COUNSEL.

PERFECT.

THAT'S WHAT'S, THAT'S WHAT I GOT.

UH, NEXT PUBLIC HEARING, SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO, TO THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS AT 12 CHESTER STREET, MS. PRESLEY COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE A REQUEST FROM LEANDRA JUSTICE FOR A SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS OF TOWN CODE SECTIONS 1 75 DASH 1 51 E 1 48 DASH ONE 50 B6, AND 1 48 DASH EIGHT 70 FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 12 CHESTER STREET.

THANKS.

[7 B. Special Exception for Parking at 12 Chester Street – Lea Justice - Lauren Kopishke]

THE PROPERTY IS ZONE C2 AND LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC OVERLAY, DISTRICT COUNCIL APPROVED A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL FOR LEANDER JUSTICE AT THEIR SEPTEMBER 26TH, REGULAR MEETING CONTINGENT UPON THE APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO THE PARKING REQUIREMENT, LETTERS WERE SENT TO ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS INVITING THEM TO TONIGHT'S MEETING.

IN ADDITION TO THIS REQUEST, BUT NOT PART OF THE PUBLIC HEARING, LEANDER JUSTICE HAS REQUESTED A WAIVER OF THE SPECIAL EXCEPTION APPLICATION FEE OF $250.

HER REQUEST IS ATTACHED.

COUNSEL DISCUSSED THE WAIVER BRIEFLY AT THE PUBLIC HEARING HELD FOR THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT ON SEPTEMBER 26TH.

MS. JUSTICE PAID THE FEE ON SEPTEMBER 20TH.

IF COUNSEL CONSIDERS THE REFUND, IT WILL NEED TO BE TO BE ADDED TO THE MOTION FOR APPROVAL.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK? WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

ANYBODY HERE LIKE TO SPEAK? I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.

YOU MAY.

AT THIS TIME, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN UP TO COUNSEL.

MR.

[00:30:01]

MAYER.

I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, APPROVE THE REQUEST FROM LEANDRA JUSTICE FOR SPECIAL EXCEPTION TO THE PARKING REQUIREMENTS OF 10 SECTIONS.

1 75, 1 51 E 1 48 DASH ONE 50 B6, AND 1 48 DASH EIGHT 70 FOR THE SHORT TERM RENTAL.

LOCATED AT 12 CHESTER STREET TAX MAP 20 A NINE FOR DASH FOUR THREE.

FURTHER, I MOVE THAT WE WAIVE THE FEE AND REIMBURSE WHAT HAS BEEN PAID TOWARDS THE SPECIAL PERMIT FOR PARKING, MR. MAYOR BEFORE THERE'S A SECOND.

IF THE WAIVER COULD, UH, SPECIFICALLY STATE THE NEED FOR THE WAIVER, SO TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM WAVING ANY FEES FOR ANYONE.

UM, WAVING IT IN THIS PARTICULAR INSTANCE, BECAUSE WE'VE DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS PLENTY OF PARKING AROUND HER SHORT TERM RENTAL.

IS THAT SUFFICE? YES.

ANY DISCUSSION? YES, .

SO I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF THINKING ABOUT THE SHORT-TERM RENTALS.

UM, WHEN I WAS DOWN IN RICHMOND AT VML, WE DISCUSSED SHORT-TERM RENTALS THERE.

IT'S, IT'S A TOPIC EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND, UM, I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE THOUGHT WE WERE DOING SOMETHING GREAT BY PUTTING PARAMETERS AROUND IT.

AND ALL THE WAY REQUIREMENTS, JUST LIKE GOVERNMENT USUALLY DOES.

IT COMES THROUGH LIKE WE'RE DOING SOMETHING GOOD.

AND IN THE PROCESS, WE HINDERED YOU TO AN EXTENT OF WHEN YOU COULD ACTUALLY START OPERATING YOUR BUSINESS.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK MORE OF USING THIS OR HAVING THIS AS A, BY RIGHT USE WITH SOME, SOME PARAMETERS.

YOU DO SOLELY HAVE THE PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

BUT WE NEED TO REALLY BACK AWAY FROM IMPEDING ON PEOPLE'S PROPERTY RIGHTS AS I SEE THEM.

AND, UM, MOVING TOWARDS WHAT, DOING WHAT'S BEST.

AND THEY WOULD STILL COME, COULD STILL REGISTER WITH LAUREN, DO ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

WE STILL COLLECT OUR TAX REVENUE, BUT CUTTING BACK ON SOME OF THE INSPECTIONS, WHICH COST US MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE GETTING IN FROM THE DEPOSITS MONEY WE'RE SPENDING TO SEND OUT LETTERS.

AND TECHNICALLY SPEAKING THE WAY I SEE IT AS, WE CAN'T REALLY DENY ANY OF THESE SPECIAL USE PERMITS BASED ON PEOPLE COMING IN.

WE HAVE TO HAVE A LEGAL REASON, SO WE CAN'T EVEN LEGALLY SAY NO.

SO THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ALMOST LOOK LIKE, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO CALL IT.

LIKE, WE'RE TRYING TO DO THE RIGHT THING, BUT WE'RE REALLY, WE, WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING.

WE'RE DOING A LEGAL THING, BUT THE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN EXPECTING US TO MAKE GRAND CHANGES OR TO DENY THINGS THAT WE CAN'T LEGALLY DENY.

AND IF WE DO TRY TO DENY, WE'RE GONNA END UP IN SOME SORT OF BACK AND FORTH OVER PROPERTY RIGHTS.

SO THAT'S MY SPIEL FOR THE EVENING.

AND I'LL TURN, TURN IT BACK OVER TO VOTE ON THE NEXT THING.

I HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION AS WELL.

I SECOND A LOT OF WHAT LATASHA SAID.

LEAH, I'M SORRY YOU DIDN'T GET TO UTILIZE YOUR SHORT TERM RENTAL.

AND IF YOU DID LEGALLY, AT LEAST, UM, DURING THE WONDERFUL TURNOUT FOR THE FESTIVAL OF LEAVES, UH, SORRY FOR THAT HINDRANCE.

UM, MY ONLY QUESTION WAS, I KNOW NOBODY SHOWED UP TO SPEAK AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT.

DID ANY OF THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS SEND IN ANY COMMENTS, TINA? NO.

NO.

AND LAUREN AT THE PLANNING COMMISSION, DID YOU GUYS HEAR ANYTHING FROM ANY ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS? NOTHING FROM THE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNERS.

WE HAD, I THINK ONE PERSON SPEAK IN FAVOR.

THAT IT? ANYONE ELSE? MR. MAYOR? UH, JUST A SHORT COMMENT.

I'VE, UH, WATCHED THAT STRUCTURE OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND, UH, YOUR HUSBAND, JIM, AND YOURSELF, DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF BRINGING THAT STRUCTURE, UH, TO A POINT WHERE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A REAL ASSET, UH, IN OUR, UH, COMMUNITY, UH, AND A REAL ASSET TO, UH, TO TOURISM, UH, WHICH IS IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.

UH, I COMMEND YOU AND I COMMEND A COUNCIL.

UH, THANK YOU.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

CAN I HAVE A ROLL CALL, PLEASE? VICE MECO ROLL.

HEY, WHO PASSES? CONGRATULATIONS.

WE OPERATE YOUR BUSINESS.

TO TELCO, SECTION 1 42 DASH 4.1 A PERTAINING TO SNOW AND ICE ON SIDEWALKS.

UP NEXT, PROPOSE AMENDMENTS

[7 C. Proposed Ordinance Amendments to Town Code Chapter 142-4.1 – Snow and Ice on Sidewalks – Kathy Leidich]

MS. PRESLEY COUNSELS REQUESTED TO APPROVE ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS TO TOWN CODE SECTION 1 42 DASH 4.1 A TO ADD THE WORD RESIDENTIAL AND REMOVE THE SENTENCE, IF THE ICE OR SNOW FORMS ARE FALLS DURING THE NIGHT OR IN A OR ON A SUNDAY, IT SHALL BE REMOVED BY NOON THE FOLLOWING DAY AS PRESENTED.

WEST MAIN STREET, FRONT ROYAL, THE ONLY COMMENT THAT I HAVE IS IF WE GET MORE THAN SIX INCHES OF SNOW, TYPICALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS, UH, AND IT'S NOT, NOT BECAUSE, UH, THE, THE TOWN, UH, PLOW DRIVERS WANT TO, UH, COVER UP THE SIDEWALKS AGAIN.

THIS TIME I'D LIKE TO OPEN A PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYONE HERE TO SPEAK? ANYONE HERE, COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR US? UH, BRUCE RAPPAPORT, 300

[00:35:01]

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IS THEY COME DOWNHILLS AND THEY PUSH THE SNOW OVER.

AND RESIDENTS TEND, YOU KNOW, THEY DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, THEY, THEY CLEAN IT, BUT THEN THEY COME BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND DO IT AGAIN.

AND IT FREEZES OVERNIGHT, AND THEN YOU HAVE ICE.

AND IT, UH, THAT, THAT IS ONE CONCERN, UH, THAT, THAT I HAVE ABOUT IT.

SO, UH, WE GET ON AVERAGE ABOUT EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW A YEAR, UH, EVEN THOUGH WE GET HIT WITH MAYBE A 15, 20 INCH SNOW AT ONE TIME.

BUT, UM, I'M JUST THINKING ABOUT THE OLDER PEOPLE, UH, YOU KNOW, THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO IT.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND THE COMMUNITY IN GENERAL, I WOULD SAY ONLY ABOUT 30% OF THE TOWN HAS SIDEWALKS.

THE REST OF IT YOU DON'T.

SO YOU'RE, YOU'RE SINGLING OUT INDIVIDUALS.

SO, YOU KNOW, I'M QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT YOU REALLY NEED TO MOVE ON THIS.

THAT'S ALL.

THANK, THANK YOU, BRUCE.

I AGREE WITH YOU, BY THE WAY.

ANYONE ELSE? MR. MAYOR? JUSTICE, ONCE, I'M SORRY.

SORRY, SKIP.

I'M GONNA, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I OPEN UP TO COUNSEL.

THEN YOU CAN COMMENT ON .

COUNSEL, APPROVE THE ORDINANCE.

THIS TIME I CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN UP TO COUNSEL.

MR. MAYOR, UH, WE NEED A MOTION.

NEED A MOTION? WE NEED A MOTION.

MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT.

AMENDMENT, THE TOWN CODE SECTION 4 1 42 DASH 4.1 POINT A TO ADD THE WORD RESIDENTIAL AND REMOVE SENTENCE IF THE ICE OR SNOW FORMS OR FALLS DURING THE NIGHT OR ON A SUNDAY, IT SHALL BE REMOVED BY NOON THE FOLLOWING DAY AS PRESENTED.

HAVE A SECOND IN DISCUSSION.

BE A GOOD RESIDENT AND TRY TO DO YOUR PART.

SKIP .

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

AND COUNSEL, UH, JUST TO COMMENT, BRUCE, I THINK YOU'RE SPOT ON IN YOUR, IN YOUR COMMENT, I WOULD HOPE THAT, UH, THE TOWN LOOKS, UH, UM, SYMPATHETICALLY WHEN WE HAVE HEAVY SNOWS, UH, AND ESPECIALLY IN THOSE AREAS WHERE THERE ARE ELDERLY, UH, THAT, UH, ACTION IS NOT TAKEN.

UH, I WOULD NOT WANT THIS TO, UH, TO LOOK POORLY, UH, ON THIS COUNCIL.

UH, SO I, I APPRECIATE YOUR COMMENTS.

THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR.

I HAVE DISCUSSION.

MAYOR.

UM, SO BRUCE, I ECHO SOME OF YOUR SENTIMENTS.

WE'VE DISCUSSED THIS AT GREAT LENGTH AND WORK SESSIONS.

UM, PART OF THIS IS TO INFORM RESIDENTS OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OF THEIR SIDEWALKS.

UM, AS MANY OF YOU CAN LOOK AROUND THE TOWN OF FRONT OIL AND SEE BY THE, UM, OVERGROWN GRASS THAT'S NOT BEING ENFORCED, UM, WE DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO ENFORCE IT OR THE MANPOWER RIGHT NOW.

UH, ONE OF MY BIGGEST CONCERNS WHEN THIS CAME FORWARD IS, AND WAS AND CONTINUES TO BE, UM, THE ELDERLY RESIDENTS WHO DON'T LIVE OUTSIDE OF THERE, BUT USE THESE SIDEWALKS AS A MEANS OF, UM, TRANSPORTATION.

SO WE HAD SOMEBODY COME BEFORE US EARLIER THIS YEAR WHO HELPED AN ELDERLY MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR WHO WAS GETTING TO THE GROCERY STORE, WHO WAS STUCK IN THE SNOW AND ICE ON A RESIDENTIAL SIDEWALK.

UM, AND HAD SOMEONE NOT CAME ALONG AND STOPPED TO HELP HIM, HE MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN.

UH, WHEN I MOVED TO THE TOWN LIMITS OF FRONT ROYAL BEING A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF WARREN COUNTY, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO MOW THAT LITTLE STRIP OF GRASS OR, OR PLOW THE SNOW OUT THERE EITHER.

SO, UM, I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE LOOKING TO GO OUT AND, UM, HARASS PEOPLE OVER THE SNOW.

AND I DON'T THINK THAT THE TOWN STAFF ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SOMEBODY WHO HAS PUT EFFORT IN AND THEN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, IT'S BEEN COVERED.

AGAIN, IT LOOKS A LOT DIFFERENTLY.

UM, AND THEN MY NEXT BIGGEST THING WAS CHILDREN USE IT FOR SCHOOL.

UM, SO IF YOU LOOK BETWEEN SKYLINE MIDDLE AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, THE LIMITED SIDEWALKS THAT THERE ARE, UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE KIDS THROUGHOUT THOSE AREAS, THEY'RE WALKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD IN THE WINTER TIME, ESPECIALLY ON TWO HOUR DELAYS.

AND IT'S EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

AND THEY'RE GETTING COVERED BY SLUSH SPEAKING OF AS A MOTHER WHO'S, YOU KNOW, MIDDLE SCHOOLER WALKS.

UM, SO I THINK THIS IS MORE OF, UM, YOU KNOW, BE MINDFUL AND

[00:40:01]

IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE, WE'RE NOT COMING TO, YOU KNOW, BILL, YOU, WE REALLY PROBABLY DON'T EVEN HAVE THE STAFF TO DO IT ANYWAYS.

, IT'S FLY.

THAT'S WHO I AM.

I WANT TO COMMENT MORE, MR. MAYOR.

I, UM, IT'S MORE OF A SUGGESTION AND A GUIDELINE THAN AN ABSOLUTE.

THIS IS THE LAW AND WE'RE GONNA COME AND WE'RE GONNA TICKET YOU AND THAT KIND OF THING.

UM, AND IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE MOSTLY COMPLAINT BASED AT THIS JUNCTURE, JUST KIND OF LIKE HOW THE HIGH GRASS IS, RIGHT? SOMEBODY COMPLAINS AND THEN THEY COME OUT AND THEN THERE'S AN ISSUE.

UNTIL THEN, IT'S NOT AN ISSUE.

AND I DO HAVE A LOT OF SYMPATHY FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE WALKING AND HAVING TO USE SIDEWALKS, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE THAT, RIGHT? WITH THE ELDERLY PERSON OR THE DISABLED PERSON, OR SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT NOT EVEN BE ABLE TO AFFORD A SHOVEL.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE SITUATION IS, BUT WE HAVE TO BALANCE OUT THOSE THINGS.

AND THIS IS JUST KIND OF SAYING, THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO IF YOU CAN DO IT.

UM, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T, IT'S NOT GONNA BE LIKE A HAMMER.

SO, MR. MAYOR, UM, I JUST GOT THE COMMENT TO MAKE, UM, AS A, SOME OF YOU PEOPLE HERE KNOW, YOU KNOW, MY WIFE RUNS A, UM, A GROUP FOR SPECIAL NEEDS AND THEY DO CHIMES AND, UM, SHE HAS A CHIME THAT, UM, WE TAKE THE TROLLEY, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HER CHI'S PRACTICE.

UM, BUT BY THE TIME IT WAS OVER, THE TROLLEY HAD STOPPED RUNNING.

SO SHE HAS A PIRATED WHEELCHAIR, AND, UM, SHE COULD NOT USE THE SIDEWALKS AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO IN THE ROAD BECAUSE OF THE SIDEWALKS NOT BEING CLEAR.

UM, THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER, WHETHER IT BE CHILDREN, WHETHER IT BE PEOPLE TRYING TO ACCESS THE, THE SIDEWALKS SYSTEM THAT WE DO HAVE, I RECOGNIZE WE'RE LACKING IN A LOT OF AREAS WHEN IT COMES TO SIDEWALKS.

AND THIS COUNCIL IS MAKING A STRONG EFFORT TO FIX THAT.

I MEAN, LET'S BE HONEST, THAT'S THE REASON WE PAY TAXES, YOU KNOW, UM, OUR POLICE, OUR EMPLOYEES, AND THE STREETS AND SIDEWALKS.

THAT'S THAT.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE HERE FOR.

AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE ARE MAKING A, A HUGE STRIDE AND, UM, WE WE'RE GONNA DO BETTER AND KEEP TACKLING IT.

SO THAT'S MY ON THIS, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS.

EVERY SINGLE COUNCIL MEMBER UP HERE THAT NIGHT WHEN WE DISCUSSED THIS SAID THAT, YOU KNOW, WE, WE, WE DIDN'T WANT, YOU KNOW, SENIOR CITIZENS BEING PUNISHED IN ANY WAY ON THIS.

AGAIN, IT'S MORE OF A REMINDER AND, AND JUST TO SAY, LOOK, YOU KNOW, IT, IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

SO THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

MR. MAYER.

WERE YOU ZACH, MR. MAYER? UM, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU, AMBER, FOR GIVING THE BACKGROUND ON IT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT, UM, IT ACTUALLY JUST CAME TO LIGHT WITH COUNCIL, I BELIEVE IT WAS JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR WHEN SOMEBODY CAME, MAYBE IT WAS MARCH AFTER ONE OF THE SNOWS.

UM, NO.

DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT MONTH IT WAS, RIGHT? NO.

THERE WAS A GENTLEMAN THAT CAME, THEY CAME, HE CAME TO MULTIPLE MEETINGS, YEAH, THIS YEAR AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

UM, BUT, AND, AND WHAT HAD HAPPENED IS WE'D HAD A BIG SNOW AND THEN IT WAS REALLY COLD AND THEY COULDN'T GET UP.

AND, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW HOW THAT GOES.

WE LIVE IN THIS AREA.

UM, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT BUSINESSES AND THAT RESIDENTIAL NEEDED TO BE ADDED.

UM, I, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES WHERE I SEE BOTH SIDES OF THIS ISSUE.

LIKE, UM, YOU WANT OUR SIDEWALKS TO BE CLEARED SO THAT OUR CHILDREN AND, AND THOSE WHO HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES OR ANYBODY COULD USE THEM.

BUT YOU ALSO, YOU KNOW, DON'T WANT AN ELDERLY PERSON OUT SHOVELING THE WALK AND, AND FALL OR SOME, UM, BREAK A HIP AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ALTHOUGH, HONESTLY, I'M REACHING AN AGE WHERE I DON'T WANNA FALL BREAK A HIP .

UM, BUT, UH, THE ONE THING I, I JUST WANNA MAKE A COMMENT.

WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS IN WORK SESSION, WE ALL KIND OF AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE MORE OF A COMPLAINT BASED.

AND AS AMBER SAID, WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE STAFF TO COME AND SHOVEL YOUR SIDEWALK AND FIND YOU.

SO I KNOW, UM, SOMETIMES I FIND IT ANNOYING WHEN WE, IF WE HAVE AN ORDINANCE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO, TO ENFORCE IT.

YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF, WHY ARE WE HAVING IT? SO, UM, BUT I, I'M, I'M GONNA GO WITH WHAT GARY SAID.

IT IS A REMINDER, IT IS LETTING PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS WHAT WE'D LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN.

UM, AND HOPEFULLY IF, IF WE HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS, MAYBE WE CAN GET OUT THERE AND HELP PEOPLE.

UM, SO, AND BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

AND I WAS JUST GONNA ADD TO THAT, THAT THIS ISN'T A NEW TOWN CODE SECTION.

HOWEVER, THERE MAY COME A TIME WHERE THERE IS SOMEBODY WHO'S HABITUALLY NOT CLEANING OFF SIDEWALKS WHERE CHILDREN COULD LIKELY BECOME INJURED.

, THIS IS AN AMENDMENT TO AN EXISTING PORTION OF THE TOWN CODE.

AND I SECOND THAT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE CODE THAT WE DON'T ENFORCE.

[00:45:01]

AND THEN AT THAT POINT WE MIGHT HAVE THE STAFF TO GO OUT THERE AND SHOVEL IT.

SO, UM, IT'S HOUSEKEEPING.

SO, I, I KNOW THIS IS, THIS IS QUITE, QUITE A, QUITE A DIFFERENCE FROM HIGH GRASS AND LAUREN.

SO WE SEND A LETTER, WHICH BY THE TIME MOST WILL BE MELTED BY THE TIME THEY GET THEIR LETTER.

SO IF WE DO HAVE A COLD SPILL, THEY HAVE HOW LONG TO TAKE CARE OF IT.

AS OF RIGHT NOW, I BELIEVE IT'S 24 TO 48 HOURS.

RIGHT.

UM, BUT SO IN THE PAST, IF IT'S, THERE'S BEEN LIKE AN EGREGIOUS, LIKE THEY'RE NOT SHOVELING AND IT'S COMPLETELY ICED OVER, CODE ENFORCEMENT HAS GONE OUT AND WE'VE PUT DOOR HANGERS AND WE HAVE DOOR HANGERS IN THE OFFICE NOW THAT WE CAN PUT ON THE, UH, DOOR AND, AND CITE THEM.

SO LET'S SAY WE HAVE A COLD SPELL AND, AND FIVE DAYS GOES BY AND NOTHING'S BEEN DONE.

SO THEN WHAT? WE CAN GO PUT THE DOOR HANGER ON THERE.

WE CAN, UM, WE CAN KNOCK ON THE DOOR.

UM, BUT OTHERWISE WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO PROBABLY HAVE PUBLIC WORKS.

AND IF THEY GET A MR. MAYOR.

UM, ACTUALLY SECTION B OF 1 42, UM, DASH 4.1 SAYS IF ANY TIME THE TOWN MANAGER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE SHALL FIND THAT ANY SUCH PROPERTY OWNER HAS NOT REMOVED THE SNOW OR ICE PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION, THE TOWN MANAGER OR HIS OR HER, UH, DESIGNEE SHALL GIVE NOTICE IN WRITING TO SUCH OWNER OR OCCUPANT TO REMOVE THE SNOW AND OR ICE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME, NOT TO EXCEED SIX HOURS AFTER GIVING SUCH NOTICE.

SO THERE IS A TIMEFRAME, OKAY? ONCE NOTICE HAS BEEN GIVEN, YOU HAVE DISCRETION.

SO WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON'T DO IT? UM, ACTUALLY UNDER C THEN THE TOWN MANAGER MAY CAUSE SUCH SNOW AT THE TOWN.

MANAGER'S DISCRETION MAY CAUSE SNOW AND OR ICE TO BE REMOVED, AND THE EXPENSE THEREOF SHALL BE CHARGED TO SUCH OWNER OR OCCUPANT TO BE COLLECTED IN THE SAME MANNER AS COUNTY TAXES OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER AUTHORIZED BY LAW.

MAY I ALSO ADD, THOUGH, AFTER THE PART THAT SAYS THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER ICE HAS FORMED, OR SNOW IS CEASED TO FALL, THERE IS ANOTHER LINE THAT SAYS SAND OR OTHER ABRASIVES MAY BE APPLIED TO ICE TO ESTABLISH TRACTION IF REMOVAL IS NOT FEASIBLE.

SO MAYBE LIKE THOSE SITUATIONS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, IT'S JUST TOTALLY FROZEN AND NOT, THERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS.

KATHLEEN JUST BROUGHT UP A GOOD POINT THOUGH.

WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO CATCH THINGS AS WE DO ORDINANCES TO HAVE HIS OR HER.

AND IT JUST DAWNED ON ME WE DIDN'T REALLY CATCH THAT.

NOPE.

ON THIS ONE, I DON'T, I DON'T THINK IT NEEDS TO.

AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO REITERATE, YOU ALREADY HAVE DOOR HANGERS IN THE ZONING DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT'S PREEXISTING.

AND SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL SPACES THAT THIS CODE ALREADY COVERED ARE IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.

SO MY HOUSE WAS NEXT DOOR TO A COMMERCIAL MIXED USE HOUSE, AND HE HAD TO, HE WAS REQUIRED AND ENFORCED TO SHOVEL TO MY PORTION OF THE SIDEWALK.

AND THIS IS JUST SAYING, HEY, YOU SHOULD SHOVEL YOUR PORTION OF THE SIDEWALK IF YOU'RE ABLE TO AS WELL.

DID YOU? WHEN I LEARNED THAT I HAD TO AND MOVED OUT, I MOVED HERE FROM THE COUNTRY.

UH, MR. MAYOR, I COULD JUST SAY ONE THING.

UM, SO OBVIOUSLY BEING BORN AND RAISED HERE, UH, I'VE SEEN THE SAME PEOPLE WALK DAY IN AND DAY OUT, AND I THINK IT'S IMPERATIVE THAT WE MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET WHERE THEY'RE GOING FOR THEIR BASIC NECESSITIES HAVE A ROUTE TO DO SO.

SO I THINK THIS IS A GOOD THING.

UM, I DEFINITELY DON'T THINK IT'S, UH, A SNOW TASK FORCE FOR THE ELDERLY .

UM, I DON'T, I DON'T, I MEAN, I CAN SEE HOW, UH, IT LOOKS LIKE WE'RE SINGLING INDIVIDUALS OUT, BUT YOU KNOW, WITH ORDINANCES LIKE THESE, IT IS A COMPLAINT BASIS.

AND I THINK LOOKING AT THIS WITH, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE, LIKE KATHLEEN SAID, TOWN MANAGER DISCRETION, I THINK THIS HAS SOME, SOME LEEWAY, YOU KNOW, AND TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT CERTAIN ELDERLY CITIZENS ARE DEALING WITH AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GO IN AND HELP IN OTHER WAYS.

SO, YEAH, THAT'S IT.

MS. PRESLEY, CAN WE HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE? VICE MAYOR CORO? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN ROGERS? YES.

UP NEXT PUBLIC HEARING ON FY 23 BUDGET AMENDMENT RESOLUTION, WATERLINE AND INFLOW INFILTRATION OF STORM WATER ABATEMENT, MS. PRESLEY COUNCILS REQUESTED TO APPROVE A FY 23 BUDGET AMENDMENT TO LINK $28,174,904 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWN'S REDUNDANT WATERLINE FOR THE ROUTE 5 22 CORRIDOR.

[7 D. FY23 Budget Amendment for Route 522 North Corridor Redundant Waterline and Inflow/Infiltration Storm Water Abatement – BJ Wilson]

AND THE, AND FOR THE INFLOW IN INFILTRATION

[00:50:01]

IN I ABATEMENT OF STORM WATER PROJECTS, THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT WILL ALLOCATE THE REMAINING FUNDS THAT THE TOWN HAS RECEIVED FROM THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT OR APA.

THE TOWN RECEIVED A TOTAL OF $15,851,180 FROM ARPA.

ON OCTOBER 25TH, 2021, THE TOWN ALLOCATED $2,052,087 AND 98 CENTS OF THE ARPA FUNDS TO URGENT SANITARY SEWER POINT REPAIRS, WHICH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED LEAVING A REMAINING BALANCE OF $13,799,092 AND 2 CENTS IN FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE ARPA.

THIS FY 23 BUDGET AMENDMENT BEING PRESENTED TO COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE $3,500,000 IN FUNDS FROM THE VIRGINIA ELECTRIC POWER VCO TRADING AS DOMINION POWER FOR REDUNDANT WATERLINE.

ALLOCATE THE REMAINING $13,799,092 AND 2 CENTS.

ARPA FUNDS AUTHORIZE THE USE OF $5,249,314.

WATER FUND BALANCE RESERVES AUTHORIZE THE USE OF $5,626,497 AND 98 CENTS.

AND SEWER FUND BALANCE RESERVES ALLOW THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE REDUNDANT WATER LINE ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR ESTIMATED AMOUNTS OF REMAINING IN I ABATEMENT PROJECTS APPROVING THIS BUDGET AMENDMENT AS PRESENTED WILL PREVENT THE TOWN FROM HOLDING MULTIPLE PUBLIC HEARINGS IN THE FUTURE.

AT THIS TIME, I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE I'D LIKE TO SPEAK? THIS TIME I CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN UP TO COUNCIL.

MR. MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE AN FY 23 BUDGET AMENDMENT TOTALLING $28,174,904 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TOWN'S REDUNDANT WATER LINE FOR THE 5 22 CORRIDOR AND FOR THE INFLOW AND INFILTRATION, I AND I ABATEMENT OF STORM WATER PROJECTS.

SECOND IN DISCUSSION.

NO, MR. PRES WAS WORLD CALL POLICE.

VICE MAYOR CORO? YES.

COUNCILMAN THOMPSON? YES.

REPORT TO TELL MANAGER UPDATE ON RECENT ELECTORAL ALLERGIES, THE RECOGNITION FINANCE DEPARTMENT FOR YOUR AWARD.

UP NEXT PUBLIC COMMENTS.

IS ANYBODY HERE TO SIGN UP TO SPEAK? NO ONE SIGNED UP.

ANYBODY HERE LIKE TO SPEAK ? ALL RIGHT, MOVING ON.

[9A. Report of Town Manager]

UH, YES THIS EVENING, UH, MS. LYNN IS HERE FROM THE ENERGY SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE AN UPDATE.

UM, I DON'T BELIEVE IT WAS A TREE THIS TIME.

GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNSEL.

UM, SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT SOME LARGE SCALE POWER OUTAGES THAT WE HAD AT THE BEGINNING OF OCTOBER.

UM, I THOUGHT I WOULD SORT OF GO OVER WHAT HAPPENED AND THEN COVER SOME OTHER THINGS THAT WERE SORT OF WORKING THROUGH AND THEN, UM, ALSO DISCUSS THE THINGS THAT WE ARE IMPLEMENTING AND DOING TO IMPROVE.

SO ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1ST, IF YOU ALL REMEMBER THIS WAS, UM, DURING THE TIME WHEN HURRICANE IAN WAS COMING UP THE COAST AND IT WAS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR EVERYONE.

UM, AT ABOUT 3:38 AM IN THE MORNING, WE GOT A CALL THAT WE HAD A LARGE POWER OUTAGE, UM, THAT AFFECTED 1,478 HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

SO OUR ENTIRE LINE CREW WAS ACTUALLY ABLE TO REPORT TO THE SCENE AND THEY DISCOVERED THAT, UM, RAPPAHANNOCK ELECTRIC HAD ACTUALLY DROPPED THE TRANSMISSION TO OUR ENTIRE SPRINT SUBSTATION.

SO UNFORTUNATELY THAT MEANS IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE CAN JUST GO IN THERE AND FIX RIGHT AWAY, UM, BECAUSE WE ARE RELIANT ON THEM TO FIX THEIR TRANSMISSION LINE.

I BELIEVE THEY HAD A TREE COME DOWN.

UM, SO WHAT WE DO IN AN EFFORT TO KIND OF MINIMIZE THE OUTAGE TIME IS WE THEN START, UM, SHIFTING PEOPLE OR HOMES AND BUSINESSES OVER TO OTHER SUBSTATIONS.

SO BY 5:56 AM THEY WERE ABLE TO GET 226 RESIDENTS BACK ON.

UM, AND THEN THE REMAINDER WERE NOT BACK ON UNTIL 7:00 AM AT WHICH TIME RAPPAHANNOCK HAD ACTUALLY FIXED THEIR PROBLEM.

SO THEN AT 10:12 PM UM, THAT VERY SAME DAY, WE GOT TO DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

UM, I FELT REALLY BAD FOR OUR LINE CREW IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION CUZ THEY GOT UP REALLY EARLY AND I IMAGINE UNLESS THEY GOT TO TAKE A NAP, THEY WERE READY FOR BED RIGHT AROUND 10:00 PM UM, AND GOT THAT CALL AT 10 12 OF COURSE.

SO IT WAS THE SAME EXACT ISSUE.

[00:55:01]

I THINK THEY HAD A PROBLEM WITH A CONNECTOR OR A SLEEVE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

UM, BUT IT WAS THE SAME EXACT RESIDENTS THAT WERE AFFECTED 1,478 HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

SO BY 11:34 PM THAT TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO GET THE SPRINT, UM, SUBSTATION CIRCUITS THREE AND FOUR, WHICH WOULD EQUAL 578 HOMES AND BUSINESSES BACK UP.

BY 1152 WE WERE ABLE TO GET CIRCUITS ONE AND TWO.

THAT'S 226 HOMES AND BUSINESSES BACK UP.

AND THEN THEY RAN INTO SEVERAL PROBLEMS. UM, WE HAD KENDRICK SUBSTATION CIRCUIT TWO TIED INTO OUR SPRINT SUBSTATION AT THAT TIME, AND I'LL GO OVER WHY IN JUST A MINUTE.

BUT THOSE 674 HOMES AND BUSINESSES WERE NOT RESTORED UNTIL 2:33 AM UH, WE HEARD THAT RAPPAHANNOCK DIDN'T HAVE THE LINE FIXED THAT MORNING UNTIL ABOUT FOUR 30 OR FIVE.

SO I MEAN, GREAT.

WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET EVERYBODY BACK UP AT LEAST TWO HOURS SOONER.

UM, SO WHY WAS KENDRICK SUBSTATION CIRCUIT NUMBER TWO TIED INTO THE SPRINT SUBSTATION? I'M SURE YOU'RE DYING TO KNOW.

UM, SO A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, I'LL JUST BACK UP.

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO DURING OUR ROUTINE SUBSTATION INSPECTIONS, WE ACTUALLY DISCOVERED A SIGNIFICANT OIL LEAK AT ONE OF THE POWER TRANSFORMERS AT OUR KENDRICK SUBSTATION.

AND IF YOU'LL REMEMBER, AT YOUR JULY MEETING, YOU GUYS ACTUALLY APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF A NEW POWER TRANSFORMER TO REPLACE THIS ONE.

UM, THAT HAS A LEAD TIME OF 48 WEEKS.

SO WE WILL NOT ACTUALLY GET THAT UNTIL AUGUST.

WE ARE WORKING TO, SO WE HAD SOMEONE COME OUT TO REPLACE THE LOAD SIDE BUSHING AND GET IT BACK INTO OPERATION.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN THEY DID THAT, THEY ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE HIGH SIDE BUSHING WAS BAD.

SO WE'RE BACK WAITING FOR THEM TO COME BACK.

WE HAVE TO ORDER THE BUSHING.

IT TAKES 12 WEEKS TO GET, BUT THE GOAL IS TO HAVE IT OPERATIONAL BEFORE WINTER, WHICH IS OUR PEAK LOAD SEASON.

UM, OKAY, SO FAST FORWARD NINE DAYS AFTER THOSE TWO OUTAGES, UM, WHICH WAS ON OCTOBER 10TH AND THAT WAS COLUMBUS DAY.

SO WE WERE NOT WORKING THAT DAY.

UM, AT 9:49 AM WE EXPERIENCED ANOTHER LARGE POWER OUTAGE.

THIS TIME IT AFFECTED THE KENDRICK SUBSTATION.

AT THAT TIME, THE KENDRICK CIRCUIT NUMBER TWO, WHICH WAS AFFECTED DURING THE FIRST TWO OUTAGES WAS TIED BACK INTO THE KENDRICK SUBSTATION.

SO THOSE 674 HOMES AND BUSINESSES GOT TO EXPERIENCE ALL THREE OF THESE POWER OUTAGES, WHICH I'M SURE IS WHERE A LOT OF THESE QUESTIONS ARE COMING FROM.

UM, THAT WHEN WAS ACTUALLY CAUSED BY A SQUIRREL, BELIEVE IT OR NOT.

UM, THAT SQUIRREL, HE GOT RIGHT ON THE EXACT WRONG SPOT WHERE WE DON'T WANT HIM TO GO.

HE GOT ON AN INSULATOR RIGHT THERE AT THE DOUBLE CIRCUIT POLE LINE THAT FEEDS INTO THE KENDRICK SUBSTATION.

AND JUST THE WAY THAT THE SYSTEM PROTECTS ITSELF IN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THAT IS IT'LL JUST LOCK US COMPLETELY OUT OF THE SUBSTATION.

BUT TRAFFIC WAS REALLY BAD THAT DAY AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO THE LINE CREW CUZ THEY WERE ABLE, AGAIN, THE ENTIRE LINE CREW CAME IN AND THEY WERE THERE WITHIN 30 MINUTES AND THEN THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE POWER BACK ON, UM, 30 MINUTES AFTER THAT.

SO IT WAS A TOTAL OF ONE HOUR POWER OUTAGE THAT DAY, WHICH IS NOT BAD SINCE WE WEREN'T ACTUALLY WORKING, THEY WERE HOME.

UM, OKAY, SO A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT WE LEARNED THROUGH THIS PROCESS.

WE, UH, THE QUESTION CAME UP ABOUT USING THE NON-EMERGENCY POLICE PHONE NUMBER.

UM, AND HOW WHEN WE HAVE THESE WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES, IT JUST BOGS THEM DOWN AND THEY CAN'T GET OTHER EMERGENCIES, CAN'T GET THROUGH.

SO THE CHIEF AND KATHY AND I GOT TOGETHER AND THE CHIEF HAD A GREAT IDEA TO, UM, PUT OUT A, AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE.

SO WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, WHICH I WILL NOTE, WIDESPREAD POWER OUTAGES LIKE THIS ARE RARE.

THEY DON'T HAPPEN THAT OFTEN.

UM, BUT WHEN THAT DOES HAPPEN, THE DISPATCH CREW WILL BE ABLE TO JUST HIT SOME BUTTONS AND IT'LL CHANGE THEIR MESSAGE WHEN YOU CALL IN TO JUST LET YOU KNOW, HEY, WE'RE AWARE OF THIS POWER OUTAGE AND WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

UM, PLEASE STAY ON THE LINE IF YOU'RE CALLING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE JUST TO TRY AND FUNNEL THOSE EMERGENCIES THROUGH.

IT ALSO MENTIONS IN THERE TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE BECAUSE THE OTHER THING THAT WE ARE, UM, WORKING TO DO IS REALLY FOCUS ON OUR EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM AND TRYING TO EDUCATE FOLKS THAT THAT'S GONNA BE YOUR BEST AND FASTEST WAY TO FIND OUT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH POWER OUTAGES.

UM, YOU KNOW, WE'LL IT'S, I'M GOING TO DO A BETTER JOB OF TRYING TO UPDATE THOSE ALERTS AS WELL.

UM, IF THERE ARE UPDATES, SOMETIMES WE DON'T HAVE REAL

[01:00:01]

TIME UPDATES BECAUSE IF IT'S AN EASY FIX, THE LINE CREW'S NOT GONNA STOP WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO CALL IN AND LET YOU KNOW THEY'RE JUST GONNA FIX IT.

AND, AND THAT'S MY PREFERENCE.

UM, AND HOPEFULLY EVERYONE ELSE'S TOO.

UM, SO A COUPLE THINGS WITH FOCUSING ON THE EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM.

LIZZIE ACTUALLY HAD THE GREAT IDEA TO HAVE A POPUP WINDOW COME UP ON OUR WEBSITE.

SO IF YOU VISITED OUR WEBSITE IN THE PAST COUPLE DAYS, THERE'S THIS POPUP WINDOW THAT COMES IN AND IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS AND PUBLIC NOTICES TO FIND OUT ABOUT UTILITY OUTAGES, STREET CLOSURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT BECAUSE WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT SIGN UP FOR THOSE THINGS.

UM, I WOULD RECOMMEND IF COUNCIL, IF YOU ARE NOT THAT YOU SHOULD, AND IF PEOPLE ASK YOU ABOUT OUTAGES OR THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT'D BE A GREAT PLACE TO POINT THEM AND JUST SAY, HERE'S THE FASTEST WAY TO GET THE INFORMATION.

CUZ THAT'S GONNA BE OUR PRIORITY IS TO PUT IT OUT THERE FIRST.

I THINK THAT'S IT.

DOES ANYONE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR ME? I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ABOUT THAT, THAT, UM, CUZ I'VE SIGNED UP FOR IT.

SO I GET A TEXT MM-HMM.

I GET AN, AN EMAIL.

UM, ALSO THE FACEBOOK PAGE AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND IT IS JOHNNY ON THE SPOT.

BOOM.

LIKE THIS MINUTE BEFORE I EVEN HAD A CHANCE TO THINK ABOUT IT, IT WAS ALREADY, UM, POPPING UP AND I DID NOTICE THIS WEEK, UM, WELL TODAY'S MONDAY, SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE, ANYWAY, ANYWAY, IN THE COMMUNITY SECTION OF THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA DAILY, I NOTICED ANOTHER, LIKE, I WON'T SAY ADVERTISEMENT, BUT AN INFORMATIONAL BLURB SAYING YOU CAN SIGN UP FOR THESE.

SO I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO JUST KEEP PUSHING THAT MESSAGE.

IN, YOU KNOW, IN THE, IN THE NEWSLETTER WITH THE ELECTRIC BILL.

EVERY CHANCE WE GET, SIGN UP FOR THIS, SIGN UP FOR THIS.

UM, AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I, I, I KNOW ALL THE STUFF THAT'S COMING UP THAT ARE THE TEXTS ABOUT VACANCIES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT THAT INFORMATION WAS QUICK AND FAST AND I, AND I JUST THINK PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.

I MEAN, I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW ABOUT IT, SO I GOT ON COUNCIL AND I LIVED HERE MY LIFE, SO, AND SURPRISINGLY WE DO PUT IT IN EVERY NEWSLETTER.

UM, WE HAVE, UH, FACEBOOK, WE, WE'VE BEEN PUTTING IT MAYBE TWICE A MONTH ON FACEBOOK AT LEAST.

AND SO JUST TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT THERE, BUT I THINK WORD OF MOUTH IS ONE OF THE BEST WAYS.

SO I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT AND THANK YOU.

THAT WAS THE MOST DETAILED REPORT I'VE EVER HAD ABOUT WHY THE ELECTRICITY WENT OUT AND IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WAS THAT WIDESPREAD.

SOME PEOPLE EXPERIENCED IT THREE TIMES.

AND, UM, SO IT'S VERY THOROUGH AND I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALSO TOOK THE TIME TO DO LIKE A LESSONS LEARNED.

, WHAT WE'RE DOING TO IMPROVE THAT.

YOU MET WITH THE RIGHT STAKEHOLDERS TO DETERMINE THE BEST ROUTE, WHICH IS THAT AUTOMATED MESSAGING IN THE POP-UP WINDOW.

SO, GOOD JOB.

THANKS, MARY ELLEN.

UM, I JUST HAVE, UH, A, A QUESTION.

THANK YOU GUYS FOR ALL Y'ALL'S HARD WORK, BUT, UH, AND PARDON MY IGNORANCE WHEN IT IT COMES TO THIS, CAUSE I'M A PLUMBER BY TREE AND, YOU KNOW, PLUMBING AND ELECTRIC, THEY JUST, YOU KNOW, SO, SO HERE, HERE, SO HERE'S MY GOOFY QUESTION.

, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, UM, TO PUT LIKE GUARDS OR, OR MM-HMM.

OR SOMETHING AROUND THESE PLACES THAT ARE IN HIGH TRAFFIC? WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT HIGH TRAFFIC, BUT SCROLL TRAFFIC HIGH, HIGH CRITTER AREAS.

AND TO KEEP THEM OFF.

, WILDLIFE PROTECTION.

WE HAVE WILDLIFE PROTECTION OUT THERE ON JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING.

BUT I ACTUALLY PULLED SOME STATISTICS THAT I MEANT TO WORK INTO MY SPIEL THERE.

BUT, UM, AS OF TODAY WE'VE HAD 80 UNSCHEDULED POWER OUTAGES.

SO THAT'S GONNA BE RANGING FROM ONE PERSON TO 1500 PEOPLE.

THAT ALL ACCOUNTS AS JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE, EACH AND 38 OF THEM HAVE BEEN WILDLIFE RELATED.

SO EVEN THOUGH WE, WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND WE PUT THE WILDLIFE PROTECTION OUT THERE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, EVERY TIME THAT, I CALL IT SQUIRREL SEASON, BUT IT HAPPENS IN THE SPRING AND THE FALL AND, YOU KNOW, WE GO THROUGH AND WE'RE LIKE, WAIT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOTTA BE MISSING.

BUT THEY KEEP BEEFING UP THAT WILDLIFE PROTECTION AND IT'S, THEY'RE TENACIOUS LITTLE CRITTERS.

SO SQUIRREL HAD A BAD DAY.

AH, YES.

I, YEAH.

SO MARY ELLEN, I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THANK YOU.

I KNOW THAT OUR LINE CREW VERY LOYAL TO THE TOWN AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS HARD WORK AND EFFORT.

THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE, BUT I APPRECIATE IT.

WHILE I KNOW IT WAS FRUSTRATING AND TEDIOUS TO ME ON THE RECEIVING END OF A LOT OF THE CALLS THAT WERE JUST ABOUT MY POWERS OUT.

UM, WE DID, I DID PERSONALLY HEAR FROM SOME PEOPLE WHO RELIED ON IT ON THEIR POWER FOR MEDICAL SURE.

NECESSITIES.

SO I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY AND AWARENESS THAT WE DO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

CUZ LIKE THE SECOND ONE, I WAS AFFECTED BY ALL THREE.

AND THE SECOND ONE I WAS LIKE, OKAY, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? .

THE SECOND ONE IN THE SAME DAY.

UM, SO ANYWAYS, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT VERY THOROUGH UPDATE AND I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL APPRECIATE THAT.

OF COURSE.

ANYTIME.

THANK YOU MARY ELLEN.

YOU'RE WELCOME.

I WAS GONNA SAY, I KNOW I WAS THE ONE WHO REQUESTED, SO I APOLOGIZE, BUT I, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

IT WAS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERYBODY TO HEAR IT BECAUSE WE CAN ALL TRY TO EXPLAIN IT, BUT QUITE HONESTLY, I COULD HAVE NEVER EXPLAINED IT.

I THINK

[01:05:01]

YEAH, YOU'RE WELCOME.

UH, YES.

AND, UM, ACTUALLY THIS EVENING WE ALSO RECEIVED, UH, THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT OF FOR EXCELLENCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION.

BUT, UM, UNFORTUNATELY OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, VJ WILSON WAS OUT SICK TODAY.

BUT I THOUGHT JUST TO KIND OF GO AHEAD AND GIVE A SHOUT OUT, UM, JUST TO LET FOLKS KNOW WHAT THE G F O A AWARD IS ABOUT, AND THEN HOPEFULLY AT THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED BUSINESS MEETING, MR. WILSON WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN US AND GET, GET HIS AWARD.

BUT I WOULD LIKE IF, IF COUNCIL'S ALL RIGHT, JUST TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE THE BACKGROUND OF THE G O A AWARD, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS A BIG DEAL.

FOR SURE.

UM, THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES HAS AWARDED THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL FOR ITS ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30TH, 2021.

THE REPORT HAS BEEN JUDGED BY AN IMPARTIAL PANEL TO MEET THE HIGH STANDARDS OF THE PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES DEMONSTRATING A CONSTRUCTIVE SPIRIT OF FULL DISCLOSURE TO CLEARLY COMMUNICATE ITS FINANCIAL STORY AND MOTIVATE POTENTIAL USERS AND USER GROUPS TO READ THE REPORT.

THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RECOGNITION IN THE AREA OF GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING.

AND ITS ATTAINMENT REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENT BY A GOVERNMENT AND ITS MANAGEMENT.

SO, UM, I KNOW BJ'S NOT HERE, BUT, UH, I, I WANT TO ADD, SO I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL FOR, YOU KNOW, ABOUT FIVE, SIX YEARS NOW, BUT, UH, UM, HE HAS WON THIS NUMEROUS TIMES.

AND, UM, JUST TO GIVE US YOUR 35 YEARS, 35 YEARS IN A ROW, UM, WHEN IT COMES TO NUMBERS, BJ'S THE MAN, I TELL YOU, THAT'S THE REAL STORY.

35 YEARS.

MR. MAYOR, CAN I START? JUST MAKE IT QUICK.

THE TOWN HAS BEEN, HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED IN THIS FASHION FOR 35 YEARS.

OH, BJ HAS BEEN HERE, I DON'T THINK HE'S BEEN THERE 35 YEARS, BUT WELL, IT PROBABLY FEELS LIKE 35 YEARS, BUT, AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

THANK YOU,

[9B. Report of Councilmembers]

TWO THINGS.

ONE, ONE, I JUST WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR BEING DRESSED DOWN.

UM, THIS IS RED RIBBON AND WEAK IF YOUR KIDS GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

UM, AND TODAY'S, UH, WAS MOTIVATIONAL T-SHIRTS.

SO I BELIEVE ACHIEVES SUCCEED, AND SO I WEREN'T IN HERE.

RED RIBBON WEEK.

SO ASK YOUR KIDS ABOUT THAT.

UM, AND THEN THE SECOND THING IS FESTIVAL LEAVES.

WOW.

BORN AND RAISED HERE.

I'VE ALWAYS LOVED THE FESTIVAL LEAVES.

I'VE, UM, IT FELT, I JUST FELT MORE LIKE THE OLD TIME FESTIVAL LEAVES TO ME THIS YEAR, UM, IN ATTITUDE AT THE BLOCK PARTY.

SO I WAS THERE FRIDAY NIGHT WITH THE BLOCK PARTY WITH THE BAND, AND THAT WAS, UM, REALLY COOL.

I, UM, A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP.

I THINK EVEN MORE WILL AS THE WORD GETS OUT EVEN MORE.

AND THEN SATURDAY, I MEAN, I WILL ADMIT, MOTHER NATURE BLESSED US WITH PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FALL DAYS.

UM, BUT IT, IT WAS A WONDERFUL EVENT.

LOTS OF PEOPLE WERE THERE.

IT WAS GREAT TO SEE CROWDS AND PEOPLE WALKING ALL AROUND WITHOUT MASKS.

UM, IT, SO IT WAS GREAT.

AND I JUST WANNA GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO ALL THE PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED.

AND I WON'T EVEN TRY KNOW LIZZIE LEWIS FROM THE TOWN, BUT THERE WERE, THERE'S A COMMITTEE AND, UM, DID A GREAT JOB.

SO THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

UH, I HOPE LOOK FORWARD TO US BEING ABLE TO DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

THAT'S ALL.

ALL RIGHT, MR. MAYOR.

I WANNA TO ALSO A COMMENT ON FESTIVAL POLICE.

I DIDN'T GET TO ATTEND THE WHOLE THING CUZ WE HAD FOOTBALL THAT DAY AND LIKE WINCHESTER OR SOMEWHERE, I DON'T REMEMBER.

BUT, UM, I DID HEAR A LOT OF GOOD STORIES ABOUT IT.

I DID, UH, PARTICIPATE IN AN INTERACTIVE MOVIE EXPERIENCE THAT, UM, WAS HOSTED DOWNTOWN.

THAT WAS A LOT OF FUN.

AND, UM, I ALSO WANTED TO DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT, UM, IT WAS BROUGHT UP AGAIN BY KATHLEEN AND EMAIL ABOUT THE OPIOID ABATEMENT FUNDS THAT WE'RE RECEIVING, LIKE THE ARPA FUNDS.

THE COUNTY WILL DETERMINE HOW HOW MUCH WE GET BASED ON POPULATION OR SOME OTHER FACTORS.

THEY'LL DETERMINE IT.

AND THOSE FUNDS ARE TO BE USED IN WAYS THAT EITHER PREVENT PEOPLE FROM USING, UM, PREVENTIVE PROGRAMS OR HELPING THOSE IN ACTIVE ADDICTION WITH, UH, REHABILITATION SERVICES AND SO FORTH.

OUR COMMUNITY IS ESTIMATING AROUND A MILLION DOLLARS RIGHT NOW TO BE USED FOR THAT, WHICH IS HUGE,

[01:10:01]

WHICH WE NEED.

I JUST LOST A FRIEND, UM, LAST WEEK, UM, TO AN OVERDOSE.

UM, AND, AND IT'S JUST GONNA HELP US WRAP OUR HANDS AROUND THIS.

AND IT'LL ALSO BE, WE CAN ALSO USE THIS A LONG, EXCUSE ME, WITH OUR DRUG COURT PROGRAM AS WELL.

SO I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

ALSO, WITH THE SPECIAL USE PERMITS OR SHORT TERM HOUSING, THERE'S ALSO A GADGET THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN GET FOR THEIR HOUSES WHERE IT WILL TELL YOU THE NOISE.

DECIBELS.

SO BEFORE IT GETS TO A COMPLAINT BASIS, THEY CAN MONITOR THAT ON THEIR PHONES AND CALL AND SAY, GUYS, YOU NEED TO TONE IT DOWN.

YOU'VE REACHED X DECIBELS.

SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE COULD MAYBE PUT IN A PACKET, RIGHT? IT'S LIKE, IT'S LIKE $99.

IT'S NOT VERY EXPENSIVE, IT'S LIKE $99.

UM, BUT THAT WAS A BIG TOPIC DOWN AT VML.

UM, SO WE'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES S FACING THAT.

UM, SO THAT'S ALL I WANTED TO SHARE AND I THINK AMBER WANTS TO SHARE.

OH, AND I ALSO WANNA WELCOME SKIP.

WELCOME ABOARD.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO HAVE SKIP HERE.

HE IS VERY OBJECTIVE AND HAVE A GOOD HEAD ON HIS SHOULDERS.

AND I, I APPRECIATE HIS INPUT ON A THINGS.

SO, UM, FOR MY REPORT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I WANTED TO ECHO SOME OF LATASHA'S SENTIMENTS ON OUR SHORT TERM RENTAL PROCESS.

YOU GOTTA WALK BEFORE YOU, YOU CAN RUN.

I THINK WE KNEW THAT COMING OUTTA THE GATE.

I THINK PLANNING AND ZONING'S DONE A FANTASTIC JOB SO FAR.

WE'RE STILL WORKING OUT SOME KINKS, BUT I WAS ON THE PHONE WITH SOMEBODY DOWN IN VIRGINIA BEACH AREA WHO DOES THIS, UH, FOR A LIVING THIS WEEK, AND THEY TOLD ME DOWN THERE, THEY'RE PLANNING AND ZONING.

ONCE YOU MAKE YOUR PROPERTY A SHORT-TERM RENTAL, THEY CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE FACILITY.

THEY COME BY AND THEY SLAP UP A PLATE THAT THEY SCREW IN WHEREVER THEY CHOOSE AND IS IN THE MOST VISIBLE SPOT WITH A COMPLAINT NUMBER ON IT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

UM, SO WE'RE REALLY NOT THAT FULL OF BUREAUCRACY HERE IN FRONT ROYAL.

WE'VE GOT A PRETTY LEVEL HEAD, BUT, UM, I DO LIKE TO LIMIT THE GOVERNMENT.

I'LL ALSO JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY KNOWS I'M PROUD TO BE BORN AND RAISED HERE.

UM, AND I'VE ATTENDED EVENTS DOWNTOWN FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE IS AN ENERGY IN FRONT ROYAL RIGHT NOW.

IT'S AMAZING WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GOVERNMENTS WORK TOGETHER.

WE HAVE THE TOWN AND THE COUNTY AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

I GOT TO ATTEND TO REVITALIZE OR DIE.

IT WAS A PRIVATE EVENT THAT WAS ALSO, IT WAS LIKE PRIVATE BUSINESSES, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

ANYWAYS, I WAS THE ONLY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE THAT COULD MAKE IT.

IT WAS A WORKDAY AND IT WASN'T EIGHT HOUR DAY.

UM, THE TOWN LAUREN WAS THERE.

I GOT BEAT UP PRETTY BAD.

BUT I THINK IT WAS A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT THE CURRENT COUNCIL AND STAFF HAVE AN APPETITE FOR CHANGE.

AND THE FUTURE OF FRONT ROYAL IS VERY POSITIVE.

I THINK THE OFFICIAL COUNT WAS, YOU CAN CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, WAS OVER 8,000 PEOPLE FOR THE FESTIVAL OF LEAVES.

UM, IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL EVENT.

I LOVED IT.

I HOPE IT GETS BIGGER AND BIGGER EVERY YEAR.

I'D LOVE TO SEE IT FULL DOWN CHESTER STREET AGAIN.

AND THEN WE HAVE HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN COMING UP THIS SATURDAY, AND IT'S BEEN A BIG EVENT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW.

BUT SOMEBODY REACHED OUT TO ME TO TELL ME LIKE, THE TOWN'S DOING GHOST TOURS AND ALL OF THIS FUN.

IT'S A WHOLE DAY THING.

IT'S NOT JUST TRICK OR TREATING AT NIGHT.

SO, UM, SHOUT OUT TO YOU LIZZIE, FOR THAT.

I'M, I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE OF FRONT ROYAL IN THE DIRECTION IT'S HEADED.

AND I'M PROUD OF OUR STAFF AND OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.

AND I'M EXCITED FOR THE ENERGY THAT'S IN THE TOWN RIGHT NOW.

I'M SORRY, MR. MAYOR.

OH, SORRY.

I NEEDED TO ADD ONE MORE THING.

SO THE OTHER BIG COMPLAINT THAT I'VE BEEN SEEING IS THERE'S SO MUCH TRAFFIC IN MY TOWN.

OH MY GOSH, THE LEAF KEEPERS ARE HERE.

AND I UNDERSTAND, RIGHT, WE'RE USED TO GETTING WHERE WE NEED TO GO WITH MINIMAL OBSTACLES INSTEAD OF TWO.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO JUST REITERATE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING INTO OUR TOWN, THEY ARE COMING IN, THEY ARE GOING TO SKYLINE DRIVE.

THEY'RE ALSO COMING DOWN TO OUR RESTAURANT.

THEY'RE SINGING AT HOTELS, THEY'RE HELPING US BOOK HOTELS ALL THE WAY INTO LIKE, ALMOST HARRISONBURG.

SOME OF 'EM ARE ALL THE WAY DOWN THERE CAUSE THEY CAN'T GET ROOMS ANYWHERE.

SO I WANNA REITERATE THAT THIS IS A HELP TO OUR COMMUNITY AND IF WE START KIND OF CHANGING OUR MINDSETS AROUND IT, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING TO, TO DO.

UM, BECAUSE IT'S ADVANCING OUR COMMUNITY.

A LOT OF BUSINESSES ACTUALLY, THIS IS LIKE THEIR BLACK FRIDAY.

THIS IS WHEN THEY GET FROM RED INTO THE BLACK.

UM, SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THAT IN MIND WHEN WE GET THOSE LITTLE FRUSTRATIONS.

LIKE IT'S TEMPORARY.

ONE, OUR CHIEF AND THE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN DOING A FANTASTIC JOB OUT THERE DIRECTING TRAFFIC, CLOSING DOWN CERTAIN LANES, MAKING IT A MUCH SMOOTHER PROCESS, TELLING PEOPLE TO GET INTO THAT LEFT LANE .

SO, YOU KNOW, TO TO, TO LESSEN IT DOWN.

AND I, I SAW YOU GUYS OVER BY THE OLD HELICO OR WHATEVER IT WAS RIGHT THERE AT THE CORNER WATCHING HIS TRAFFIC CAME OUT.

UM, SO I'M VERY PROUD OF OUR TOWN AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AND THE, THE TRAFFIC THAT'S COMING IN, AND I'M SORRY THAT IT MIGHT INHIBIT YOU A BIT.

THEY ALL ARE GOING HOME.

THEY ARE GONNA GO HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY MAKING MONEY AND GOING HOME.

AND, AND WE, AND WE WANT THAT REVENUE COMING IN AND IT BENEFITS OUR AIRBNB PEOPLE TOO.

AIRBNBS ARE OVER $200.

ANYONE ELSE? NO, I'M DONE TALKING.

YOU RIGHT, YOU ARE.

MR. MAYOR, JUST, UH, A COUPLE OF SHORT COMMENTS.

I HAVE SPENT, AS SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW, I'VE SPENT PROBABLY MOST OF MY CAREER, EITHER PROFESSIONALLY OR PERSONALLY IN, IN KIND OF A HELPING ENVIRONMENT.

UH, FIRST I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR ITS, UH, CONFIDENCE IN, UH, IN, UH, PROVIDING ME THIS OPPORTUNITY.

[01:15:01]

UH, IT, IT'S PART OF ME.

UM, AND I HOPE TO BRING THAT PASSION TO THIS COUNCIL, TO MY TOWN AND TO MY COMMUNITY.

I, I WANNA SAY IT, THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF WEEK TWO, UH, AND LAST WEEK, UH, AND THIS WEEK AS WELL, I'VE BEEN TRYING TO MEET WITH AS MANY, UH, KEY FOLKS AND, UH, LEADERS OF, OF OUR COMMUNITY TO KIND OF HELP ME UNDERSTAND, UH, VARIOUS ASPECTS OF, OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I HAVE A FULL SLATE OF MEETINGS THIS WEEK AND IT'LL ROLL INTO NEXT WEEK.

UM, I WILL SAY THAT I AM COMMITTED, UH, TO MY COMMUNITY.

UH, I'VE, I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE OH NINE AS A, UH, AS A BUSINESS OWNER.

UH, UH, AND, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH COUNCIL.

I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACING US.

UM, I, I, UH, AM VERY, VERY PROUD, UH, TO BE A COUNCIL MEMBER IN FRONT ROYAL.

SO, UH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU.

SKIP ANYONE ELSE? ALL RIGHT.

[9C. Report of the Mayor]

REPORT OF THE MAYOR.

SO EVERYBODY'S ON TOUCH BASE ON THE, UH, FESTIVAL LEAVE, SO I GOTTA THROW IT OUT THERE TOO.

UM, IT WAS A GRAY TURNOUT AND I'M WONDERING IF A LOT OF THOSE CITIZENS ARE STILL WAITING FOR THEIR FOOD.

DID YOU SEE IT WAS AWFUL.

DID YOU SEE THE LINES? IT TOOK ME TWO HOURS, SO I BELIEVE IT.

I MEAN, THE LINES WERE RIDICULOUS.

THEY KEPT TAKING TURNS.

IT WAS, BUT UH, NO, IT'S, IT WAS BETTER THIS YEAR THAN IT HAS BEEN IN MANY YEARS.

UH, I REMEMBER, I KNOW LORI AND SOME OTHERS CAN REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY, IT WAS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

CHESTER STREET WAS CLOSED DOWN.

MAIN STREET WAS CLOSED DOWN.

AND WILSON IT WAS.

E WILSON HAD ARTS AND CRAFTS.

THEY DID A PLATE.

UM, THEY, I WAS THE LEAD ONE YEAR.

VEST? OH, YOU WANNA WEAR THE VEST? LOOK, CHIEF OF WHAT YOU CAN DO IT.

I WAS THE LEAD .

DO THAT AGAIN.

RIGHT.

BUT ANYHOW, UM, BUT IT WAS REALLY, IT WAS REALLY NICE THIS YEAR, AND I LIKE TO SEE IT CONTINUE TO GROW.

UM, I REALLY WOULD.

IT, IT WAS, IT WAS AWESOME.

AND, UH, I APPRECIATE ALL THE HARD WORK THAT EVERYBODY PUT INTO IT.

UM, ALSO, UM, YOU KNOW, I HAD MENTIONED IT TO ROBBIE BOYER, BUT I THINK THOSE GUYS HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB.

I MEAN, ANYBODY, IF YOU HAVEN'T GO OUT AND CHECK SOME OF THESE SIDE STREETS THAT IN THESE OLDER NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WERE AWFUL LOOKING, LOOK AT WHAT YOU KNOW, HAS BEEN DONE.

BIG DIFFERENCE.

I MEAN, THEY LOOK SO MUCH BETTER.

AND I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THAT SIDEWALK AND THAT CURB AND GUTTER DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL THIS PAST FOUR YEARS.

AND FINALLY IT'S GOTTEN DONE.

IT LOOKS SO MUCH BETTER.

UM, BUT ANYHOW, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO WELCOME SKIP TO COUNCIL.

UH, I THINK HE'S A GREAT ADDITION.

I REALLY DO.

UM, AND THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE MR. JACKSON'S LAST MEETING, UM, BECAUSE HE'S FILLING A VACATED SEAT, AND, UH, HE'S NOT RUNNING FOR THAT SEAT.

THERE'S TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS HE'S RUNNING FOR FOUR YEAR TERM.

SO, UM, IF HE'S FORTUNATE ENOUGH OR UNLUCKY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'D SAY, BUT, UH, TO WIN NOVEMBER THE EIGHTH, UH, HE'LL BE BACK IN JANUARY.

SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, I'D LIKE TO THANK YOU, UM, FOR SERVING THE TOWN.

YEAH, IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.

UM, I, I HOPE I WIN.

UH, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN THE SHORT TIME THAT I HAVE.

UH, IT'S BEEN AWESOME GETTING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL.

UM, EVEN THOUGH, YOU KNOW, THERE'S SOME COMPROMISE AND THERE'S SOME HEATED DEBATE, YOU KNOW, , NO, UH, NO GOVERNMENT'S PERFECT.

BUT I THINK, UH, I THINK THE COUNCIL THAT WE HAVE CURRENTLY, AS IT'S BEEN SAID, EMBRACES CHANGE, WANTS CHANGE, WANTS TO SEE PROSPERITY IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WANTS TO, WANTS TO INNOVATE FRONT ROYAL AND THE BEST CONTROLLED WAY.

THAT WAY IT STILL MAINTAINS THAT HOMETOWN FEEL AND THE SMALL TOWN FEEL.

UM, I DON'T KNOW WHY I FEEL EMOTIONAL RIGHT NOW, .

UM, BUT, UH, SIT NEXT TO MEET YOU ALL.

NO, BUT IN ALL HONESTY, ALL HONESTY, IT'S BEEN, IT'S BEEN AMAZING.

IF I DON'T GET TO SERVE THE CITIZENS IN FRONT ROYAL, UH, AFTER THIS ELECTION, YOU CAN BET I'LL BE BACK IN THE NEXT ONE.

SO, UH, YEAH, IT'S BEEN AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE AND I THANK YOU ALL.

AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO REPORT ON.

UM, UP NEXT, OH, AND CHIEF, YOU GUYS DOING A GREAT JOB UP AT THE, UH, INTERSECTIONS, UH, I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU OUT THERE A LITTLE BIT MORE OFTEN NOW, , , WILL YOU, COULD YOU ASK TO WEAR THE

[01:20:01]

NO, THANK YOU ALL.

APPRECIATE IT.

GREAT JOB.

UM, I KNOW IT'S A PAIN.

I COULD ONLY IMAGINE.

I MEAN, I WENT UP THROUGH THERE THE OTHER DAY AND IT WAS JUST LIKE BUMPER TO BUMPER AND I WAS GOSH.

TIME THE YEAR.

OH YEAH.

SO ANYHOW, MOVING ON TO

[10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]

CONSENT.

AGENDA ITEMS. DO I HEAR MOTION, MR. I MOVE THAT? COUNSEL, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.

ANY DISCUSSION? ROLL CALL PLEASE.

BASE MERICK HRO? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS.

CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL.

BUSINESS ITEMS. WE HAVE NONE.

CLOSED MEETING

[12. CLOSED MEETING]

DO I HEAR A MOTION? WE EDIT.

WE EDIT PERSONNEL TO EDIT.

SO I'M GONNA DO IT ALL.

LET'S SEE.

I MOVE THE TOWN COUNCIL CONVEN AND GO INTO CLOSED MEETING FOR THE CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED TO RETAIN BY PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL, SPECIFICALLY THE FRONT ROW WARREN COUNTY AGREEMENT WITH DISCOVER FRONT ROYAL AS REQUIRED BY VIRGINIA CODE 24.2 DASH 2 26, PURSUANT TO 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A EIGHT OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.

UH, FOLLOWING THE CLOSED MEETING, COUNSEL MAY TAKE FURTHER ACTION IN OPEN SESSION.

I WOULD ALSO WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT WE ALREADY ADDED, UH, THE, UH, PREVIOUS ITEM DURING THE ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA.

DO I HAVE TO READ THAT AGAIN, TINA? YES, PLEASE.

UM, AND IT WAS, UH, SO THAT WAS ONE.

THIS IS TWO THE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, DEMOTION, SALARIES, DISCIPLINE OR RESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICERS, APPOINTEES OR EMPLOYEES OF ANY PUBLIC BODY, SPECIFICALLY TOWN MANAGER IN TOWN ATTORNEY, PURSUANT TO 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A.

ONE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA.

ANY DISCUSSION? HAVE A ROLL CALL PLEASE.

PACE.

MAYOR C**K ROLL? YES.