[00:00:04]
I'D LIKE TO CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER THE, UH, REGULAR TOWN COUNCIL MEETING FOR MONDAY, NOVEMBER 27TH.[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]
START OFF WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND, UM, WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO TONIGHT, UM, IT'S KINDA ON MY HEART, AND, AND I JUST WANTED TO ASK, UH, WE HAD TWO LOSSES IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST WEEK.I'M SURE THERE HAVE BEEN MANY LOSSES, BUT THERE WERE TWO IN PARTICULAR THAT, UM, THAT MADE ME THINK ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
AND, AND THE FIRST LOSS WAS, UH, CAPTAIN.
UM, I'M, I'M, I'M PROBABLY SAYING PSYCH CAPTAIN.
IT'S PATROLMAN, PATROLMAN, MACK MCINTYRE, THOMAS MACK MCINTYRE, UM, AND ALSO, UH, ARTHUR MADDOX.
AND, UM, IF YOU'VE LIVED IN FRONT ROYAL FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU KNOW THAT THE MADDOX FAMILY, UM, UH, RUNS AND, AND SERVES OUR COMMUNITY IN A CAPACITY AT THE FUNERAL HOME.
UH, THAT, AS I'VE OFTEN SAID, THEY, THEY ARE SERVING THE COMMUNITY IN A WAY, UH, AT A TIME IN PEOPLE'S LIVES WITH THE, WHICH ARE REALLY THE WORST POSSIBLE MOMENTS OF THEIR LIVES.
AND THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN CARING AND, UM, AND, AND, UH, AND MEAN A LOT.
SO THE LOSS OF MR. MADDOX AND TO HIS FAMILY.
SO I JUST WANNA ASK DURING MOMENT OF SILENCE, IF YOU'LL KEEP THOSE TWO FAMILIES AND YOUR PRAYERS AS WELL.
THE LIFE OF THE PERSON THAT DIED IN THE FIRE THE OTHER DAY.
AND I'M, I'M, I DON'T KNOW THE PERSON'S NAME, BUT, UM, I, I KNOW THE FIRST NAME WAS LINDA, BUT CAN DO YOU KNOW THE LAST NAME? UH, WE ALSO, UM, HAD A TRAGEDY IN OUR COMMUNITY OVER THE WEEKEND.
UM, A PERSON PERISHED IN A FIRE.
UH, AND SO AGAIN, IF YOU'LL KEEP ALL OF THOSE FAMILIES IN YOUR THOUGHTS, OKAY.
[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]
UM, WE ARE, UH, GONNA DO OUR PLEDGE, BUT, UM, AS YOU KNOW, DURING MY TERM AS MAYOR, I'M INVITING STUDENTS FROM THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO LEAD OUR COUNCIL ON THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.THIS MONTH WE WELCOME CONNOR AND EVELYN BASS.
CAN YOU GUYS JUST COME FORWARD JUST A LITTLE BIT, UM, AS THEY'RE COMING FORWARD, I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF AMANDA AND NICK BASS.
UM, AND, UH, AND, AND I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO SAY IN THEIR GRANDCHILDREN OF LINDA LINGER AND STEVE AND ANNETTE BASS, UM, THEY ATTEND LESLIE FOX, KAISER ELEMENTARY, CONNOR'S IN THE SECOND GRADE, WHERE HIS FAVORITE SUBJECTS ARE MATH AND READING.
HE PLAYS SOCCER AND IS IN LF K'S KINDNESS CLUB.
SHE LOVES SCHOOL AND DOING GYMNASTICS, AND SHE'S ALSO IN THE KINDNESS CLUB.
I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING WHERE BOTH CONNOR AND EVELYN ATTENDED, AND INFORMATION WAS SHARED ABOUT LF K'S KINDNESS CLUB.
AND I JUST WANNA SAY, WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO HELP CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT ACTS OF KINDNESS AND THE IMPACT THAT IT CAN HAVE ON PEOPLE IN THEIR LIVES AND THEIR COMMUNITY.
SO TONIGHT, THEY'RE ALSO RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE, THANKING THEM FOR THEIR PATRIOTISM AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FRONT WORLD TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ON NOVEMBER 27TH AND GIFT CERTIFICATES TO C AND SEE FROZEN TREATS.
SO, ARE YOU GUYS READY? ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY, PLEASE STAND OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, WHICH STANDS FOR NATION INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL RIGHT HERE, THAT'S FOR EVELYN.
AND THANK YOU FOR SLOWING IT DOWN FOR US.
[3. ROLL CALL]
NEXT UP, MS. PRESLEY, UM, IS OUR ROLL CALL, PLEASE.[00:05:02]
JUST A REMINDER, IT HAS CHANGED A LITTLE BIT.[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
NUMBER FOUR IS OUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES.UH, COUNCIL, DOES ANYBODY HAVE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, APPROVE THE SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF OCTOBER 23RD, 2023 AND WORK SESSION MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 6TH IN 13TH, 2023 AS PRESENTED.
WE HAVING A FIRST AND SECOND? ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE MINUTES? OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, IF YOU'RE READY FOR THE ROLL CALL VICE MAYOR C LOCK.
COUNCILMAN D DAMON PAYNE? YES.
JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S KNOWLEDGE.
COUNCILMAN, UH, WOOD HAVING JUST JOINED US WAS NOT THERE FOR THOSE, UH, FOR THOSE, UH, WORK SESSION AND, AND MEETING.
ARE THERE ANY ADDITION OR DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA OR ANY REVISION TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS FOR TONIGHT?
[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]
ALL RIGHT.MOVING ALONG TO ITEM NUMBER SIX, UH, WHICH ARE RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS, REPORTS, AND PRESENTATIONS.
AND OUR FIRST I RECOGNITION TONIGHT.
UM, I'M NOT SURE IF MRS. TOLLER IS HERE.
SO, UM, WE WANTED TO PRESENT TONIGHT RECOGNITION OF SERVICE AND APPRECIATION TO ANGELA TOLLER FOR THE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW.
UH, SHE HAS SERVED ON THAT BOARD FROM JULY OF 2011 TO NOVEMBER OF 2023.
RIGHT? ACTUALLY A LITTLE MORE THAN 12, ISN'T IT? UM, RECOGNIZING HER FOR 12 YEARS OF SERVICE AND DEDICATION, ASSISTING AND ADVISING ON THE PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND SITES WITHIN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT OVERLAY AREAS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND THIS IS BEING PRESENTED BY THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME FORWARD? YEP.
BRENDA WANTS TO GET A PICTURE OF ALL DOMINANT.
WOULD THAT BE GOOD? THAT'D BE GREAT.
DO YOU WANT US TO COME HERE? SO WHATEVER YOU'RE COMFORTABLE, COME OVER HERE.
AND I'VE JUST WANTED TO, UH, JUST ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT AND SAY, I'VE, I'VE SAID THIS MANY TIMES AND I WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE TO SAY IT AS LONG AS I'M SERVING, WHICH IS THAT WE COULD NOT DO THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN WITHOUT OUR CITIZENS WHO VOLUNTEER FOR THESE BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
UM, AND SO THANK YOU FOR, FOR 12 YEARS OF SERVICE.
SO, UH, NEXT IS RECOGNITION OF OUR ELECTRIC LINEMAN.
AND I BELIEVE MR. FEL IS GONNA BE HELPING US WITH THAT.
AND THAT'S THE BACK ROW WE BROUGHT.
SO, UH, ALL THESE GUYS HERE ARE FIRST CLASS LINEMEN, BUT, UH, ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO WE GOT 'EM INTO THE APPRENTICESHIP FOR DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SO WE CAN GET 'EM ALL, UM, THEIR APPRENTICE JOURNEYMAN LICENSE.
AND UH, WE JUST RECENTLY GOT EVERYBODY IN OUR DEPARTMENT THAT'S UP TO DATE, SO.
I WANNA PRESENT THESE, THESE ARE OUR, OUR OLDER GUYS.
I CAN SAY THAT 'CAUSE THREE OF 'EM ARE OLDER THAN ME, BUT, UH, BUT, UH, I WANT TO, RYAN HAS BEEN WITH US ALMOST 14 YEARS.
LARRY, THANK JUST TO HANG TIGHT 'CAUSE ONCE YOU'RE DONE YES.
WE'RE GONNA ALL COME DOWN THERE.
SO JUST
I GOT CHRISTOPHER COVET, HE'S ONE OF OUR NEWEST LINEMEN THAT JUST GOT THE FIRST CLASS.
YOU'LL PROBABLY SAW HIM LAST YEAR.
[00:10:01]
HE'S OUR CREW SUPERVISOR.HE, UH, HE'S OUR MANAGER OF OPERATIONS.
AND I'M GONNA GIVE AN HONORABLE MENTION, UH, CHRISTOPHER ROLAND.
UH, ROLAND'S BEEN WITH US ABOUT NINE YEARS, BUT HE COULDN'T MAKE IT TONIGHT, SO I'LL GIVE HIM AN HONORABLE MENTION.
BEFORE WE COME DOWN THERE, I JUST WANNA SAY, I KNOW THAT'S A LOT OF WORK.
I THINK PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT, UH, THE, YOU KNOW, THE NOT JUST WORKING ALL DAY LONG, BUT THEN YOU'RE ACTUALLY DOING COURSEWORK IN THE EVENINGS.
RIGHT? AND SO IT'S A JOUR YOUR JOURNEYMAN'S LICENSE, RIGHT? ISN'T IT? YEAH.
LOT, LOT OF WORK INVOLVED IN THERE.
SO WE'RE GONNA COME DOWN THERE.
ACTUALLY, YOU ALL COME THAT RIGHT.
MEET CHRIS, RIGHT? LOOK AT MR. WALTER.
I MEAN, BE THE FIRST TO CONGRATULATE YOU GUYS.
THANK SO, LAST, BUT LAST BUT NOT LEAST TONIGHT, UM, WE ARE, UH, GOING TO BE RECOGNIZING, UH, OUR 2023 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AWARD.
UM, AND THIS IS FOR OUR ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, WHICH WE NOW ARE REFERRING TO THAT AS ACES, OUR FOR OUR FORMER ESEC.
UM, AND ARE, ARE ANY OF THOSE MEMBERS HERE, JIM OSBORNE, JEREMY RAY, JUSTIN PROCTOR, HERSCHEL FINCH, OR TAYLOR CLUTTERBUCK? NO.
UM, SO I JUST WANTED TO, UM, I'M JUST GIVE A REAL QUICK, IT SAYS THE LORD FAIRFAX SOIL WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
BUT I, I, I IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IN FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.
PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE COMMITTEE WAS CREATED IN 2021 AND BEGAN WITH FIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND HAS GROWN TO INCLUDE MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS.
ACES COORDINATES VARIOUS COMMUNITY OUTREACH EVENTS, INCLUDING THE ANNUAL EARTH DAY CELEBRATION IN DOWNTOWN FRONT ROYAL, AND MAINTAINING FRONT ROYAL RECOGNITION WITH THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION.
THEY HAVE FOCUSED ON COORDINATING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND VOLUNTEER GROUPS TO IMPLEMENT ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE TOWN'S GREENWAY AND MULTIPLE PLANTINGS AND RESTORATIONS ALONG HAPPY CREEK TO HELP PROTECT THE GREATER WATERSHED.
THEIR FOCUS IS INVESTING IN OUR LOCAL ENVIRONMENT.
BY DOING SO, THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL INVESTS IN COMMUNITY HEALTH, GREEN TOURISM, AND SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
THE COMMITTEE CAN ENACT ON VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT ARE STRONGLY REFLECTED IN THE NEW COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.
MANY OF THESE PROJECTS REFLECT THE GOALS AND MISSION OF THE LORD FAIRFAX SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH FRONT ROYALS ACES AND ARE EXCITED TO SEE WHAT ELSE THEY CAN ACCOMPLISH FOR THE 2023 COMMUNITY CONSERVATION AWARD.
WE ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.
SO, UM, WE'LL MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET THIS, UH, THIS, THIS PARTICULAR COMMITTEE WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS STARTED, UM, DURING MY TIME ON COUNCIL AND I, I CONSIDER THIS TO BE, UM, ONE, ONE OF A, A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT DURING THAT TIME.
SO THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT SERVE ON THAT.
AND NEXT UP IS OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS.
WE ACTUALLY DON'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC HEARINGS TONIGHT, SO THAT, THAT PART OF THE AGENDA WOULD HAVE A NONE.
[00:15:01]
ITEM EIGHT IS PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS.AND I'M LOOKING AROUND THIS ROOM AND I DO NOT, DID ANYBODY SIGN UP, MS. PRESBY? NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGN UP.
AND I'M PRETTY SURE EVERYBODY HERE IS STAFF OR
[9.A. Report of Town Manager]
WE'RE JUST GONNA MOVE RIGHT ALONG THEN TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, OUR, UM, REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER.UH, WANNA LET CITIZENS KNOW THAT DUE TO THE RAIN THAT WE HAD LAST WEEK BEFORE THE HOLIDAY, THE RIVER HAS RISEN TO A LEVEL THAT WE NO LONGER NEED WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
I WILL CAUTION THE COMMUNITY THAT WE ARE STILL IN A DROUGHT CONDITION, AND IF RAIN DOES NOT HAVE WE HAVE ANY FORECASTED RAIN IN THE FUTURE, WE COULD, WE COULD CONCEIVABLY PAY YOU BACK TO MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION.
ALSO WANNA REMIND THE CITIZENS THAT WE HAVE CHRISTMAS ON MAINE THIS SATURDAY.
FESTIVITIES STARTED AT 12, THE PARADE STARTS AT FOUR, AND WE'RE ALSO LIGHTING THE CHRISTMAS TREE AFTER THE PARADE.
SO THAT'S MY REPORT TONIGHT, MAYOR.
[9.B. Report of Councilmembers]
NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO REPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS.AND AS PROMISED, I WILL LET YOU ALL PICK WHO WANTS TO GO FIRST? ANYBODY? AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO, BUT DO YOU WANT NOTHING? ANYBODY WISH TO SHARE ANYTHING? I'LL BE THE BRAVE ONE TONIGHT.
I JUST, FIRST OF ALL, I JUST WANTED TO WISH EVERYONE, UH, I'M HOPE EVERYONE HAD A HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
I ATTENDED THE, UH, 235TH, UH, BIRTHDAY.
UH, FRONT ROYAL GOT, I GOT IT RIGHT, RIGHT.
UH, AND I, I WANT TO THANK THE, UH, ACTUALLY THE, THE FOLKS UP ON MASSEY STREET, UH, WANTED ME TO THANK THE TOWN FOR THEIR HARD WORK TO TAKE CARE OF THE WATER MAIN BREAK UP ON MASSEY.
UH, THEY WORKED THROUGH THE NIGHT AND, UH, UH, WE'RE LUCKY TO HAVE THESE FOLKS, UH, IN PUBLIC WORKS.
UH, AND, UH, I GUESS, UH, I'LL JUMP IN, UH, ON OUR LOSS OF, UH, ARTHUR MADDOX.
UH, I, I'VE KNOWN, UH, ARTHUR SINCE I WAS PROBABLY EIGHT YEARS OLD.
UM, I THINK THE FIRST MOVIE WE, WE WENT TO SEE TOGETHER, UH, WAS, UH, THE GREAT ESCAPE.
THAT WAS A STEVE MCQUEEN MOVIE.
I BELIEVE YOU'RE SHOWING YOUR AGE, COUNCILMAN
HEY, YOU KNOW, IT IS WHAT IT IS, RIGHT? AND, UH, HE WAS A REAL GEM, UH, ONE OF THE FINEST INDIVIDUALS THAT I'VE EVER MET.
UH, I HAVE A TON OF STORIES TO TELL, BUT I'M NOT GONNA TELL 'EM TONIGHT.
BUT, UM, UH, I'M THINKING ABOUT THEIR FAMILY AND, UH, UH, UH, SAY A PRAYER TONIGHT FOR THEM.
DID ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK TONIGHT? IT'S NO PRESSURE.
I JUST DON'T WANNA LEAVE ANYBODY OUT.
MELISSA, I JUST WANTED TO REPORT ON, UM, THAT I ATTENDED THE, UH, RIBBON CUTTING AND OPENING FOR FITNESS FUEL, WHICH IS INSIDE THE FITNESS EVOLUTION.
UM, AND ALSO JOE WAS THERE AS WELL.
AND, UM, I DRANK ONE OF THEIR, I THINK IT WAS RECOVERY DRINKS.
IT WAS THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, AND, UM, IT HAD A LOT OF ESPRESSO BEANS AND IT WORKED VERY WELL.
AND, UH, IT'S LIKE, IT'S GREAT.
YOU CAN JUST WALK RIGHT IN THERE AND GET A DRINK, YOU KNOW, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXERCISE, SO YOU CAN JUST GO RIGHT IN THERE.
BUT, UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE, UM, RIBBON CUTTING AND OPENING FOR FLEETWOOD VINTAGE, WHICH IS, UM, RUN BY A VERY NICE YOUNG LADY, AND SHE'S GOT A LOT OF HOPES AND DREAMS. IT WAS NAMED AFTER FLEETWOOD MAC, AND SO IT'S A REALLY COOL SHOP FOR, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE INTERESTED IN VINTAGE CLOTHING AND ITEMS. UM, AND, UH, I OF COURSE WAS RE WAS ELECTED THROUGH A SPECIAL ELECTION.
I WANNA THANK ALL OF THE FOLKS WHO VOTED FOR ME, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DIDN'T, UM, I'M STILL HERE TO SERVE YOU AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO PLEASE REACH OUT TO ME THROUGH WHATEVER MEANS, EMAIL, PHONE, WHATEVER.
AND I'M HAPPY TO, TO TALK WITH YOU AND BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU AND HEAR YOUR CONCERNS.
ANYBODY ELSE WANNA GIVE ANYBODY? UH, YES.
AS, UM, COUNCILWOMAN DEMON PAYNE SAID, UH, RECENTLY ELECTED AND, UH, JUST VERY THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL TO THE COMMUNITY FOR THE TRUST, UM, IN US IN PUTTING US INTO THIS POSITION.
AND, UM, HOW MUCH I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO SERVING ON COUNCIL, UH, WITH, UH, THE COHORTS HERE.
AS I WAS GETTING READY TO COME IN TONIGHT, I, MY WIFE SAID, ARE YOU NERVOUS? I SAID, WELL, WHAT'S HER TO BE NERVOUS ABOUT? YOU SET HIM PROBABLY
[00:20:01]
IN THE SAME SEAT I SET WITH THE PLANNING COMMISSION.BUT IT DID DAWN ON ME AS I WAS GETTING READY.
MY DAD, UM, HAD, HE LIVED WOULD BE 106 TOMORROW.
AND IN HONOR OF THAT, TONIGHT I'M WEARING A TIE THAT ACTUALLY WAS MY FATHER'S THAT HE HAD IN THE, I GUESS IN THE SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES.
BUT, UM, WITH THE LOSS IN THE COMMUNITY OF ARTHUR, UM, AND THE OTHER LOSSES THAT WE'VE, UM, HAD HERE, IT, IT'S A MOST SOLEMN TIME, BUT, UM, VERY PLEASED TO BE WITH YOU ALL TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT TOO.
WE, WE OFTENTIMES, UH, UH, THOSE THAT CAME BEFORE US, OUR PARENTS AND ELDERS AND THINGS THAT WE, THAT WE REMEMBER.
DID YOU MAYOR? I JUST WANTED TO, UH, MENTION ONE OTHER THING THAT IT ACTUALLY CAME OUT.
I THINK IT CAME OUT IN ONE OF OUR WORK SESSIONS.
UH, UH, WE RECEIVED, UH, FUNDING, UH, FOR ROAD ROAD PAVEMENT, UH, IMPROVEMENTS, UH, WITH SOMETHING LIKE 2.6 MILLION.
UH, THIS WAS A V DOT, UH, GRANT.
UH, IT WAS THROUGH, THROUGH THE VIRGINIA PORTS.
I HAVE 288,442 84 CENTS RECEIPT FROM CAVING FROM NOVEMBER 6TH WORK SESSION.
AND THAT WAS, YEAH, BUT I WAS LOOKING AT THE TOTALS AT THE, UH, MAYBE THAT WAS FOR THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE WERE, UH, I THINK THERE WAS, LIKE, IN THE STANTON DISTRICT, THERE WAS LIKE 36.6 MILLION, ONLY FOUR, UH, JURISDICTIONS OUTTA 17.
AND THE DISTRICT, UH, UH, THEY, THEY RECEIVED UP TO 21.6 MILLION WAS MADE UP ABOUT 60%.
THAT WAS WINCHESTER, HARRISONBURG, STANTON AND WAYNESBURG.
AND THEN WE CAME IN FIFTH PLACE.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT OUT.
AND IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING WHEN WE CAN SHARE THAT WITH OUR TAXPAYERS THAT THE ADDITIONAL THINGS, SERVICES OR MONEY THAT WE'RE GETTING, OF COURSE, IT'S FROM THE STATE, WHICH IS ALSO US, IT'S STILL OUR TAXES, BUT, BUT I'M GLAD WE CAN GET SOME SHARE OF IT.
[9.C. Report of the Mayor]
NEXT UP IS THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR SINCE NO, DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING? SORRY.I WAS JUST GONNA CONGRATULATE, UM, MELISSA FOR EARNING HER SEAT AFTER SHE WAS APPOINTED TO BE ELECTED TO SIT ON THIS COUNCIL.
UM, THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE THUS FAR.
I'M EXCITED TO SERVE WITH YOU.
I KNOW RUNNING AN ELECTION IS NO SMALL FEAT.
UM, ALSO I JUST WANT TO, UM, GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF AND OUR TOURISM DIRECTOR, LIZZIE.
UH, WE JUST MADE IT THROUGH OUR BUSIEST SEASON OF OUR YEAR LEAF PAPER SEASON.
UH, IT WAS FANTASTIC AND THE TRAFFIC THROUGH THE VISITOR CENTER WAS AMAZING.
UM, AND I JUST WANNA REMIND THE PEOPLE WHO GET FRUSTRATED, INCLUDING MYSELF, THAT'S WHAT KEEPS A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, UM, UP AND RUNNING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE NEXT YEAR UNTIL WE GET BACK TO THAT SEASON AGAIN.
I'M ALSO EXCITED FOR THE REPORT THAT JOE GAVE ABOUT THE WATER AND THE RIVER LEVELS, BUT TO STILL BE SELF-CONSCIOUS OF THAT WHEN YOU'RE USING THE WATER, MY KIDS REMINDED ME THAT THEY NO LONGER SING THE SONG WHEN THEY BRUSH THEIR TEETH IN SCHOOL THAT THEY TAUGHT US.
UM, BUT I'M GLAD THAT IT'S IMPROVING.
AND THEN, UM, I'VE BEEN ASKED ABOUT IT, SO I JUST, I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T WATCH OUR WORK SESSIONS OR IT DOESN'T GET REPORTED ABOUT AS MUCH, UM, THAT WE WERE ANTICIPATING AN UPDATE ON THE ADEN END.
UH, THE SIGN OUTSIDE SAYS THAT IT WOULD BE COMPLETED IN 2023, AND IT'S QUICKLY COMING TO A CLOSE WITH NO REAL SIGNS OF COMPLETION AS FAR AS WE CAN SEE.
UM, AND SO WE DIDN'T RECEIVE AN UPDATE ON THAT AS WE EXPECTED AT OUR LAST WORK SESSION ON NOVEMBER 13TH.
UM, AND THAT'S ALL I'VE GOT TO REPORT.
SO BEFORE I BEGIN THE MAYOR'S REPORT, I WILL SAY THAT I'M STILL ON THAT
UM, I THINK I'M, I'M, I'M HOPEFUL THAT I'M, UM, GONNA BE MEETING WITH THE FOLKS FROM THE AFTERNOON SOON AND THEN WE'LL BE ABLE TO, TO SHARE WITH COUNCIL AN UPDATE AS WELL.
SO SINCE OUR LAST MEETING IN OCTOBER, I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND SEVERAL EVENTS IN AND AROUND OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE NOT ONLY ADULTS, BUT CHILDREN ENJOYING LIFE IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
OCTOBER 28TH, I ATTENDED SPOOKY SATURDAY ON MAIN STREET IN THE VILLAGE COMMONS AREA.
UH, IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE LARGEST CROWD I'VE EVER SEEN.
FOR ONE OF OUR HOLIDAY HALLOWEEN EVENTS, THERE WERE A VARIETY OF COSTUMES, FUNNY, SCARY, CREATIVE, AND DEFINITELY SOME THAT WERE VERY UNIQUE.
UH, SO THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR DOWNTOWN BUSINESSES WHO PARTICIPATED IN BRINGING SMILES TO OUR YOUNG CITIZENS FACES.
AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU TO LIZZIE LEWIS FOR THE PLANNING EVERYTHING DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL.
UM, AND THANKS ALSO GOES OUT TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS AND POLICE
[00:25:01]
DEPARTMENT FOR ASSISTING IN SETTING UP AND KEEPING EVERYONE SAFE.AND, AND I CAN ASSURE YOU IT WAS, IT WAS A CHALLENGING DAY ON THAT LAST PART ABOUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE.
UM, NOVEMBER 7TH, I SPENT MANY HOURS WORKING AT THE POLLS AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, AND I WANNA COMMEND EVERYONE WHO CAMPAIGNED AND WAS WILLING TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC OFFICE.
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE SERVED AN OFFICE CAN ATTEST TO THE TIME IT TAKES TO BE INFORMED ON THE ISSUES SO THAT WE CAN MAKE WHAT WE FEEL IS THE BEST POSSIBLE DECISIONS FOR OUR CITIZENS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS, MELISSA D DOMENICO PAYNE, AND GLENWOOD.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING WITH GLEN AND CONTINUING TO SERVE WITH MELISSA.
NOVEMBER 11TH, I ATTENDED THE VETERAN'S DAY CEREMONY AT THE WARREN COUNTY COURTHOUSE.
UH, BANDS FROM WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, AND RMA PERFORMED ALONG WITH VARIOUS SPEAKERS, UM, AND THEN THE ANNUAL LAYING OF THE REESE AT EACH OF THE WAR MEMORIALS.
IT IS AN HONOR AND A PRIVILEGE TO BE ABLE TO ATTEND AN EVENT THAT RECOGNIZES ALL THOSE WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND SOME WHO HAVE GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR OUR COUNTRY AND ALL THAT IT MEANS TO BE AN AMERICAN THAT DAY.
ALSO, OUR TOWN'S ACES THE GROUP THAT WE WERE JUST RECOGNIZING EARLIER, UM, THEIR COMMITTEE ALONG WITH THE WARREN COUNTY TREE STEWARDS AND SOME STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FROM RMA GAVE AWAY SEVEN DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF NATIVE TREES TOTALING 360 YOUNG TREES.
AND THEY HAD PLANNED FOR THE EVENT TO GO ON FOR SEVERAL HOURS, UH, BUT THEY ACTUALLY RAN OUT EARLIER THAN EXPECTED.
SO, UM, AND, AND I KNOW MYSELF BY THE TIME THE VETERAN DAY CEREMONY WAS OVER WITH AND I HEADED DOWN THERE, UM, THEY WERE DOWN TO, TO VERY FEW, UM, TREES LEFT, BUT THEY WERE VERY EXCITED AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THEY'RE HOPING TO DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF TREES TO GIVE AWAY NEXT YEAR.
SO BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THAT.
PLUS, I, I THINK THEY WILL BE GIVING AWAY TREES AT, UM, THE ARBOR DAY EVENT TOO.
DON'T QUOTE ME ON THAT, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE THAT WAS THE PLAN TO GIVE SOME AWAY THEN.
AND, UH, AGAIN, SO NOVEMBER 18TH, I HELPED CELEBRATE THE TOWN'S 235TH BIRTHDAY AT THE GAZEBO AND VILLAGE COMMONS.
UH, WHILE THERE WERE ACTIVITIES INCLUDING A BOUNCE HOUSE AND YUMMY CUPCAKES FROM DOWNTOWN COMFORT BAKERY AND GARCIA AND GINO, UM, MY MY FAVORITE PART WAS MR. DALE COREY FROM THE WARREN HERITAGE SOCIETY.
SPEAKING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, UM, I'VE LIVED HERE MY ENTIRE LIFE.
I EVEN TAUGHT, UH, LOCAL HISTORY, UH, DURING, UM, THE FIFTH GRADE CURRICULUM FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AND I LEARNED, I LEARNED A LOT THAT DAY.
AND THERE WERE OTHER HISTORIAN PEOPLE THAT I FEEL LIKE ARE HISTORIANS IN THE AREA THAT FELT LIKE THEY LEARNED THINGS AS WELL.
SO IF YOU WEREN'T ABLE TO ATTEND THE TOWN FACEBOOK PAGE HAS THE PRESENTATION LIVE AND YOU CAN ALWAYS GO BACK TO WATCH IT.
UM, IT REALLY IS WELL WORTH YOUR TIME TO LEARN ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE.
LASTLY, THIS PAST SATURDAY I ATTENDED KICKING OFF CHRISTMAS AT THE TRELLIS, UH, SHELLY COOK AND HER STAFF HAVE WORKED HARD TO GET THE MAIN HOUSE AND ALL THE COTTAGES AS WELL AS THAT YARD AREA DECORATED FOR CHRISTMAS.
THEY OPENED UP THE ENTIRE VENUE FOR ANYONE WHO WISHED TO ATTEND.
COOKIES WERE SERVED, AS WELL AS SOMEONE WINE TASTING VENDORS FROM OUR COMMUNITY WERE THERE SHARING THEIR TALENTS.
AND OF COURSE THE BIG DRAW WAS SANTA, UH, MRS. CLAUS.
UH, IT WAS A FREE EVENT AND IT WAS ATTENDED BY MORE THAN 500 PEOPLE.
UM, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT I BELIEVE LIVING IN A SMALL TOWN PROVIDE, UH, THANK YOU MS. COOK AND ALL OF HER EL UH, WHO HAVE OUR TOWN'S ENTRANCEWAY LOOKING LIKE A SCENE OUT OF A HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIE.
AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME.
UH, JUST LAST REMINDER, THAT COUNCIL ONLY HAS ONE WORK SESSION IN DECEMBER ON DECEMBER 4TH, AND THEN OUR MONTHLY COUNCIL MEETING ON DECEMBER 11TH.
UM, AND THAT'S IT FOR ME, WELL, AS IT WAS.
BUT, UH, AND I STARTED LAST NIGHT WRITING MY REPORT GOING, WELL, NOT AS MUCH HAPPENED.
AND THEN I STARTED, I PULL UP MY CALENDAR.
I'M LIKE, YES, YES, THERE WAS PLENTY OF THINGS TO DO, BUT TOWN'S BIRTHDAY WAS A LOT OF FUN.
[10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]
ALL RIGHT, LAST, NOPE, NOT LAST.IT COULD BE LAST OR THE CAN JUST CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. UM, AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY SEVEN, UH, DO I HEAR, UH, A MOTION FROM COUNCIL MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? 'CAUSE I, I, I DO.
AND, BUT I BELIEVE MS IS GONNA GET TO IT FIRST.
THE ONLY THING I WAS GONNA, UM, BRING TO DISCUSSION WAS THAT WE HAVE THE APPOINTMENT AND REAPPOINTMENT TO THE FRONT ROYAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
UM, I'M EXTREMELY EXCITED THAT TONIGHT WE WILL BE REAPPOINTING RICK NOVAK TO THE FRIDA FOR
[00:30:01]
A FOUR YEAR TERM.AND THEN WE ARE APPOINTING ROBERT ELLIOT TO A FOUR YEAR TERM, WHICH WILL BRING US TO A FULL COMMITTEE FOR FRIDA, I BELIEVE.
AND ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
UM, AND I'VE BEEN HAVING SOME GREAT CONVERSATIONS WITH THESE GUYS AND THEY'RE ALL VERY PASSIONATE AND ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ABOUT THE PRESERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC GROWTH OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I WAS VERY EAGER TO BE A PART OF WHEN I SOUGHT MY SEAT ON COUNCIL.
SO I'M EXCITED TO GET THIS BOARD FULLY APPOINTED AND LET THEM GET TO WORK.
AND MR. ELLIOTT'S HERE TONIGHT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, AGAIN, AS I SAID EARLIER, WITHOUT OUR CITIZENS, UH, WILLING TO SERVE WITH US, WE, IT'S CHALLENGING FOR US TO GET THIS DONE.
SO, UH, ONE OTHER DISCUSSION, I'M SO ATTENDEE WAS THE BUDGET AMENDMENT TO ACCEPT ADDITIONAL FUNDS FROM VDOT.
AND SO, UM, WE, WE RE WE WERE, ARE REQUESTED TO APPROVE AN FY 24 BUDGET AMENDMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $288,442 AND 84 CENTS.
AND I BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT, UH, COUNCILMAN MORRIS HAD.
UM, AND THE 2 MILLION, I THINK, UM, UH, WHAT COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT WAS TALKING ABOUT IS THAT, UM, THAT THE TOWN'S PREPARED BUDGET AND ADOPTED A FY 24 USED ESTIMATED REVENUES FOR STREETS AND CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE AND THE AMOUNT OF TWO THOUSAND TWO MILLION THREE HUNDRED NINETY FIVE THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED TWENTY FIVE.
AND THIS AMOUNT WAS BASED UPON THE BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME.
AND THE COMMONWEALTH TRANSPORTATION BOARD APPROVED A RESOLUTION ON JUNE 21ST, 2023, WHICH WAS AFTER WE HAD APPROVED OUR BUDGET, UM, ALLOCATING $2,684,067 AND 84 CENTS.
I LOVE HOW IT'S LIKE RIGHT DOWN TO THE 84 CENTS.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE THAT ADDITIONAL 288, UH, THOUSAND WAS.
BUT, BUT THE ACTUAL TOTAL FOR, UH, WHAT, UM, WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE FOR OUR STREET MAINTENANCE CONSTRUCTION AND RECONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT 2.6.
IT'S REALLY CLOSER TO 2.7 IF WE ROUND UP.
BUT ANYWAY, JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT.
UM, SO WE HAVE A MOTION, UNLESS THERE'S ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, UM, ANY OTHER DISCUSSION, THEN WE'LL DO ROLL CALL.
COUNCILMAN THE DEMON PAYNE? YES.
OKAY, SO CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS PASS.
NUMBER 11 IS BUSINESS ITEMS, WHICH WE HAVE NONE.
AND THEN AT 7 29, THAT MIGHT BE A RECORD.
[12. Closed Meeting]
NUMBER 12 IS CLOSED, IS COUNCIL.UM, I'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR THAT.
MA 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 2 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES.
ONE, PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 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 AND OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LITIGATING POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, HEPT A VERSUS TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.
AND TWO, PURSUANT TO 2.2 DASH 3 7 1 1 A, ONE OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION, OR INTERVIEWS OF PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSIGNMENT, APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, PERFORMANCE, DEMOTION, SALARIES, DISCIPLINING, OR RESIGNATION OF SPECIFIC PUBLIC OFFICERS, APPOINTEES OR EMPLOYEES OF ANY PUBLIC BODY.
MORE SPECIFICALLY, A PROMOTION TO A POSITION TO BE CREATED.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
MS. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? VICE MAYOR SEA LOCK? YES.
COUNCILWOMAN DE DEMON PAYNE? YES.
ALRIGHT, SO WE ARE NOW ENCLOSED AND, UM, I DO NOT ANTICIPATE US COMING OUT WITH ANY, UH, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
BRENDAN, SAME FOR YOU? NOT, NOT THAT I'M SAYING YOU GOTTA GO HOME.
I'M JUST SAYING WE DON'T DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING COMING OUT
WE WON'T BE TAKING ANY ACTION COMING OUT.
I'M NOT SAYING WE WON'T BE WORKING BACK THERE, BUT I AM SAYING WE WON'T BE.