[00:00:01]
SHE SAY YES? NO, THE NEXT ONE OVER IS HER SISTER.[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]
OKAY.I AM GONNA CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING OF MONDAY, JANUARY 3RD.
UM, THE 23RD, SORRY, 23RD, 2023.
WE, UM, THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS A MOMENT OF SILENCE, AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO ASK, UM, AND AS WE ALL OBSERVE A MOMENT OF SILENCE DURING THIS TIME, I HUMBLY REQUEST THAT YOU INCLUDE THIS COUNCIL AS WELL AS YOUR COMMUNITY AND YOUR PRAYERS.
ALSO, WARREN COUNTY FIRE AND RESCUE LOST A DISTRICT CHIEF THIS MORNING.
IF YOU WERE NOT AWARE, UM, MR. LARRY CROSS, SO PLEASE KEEP HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COLLEAGUES IN YOUR PRAYERS.
[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
OKAY.OUR NEXT ORDER OF BUSINESS IS, UH, THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
BUT, UH, I WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS.
SO, MOST OF YOU KNOW THAT I'M A 33 YEAR VETERAN TEACHER, AND I PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR GOVERNMENT TO BE BETTER PREPARED FOR THE ROLE THEY WILL PLAY IN IT ONE DAY.
SO, FOR THIS REASON, I WILL BE INVITING STUDENTS WHO LIVE IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO LEAD OUR COUNCIL IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
AT EACH OF OUR REGULAR COUNCIL MEETINGS DURING MY TERM IS MAYOR, I PLAN TO SELECT ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ARE EDUCATED IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ARE HOMESCHOOLED.
I'LL INTRODUCE THEM, TELL YOU A LITTLE ABOUT THEM, HAVE THEM LEAD COUNCIL IN THE PLEDGE, AND THEN PRESENT THEM WITH A CERTIFICATE, AS WELL AS A GIFT CARD, UH, THAT I PURCHASED FROM ONE OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES THAT OFFER BAKED GOODS AND OR ICE CREAM.
I THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE POPULAR WITH THEM.
SO THESE INCLUDE DOWN HOME COMFORT BAKERY GARCIA, AND GINO CNC FROZEN TREATS, UH, DL CAMPUS COFFEE AND ICE CREAM, AND SPLUNKERS.
SO, OUR FIRST STUDENT IS SOMEONE WHO'S VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO ME, MS. SAGE JACKSON.
SAGE, CAN YOU COME FORWARD JUST RIGHT THERE? SO, SAGE IS MY GREAT NIECE, AND SHE ACCOMPANIED ME FOR MOST OF THE DAY AT THE POLLS ON ELECTION DAY.
SHE GOT A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE VOTING PROCESS.
SAGE IS THE DAUGHTER OF SARAH ATHE JACKSON, AND ERIN JACKSON.
SAGE IS A FOURTH GRADER AT HILDA, J BARBARA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
SAGE IS ON THE ALL HONOR ROLL, IS A MEMBER OF THE CHORUS AND SERVES AS THE TREASURER OF THE EARLY ACT CLUB.
IN HER SPARE TIME, SHE ENJOYS PLAYING SOFTBALL FOR THE FRONT ROYAL FIRE 10 U TEAM.
THANK YOU SAGE, FOR PARTICIPATING AND ASSISTING THE COUNCIL TONIGHT BY LEADING US ALL IN THE PLEDGE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR GOD.
IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING, SHE PICKED SPLUNKERS
[3. ROLL CALL]
MS. PRESLEY, ARE YOU READY FOR A ROLL CALL? MAYOR COCKRELL.
[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NEXT UP WOULD BE THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES.COUNSEL, APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 12TH, 2022, SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES OF JANUARY 9TH AND JANUARY 17TH, AND WORK SESSION MINUTES OF JANUARY 9TH, 2023 AS PRESENTED.
[5. ADDITION/DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA]
UP ARE ADDITION AND DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA COUNCIL, DOES ANYONE[00:05:01]
WANT CHOOSE TO ADD OR DELETE ITEMS FROM OUR AGENDA TONIGHT? MADAM MAYOR? UH, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION FOR A DELETION.UH, I MOVE THAT TOWN COUNCIL, DELETE AGENDA ITEM SEVEN C FROM TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
I HAVE A FIRST AND I HAVE A SECOND.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL.
ITEM SEVEN C WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA.
[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]
NUMBER SIX IS RECOGNITIONS AWARDS, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS.AND I BELIEVE FIRST UP IS CHIEFS.
YOU GOT YOURSELF A CROWD THERE,
HOW ARE YOU? IS THERE ANYBODY ON THE STREET? YEP.
UM, ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THIS TYPE OF A PRESENTATION WHERE WE CAN TALK ABOUT, UH, SOME NEW FOLKS THAT WE'VE BROUGHT ON AND FOLKS THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE, UH, OF THE DEPARTMENT.
UH, AS Y'ALL KNOW, KEVIN, NICE.
WARNER, OUR FORMER MAJ, UH, MA MAJOR.
JUST RETIRED, UH, AT THE FIRST OF THE YEAR.
AND HE'S, UM, HE'S FLOOR TO BOUNDS.
SO AFTER 30, ALMOST 30 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, HE'S, UH, HE'S HANGING UP HIS SPURS AND, AND HEADING DOWN TO THE, UH, TO THE GULF COAST, UH, TO HANG OUT.
SO THAT'S CREATED A BIT OF A VACUUM, UH, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
AND HIM BEING NUMBER TWO, WE HAD TO MOVE SOME THINGS ALONG.
SO, UM, I'M GONNA GO THROUGH THIS ONE AT A TIME.
WE'RE GONNA START KIND OF WITH OUR NEWER ADDITIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT, UH, AND MOVE ON TO SOME OF THE SENIOR PROMOTIONS.
UM, SO FIRST WE HAVE OFFICER J JACOB DODSON.
UH, HE CAME TO US LAST YEAR AND COMPLETED THE POLICE ACADEMY AND HIS FIELD TRAINING AND HAS SINCE BEEN RELEASED AND IS, UH, NOW OUT ON THE STREETS OF, UH, FRONT ROYAL SERVING AND PROTECTING.
UH, AND HE WENT TO, UM, HE WENT TO THE POLICE ACADEMY WITH, UH, OFFICER WILLIAMSON RIGHT THERE NEXT TO HIM.
OFFICER WILLIAMSON ACTUALLY STARTED A LITTLE BEFORE OFFICER DOTSON.
HE CAME TO US AS A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, AND HE WORKED IN OUR DISPATCH CENTER, UH, FOR A TIME BEFORE HE, UH, HE ELECTED TO, UH, TO, UH, BECOME A POLICE OFFICER.
UH, AND AGAIN, COMPLETED HIS SAME, SAME TRAINING.
THESE TWO GENTLEMEN HAVE BEEN OUT ON THE STREET SINCE, UM, WHEN YOU GUYS GET RELEASED, SEPTEMBER.
SO LAST FALL THEY GOT RELEASED FROM FTO AND HAVE BEEN, UH, ACTING IN FULL CAPACITY ON THEIR OWN.
UM, THEN WE HAVE OFFICER JACK WEAVER.
UH, OFFICER WEAVER CAME TO US, UH, JUST RECENTLY, BUT HE'S BEEN A POLICE OFFICER WITH THE CITY OF WINCHESTER, UH, SINCE LAST YEAR.
UH, BUT OFFICER, OFFICER WEAVER IS A FRONT ROYAL, A FRONT ROYAL NATIVE, AND WANTED TO COME BACK HOME TO US.
SO, UH, WE WELCOME HIM BACK AS WE, UH, AS WE LIKE TO DO.
UM, SO MOVING FORWARD FROM OUR, UH, POLICE OFFICERS, I'VE GOT, UH, UH, MICHAEL GALLAGHER DOWN HERE WAS FORMALLY A MASTER POLICE OFFICER'S.
BEEN PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF CORPORAL, UH, WHICH WAS, THAT HOLE WAS CREATED BY SERGEANT TONY KLINGMAN DOWN THERE.
IT WAS, UH, FORMALLY OUR CORPORAL.
AND HE, UH, WENT THROUGH THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR SERGEANT AND WE CHOSE TO, UH, TO PROMOTE TONY.
SO WE, WE, WE HAVE HIM OUT RUNNING A SQUAD.
NOW, AGAIN, AS THE VACUUM CONTINUES, WE HAD A, UH, ANOTHER, UH, HOLE TO FILL IN OUR COMMAND STAFF, UH, AT WHICH POINT WE HAD A SELECTION PROCESS AND SERGEANT BRIAN WHITED WAS PROMOTED TO CAPTAIN.
SO BRIAN'S GONNA BE, UH, HANDLING THE LOGISTICS CAPTAIN, UH, PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION.
UM, CAPTAIN KLEIN, WHO WAS PREVIOUSLY IN THAT POSITION, IS GONNA MOVE OVER AND SHE'LL BE HANDLING OPERATIONS.
UH, AND THEN OUR OPERATIONS CAPTAIN, UH, USED TO BE RUN BY NOW, MAJOR JASON RYMAN.
UH, HE STEPPED UP AND HE'S, HE'S, UH, GONNA BE THE MAJOR IN THE DEPARTMENT MOVING FORWARD.
WE'VE GOT SOME NEW FACES, UH, AND I'M HAPPY TO REPORT AT THIS TIME.
I'M NOT GONNA SAY IT TOO LOUD.
HEY, WE'VE CURRENTLY GOT TWO OFFICERS THAT ARE STILL, UH, THAT ARE STILL ON FTO THAT JUST CAME OUT OF THE ACADEMY LAW NOT
[00:10:01]
LONG AGO, AND TWO MORE THAT JUST STARTED THE POLICE ACADEMY YESTERDAY.BUT RIGHT NOW, UM, AND I'M, I, I AM PROUD TO SAY IT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THAT, THAT ARE OPERATING, UH, WITH A FULL PATROL, UH, FULL ENFORCEMENT STAFF.
AND RIGHT NOW WE ARE, WE ARE, UM, I DO HAVE ONE VACANCY IN THE, UM, IN THE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE REALLY HAPPY ABOUT WHERE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING THE, UH, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION TO.
AND WE'RE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE GONNA TALK TO YOU GUYS ABOUT.
AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP TRYING TO MOVE THAT FORWARD SO THAT WE CAN, UM, ATTRACT QUALIFIED PEOPLE LIKE, LIKE THESE GENTLEMEN HERE, AND, UH, RETAIN ALL THAT INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE INSTEAD OF LETTING IT WALK OUT THE DOOR.
CUZ WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAFF THIS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO STAFF THIS FROM IN-HOUSE AND THAT'S AWESOME.
SO WE CERTAINLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
SO I'D JUST LIKE FOR YOU TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF THESE GUYS FOR COMING ON BOARD.
HILLARY'S GONNA HAVE TO HILLARY LIKE STAND, SHE'S GONNA HAVE TO STAY IN A MILE AWAY.
I KNOW SINCE I'VE BEEN ON CAMPUS COUNCIL, SO I'M JUST, WE'RE CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC.
WE'RE KNOCK ON ALL THE WOOD WE'VE GOT THERE.
SO, UM, I JUST WANTED TO LET, UM, COUNCIL KNOW YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED, UH, A VERY ROUGH DRAFT REPORT.
UH, OUR ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2022.
IT'S STILL BEING, UH, WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME OF THE NUMBERS WITH, UH, OVERDOSES.
THINGS LIKE THAT COME FROM THE TASK FORCE.
UM, SO WE'RE, WE'RE CULMINATING ALL THOSE.
I HOPE TO HAVE EVERYTHING COMPLETELY SQUARED AWAY AND PUSHED OUT TO YOU GUYS, UH, IN THE NEXT COMING DAYS.
AND WE HOPE TO PUBLISH THAT REPORT TO THE PUBLIC, UM, NEXT WEEK.
AND JUST REAL HIGH LEVEL, UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON, AGAIN, IS OUR, IS OUR STAFFING.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST, BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE SEEING THIS YEAR, AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE IT IN OUR, UM, IN OUR REPORT, IS MENTAL HEALTH.
UM, THAT'S WHERE, UH, A LOT OF OUR COMMUNITY ISSUES, UH, STEM FROM, FROM, UH, DRUG USE ALL THE WAY THROUGH HANDLING MENTAL CRISIS.
UM, SO WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON THAT.
UM, YOU'LL GO THROUGH AND SEE, UM, I THINK WE HAD 918 MAN HOURS THAT WERE DEDICATED SOLELY TO PEOPLE THAT WERE SUBJECT TO EMERGENCY CUSTODY ORDERS AND CLOSER TO 1100 HOURS JUST HANDLING EVERY, ALL THE MENTAL HEALTH CALLS.
SO THAT'S AN OFFICER FOR SIX MONTHS.
LAST YEAR WE HAD ESSENTIALLY AN OFFICER SIX MONTHS DOING NOTHING BUT THAT.
UM, SO OBVIOUSLY THAT'S, THAT'S ONE OF THE BIG THINGS THAT WE'RE, WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON AND WORK THROUGH.
UM, AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR, UM, MOVING THE DRUG COURT FORWARD.
THAT'S GONNA BE A BIG PIECE OF THAT.
UH, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SUPPORTIVE OF IT.
WE'VE ALREADY ATTENDED TRAINING, UH, TO BE ABLE TO GET THAT STARTED ONCE THE, UH, APPLICATION IS ACCEPTED BY THE SUPREME COURT AND WE'RE ABLE TO GET THAT STOOD UP.
SO WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THAT.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE HIGH LEVEL THINGS, AND IF YOU GUYS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY ALWAYS YOU CAN REACH OUT, UH, AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THAT, UH, FINAL DRAFT OF THAT REPORT IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
SO NEXT UP WE HAVE A PRESENTATION BY OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, MS. LIZZIE LEWIS.
AND I BELIEVE LIZZIE ALSO THIS, YOU ALREADY GAVE US THIS TOO, RIGHT? I DID, I DID.
FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW ME, I'M LIZZIE LEWIS.
[00:15:01]
UM, I'M THE EVENTS LADY HERE FOR THE TOWN.UM, I HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF ALSO MANAGING SOME OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA AND OUR WEBSITE AND ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
SO, UM, MAYOR COCKRELL ASKED ME TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAD IN 2022.
UM, SO WE AS A TOWN, BOTH, BOTH TOWN HOSTED AND COMMUNITY HOSTED, HAD OVER 45 EVENTS ON MAIN STREET AT THE GAZEBO.
UM, THREE PARADES, FAMILY FUN DAY, FIREMAN'S PARADE, THE CHRISTMAS PARADE.
UM, THERE WERE 11 GAZEBO GATHERINGS, CONCERTS, THOSE ARE HOSTED BY THE BLUE RIDGE ARTS COUNCIL.
UH, WE HAD OUR FIRST ANNUAL EARTH DAY CELEBRATION THAT WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED.
THAT'LL BE BACK ON APRIL 22ND THIS YEAR.
UH, FOR GAZEBO MOVIE NIGHTS, WE HAD OUR FIRST EVER FRONT ROYAL FIREWORKS SHOW, WHICH WAS PRETTY WELL RECEIVED AS WELL AT MAINE CROSBY STADIUM.
UM, WE OF COURSE HELPED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH COFFEE, WITH A COP WITH NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
UM, THE FRONT ROYAL BLOCK PARTY, WHICH IS THE FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE FESTIVAL OF LEAVES, THAT WAS SOMETHING NEW THIS, THIS PAST YEAR.
UM, THEY'RE BRINGING THAT BACK AGAIN.
UM, THE, AND OF COURSE THE TOWN CO-HOSTING THE 50TH FESTIVAL OF LEAVES WAS AN ADVENTURE CUZ THAT ENTIRE ORGANIZATION HAD NEVER DONE THAT BEFORE.
BUT WE, IT WAS A, IT WAS A GREAT DAY.
UM, OF COURSE OUR HOMETOWN HALLOWEEN CELEBRATION, THE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING AND CULMINATING IN THE CHRISTMAS PARADE, WHICH EVERYBODY LOVES.
SO IN FRONT OF YOU IS MY PROPOSAL FOR EVENTS FOR THIS YEAR.
UM, THIS LIST IS SIMPLY THE TOWN HOSTED OR TOWN CO-HOSTED EVENTS.
THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE EVENTS AS WE'VE LEARNED THAT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WILL HOLD.
UM, BUT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE HEADED.
SO WE'VE GOT A VIZIER IN FRONT OF US.
UM, AND THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE FINALIZED AND WE'LL BE PUTTING THIS OUT IN PUBLICATION AT THE VISITOR CENTER AND OTHER PLACES AROUND TOWN TO GIVE PEOPLE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO BE ENGAGED.
UM, THE VIRGINIA HISTORIC GARDEN EVENT IS NEW THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S THE WARREN COUNTY GARDEN CLUB IS HOSTING THAT EVENT.
UM, THEY WILL BE AT THE HERITAGE SOCIETY HOSTING KIND OF A GARDEN PARTY.
THAT'LL BE INTERESTING CUZ IT'S PART OF VIRGINIA HISTORIC GARDEN WEEK THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE STATE.
UM, THE WINE AND CRAFT FESTIVAL, OF COURSE, IS BACK.
WE'VE ADDED SOME NEW EVENTS LIKE THE SALUTE TO SERVICE EVENT.
UM, FUN FLICKS FRIDAYS IS, THAT'S GAZEBO MOVIES WITH A FUN NAME.
UM, THE RED WHITE AND BREW FESTIVAL.
SO WE'RE GONNA TRY TO BRING A SMALL BEER FESTIVAL TO JULY 4TH WEEKEND, UH, IN CONCERT WITH THE CHAMBER.
IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT.
SO WE'RE GONNA WORK WITH THEM ON MAKING THAT A SUCCESS, ALONG WITH A VARIETY OF OTHER EVENTS THIS YEAR TOO.
UM, AND ALSO
THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL WILL TURN 235 ON NOVEMBER 15TH.
AND WE FEEL LIKE MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE A BIG CAKE.
I WAS THINKING WE MIGHT MAKE THE TOWN MANAGER JUMP OUT OF A CAKE.
UM, SO ALL OF THIS TO SAY, WE HAVE SOME REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, BUT I'M ALWAYS OPEN TO FEEDBACK AND IDEAS.
UM, I KNOW SOMETIMES WE CAN'T NECESSARILY AFFORD OUR IDEAS, BUT WE DO TRY.
SO IF THERE'S EVER AN OPPORTUNITY OR SOMETHING THAT YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT, MY DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN.
SO IS THERE ANYTHING THAT I CAN DO TO BEST SERVE THE COUNCIL? HIT ME WITH IT.
I JUST WANTED TO MENTION TOO, THIS WAS MORE FOR THE PUBLIC THAT THIS PAST YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN SOME OF THESE EVENTS WHERE BUSINESSES HELPED SPONSOR IT OR CLUBS OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THAT, CONTACT B LIZZIE.
UM, BUT YES, WE, WE DO HAVE A VARIETY OF WAYS THAT WE CAN WORK WITH, UM, ANY TYPE OF BUSINESS IN, IN THE COMMUNITY.
UM, AND OF COURSE, LIKE I SAID, THIS LIST IS JUST THE TOWN SPONSORED AND CO-SPONSORED.
THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER AMAZING EVENTS THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE ON MAIN STREET OR AT THE GAZEBO OR AT THE PAVILION.
SOMETIMES THEY'RE IN OTHER PARTS OF TOWN.
AND WE TRY TO AMPLIFY THOSE AS WELL.
SO, UM, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET OUR LIKES UP HIGHER THAN THE FRONT ROYAL P PD.
SO IF YOU GUYS COULD HELP ME OUT, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I KNOW, I KNOW, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T HAVE DOGS.
WE'LL COME UP, WE'LL COME UP WITH SOMETHING.
SO OUR NEXT PRESENTATION IS BY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, ROBBIE BOYER.
[00:20:01]
THIS.UH, JUST WANNA GIVE AN UPDATE ON SOME PROJECTS, UM, SOME NEW LARGE PROJECTS AND SOME PROJECTS THAT'S BEEN ONGOING.
UM, FIRST WANNA TALK ABOUT THE, UH, BRA BRAXTON ROAD, UH, WATERLINE GRAY PROJECT.
UH, BUSHONG STARTED, UM, IN LATE DECEMBER.
UM, SO FAR THEY'VE GOT 1200 FEET OF THE NEW WATERLINE IN.
UM, THEY SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE NEW WATER MAIN IN ABOUT A WEEK AND A HALF, UM, TIME THAT'S DONE.
AND WE TRANSFER ALL THE SERVICES, UM, AND GET EVERYTHING WRAPPED UP.
WE'RE LOOKING PROBABLY THE FIRST PART OF MARCH.
AND THEN FROM THERE THEY'LL MOVE STRAIGHT TO MANASSAS AVENUE.
UM, SO BOTH OF THOSE ARE, ARE ACTUALLY A LITTLE HIT A SCHEDULE AND LOOKING GOOD SO FAR.
UM, JOHN MARSHALL HIGHWAY, I TALKED TO BO, UH, MR. BOWMAN THIS MORNING.
UM, THE MATERIAL WILL BE HERE IN MARCH, BUT THEY'RE GONNA WAIT TILL APRIL TO START ON JOHN MARSHALL.
THAT PIECE THERE, UM, FROM COLONIAL DOWN TO LEASH RUN TO TAKE THAT PIECE OF EIGHT INCH OUT BETWEEN THE TWO PIECES OF 12TH SO THAT WAY THEY CAN GET ASPHALT, UM, IN APRIL AS THEY WORK.
THAT WAY THEY CAN REPATCH THE ROAD BACK AS THEY GO.
UH, ROBIN HOOD LANE, WE HAD TALKED ABOUT A BUNCH.
THAT WAS THE ONE THAT HAD THE, THE ROAD GRADE LID.
UM, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME WEDNESDAY, UM, BUT WE, WE PUSHED IT BACK CAUSE OF THE WEATHER JUST TO BE SAFE.
SO IT'S GONNA COME THE FIRST WEEK OF FEBRUARY.
WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THAT OUT WITH THE CRANE NOW.
UM, AND THEN RICHMOND ROAD IS GONNA COME INTO FEBRUARY.
SO IT LOOKS LIKE BOTH OF THEM ARE GONNA BE COMING HERE PRETTY SOON.
UM, NEW PROJECT OR NEW PROJECTS STARTING A BIG PROJECT.
UH, THE REDUNDANT WATERLINE, OF COURSE, WAS PAST PASTED IN OCTOBER.
UH, WE HAD A PRE-CONSTRUCTION MEETING ON JANUARY 13TH, UH, WITH SNYDER ENVIRONMENTAL.
UH, SNYDER HAS ORDERED THE 26,000 FEET OF PIPE.
UM, SO, UM, IT IS A 26 WEIGHT WEEK FOR THE PIPE.
UM, SO IT'LL BE JUNE, JULY BEFORE THEY GET THE PIPE.
UM, SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE WORKING ON UPDATING THEIR SCHEDULE FOR THAT.
UM, THEY ARE WORKING ON STALLING ENS MEASURES, UH, CLEARING AND GRUBBING AND, UH, TAKE, LIKE I SAID, DOING SOME CLEARING TO, UH, MEET THE TIME OF YOUR RESTRICTIONS.
UM, BECAUSE SOME OF THE BAT LIMITATIONS FROM THE STATE, THEY HAVE TO TAKE TREES DOWN BY CERTAIN TIMES.
UM, SO THEY'RE DOING THAT NOW.
UM, AND THEY'RE WORKING ON THE, UH, DIGGING FOR THE MICRO TUNNELING UNDER THE RIVER ON BOTH SIDES THERE AT THE GOLF COURSE AND ON THE OTHER SIDE BY MARY SHADY LANE.
UM, JUST KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEAL ON THE GOLF COURSE SIDE, THAT SHAFTS WILL BE 55 FEET DEEP AND 32 FOOT WIDE.
UM, ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER, IT'S GONNA BE 65 FOOT DEEP AND 20 FOOT WIDE.
UM, THE, UH, MICRO TUNNELING, UH, ONCE THEY GET EVERYTHING START, OR THEY, THEY HAVE A SUBCONTRACTOR, THEY'LL START ON THAT IN JUNE AND IT'LL TAKE TILL NOVEMBER, UM, FOR THEM TO GET EVERYTHING DONE ACROSS UNDERNEATH THE RIVER.
UH, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEAL, UM, FOR THE WHOLE PROJECT, UM, IT'S ABOUT GONNA BE ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.
UM, OUR PLAN IS, UH, ONCE THEY GET US THE SCHEDULE, WE'RE GONNA START PUTTING OUT WEEKLY UPDATES ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO KIND OF GIVE PEOPLE AN IDEAL, UH, WHERE THEY'LL BE WORKING AND THAT KIND OF STUFF.
UM, THE ILU PUMPS FOR THE WASTEWATER PLANT, UM, YOU ALL HAD TO PROVE THAT WHILE BACK FOR THE PURCHASE OF THE PUMPS BACK IN NOVEMBER.
UM, WE DID GET THOSE ON ORDER TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL 1976 PUMPS WE'RE STILL USING.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE GONNA BE, UH, LATE SPRING, EARLY SUMMER.
UM, SO, BUT THEY ARE ON ORDER.
UM, WE'RE WORKING WITH ESSA NOW.
HOPEFULLY BY THE FIRST PART OF, UH, NEXT MONTH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THE REST OF THE DOCUMENTS WE NEED SO WE CAN GET THE CONTROL CABINETS AND THE VFDS AND ALL THAT STUFF APPROVED AND GET ORDERED.
UM, THE SANITARY SEWER PROJECT THAT SNYDER'S ALSO DOING THAT WAS APPROVED IN OCTOBER.
UM, THEY'RE GONNA START THE CCTV WORK IN MARCH AND THEN START LINING IN APRIL.
UM, AND I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE ON THE PROJECTS SCHEDULE FOR THAT.
SO HOPEFULLY BY THE NEXT MEETING WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BETTER IDEA, BUT I'M SURE IT'S GONNA BE SEVERAL MONTHS FOR, IT WAS 25,000 FEET OF, UH, LINING AND THEN 192 LATERAL.
SO IT'LL BE A FEW MONTHS FOR THAT.
UM, THE LAST TWO THINGS, UH, UPDATE ON SOME BDOT STUFF.
UH, WE HAD TALKED LAST TIME ABOUT THE NORTH SHANDO AVENUE LANG PROJECT.
UM, THE ENGINEER HAD TO GO BACK SINCE THERE WAS A BUNCH OF UTILITIES IN A WAY, AND ADJUST THE LIGHT FOOTERS.
UM, SO THAT DID CHANGE THE PRICE, UM, OF THAT BY $260,000.
SO WE'VE ALREADY, WE'VE ALREADY FIGURED OUR PART INTO THIS COMING YEAR'S BUDGET.
UM, AND THEN WE CAN REAPPLY FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF REVENUE SHARING IN MAY FOR THE, FOR THE DIFFERENCE.
UM, AND SINCE WE'VE GOTTEN FUNDING, THAT'LL MOVE US CLOSER TO THE TOP, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY HELP US.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT'LL, THAT'LL HELP WITH THAT.
UM, AND THEN THE SECOND ONE, A, OR NOT EASTER, I'M SORRY, HAPPY CREEK PHASE TWO.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT, UM, THE SCORES HAVE COME OUT FOR THAT.
IN THE STANTON DISTRICT, THERE WAS 40 APPLICATIONS.
WE RANKED 33RD, UM, AND ONLY THE TOP 15 PROJECTS GOT FUNDED.
UM, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEAL FOR THAT.
[00:25:03]
SO WE CAN REAPPLY FOR THAT, UM, IN 2024 UNDER SMART SCALE AGAIN, UM, YOU KNOW, AND TRY, MAY TRY A DIFFERENT APPROACH OR SOMETHING, BUT JUST GIVE YOU AN IDEAL.UH, WE DID LEARN OUT OF ALL NINE DISTRICTS IN VIRGINIA, STANTON, WHICH IS OUR DISTRICT, GOT THE LOWEST AMOUNT OF FUNDING.
UM, SO OF COURSE THAT DIDN'T HELP ANY, UM, TALK TO SOME OF OUR LEGISLATURES.
THE, THE, UH, COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD HASN'T VOTED ON IT YET.
IT'S OUT AND IT'S, IT'S ALL HIGHLIGHTED, SO I'M SURE WHEN THEY DO, IT'S GONNA, IT'S GONNA BE A DONE DEAL.
BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP THAT, THAT'S KIND OF WHERE IT LANDED.
WE, WE, UH, WE, WE SCORED A 0.87.
SEE, IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY LOW.
DO WE HAVE A WAY OF SEEING THE, UH, TOP 15? YEAH, I ACTUALLY HAD THOSE.
I HAVE THE COST OF THEM AND, AND WHAT THEY WERE.
BUT THAT'S, I'M SORRY, THAT'S ALL I HAVEN'T, UNLESS ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
DOES ANYBODY FROM COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? DO, DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA, ROBBY, UH, AS TO WHY IT SCORED SO LOW? UM, THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT, THAT HONESTLY, WE GOT LIKE ZEROS ON, LIKE SAFETY.
UM, THEY GO BACK AND LOOK AT WRECKS, YOU KNOW, ACCIDENTS, FATAL FATALITIES, AND THAT SECTION OF HAPPY CREEK.
YOU KNOW, JUST HONESTLY, YOU WOULD THINK IT'D BE WORSE WITH THE TERMS, BUT THERE WASN'T.
UM, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF TALKING ABOUT HOMES, HOUSING, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIAL, SO THAT REALLY DRIVES US SCORE DOWN.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT SCORE HIGHER THAN OTHERS, BUT, SO THAT'S WHAT HURT US.
RALPH, WHERE DO WE STAND WITH THE EIGHTH STREET BRIDGE? UM, WE HAVE, WE HAVE AN R F P OUT THAT ACTUALLY CLOSES THIS WEEK.
UM, CAUSE WE HAVE THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN, SO THAT WAY WE CAN HAVE THE FIRM CHOSEN TO HELP US START FINISHING IT.
UM, AND THEN WE'VE GOTTEN THE SIGNED AGREEMENT BACK FROM VDOT, SO WE KNOW WE'LL GET THE FUNDING.
UM, AND THAT WAS A 50 50 PROGRAM, SO WE HAVE THE, THE OTHER FUNDING IN THE, UH, BUDGET FOR THAT.
YEAH, THAT, I, I BELIEVE OUR PORTION WAS A MILLION, I THINK 2.8 TOTAL I THINK IT WAS.
SO OURS WOULD BE 1.44 A MILLION.
THAT WAS, WE REMOVED IT FROM PAVING.
AND THEN IS THERE PLANS FOR PROSPECT STREET? YEAH, WE'RE, WELL, WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE FUNDING PART, BUT YEAH, WE'RE TRYING TO GET THAT FIGURED OUT AS WELL.
UM, IS THERE ANY NEWS ON THE SOUTH STREET PROJECT WITH, UH, SMART SCALE? YEAH, IT'S, I MEAN, IT'S ALL APPROVED.
UM, BDOT THE, UH, SURVEYING IS DONE, UM, BY SPRING.
WE'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR THEM FOR THE TOWN TO REVIEW.
UM, THEY'LL HAVE ALL, YOU KNOW, THE, UH, ISLANDS IN IT, THE LIGHTS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF FOR US TO REVIEW, WHERE THEY'RE GONNA RESTRICT A BUNCH OF THE LEFT HAND TURNS.
BUT THEY'RE SAYING BY SPRING RIGHT NOW, WE'LL HAVE A SET OF PLANS TO REVIEW FROM THEM.
THANK YOU MR. WEER, WE HAVE A YES MA'AM.
I HAVE A LOT GOING ON, DON'T WE? YES, MA'AM.
[7.A. Special Use Permit for Short-Term Rental at 309 E Prospect Street – Yaohua Gu – L. Kopishke]
THE NEXT SECTION OF OUR MEETING IS FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS.UM, JUST A LITTLE, UH, INFORMATION.
UM, PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNSEL TO LEARN OF INFORMATION OF WHICH THEY MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY AWARE.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, THEN COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
IF THE COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, YOU MAY SIMPLY SAY THAT YOU AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.
UH, THERE IS A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.
UM, WITH THAT IN MIND, WILL NOW BEGIN.
UM, THE FIRST, UH, PUBLIC HEARING IS THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 3 0 9 EAST PROSPECT STREET.
MS. PRESLEY, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER A REQUEST FROM MRS. GU FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 3 0 9 EAST PROSPECT STREET.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED R DASH THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO RENT THE ENTIRE HOME.
AN INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2022, AND IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH 51.
THE PROPERTY IS LIMITED TO THREE CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY.
THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AT THEIR MEETING HELD ON DECEMBER 21ST, 2022, WITH NO CONDITIONS.
I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
MS. PRESLEY, IS THERE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK FOR THIS ONE? NO, WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.
IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN REGARDS TO THIS ITEM? YOU WOULD? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
I LIVE AT THREE 15 BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.
THE ONLY CONCERN I WOULD HAVE BE PARKING THERE ON BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.
[00:30:01]
NARROW AS IT IS.AND IF YOU PUT MORE TRAFFIC IN PARKING ON THE CURBS, I MEAN, A FIRE TRUCK WOULD PROBABLY HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING THROUGH IF A PICKUP TRUCK WAS ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREET THERE.
SO THAT'S MY ONLY CONCERN IS, UH, IF THE STREET WAS A LITTLE BIT WIDER THROUGH IT, 300 BLOCK, IT WOULDN'T BE NO PROBLEM.
YOU KNOW WHAT, I HAVE A FEELING THAT YOU'RE GONNA, YOU REALLY WANTED US TO HEAR THAT COMMENT FOR THE ONE ON BLUE RIDGE AVENUE? THIS ONE IS ON EAST PROSPECT STREET.
UH, ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS ONE? ALL RIGHT, THEN I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.
MADAME MAYOR, I MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A REQUEST FROM, I'M SORRY, I'M GONNA BUTCHER THAT.
MRS. GU, FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 3 0 9 EAST PROSPECT STREET.
OKAY, DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.
AND, UH, COUNSEL, THIS IS TIME FOR YOU TO DISCUSS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION.
UM, WE'VE SEEN, I THINK 14 OF THESE LAUREN CONFIRMED AT OUR LAST WORK SESSION.
THIS ONE HAS AMPLE PARKING AVAILABLE FOR IT.
UM, AND SO THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY ISSUES WITH IT WHATSOEVER.
SO ANYBODY ELSE ON COUNCIL COUNCILORS TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS TOPIC? NO.
YEAH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY AS A MEMBER, FORMER MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, THE APPLICATION AND ALL THE INFORMATION IS STILL THE SAME.
SO, MS. PRESLEY, I BELIEVE WE'RE READY FOR A VOTE.
WHO'S SECOND? WHO WAS SECOND? I BELIEVE MR. COUNCILMAN ROGERS.
[7.B. Special Use Permit for a Short-Term Rental at 302 Blue Ridge Ave – Melody Luskey/ Luskey Properties – Kopishke]
B IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT-TERM RENTAL AT 3 0 2 BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.UM, MS. PRESLEY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO, WOULD YOU MIND READING THE SUMMARY? COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A REQUEST FROM TABITHA LUSK OF LUSK PROPERTIES LLL C FOR SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT-TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT 3 0 2 BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED R DASH THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT AND LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO RENT THE ENTIRE HOME.
THE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON NOVEMBER 30TH, 2022.
THE SITE IS IN FULL COMPLIANCE WITH TOWN CODE SECTION 1 75 DASH 1 51.
THE PROPERTY IS LIMITED TO THREE CARS IN THE DRIVEWAY.
I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING, SUPPOSEDLY.
IS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, I HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.
DID YOU WANNA, DID YOU JUST WANNA, UH, OBJECT THAT THAT WAS THE ONE IF, I MEAN, YOU COULD JUST SAY I ECHO WHAT YOU SAID BEFORE, BUT IF YOU, BUT IF, I'LL ECHO WHAT I SAID BEFORE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO ADD THAT, UH, LIKE I SAY, THAT 300 BLOCK OF BLUE RIDGE AVENUE IS NARROW.
YOU PUT TWO GOOD SIZED PICKUP TRUCKS ON EACH SIDE OF THE STREET.
A FOREIGN TRUCK WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET THROUGH, BUT WITHOUT HITTING ONE OF 'EM.
OUR VEHICLES ARE HIT QUITE A BIT WITH THE MIRRORS TAKEN OFF THERE ON BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.
I THINK THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GOT PLENTY OF REPORTS ON IT.
SO IF YOU NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, THEY COULD PROBABLY GET IT TO YOU.
BUT IT IS A NARROW STREET THROUGH THERE AND THE MORE TRAFFIC ON IT, THE MORE PARKING ON IT, THE HIGHER IT'S GONNA BE FOR EVERYBODY.
DID YOU STATE, YOU STATED YOUR NAME THE FIRST TIME.
WHAT WAS YOUR NAME? BOB SKILLMAN.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT? UM, THERE'S THIS UP.
HI, HOW YOU DOING? IT'S MY PROPERTY.
UM, WE DO HAVE PARKING THREE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS A FIRE LANE, SO WE CAN'T EVEN PARK IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE CUZ THERE IS A FIRE LANE RIGHT THERE.
DOES, UM, DOES ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MS. LUSK WHILE SHE'S SITTING HERE? YEAH.
ANYBODY, ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING ELSE THEY WANNA SAY? NOPE.
UM, WELL, I I HAVE ONE COMMENT.
SO IF NOBODY ELSE IS HERE TO SPEAK, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING NOW.
UH, I'M, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL.
SO BEFORE THERE'S A DISCUSSION, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION.
MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVE A REQUEST FROM TABITHA LUSK OF LUSK PROPERTIES LLC FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT 3 0 2 BLUE RIDGE AVENUE TAX MAP.
OKAY, NOW WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION.
[00:35:01]
UH, TOWARD THE APPLICANT, UH, RA RATHER THAN, THAN THE CONCERN OF MR. SKILLMAN.UH, YOUR POINT IS WELL TAKEN, SIR.
PERHAPS WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT MAYBE PARKING ON ONE SIDE OF THE STREET.
I MEAN, YOU CAN ON THE, UH, EAST SIDE OF BLUE RIDGE, YOU GOT YOUR SIDEWALK, THEN YOU GOT A GRASSY ISLAND IN THAT BLOCK, AND THEN YOU GOT THE CURB AND BITTER.
TAKE THAT ISLAND OUT, WIDEN IT BACK AT IT LIKE IT USED TO BE.
I DON'T WANT THE ISLANDS PUT BACK IN THAT STORE.
MR. SKILLMAN, THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING AND ECHOING YOUR CONCERNS.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT CURRENTLY, UM, THE APPLICANT DOES HAVE THREE OFF STREET PARKING SITES.
UM, AND AS SHE MENTIONED, THERE IS A FIRE LANE OUT FRONT.
I DID DRIVE BY AND LOOK AT IT.
I TRY TO, UH, TEND TO BE, UM, MINDFUL OF THE TRAFFIC ISSUES THAT ALREADY EXIST IN DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL.
UM, AND SO IF IT WEREN'T FOR THEM HAVING THEIR THREE OFF STREETE PARKING IN THE FIRE LANE OUT FRONT, I PROBABLY WOULD'VE TAKEN A DIFFERENT CONSIDERATION.
UM, AND ALSO, JUST AS A REMINDER, A LOT OF THESE SHORT-TERM RENTALS AREN'T GOING TO HOUSE ANY MORE PEOPLE THAN IT WOULD'VE THAT OCCUPIED THE HOME AS A LONG-TERM RENTAL OR WHO LIVED THERE AND OWNED IT.
UM, SO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING CONCERNS TO US THAT WE NEED TO ADDRESS FOR THE LONG TERM AS WELL.
AND THESE ARE ON A COMPLAINT BASIS, ALL SHORT-TERM RENTALS THAT WE ADOPT.
UM, SO IF THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH IT, UM, YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO CONTACT PLANNING AND ZONING, UM, MS. CAP'S OFFICE BACK THERE.
AND, UH, WE RESPOND ON A COMPLAINT BASIS TO ALL SHORT-TERM RENTALS.
I DO AGREE WITH, I DO AGREE WITH MR. WITH MR. SKILLMAN.
UH, I'VE DRIVEN THE FIRETRUCK UP THROUGH THERE AND IT'S TIGHT.
UH, WOULD ANYBODY ELSE COUNSEL WANNA OFFER FOR DISCUSSION? MADAM MAYOR.
MR. SKILLMAN, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
I KNOW HOW NARROW THE STREET GETS UP, UH, ON THE 300 BLOCK.
UH, WHAT I WILL SAY IS, IF, IF THIS MEASURE PASSES, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT, UH, UH, YOU AND OTHERS, UH, WOULD LET THE COUNCIL AND THE TOWN KNOW IF THERE ARE ISSUES RELATED TO ANY PARKING, UM, OR EVEN THROUGH, UH, THROUGHPUT, UH, ON THE ROAD THAT WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THAT.
IF THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION, MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU DO ROLL CALL? COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.
[7.D. Receive Public Input and Take Action on a Request for Vacation of a Portion of Public Alley located adjacent to 1202 Virginia Ave and 111 & 117 W. 12th St – Mr. & Mrs. Wade Holloway/Mr. & Mrs. William Holloway – Waltz]
UP.UM, SINCE SEVEN C WAS REMOVED FROM THE AGENDA, WE'LL BE MOVING ON TO 70 D UH, WHERE WE WILL RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT AND TAKE ACTION ON A REQUEST FOR A VACATION OF A PORTION OF PUBLIC ALLEY LOCATED ADJACENT TO 1202 VIRGINIA AVENUE AND ONE 11 AND ONE 17 WEST 12TH STREET.
MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY FOR US COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO RECEIVE INPUT FROM THE PUBLIC PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 DASH 2 0 0 6, PERTAINING TO AN APPLICATION FROM MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM HOLLOWAY AND MR. AND MRS. WADE HOLLOWAY REQUESTING THE TOWN TO VACATE A PORTION OF A PUBLIC ALLEYWAY LOCATED ADJACENT TO 1202 VIRGINIA AVENUE AND ONE 11 AND ONE 17 WEST 12TH STREET WITH THE INTENT TO PURCHASE THE VACATED ALLEYWAY FROM THE TOWN.
COUNSEL IS FURTHER REQUESTED TO TAKE ACTION ON THE APPLICATION REQUEST.
AM GONNA GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, WE HAVE SIX.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
I ALSO SERVE AS THE BOARD CHAIR AT CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN AND ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND JUST ABOUT ALL OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR CHURCH HAVE, UH, ALL SAID THAT THEY'RE IN AGREEMENT IN FAVOR OF LEAVING THE ALLEYWAY JUST AS IT IS.
THERE ARE TIMES WE HAVE ACTIVITIES AT THE CHURCH AND WE USE PART OF THE ALLEYWAY TO HAVE OUR ACTIVITIES THERE ON.
AND ONE OTHER CONCERN IS FOR SAFETY.
WE HAVE TWO EXITS RIGHT NOW, BUT IF AN EMERGENCY OR SOMETHING WOULD COME UP AND THE MAIN ENTRANCE WOULD BE BLOCKED AND WE COULDN'T GET OUT, WE WOULD NEED THE ALLEYWAY IN ORDER FOR THE
[00:40:01]
CARS TO GET OUT OF THERE.AND IF, UH, THAT'S DONE, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
MR. PRESLEY, WHO WOULD BE NEXT? LEE KEELER.
HOW'S EVERYBODY DOING TONIGHT? GOOD.
UM, MR. KEELER, I'M GONNA LET YOU GO AHEAD AND, AND STATE YOUR ADDRESS AS WELL.
UH, MY ADDRESS IS 20 21 94 RO TOWN ROAD, CLEARBROOK, VIRGINIA.
I AM FROM THE CHURCH OF BRELIN AND I OWN LEE'S LAWN CARE.
AND I DO THE MOWING AT THE CHURCH.
I'VE BEEN DOING IT DOING IT FOR SIX YEARS.
SO WHEN I STARTED THIS, I WAS INSTRUCTED TO MOW THE CHURCH YARD AND IF THE ALLEY WASN'T MOWED TO MOW ALLEY, ALSO, IF THIS ALLEY HAS LEFT PUBLIC, I WILL SHARE A MOANING WITH ALL PARTIES.
THAT WAY THERE'S NO MAINTENANCE TO THE TOWN.
AND I STRONGLY, UH, OBJECT TO VOTE VACATING THIS, UH, ALLEYWAY.
AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE TOWN'S EVER LOOKED AT IT, BUT IT WOULD BE A GOOD ACCESS FAR FOR FAR AND RESCUE ALSO TO USE IT IF ANY OF THEM HOUSES CALLED ON FAR ALL THE WAY UP THE ALLEY.
HE, I, I AGREE WITH WHAT LEE SAID.
I AGREE WITH WHAT STEVE SAID, SO, OKAY.
SO MR. VULGAR CAN BE ON RECORD AS AN AGREEMENT WITH TWO PREVIOUS SPEAKERS, AND THEN WHO WOULD BE SIGNED UP NEXT? WAYNE WOODWARD.
I, UH, I HAD A WHOLE BUNCH OF STUFF, BUT I I'M GONNA TAKE A SHORTCUT HERE.
MR. WOODWARD, COULD YOU GO AHEAD AND STATE YOUR ADDRESS FOR, UH, WAYNE WOODWARD? ONE 20 WEST 13TH STREET.
I LIVE RIGHT BESIDE THE CHURCH.
UH, AS A CHURCH MEMBER, I STRONGLY OBJECT TO, IT'S REALLY GOING TO DEVASTATE THEM, BUT I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF HERE BECAUSE I LIVE ON THAT ALLEY AND IT HAS BEEN GREAT FOR ME.
UH, I BOUGHT THE HOUSE THERE AND WE HAD TO DO A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK TO IT.
AND IT HADN'T BEEN FOR THE ALLEY.
I DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW I COULD HAVE DONE THAT BECAUSE I COME DOWN THE ALLEY.
I EITHER GO THROUGH THE CHURCH AND COME DOWN, OR I COME ALL THE WAY FROM VIRGINIA AVENUE AND, UH, WE'RE BRINGING THINGS IN THE HOUSE, YOU KNOW, HEATING SYSTEM.
WE PUT A WHOLE NEW HEATING SYSTEM IN IT, UH, AND COOLING AND JUST A LOT OF THINGS.
I CAN'T, YOU KNOW, REMEMBER EVERYTHING.
BUT IT WAS SO EASY DOING THAT BY BACKING RIGHT UP TO THE DOOR, THE HEATING AND COOLING.
PEOPLE WOULD BACK THEIR VAN UP THERE AND GET THEIR STUFF OUT, PUT IT RIGHT THROUGH THE DOOR, TWO OR THREE FEET, YOU KNOW, IT'S SO EASY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW WE COULD'VE GOT IT FROM THE FRONT, BUT LIKE SOME WAY WE WOULD'VE HAD TO.
BUT ANYWAY, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO ME.
AND THERE'S NUMEROUS, UH, REASONS, BUT THINGS LIKE, I HAVE A PELLET STOVE THAT'S MY HEAT, AND THAT HEATS THE WHOLE BOTTOM OF MY HOUSE AND DOES A LOT OF HEATING UPSTAIRS.
AND I HAVE TO BRING IN PELLETS.
I'M 75 YEARS OLD NOW, AND THESE PELLETS ARE GETTING HEAVY, YOU KNOW, AND THEY WEIGH 40 POUNDS A BAG, AND I CAN JUST COME RIGHT UP THE ALLEY, BACK UP TO THE DOOR AND PUT 'EM IN THE HOUSE.
IF IT TAKES ME ALL DAY, THAT'S OKAY TOO, YOU KNOW.
BUT ANYWAY, SO THINGS LIKE THAT.
AND, UH, I HAVE A BUILDING OUT THERE IN THE BACKYARD THAT I BOUGHT OFF THE CORNER FROM THE BUILDING SALES UP THERE.
THE ONLY WAY THEY COULD GET THAT BUILDING IN THERE WAS COME DOWN THAT ALLEY.
NOW WHAT AM I GOING TO DO IF YOU GUYS TAKE IT AWAY? SUPPOSE I HAVE TO TAKE IT OUT.
I, HOPEFULLY I NEVER WILL, BUT IT'S A POSSIBILITY.
JUST THINGS LIKE THAT TREE BRUSH.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I WOULD'VE GOTTEN IT OUT OF THERE, YOU KNOW, WITHOUT BACKING RIGHT DOWN THE ALLEY AND LOADING EVERYTHING UP.
AND AS I SAY, UH, I JUST BACK RIGHT UP TO MY DOOR, IF ANYTHING ELSE.
THAT ALLEY'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
AND I HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANYBODY SQUALLING ABOUT IT.
I HAVEN'T ANY PROBLEM WITH IT.
SO WHAT'S, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? IT SHOULD, I THINK IT SHOULD STAY.
IT'S GOING TO DEVASTATE ME, BUT NOW I WILL HAVE TO SAY, UH,
[00:45:01]
IT'S GOING TO HURT ME A LOT, BUT IT'S GOING TO RUIN THE CHURCH THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT NOW.I, I'M NOT, UH, SAYING ANYTHING NEGATIVE HERE.
UH, BUT, UH, WADE COME TO MY HOUSE AND TOLD ME THAT WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO WITH THE FENCING AND ALL THAT, HE SAID, I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THIS.
AND I SAYS, DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO DO THIS? YEAH.
AND THE OTHER THING, AND I TRIED TO TALK TO HIM ABOUT A GATE, PERHAPS PUTTING A GATE THERE FOR EMERGENCY USES AND STUFF.
NO GATES, YOU KNOW, CUT AND DRIED.
THE FENCE IS GOING TO COME RIGHT OVER TO THE PARKING LOT OF THE CHURCH.
THEY'RE GOING TO BE SQUEEZED IN BIG TIME.
IT'S GOING TO SQUEEZE ME SOME TOO, BUT IT'S GOING TO REALLY SQUEEZE THEM.
AND THE CHILDREN PLAY THERE BECAUSE IT'S, IT'S GRASSED OUT.
AND I WILL HAVE TO SAY MR. HOLLOWAY BACK THERE DOES DO THAT A LOT.
AND OF COURSE, ANYBODY I KNOW IT, UH, DIFFERENT ONES HAVE DONE THAT.
BUT, UH, IT'S, IT JUST SEEMS SO NICE THAT WE ALL CAN BE NICE TO EACH OTHER AND USE THAT ALLEYWAY WHEN WE HAVE TO.
I'M NOT GONNA STAND HERE AND CONVINCE YOU THAT, BUT I'VE USED IT A LOT.
AND IT'S, IT HADN'T HAVE BEEN THAT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WOULD'VE GOT THINGS DONE.
I THINK MY LETTER SAID THAT I PUT A WHOLE NEW FLOOR IN MY BASEMENT.
AND THE FLOORING GUYS, THAT'S HOW THEY BOUGHT EVERYTHING IN.
IT WAS SO EASY, YOU KNOW? AND, UH, I GOT A POOL TABLE IN THERE I WANT TO GET RID OF ONE DAY.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I LOVE GET RID OF THAT.
BUT ANYWAY, MAY HAVE TO JUST KEEP IT AND USE IT FOR SOMETHING ELSE, BUT, UH, REALLY PLEASE.
I, YOU KNOW, I'LL TELL YOU THIS.
JUST LIKE I SAID, I'M GONNA DON'T DO THIS.
IT'S, IT'S REALLY GONNA BE HARD ON US.
AND LIKE I SAID, I WAS GONNA SAY THANK YOU, MR. WOOD.
AND YOU ACTUALLY MADE MENTION ABOUT A LETTER, AND I JUST WILL SAY THAT COUNSEL WAS PROVIDED ANY, UH, CORRESPONDENCE, UH, FROM, UM, FROM THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT? IT WAS, OR IT WAS.
I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU, YOU, YOU WERE REFERRING TO IT.
SO, MS. PRESLEY, WHO'S NEXT? DAVID EARHART.
I LIVE AT 8 48 WEST 13TH STREET, FRONT ROYAL, UH, THE ALLEY IN QUESTION HERE.
WE HAVE AN EXIT CUT OUT IN OUR CONCRETE.
IT'S BEEN THERE 28 YEARS SINCE WE PUT OUR ADDITION ON OUR CHURCH.
ABOUT SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE STARTED A SAFETY TEAM IN OUR CHURCH.
WE HAVE A NINE MEMBER SAFETY TEAM.
WE GO THROUGH A LOT OF SEMINARS, A LOT OF EVACUATION PLANS, A LOT OF STUFF.
THE REASON WE STARTED THIS, IF YOU REMEMBER ABOUT SIX OR SEVEN YEARS AGO, WE HAD A LOT OF BOMBINGS OF CHURCHES.
WE HAD SOME SHOOTINGS OF CHURCHES.
NOW THEY WERE NOT ALL IN THIS AREA, BUT WHO'S TO SAY THEY CAN'T BE IN THIS AREA? NOW, SINCE WE HAVE STARTED THAT, WE HAVE ALSO ADDED A FIRE ESCAPE EVACUATION PLAN.
OUR, OUR SAFETY TEAM HAS HAD SEVERAL TRAINING MISSIONS.
WE'VE HAD CPR TRAINING, A E D TRAINING, EVACUATION TRAINING.
WE TAKE THIS VERY, VERY SERIOUS.
WE'VE HAD A FIRE MARSHAL COME TO OUR CHURCH AND GO THROUGH, IT'S LIKE A COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
EVERY DOOR IN OUR CHURCH HAS AN EXIT SIGN.
EVERY EXIT DOOR HAS AN EXIT SIGN.
EVERY EXIT SIGN HAS LIGHTS BESIDE IT.
SO WHEN WE HAVE TO EVACUATE BECAUSE OF A FIRE INSIDE, SMOKE INSIDE, OR JUST GAS SMELL, THIS IS NOT A NORMAL EVACUATION.
WE HAVE 50 TO 70 PEOPLE EACH SUNDAY AT CHURCH.
NOW, WE DON'T KNOW WHEN AN EMERGENCY IS GONNA HAPPEN.
THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED AN EMERGENCY.
WE HAVE A PLAN, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT OR NOT, BUT I HAVE, WE'VE MADE A PLAN AND IT'S TO EVACUATE
[00:50:01]
FROM THE BACK THREE DOORS.I THINK IF YOU LOOK ON YOUR IPAD, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT'S DOORS NUMBER FOUR, DOORS NUMBER FIVE, DOORS NUMBER SIX, DOORS NUMBER FOUR, DOORS NUMBER FIVE COME FROM OUR SANCTUARY DOOR.
NUMBER SIX COMES FROM OUR CHILDREN'S CHURCH AND OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASSES.
SO WE HAVE TO EVACUATE OUT THE BACK.
NOW, OUR PARKING LOT, IF YOU'RE LOOKING ON SOME OF THE PICTURES, YOU'LL SEE THAT OUR PARKING LOT IS LIKE 50 FEET WIDE.
IT'S TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT A NORMAL EVACUATION, IN ORDER TO GET AWAY FROM A A BUILDING, YOU NEED TO BE FARTHER THAN 50 FEET.
SO THAT'S WHY WE HAVE DESIGNATED THE ALLEY AS A MEETING PLACE.
A MEETING PLACE FOR OUR CONGREGATION.
NOW, THE REASON WE HAVE A MEETING PLACE, I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FIREMAN, YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT WE HAVE A MEETING PLACE FOR A HEADCOUNT.
THIS IS IF WE HAVE ANY EMERGENCIES INSIDE, WE HAVE TO HAVE A HEADCOUNT.
WE DON'T WANT PEOPLE GETTING IN THEIR CARS AND LEAVING, BECAUSE THEN WE HAVE NO HEADCOUNT.
WE HAVE OUR USHERS, THEY TAKE A HEADCOUNT EVERY SUNDAY OF WHO'S IN THE CHURCH, NOT WHO'S IN THE CHURCH, BUT A NUMBER.
AND THAT'S NUMBER WHAT WE HAVE TO GO BY.
SO WE HAVE A MEETING PLACE TO GO TO NOW THAT IS FOR INSIDE EVACUATION.
IF ANYTHING HAPPENS INSIDE THE CHURCH, WE EVACUATE TO THE BACK.
MR. MR, I JUST WANTED TO, WE CAN, WE'VE GOT ABOUT ONE MORE MINUTE.
CAN YOU, CAN YOU WRAP UP? I'LL TRY
ANYWAYS, WE DO HAVE TO EVACUATE IF SOMETHING HAPPENS OUT ON 13TH STREET IN FRONT OF THE CHURCH.
UH, IT COULD BE, UM, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
IT COULD BE A FIRE TOWNHOUSE OUT THERE ON FIRE.
NOW SUPPOSE WE'RE IN CHURCH AT 11 O'CLOCK AND THIS HAPPENS AT 1110.
WE DON'T KNOW IF THAT HAPPENS, THEN THAT IS WHERE OUR CAR EVACUATION COMES IN.
WE CAN EVACUATE RIGHT OUT THROUGH THE ALLEY.
SO THAT'S WHY WE STRONGLY OPPOSE CLOSING THIS ALLEY.
AND FURTHERMORE, THERE'S GONNA BE A SIX FOOT HIGH FENCE ALL THE WAY UP OUR CURB LINE.
WE HAVE A LOT OF ELDERLY PEOPLE THERE.
OUR SAFETY TEAM TAKES THIS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY.
THAT'S WHY IF YOU'RE LOOK IN YOUR NOTEBOOK, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE 15 BOARD MEMBERS THAT HAVE SIGNED THIS AGREEING WITH OUR SAFETY TEAM.
WE HAVE 50 MEMBERS OF OUR CONGREGATION THAT SIGNED THAT, AGREEING WITH OUR SAFETY TEAM.
THEN THEY'RE THE, THE CHURCH IS BACK IN THE SAFETY TEAM.
ANY QUESTIONS? I'D BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE TO ANSWER.
I'M, I'M, UH, WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO MOVE INTO THE DISCUSSION PHASE AND THEN WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS WE CAN ASK YOU THEN.
DURING, DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IT'S JUST YOU, YOU TELL US YOUR THOUGHTS AND THEN WE LISTEN AND THEN, OKAY.
MS. PRESLEY, IS THERE ANYONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? OUR LAST SPEAKER SIGNED UP AS BOB SKILLMAN.
I'M OLD BOB SKILLMAN, THREE 15 BLUE RIDGE AVENUE.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE FRONT ROYAL CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN.
I'VE BEEN ON THE, UH, BOARD FOR SEVERAL YEARS, UH, SUNDAY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT FOR SEVERAL YEARS AT THE CHURCH.
BUT ANYWAY, I PRETTY MUCH KNOW WHAT GOES ON WITH THE CHURCH.
UH, I AGREE WITH, UH, MR. EARHART, EVERYTHING THAT HE SAID AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT'S BEEN SAID.
WE DO HAVE, UH, CUT IN FOR TRAFFIC TO GO OUT INTO THE ALLEY.
MR. HOLLOWAY USES THIS CUT IN THROUGH OUR PARKING LOT.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU GET INTO HIS BACKYARD.
SO IF HE CUTS THAT ALL OUT, I MEAN, THAT'S GONNA HURT HIM TOO.
I DON'T KNOW WHY HE IS EVEN GOING THIS ROUTE, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S GONNA HURT HIM.
I'VE GOT ROAD DOWN HERE CAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER TOO GOOD ANYMORE.
UH, OUR CHURCH USED THIS ALLEY FOR FAMILY FUN DAY.
WE HAVE HAD A BOUNCY BALL HOUSE THERE.
WE HAVE STEVE FOSTER'S AMAZING GRACE MULE WHO, UH, PUTS ON SHOWS THERE IN THE, UH, GRASS AREA.
WE HAVEN'T DONE ANY OF THIS FOR THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS BECAUSE OF THE COVID.
BUT NOW THAT THE COVID IS PRETTY MUCH OVER WITH, WE ARE STARTING TO, UH, SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS IS STARTING TO, UH, GO BACK INTO DOING STUFF OVER THERE.
[00:55:01]
BEEN WEST OF OUR EMERGENCY EXIT, I TOLD YOU, INTO THE GRASSY AREA THERE.AND WE DON'T BLOCK ANYONE FROM EXITING OR ENTERING THAT ALLEYWAY.
BUT WE DO USE IT MAYBE TWICE A YEAR, THREE TIMES A YEAR.
WE HAVE NOT HAD THIS FOR, LIKE I SAY, FOR SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE OF THE COVID.
WE DO HAVE PLANS TO USE IT AGAIN, THIS IS WHY WE STRONGLY OPPOSE VACATING AS SALLY AND I HAVE A STATEMENT HERE FROM, UH, DEBBIE SMOOTHER, UH, SUNDAY SCHOOL DIRECTOR.
SO SHE ASKED ME IF I COULD READ THIS.
JUST TO ADD TO THE ABOVE, WE ARE PART OF THE, UH, GRAS EGG HUNT GRAS AREA FOR OUR TWO TO FOUR YEAR OLD EVER EASTER FOR THEIR EASTER EGG HUNT.
WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF GRASS AREA WE USE, BUT WE USE QUITE A BIT OF THAT ALLEYWAY THERE FOR OUR EASTER SUNDAY SCHOOL.
EASTER, I MEAN, WHAT, HOW YOU GOING TO STOP TWO TO FOUR YEAR OLD KIDS FROM RUNNING THROUGH THERE? YOU PUT UP A SIX FOOT FENCE.
WELL, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN? IT'S GONNA BE A PROBLEM.
AND LIKE I SAY, MR. HOLLOWAY, HE USES THAT RIGHT OF WAY THROUGH THERE TO GET TO HIS HOUSE.
AND THEY HAD A FIRE AND ONE OF THEM BACKED HOUSES THERE UP FROM THE ALLEY.
WOULD THEY RATHER RUN A HOSE FROM UH, 50 OR 75 FEET OR 200 FEET TO GET TO A FIRE? WE'LL DO BOTH.
I MEAN, IF YOU BLOCK THAT OFF, THAT'S GONNA CUT THAT ALLEY OFF.
AND ALL THOSE HOUSES ON THE BACK OF THAT ALLEY ARE GONNA BE EXPOSED TO, YOU KNOW, THE ONLY WAY ACCESS WOULD BE FROM 12TH STREET, WHICH IS QUITE A DISTANCE AWAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I BEG TO CANCEL TO NOT DO THIS IS FOR THE VACATE THE ALLEY.
CAUSE THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE NEED IT.
MR. HOLLOWAY NEEDS IT CAUSE HE COMES IN AND OUT THAT WAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
HOPE SOMEBODY EXPLAINED IT TO ME.
MRS. PRESLEY, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, WE HAVE NO ONE ELSE.
UH, THERE, THERE IS NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT IF ANYBODY WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK DURING THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
UH, MY NAME IS JOE SOAK AND I REPRESENT THE APPLICANT, UH, THE HOLLOWAYS.
UM, LET ME FIRST SAY THAT, UH, I'M NOT HERE TO CRITICIZE, UM, ONE OF THE CHURCH IN THEIR POSITION.
I'D JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT A COUPLE INCONSISTENCIES IN THEIR ARGUMENTS, UH, UH, TO COUNSEL IN ONE BREATH.
THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT EMERGENCIES, USING IT FOR EVACUATIONS.
AND THE NEXT THING THEY SAY, WELL, WE USE IT FOR EASTER EGG HUNTS IN SUNDAY SCHOOL.
YOU HAVE, YOU CAN'T HAVE CHILDREN IN THE MIDDLE THE RIGHT OF WAY WITH CARS TRYING TO EVACUATE TO CHURCH.
IT, IT, IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE.
UM, I UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE SAYING.
THEY'VE USED IT, UM, FOR A MULTIPLE PURPOSES.
UM, BUT THEY HAVE SOME INCONSISTENCIES IN THEIR REASONS.
AND I JUST WANNA POINT THAT OUT TO COUNSEL.
UM, MY CLIENT HAS BEEN TAKING CARE OF THIS ALLEY, UM, FOR YEARS IN A LOT OF YEARS.
THERE SHOULD BE PICTURES IN YOUR FILE, IF NOT AS HAVE SOME.
BUT THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AND THERE'S A BIG RAVINE OR A SWELL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ALLEY FOR WATER TO RUN THROUGH.
SO, SO IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT FOR A VEHICLE, UH, UH, TO, TO AND FROM UNLESS YOU HAVE A, A TRUCK OR SOME OTHER, SO, UH, A SIMILAR VEHICLE.
SO, UM, MY CLIENT WOULD LIKE TO, UH, YOU KNOW, WHEN I HAVE THE ALLEY CLOSED AND THEN PURCHASE IT FROM THE TOWN, HE'S NOT ASKING THE TOWN TO GIVE IT TO HIM.
UM, WHEN, AND WE KNOW THERE'S A PROCESS TO GO GET IT APPRAISED AND FOR THE TOWN TO THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVE TO SELL IT FOR THE APPRAISED VALUE.
SO, UM, I WISH YOU WOULD CONSIDER MY CLIENT'S APPLICATION MOST FAVORABLY.
UH, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ONCE YOU, UH, START YOUR DISCUSSION.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS TOPIC? WHAT'S ON HERE? MY NAME IS FRANK LAKE LIVE 35 22 GUARD, HILL HILL ROAD FROM
[01:00:01]
ROYAL VIRGINIA.UM, I'M A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH ALSO.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT, UH, DAKOTA OF VIRGINIA, 15.2 2000, CHAPTER 20 DOES HAVE SOME THINGS TO SAY ABOUT ALI'S FIRE TRUCKS AND EMERGENCY SERVICES ALL THE WAY THROUGH 2027 OF THOSE CHAPTERS THERE.
UM, I'M NOT LAWYER WISE, BUT UM, IT DOES STATE SOME THINGS.
IT'S KIND OF INTERESTING, THE REASON IT SHOULD STAY OPEN.
UM, ANOTHER THING IS, UM, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF CHURCHES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS AS TIGHT FIT, BUT UH, YOU GOT SEVERAL STREETS THERE.
IF, UH, JUST SAY THERE IS A FIRE EMERGENCIES, UH, IT'S AN OPTION TO GO INTO TO THE ALLEY CUZ IT'S MORE WORKABLE TO BRING A PERSON OUT THAT WAY, UH, TO AN AMBULANCE ON A GURNEY.
UH, ALSO YOU WON'T BLOCK TRAFFIC FLOWING FROM WHEREVER TO WHEREVER.
UH, FEW THINGS TO LOOK AT AND I APPRECIATE Y'ALL'S TIME.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK MR. BOWMAN? I WOULD, HOLD ON ONE SECOND.
I, UM, I, I BELIEVE THAT OUR RULES, IT'S JUST YOU'RE ALLOWED ONE THREE MINUTE, RIGHT? OKAY.
I JUST WANT TO PROBABLY DON'T KNOW MR. SALK'S STATEMENT VERY WELL.
RIGHT? WELL, WE HAVE TO, WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
AND THEN IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS ON COUNSEL, THEY, THEY COULD ASK SOMEBODY.
UM, ANYBODY ELSE WANNA SPEAK? OKAY, I'M GONNA OPEN UP TO COUNT.
OH, WELL, LET ME CLOSE THE PUBLIC AREA AND OPEN UP THE COUNCIL.
IS, IS THERE A MOTION? IS THERE MO IS, IF THERE'S NO MOTION,
WELL, MADAM MAYOR, I'LL MAKE A MOTION.
UH, WE HAVE TO HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND TO GO TO DISCUSSION.
SO, UM, I'LL MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPOINT VIEWERS TO VIEW THE PUBLIC ALLEYWAY AND REPORT ANY INCONVENIENCES TO THE COUNCIL THAT WOULD RESULT IN US GRANTING THE APPROVAL.
THIS REQUEST FOR MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM HOLLOWAY AND MR. AND MRS. WADE HOLLOWAY FOR THE TOWN TO VACATE A PORTION OF A PUBLIC ALLEYWAY LOCATED ADJACENT TO 1202 VIRGINIA AVENUE AND ONE 11 AND ONE 17 WEST 12TH STREET.
I HAVE A SLIGHT PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO MAKE SURE IT CONFORMS THE LAW, WHICH IS THE INCONVENIENCES TO THE PUBLIC NOT TO.
YOU WANT TO REREAD IT NOT TO COUNSEL? WELL, IT'S, YOU READ IT AS WORDED, BUT IT SHOULD BE.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REMAKE MY MOTION? THANK YOU, MADAM MAYOR.
I MOVE THE COUNCIL APPOINT VIEWERS TO VIEW THE PUBLIC ALLEYWAY AND REPORT ANY INCONVENIENCES OF THE PUBLIC OR TO THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD RESULT FROM GRANTING APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST FROM MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM HOLLOWAY AND MR. AND MRS. WADE HOLLOWAY FOR THE TOWN TO VACATE A PORTION OF A PUBLIC ALLEYWAY LOCATED ADJACENT TO 1202 VIRGINIA AVENUE AND ONE 11 AND ONE 17 WEST 12TH STREET.
SO NOW WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND, AND NOW WE CAN HAVE DISCUSSION.
SO, UH, WHICH MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD JUST ADD TO THE DISCUSSION THAT THE REASON FOR MY MOTION WAS WE HAVE THREE OPTIONS HERE TONIGHT.
WE CAN APPROVE THE VACATION OF THE ALLEYWAY, UM, AND ALLOW THE PROCESS TO PROCEED FOR, UM, THE HOLLOWAYS TO PURCHASE THIS, OR WE COULD DENY THE REQUEST.
AND THEN THE THIRD MOTION, WHICH IS THE MOTION THAT I MADE, ALLOWS US TO APPOINT VIEWERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCE IN VACATING ALLEYWAYS.
UM, WE DO HAVE FEEDBACK FROM TOWN STAFF REGARDING UTILITIES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE, AND WE DO HAVE FEEDBACK FROM ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS, UM, AND SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THAT AREA.
AND SO THE MOTION THAT I'VE PROPOSED, UM, WOULD ALLOW AN UNBIASED, UM, PRESENTATION AND REPORT OF FACTUAL INFORMATION ABOUT VACATING THIS ALLEYWAY.
UH, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS LIKE TO ADD TO THIS DISCUSSION? YES, MADAM MAYOR.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE, UH, LOCATION FOR THE HEADCOUNT.
UH, BEING THAT IT'S IN THE GRASS ALLEY AND THIS KIND OF ALLUDES TO, UH, WHAT MR. SILAK WAS SAYING.
[01:05:01]
UH, I DO, YOU KNOW, I DO SECURITY INTEGRATIONS FOR, FOR A LIVING AND, UH, INTEGRATE WORK INTO, UH, INTO, UH, GATHERING AREAS.AND TYPICALLY, YOU DON'T WANT YOUR GATHERING AREA WHERE THERE'S GONNA BE TRAFFIC COMING THROUGH.
SO, TO HAVE IT WHERE THERE'S GONNA BE EMERGENCY VEHICLES COMING THROUGH IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
TYPICALLY, IT'S ON YOUR OWN PROPERTY, FOR ONE.
SO I, I'M JUST POINTING THAT OUT, UM, JUST FROM MY OWN BACKGROUND, UH, IN THAT REGARD.
SO, UH, AGAIN, UH, I SAID, TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION WHAT YOU GUYS ARE SAYING.
I MEAN, I, I THINK THAT THE FAIR OPTION IS TO HAVE ANOTHER SET OF EYES TAKING A LOOK AT IT.
SO, ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO ADD TO THE DISCUSSION? I WANT TO THANK THE SPEAKERS, ALL OF THEM THAT, UH, CAME FORTH TONIGHT.
I, I DO HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH VACATION, UH, VACATION OF PROPERTY.
I'M AT, UH, ONE 15 FRONT ROYAL, AND, UH, A UH, UH, VACATION OF PROPERTY WAS BROUGHT TO THE COUNCIL, OR AT LEAST IT WAS BROUGHT TO, UH, UH, TO, TO THE TOWN TO VACATE THE, UH, UH, THE PROPERTY BETWEEN THREE PROPERTIES, MYSELF AND MY TWO NEIGHBORS.
UM, AND I DO WANNA SAY THAT THE VACATION OF THAT PROPERTY WOULD HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THE THREE PROPERTIES, INCLUDING MYSELF.
I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT IT WAS GRASS.
IT DOES HAPPEN TO BE A RIGHT OF WAY FOR CHILDREN THAT GET OFF THE BUS, THAT USE THAT EVERY DAY.
UM, IT IS A SAFE PASSAGEWAY, UH, BETWEEN, UH, UH, JACKSON AND, UH, UH, UH, NOW I'M BLOCKING ON MY, NO, NO, UHUH, SAY AGAIN.
HE'S TALKING ABOUT HIS NAME OF JACKSON.
YEAH, JACK, UH, I'M ON BLUE RIDGE BETWEEN JACKSON AND, UH, OH, UH, MR. MAK.
UH, AND IT WOULD HAVE, UH, BEEN A, A MAJOR ISSUE, UH, TO JUST THE DAY-TO-DAY EASE OF, OF MOVEMENT.
UM, I, I AM VERY SENSITIVE TO THE FACT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE USE THAT, UH, RIGHT OF WAY.
AND, UH, APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS AND JUST WANT THAT UNDER CONSIDERATION.
I HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION, MADAM MAYOR.
I TOO WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY WHO CAME AND SPOKE TONIGHT, AND EVERYBODY WHO REACHED OUT THAT DIDN'T COME AND SPEAK TONIGHT AT THIS PUBLIC HEARING.
WE HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF FEEDBACK FOR SEVERAL MONTHS OVER THE VACATION OF THIS ALLEY, AND I HAVE TAKEN ALL OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
I WILL ASK FOR LEGAL ADVICE AND TELL MANAGER'S INPUT ON THIS.
UM, AFTER I ADD A FEW NOTES, I DID DRIVE BY AND LOOK AT IT MYSELF.
IT DOES LOOK LIKE IT'S A SWELL BACK THERE.
I THINK THAT WAS MENTIONED MAYBE BY MR. SILAK OR SOMEBODY ON COUNCIL.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT EMERGENCY PERSONNEL VEHICLES CAN, UH, DRIVE THROUGH THERE.
AND IN THE CASE OF A CATASTROPHIC DISASTER, THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH ANYBODY'S PROPERTY WHETHER THERE'S A RIGHT OF WAY OR NOT.
UM, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE, THERE WAS A CHAIN UP AT THE CHURCH EACH TIME I DROVE BY.
BUT WITH ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, I BELIEVE THAT THE PROCESS HERE, IF WE WERE TO VACATE THIS ALLEY, THERE'S STILL FURTHER PROCESS.
AN APPRAISAL HAS TO BE DONE AND THE TOWN HAS TO AGREE TO THE TERMS. SO TECHNICALLY, IF WE CHOSE TONIGHT TO VACATE THIS ALLEY AND HAVE IT APPRAISED AND SELL IT, THE CHURCH COULD EVEN HAVE AN APPRAISAL AND PURCHASE IT IF THEY'D WISH.
I'LL JUST SAY GENERALLY THAT IT, GENERALLY, THAT'S CORRECT.
UM, UH, THE PROPERTY WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE BY ANY ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNER, AND CURRENTLY THERE IS NO TOWN UTILITIES OR, UM, I SEE THAT THERE'S SOME BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN STAFF, BUT I BELIEVE THE FINAL WORD FOR MR. BOYER IS THAT PUBLIC WORKS HAS CHECKED THE LOCATION AND WE HAVE NO UTILITIES IN THAT AREA, AND WE DON'T SERVICE ANYTHING THERE OR HAVE FUTURE PLANS FOR USE FOR THAT.
UM, SO DO I HAVE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION FROM FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS ON WHICH DIRECTION WE WANNA MOVE? JUST ONE LAST COMMENT.
I'D REALLY LIKE THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT WHO IS BENEFITING FROM VACATING THE PROPERTY IS THE PROPERTY OWNER VACATING.
I THINK THERE'S A, A, A DEFINITE POSITIVE ON THAT.
UH, WHO IS NOT BENEFITING FROM THE PROPERTY ARE THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE BEEN USING THAT PROPERTY THAT, UH, UH, THAT RIGHT OF WAY, IF YOU WILL, FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.
UH, SO I ASKED THE COUNCIL TO CONSIDER THAT AS WELL.
UM, THE, UH, THE ALLEY, UH, HAS BEEN AS IT IS FOR 28
[01:10:01]
YEARS, IT'S, UH, BEEN MADE CLEAR.UH, I BELIEVE THAT, UH, THE, THE ALLEY SHOULD REMAIN OPEN FOR PUBLIC USE.
UH, I DON'T, UH, IT'S CLEAR THAT THE, THE CHURCH, UH, HAS SAID THAT THEY USE IT, THEY MAINTAIN IT AS WELL AS THE APPLICANT, UH, MR. HOLLOWAY.
UM, AND, UH, I JUST HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE, WITH, UH, UH, THE VA VACATION PROCESS WHEN, UH, IT'S CLEAR THAT THERE ARE, EVEN THOUGH THE, THE NOT MANY OF THE MEMBERS LIVE NEXT DOOR, UH, THEY STILL HAVE A RIGHT AS, UM, USERS OF THE ALLEYWAY.
UH, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE BEST TO LEAVE IT OPEN.
I JUST, MR. SEAK, I'M NOT, UM, TRYING TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, ALTHOUGH IT APPEARS AS THOUGH I AM, SO I
I, I JUST, I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS LOTS OF DISCUSSION, UM, FROM CITIZENS, UM, AND, UH, AND, AND, UH, LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT FIRE AND RESCUE, AND I FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE A LOT OF
YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN THAT CATEGORY.
DO YOU HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT, UM, WHAT'S BEEN SAID OR WHAT'S BEEN ASKED OR SUGGESTED? I DO.
UH, I'VE LOOKED AT THE ALLEY AND I DON'T, I REALLY PERSONALLY ME DRIVING A FIRETRUCK, I WOULDN'T TAKE IT UP AT ALLEY.
UH, AND YOU'RE GONNA FIND OUT THAT IF THERE'S A FIRE IN ANY OF THESE HOUSES ALONG 13TH STREET, WE'RE NOT GOING TO THE REAR WITH, WITH OUR APPARATUS.
WE'RE GOING TO THE FRONT BECAUSE THERE'S NO HYDRANTS UP THAT ALLEY.
WE'VE GOTTA HAVE, YOU KNOW, WE CARRY LIKE A THOUSAND GALLONS OF WATER, BUT WE'VE GOTTA HAVE ACCESS TO, TO THE TOWN WATER SYSTEM TO GET EXTRA WATER.
UM, ONE OF THE GENTLEMEN SPOKE ABOUT TAKING THE RESCUE SQUAD INTO THE BACK OR THE AMBULANCE INTO THE BACK.
UM, NO, I DON'T THINK, I THINK IT WOULD LITERALLY WOULD PROBABLY TEAR THE BACK BUMPER OFF, OFF, OFF OF ONE OF OUR AMBULANCES.
UH, I THINK WE WOULD, MY OPINION, IF I WAS, I'D COME IN THE FRONT AND GO TO WHATEVER DOOR THAT THEY TOLD THE DISPATCHER TO GO TO.
UM, AND MY EXPERIENCE ALSO UNDERSTAND, I, I COME FROM A, I HAD 11 YEARS AT A UNIVERSITY AS THEIR CHIEF THERE, AS THEIR CHIEF OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
WE NUMBERED DOORS AND WE DIDN'T, AND WE MADE EVACUATION AREAS.
UH, YOU ALL WANT, YOU SAY YOU EVACUATE TO THE ALLEY.
UH, JUST A SUGGESTION TO YOU ALL, YOU NEED TO EVACUATE TO THE CORNER, UM, THAT GETS THE, THAT GETS THE KIDS OR WHOEVER FURTHER AWAY FROM THE BUILDING IF THEY GO TO THE CORNER OF VIRGINIA AND THAT ALLEY ON, ON THE CHURCH PROPERTY.
UM, BUT I, I'VE BEEN IN THE FIRE SERVICE, WAS IT 40 YEARS, I GUESS THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN THEY TOLD YOU ALL YES.
I I, I'VE NEVER SEEN, UH, US GO TO THE REAR OF A STRUCTURE FIRST.
YOU KNOW, UM, WE CARRY YOU SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET OF HOSE ON A FIRETRUCK.
UH, YOU KNOW, WE'VE, WE JUST WOULDN'T GO TO THE REAR FIRST.
AND I DON'T THINK WE CAN GET ANY OF OUR EQUIPMENT UP THAT ALLEY ANYWAY.
I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK WHERE IT DIPS.
I DON'T THINK IT'S WIDE ENOUGH TO GET SOMETHING UP THE MIDDLE OF IT.
MR. SKILLMAN, UH, WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY EXIT THROUGH OUR PARKING LOT THAT WOULD ABSOLUTELY BE ABLE TO USE.
IF YOU NEED TO GET TO THE ALLEY, WE WOULD NEVER GO TO THE ALLEY.
UH, AND DON'T MEAN IF THERE'S FAR ON THE BACK SIDE OF THOSE HOUSES, THAT'D BE THE IDEAL SPOT FOR YOU TO GO.
THAT'S WHAT YOU GOTTA WORRY ABOUT.
YOU GOTTA, THEY'LL DRAG AROUND TO THE BACK.
UM, THANK YOU, MR. I I HAVE ONE MORE COMMENT.
MADAM MAYOR, COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT, UH, A AS THEY WOULD EXIT, THEY WOULD EXIT THE BUILDING, BUILDING, UH, I FORGET IT, IF IT WAS, UH, DOOR FOUR
THEY COULD GO DOWN TOWARD THE ALLEY AND THEN WALK DOWN TOWARD VIRGINIA AVENUE, UH, TO, TO GET, GET AWAY BECAUSE THE WALK IN THE OTHER DIRECTION YOU HAVE, YOU'RE SORT OF BLOCKED BY WOODS.
UH, SO, UH, I WOULD THINK THAT, UH, FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, IT, IT IS, UH, A VIABLE, UH, OPTION, UH, TO EVACUATE, UH, THE BUILDING.
SO THAT IS, WOULD BE A GOOD REASON IN MY MIND TO, TO LEAVE THE ALLEY OPEN.
IF THERE'S, IF THERE'S, UM, YOU KNOW WHAT I, I'M GONNA, UH, ACTUALLY DURING THE
[01:15:01]
DISCUSSION, THIS IS JUST COUNCIL DISCUSSION, AND I KNOW WE GOT INTO SOME PEOPLE WE'RE CALLING OUT FROM, UM, THE SEATS.BUT THAT'S REALLY, THAT'S, IT'S REALLY NOT OUR ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER.
WE, WE, WE GENERALLY, WE WE DO OUR DISCUSSION AND THEN, UM, BUT IF, BUT IF COUNCIL MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, THEY COULD CERTAINLY ASK THE APPLICANT OR, UH, STAFF.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR STAFF OR THE APPLICANT? I DO NOT.
I HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSION IF I MAY.
DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE DISCUSSION? GO AHEAD.
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO, AGAIN, REITERATE THAT THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE TO A VOTE IS THAT COUNCIL APPOINT VIEWERS TO VIEW THE PUBLIC ALLEYWAY.
WE HAD THIS DISCUSSION IN THE WORK SESSION TO RECEIVE FEEDBACK IN A TIMELY MANNER, AS JOE MENTIONED AT OUR WORK SESSION, BECAUSE THIS HAS DELAYED FOR FAR TOO LONG, AND THIS IS NOT THE TYPICAL PROCESS.
UM, SO THE MOTION TONIGHT IS NOT TO VACATE OR NOT, IT'S TO SIMPLY APPOINT A VIEWING COUNCIL TO THIS, AND THEN IF THE TOWN CHOOSES TO VACATE IT, ANYONE COULD PURCHASE THAT ALLEYWAY IF WE CHOSE TO DO SO.
SO I HAVE NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
SO THANK YOU COUNCILMAN MORRIS, BECAUSE THAT, THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT, UH, COMMENT, WAS THAT THIS ACTUAL MOTION THAT YOU'RE VOTING ON RIGHT NOW IS TO APPOINT A, UH, VIEWERS, UM, PER SE A VIEWING COMMITTEE.
UM, AND SO THAT, THAT'S THE MOTION ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW FOR COUNCIL MEMBERS TO VOTE ON.
I'M YOU? YOU MEAN CALL FOR VOTE? OKAY.
SO THE MOTION MOVES, UH, FORWARD FOR, TO APPOINT VIEWERS.
I'M STILL GETTING USED TO THIS.
[7.E. Appeal of Decision of BAR Denying SEESUU LLC's Request for Issuance of Cert. of Appropriateness – Kopishke]
OKAY.SEVEN E UH, UP NEXT IS THE APPEAL OF THE DECISION OF THE BAR DENYING CSU, I HOPE I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT.
LLCS REQUEST FOR ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATION OF APPROPRIATENESS.
AND MS. UM, PRESLEY, I'M GONNA ASK YOU TO READ THAT FOR US PLEASE.
COUNSEL IS TO HEAR THE APPEAL OF THE APPLICANT RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT, RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE IN ADDITION TO THE RECORD, AND TAKE ACTION ON AN APPEAL OF A DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW, DENYING THE REQUEST FOR THE ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS.
THE APPEAL IS BROUGHT FOLLOWING ACTION BY THE B A R, DENYING A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY CSU L L C TO DEMOLISH AND REMOVE A PORTION OF A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE ON A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 31 EAST MAIN STREET.
THE PROPERTY IS ZONED C DASH TWO DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT AND IS LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.
I'M GONNA ACTUALLY ASK THE APPLICANT TO SPEAK FIRST.
IS THE APPLICANT HERE, I WOULD ASSUME, BUT YES.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FIRST, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA HAVE, UH, THE PUBLIC, ANY PUBLIC SPEAKERS.
AND THEN IF YOU'D LIKE TO WRAP UP AT THE END, THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT TYPE OF PUBLIC HEARING THAN WHAT WE'RE USED TO, SO, YEAH.
UM, AS FAR AS SPEAKING, I'M BASICALLY HAD SENT AN EMAIL TO, UH, THE TOWN MANAGER, UH, SO THAT HE WOULD DISPERSE TO, UH, THE COUNCIL.
AND I'M ASSUMING THAT, THAT THAT TOOK DID TAKE PLACE.
UM, DO YOU NEED MY NAME AND ADDRESS? YES, PLEASE.
IT, IT'S FOR THE RECORD AND FOR THE PUBLIC.
UH, MY NAME IS GARY WHALEN, AND I AM REPRESENTING CSU LLC AT 17 CHURCH STREET.
UM, SO, UH, WITH THE EMAIL THAT WAS SENT, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT INCLUDED AS, UM, THE OFFICIAL REC TO THE, INTO THE OFFICIAL RECORD.
MR. WHELAN, CAN I JUST PAUSE FOR JUST A SECOND? I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND LET THE PEOPLE CLEAR THE ROOM BECAUSE, UM, SO WE'RE JUST GONNA WAIT.
WE'VE GOT SOME CHATTING GOING ON IN THE BACK, AND WE WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY CAN HEAR YOU.
SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN HEAR YOU.
YOU HAVE A, YOU HAVE KIND OF A QUIET VOICE ANYWAY.
SO DO I NEED TO DROP OUT CLOSE? I THINK JUST, JUST PULL, PULL IT CLOSER.
AND, AND CHIEF, IF NEED BE, MAYBE SHUT THE DOOR IF NEED BE.
ALL RIGHT, MR. WHALEN, PLEASE CONTINUE.
[01:20:01]
I THINK, UH, WHAT WAS AT THE POINT WHERE YOU'VE SEEN THE INFORMATION THAT I'VE SENT IN, AND I'D LIKE TO, TO, UH, UH, OFFER THAT TO THE OFFICIAL RECORD AS MY STATEMENT FOR THIS MEETING.BASICALLY, UM, UH, I'M HERE TO DO SOMETHING GOOD FOR THE TOWN.
AND, UM, UM, THAT'S REALLY ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
WE'LL, UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, AND HAVE SPEAKERS COME UP AND THEN, UH, AND THEN, UH, MR. WHELAN AGAIN.
AND SO IF COUNCIL HAS ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM, YOU COULD, YOU COULD TAKE THAT TIME TO DO THAT.
DO WE HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE DO.
MR. SILAK, MADAM MAYOR MEMBERS DAVID SILAK, 1 65 HICKERSON HALL ROAD FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.
I RISE IN OBJECTION TO THE PROPOSED REQUEST FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE LAST TWO SECTIONS, OR THE REAR TWO SECTIONS OF 1 31 EAST MAIN STREET, COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE OLD METHODIST CHURCH AND OR THE MURPHY THEATER BUILDING.
THERE ARE FOUR PARTS TO THIS BUILDING.
I HAVE PERSONALLY BEEN THROUGH ALL OF THEM NUMEROUS, NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS.
AND WHEN OUR FAMILY OWNED THE BUILDING, I BECAME VERY FAMILIAR WITH EVERY SECTION OF IT.
AS A CHILD, I WAS AFRAID TO GO INTO THE BASEMENT BECAUSE I KNEW THERE WERE BODIES THAT HAD NOT BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE CEMETERY UPON WHICH THE REAR PORTION OF THE GR UH, CHURCH OR THE THEATER SITS.
EVENTUALLY AS A CHILD, THAT FEAR WENT AWAY.
UM, THE FIRST TWO OF THE ORIGINAL CHURCH SECTION, WHICH YOU CAN SEE ONLY FROM A PUBLIC WAY, IS ON CHURCH STREET.
IT IS THE SECOND SECTION OF THE BUILDING.
THERE ARE TWO REMAINING WALLS OF THAT ORIGINAL STRUCTURE.
THE OTHER SIDE YOU SEE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ALLEY BETWEEN OUR OLD BUILDING AND NEW BERRIES OR SHULS, THE FRONT SECTION WAS THE FIRST ADDITION TO THE BUILDING.
THAT WAS WHEN IT BECAME THE VOLVO HOUSE.
AND THEN THE TERRACOTTA SECTION, WHICH IS THE SCREEN DROP MOVIE SCREEN THEATER SEATING AREA WAS THEN ADDED.
AND THEN, I THINK IT WAS IN THE FIFTIES, UH, MR. CUP'S TILE SHOP, MCCOY NORTH PLUMBING AND THE WARREN SENTINEL WERE PUT IN THE VERY REAR OF THE BUILDING.
I BELIEVE THAT'S PROBABLY THE, UM, THIRD MOST, WELL, THE SECOND MOST STABLE PART OF THE BUILDING.
THE FRONT AND THE REAR ARE PROBABLY TO THE MOST STABLE PARTS.
THE THIRD SECTION, THE TERRACOTTA SECTION IN ITS CURRENT STATE, THERE'S NO USEFUL PURPOSE TO IT.
YOU WOULD LITERALLY HAVE TO BUILD A BUILDING WITHIN THE BUILDING THERE.
AND MY FATHER DID IN THE SEVENTIES WHEN HE PUT A BEAUTY SALON IN THERE, AND IT'S NOW THE AA MEETING AREA, BUT IT'S LITERALLY A BUILDING WITHIN THE BUILDING.
THE EXTERIOR WALLS ARE NOT DESIGNED TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT ANY SIGNIFICANT WEIGHT, SO YOU COULDN'T REALLY BUILD INTO THOSE WALLS TO PUT A SECOND STORY IN THERE TO BRING OUT THE SECOND STORY OF THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING THROUGH.
SO THAT IS A CHALLENGE, AND THERE'S NO IFS ANSWER BUTS ABOUT IT.
IT'S A CHALLENGE BEFORE YOU ALLOW THE TEARING DOWN OF THE STRUCTURE.
YOU ALSO CONSIDER WHAT EVERYONE ELSE WHO'S RENOVATED BUILDINGS ON MAIN STREET HAVE DONE.
THEY'VE COME TO THE B R WITH A PLAN, A PLAN TO SHOW THE IMPROVEMENTS.
AND WHAT IF THEY NEED TO TEAR DOWN SOMETHING? THEY HAVE BEEN GRANTED PERMISSION TO TEAR DOWN SOMETHING LAST WEEK DOWN AT THE OLD WARREN, UH, PAINT SUPPLY BUILDING.
SOMEONE'S GRANTED PERMISSION TO TEAR DOWN A PROTECTION OF THAT BUILDING, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE IT'S DILAPIDATED.
WHAT COULD HAPPEN, AND WHAT I FEAR WILL HAPPEN IS THE LOSS OF THIS BUILDING, LIKE THE OLD MY FATHER'S MUSTACHE.
SOME OF YOU WERE NOT HERE IN FRONT ROYAL WHEN THAT BUILDING WAS THERE.
IT WAS A GRAND OLD VICTORIAN LADY HOUSE.
THE OWNER COULDN'T MAKE A VIABLE STAND OF HIS BUSINESS AND WANTED TO GET RID OF THE BUILDING TO SELL AN EMPTY LOT.
AND WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING, SOMEONE CUT ALL OF THE JOIST IN THE BASEMENT, AND THEN IT WAS RENDERED STRUCTURALLY UNSOUND, AND IT COULD BE TORN DOWN.
AND TO THIS DAY, THERE'S NOTHING THERE.
THAT'S WHAT COULD HAPPEN HERE, BECAUSE THERE'S NO PLAN TO PRESERVE THE ORIGINAL SECTION OF THIS BUILDING.
[01:25:01]
HAD COME TO THE BOARD AND SAID, I WANT TO REMOVE THIS SECTION, AND THIS IS HOW I'M GONNA REINFORCE OR KEEP THE EXTERIOR WALLS, THE ORIGINAL WALLS AND PRESERVE IT, AND A PLAN OF CONNECTING IT TO SOMETHING ELSE, OR JUST PUTTING A NEW WALL UP THERE AND ENDING THE BUILDING, NONE OF THAT HAPPENED.AND IF YOU WERE IN NEW YORK CITY OR OLD TOWN, ALEXANDRIA OR WASHINGTON, DC YOU SEE OLD BUILDINGS AND THEY HAVE THESE STRUCTURES TO SUPPORT THE OLD PORTION OF THE BUILDING.
SO WHAT COULD FEASIBLY HAPPEN? I KNOW MS. MADAM MAYOR, YOU'RE ABOUT TO TELL ME I'VE EXCEEDED MY TIME LIMITS, BUT I'LL ASK FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO'S SIGNED UP TO YIELD THEIR BALANCE OF THEIR TIME, IF THEY WOULD, OR FOR A COUNCIL MEMBER TO GRANT ADDITIONAL TIME.
I AM A TAXPAYER, AND I DO NEED MORE THAN THREE MINUTES TO GET THROUGH THIS.
THAT BEING SAID, THIS BUILDING DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.
THAT IF YOU WANT TO ALLOW A REMOVAL PORTION OF THIS BUILDING REQUIRE A PERFORMANCE BOND THAT HASN'T BEEN SUGGESTED OR OFFERED, OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO REPLACE THE STRUCTURE AS IT IS, OR TO REPAIR IT, OR IF THEY WALK AWAY FROM THE PROJECT TO STABILIZE AND KEEP IT FOR SOME OTHER FUTURE DEVELOPER.
I URGE YOU DENY THIS APPLICANT.
WHO WOULD BE NEXT? ELLEN AERS.
DAVID COULDA HAD A LITTLE BIT OF MY TIME CUZ I DON'T NEED IT ALL.
MY HOME IS AT TWO 19 EAST PROSPECT STREET.
I ALSO OWN THE PROPERTY AT 23 CHURCH STREET.
AND THAT IS WHERE MY BUSINESS IS.
BOTH OF THOSE PROPERTIES ARE IN OUR HISTORIC DISTRICT.
SO MY COMMENTS CONTAIN NO HYPOCRISY TONIGHT.
WHEN YOU BUY PROPERTY IN A HISTORIC DISTRICT, IT COMES WITH A GREAT RESPONSIBILITY.
YOU'RE BUYING IN INTO WHAT WAS WHAT IS AND WHAT WILL BE THE STORY OF OUR TOWN.
TO ALLOW DEMOLITION OF THE MURPHY THEATER WOULD BE A PUNCH IN THE GUT TO FOLKS LIKE THE POSE WHO ARE BRINGING LIFE BACK TO THE OLD WARREN PAINT AND SUPPLY BUILDING.
THE BARNHARTS WHO SEARCHED TIRELESSLY FOR JUST THE RIGHT STONE FOR THE WEAVER BUILDING'S FACADE, THE CAPITOL GATE.
NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE KNOW WHO THEY ARE, BUT THEY'RE THE FOLKS THAT ARE BRINGING BACK THE AFTON TO FRONT ROYAL.
AND THERE'S SO MANY OTHERS WHO TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN MAINTAINING THEIR LITTLE PIECE OF FRONT ROYAL'S HISTORY.
IF YOU WATCHED THE BAR PUBLIC HEARING, YOU SAW A TOTAL UNWILLINGNESS ON THE PART OF THE OWNER OF THE MURPHY THEATER.
HE DENIED THE BAR ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR.
HE DENIED THE REQUEST FOR A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER SURVEY.
HE REFUSED TO PROVIDE A COST ANALYSIS OF RESTORATION VERSUS DEMOLITION AND NEW CONSTRUCTION.
THERE ARE OCCUPIED APARTMENTS IN THE PORTION THAT HOUSED THE NEWSPAPER.
AND MEETINGS TAKE PLACE IN THE FRONT PORTION OF THE TERRACOTTA BRICKS TWICE A DAY LIKE CLOCKWORK.
JUST BECAUSE THE OWNER IS UNWILLING TO RESTORE THE BUILDING DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S READY TO BE TORN DOWN.
THE BAR SELECTED BY TOWN COUNCIL DID THEIR JOB.
THEY DIDN'T SKIP ANY STEPS AND THEY ASKED REALLY HARD QUESTIONS.
SO TONIGHT I WOULD ASK FOR YOU TO UPHOLD THEIR DECISIONS, SUPPORT THEIR HARD WORK, AND, UM, DENY THE DEMOLITION REQUEST.
GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNSEL.
I LIVE AT 1115 BUCK MOUNTAIN ROAD, BENTONVILLE, VIRGINIA.
I AM A LICENSED COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT.
I DO COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTIES FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
I RESTORED MANY BUILDINGS IN FRONT ROYAL, UH, INCLUDING SEVEN ON CHESTER STREET WHEN IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST RUNDOWN STREETS IN THE TOWN.
AND IT HAD A, IT HAD A NUMBER OF, AND MOST ALL THE BUILDINGS THAT I RESTORED WERE MINIMALLY OR NOT OR UNOCCUPIED ALTOGETHER.
AND I, SO I'VE WORKED ON BUILDINGS FROM
[01:30:01]
THE 1780S TO THE 1880S.SO I'M REAL FAMILIAR WITH THESE TYPE OF STRUCTURES.
THE, THE PROBLEM WITH THE TERRACOTTA TOWER, AS MR. SEK RIGHTLY POINT OUT, IS THAT IT WAS NOT BUILT TO SUPPORT ANY OTHER STRUCTURES.
IT'S ESSENTIALLY A 40 BY 40, 75 FOOT TALL TOWER THAT IS TOTALLY FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE.
THERE IS NO COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL USE THAT YOU CAN APPLY TO THIS PROPERTY TODAY.
AND SO WHAT IT, WHAT THE CHALLENGE OF IT IS, IS TO, IS TO FIND A WAY TO PUT THIS PROPERTY BACK INTO USE.
SO IT'S PRODUCING TAXES AND JOBS AND PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK AND PEOPLE TO LIVE.
SO THE IDEA OF THE IDEA OF REMOVING A FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE TOWER THAT CANNOT BE UTILIZED AS PART OF A NEW STRUCTURE, UH, CAN MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE EVEN CUTTING WINDOWS, IF YOU BUILT INSIDE IT, CUTTING WINDOWS IN A, IN THE TERRACOTTA TOWER AND EVERYTHING IS QUITE A CHALLENGE CUZ THEY, UH, THE TERRACOTTA IS DETERIORATING AND PROBABLY WOULD NOT FAREWELL.
YOU'D HAVE TO, YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE TERRACOTTA UP WITH A, WITH A, UH, A, A LAMINATE OR ANYTHING.
A UH, A, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, A POLYMER COATING AND EVERYTHING THAT WOULD OBLITERATE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE COMPLETELY BECAUSE YOU'D HAVE TO HAVE AT LEAST AN INCH OF POLYMER COATING ON THE OUTSIDE AND ON THE INSIDE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ANY STRUCTURE, UH, STRENGTH AT ALL.
THE, SO THE IDEA IS, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MOST EFFICIENT WAY TO DO THE BUILDING IS TO REMOVE THAT PART OF, OF IT, WHICH CANNOT BE USED FOR ANY PRACTICAL PURPOSE TODAY.
THE IDEA OF, AND I, WE HEARD IT AT THE, WE HEARD IT AT THE B A R AND WE HEARD IT AT THE, AT THE, UH, AT THIS MEETING TODAY.
PEOPLE WANT A, THEY WANT A STRUCTURAL, THEY WANT A, A PLAN FOR A NEW STRUCTURE ON THAT PROPERTY.
WHEN YOU DO THE ENGINEERING AND YOU DO THE ARCHITECTURAL AND DESIGN WORK FOR A STRUCTURE LIKE THAT, THAT IS DEPENDENT UPON IN THE END, BEING ABLE TO TEAR DOWN THE TERRACOTTA TOWER AND THE BUILDINGS BEHIND IT.
YOU, YOU WOULD SPEND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO CREATE A PLAN, HAVE THE ENGINEERING DONE, AND ALL THE WORK DONE FOR A PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THEY'RE GONNA APPROVE YOU TO TAKE DOWN THE TOWER.
SO IT MAKES IT, IT MAKES IT A, A VERY DIFFICULT CIRCLE TO, UH, ACHIEVE.
SO THE IDEA IS, WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW FIRST IS ARE YOU, WILL YOU BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE PORTION OF THE BUILDING THAT IS FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE AND REPLACE IT AND THEN YOU SPEND THE MONEY TO GET IT DESIGNED AND DO THAT? AND I CAN TELL YOU, NOBODY IS GONNA GO AND SPEND THE MONEY.
IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR, AT YOUR COSTS FOR, UH, COST FOR DISPOSING AT THE COUNTY LANDFILL PER TON, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO TAKE DOWN ALL THAT BUILDING THAT BRICK AND TERRACOTTA AND PAY TO HAVE IT PUT IN THE LANDFILL IF YOU DON'T HAVE A PLAN, UH, THAT YOU CAN BUILD SOMETHING BACK.
OTHERWISE, YOU WOULD JUST LEAVE IT BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T MAKE ANY PRACTICAL SENSE.
THE PRACTICAL PART OF THIS IS, IS IDEA OF IF YOU DO SUPPORT THE BUILDING AND BUILD SUPERSTRUCTURES OVER IT, IT IS GONNA LOOK TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND NOT EVEN RESEMBLE SLIGHTLY WHAT IT IS NOW OTHER THAN THE APPROXIMATE SHAPE.
IF YOU TAKE IT DOWN, IF YOU HAVE THE PERMIT TO TAKE IT DOWN, THEN YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND BUILD YOUR, GET YOUR ENGINEERING PLAN DONE AND YOUR ARCHITECTURAL PLAN DONE AND DO ALL THAT.
SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO, IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THIS, AT THE VERY LEAST, YOU CAN APPROVE HAVING THE BUILDING TORN DOWN AFTER AND, AND HAVE A, AND HAVE THAT CONTINGENT UPON YOU RECEIVING AND HAVING BOTH THE B A R AND THE TOWN COUNCIL APPROVE THE RECONSTRUCTION PLAN.
SO THERE'S NOT A, IT'S NOT A EITHER OR.
YOU CAN DO THAT AND HAVE, AND HAVE IT ALL.
BUT TO KEEP, TO FORCE SOMEBODY TO KEEP AND MAINTAIN A FUNCTIONALLY OBSOLETE STRUCTURE JUST DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE.
I'VE BEEN VERY GENEROUS TONIGHT WITH, UH, THE TIME LIMIT.
CAUSE I WANNA BE FAIR TO EVERYBODY.
PLUS I'M NOT GOOD AT INTERRUPTING PEOPLE.
UM, MS. PRESLEY IS THERE ONE MORE? JAMES SMITH.
[01:35:01]
JAMES SMITH.UH, TERRACOTTA IS, UM, IS A MIXTURE OF CLAY AND WATER.
UH, AND IT'S SIMILAR TO, UH, POTTERY.
YOU'VE SEEN CLAY POTS PER FOLLOWER POTS THAT ARE MADE OUT OF TERRACOTTA, YOU KNOW.
ANYWAY, UM, THIS IS, THIS IS THE OLDEST BUILDING MATERIAL KNOWN DEMAND.
AND THAT'S NOT FROM ME, THAT'S FROM MY COMPUTER.
WHEN I LOOKED UP THE TERRACOTTA GOOD BUILDING MATERIALS, THE BUILDING, I HAVE BEEN GOING TO MEETINGS THERE FOR 31 YEARS.
I'VE NEVER SEEN A PIECE OF TILE OR A WHOLE TILE FALL.
IT'S, UH, I HAVE THE GREATEST RESPECT FOR MR. WAYLAND AND A MR. BARNETT.
BUT THAT BUILDING IS OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD AND IT'S A PART OF THE FRONT ROYALS HISTORIC DISTRICT.
UM, IT WOULD BE TRAGIC TO TEAR IT DOWN RATHER THAN RESTORE IT TO PUT IN, UH, AT LEAST 17, UM, DELUXE APARTMENTS OR CONDOS.
AND AS FAR AS A PLAN, THEY DO HAVE A PLAN.
I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT FOR SIX MONTHS TO PUT, UH, SEA LAND CARGO CONTAINERS, STACK 'EM UP EIGHT HIGH AND ABOUT 10 LONG AND, UM, MAKE SOME LOW CLASS HOUSING OUT OF IT.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S AN EYESORE.
AND UH, AND SECONDLY, WE DON'T NEED THAT IN FRONT OF ROYAL.
AND THE 40 UNITS, THERE'S NO PARKING.
SO THEY PROPOSE VALET PARKING IS, UH, FRONT ROYAL READY FOR VALET PARKING ANYWAY.
I KNOW THEY DO IT IN GEORGETOWN ANYWAY, BUT, UH, YEAH, THAT TERRACOTTA'S, THE OLDEST BILLING MATERIAL KNOWN.
NOW ON THE BACKSIDE, TO BE FAIR, THE EXTERNAL CHIMNEY HAS A CRACK IN IT.
CAUSE IT'S WALL WALLED OFF INSIDE AND SO IT CAN'T BE USED ANYWAY.
AND THERE IS ABOUT OVER A 10 FOOT SLOPE ON THE TOP, UH, TWO OR THREE INCH SAG.
SO MY RECOMMENDATION IS TO FIX THE BUILDING.
UM, WAS STUC OVER OR, UH, CEMENT MORTAR, THE LITTLE PORTION THAT'S DAMAGED ON THE BACKSIDE.
THAT'S THE OTHER THING IS, UH, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT A HAZARD TO SOMEONE WALKING UNDERNEATH CUZ THERE'S A, A GATE THERE THAT IS CHAINED WITH A PADLOCK ON IT.
SO IT'S NOT SOMEPLACE SOMEBODY WALKS.
ANYWAY, MY SUGGESTION IS FOR HIM TO MAKE A PLAN, GET A CONTRACTOR IN THERE, AND SEE HOW MUCH HE'D BE CHARGED FOR SQUARE FOOT WITHOUT TEARING DOWN OUR CLUBHOUSE, NOR THE, UH, 1940 APARTMENT CONFLICT COMPLEX, EXCUSE ME, DENTURE SLIPPING.
BUT ANYWAY, WITHOUT, UH, WITHOUT TEARING DOWN THE CLUBHOUSE, WHICH WE'VE HAD FOR 18 YEARS, OR THE RED BRICK, A APART APARTMENT COMPLEX, UH, WOULD BE TO ADD DELUXE APARTMENTS OR CONDOS AND GET A CONTRACTOR IN THERE TO GIVE A SQUARE FOOTAGE AMOUNT.
WHAT IT WOULD COST TO DO THAT.
IT'S ABOUT 13,600 SQUARE FEET OF USABLE SPACE.
ANYWAY, MY SUGGESTION IS NOT TO TEAR IT DOWN.
IT IS, UH, IT IS A PART OF, UH, FRONT ROYAL'S HISTORY.
AND SO WE'RE A HUNDRED YEARS OLD.
IT WAS ORIGINALLY AN OPERA HOUSE BEFORE THEY HAD TALKING MOVIES.
AT THIS TIME, THERE'S NO ONE ELSE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT I WOULD BE MORE THAN WILLING TO ENTERTAIN ANYBODY.
[01:40:01]
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO STAND UP AND SPEAK? ANYBODY? OKAY.I WANTED TO GIVE MR. WHELAN AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN.
CAN I DO THAT NOW? CAN WE JUST ASK HIM QUESTIONS, DISCUSSION? YEAH, LET'S JUST DO THAT.
WE'LL ASK QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSIONS.
MADAM MAYOR? YES, I COULD STILL DO THAT.
YEAH, I THOUGHT SEE SUE, MR. WHELAN IS THE, UH, APPELLANT THE APPELLANT, IF YOU WILL, AND SHOULD BE GIVEN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
YES, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OF ME BE SO SHOULD, UM, MR. SONNET, SHOULD I GO AHEAD AND LET HIM SPEAK FIRST OR DO YOU WANNA JUST WAIT AND FIELD QUESTIONS IF COUNSEL? UM, I COULD DO EITHER.
I THINK HE SHOULD BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, REBUTTAL VOICE REBUTTAL OF ANY OF THE, TO ANY OF THE COMMENTS THERE.
ANYTHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY YOURSELF AT THIS POINT IN TIME? NO.
SO I'M GONNA OPEN UP TO COUNSEL THEN, MADAM MAYOR, UPON CONSIDERATION OF THE RECORD AND THE ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL AFFIRM THE DECISION OF THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW, THE B A R DENYING THE ISSUANCE OF A CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS ON THE APPLICATION SUBMITTED BY CSU LLC TO DEMOLISH AND REMOVE A PORTION OF A CONTRIBUTING STRUCTURE ON A PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 31 EAST MAIN STREET TAX MAP, 20 A SEVEN, SECTION FOUR, PARCEL 37.
UM, MS. PRESLEY, UH, VICE MAYOR CLAC SECONDED IT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU COULD HEAR THAT.
SO, UM, COUNSEL, WE'RE GONNA OPEN UP A DISCUSSION NOW.
COUNCILMAN MORRIS IS ASKED TO SPEAK FIRST.
I HAVE NO DOUBTS THAT MR. WHELAN HAS GREAT INTENTIONS WITH THE PROPERTY.
UM, I HAVE SEEN THE RENDERINGS, UM, CURRENTLY THAT WE'RE EXPECTING IF WE WERE TO ALLOW THE DEMOLITION AND REBUILD.
AND FOR ME PERSONALLY, I'M A SEVENTH GENERATION HERE.
I'M, UH, THE GREAT GRAND, THE GREAT NIECE OF A LOCAL HISTORIAN WHO CONTRIBUTED MUCH OF THE ARCHIVES TO THE WARREN HERITAGE SOCIETY.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, AND, UM, I REALLY CARE ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
AND I DO HAVE A VISION FOR FRONT ROYAL.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, I MENTIONED THIS IN THE WORK SESSION, AND I'M NOT SURE THAT THE SENTIMENT ECHOED, UM, ACROSS COUNCIL OR THE PUBLIC, BUT I UNDERSTAND MR. BARNETT'S, UM, DESCRIPTION AND EXPLANATION THAT WITHOUT THE DESTRUCTION APPROVAL, WE CAN'T MOVE FORWARD.
HOWEVER, UM, OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TOUCHED ON THIS, WHEN YOU PURCHASE A BUILDING OF THIS MAGNITUDE WITH THESE PLANS IN PLACE, YOU KNOW THAT THESE COSTS AND THESE THINGS ARE GOING TO ARISE.
IT'S, IT'S A PROPERTY OWNER'S, UM, RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE CURRENT RENDERINGS, WE'D BE FOOLISH AS A COUNCIL, AND PRIOR COUNCILS HAVE DONE THINGS LIKE THIS TO APPROVE THINGS WITHOUT A VISION FOR WHAT WE INTEND TO SEE MOVING FORWARD.
UM, AND SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE CURRENT RENDERINGS LOOK LIKE SOMETHING I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE MENTIONED GEORGETOWN.
FOR ME, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING I'D FIND IN MIAMI.
UM, AND IT'S NOT THE VISION THAT I HAVE FOR FRONT ROYAL OR OUR HISTORIC DOWNTOWN, UM, THAT WE ALL KNOW AND LOVE.
SO THAT IS WHY I'VE MADE THE MOTION THAT I'VE MADE.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S A CYCLE.
UM, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE WILLING TO PUT THIS ON THE MARKET AS YOU'RE RIGHT.
UH, WE DISCUSSED IT A LITTLE BIT IN THE WORK SESSION.
IF IT SITS FOR A YEAR, YOU DO HAVE SOME RIGHTS AS THE PROPERTY OWNER TO DEMOLISH IT.
UM, I, I DON'T SEE ANY LACK OF INTEREST IN THAT BUILDING IF IT WERE TO GO ON THE MARKET, THOUGH.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING WITH GREAT HISTORY.
UM, AND I KNOW A LOT OF THE LOCALS AND PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF TOWN WANT TO, TO COME AND REVITALIZE AND RESTORE OUR DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL.
UH, ANYONE ELSE? MR. I, I'M JUST GONNA START AND GO DOWN THOUGH, MR. APORT, DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER? UH, YES.
UH, ADAM MAYER, UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE CLEAR THAT, UH, I SAT IN THE, UH, BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW MEETING.
UH, I DON'T KNOW, I THINK IT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO.
IT SEEMS LIKE, UH, AND THE, THE BAR FROM MY PERSPECTIVE WAS NOT, YOU KNOW, THEY WEREN'T REALLY, UH, AGAINST THE, UH, DEMOLITION SO, SO MUCH AS THEY, THEY, THEY WANTED A REASON AS TO, UH, WHY WE SHOULD DO THIS.
AND, UH, REALLY ALL THEY WERE, WERE LOOKING FOR WAS A, A PROFESSIONAL OPINION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE BUILDING, UH, IS STRUCTURALLY SOUND.
[01:45:01]
UH, IN, IN, IN THE SENSE THAT, UH, THEY, THEY NEVER, NEVER GOT THE ANSWER THAT, YES, I'M GONNA BRING IN A STRUCTURAL ENGINEER.AND WITH THAT SAID, UH, THAT, THAT WOULD'VE ELIMINATED A, A LOT OF THE, THE, THE QUESTION BEHIND IT.
SO, UM, I'M, UH, OF THE OPINION THAT BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TODAY, UH, THAT, UM, WE NEED TO, UH, RETAIN THE STRUCTURE A AS IS MR. UH, ER COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES, MADAM MAYOR.
I'D JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, I, I'VE SEEN THIS APPLICATIONS BOTH AS A, UH, OR I'VE SEEN, I SHOULD SAY, AN INTEGRATION OF, UH, OF THIS, UH, PARTICULAR PROPERTY ON, ON PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, BRIEFLY.
AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN A QUESTION THAT'S BEEN, UH, BACK AND FORTH FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS.
UM, AND I, AND I'D LIKE TO SAY JUST, JUST FOR, SO THE FOLKS KNOW, SO THE RESIDENTS KNOW THAT THERE IS A LOT THAT THE APPLICANT COULD DO, UH, BY RIGHT.
THAT I THINK WOULD STILL PROBABLY RUFFLE SOME FEATHERS.
UM, JUST KNOWING ORDINANCES THE WAY I, I KNOW THEM.
UH, SO I, I I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, I, I, I CAN'T APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT THE APPLICANT IS TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, UH, MAKING SURE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO CHECK THE BOX OF GETTING, YOU KNOW, PUBLIC APPROVAL ON THIS, ON THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY.
UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, I, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE REASONS I MOVED HERE FOR, FROM REALLY EIGHT YEARS AGO IS FOR ITS HISTORICAL, YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANCE.
AND THE DOWNTOWN AREA IS, IS A DRAW.
AND IT IS, UM, YOU KNOW, WE, WE DO HAVE AN OVERLAY THERE FOR THE SOP DISTRICT.
AND I'D LIKE TO ECHO WHAT COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT AND COUNCIL COUNCILMAN, UH, MORRIS JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, UM, WE HAVE TO TAKE A LOOK AHEAD FROM BEYOND, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S, WHAT THIS QUESTION IS ABOUT DEMOLITION AND WHAT THE VISION OF IT IS.
AND I HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT THE RENDERING, UH, CURRENTLY IS, UH, UH, IS SHOWN ON THIS FOR WHAT COULD BE REPLACING IT.
SO, AND I'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.
WOULD, DO YOU, DID YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? YEAH.
I'VE BEEN AROUND HERE ALL MY LIFE.
I'VE BEEN AROUND HERE ALL MY LIFE AND I'VE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T REMEMBER GOING INTO MURPHY THEATER, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT'S GOT A BIG SIGNIFICANCE.
I MEAN, WHEN PEOPLE COME TO TOWN, SOMETIMES THEY EVEN ASK ABOUT IT.
UM, I, I, AND I REALLY THINK IF WE HAD SOME TYPE OF RENDERING OR SOMETHING TO SEE, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN, UM, THAT MAY CHANGE SOME PEOPLE'S MINDS.
UH, I DOUBT IF IT CHANGES MINE.
CAUSE I THINK THE THINGS DOWNTOWN NEED TO STAY AS THEY ARE AND JUST KEEP 'EM AS WELL AS WE CAN FOR THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN.
AND COUNCILMAN ROGERS, UH, MADAME, THANK YOU.
I HAVE A, A COUPLE OF ISSUES, UH, WITH THIS.
ONE IS THE, UH, UNCERTAINTY OF DEMOLITION WITHOUT REALLY AN ENGINEERING STUDY OF THE IMPACT OF THAT DEMOLITION ON THE REST OF THAT BUILDING.
THAT BUILDING IS AN OLD BUILDING.
UH, IT'S A BUILDING THAT, UH, UH, THAT THOSE OF YOU THAT HAVE BEEN HERE ALL YOUR LIVES, AND THOSE OF US THAT HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR 15 YEARS OR SO, UH, LOVE, WE LOVE THE ARCHITECTURE.
WE LOVE THE FEEL, UH, WE LOVE THE COMMENTS OF THE FOLKS THAT, UH, COME INTO OUR COMMUNITY AND APPRECIATE, UH, HOW BEAUTIFUL IT IS.
WHAT A FEEL YOU GET, UH, WHEN YOU GO INTO THE DOWNTOWN AREA.
SO MY ONE CONCERN, SIR, IS, UH, IS THE, UH, IMPACT THAT DEMOLITION WOULD HAVE, AND I THINK EVEN MORE OVERRIDING THAN IS THE RENDERING.
WHEN I LOOKED AT THAT RENDERING, I HONESTLY THOUGHT OF A CONTEMPORARY PRISON, A VERY STARK, ALMOST ALUMINUM APPEARING, UH, STRUCTURE, UM, BRIGHT AND SHINY AND STATIC.
AND THAT IN ITSELF WAS ENOUGH FOR ME TO SAY, THIS IS IS NOT THE WAY I BELIEVE OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS TO GROW.
UM, I WOULD NOT HESITATE, UH, IN, IN CONSIDERING, UM, OPTIONS TO THAT AS I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST
[01:50:01]
THERE BE, BUT I WOULD ALSO STRONGLY SUGGEST ANOTHER LOOK AT, UH, AT HELPING ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN TEARING DOWN A PIECE THAT IS WHAT, 50 YEARS OLD, 60 YEARS OLD, MAYBE A BIT MORE WHATEVER.BUT THAT IMPACT ON THE REST OF THAT STRUCTURE.
UH, MS. MORRIS, YOU, YEAH, I HAD A ONE OTHER THING, AND I ACTUALLY HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE APPLICANT.
DESPITE MY ALREADY, UM, OPINION, SOMETHING OPPOSED TO MY OPINION COULD TAKE PLACE.
UM, FIRST OFF, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW.
I, WHEN I RAN FOR COUNCIL, WE, WE PUT THESE BOARDS IN PLACE TO DO A JOB, THE PLANNING COMMISSION, THE B A R, ALL OF THEM.
AND I TRUST THEIR DUE DILIGENCE.
UM, SO I FIND THAT IT WILL BE VERY RARE IF I EVER GO AGAINST WHAT THEIR RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL HAS BEEN.
SECONDLY, I KNOW THAT WE HAVE A HOUSING CRISIS.
IT'S, IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S, UH, AFFECTING US NATIONWIDE.
UM, AND VIRGINIA IS ACTUALLY IN LIKE THE TOP THREE FOR THE HOUSING CRISIS RIGHT NOW.
AND I JUST DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS THE ANSWER TO THAT.
AND I ALSO, ADDRESSING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, UM, I DID WATCH THE BR B A R MEETING, PARKING IS A HUGE ISSUE.
WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT TAKING THE 11 OR 12 PARKING SPACES AWAY ON MAIN STREET WHEN THERE WAS A DISCUSSION LONG AGO ABOUT MAKING IT A WALKING MALL.
UH, NO, JUST ON THE, JUST ON THE ONE MAIN STREET PORTION TALKING ABOUT, UH, IT'S ONLY A COUPLE THERE.
SO I, I DID HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE VALLEY PARKING.
WHERE ARE THEY GONNA BE TAKEN TO? I WOULDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL IT WOULD BE SENSELESS FOR ME TO TRY TO PURCHASE SOMETHING JUST ABOUT, CAUSE THE PRICE OF THAT LAND'S GONNA GO UP.
SO UNTIL I HAD SOME IDEA OF WHETHER THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN, I WOULDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT GETTING VALLEY PARKING.
IT WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS PERHAPS A DISCUSSION AT THE BR B R THAT I MISSED.
SO I WAS JUST WONDERING WHERE WE WERE GONNA VALE THEM TOO.
UM, CUZ IF YOU'D LIKE TO BUILD A PARKING GARAGE, WE COULD DEFINITELY USE THAT.
THAT'S UP TO Y'ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS.
ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO OFFER BEFORE WE, I HAVE ONE, ONE MORE ITEM.
UH, UH, IN REGARD TO THE, THE IDEA, THE, THE REASONING BEHIND THE STRUCTURAL ENGINEER IN MY, IN MY MIND IS, IS THAT, UH, THE, THAT STRUCTURAL ENGINEER COULD TELL YOU, UH, IF, IF WE WERE TO DEMOLISH THE BUILDING, WHETHER OR NOT THE WALLS OF THE CHURCH WOULD, COULD BE COMPROMISED.
AND, UH, I THINK, THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
PLUS, UH, THERE'S GONNA BE A REMOVAL OF, UH, PART OF THE ROOF ON THAT PORTION OF THE BUILDING AS WELL.
SO, UM, I, I, I, UH, REINFORCE THE BAR'S DECISION, UH, THAT, UH, WE, WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THAT STRUCTURAL ENGINEER, UH, REPORT.
IF THERE'S, UM, NO OTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT COUNSEL.
UM, THE MOTION, I JUST WANNA, UH, I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS.
I, I THINK EVERYBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT THE MOTION THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD AND SECONDED WAS, UM, DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTION ABOUT WHAT THE MOTION WAS? IT'S BEEN SO LONG.
[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS]
NEXT SECTION IS THE PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO THE PUBLIC HEARING.UM, I'M, AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED, I JUST WANNA, UH, WE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.
AND IF YOU'D LIKE TO SPEAK, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU'RE RECOGNIZED, THEN COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS.
PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS.
UH, THE SPEAKER'S COMMENTS SHALL BE RELEVANT TO THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL AND DIRECTED TO THE COUNCIL.
THE SPEAKER'S COMMENTS DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS SHALL NOT ADDRESS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD DURING THE SAME MEETING.
UH, JUST A REMINDER, NO PERSONAL ATTACKS AND DECS LANGUAGE OR DISPLAY OF SIGNS, PLACARDS, POSTERS, OR OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT FOR DISPLAY WILL BE PERMITTED.
MS. PRESLEY, DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY SIGNED UP? WE DO.
[01:55:04]
THANK YOU.THANK YOU FOR HANDING US THIS PAPER.
CUZ I'M THINKING IF YOU THAT, THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE SPEAKING TO THIS THOUGH, RIGHT? YES.
I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, CUZ IF YOU HAD THIS WHOLE THING, I DOUBT YOU'D MAKE IT IN THREE MINUTES.
SO IT'S GOOD THAT YOU, IT'S GOOD THAT YOU GAVE, GAVE IT TO US SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP.
MY PURPOSE HERE THIS EVENING IS TO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT TWO DOCUMENTS THAT HOPEFULLY WILL COME BEFORE YOU AND BE APPROVED.
SO THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL CAN BE DEVELOPED PROPERLY FOR THE NEXT 30 YEARS.
ONE DOCUMENT IS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WRITTEN IN THIS TOWN IN THE LAST 24 YEARS.
A DRAFT PLAN, A DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS NOW BEFORE THE TOWN PLANNING COMMISSION.
IT NEEDS TO BE FORWARDED TO YOU AND APPROVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, IN MY VIEW, BEFORE YOU.
THE PLAN, HOWEVER, ENSURE IT DIRECT, IT ADDRESSES ALL THE KEY ISSUES, PARTICULARLY THE HORRIFIC SAFETY ISSUES PRESENTED WHEN NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY TRAINS COMPLETELY BLOCKS SHENANDOAH SHORE'S DRIVE NINE TIMES A DAY.
THE SECOND DOCUMENT IS THE PREPARATION, HOPEFULLY THIS FISCAL YEAR OF AN EXTENSIVE FRONT ROYAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY THAT WOULD REVEAL FRONT ROYAL'S MOST HEAVILY TRAVELED ROADS AT THE PRESENT TIME.
THIS DATA WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE FUTURE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IN FRONT ROYAL.
ONCE THE TOWN COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN, PLEASE DIRECT THE TOWN'S PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT TO IMMEDIATELY PRODUCE SUCH A STUDY.
THERE ARE SEVERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TOWN'S DEVELOPMENT.
AND, AND I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 11, 12 YEARS NOW, AND THERE'S BEEN SEVERAL TIMES THIS TOPIC HAS COME UP ABOUT HOW THE SH THE TOWN SHOULD BE DEVELOPED.
MANY OF THESE CANNOT BE DISCUSSED IN ANY DETAIL, BUT AS WE DON'T HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND WE DON'T HAVE AN, AN EXTENSIVE TRANSPORTATION STUDY AS TO WHERE ALL THE TRAFFIC IS AND VERIFIABLE DATA COMING IN AND OUT OF OUR COMMUNITY.
TWO QUESTIONS IN PARTICULAR ON THE MINDS OF SEVERAL RESIDENTS OF FRONT ROYAL AT THE PRESENT TIME.
QUESTION NUMBER ONE, FOR YEARS, COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES OF PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES IN LANDLOCK COMMUNITIES NORTH OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS ON SHENANDOAH SHORES ROAD.
WHY IS THAT IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT NORFOLK SOUTHERN TRAINS COMPLETELY BLOCK SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC ON SHENANDOAH SHORES ROAD NINE TIMES A DAY? QUESTION NUMBER TWO, IS IT NOT IN THE TOWN CODE? SOMEWHERE A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME THAT IT IS, THAT THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE TOWN COUNCIL IS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ITS CITIZENS.
AND WHEN THOSE, WHEN THAT TRAIN BLOTCHED TRAFFIC COMING SOUTH ON SHANDOR SHORES ROAD, WHEN TRAFFIC BACKS UP ON HAPPY CREEK ROAD IN BOTH DIRECTIONS TRYING TO TURN NORTH ON SHANDOR SHORES ROAD, THERE ARE HORRIFIC HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES.
PLEASE BE AWARE ALSO THAT A LARGE FACTION OF, OF FRONT ROYAL RESIDENTS ARGUE FOR A MORATORIUM ON LARGE HOUSING SCALE DEVELOPMENTS NORTH OF THE RAILROAD TRACKS UNTIL THESE SAFETY ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
IN SUMMARY, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE TOWN'S NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BE APPROVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER YOU PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT AND REVIEWED IT AND THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUES HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.
THE SECOND RECOMMENDATION, MY STRONG RECOMMENDATION IS THAT A NEW FRONT ROYAL TRANSPORTATION STUDY BE COMPLETED.
HOPEFULLY THIS FISCAL ARE FUNDED OR PROPERLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
THANK YOU, AND I HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON.
HELLO, GARY GILLESPIE, 19 FAIRVIEW AVENUE, FRONT ROYAL, UM, MADAM MAYOR AND, UM, HONORABLE MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO, TO, UM, CONGRATULATE MR. INGRAM, COUNCILMAN INGRAM AND COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT.
YOU WILL FIND US VERY FULFILLING IN YOUR LIVES.
AND, UH, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TONIGHT ABOUT IS SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO
[02:00:01]
MY HEART.AND I KNOW I'VE BEAT THE DRUM AND ON THIS FOR A LOT OF YEARS.
AND, UM, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT SOMEBODY FROM FROM COUNCIL BE ON THE, THE WARREN COUNTY, UM, DRUG PREVENTION BOARD.
I JUST, I I WANT TO IN INVITE ONE OF Y'ALL.
YOU KNOW, IT, IT'S, UH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO WHERE OUR COMMUNITY, WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF CREATING, UM, A DRUG COURT IN OUR, IN OUR TOWN AND, UM, TO HELP PEOPLE KICK THIS ABBOT, YOU KNOW? AND, UM, I, THAT'S ALL I WANT.
I'M NOT HERE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT ANYTHING TONIGHT.
UM, JUST WANNA CHALLENGE ONE OF Y'ALL.
UM, THERE IS A MEETING TOMORROW AND, UH, UH, MADAM, THAT MATT, MADAM MAYOR HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THAT, UM, Y'ALL HAD A PREVIOUS, BUT IT STARTS, ACTUALLY, ACTUALLY, IT'S UM, SINCE YOU AND I DISCUSSED, IT'S BEEN CONFIRMED.
IT'S ACTUALLY ON WEDNESDAY IS WHAT MR. UM, WALTZ TOLD ME.
IS THAT CORRECT? YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? WEDNESDAY AND I WAS PLANNING TO ATTEND.
I, I HEARD YOU AND I, I TOTALLY THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
DON'T WORRY, WE'LL BE REPRESENTED FOR SURE.
IT'S A LITTLE ODD SEEING YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS, UH, DI BUT, UH, ANYWAY.
ALRIGHT, COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT.
ANYBODY ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? MR. SILAK? UM, AGAIN, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, I WANT TO TOUCH UP ON WHAT MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATE, MR. GILLESPIE JUST SAID.
UM, MY PURPOSE WAS TO JUST TALK ABOUT DRUGS, BUT THE DRUG COURT IS EFFECTIVE.
I PROSECUTE ONE DAY A WEEK IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY.
NOW, UH, I SEE TONS AND TONS OF DRUGS.
IN FACT, THIS IS THE MAJORITY OF THE DOCKET METH, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT BE BETTER THAN FENTANYL.
THAT BEING SAID, IT HAS TO BE A TWOFOLD APPROACH IF WE WANT TO HELP FIX PROBLEMS IN THIS COMMUNITY.
ONE SINCE APT TECH'S CLOSED, NO JOBS HERE.
THE LAST THING WE NEED ARE MORE FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS AND MINIMUM WAGE JOBS.
THEY'RE NOT LIVABLE WAGE JOBS AND THESE LIVABLE WAGE JOBS THAT PEOPLE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE.
THAT IT, IT DOESN'T SUPPORT A FAMILY.
SECONDLY, WE GOTTA ROOT OUT OR ELIMINATE WHERE THESE DRUG PROBLEMS OCCUR.
WE SAY, AND I'M A CONSERVATIVE, I BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS, BUT IT IS TIME.
WE SAY TO THE HOTELS THAT HOUSE ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT ARE CONSTANT USUAL SUSPECTS OR FREQUENT FLYERS IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
WE'VE GOT TO USE THE POWER OF NUISANCE LAW AND PUT THAT MAN TO WORK.
IT'S A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND WE'VE GOT TO SHUT DOWN THESE BUSINESSES.
AND IF YOU VOTE TO TELL YOUR TOWN ATTORNEY OR HIRE AN OUTSIDE ATTORNEY TO DO IT, USE NUISANCE LAW.
DECLARE THESE PLACES A PUBLIC NUISANCE AND ELIMINATE THEM.
CUZ THERE'S USUAL SUSPECTS THAT CONSTANTLY POP UP AND THEY'RE USERS AND THEIR DEALERS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MADE TONS OF PEOPLE DRUG DEALERS BY MEDICAID.
EVERYONE DECLARED THEY HAD A MADE UP DISEASE, FIBROMYALGIA, OR, OR SOME PEOPLE IT WAS A MADE UP DISEASE AND GOT TONS OF OPIATE DRUGS.
AND I WOULD LOVE TO BE IN BUSINESS AND HAVE FREE INVENTORY THAT THE GOVERNMENT PAYS FOR AND THAT YOU SELL FOR 40 OR $75 A MONTH.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAD HAPPENING AND STILL HAPPENS.
SO WE'VE GOT TO WORK TO ELIMINATE WHERE THIS IS OCCURRING.
GET RID OF THESE HOTELS THAT ARE CAUSING A LOT OF THE PROBLEM.
AND MR. GALALI AND MS. KLEIN CAN TELL YOU THE NUMBER OF TIMES THEY'RE CALLED TO THESE ESTABLISHMENTS.
IT'S TIME FOR US AS A COMMUNITY TO SAY GOODBYE.
THERE'S APARTMENT HOUSES ON ROYAL AVENUE AND WARREN AVENUE IN CASES WHERE I'M A GUARDIAN AT LEAD THEM.
I DO THAT AS MY COMMUNITY SERVICE CUZ I MAKE A LOT MORE THAN $55 AN HOUR AND IT'S $55 AN HOUR.
AND THIS LADY, A JUDGE CAN TELL YOU THAT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
I GO IN, I WON'T EVEN GO INTO SOME OF THESE HOMES OR APARTMENT BUILDINGS.
THEY'RE FILTHY, THEY'RE DISGUSTING.
[02:05:01]
THE TOP OF THE HOT WATER HEATER WAS MOVING.IT WAS ROACHES AND THE LIGHT WAS ON.
THEY WEREN'T EVEN RUNNING CUZ OF LIGHT.
I'M LIKE, I'M NOT GOING BACK IN THERE.
AND SOME PLACES AND HOTELS, I KEEP OFF IN MY CAR AND DOUS MY CLOTHES WITH OFF BEFORE I GO INTO CERTAIN PLACES.
WE SHOULDN'T HAVE PEOPLE LIVING LIKE THAT.
AND WE'VE GOT TO SAY IT'S TIME TO SAY, DO THESE OWNERS BE A GOOD CITIZEN.
AND AS PROPERTY OWNERS, WE HAVE A DUTY TO NOT USE OUR PROPERTY TO HARM OTHERS OR OUR NEIGHBORS.
AND YOU ALL AS A COUNCIL ARE ALLOWING IT TO HAPPEN.
SO IT'S ON YOU ALL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
AGENDA ITEM NUMBER 11, DON'T LEAVE.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES SIR.
UM, I'M MARK EGGER, 1 0 2 EAST FOURTH STREET.
I WAS HERE TO SPEAK ON THE ITEM THAT WAS DELETED FROM THE MEETING.
AND MY COMMENTS ARE LONGER THAN THREE MINUTES.
SO IF IT'S OKAY WITH YOU, MS. COCKRILL, COULD I JUST HAND COPIES TO EVERYONE? SURE.
THAT PROBABLY NEVER HAPPENS, BUT WE'LL GIVE IT HER A TRIAL.
IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? MR. SAYER? SOMEBODY'S GOT THIS RIGHT? MM-HMM.
I WANTED TO SAY SOMETHING POSITIVE.
UH, WELCOME YOU ALL HERE TO THE TOWN COUNCIL.
CONGRATULATIONS, UH, JOE FOR COMING BACK.
THE FRONT ROYAL PREGNANCY CENTER IS A FREE BUSINESS ORGANIZATION THAT'S IN FRONT ROYAL THAT WILL ACCEPT ANYBODY WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR.
THEY GIVE COUNSELING, THEY HELP GIVE OUT BABY DIAPERS.
UH, ANYTHING THAT PREGNANT MOTHERS NEED, FAMILIES NEED.
I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT PLUG OUT THERE.
UM, I USED TO DO WORK IN THE JDR DISTRICT COURT AND A LOT OF MY GARDEN, A LITEM, A LOT OF MY CLIENTS WENT TO THE FRONT ROYAL PREGNANCY CENTER.
THEY CAN MEET THEIR, UH, WHEN THEY NEED COUNSELING THAT MEETS THEIR REQUIREMENTS WITH THE COURT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MANY POSITIVE THINGS GOING ON IN FRONT ROYAL.
WE ARE MEETING MANY, MANY OF THESE NEEDS AND OBVIOUSLY DRUGS A BIG PROBLEM.
AND, UH, REGARDING, UH, WITH THE TOWN ATTORNEY PUTNAM TO WORK, AS MR. SEK SAID, IT'S A GOOD IDEA.
AND WHEN I CAME ON COUNCIL THE FIRST TIME I REMEMBER DANIEL PAWN HELPED WORK WITH THE COUNCIL AND THEY GOT AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR THAT WAS WITH THE TOWN ATTORNEY AND SHE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.
HE, FOR SOME REASON DOESN'T LIKE THE SETUP AND OVER MY OBJECTIONS, BUT THEY ENDED UP GETTING RID OF HER.
BUT I WAS WANTING TO PUT THAT BUG IN YOUR ALL'S EAR THAT YOU CAN GET AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACT.
YOU WANT TO HIRE ANOTHER ATTORNEY ON STAFF AND SHE CAN HELP, UH, MR. SONIC AND, AND, UM, THEY CAN DO A REALLY GOOD JOB.
UH, SHE, SHE PROSECUTED A LOT OF CASES, AND SHE COULD DO A LOT OF DRUG CASES TOO.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE HERE TONIGHT THAT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION? OKAY.
[9.A. Report of Town Manager]
WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER NINE.UM, AND THAT IS GONNA BE THE REPORTS OF THE TOWN MANAGER, COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND THE MAYOR.
AND SO I'M GONNA START WITH MR. WALTZ.
UH, DUE TO THE LENGTHY MEETING TONIGHT, I WILL BE BRIEF.
UM, I'VE GOT THREE OPERATIONAL ISSUES I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
FIRST, I, I WANTED TO THANK OUR ELECTRIC CUSTOMERS OUT ON BROWNTOWN ROAD FOR THEIR PATIENTS LAST WEEK DUE TO THAT ACCIDENT ON BROWNTOWN ROAD, UH, DUE TO VEHICLE ACTION, WE HAD TROUBLE ACCESSING THE BROKEN POLE AND RESULTED IN, UH, 40 CUSTOMERS OURS ON BROWNTOWN ROAD WITHOUT ELECTRICITY FOR OVER SIX HOURS.
SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
WE JUST HAD A DIFFICULTY GETTING UP TO THAT ROAD, UH, DUE TO THAT ACCIDENT.
NUMBER TWO, I WANTED TO LET OUR CITIZENS KNOW THIS WEEK IS OUR LAST WEEK FOR YARD WASTE.
[02:10:01]
TO PICK UP YARD WASTE ON MARCH 29TH.AND THEN THE THIRD AND LAST THING, I WANNA LET YOU KNOW, THE TOWN STAFF IS WATCHING THE WEATHER REPORT FOR WEDNESDAY, AND WE'LL BE PREPARED FOR ANYTHING THAT, UH, THAT, THAT, THAT HAPPENS.
AND THAT WILL CONCLUDE MY REPORT.
[9.B. Report of Councilmembers]
UM, ANY COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT HAVE SOMETHING THEY'D LIKE TO OFFER? UM, I'M GONNA START ON THIS END FIRST.DID YOU, YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT I'M GONNA TRY TO MIX IT UP HERE.
I'M GONNA KEEP THIS VERY, VERY SHORT.
I JUST WANT, UH, OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT, UH, I'M GONNA DO EVERYTHING I CAN.
WE HAVE SOME VERY, VERY SERIOUS ISSUES THAT THIS COUNCIL IS TAKING UP.
AND I THINK EVERYONE ON THIS COUNCIL, UH, IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.
UH, WE ARE GOING TO EXPLORE THEM, AND WE ARE GOING TO TRY TO DEAL WITH THEM AS EFFECTIVE, EFFECTIVELY AS WE CAN.
MY PRIMARY FOCUS IS MY COMMUNITY.
MY PRIMARY FOCUS IS TO BE AS FAIR AS I CAN IN THE WORK THAT I DO, RECOGNIZING HOW EACH ONE OF US IS A COMMUNITY MEMBER THAT HAS A VOICE THAT WE'D LIKE TO HEAR.
I'M, I'M GLAD MARK AND SOME OTHERS HAVE BROUGHT IT UP, UH, TONIGHT.
WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS DRUG PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS.
WE HAVE A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE OVER OUR BUILDINGS.
UH, I AM GOING TO PUT EVERY OUNCE OF MY EFFORT INTO EXPLORING AVENUES.
I HAVE MET, UH, WITH OUR CHIEF AND WITH A COUPLE OF HIS FOLKS.
I'VE MET WITH THE SHERIFF AND A COUPLE OF HIS FOLKS.
UH, IT IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUES OUR YOUTH ARE AT, ARE AT STAKE IN THIS.
AND, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT, UH, THIS COUNCIL MEMBER IS GONNA DO EVERYTHING HE CAN, UH, TO HELP IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR LIFE IN THIS COMMUNITY.
COUNCILMAN, VICE MAYOR SEAK, NO PRESSURE.
I'M JUST WANNA GIVE EVERYBODY A JUST A COUPLE THINGS.
I THINK OUR, I'VE SEEN OUR TOWN CREW WORK.
UH, I THINK THEY'RE WONDERFUL.
UH, CHIEF BACK THERE, HE HAS WHAT I THINK IS A WONDERFUL DEPARTMENT.
UM, YOU SEE THE GUYS OUT AND ABOUT ALL THE TIME.
UH, WE JUST GOT YOUR RECORDS THE OTHER DAY, CHIEF FOR YOUR TWO WEEK REPORT ON THE ARREST KING BELIEVE, AND THE MAJORITY OF 'EM ARE DRUGS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY'RE DOING A WONDERFUL JOB.
I WANT TO THANK 'EM FOR EVERYTHING THEY DO.
UH, AND I GUESS I'M MOVING A LITTLE LATE, BUT I WANT TO THANK THE CITIZENS THAT PUT ME UP HERE.
UM, BUT WE DO, WE HAVE A LOT AHEAD OF US.
I THINK WE'RE GONNA MAKE STRIDES THIS YEAR, UH, TO MAKE THINGS BETTER IN TOWN, THE BEST WE CAN.
UH, I'M SURE EVERYBODY GOT THEIR REASSESSMENTS IN THE MAIL.
UH, SO
SORRY, I'M JUST, UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THERE'LL BE SOME LOOKING AT THOSE AT SOME POINT.
UH, BUT, UM, I THINK EVERYTHING IS KIND OF POSITIVE THIS YEAR.
YOU KNOW, I'VE ALWAYS GOT SOMETHING TO SAY.
UM, I JUST, UH, MR. SAK TO SPEAK TO WHAT YOU SAID.
I WAS GONNA SAY, STAY FOR BUSINESS ITEM 11 B TO APPOINTMENTS TO THE L B B C A THAT WILL FILL THAT BOARD.
UH, THAT WAS A BOARD THAT WE'VE ESTABLISHED, UM, SINCE 2018.
COUNCIL BACK THEN TALKED ABOUT BLIGHTED BUILDINGS, DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS, AND ADDRESSING WHAT OUR STATE CODE, SOME OF THOSE MOTELS ARE BREAKING.
UM, HOWEVER, I'D BE REMISS TO NOT, UH, MENTION THAT MY FORMER COUNCILWOMAN, UH, LATASHA THOMPSON WOULD SAY WE CURRENTLY HAVE 106 WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS LIVING IN THE MOTELS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
SO THIS COUNCIL DOES HAVE AN APPETITE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, BUT ALSO WHILE BEING MINDFUL OF THOSE STUDENTS THAT WILL BE DISPLACED, UM, OR COULD POTENTIALLY BE DISPLACED, UM, I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE COUNCIL WITH, UH, FORMER COUNCILMAN GARY GILLESPIE, WHO FUNDED THE INITIAL FUNDING OF THE DRUG COURT.
AND WE GOT THAT BALL ROLLING LAST YEAR, AND I'VE LEARNED A LOT.
AND IT IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, TAKEN PEOPLE AS YOUNG AS MY KIDS AGE AND OUR COMMUNITY AT THIS POINT.
UM, AND I THINK THAT GOES HAND IN HAND WITH WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE TOWN COUNTY LIAISON MEETING LAST WEDNESDAY NIGHT ABOUT RE-ENGAGING OUR YOUTH, NOT JUST IN SPORTS.
SPORTS ISN'T THE ONLY THING THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.
UM, AND, UH, I DID GO DOWN TO RICHMOND EARLIER THIS MONTH ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
I GOT TO SIT ALONGSIDE COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT AND COUNCILMAN INGRAM.
UM, YOU KNOW, AND IT WAS REALLY
[02:15:01]
DISAPPOINTING, BUT UNSURPRISING, WHEN WE SAT AT THE FRONT TABLE IN OUR ROOM OF PROBABLY 150 OTHER LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH 130 TUNED IN VIRTUALLY TO HAVE SEEN WHEN WE GOT TO THE BUDGET AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, IT WASN'T THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, BUT THE COUNTY OF WARREN WAS USED AS AN EXAMPLE FOR MALFEASANCE AND MISFEASANCEI'M BORN AND RAISED IN FRONT ROYAL, AND I'M PROUD TO HAVE BEEN BORN AND RAISED IN FRONT ROYAL.
AND I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THAT WE MAKE THE NEWS FOR SOME GOOD THINGS.
SO I THINK THIS COUNCIL HAS THE APPETITE TO GET SOME GOOD THINGS DONE THIS YEAR, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE SETTING UP HERE WITH THEM.
UM, MR. LUNDBERG, IN REGARDS TO TRANSPORTATION, I'M GLAD THAT YOU MENTIONED THAT WE DID FORMALLY WITH MY LAST COUNCIL BUDGET FOR A TRANSPORTATION STUDY.
IT DOES TAKE SOMEONE BEYOND OUR CURRENT PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENT.
LAUREN IS FANTASTIC, BUT SHE IS NOT A TRANSPORTATION ENGINEER.
UM, AND IT IS A VERY SPECIFIC NEED FOR THIS COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT OUR TOWN COUNTY LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING, I SAT ON BEHALF OF THE TOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME.
AND, UM, VICE CHAIR, UH, COUNSEL, OR VICE CHAIR CHERYL COLORS, AND I HAVE STARTED A SUB-COMMITTEE TO WORK ON THE, UM, SHENANDOAH SHORE'S RAILROAD CROSSING ISSUE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE PROTECTED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHO CAN BE WORTHLESS, AS WE ALL KNOW.
UM, BUT AT OUR LAST ONE IN OCTOBER, WE DISCUSSED WITH THE COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, THEY HAVE SOME ARCHIVES FOR SOME PLANS FROM THE 6 0 6 CORRIDOR.
WE'RE GONNA REVISIT THOSE THINGS, AND WE'RE GONNA LOOK FOR AN IMMEDIATE SHORT TERM FIX TO THE HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARD THAT IT PRESENTS.
UH, NOT ONLY DOES IT STOP NINE TIMES A DAY, A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO, IT SAT FOR FOUR TO SIX HOURS, I BELIEVE, AND PEOPLE MISS SURGERIES AT THE HOSPITAL.
AND IN MY TIME ON COUNCIL, I'VE BEEN TOLD THINGS LIKE WE HEARD EARLIER TONIGHT FROM SOMEBODY DEVELOP IT, AND THEN WE CAN DO THIS, DEVELOP IT, AND THEN THE ROADS WILL COME.
WELL, I, I KNOW I'M NOT THE SMARTEST PERSON, BUT WE NEED TO HAVE THE ROADS THERE BEFORE WE DEVELOP IT.
SO, WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY TO FIND A TEMPORARY EMERGENCY EXIT RAMP OFF OF 66 TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH AND SAFETY HAZARDS IN THE IMMEDIATE MEANTIME, THE FLYOVER, I THINK THAT LAST WAS DISCUSSED AT THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION BOARD WAS ABOUT 62 MILLION, WHICH, IT'S, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
ANYWAYS, ALL OF THAT BEING SAID, WE'RE WORKING ON ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND I, SOMEBODY BROUGHT IT UP EARLIER ABOUT AFEX.
WE'VE BEEN ECONOMICALLY STRAINED AND DEPLETED SINCE THAT HAPPENED.
I'M GLAD SOMEBODY MENTIONED IT TONIGHT.
WHEN WE GOT A TACO BELL OUT IN THE RIVERTON CORRIDOR, I SAID ON THE ROYAL EXAMINER, ONE OF THOSE NEWSCASTS THAT GOT ME IN TROUBLE.
INSTEAD OF DRIVING FIVE MINUTES TO TACO BELL, I ONLY HAVE TO DRIVE SEVEN MINUTES TO ANOTHER TACO BELL NOW.
AND I THINK IT BROUGHT US ABOUT FIVE PART-TIME POSITIONS TO THE TOWN AND COUNTY.
SO I IMPLORE YOU TO CALL OUR CONGRESSMAN BEN KLEIN.
THERE'S NO REASON WHY WE CAN'T LOOK LIKE FREDERICK COUNTY, WHO HAS THE FEMA AND THE ARMY CORPSE OF ENGINEER AND THE FBI, AND HAVE SOME LIVING WAGE JOBS BROUGHT BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER RECOVERED.
AND THAT WAS WHEN MY GRANDPARENTS AND GREAT-GRANDPARENTS WERE DEVASTATED BY THE EPA A'S TOXIC PARK IS WHAT IT WILL BE NEXT.
SIR, WOULD YOU LIKE TO OFFER ANYTHING? NO PRESSURE,
NOW, FIRST OFF, I'D LIKE TO, UH, THANK THE RESIDENTS OF, UH, FRONT RULE FOR ENTRUSTING ME IN THIS POSITION FOR, UH, REPRESENTING OUR COMMUNITY.
UH, I'VE SAID THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER.
YOU KNOW, MY REASONS FOR RUNNING WERE TO KEEP THE REASONS INTACT THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT I LIVE HERE.
SO, UM, I DID GET A CHANCE TO SEE SOME OF OUR, UH, TOWN'S FACILITIES, UH, OUR TOWN MANAGER, JOE WALTZ, UH, ROBBIE, CHIEF MCGS, UH, CAPTAIN KLEIN.
UH, THEY WERE ALL PART OF THAT TOUR.
AND I WILL SAY THAT, UH, WE HAVE FACILITIES HERE THAT ARE SECOND TO NONE.
UH, WE HAVE A VERY GOOD, UH, UM, GROUP OF PEOPLE WORKING FOR THE TOWN.
UM, AND, AND WE'VE ACTUALLY, IN THAT REGARD, UH, I'VE LEARNED THAT THERE ARE COMMUNITIES LOOKING AT WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR HOW WE'RE OPERATING TO, TO MIMIC.
AND THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE THAT ARE UNIQUE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA.
AND, UH, AND I LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO KEEP KEEP THAT UP.
UM, AS CHIEF MIGUELS SAID, YOU KNOW, WE'RE FULLY STAFFED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, BUT WE'RE STILL, YOU KNOW, LOOKING TO FILL SOME GAPS IN, INTO PUBLIC WORKS.
UM, YOU KNOW, WELL, AND AS, AND AS WAS MENTIONED BY MR. SILAK AND OF COURSE, AND, AND, UH, COUNCIL COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MORRIS, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE GET SOME JOBS HERE THAT, THAT PRODUCE A LIBERAL, LIBERAL WAGE.
AND, UH, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE, UH, FOR RESOURCES, YOU KNOW, WE CAN, WE CAN SIMPLY, YOU KNOW, WE CAN EXPAND UPON WHAT WE HAVE.
UM, BUT LIKE I SAID, I JUST, UH, JUST WANNA SAY OVERALL THAT, UH, I THINK THERE'S GONNA BE SOME GOOD THINGS ON THE HORIZON FOR OUR TOWN AND OUR, AND OUR COUNTY, UH, AT THAT LIAISON MEETING, UH,
[02:20:01]
WHICH I WAS PRESENT AS WELL.AND I'M ALSO ON THE, UM, UH, COMMITTEE WITH, WITH COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS AND, AND, UH, UM, UH, MISS MS. CALLERS AS WELL ON THAT, UH, EXPIRATION FOR THE CROSSING OVER THERE AT, UH, SENATOR SHORES.
AND I WILL SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST FROM WHAT I'VE OBSERVED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A TIME NOT TOO LONG AGO WHERE EVEN A DISCUSSION LIKE WE HAD IN OUR LIAISON MEETING WOULDN'T HAVE TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN THE TOWN AND COUNTY.
SO I WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW THAT JUST THE FACT THAT WE'RE STARTING TO TALK MORE AND MORE, AND AT LEAST, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PUT A STEP FORWARD, UH, COLLECTIVELY, UH, I THINK THAT'S A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME.
AND AGAIN, IT LOOKS LIKE TO EXTEND MY THANKS TO, UH, THE RESIDENTS OF FRONT ROYAL FRONT ROW, LIKE TO, UH, MY EXPERIENCE THAT I'VE HAD ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION, MY FELLOW COMMISSION MEMBERS AND MY FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO, TO, UH, DOING SOME GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW, I, I'VE GOT ALL STOLEN MY THUNDER HERE, YOU KNOW.
I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT MORE, UH, TO ADD OTHER THAN, UH, DITTO
AND, UH, UH, I DID GO ON THE TOUR, UH, UH, I BELIEVE IT WAS LAST ON FRIDAY.
UH, LAST FRIDAY, THURSDAY WAS IT? WAS IT THURSDAY? OTHER WAS FRIDAY.
WELL, ANYWAYS, IT, IT IS, UH, OUR, UH, IN PARTICULAR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IS, UH, IS A STATE OF THE ART.
I MEAN, UH, WHAT AN IMPRESSIVE FACILITY ON, UH, UH, SOME SOMETHING BELIEVABLE.
IF YOU EVER GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO THROUGH IT, I, UH, SUGGEST, UH, TO DO SO, UM, UH, TO SECOND, UH, THE, UH, COMMENTS OF, UH, CO UH, COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS, UH, AND, UH, INGRAM.
UH, UH, WE HAVE GREAT EMPLOYEES HERE.
I I CAN'T SAY, UH, HOW IMPRESSED I WAS WITH, WITH ALL THE EMPLOYEES THAT I MET.
UH, THEIR ROOTS ABOUT WANTING TO DO GOOD, UH, ARE DEEP, AND, UH, THEY TAKE THEIR JOB SERIOUSLY.
UH, SO, UH, MY HAT'S OFF TO THEM IF I WAS WEARING ONE.
UH, AND, UH, I, I WILL SAY, UH, AT THE VML CONFERENCE THAT I WAS AT, UH, I, I RAN INTO THE GENTLEMAN THAT, UH, PUT US ON THE MAP, UH, UH, IN THE RESTROOM.
AND, UH, I MADE THE COMMENT, WELL, THANKS FOR THROWING US UNDER THE BUS.
RIGHT? UH, HE SAYS, WELL, LOOK, UH, I'VE BEEN BACK IN THE FRONT, ROYAL, HE'S FROM THE WINCHESTER AREA.
HE'S A TOWN MANAGER OF SCOTTSVILLE, UH, VIRGINIA.
AND HE SAYS, THINGS ARE IMPROVING THERE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE LOOKING BETTER.
UH, YOU GRAB, YOU GRABBED THE, UH, PAPER OFF OF IT.
GOT ON MY KNEES AND I GRABBED THE PAPERS, AND NO ONE ELSE CAN SEE IT, RIGHT? UH, THE, UH, TOWN LA COUNTY LIAISON MEETING, UH, THAT WAS BROUGHT UP ABOUT AN ANNIE LITTER SERVICE THAT, UH, THAT THEY'RE DOING THERE.
AND I WAS IMPRESSED WITH, UH, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THERE.
AND, UH, LOCALLY, I WANNA PUT A SHOUT OUT TO, UH, UH, LOCAL CITIZEN.
HIS NAME IS RICHARD, UH, BAKER, UH, WHO YOU WILL SEE WITH A CORN COB PIPE, UH, DOWN ON MAIN STREET, UH, PICKING UP CIGARETTE BUTTS.
SO HE'S, UH, DOING HIS PART AS A CITIZEN.
AND, UH, I, I APPRECIATE THAT.
UM, AND TO REITERATE, UH, MR. GILLESPIE, I THANK YOU FOR BRINGING UP THE DRUG COURT.
UH, THIS IS AN VERY IMPORTANT, UH, THING.
I HAVE A, I HAVE A BROTHER-IN-LAW WHO, UH, UH, RUNS A, A METHADONE CLINIC IN TEXAS.
AND, UH, IT'S, UH, WE, WE WANNA, WE WANT TO KEEP, UH, PEOPLE, UH, AS USEFUL CITIZENS TO SOCIETY, AS WELL AS, UH, MR. SOAK, UH, TOOK NOTES ON YOUR POINTS.
UH, UH, I, I, I, I'M WITH YOU ON ALL THOSE SUBJECTS THAT YOU, YOU BROUGHT UP AS WELL.
UH, AND GOOD PAYING JOBS THAT WOULD CURE A WHOLE LOT.
UH, AND, UH, WHATEVER WE CAN DO FROM E E ECONOMIC, UH, UH, DEVELOPMENT, UH, POSITION, IN ORDER TO ATTRACT THESE,
[02:25:01]
UH, COMPANIES TO COME IN, UM, WE NEED, WE NEED LAND TO, FOR THESE COMPANIES TO COME IN.SO WE, WE NEED TO SAVE WHAT, WHAT WE CAN WITH THAT.
MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE NO MORE THANK YOU.
WANTED TO SAY, I SAY THANK Y'ALL FOR ELECTING ME.
IT'S OUR, OUR FIRST, FIRST MEETING BACK IN THE DI UH, IN THE 2023 NEW YEAR.
AS YOU CAN TELL, I'M PASSIONATE AND FIRED UP, BUT THANK Y'ALL.
OH, ADAM, MAYOR, I FORGOT TO THANK HIM AS WELL.
I THINK Y'ALL THANK I JUST WENT RIGHT INTO IT.
[9.C. Report of the Mayor]
WELL, THIS IS THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR, AND I FEEL LIKE I COULD SAY DITTO, BUT, UM, I HAVE MY COMMONS, SO I'M GONNA, I'LL GO, I'LL MINE WILL BUZZ THROUGH FASTER.FIRST, I WANNA SAY THANK YOU TO THE CITIZENS OF FRONT ROYAL FOR LIKING ME TO BE YOUR MAYOR FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS.
I DO PLEDGE TO LEAD WITH THE SAME COMMON SENSE APPROACH THAT I SERVED AS A COUNCILMAN, A PLEDGE TO TREAT ALL CITIZENS WITH RESPECT AND CONDUCT COUNCIL MEETINGS EFFICIENTLY, WHICH I HOPE I DID THIS EVENING.
UH, I DO LOVE FRONT ROYAL, AND I TRULY WANT THIS TO BE A PLACE THAT ALL OF US CAN BE PROUD OF, WHERE OUR CITIZENS CAN WORK, PLAY, AND RAISE OUR FAMILIES SAFELY.
UM, SECOND, JUST WELCOME TO ALL OF YOU.
UM, THEY'RE WELCOME TO THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THOSE THAT HAVE SAT IN THESE SEATS BEFORE TONIGHT.
I'M ACTUALLY, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
AND I'M EXCITED ABOUT SERVING WITH Y'ALL AS, AS WE MOVE OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD.
UM, I WAS GONNA MENTION ABOUT SINCE OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING, ABOUT THE WINTER EVENT WE'VE HAD AND, AND ABOUT ENERGY SERVICES, BUT I FEEL LIKE THAT'S BEEN SAID, SO I'M JUST GONNA SAY, I KNOW WE'RE ALL GRATEFUL FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO KEEP OUR LIGHTS ON, OUR WATER FLOWING AND OUR ROADS OPEN.
SO THANK YOU TO OUR TOWN STAFF.
AND LAST, UM, SOMEBODY ALREADY MENTIONED THIS, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION AGAIN, THIS PAST THURSDAY, WE HELD THE TOWN COUNTY LIAISON MEETING IN TOWN HALL, AND IT WAS RECORDED, SO YOU CAN VIEW IT ON THE TOWN'S WEBSITE, BUT I, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO ATTENDED AND PRESENTED.
IT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
IT WAS A LONG MEETING, BUT IT WAS A PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
UM, BOTH THOSE SERVING ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THE TOWN COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE ENCOURAGED BY ALL THAT WE WERE ABLE TO DISCUSS AND COLLABORATE ON.
UM, AND I BELIEVE THAT EVERYBODY ON THIS DIOCESE IS COMMITTED, UH, TO FORGING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE, UH, THE TOWN AND COUNTY.
AND I THINK LAST THURSDAY WAS PROOF OF HOW SUCCESSFUL WE CAN BE WITH THAT GOAL.
[10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
I'M GONNA MOVE ON TO NUMBER 10.AND NUMBER 10 IS OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVED THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
SIR, ANY DISCUSSION? AND, AND I, I WILL JUST SHARE, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ARE AWARE, UH, WE ARE GONNA BE PURCHASING A, UH, DUMP TRUCK, CAB AND CHASSIS AND THE OTHER THING.
YEAH, I THINK THOSE, THAT THERE'S TWO ITEMS. COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS TO THE SUBCOMMITTEES YES.
UM, SO ANYWAY, MISS MR. PRESLEY, ARE YOU READY? I'M SORRY, WHO'S SECOND? WAYNE.
DID MR. UH, VICE MAYOR SEAL COUNCILMAN INK? YES.
[11. BUSINESS ITEMS]
11 IS OUR BUSINESS ITEMS. AND REALLY, UM, JUST WANNA SAY, THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MEETING, AND I'M SO HAPPY THAT WE'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO DO THIS TONIGHT.SO WE'LL START OFF WITH THE APPOINTMENT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, UM, UH, AND THAT'S FOR AN UNEXPIRED TERM LEFT VACANT BY COUNCILMAN INGRAM, WHO IS ELECTED TO COUNSEL.
SO, DO I HEAR A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR COUNSEL IS REQUESTED TO APPOINT MICHAEL S. WILLIAMS TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION, TO AN UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING AUGUST 31ST, 2025, SIR.
MIKE MIKE'S MOVING FROM THE V Z A OVER TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
CAN YOU JUST THROW UP YOUR HANDS SO EVERYBODY CAN SEE MIKE? ALL RIGHT, MS. PRESLEY, YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL? COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.
UM, NEXT UP ARE THE APPOINTMENTS TO THE LOCAL BOARD OF BUILDING CODE APPEALS.
UM, WE HAVE ALREADY APPOINTED TWO MEMBERS IN DECEMBER, AND SO AFTER TONIGHT'S ACTION, THE L BBC WILL ACTUALLY BE FULLY REPRESENTED.
SO, DO I HEAR A MOTION FOR THAT?
[02:30:01]
MADAM MAYOR? I MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPOINT GARY, IS THIS I OR L GARY? FOLLOW.I GILLISPIE, UH, ELENA AND CHARLES KORNOVICH TO THE LOCAL BOARD OF BUILDING CODE OF APPEAL, SAID TERMS TO BE DETERMINED AND ADOPTED.
AND ALL THREE OF THESE, UM, REPRESENTATIVES ARE HERE TONIGHT.
MR. GILLESPIE, CAN YOU JUST THROW UP YOUR HAND? I THINK THEY ARE, YOU KNOW HOW YOU SPOKE, MS. AERS AND MR. GOVI, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE.
SO WE STILL GOTTA A VOTE, BUT THANK YOU.
I'M GONNA ADDED THE DISCUSSION.
FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AWARE, THE LOCAL BOARD OF BUILDING CODE APPEALS IS THE FIRST STEP IN IMPLEMENTING THE BLIGHTED BUILDINGS, THE DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS.
THIS IS GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO NOW CONVENE, ADOPT THEIR OWN BYLAWS, SET THEIR, UM, THEIR MEETING, UM, ALL OF THAT.
AND SO THIS WAS A VERY LONG AWAITED STEP ONE.
IT TOOK SO LONG, GARY HELPED US ENACT IT, AND NOW HE IS OFF COUNCIL AND BEING APPOINTED TO IT.
AND I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR EVERYBODY THAT'S BEING APPOINTED TO THIS BOARD.
THEY'RE ALL GREAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN CONSTRUCTION, PERMITTING SOME, SOME FORM OF BUILDING CODES.
SO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BEING WILLING TO SERVE.
IF I MAY ADD MADAM MAYOR, UH, I SECOND, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MORRIS SEDIMENTS.
I THINK WE GOT, UH, REALLY GOOD CANDIDATES ALSO, UH, MR. WILLIAMS AS WELL.
SO HIS, HIS RECENT APPOINTMENT IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT, UH, WE'RE GETTING THIS KICKED OFF.
I KNOW THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT FOR THE BETTER PART OF A YEAR.
WELL, I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT IT THE LAST YEAR IN PARTICULAR, SO, UH, I THINK THIS IS GONNA BE REALLY GOOD FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU DO A ROLL CALL? COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.
COUNCILMAN ROGERS, VICE MAYOR OCH? YES.
LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
UH, NEXT UP IS THE NOMINATION TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.
THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN THE COUNCIL IS ACTUALLY REQUESTED TO APPROVE THE NOMINATION.
UM, AND WE THEN WE SEND THAT TO THE JUDGE OF THE WARREN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT.
UH, DO I HEAR A MOTION, COUNCILMAN? I'M MEAN COUNT.
I MOVED THAT COUNCIL NOMINATE LEWIS MOTEN TO THE JUDGE OF WARREN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS BZA A TO AN UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING MAY 1ST, 2024.
ANY DISCUSSION? I DON'T BELIEVE MR. MOTON IS HERE.
SO, BUT THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AS WELL.
I'LL JUST ADD TO THE DISCUSSION.
MR. MOTEN CAME TO THE REVITALIZE OR DIE EVENT THAT I ATTENDED THAT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PUT ON.
AND I STOOD UP WHEN THE TOWN WAS BEING CRUCIFIED, AND I SAID, IF YOU WANT TO GET INVOLVED, PLEASE COME GET INVOLVED.
AND HE HAS APPLIED AND SAID, I WILL SERVE ANYWHERE YOU NEED ME TO SERVE.
SO WE ABSOLUTELY ALWAYS HAVE A SEAT FOR ANYBODY WANTING TO SERVE.
UH, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT, UH, ON, ON, ON MY CAMPAIGN TRAIL, I RAN ACROSS HIM, UH, UH, I THINK IT'S ON KESSLER.
UH, AND, UH, HE, HE IS VERY EMOTIONAL ABOUT, UH, UH, DOING GOOD THINGS FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIM.
[12. CLOSED MEETING]
WE GOT HERE, ITEM NUMBER 12, MADAM MAYOR.I MOVE THAT TOWN COUNCIL CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 AND 2.2 DASH 3 7 12 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES.
ONE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A SEVEN OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF MEMBERS OR CONSULTANTS PERTAINING TO ACTUAL LITIGATION WHERE SUCH CONSULTATION OR BRIEFING AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATIONS, LITIGATION, POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY, SPECIFICALLY TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL VERSE, WARREN COUNTY, E D A, ET ALL.
AND TWO, PURSUANT TO 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A, ONE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, DEMOTION, SALARIES, DISCIPLINING, OR RESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICERS, APPOINTEES OR EMPLOYEES OF ANY PUBLIC BODY.
SPECIFICALLY APPOINTMENTS TO FILL VACANCIES ON TOWN COUNCIL.
[02:35:01]
PURSUANT TO 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A EIGHT OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY A PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL, SPECIFICALLY THE FRONT ROYAL E D A.OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION? DO WE HAVE A SECOND? OKAY.
MS. PRESLEY? UH, JUST, UH, UH, UH, SHOULD I ADJOURN AND IF WE DECIDE TO COME OUT AFTER CLOSED, OR SHOULD I WAIT TO ADJOURN UNTIL AFTER WE COME OUT OF CLOSED ADJOURN? WHEN YOU COME OUTTA CLOSED ADUR, IF YOU'RE NOT, NOT SURE.
IF YOU'RE NOT SURE YOU'RE GONNA COME BACK.
WE MAY BE COMING OUTTA CLOSED WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT, SO, OKAY.
CERTIFY THAT TO THE BEST OF EACH MEMBER'S KNOWLEDGE AS RECOGNIZED BY EACH COUNCIL MEMBER'S AFFIRMATIVE VOTE THAT ONLY SUCH PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT, AS WERE IDENTIFIED IN THE MOTION BY WHICH THE CLOSED MEETING WAS CONVENED, WERE HEARD, DISCUSSED, OR CONSIDERED IN THE CLOSED MEETING BY COUNSEL, AND THAT THE VOTE OF EACH INDIVIDUAL MEMBER OF COUNSEL BE TAKEN BY A ROLL CALL AND RECORDED AND INCLUDED IN THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF TOWN COUNCIL.
SO WE ARE BACK IN OPEN MEETING SECOND.
AND THEN WE NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL FOR THE CLOSED COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.
NOW THAT WE'RE BACK OUT IN OPEN MEETING, I'M GOING TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION FROM COUNSEL, MR. INGRAM MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPOINT MELISSA D DESCO PAYNE, TO THE FRONT ROYAL TOWN COUNCIL TO FILL THE VACANCY CREATED BY THE ELECTION OF LORI A COCKWELL AS MAYOR WITH A TERM OF OFFICE, BEGINNING IMMEDIATELY UPON QUALIFICATION AND EXPIRING UPON THE QUALIFICATION OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE ELECTED DURING A SPECIAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 7TH, 2023.
WE HAVE A, UH, MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION AND I I COULD, UH, I COULD JUST DO THE DISCUSSION FOR ALL OF US.
SO, UM, WE WERE ABSOLUTELY, UM, WE HAD MANY PEOPLE THAT WERE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON THIS COUNCIL, WHICH WE ALL FOUND VERY ENCOURAGING TO KNOW THAT THAT MANY CITIZENS WANT TO BE INVOLVED AND SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO IT WAS A VERY TOUGH CHOICE.
UM, AND, UH, WE, UH, WE JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY FOR SHOWING INTEREST.
THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION IN NOVEMBER WITH TWO COUNCIL SEATS, SO IF ANYBODY'S INTEREST IN RUNNING, THEY WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY THEN.
UH, UM, SO IF, IF NO ONE ELSE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY.
MS. PRESLEY, ARE YOU READY FOR, UM, THE ROLL CALL? AND THIS IS ON THE MOTION OF APPOINTING MELISSA D DOCO PAYNE AS, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER.
AND THE TERM WOULD END DECEMBER 31ST, 2024.
THIS WILL, THIS WILL, UH, THIS, SHE WOULD SERVE UNTIL NOVEMBER WHEN THE SPECIAL ELECTION IS HELD.
I IMAGINE YOU WILL HEAR ABOUT THIS IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU WAKE UP, UH, WITH NO OTHER BUSINESS TO, UM, TEND TO, UH, CALL, UH, MEETING ADJOURNED.