Mar 25, 2024 Town Council

ARE GONNA, UH, START WITH OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND OUR YOUTH THAT IS JOINING US TONIGHT IS MS. TAYLOR LOC.

AND NEXT UP, UM, WE

[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ]

TAYLOR IS THE DAUGHTER OF ROBBIE AND JENNIFER LOC.

SHE'S ALSO THE GRANDDAUGHTER OF VICE MAYOR WAYNE LOC.

TAYLOR IS A JUNIOR AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL.

SHE'S A VARSITY CHEERLEADER AND VOLUNTEERS WITH THE WARREN WILDCAT ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION.

SHE ALSO HELPS MANAGE SPORTS TEAMS AND SUPPORTS AND REPRESENTS THE FRONT ROYAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SHE CURRENTLY HOLDS.

SHE CURRENTLY HOLDS THE TITLE OF MISS HONORARY FIRE CHIEF FOR FRONT ROW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT.

SHE ENJOYS SEWING AND WORKS AT SUE SEWING AND EMBROIDERY, WHICH FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE LOCAL, REMEMBER HER LATE GRANDMOTHER SUE SEA LOCK, WHO STARTED SUE SEWING MANY YEARS AGO.

HER FAVORITE CLASS IN HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN CRIMINAL JUSTICE ONE AND TWO.

UH, SHE SAID HER FAVORITE FOOD IS DEER JERKY.

HANDS DOWN .

IT HAS TO BE.

IT JUST HAS TO BE.

YEP.

HER FUTURE GOAL IS TO GET HER CNA CERTIFICATION AND THEN GO TO JMU SO THAT SHE CAN TAKE CLASSES TO EARN HER MASTER'S OF SCIENCE IN NURSING.

AND TAYLOR SELECTED HER GIFT CARD TONIGHT FROM SPLUNK'S, AND SHE'S RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE THANKING HER FOR HER PATRIOTISM AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FRONT ROW TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ON MARCH 25TH, 2024.

SO, IF TAYLOR'S READY, IF EVERYBODY WILL STAND, 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 ALL.

ONE SECOND.

OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, NOW WE'RE READY FOR THE ROLL CALL.

I, YOU READY?

[3. ROLL CALL]

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? HERE.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? HERE.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? HERE.

COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON.

MONICA PAYNE.

HERE.

COUNCILMAN WOOD HERE.

OUR NEXT ITEM IS OUR APPROVAL OF MINUTES.

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

DO I HEAR A MOTION? MAYOR? I MOVE THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE, I MOVE THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 26TH, 2024.

WORK SESSION MINUTES FROM MARCH THE SIXTH.

MARCH THE FOURTH.

MARCH THE SIXTH.

MARCH THE 11TH OF MARCH 18TH IS PRESENTED.

AMEND THE, THE MINUTES WITH THE APPROVALS AS NOTED.

FIRST AND, UH, SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, ROLL CALL.

DID YOU WANNA MAKE A NOTATION ABOUT SOME OF THE YES, I'M SORRY.

WE HAVE, UH, I, I CAN'T, BUT WHOEVER, UM, YES, I COULD.

YOU AMEND THE MOTION THAT, TO STATE THAT IT WILL BE WITH THE CORRECTIONS THAT WE MADE, THERE WERE SOME TYPOS AND SO WE NEEDED TO MAKE SURE WE, OKAY.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.

[00:05:01]

COUNCILMAN MORRIS ABSTAIN.

COUNCIL MEIDA.

WE'LL MOVE ON TO, UM, OUR RECOGNITIONS AWARDS, REPORTS, PRESENTATIONS.

AND JUST FOR THE PUBLIC'S KNOWLEDGE, IF THERE'S A COUNCIL MEMBER THAT HASN'T ATTENDED ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS, THEY GENERALLY WILL ABSTAIN.

SO NEXT UP IS, ARE THERE ANY ADDITION OR DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA OR A REVISION TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS? OKAY.

HEARING THEM.

[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]

AND I THOUGHT SHE SAID NO.

I WAS LIKE, WHAT? ? UM, CHIEF, DO YOU WANNA, UM, YOU'RE, UH, CHIEF MCGILLIS IS GONNA START OFF WITH OUR, UH, PENDING CEREMONY, MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

I APPRECIATE, UH, GIVING US A FEW MINUTES TONIGHT.

THIS IS ALWAYS ONE OF MY, MY FAVORITE THINGS TO, UH, TO ADDRESS YOU GUYS WITH IS WHEN WE BRING A, UH, A NEW OFFICER TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

UM, SO I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU GUYS TONIGHT TO MS. CARRIE GIBSON.

SHE IS A 2020 GRADUATE OF SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL.

SO SHE'S A HAWK.

I KNOW THERE'S YES.

ONE OF YOU UP THERE THAT REPRESENT IS REPRESENTING.

UM, SO CARRIE COMES TO US.

SHE SPENT, UH, SHE SPENT A COUPLE YEARS AT THE WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS A COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, AND, UH, CAME OVER TO THE PD AND SHE WENT THROUGH THE SKYLINE REGIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACADEMY LAST YEAR AND ATTENDED THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BASIC AND GRADUATED IN NOVEMBER.

UM, AND THEN SHE BEGAN HER FIELD TRAINING.

UM, AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF THAT, SHE COMES OUT AND I THINK YOU FINISHED UP WHAT, WEEK BEFORE LAST? ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO? YEAH, TWO WEEKS AGO.

SO SHE FINISHED UP HER FIELD TRAINING SUCCESSFULLY, AND SHE'S NOW ON THE STREETS, UH, PATROLLING FRONT ROYAL AND KEEPING US ALL SAFE, SO, UH, OUT ON HER OWN.

SO WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE CARRIE.

SHE'S BEEN DOING A BANG UP JOB SINCE SHE CAME OVER.

UM, SHE'S REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AND, AND IS, UH, IS GETTING AFTER IT.

SO, UM, TYPICALLY WE DO THE, THE WHOLE PINNING THING WITH THE BADGE AND THE FANCY UNIFORM.

BUT SHE'S, UH, BACK OUT ON THE STREET SOON AS WE GET DONE HERE.

SO WE'RE GONNA , WE'RE GONNA PUT HER RIGHT ON BACK TO WORK.

SO, BUT, UH, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE YOU GUYS AND, UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO THIS EVENING.

IN 1995, THE KITCHEN WAS EXPANDED TO HANDLE ALL THE TAKEOUT, DELIVERY AND DINING CUSTOMERS.

THANK YOU, CHIEF.

SO NEXT UP WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR MELTING POT PIZZA.

UM, I, I DON'T NORMALLY DO THIS, BUT I FEEL A LITTLE CONNECTED, SO I'M GONNA TAKE, UM, TAKE A LITTLE LICENSE HERE AND JUST SPEAK FOR A MOMENT.

BUT IN 1989, I ACTUALLY, UH, STARTED WORKING AT MELTING POT PIZZA.

MY SISTER WAS WORKING THERE, UM, WORKING, UM, THROUGH LAW SCHOOL.

AND I WAS, UH, BEFORE MY SENIOR YEAR IN COLLEGE.

AND MR. BACHELOR GAVE ME A JOB.

AND, UM, I, THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE RIGHT THING TO SAY SINCE EVERYBODY KNOWS MY CAREER, BUT IT STILL PROBABLY IS MY FAVORITE JOB.

UM, I, I, UM, I, I LOVED, I I LOVED THAT JOB.

IT WAS, IT THE, THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE, IT WAS TRULY LIKE A FAMILY.

EVERYBODY WAS TREATED LIKE A FAMILY.

UM, AND IT, UM, ROBERT BACHELOR WAS MY BOSS AND ROBERT AND WESLEY, AND THEY, UH, TREATED ALL OF US WITH RESPECT, AND I ACTUALLY WORKED THERE.

UM, IT SAVED ME FROM HAVING TO PAY FOR A SEMESTER OF COLLEGE.

I SAVED ENOUGH MONEY AND, UH, WAS WORKING THERE WHEN I FIRST STARTED TEACHING.

UH, SO, UH, I'M VERY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO, UH, SHARE THIS PROCLAMATION WITH YOU ALL.

SO, UH, PROCLAMATION FOR CELEBRATING 52 YEARS.

SO WHEREAS IN 1970, MELTING POT PIZZA WAS FIRST MADE AVAILABLE IN THE OLD SKYLINE RESTAURANT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF FRONT ROYAL, WHERE ROBERT BACHELOR WAS GENERAL MANAGER.

AND WHEREAS IN APRIL OF 1972, ROBERT BACHELOR BOUGHT THE LAND AND BUILDING WHERE MELTING POT PIZZA IS CURRENTLY LOCATED FROM CHARLIE YATES OF CHARLIE'S PIZZA ARENA.

WITH 64 CENTS TO HIS NAME, A LOCAL BANKER GAVE HIM A SMALL LOAN FOR OPERATING EXPENSES.

AND WHEREAS AFTER PUTTING IN MANY LONG HOURS, ESTABLISHING A QUALITY PRODUCT AT A FAIR PRICE AND ENSURING EXCELLENT SERVICE, GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH CUSTOMERS WAS BUILT IN THE BUSINESS GROUP.

IN JUNE OF 1976, AN ATTACHED CAR WASH WAS ENCLOSED FOR A BOOTH DINING ROOM.

AN ON-PREMISES ALCOHOL LICENSE WAS OBTAINED AND EMPLOYEES INCREASED TO 21.

WHEREAS

[00:10:01]

IN 1996, THE ADJACENT LOT, UM, AT 1 22 WEST 14TH STREET WAS PURCHASED FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING.

AND THE POSTAL BUSINESS CENTER THAT OPENED IN 1997, OPERATING IT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

IN 1999, THE BACK DINING ROOM WAS ADDED TO HELP ACCOMMODATE LARGER GROUPS ALONG WITH THE CREATION OF THEIR FIRST WEBSITE IN EARLY 2000.

AND WHEREAS IN 2014, ONLINE ORDERING WAS INTRODUCED ALONG WITH THE REMODELING OF THE FRONT TWO DINING ROOMS AND FOYER.

A NEW ROOF WAS ADDED IN 2017 WITH AN OUTSIDE WAITING AREA WITH AWNINGS, BENCH SEATING, AND STAMPED CONCRETE.

IN 2018, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC 2020 CLOSED THE DINING ROOM, CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY TO REMODEL THE FRONT KITCHEN.

THE BACK KITCHEN WAS REMODELED IN NOVEMBER OF 2023, INCORPORATING TECHNOLOGY SUCH AS TEMPERATURE MONITORING AND FOOD LABELING SYSTEMS TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF FOOD INTEGRITY.

AND WHEREAS MELTING POT PIZZA EMPLOYS A STAFF OF 74 WITH 30 WORKING FULL-TIME, AND ONE OF WHICH IS CURRENT BOOKKEEPER HALIMA, WHO IS ONE OF THE FIRST SIX ORIGINAL EMPLOYEES IN 1972.

PART-TIME EMPLOYEES INCLUDE YOUTH, COLLEGE STUDENTS, RETIREES, AND THOSE WHO WON A SECOND JOB WORKING WEEKENDS.

CONSIDERATION IS TAKEN ON ACCOMMODATING THE YOUTH BY SCHEDULING WORK AROUND ACADEMIC AND SPORTS SCHEDULES.

HEALTH INSURANCE AND PAID VACATION IS OFFERED TO FULL-TIME STAFF.

AND IN 2021 A WEEK PAID SICK LEAVE POLICY WAS IMPLEMENTED FOR FULL-TIME.

STAFF, THE MANAGERS TO HELP WITH COVID UNCERTAINTIES.

IN 2023, A 401K PLAN WITH 5% MATCH WAS OFFERED.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM THAT IN APRIL, 2024, A MELTING POT PIZZA WILL CELEBRATE 52 YEARS OF BUSINESS IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND AT THE SAME LOCATION AT 1 38 WEST 14TH STREET.

SO ELLIE, ARE YOU GUYS GONNA COME FORWARD? YES.

YOU GUYS WANNA COME DOWN? YEAH.

COME ON DOWN.

AND ELLIOT WAS, WHEN I SIX YEARS OLD? I'M OLD.

I REMEMBER PLAYING IN A BAND FOR YOUR DAD.

1, 2, 3.

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT JUST ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS SHARED THERE ABOUT THE EMPLOYEES AND THE AMOUNT OF EMPLOYEES AND WHAT THEY DO FOR THEM, I JUST WANNA SAY LIKE, HOW YOU TREAT YOUR EMPLOYEES, THAT'S HOW THEY'VE STAYED IN BUSINESS AS LONG AS THEY HAVE.

UM, AND I THINK THAT'S A TRUE TESTAMENT TO THEIR, THEIR BUSINESS AND THEIR WORK ETHICS.

SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR INVESTING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

NEXT UP WE HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR CHRISTIANDOM COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM.

I'M ACTUALLY GONNA CALL EACH OF YOUR NAMES AND YOU CAN COME UP HERE AND THEN I'M GONNA READ THIS, UM, PROCLAMATION.

SO FIRST WE HAVE THE HEAD COACH HERE AT MARY MINNICK, RIGHT? SO, AND I EVEN HAVE YOUR NUMBERS NUMBER FIVE, REGINA BON VATO.

AM I SAYING THAT RIGHT? YES.

UH, NUMBER 10, MARY PENNY.

FATHER, AM I SAYING IF I DO BUTCHER IN NAME, I'M GONNA APOLOGIZE RIGHT NOW.

NUMBER 13, LIBBY K LESAR NUMBER 14, AUDREY SPIRE.

NUMBER 22 IS LILY SPIRE.

IS IT SPIRE? I'M SAYING IT RIGHT.

NUMBER 24 IS CATHERINE THOMAS.

AND NUMBER 23, ELIZABETH HEISLER.

NUMBER 30 IS SERENA KELLER.

AND NUMBER 33 IS MIRANDA KELLER.

I THINK WE SHOULD STAND UP SO MANY.

YEP.

I'M GONNA

[00:15:01]

STAND UP AND I'M ACTUALLY, I'M, I CAN'T, I'M GONNA HAVE TO READ INTO THE MIC.

SORRY.

SO WHEREAS ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13TH, 2024, THE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM AT CHRISTIANDOM COLLEGE, AKA, THE CRUSADERS WON THE UNITED STATES COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA AGAINST JOHNSON AND WALES, CHARLOTTE 76 TO 65, BRINGING HOME THE FIRST WOMEN'S BASKETBALL NATIONAL TITLE AND SCHOOL HISTORY.

AND WHEREAS THE CRUSADERS ARE LED BY HEAD COACH MARY MINNICK AND ASSISTANT COACH ANNIE HEISLER WERE RANKED NUMBER SEVEN GOING INTO THE TOURNAMENT.

UPSETTING NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO, AND NUMBER THREE SEEDS.

I'M FINISHING THE REGULAR SEASON 23 AND FIVE, CREATING A SCHOOL RECORD.

AND WHEREAS THE CRUSADERS HAVE A ROSTER OF 11 PLAYERS, INCLUDING TWO FRESHMEN, JULIA DEJAK AND ELIZABETH HEISLER, WHO RESIDE IN FRONT ROYAL.

AND WHILE IT WAS TRULY A TEAM EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH THE NATIONAL TITLE, THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS WERE SPECIFICALLY RECOGNIZED JUNIORS, CATHERINE THOMAS, MIRANDA KELLER, REGINA BON ZUTO, AND FRESHMAN MARY PENNY.

FATHER KELLER WAS NAMED PLAYER OF THE GAME.

THOMAS WAS NAMED TOURNAMENT MVP FOR OUTSTANDING PLAY OVER THE COURSE OF FOUR GAMES, INCLUDING SETTING TOURNAMENT RECORDS AND SINGLE GAME POINTS SCORED IN THREE POINTERS MADE IN THE QUARTER FINAL MATCHUP.

AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MAYOR AND THE FRONT ROW TOWN COUNCIL RECOGNIZE AND CONGRATULATE THE CHRISTIANDOM COLLEGE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM ON A SUCCESSFUL BASKETBALL SEASON IN WINNING THE UNITED STATES COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

WE'RE GONNA, WE ACTUALLY ARE GONNA COME DOWN AND COME THROUGH HERE.

I DIDN'T KNOW THEY'RE PHOTOGRAPHER.

I JUST WANTED MAKE SURE YOU HAD A CHANCE WHY WE JUST STAND UP HERE BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THEY CAN JUST STAND UP AND I'LL COME DOWN THERE.

SO ONE, CONGRATULATIONS, LORI.

IF WE NEED TO MOVE IN.

SO WE'LL START WITH HIM AND THEN WE'LL GO.

ALRIGHT, YOU GO FIRST, GET ONE FROM THIS ANGLE.

HE WANTS ONE MORE FOR THIS ANGLE.

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

CONGRATULATIONS LADIES.

CONGRATULATIONS.

VERY PROUD.

THAT DESERVE ANOTHER HAND.

SO NEXT UP, ITEM SIX D IS A REPORT FROM OUR COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, MR. DALEY.

DR.

DALEY.

DR.

DALEY, I'M GOING TO GRAB MY GAVEL FROM THE OTHER ROOM.

SO YOU GO AHEAD AND BEGIN.

THANK YOU MR. SEA LOCK.

I DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE FAMILY RELATIONSHIP UNTIL SHE SAID, DEAR JERKY .

AND THAT THAT, THAT GAVE IT AWAY FOR ME, SIR.

THERE YOU GO, .

GOOD EVENING.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IF I CAN BRING THIS UP.

THERE WE GO.

UM, SOME OF THE PROJECTS THE COUNTY BOARD WORKED ON THIS PAST YEAR WAS TAX RELIEF FOR WARREN COUNTY SENIORS, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW DRUG COURT WITH THE TOWN AND VALLEY HEALTH, OUR TWO YEAR ASSESSMENT CYCLE AND STAFFING THE FORT SMITH STATION.

WE ALSO HAVE FINISHED UP AT THE YOUTH CENTER, OUR PART, AND THEY'RE READY TO

[00:20:01]

BEGIN OPERATIONS AT RON.

WE NEED A HOOD ON THE, UH, OVEN TO FINISH THAT UP, UH, THIS SPRING.

AND WE'RE WORKING NOW ON THE BENTONVILLE INDIAN HOLLOW, UH, BOAT RAMP.

AND THAT, UM, SHOULD BE DONE IN TIME FOR THIS SEASON IN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS, SOME OF THE BOARD'S CONTINUING INITIATIVES AS THE REGIONAL BROADBAND PROJECT.

OUR NEW TOURISM PROGRAM, THE ALTERNATE INGRESS EGRESS TO SHENANDOAH SHORES IN PROJECT WITH THE TOWN, OUR OLD OAK FOUR OUT IN SHENANDOAH FARMS. AND HOPEFULLY FINISHING UP THESE EDA AUDITS AND DETERMINING WHO OWES WHAT, WHERE.

OUR BIG THING THIS PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN FIRE AND RESCUE, WHERE YOU CAN SEE HOW OUR CALLS HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY.

AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING EACH YEAR TO ADD ONE CREW TO A STATION, AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE THAT PROJECT.

IN FACT, THAT BECAME THE BOARD'S TOP GOAL FOR 2024, IS TO INCREASE STAFFING LEVELS AT PUBLIC SAFETY, FIRE AND RESCUE, AND THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND ALSO TO CREATE A FIRE AND RESCUE FUNDING TASK FORCE.

AND SECOND GOAL IS TO DEVELOP A FIVE YEAR PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT GOES RIGHT IN LINE WITH NUMBER ONE.

AND THE THIRD ONE IS TO DEVELOP THIS ALTERNATIVE ACCESS TO SHENANDOAH SHORES, WHICH YOU SAW BEFORE IN 2023.

UH, LAST WEEK WE HAD A MAJOR EVENT WITH THESE FIRES.

AND YOU CAN SEE ON THERE OUR TYPICAL CALL FOR A TIME PERIOD IS GOING TO BE FIVE OR SIX CALLS.

AND THAT SWOOPS WAY UP THERE TO 30.

EVERYONE WE HAD WAS OUT SOMEPLACE WORKING.

UH, WE HAD THEM OUT IN MCCOY'S MCCOY'S, AND OVER IN THE, UM, OUT EXTENDED ON THE, UH, OTHER END OF THE COUNTY, OUT IN BOTH AREAS.

WE USED PUBLIC WORKS, WE HAD SOME ASSISTANCE FROM THE TOWN.

WE THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

POLICE HELPING WITH SOME CALLS AND PUBLIC WORKS, ACTUALLY HELPING US WITH SOME SIGNAGE AND HELPING US WITH SOME EQUIPMENT.

BUT WE WERE STILL EXTREMELY FORTUNATE.

IF IT HAD COME BACK UP ANOTHER DAY, WE WOULD'VE HAD BEEN EXTREMELY HARD PRESSED TO BE ABLE, AND WE COULD HAVE END UP WITH A WHOLE LOT MORE DAMAGE THAN WHAT WE HAD.

AND WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE, OUR PRIVATE CONTRACTORS WHO CAME OUT AND HELPED, AND EVERYONE WHO PITCHED IN TO HELP US HERE.

BUT IT EMPHASIZED TO US OUR LACK OF CAPACITY.

WE SIMPLY HAVE TO DEVELOP MORE CAPACITY IN OUR PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM, PARTICULARLY AS WE HAVE MORE VISITORS AND MORE PEOPLE MOVING HERE.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THAT AS ONE OF OUR KEY ITEMS TO ADDRESS.

AND THE BOARD IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE WORKING ON THAT, AND THEY'LL BE DISCUSSING THAT AS THEY WORK TO FINISH UP THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR.

AND I THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

DALEY, WERE THERE ANY STRUCTURES LOST IN WARREN COUNTY? COUPLE OF SHEDS, BUT NO, NO HOUSES.

BUT WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE, UH, WE WERE OUT SEVERAL OF THEM WHERE YOU COULD, YOU COULD STAND ON THE EDGE OF THE PROPERTY IS WHERE THE FIRE LINE WAS.

WOW.

WE, WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE.

SO NEXT WE HAVE, UH, NUMBER SEVEN, UH, PUBLIC HEARINGS.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

[7.A. Rezoning Application by Fernando Arana Pradel to Reclassify 1724 N. Royal Avenue from R-1 to R-1A.]

SO SEVEN A.

UM, BEFORE WE, UM, OPEN THOSE PUBLIC HEARINGS, JUST A FEW COMMENTS.

WE, UH, THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION OF THE AGENDA, 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

[00:25:01]

SPEAK, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE RECOGNIZED, THEN COME FORWARD TO THE MICROPHONE AND STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS AND INDICATE IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

IF THE COMMENTS YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE, YOU MAY SIMPLY STATE THAT YOU AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SPEAKER.

THERE IS A THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT FOR SPEAKERS.

AFTER THREE MINUTES, THE MICROPHONE WILL CUT OFF.

PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU TO, YOU ARE TO ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL AND TO REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT AND INCLUDING OF OBSCENITY, UM, VULGARITY.

SO OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING SEVEN A IS A REZONING APPLICATION BY FERNANDO ORANA, CRADLE TO RE I HOPE I'M SAYING THAT CORRECTLY, TO RECLASSIFY 1724 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE FROM R ONE TO R ONE A.

MS. PRESLEY, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY FOR US? COUNSEL'S RECEIVED, A SORRY.

COUNCIL HAS RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM FERNANDO CRADLE TO RECLASSIFY 1724 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE FROM R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO R ONE A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.

THE DIFFERENCE IN THE TWO ZONES IS DENSITY.

THE R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT SINGLE FAMILY USES AT A LOWER DENSITY.

THE R ONE, A RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT ALLOWS FOR CLUSTERING AND MEDIUM TO HIGH DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL USES.

THIS REZONING WILL PERMIT THE DENSITY THAT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ENVISIONS FOR THIS AREA.

THE APPLICANT'S DESIRE IS TO REZONE THE SITE WITH THE INTENT OF EVENTUALLY SUBDIVIDING IT.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE REZONING AT THEIR PUBLIC HEARING HELD FEBRUARY 21ST.

THERE ARE NO PROFFERS SUBMITTED WITH THIS REZONING REQUEST.

THANK YOU, MS. PRESLEY.

AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS? YES, COME ON UP.

YES, MY NAME IS FERNANDO ARANA.

UH, I LIVE IN 1 1 6 4 0 8 CAVALIER LANDING IN, UH, FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA.

UH, JUST WANTED TO, UH, SAY THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AND, UH, ANY QUESTION THAT YOU HAVE, UH, I'M GONNA BE HERE.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD THEN AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

DO I HEAR A MOTION MADAM MAYOR, UH, IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE B, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVE A REZONING APPLICATION FROM FERNANDO RENO DEL TO RECLASSIFY 1724 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE FROM R ONE TO R ONE A SECOND.

OKAY, WITH A MOTION A SECOND.

UM, NOW, UH, DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL.

DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANYTHING THEY WISH TO SAY OR AS THE APPLICANT HAS OFFERED? IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM, ANY DISCUSSION? GO AHEAD.

MADAM MAYOR, I, UH, BEEN STUDYING THIS EARLIER.

THIS IS A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE OF A LARGE LOT IN TOWN.

UH, BE REUTILIZED AND, UH, CREATING A LITTLE BIT MORE DENSITY ON JUST, JUST A TAD BIT UNDER AN ACRE, ALLOWING ANOTHER HOUSE TO BE BUILT ON THAT.

AND, UM, I THINK THAT THE, THE REMODELING OF THE EXISTING HOUSE AND THE ADDITION OF ANOTHER HOUSE THAT I BELIEVE THE APPLICANT PLANS TO LIVE IN, RIGHT, UM, WILL BE A WELCOME ADDITION TO THE TOWN AND FOLLOW OUR COMP PLAN AS WELL.

ANYONE ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT, UM, I SECONDED THIS MOTION BECAUSE I'M NOT OPPOSED TO DEVELOPMENT ENTIRELY.

ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO ADD ANY COMMENTS? OKAY.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, UM, ACTUALLY, YEAH, NO OTHER COMMENTS.

MS. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? THE MOTION ON THE TABLE IS TO MOVE THAT COUNCIL, APPROVE THIS VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN DEAMON PAYNE? YES.

B IS A REZONING APPLICATION BY GRACEFUL ABODE OF LIBERATION TO RECLASSIFY 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE FROM R ONE TO R THREE.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

MOTION PASSES.

ITEM SEVEN

[7.B. Rezoning Application by Graceful Abode of Liberation to Reclassify 1324 Old Winchester Pike from R-1 to R-3.]

MS. PRESLEY, COULD YOU READ THE SUMMARY? YES.

AND THE SUMMARY HAS BEEN CHANGED QUITE A BIT.

UH, WELL, NOT QUITE A BIT.

JUST A LITTLE BIT.

UM, SO YOU, YOU WILL NOT BE, IT WILL NOT BE THE SAME AS YOU'RE LOOKING AT THERE.

FOR ABODE OF LIBERATION OF VIRGINIA NON-STOCK CORPORATION, FORMERLY GRACEFUL ABODE OF LIBERATION TO RECLASSIFY 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE FROM R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT TO R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.

COUNSEL HAS RECEIVED A REQUEST FROM JANELLE EMBRY, PROPERTY OWNER

[00:30:03]

THE STATED PURPOSE OF THE REZONING REQUEST IS TO USE IT AS A NONPROFIT BOARDING HOUSE FOR PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT ABILITIES AND THEIR CAREGIVERS.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO ZONES IS THE PROPOSED DENSITY OF THE USES.

THE R ONE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT IS INTENDED FOR LOW DENSITY SINGLE FAMILY DEVELOPMENT.

THE R THREE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE FOR A VARIETY OF HOUSING TYPES AT A HIGHER DENSITY.

THE APPLICANT IS UNDERTAKING A TWO-PART PROCESS TO ESTABLISH THEIR LODGING HOUSE USE.

THE FIRST STEP IS REZONING TO PERMIT THE POSSIBILITY OF A LODGING HOUSE.

THE REZONING IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE RIVERTON HISTORIC AREA AS THERE IS ALREADY A MIXTURE OF USES AND IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE FUTURE LAND USE MAP.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE REZONING AT THEIR PUBLIC HEARING HELD FEBRUARY 21ST.

THERE ARE NO PROFFER SUBMITTED WITH THE REQUEST.

UM, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK WITH REGARDS TO THE SEVEN B? IS THAT A YES? YES.

WELL, I'M THE OWNER AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AS STATED PREVIOUSLY, IT'S, I'M HERE TO GET REZONING TO R THREE.

WE'RE GONNA GET YOU TO STATE YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS AT JANELLE AMBRY.

AT 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE IN FRONT ROYAL, UM, FOUR WINDS HOUSE IS THE BED AND BREAKFAST NEXT DOOR.

AND THEY'S THEY WERE ZONED TO R THREE, SWITCH TO R THREE.

SO WE'D LIKE TO SWITCH THAT TOO.

AND THEN I'LL BE BACK AGAIN TO, UM, TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT THE BORDER HOUSE THAT WE ARE PROPOSING.

BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANYTHING.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY.

I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL MADAM MAYOR IN FURTHERANCE OF THE PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES CONTAINED IN TOWN CODE 1 75 DASH ONE BI MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE A REZONING APPLICATION FROM JANELLE EMBRY FOR ABODE OF LIBERATION, FORMERLY GRACEFUL ABODE OF LIBERATION TO RECLASSIFY 1324 OLD WINCHESTER PIKE FROM R ONE TO R THREE.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND WE'LL HAVE OFFER.

OPEN THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION OF COUNCIL.

DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS? ANYBODY ON COUNCIL HAVE COMMENTS THEY'D LIKE TO OFFER? IS THAT A NO? YOU DO.

I'LL JUST SAY, I'LL JUST SAY THAT.

UH, FROM WHAT I'VE READ AND OBSERVED, IT SEEMS TO FIT, FIT THE, UH, AREA RIVERTON VILLAGE.

I GUESS IT'S OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY.

UH, WITH NO OTHER COMMENTS, MS. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL, THE, THE, UM, MOTION ON THE TABLE AS FOR APPROVAL? VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN.

DID MONICA PAYNE? YES.

SEVEN C IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION FROM, UM, HOPE, AND I'M GONNA SAYING THIS RIGHT, JEAN DAVID LAJEUNE AND SAMANTHA HARRIS TO ALLOW A SHORT TERM RENTAL AT 3 22 CURF AVENUE.

MOTION PASSES.

ITEM

[7.C. Special Use Permit Application by Jean-David Lejeune and Samantha Harris to Allow a Short-Term Rental at 322 Kerfoot Avenue. ]

UM, MS. PRESLEY, I'M GONNA, YOU WANT ME TO SAVE YOU? I'LL READ THIS ONE.

NO, I CAN DO IT.

OKAY, GO AHEAD.

COUNSEL'S RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT BY JEAN DAVID LAJEUNE AND SAMANTHA HARRIS TO ALLOW A SHORT-TERM RENTAL AT 3 22 CURFEW AVENUE.

THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO RENT TWO ROOMS AND ALLOW NO MORE THAN FOUR OCCUPANTS AT A TIME.

STAFF CONDUCTED AN INSPECTION ON JANUARY 25TH, 2024, AND FOUND THE PROPERTY TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE SHORT TERM RENTAL PERFORMANCE STANDARDS.

NOTE, STAFF RECEIVED A COMPLAINT THAT RENOVATIONS HAD OCCURRED WITHOUT TOWN ZONING APPROVAL.

STAFF REPORTED THE VIOLATION TO WARREN COUNTY BUILDING INSPECTIONS.

THE APPLICANT IS WORKING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE.

THE PROPERTY WAS PURCHASED AFTER THE WORK WAS COMPLETED WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THE LACK OF PERMITTING.

THE PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT AT THEIR PUBLIC HEARING HELD FEBRUARY 21ST WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.

NUMBER ONE, THE APPLICANT WILL NOT PERMIT MORE THAN FOUR OVERNIGHT GUESTS PER STAY.

THE APPLICANT WILL OBTAIN ALL NECESSARY BUILDING AND ZONING PERMITS PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

AND NUMBER THREE, ERECT A PRIVACY FENCE AROUND THE PROPERTY WITHIN ONE YEAR OF USE AS A SHORT TERM RENTAL.

I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

THANK, UM,

[00:35:02]

MS. PRESS, IS THERE ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? THERE'S NO ONE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? YES.

OKAY, COME ON.

NOW.

I'M FEELING WE'RE PROBABLY PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS.

, UH, GOOD EVENING.

MY NAME IS JOHN DAVID LAJEUNE.

I'M HERE WITH MY BRIDE TOBEE SAMANTHA HARRIS.

UM, WE ARE THE OWNERS OF 3 2 2 CUR AVENUE.

WE'VE APPLIED FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL PERMIT, UM, FOR JUST AS STATED FOR FOUR PEOPLE, UH, MAXIMUM.

I'M JUST HERE TO, UH, ANSWER ANY POSSIBLE QUESTIONS.

IF THERE, IF THERE ARE SOME, WE'RE HAPPY TO TO ANSWER THIS.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPROVE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR JEAN DAVID LAJEUNE AND SAMANTHA HARRIS FOR A SHORT TERM RENTAL TO BE LOCATED AT 3 22 KER FOOT AVENUE CONDITIONED UPON THE FOLLOWING.

ONE, THE APPLICANT WILL NOT PERMIT MORE THAN FOUR OVERNIGHT GUESTS PER STAY.

TWO, THE APPLICANT WILL OBTAIN ALL NECESSARY BUILDING AND ZONING PERMITS PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT.

OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION AND SECOND COUNSEL.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? WHO WAS THE SECOND, UH, VICE MAYOR MICROPHONE.

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO USE AMBER'S.

I KNOW, BUT IT'S NOT STILL NOT WORKING VERY WELL.

I'LL JUST ADD TO THE DISCUSSION FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T NOTICE.

UM, THE MOTION IN WHICH I MADE WAS THE SAME AS WHICH I SPOKE AT THE WORK SESSION THAT WE HAD PRIOR.

WE'VE NEVER, UM, CONDITIONED FOR ANY SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ERECT A PRIVACY FENCE OR TO REQUIRE ANY RESIDENTIAL HOMEOWNER TO HAVE A PRIVACY FENCE.

I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE JOB OF THE COUNCIL OR THE GOVERNMENT TO DO.

UM, AND SO I WILL CONTINUE TO STAND BY THAT MOTION THAT THE FIRST TWO CONDITIONS OF MY MOTION ARE FEASIBLE AND ATTAINABLE.

UM, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT WILL, UM, PASS AND NOT BE A FINANCIAL BURDEN TO YOU GUYS TO USE YOUR OWN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY, HOW YOU SEE FIT WITHIN THE LAWS OF THE GOVERNMENT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST, I'LL JUST ADD MADAM MAYOR THAT, UM, I, I AGREE WITH COUNCIL COUNCILMAN, UH, MORRIS, UH, REGARDING THE DEFENSE.

OBVIOUSLY, IF THEY CHOOSE TO PUT A FENCE UP, UH, THAT'S THEIR PREROGATIVE.

UM, BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY OUR PLACE TO DEMAND IT.

ANY OTHER? THANK YOU.

SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL ON A MOTION TO APPROVE WITH THE FIRST TWO CONDITIONS? VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN DEIDA.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING AND IT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON AN APPLICATION FROM PROPERTY CONNECTION LLC TO VACATE AND SELL A PORTION OF SEVENTH STREET AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH KIBBLER STREET.

MOTION PASSES.

SO ITEM SEVEN D.

[7.D. Receive Public Input on an Application from Property Connection LLC to Vacate a Portion of 7th Street at its Intersection with Kibler Street.]

UH, MS. PRESLEY, IF YOU CAN READ THE SUMMARY, PLEASE.

ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNER PROPERTY CONNECTION LLC.

THE APPLICANT HAS APPLIED FOR THE VACATION AND SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 3,390 SQUARE FEET OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY BEING THAT PORTION OF EAST SEVENTH STREET ABUTTING 2 25 EAST SEVENTH STREET AS SHOWN AND DESCRIBED ON PLAT OF SURVEY ENTITLED SURVEY OF A PORTION OF EAST SEVENTH STREET PER PLAT OF SUBDIVISION OF WEST WC CARTER PROPERTY PREPARED BY BROGAN LAND SURVEYING PLC DATED JANUARY 15TH, 2024.

RIGHT OF WAY THIS VACATION WOULD CLOSE SEVENTH STREET TO FUTURE EXPANSION OVER HAPPY CREEK.

THE CROSSINGS AT SIXTH AND EIGHTH STREETS ARE SUFFICIENT FOR TRAFFIC FLOW THE RIGHT OF WAY.

VACATION AND SALE WOULD ALLOW THE APPLICANT TO CREATE A LEGAL PARCEL.

THE TOWN HAS A STORM SEWER UTILITY AT THIS LOCATION.

IF THE STREET VACATION IS APPROVED, ANY SALE TO AN ABUTTING PROPERTY OWNER WILL REQUIRE THE RESERVATION OF A UTILITY EASEMENT IN FAVOR OF THE TOWN COUNCIL'S REQUESTED TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT.

UM, AND ALSO THE TOWN WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY JUST WITH THE PURCHASE OF THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF IT, BUT ALSO THE CONTINUANCE OF TAX REVENUE.

I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO, WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? I OKAY.

GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS EMILY MINNICK.

I'M REPRESENTING PROPERTY CONNECTION TONIGHT, LIVE AT EIGHT 30 SAWGRASS DRIVE, CHARLESTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA.

UM, THE PUBLIC WOULD NOT BE INCONVENIENCED BY THE PURCHASE OF THIS STREET IF YOU'VE, AND I'M SURE YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE.

UM, THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT REALLY GO DOWN THERE, PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE IN THE ABUTTING, UM, PROPERTY OWNER.

WE HAVE GRANTED THE TOWN AN EASEMENT TO ACCESS THE UTILITIES.

[00:40:01]

AND, UM, THE TOWN HAS SOLD PRO SOLD STREET VACATIONS IN THE PAST TO OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS.

WE'VE SPOKEN WITH THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTY OWNER AND TAKEN HIS CONCERNS INTO ACCOUNT.

I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE AN, WE'RE IN AGREEMENT AS TO THE BEST PATH FORWARD, SO WE ASK FOR YOU GUYS, UM, TO APPROVE.

AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY.

I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GOING TO OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPOINT VIEWERS TO VIEW THE VACATION REQUEST FROM THE APPLICATION TO VACATE 3,390 SQUARE FEET ON SEVENTH STREET AT ITS INTERSECTION WITH KIBBLER STREET, AND TO REPORT IN WRITING ANY INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD RESULT OR COULD RESULT FROM DISCONTINUANCE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION.

AND SECOND, IS THERE, UM, ANY DISCUSSION? UM, I'LL JUST ADD TO THE DISCUSSION FOR THIS.

THE REASON THAT I CHOSE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT VIEWERS IS BECAUSE THAT'S CONSISTENT AND IN LINE WITH ALL THAT THIS COUNCIL HAS DONE FOR EVERY ALLEY VACATION THAT'S COME BEFORE US.

UM, I THINK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED A LOT OF GOOD FEEDBACK TO HELP US MAKE OUR DECISIONS, UM, WISELY AND TO KNOW ANY DISRUPTIONS.

I KNOW THAT THE APPLICANT HAS ALREADY ADDRESSED SOME OF THOSE, UM, BUT I JUST THINK IT'S CONSISTENT IN LINE WITH WHAT WE'VE CONTINUED TO DO.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY.

SINCE THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS, I AM, UH, MS. PRESLEY, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL AND WHAT'S ON THE TABLE IS TO APPOINT VIEWERS TO VIEW THE VACATION REQUESTS.

VICE MAYOR OCK.

COUNCILWOMAN DEAMON PAYNE? YES.

UP IS SEVEN E AND THIS IS RE ALSO RECEIVING PUBLIC INPUT ON AN APPLICATION FROM ERIN HIKE TO VACATE A PORTION OF NORTH ROYAL AVENUE AND THE ALLEY BETWEEN NORTH ROYAL AVENUE AND VIRGINIA AVENUE.

SO WE WILL BE APPOINTING VIEWERS.

SO NEXT

[7.E. Receive Public Input on an Application from Aaron Hike to vacate a Portion of N. Royal Avenue and the Alley Between N. Royal Avenue and Virginia Avenue. ]

MS. PRESLEY AS, UM, COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY? A BUDDING PROPERTY OWNER'S AARON HIKE AND HARMONY HIKE AND AARON HEKE, TRUSTEE APPLICANT APPLIED FOR THE VACATION AND SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 0.3518 ACRES OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY BEING A PORTION OF NORTH ROYAL AVENUE LOCATED IN FRONT OF 1516 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE AND THE UNAPPROVED ALLEY LOCATED BETWEEN NORTH ROYAL AVENUE AND VIRGINIA AVENUE AS SHOWN AND DESCRIBED ON PLAT OF SURVEY ENTITLED VACATION OF TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL ALLEY, PREPARED BY PRESTON M HUMPHREYS DATED SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2023.

RIGHT OF WAY COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO RECEIVE PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS REQUEST.

THANK YOU MS. PRESLEY.

UM, AT THIS TIME I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? YES, WE HAVE FIVE.

THE FIRST ONE IS MINETA RANDOLPH.

MINETA RANDOLPH.

UM, MY NAME IS MINETA RANDOLPH AND I'M HERE TO SPEAK ABOUT THE, UM, EASEMENT.

UM, I WOULD NOT LIKE THE EASEMENT TO BE SOLD BECAUSE, UM, I ENJOY TAKING CARE OF IT AND PLAYING THERE WITH OTHER KIDS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

I AM ALSO REALLY SCARED OF THE BOY NEXT DOOR BEING CLOSER TO MY HOUSE.

I RUN AND HIDE WHEN HE COMES OUTSIDE THERE, .

AND I KNOW THAT, THAT, UM, THIS IS DIFFERENT FOR YOU, BUT WE NEED TO JUST, UM, STICK TO THE TOPIC, WHICH IS VACATING THE ALLEY.

WE, SO ANYWAY, I JUST, UH, AT THE BEGINNING, UM, OF MY COMMENTS, THEY WERE, THE IDEA IS TO JUST SPEAK TO COUNSEL ABOUT INFORMATION AND NOT ABOUT SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS.

YOU'RE NOT IN TROUBLE OR ANYTHING, I'M JUST LETTING YOU KNOW.

THAT'S PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.

ARE YOU GOOD? YEAH.

AND YOUR ADDRESS, IS IT YOU? YEAH.

YOU KNOW WHAT? I'M JUST GONNA HOLD UP ON YOUR ADDRESS AS A CHILD.

[00:45:01]

OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, I AM NUMBER TWO.

JE PERSON NUMBER TWO, JERICHO MANSON.

HELLO, MY NAME IS KO MANSON.

OUR ADDRESS IS 60 0 2.

WE LIVE IN FRONT ROW AVENUE.

I DON'T WANT THE EASEMENT SOLD BECAUSE I LIKE TO MOW THE GRASS AND TAKE CARE OF IT.

IF IT WAS SOLD, I WOULDN'T, WOULDN'T, WON'T, WON'T BE ABLE TO PLAY SLIP AND SW OR ANY WATER GAMES BECAUSE OUR HOSE IS ON THAT SIDE.

THANK YOU CARRIE CUNNINGHAM.

GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM MAYOR.

COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, MY NAME IS CARRIE CUNNINGHAM.

I LIVE AT 1620 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE AND I THINK THAT THE EASEMENT SHOULD NOT BE SOLD BECAUSE IT IS A PERFECT PLACE FOR THE KIDS TO ACTUALLY WALK AND NOT BE IN THE ROAD OF TRAFFIC.

IT'S A PERFECT PLACE FOR TWO PEOPLE TO PARK THEIR VEHICLES TO WHERE IT LEAVES IT OUT OF THE ROAD FOR THE KIDS.

THEY PLAY BASKETBALL, THEY PLAY KICKBALL IN THAT EASEMENT.

THEY THROW THE FOOTBALL, THEY DO WATER SLIDES, EASTER EGG HUNTS.

IT KEEPS THEM SAFE FROM THE ROAD.

UM, MY SON AS ALSO GOES OVER THERE AND PLAYS WITH THEM KIDS.

AND AS A MOTHER OF A 10-YEAR-OLD THAT ALSO HANGS AROUND WITH ALL SARAH RANDOLPH AND TYLER MANSON'S KIDS, IT IS AN EASY PLACE FOR CARS TO NOT HIT THE KIDS AT ALL TO PLAY AND HAVE A MOTHER AT SAFE.

THAT HER KIDS ARE IN A SAFE PLACE WITH THAT EASEMENT STILL BEING THERE FOR THEM TO PLAY WITH.

MS. PRESSLEY, SARAH RANDOLPH.

MS. CUNNINGHAM.

MS. BRALEY, IS THAT PERSON NUMBER FIVE? THIS PERSON'S NUMBER FOUR.

SORRY.

YOU'D THINK I COULD COUNT, BUT HI, GOOD EVENING, MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.

MY NAME IS SARAH RANDOLPH AND I LIVE AT 16 0 2 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE.

AND INSTEAD OF BEING HOME ENJOYING THE CUDDLES WITH MY BABY, WHO JUST SPENT 107 DAYS IN THE NICU, JUST CAME HOME YESTERDAY, WE'RE ALL HERE DOING THIS SHOW AGAIN.

UM, WE'RE UNSURE OF THE SAFETY LEVEL OF OUR DWELLING BEING CONSIDERED DURING THIS POTENTIAL SALE.

UM, WE LIKE TO MAKE SURE THAT EACH PARTY IS GONNA RECEIVE A FAIR CONSIDERATION FOR SAFETY OF CHILDREN AND EACH DWELLING.

AND WE HAVE REQUESTED AN ADDITIONAL PORTION AT THE TOP THAT'S APPROXIMATELY 850 SQUARE FEET WHERE WE COULD SAFELY PARK OUR VEHICLES AND OUR CHILDREN COULD ALSO HAVE A SAFE ACCESS IN THE GRASS TO WALK TOWARDS OUR HOUSE.

SO WE'RE NOT REALLY SURE WHERE Y'ALL'S STANDING IS ON THAT ADDITIONAL PORTION.

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHERE IT COMES IN FOR US, IF WE WANT TO AGREE WITH THE SALE OF IT AS WELL, BECAUSE THE BREAKUP HAS IT FOR THAT 50 50, WE WOULDN'T EVEN BE ABLE TO PARK ONE VEHICLE UP FRONT.

WE, MY, MY VAN WHERE ALL MY CHILDREN GET IN AND OUT OF, WE WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE ROOM FOR THAT WITH WHAT HAS BEEN SHOWN TO US AS A 50 50 BREAKUP.

JUST THE FRONT HALF.

WE'RE NOT ALLOWED ANY, WE'RE NOT ALLOWED APPARENTLY ANYTHING NEAR THE LIGHT POST.

SO WE HAVE REQUESTED ADDITIONAL, NOT PASSING THE LIGHT POST, BUT GETTING TO IT.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

SO THERE'S ONLY FIVE PEOPLE SIGNED UP.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BABY, GLEN.

OH, SAME.

I'M SORRY.

TYLER MANSON.

[00:50:02]

YEAH, I KNOW.

I IMAGINE PEOPLE.

WELL, GOOD EVENING MADAM MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL.

HOW ARE Y'ALL TODAY? I HOPE Y'ALL ARE DOING BETTER THAN WE ARE.

UM, I, WE'RE KIND OF AT A, WE DON'T EXACTLY KNOW, BUT IF IT COMES DOWN TO THE SAFETY PORTION OF IT, AND THAT'S ALSO HOW IN, IN CASE FOR WHATEVER REASON, THERE'S A FIRE INSIDE A HOUSE DOOR FOR ELECTRICAL REASONS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND WE'RE BLOCKED AND CAN'T GET TO OUR KIDS' ROOMS DOOR, UM, THEIR, UH, WINDOWS ARE ON THAT SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND THAT'S HOW WE ARE ABLE TO SAFELY BE ABLE TO GET OUR KIDS IN AND OUT OF THE HOUSE.

UM, AND ON TOP OF THAT, IF, IF WE HAVE TO VACATE AND MOVE OUR VEHICLES AND CAN'T PARK WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY PARKED, WE ACTUALLY WILL HAVE TO ACCIDENTALLY AND, AND INADVERTENTLY ACTUALLY BLOCK THE ACCESS TO THE TOWN TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS THE WATER SUPPLY THAT'S IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE AS WELL, BECAUSE THAT'S RIGHT ON THE RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR HOUSE WHERE THE OTHER AVAILABLE PARKING THAT WE HAVE AS WELL.

UM, OTHER THAN THAT, UH, PRETTY SURE THAT'S, THAT'S EVERYTHING.

THANK YOU TYLER.

THANK YOU MS. PRESLEY.

THERE'S NO ONE ELSE.

THERE'S NO ONE SUN.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK THAT DID NOT HAVE A CHANCE? YES, YOU CAN COME FORWARD.

GOOD EVENING.

UM, I'M AB MCCARTHY.

I LIVE AT 13 0 8 BELMONT AVENUE.

UM, I JUST BEEN HERE BELMONT ALREADY BEFORE BELMONT AVENUE.

BELMONT AVENUE, FRONT ROYAL.

, JUST CHECKING.

UM, BEEN HERE BEFORE SPEAKING ON THE SAME TOPIC.

UM, JUST WANNA SAY THAT I AGREE WITH WHAT WAS SAID PREVIOUSLY.

MY KIDS SPEND AN AWFUL LOT OF TIME OVER THERE AT SARAH AND TYLER'S HOUSE.

UM, THEY'VE PLAYED WITHIN THE EASEMENT.

UM, IT DOES PROVIDE A SAFE AREA FOR THE KIDS, UM, AS WELL AS THE PARKING SITUATION THAT SARAH MENTIONED.

I MEAN, I HAVE THREE KIDS OF MY OWN.

UM, WE HAVE A SAFE DRIVEWAY.

I CAN'T IMAGINE IF THAT WAS POTENTIALLY GONNA BE TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.

UM, I JUST THINK THERE'S NO PURPOSE IN TAKING ALL OF THAT AREA AWAY FROM THEM AND THEIR FAMILY.

AND THAT'S IT.

OF OUR YARD AND SO THAT WE CAN BUILD A FENCE AS FAR AS THEIR PARKING GOES.

WHAT DID YOU SAY YOUR FIRST NAME? AFTON.

IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK WITH REGARDS TO ITEM SEVEN E, THE VACATION OF A PORTION OF THAT ALLEY? ANYBODY? YES.

ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO, THAT'S NOT PRESSURE.

I WAS JUST, I CAN'T TELL IF YOU, I'M LIKE, I'M TRYING TO LOOK AT EVERYBODY'S EYES AND GIVE EVERYBODY A CHANCE.

GOOD EVENING.

BEAR WITH ME.

HAVE A LITTLE COLD COUNSEL.

HELLO.

HARMONY HIKE.

I RESIDE AT 1516 NORTH ROYAL AVENUE.

I HAD LIKE TO JUST ADDRESS THE CONCERNS.

UM, ONE, THIS IS OUR FIRST APPLICATION WAS IN 2020 AUGUST OF 2020.

IT'S 2024.

THAT'S A CONCERN.

UM, AS FAR AS THE NEIGHBORS, UH, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THEY WANNA BE THAT CLOSE TO US ANYWAY, , SO I GET THAT THEIR HOUSE IS, ALTHOUGH, OKAY, THEIR HOUSE HAS A VERY SMALL LINE.

SO THE ALLEY COMES RIGHT UP TO THEIR HOUSE.

AND I GET THAT.

SO IF WE WERE TO VACATE IT AND TO GET THAT, THEIR CONCERN IS THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF, THERE WERE A FIRE.

SO WE TRIED TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION AND WE SUBMITTED AN OFFER A WEEK AGO THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A GIFT OF 25% FOUR YEARS AGO OR THREE YEARS AGO.

THIS IS OUR THIRD TIME WE'VE TRIED.

WE OFFERED 75% AND THEY WANTED A HUNDRED.

THIS TIME, WE'RE OFFERING, UH, THE 25% GIFT TO THEM THAT WILL GIVE THEM SAFETY OUT OF THEIR HOUSE AS FAR AS, UM, THEY HAVE A HUGE YARD.

YOU CAN LOOK AT THE DIMENSIONS.

I'VE LOOKED IT UP.

IT'S, IT'S A, THEY HAVE A HUGE BACKYARD.

THE PART THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO PLAN IS 12 FEET.

EXCUSE ME, I'M ASKING THAT.

WHATEVER HAPPENED IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I, I DON'T BLAME COUNSEL FOR, BUT HERE WE ARE AGAIN.

I'M ASKING TONIGHT THAT YOU APPROVE THIS AS YOU DID A FEW MONTHS AGO.

THAT WE VACATE THIS ALLEY AND WE VACATE THE FRONT PORTION

[00:55:01]

WE'VE ALSO DONE THE DIMENSIONS ON THAT.

THEY HAVE FOUR PARKING SPACES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THEIR HOUSE AND TWO IN THE FRONT.

I'VE SEEN THEM USE THEM ALL.

IT'S A LOT OF PARKING.

THEY ACTUALLY HAVE MORE PARKING SPACE AND MORE YARD THAN THE THREE NEIGHBORS TO THEIR RIGHT.

AND I CAN PERSONALLY TELL YOU THAT I DO NOT SEE THE CHILDREN PLAYING AND NOT 12 FEET.

I THINK IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS I'VE SEEN THEM OUT THERE MAYBE TWICE.

THAT'S THE TRUTH.

THAT'S, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S OUR LIFE.

AND I, I HAVE TWINS AT HOME.

THEY'RE 1-YEAR-OLD AND THE PAST YEAR I'VE SPENT ON THIS.

AND THAT'S WHERE I'D LIKE TO BE TOO.

SO I, I'M ASKING YOU TONIGHT TO PLEASE, PLEASE APPROVE THIS FOR US SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD.

AND I'M NOT CONCERNED THAT IT'S UNFAIR AS WE ARE PREPARED TO SPEND NEARLY $50,000 AND GIFT 25% AND ASK FOR NOTHING OTHER THAN, THAN JUST FOR IT TO BE APPROVED AND THAT WE ALL MOVE FORWARD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THERE IS, IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK? ALL RIGHT, THEN I AM GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? WELL, THERE, THERE ARE MADAM MAYOR.

THERE ARE, THERE ARE PROPOSED MOTIONS.

I'M SORRY, SOMEBODY WAS, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL ADOPT THE ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED CONDITIONALLY APPROVING THE VACATION AND SALE REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT.

I HEAR A SECOND.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND ON THE FLOOR.

WOULD ANYBODY LIKE TO, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? NONE.

YEAH, GO AHEAD.

WE'RE GONNA VACATE.

JOE, YOU HAVE TO HELP ME ON THIS.

WE'RE GONNA VACATE PART OF THEIR, OF OUR RIGHT OF WAY ON ROYAL AVENUE ALSO.

IT'S ROYAL AND VIRGINIA.

IT'S ROYAL VIRGINIA, CORRECT.

NORTH, NORTH ROYAL AND VIRGINIA.

THIS PART, IT'S IN THE FRONT OF THIS PROPERTY AND THEN IN THE SIDES OF THIS PROPERTY, THE ALLEY RUNS BESIDE.

SO THE ALLEY RUNS BESIDE BEHIND ALL THIS PICTURE UP.

IT SHOWS THE MEASUREMENTS THAT WERE MENTIONED BY SPEAKERS TONIGHT.

IT SHOWS EACH PROPERTY OWNER'S LINE, THE PROPOSED FENCE AND THE ACTUAL DISTANCE BETWEEN EACH.

THERE'S ONE TOO.

THIS THING'S A LITTLE BIGGER THAN YOURS, BUT SO, UM, SO, SO IT'S THE FRONT, BUT ALSO THIS SIDE OVER HERE.

AND THIS IS THE OTHER HOME WHERE, UH, WHERE THE PARKING HAD BEEN HAPPENING.

VACATE FROM HERE TO HERE? NO, WE WOULD NOT TO THE ROAD.

NO.

WE VACATE.

ALL OF THIS AND THAT.

NOW, UM, I'M SORRY MAYOR, I'M OFFERING DISCUSSION, BUT I WAS WAITING FOR DISCUSSION FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO GO FIRST.

DID YOU WANNA START? WELL, I WOULD LIKE, WELL, I'LL TO STATE SOMETHING TO ANSWER VICE MAYOR AL'S QUESTION.

SO THE MOTION ON THE TABLE IS TO VACATE ALL OF THIS SPACE.

HOW IT'S DIVIDED UP LATER WOULD BE DETERMINED AFTER COUNCIL VACATES.

SO GO AHEAD.

STEP ONE IN THIS PROCESS HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO VACATE.

UM, FROM THERE, OFFERS ARE MADE, ET CETERA.

THE REASON I DIDN'T MAKE A MOTION TO APPOINT VIEWERS, WHICH IS AN, A PROPOSED A MOTION FOR TONIGHT IS 'CAUSE WE'VE ALREADY HAD THE VIEWING COMMITTEE, RIGHT? WE'VE ALREADY DONE ALL OF THIS.

RIGHT? WE DID ALL OF THIS SIX MONTHS AGO, I BELIEVE IT WAS MAYBE FOUR MONTHS AGO.

UM, AND WE HAVE THAT FEEDBACK IN OUR PACKETS.

UM, FOR ANYBODY YOU KNOW, IN THE AUDIENCE WHO WISHES TO SEE AFTER COUNSELOR, ANYTIME YOU CAN EMAIL ME.

WE HAVE THE PROPERTY LINES AND THE PROPOSED FENCES AND THE VACATIONS.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRE AND SAFETY HAZARDS OF IT LAST TIME WE TALKED ABOUT THE PARKING ISSUES OF IT LAST TIME.

UM, THESE ARE ALL THE SAME THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED BY NOT ONLY THE TOWN, BUT THE COUNCIL.

UM, SO I CAN'T IMAGINE PROLONGING THE DECISION THAT WAS ALREADY MADE BY COUNSEL.

THE SAME EXACT COUNSEL THAT SITS HERE TONIGHT ANY LONGER.

ONCE WE VACATE THE ALLEY, THEN IT'S UP TO THE TOWN MANAGER TO DISCUSS THE TERMS AND NEGOTIATING AND BUYING OF THE ALLEY.

ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO OFFER DISCUSSION? I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT GAVE HERE.

WELL, I GO ON ONE SECOND.

YEAH, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE FENCE LINE.

IT, IT LOOKS LIKE WHERE THE FENCE IS GONNA GO, IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

IS THAT EIGHT FEET ? I SEE.

IS THAT EIGHT FEET?

[01:00:02]

UH, GIVE OR TAKE, YEAH.

IT'S PROBABLY GONNA BE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT, BUT, OKAY.

SO IT'S AT EIGHT FEET BETWEEN THEIR PROPERTY LINE AND WHERE AND WHERE YOU, UH, HAD PROPOSED TO PUT THE FENCE THEN SAY 16.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

WELL, IT'S 16 ALL THE WAY TO THE BLACK LINE.

SO FROM THE FENCE IS GONNA BE AT THE BLUE.

SO HALF OF THAT WOULD BE EIGHT.

UH, UH, COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT, UH, UNLESS I'M UNDERSTANDING THESE, THIS INCORRECT, UM, IT IS, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S 16 FEET FROM THE YELLOW ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE PROPERTY LINE OF THE OTHER HOUSE.

BUT THEY FENCE, RIGHT, THE BLACK LINE TO THE BLUE LINE, RIGHT, EXACTLY TO THE BLUE LINE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN HALF THOUGH.

AS, AS THE APPLICANT'S DATA, WHAT THAT IS MAY MM-HMM.

YEP.

THAT IS MY UNDERSTANDING IN GOING OUT AND WALKING THE PROPERTY AND LOOKING AT THE MAP, IS THE APPLICANT IS ASKING TO BUY THIS ONE THING IS NOT PERFECTLY CLEAR ON THE BACK OF THEIR PROPERTY.

THEY HAVE A PRIVACY FENCE THAT WANDERS OVER INTO THE ALLEY.

THAT'S ONE PROBLEM.

AND WE KNOW HOW BOUNDARY LINES ARE AROUND HERE.

RIGHT.

UH, AND THEN THE SECONDARY PART IS UP FRONT AND ALONG THERE, WHICH I BELIEVE OUR TOWN MANAGER SAID IN A PREVIOUS REPORT, THERE WAS NO ISSUES WITH UTILITIES.

WE MAINTAIN OUR RIGHT OF WAYS.

MM-HMM.

, UM, IT'S LAND THAT'S OF NO USE TO IT.

IT'S NOT A VALUE, BUT A USE.

AND THEN IF I'M UNDERSTANDING THIS CORRECTLY AS WELL, UH, FELLOW COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHAT THE APPLICANT IS, UH, SUGGESTING AS WE LOOK AT THIS PICTURE IS DONATING OR GIVING, UH, THIS BLUE AREA NEXT TO THE HOUSE, UM, TO THE OTHER, UM, THE OTHER HOMEOWNER.

SO THEY WOULD HAVE EGRESS AND, UH, OUT OF THEIR HOUSE IN, IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, BECAUSE UNFORTUNATELY THAT BLACK PROPERTY LINE IS, IS LITERALLY RIGHT UP AGAINST THE HOUSE.

SO IF THIS WAS ALLOWED, IF THE, THE APPLICANT WAS ALLOWED TO PURCHASE THE WHOLE PRICE AND EVERYTHING WORKED OUT IN THEM GIVING THAT, THAT WOULD GIVE THEM, AND IT DOESN'T SHOW THE EXACT FEET, BUT I'M GUESSING IT'S FOUR OR FIVE FEET BASED ON THE SCALE THAT THE OTHER NEIGHBOR DOES NOT HAVE NOW, THAT WOULD ENSURE, UH, SAFETY AND ACTUALLY, UH, A WAY AROUND THEIR HOUSE BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW, UH, AGAIN, THE PROPERTY LINE IS THE BLACK LINE.

THEY HAVE NO PROPERTY ON THAT SIDE OF THE HOUSE.

TRUE.

AM I READING THAT CORRECT? NO.

YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.

I I BELIEVE THAT'S CORRECT.

I JUST WANNA CLARIFY THAT, UM, THAT BEFORE COUNSEL TONIGHT IS THE DECISION TO VACATE THE PROPERTY, HOW THAT PROPERTY, WHAT THE FINALITY OF IT IS, WOULD BE DETERMINED ONCE MR. WALTZ, UM, ONCE MR. WALTZ MEETS WITH THE, THE APPLICANT'S PROPERTY OWNERS TO SEE HOW IT'S GOING TO, UM, FOR LACK OF BETTER WORD, PAN OUT.

AND I ONLY SAY THAT BECAUSE, UM, WHEN WE HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE, SPEAKERS WERE TALKING ABOUT 50 50, 50 50.

AND AS I STATED AT THAT TIME, AND I'M STATING AGAIN NOW, THIS DECISION BEFORE THIS COUNCIL IS TO VACATE THE, THAT, THAT THAT PROPERTY THAT BELONGS CURRENTLY TO THE TOWN, WHAT HAPPENS WITH IT AFTER THE COUNCIL DECIDES TO VACATE IT IS TRULY THE NEXT STEP THAT THAT ISN'T GONNA BE BEFORE US.

MR. WALTZ AND MR. SONNETT, IF I MAY ADD MAYOR, PLEASE.

UH, ALL OF THE, THE PROCEDURES ALL LAID OUT, NO PROPOSED ORDINANCE RIGHT.

FOLLOWING ANY ACTION BY COUNSEL TONIGHT.

RIGHT.

AND I UNDERSTAND, I I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE PUBLIC AND THE SPEAKERS AND THE PEOPLE HERE UNDERSTAND.

SO ANYBODY ELSE WANNA OFFER ANY COMMENTS? ANYBODY? COUNCILMAN INGRAM? I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU IF IT WAS BECAUSE YOUR MICROPHONE'S BROKEN OR IF YOU DIDN'T WELL, IT'S NOT WORKING VERY WELL.

UM, IT VERY, IT VERY RARELY EVER DOES.

UM, NO, I WAS NOT MINE FIXED AFTER LAST TIME.

MAYBE NEXT WILL BE.

WELL, IT WORKED ONCE A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, IT SEEMS LIKE.

UM, ANYWAYS, NO, I WAS JUST GONNA, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT I'M, MY DECISION OR MY VOTE WOULD STILL BE THE SAME, UH, BECAUSE I HADN'T SEEN ANY INFORMATION CHANGE FROM OUR LAST, UH, YOU KNOW, FROM OUR LAST DISCUSSION FROM WORK SESSION.

UH, THE INFORMATION IS ALL LAID OUT.

UM, YOU KNOW, I I'VE HEARD THE SAME, I SPEAKERS THE SAME INFORMATION.

SO THAT, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I'M, UH, STILL IN FAVOR FOR THIS.

SPOKE LAST TIME, TO VACATE AN ALLEYWAY WHILE THERE IS THIS, YOU KNOW, VACANT LAND FOR PEOPLE TO RIDE THEIR BIKES IN OR PLAY IN OR WHAT HAVE YOU, WHICH I'VE WALKED THE PROPERTY LINE SEVERAL TIMES MYSELF TOO.

DOES ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? THE LAST THING I'LL ADD, BECAUSE WE HEARD IT AGAIN TONIGHT, AND IT WAS DISCUSSED FOUR MONTHS AGO, AND MAYBE IT'S PEOPLE THAT WEREN'T HERE WHEN WE

[01:05:01]

AND AT THE PROPOSED MAP THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US ON COUNCIL WITH THE DRAWINGS AND THE RENDERINGS OF EACH PROPERTY LINE AND THE PROPOSED FENCE DOESN'T NECESSARILY TAKE OUT PLAYING AREA.

UM, AND THE APPLICANT'S NEIGHBOR STILL HAS THEIR BACKYARD AS WELL, WHICH IS A LARGE PARCEL.

BUT THE ENTIRE ISSUE WITH ALLEYWAYS THAT'S BEEN BEFORE THIS COUNCIL FOR OVER A YEAR IS THAT WE HAVE A LIABILITY TO THE TOWN WHEN PEOPLE ARE UTILIZING TOWN PROPERTY THAT'S, UM, SITTING THERE.

SO WE, WE, WE RECENTLY HEARD THIS WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT ALLOWING AN EASEMENT DOWN BY THE RIVER AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

SO FOR THE TOWN TO HAVE A PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT'S NOT AN IMPROVED PARK OR A PLACE FOR CHILDREN TO PLAY, THE TOWN IS EXPOSED TO LIABILITY AT THAT, AT THAT ISSUE.

SO EVEN IF WE DIDN'T VACATE THIS ALLEY, IT'S NOT AN AREA THAT CAN BE USED FOR PARK AND PLAYGROUND PURPOSES OR IS INTENDED LEGALLY TO DO SO.

SO AGAIN, WHILE IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL TOPIC FOR MANY PEOPLE, UM, WE ALL HAVE BETTER THINGS THAT WE COULD BE AT HOME DOING.

UM, IT'S JUST, FOR ME, IT'S A FACTS OVER FEELINGS.

AND WE'RE BACK TO THE SAME POINT THAT WE WERE LAST TIME AFTER A LOT OF DEBATE AND DISCUSSION.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? CERTAINLY MET MADAM MAYOR.

UH, ANOTHER ONE OTHER POINT TO ADD ABOUT SAFETY, UH, THAT ALLIE HAS NO LIGHTING, UH, CERTAINLY AT NIGHT.

UH, SO I THINK THE VACATE PROBABLY MAKES A LOT OF SENSE AT THIS POINT.

SO, OKAY.

ANY OTHER COMMENTS? OKAY, MS. PRESLEY THEN AT THIS CALL, WE'RE GONNA DO A ROLL CALL AND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR, UM, I SAY IT ON THE FLOOR, BUT THE MOTION BEFORE COUNSEL IS TO, UM, ADOPT THE ORDINANCES PRESENTED, WHICH CONDITIONALLY APPROVES THE VACATION AND SALE REQUEST.

THANKS.

MAYOR OCK.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS.

COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES.

WHICH IS AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TOWN CODE SECTION 75 44 B TO CHANGE THE DUE DATE FOR ONE HALF OF THE ANNUAL TAX PAYMENTS FOR REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM JUNE 5TH TO JUNE 20TH.

MOTION PASSES ITEM SEVEN F,

[7.F. An Ordinance to Amend Town Code Section 75-44(B) to Change the Due Date for One Half of the Annual Tax Payments for Real Estate and Personal Property from June 5th to June 20th.]

UM, MS. PRESLEY, I'M JUST GONNA READ THIS FOR YOU.

COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE TO MEND TOWN CODE SECTION 75 44 B TO CHANGE THE DATE FOR ONE HALF OF THE ANNUAL TAX PAYMENTS, THE FIRST INSTALLMENT FOR REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM JUNE 5TH TO JUNE 20TH.

IF APPROVED TOWN TAX PAYMENTS WILL BE DUE JUNE, JUNE 20TH AND DECEMBER 5TH EACH YEAR.

AS PRESENTED NOTE, THE TOWN, THE TOWN MUST RECEIVE FILES FROM THE WARREN COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE IN ORDER TO PROCESS THE TOWN'S TAX BILLS FOR THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF EACH YEAR.

THE COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE TOWN WITH THE FILES UNTIL THE WARREN COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS APPROVES THEIR ANNUAL TAX RATES.

THE BOARD HAS HAD DELAYS SETTING TAX RATES DUE TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA'S DELAYS IN SETTING THE STATE'S BUDGET.

AND THE TOWN'S TAX BILLS HAVE BEEN DELAYED SINCE 2019.

SO I SHARE THAT, UH, WITH THE PUBLIC FOR THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE, UM, INTENT OR THE MOTIVATION BEHIND, UH, THIS, UM, THIS ISSUE.

SO I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? WE HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS TOPIC? NO.

ALRIGHT.

WE'RE GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL NOW.

MADAM MAYOR, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT, UH, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS EVEN IS REALLY MORE JUST SURE.

MR. UH, COUNCILMAN INGRAM.

I JUST NEED A MOTION AND THEN WE'LL DISCUSS.

OH, SORRY.

HOW AM I DOING? THAT'S ONE.

ANYBODY I MOVE THAT COUNSEL, APPROVE AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND TOWN CODE SECTION 75 DASH 44 B TO CHANGE THE DATE FOR ONE HALF OF THE ANNUAL TAX PAYMENTS.

FIRST INSTALLMENT FOR REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM JUNE 5TH TO JUNE 20TH.

THAT'S PRESENTED SECOND.

ACTUALLY MY, UH, UH, NOW MY MIC'S NOT HOLD UP BETTER.

NOW WE HAVE A MOTION.

WE HAVE A SECOND UPPER DISCUSSION.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? OH, I LOST THAT, BUT NO.

UM,

[01:10:01]

JUST KIDDING.

NO.

UH, I JUST LIKE TO SAY, I KNOW THIS SEEMS MORE, UM, THIS ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE, BUT IT CLEANS UP THE TAX BILLS THAT WERE GOING OUT IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS BECAUSE AS IT STATES, YOU KNOW, WE GET STUFF FROM WARREN COUNTY INSTEAD OF HAVING TO PUSH TO DATE TO SAY, WELL, YOU'RE NOT GONNA BE CHARGED INTEREST AFTER THIS DATE.

YOU'RE GONNA BE CHARGED INTEREST AFTER THIS DATE.

IT MAKES LIFE A LOT EASIER, UH, FOR OUR STAFF.

YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY THE GENTLEMAN SITTING BACK THERE, UH, WHO, UH, GOES THROUGH ALL THIS.

AND LIKE I SAID, IT, IT, IT'S, UM, IT'S SOMETHING WE TALKED ABOUT, UH, IN A WORK SESSION AND, UH, WE DISCUSSED.

AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S, IT'S, I, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE A CLEAN CHANGE FOR, TO MAKE THINGS, UH, EASIER FOR RESIDENTS HERE WHEN IT COMES TO TAXES, WHICH WE ALL LOVE.

RIGHT.

THANK YOU COUNCILMAN.

INGRAM AND I, I DID WANNA MENTION TOO, WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED THIS AT A LIAISON.

WE ACTUALLY DISCUSSED IT AT THREE LIAISON MEETINGS WITH, WITH THE HOPE THAT MAYBE WE COULD WORK THIS OUT SO THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO CHANGE THE DATE.

BUT AS COUNCILMAN INGRAM SAID, UM, UH, WE'RE LOOKING AT A WAY TO MAKE, UM, THINGS CLARIFY FOR OUR STAFF, BUT ALSO TO CLARIFY FOR OUR CITIZENS BECAUSE IT WAS CONFUSING TO THEM TO SAY, OKAY, YOU WOULD GET, YOU GOT A BILL THAT SAID IT WAS DUE JUNE 5TH, BUT THEN WE WOULDN'T CHARGE PENALTY UNTIL AFTER JUNE.

THIS SO, AND UNFORTUNATELY, UM, THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA'S DELAYS, UH, FORCED THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST A DOMINO EFFECT.

SO ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO OFFER ANY OTHER INPUT? IF WE DON'T AMEND THE TOWN CODE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO TAKE A VOTE IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO EXTEND IT.

SO WE'VE DONE THAT, WHICH WE'VE DONE FOR FIVE YEARS EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON COUNCIL.

AND BEFORE YOU GOT THERE, WE WERE DOING IT.

SO, YEAH.

ANYBODY ELSE? ARE WE, ARE WE GOOD? ALRIGHT.

MS. PRESLEY, ROLL CALL.

VICE MAYOR ? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN DE DEMON.

SO NEXT UP WE COME TO SECTION EIGHT, THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

IT'S THE DUTY OF THE MAYOR TO, FIRST OFF, BEFORE I READ THIS LONG, ARDUOUS, UH, WRITING.

MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYBODY SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC COMMENTS? YOU HAVE NO ONE SIGNED UP.

NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS SECTION.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT'S GONNA WANT TO TWO? 'CAUSE I WILL SAVE THIS LONG, DRAWN OUT EXPLANATION OF WHAT TO DO.

NOBODY.

EVERYBODY GOOD? NOBODY NEEDS.

TO ITEM NUMBER NINE, WHICH IS THE REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER.

ALRIGHT, WE'LL MOVE ON

[9.A. Report of Town Manager]

THANK YOU, MAYOR.

UH, I WANNA LET THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT OUR BUSINESS OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED ON FRIDAY, MARCH 29TH FOR GOOD FRIDAY.

TRASH COLLECTION ON FRIDAY WILL BE THIS WEDNESDAY INSTEAD MARCH 27TH.

ALSO, WANNA LET THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT WE'RE ALSO STARTING YARD WASTE COLLECTION NEXT WEEK.

SO IT'S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING.

AND LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL FIRE AND RESCUE PERSONNEL FOR ALL THEIR HARD WORK AND EFFORTS LAST WEEK DURING THE FIRE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND DEDICATION TO KEEP THIS COMMUNITY SAFE.

THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT TONIGHT, MAYOR.

MR. WA NEXT UP

[9.B. Report of Councilmembers]

ARE COUNCIL MEMBERS.

WOULD ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK OR GO FIRST OR, YES, I'LL GO I GUESS.

LAST WEEK I WENT TO THE NORTHERN REGIONAL COMMISSION MEETING.

UM, THE, UH, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ALREADY SPOKE A LITTLE BIT, BUT THEY'RE STILL WORKING ON THE BROADBAND, UH, INSTALLATION AND DOWN THE VALLEY.

UM, OTHER THAN THAT, I MEAN, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THAT MEETING, BUT I, I'M, I WANNA ECHO WHAT JOE SAID.

UM, I'VE LISTENED TO THE FIREFIGHTERS AND I'VE LISTENED TO THE RESCUE PEOPLE OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO.

THESE GUYS WERE OUT THERE, SOME OF 'EM, 12, 14, 15 HOURS OR MORE IN THE MOUNTAIN FIGHTING THESE FIRES.

UM, AND I'M GONNA ASK THAT YOU KEEP THE PEOPLE IN YOUR PRAYERS THAT LOST THEIR HOMES.

UH, AND THERE ARE MANY, MANY DONATION PLACES IN CHANDLER COUNTY AND PAGE COUNTY WHERE THEY WERE HIT THE HARDEST.

SEEING IF WE CAN KEEP THOSE IN OUR PRAYERS AND SEE IF WE CAN HELP THEM OUT.

UH, HELPED WITH THE ENDOWMENT BECAUSE HE THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT THAT WE IMPROVE OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM HERE IN, UH, WARREN COUNTY, IN FRONT ROYAL.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO WISH TO SPEAK? I DON'T HAVE A REPORT THIS MONTH.

I JUST WANNA WISH EVERYBODY A HAPPY EASTER.

UH, I JUST HAVE A VERY SHORT GO AHEAD.

YOUR RIGHT.

UH, I'M GONNA ON, UH, APRIL 10TH AT 7:00 PM I'M GONNA BE, UH, ATTENDING, UH, AT SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL, THE WARREN COUNTY EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT, UH, COMMITTEE, UH, HONORING, UH, JOHN MARLOWE.

UH, THEY'RE GONNA SPEAK TO, UH, A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO AND HOW MR. MARLOWE, UH,

[01:15:02]

UH, SECONDLY, I'D LIKE TO WISH COUNCILMAN WOOD AND HIS WIFE AMY.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY.

46 YEARS HAPPY ANNIVERSARY GUYS.

MM-HMM, GOOD.

I DON'T HAVE TO MENTION .

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS.

I TOO WOULD LIKE TO, UH, JOIN IN ACKNOWLEDGING AND THANKING ALL THE FIRST RESPONDERS, OUR FIREFIGHTERS, POLICE PUBLIC WORKS AS WE LEARN TONIGHT.

UH, MORE ABOUT THAT AND ALL THE OTHER VOLUNTEERS WHO RESPONDED TO THIS, OUR AREA'S EMERGENCIES LAST WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND THANK YOU FOR MAKING OUR COMMUNITY A SAFER PLACE.

AMY AND I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE FRONT ROYAL WOMEN'S RESOURCE CENTER, DARE TO DREAM BREAKFAST THIS PAST WEEK WHERE 11 OUTSTANDING WOMEN RECEIVED $13,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO CONTINUE THEIR EDUCATION OR GRANTS TO HELP WITH THEIR BUSINESSES.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PASSING OF 4-YEAR-OLD SAMMY PROPS LAST WEEK, WHO WAS JUST DIAGNOSED IN JANUARY WITH A TERMINAL ILLNESS.

AND FOR, UH, TO LOSE A CHILD AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.

I MEAN, IT, IT, IT REALLY DOES TOUCH THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.

I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PASSING OF BETTY CHAPMAN.

AND MANY OF YOU KNOW BETTY CHAPMAN, LIFELONG RESIDENT HERE WHO WORKED IN OUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT FOR OVER 30 YEARS.

SHE LEAVES BEHIND HER HUSBAND BILLY, WHO'S A RETIRED DEPUTY AND CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.

AND, UH, AT ONE TIME, BETTY AND US ALL ATTENDED THE SAME CHURCH.

AND SHE NOT ONLY WORKED FOR THE COUNTY, BUT SHE PUT IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF VOLUNTEERISM INTO OUR COMMUNITY.

SHE WAS TREASURER OF OUR CHURCH AND I KNOW SHE TOUCHED A LOT OF OTHER LIVES, AND WE JUST WANT TO KEEP THEIR FAMILY IN THE PRAYERS.

AND AGAIN, ON A LIGHTER NOTE, I WANT TO WISH MY WIFE A HAPPY 46TH ANNIVERSARY, AND I WILL TAKE YOU TO DINNER TOMORROW NIGHT.

, YOU BETTER.

THANK YOU, AMY, FOR PATIENTLY SHARING HIM WITH US THIS EVENING.

ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? YEP.

UM, MADAM MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS, UM, I WANTED TO REPORT THAT I ATTENDED THE ARBOR RIDGE BUILDERS, UM, OPENING RIBBON CUTTING THIS PAST WEEK.

AND IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HEAR NEW PEOPLE COMING TO THE COMMUNITY AND EXCITED TO COME TO THE COMMUNITY AND START A BUSINESS THAT'S UNIQUE AND, UM, AND IN A, IN A NOT NOT QUITE VISIBLE LOCATION, BUT DOWN WHERE OLD VIRGINIA IS AND, UM, YOU KNOW, DOWN KENDRICK LANE.

SO IT'S VERY, VERY NICE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND, AND HAVE THEM EXCITED ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN A TRASH PICKUP AND I'VE FOLLOWED MY OWN ADVICE.

UM, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS WE CAN ARGUE OVER ON HOW TO IMPROVE THE WORLD, .

UM, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO OUT AND SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON A NEW PROGRAM OR BUY AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE.

JUST PICK UP YOUR TRASH AND PUT IT IN A RECEPTACLE.

IT'S FREE.

DOESN'T, DOESN'T REQUIRE THE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION.

UM, AND, UM, AND IT REALLY WOULD, IT REALLY MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE AND IT'S VERY SATISFYING.

FROM OUR, FROM OUR COUNTY AND COMMUNITY.

ANYBODY ELSE? ? UH, I, UH, MAD MAY I JUST LIKE TO SAY YEAH, I TOO ATTENDED THE, UH, GRAND OPENING HERE AT, AT, UH, ARBOR RIDGE HERE WITH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN, UH, DINA MOPA OF COURSE, AS WELL.

YOURSELF.

UH, I ECHO HER WORDS.

UH, ALWAYS GOOD TO SEE, UH, NEW, OBVIOUSLY NEW BUSINESS OPEN IN TOWN.

UH, ESPECIALLY ONE OF THIS NATURE THERE.

THOSE GUYS ARE GONNA BE A LOCAL BUILDER, SO I WISH THEM, UH, MANY YEARS OF, OF SUCCESS AHEAD.

UH, ALSO LAST WEEK, UH, WE HAD OUR FIR FIRST MEETING FOR OUR, OUR TOWN AND, UH, OUR COUNCIL AND BOARD SUPERVISORS JOINT, UH, TRANSPORTATION MEETING.

UH, I'VE GOT, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL GET SOME MORE DE SHARE MORE DETAILS WITH COUNCIL ON THAT IN OUR NEXT WORK SESSION.

BUT, UH, I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY OVERALL THAT WE HAD MEMBERS FROM, UH, VDOT COMMUNITY THAT WERE THERE AND THAT, UH, WE LOOK FORWARD TO, UH, CONTINUING OUR WORK FOR BOTH THE TOWN AND COUNTY ON THAT, ON THAT LEVEL.

AND AGAIN, AS, AS PREVIOUS, UH, FOLKS UP HERE SAID WITH THE, UH, FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THIS PAST WEEK, UH, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.

I MEAN, THE FACT THAT WE, UH, WERE SURROUNDED BY TWO OF OUR NEIGHBORING COUNTIES GOT HIT PRETTY HARD AND FOR US TO BE AS LUCK AS LUCKILY, AS LUCKILY AS WE WERE, UM, YOU KNOW, IT WAS, UH, BETWEEN DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND THE WORK AND THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE WHO, WHO WERE THERE, UH,

[01:20:01]

SO, HATS OFF TO ALL THOSE FOLKS.

AND AGAIN, OH YEAH.

UM, HAVE EVERYBODY HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE EASTER THIS WEEKEND.

THANKS.

MAYOR, I ALWAYS LIKE TO SHARE THINGS THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED SINCE OUR LAST COUNCIL MEETING.

IF THERE'S NO OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS THE REPORT OF THE

[9.C. Report of the Mayor]

AND WHILE IT FEELS LIKE I'VE HAD A BUSY MONTH, ESPECIALLY MEETING WITH ASSISTANCE REGARDING THEIR CONCERNS, THE ACTUAL EVENTS ARE NOT AS PLENTIFUL.

ALTHOUGH AS I WAS SITTING HERE, I WAS LIKE, OH YEAH, I FORGOT THAT ONE.

FORGOT THAT ONE.

AT THE END OF FEBRUARY I MET WITH JOE PETTY WITH THE COUNTY WITH REGARDS TO THE SHINDO RAIL TRAIL PROJECT.

BOTH MR. PETTY AND I ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PROJECT AND MET TO DISCUSS WAYS THAT WE CAN SHOW OUR SUPPORT, UM, TO THE PUBLIC, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, OUR LEGISLATORS WHO WILL BE ULTIMATELY MAKING THE FINAL DECISION WITH REGARDS TO FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NOT AWARE, THERE IS A GROUP WHO NOW IS INTERESTED IN HAVING IT BE A RAIL WITH TRAILS.

ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WAS PRESENTED TO ME OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF REPRESENTING THE TOWN ON THIS PROJECT DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT A RAIL WITH TRAIL IS THE BEST USE OF THIS CORRIDOR.

THE STATE HAS APPROVED A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR A RAIL WITH TRAILS THAT I'M HOPEFUL THEY WILL ANALYZE AND COMPARE WITH THE FEASIBILITY AND ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY THAT WAS DONE A FEW YEARS AGO WITH REGARDS TO HAVING THE CORRIDOR JUST A TRAIL ALONG WHERE THE RAIL ONCE WAS.

SO STAY TUNED ON THIS TOPIC, BUT IF YOU HAVE AN OPINION, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO YOUR STATE LEGISLATORS AND SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS FOR SUPPORT THIS PAST MONTH, ALONG WITH OUR TWO WORK SESSIONS, COUNCIL ALSO HELD A JOINT MEETING WITH THE FRONT ROW PLANNING COMMISSION.

I THINK IT WAS PRODUCTIVE.

AND I'M PLANNING TO SCHEDULE ANOTHER MEETING IN APRIL SO THAT PC AND COUNCIL CAN DISCUSS SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE DID NOT HAVE TIME TO FULLY DISCUSS ON MARCH 18TH.

UM, AS I SAID EARLIER, I, I'VE MET WITH SOME CITIZENS, UM, THIS PAST MONTH.

WE WANTED TO SHARE THEIR THOUGHTS REGARDING P AND DS AS WELL AS VAPE SHOPS.

UM, I SHARED SOME OF THOSE CITIZENS' THOUGHTS AT THE JOINT MEETING, BUT I'M PLANNING TO BRING THOSE BACK UP AT OUR NEXT, UH, MEETING MARCH 19TH, I, ALONG WITH COUNCILWOMAN DE DOMENICO PAIN AND COUNCILMAN INGRAM ATTENDED THE RIBBON CUTTING AT ARBOR RIDGE BUILDERS.

AND ALSO, UM, MR. WALTZ AND MS. LEWIS WERE ALSO THERE WITH US FROM THE TOWN.

AND ARBOR RIDGE BUILDERS FOCUS ON TRADITIONAL TIMBER FRAME CONSTRUCTION.

UM, IT'S ALWAYS EXCITING AS, AS THEY BOTH SAID, TO, TO ATTEND EVENTS LIKE THIS, KNOWING THAT A BUSINESS CHOSE FRONT ROYAL, UM, TO LOCATE AND INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY.

MARCH 20TH, I ATTENDED WITH COUNCILMAN INGRAM, THE, THE, UM, JOINT TOWN COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.

UH, AS HE STATED, VDOT WAS THERE SHARING INFORMATION.

AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THAT WAS JUST REALLY INFORMATIVE.

UM, I NOT, I DON'T KNOW THAT I TOTALLY UNDERSTOOD ALL THE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH THEY MAKE DECISIONS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT THEY LOOK INTO, UM, CRASHES AND SAFETY AND SPACE AND EASEMENTS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

SO IT WAS REALLY INFORMATIVE.

UM, AND AS COUNCILMAN INGRAM SAID, IT'S GONNA BE SHARING WITH WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS.

SO SATURDAY I ALSO, UH, ATTENDED A CASH FAIR FOR ONE OF OUR LOCAL, UH, TRAVEL SOFTBALL TEAMS. I HAVE TO SAY THE PLACE WAS PACKED.

UM, THE 50 50 ENDED UP BEING $1,327 AND IT WAS JUST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, EVERYBODY THERE TO SUPPORT, UM, THE DIFFERENT, UH, AGES OF THE UH, FRONT ROW FIRE SOFTBALL FRIDAY.

THIS PAST FRIDAY, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF PRESENTING TO THE SECOND GRADE AT HILDE J BARBER.

THEY ARE CURRENTLY STUDYING ABOUT GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS OF LEARNING REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT TO BE EXACT.

AND THEIR TEACHERS ASKED IF I WOULD SHARE WITH THEM INFORMATION ABOUT MY JOB AS MAYOR, UH, WHAT I DO AND WHAT I'M IN CHARGE OF.

SO OF COURSE I COULDN'T JUST STOP THERE.

, I SHARED INFORMATION ABOUT THE COUNTY AND THE TOWN AND HOW THE TOWN IS THE COUNTY SEAT.

I SHARED HOW THE TOWN HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE THIRD OF THE POPULATION OF THE COUNTY.

I SHARED WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES THE COUNTY HAS AND WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES THE TOWN HAS AND HOW TOWN CITIZENS PAY TAXES TO BOTH, BUT HOW THEY FUND DIFFERENT SERVICES.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE KIDS TO HEAR THIS 'CAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF ADULTS THAT, THAT STILL STRUGGLE WITH THAT UNDERSTANDING HOW THE TWO ARE ARE APART AND TOGETHER.

I SHOWED THEM PICTURES OF ALL OF YOU ALL, JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW, AND THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND EXPLAINED AND EXPLAINED ABOUT OUR TERMS AND HOW IT ELECTED OFFICIALS WITH THE TOWN ARE AT LARGE AND HOW THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS REPRESENT THEIR MAGISTERIAL DISTRICTS.

I TRIED TO MAKE IT A LITTLE EXCITING OF COURSE, 'CAUSE THEY ARE IN SECOND GRADE.

UM, BUT I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE TEACHERS EVEN TOLD ME AFTERWARDS THAT THEY

[01:25:01]

LEARNED NEW THINGS FROM MY PRESENTATION.

SO IT MUST HAVE BEEN PRETTY INFORMATIVE.

LITTLE FUNNY STORY.

AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION, THEY HAD QUESTIONS.

TWO PARTICULAR QUESTIONS KEPT COMING UP OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

DID I LIVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE? OF COURSE, I TOLD THEM NO.

I LIVED IN A SPLIT FOYER WITH A HALF BRICK AND YELLOW SIDING FRONT, UH, JUST TWO BLOCKS FROM THE SCHOOL.

AND THEY ALSO WANTED TO KNOW IF I WAS RICH SINCE I WAS THE MAYOR.

YET ANOTHER DISAPPOINTMENT I DELIVERED TO THEM THAT NO, I WAS A TEACHER BY DAY AND THE MAYOR THE REST OF THE TIME, AND NEITHER OF WHICH AFFORDED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY THAT I WAS RICH.

I DID HOWEVER, SUGGEST THAT THEY WOULD EVENTUALLY BE OLD ENOUGH TO VOTE AND OLD ENOUGH TO SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.

AND I HOPED THAT THEY WOULD CONSIDER DOING THAT ONE DAY.

'CAUSE I NEVER MISS A CHANCE TO ENCOURAGE OUR YOUTH TO BECOME LEADERS.

SO, BUT IT WAS A, IT WAS A FINE OPPORTUNITY.

THAT'S ALL I HAVE.

AND OUR NEXT ITEM

[10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS]

ARE OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. THERE ARE FOUR.

DO I HEAR A MOTION MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENT.

WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? DO YOU NO, I, I DID JUST WANNA MENTION THAT ONE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS WAS, UM, RECOMMENDING CODY TAYLOR, UM, TO THE JUDGE OF THE WARREN COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE BZA.

AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID BEFORE, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO SAY THAT WE COULD NOT DO THE JOB OF THE TOWN WITHOUT CITIZENS WHO ARE WILLING TO SERVE.

SO, OKAY.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? UM, MS. PRESLEY THEN CAN WE DO A ROLL CALL? VICE MAYOR CLOC? YES.

COUNCILMAN DEAMON PAYNE? YES.

AND NUMBER 11 WOULD BE BUSINESS ITEMS OF WHICH WE HAVE NONE.

SO NEXT UP IS

[12. CLOSED MEETING]

ITEM NUMBER 12.

OUR CLOSED MEETING.

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 PURPOSE.

ONE 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.

MORE SPECIFICALLY THE TOWN MANAGER AND TOWN ATTORNEY.

DO I HEAR A SECOND? OKAY.

ROLL CALL VICE MAYOR.

COUNCILMAN DEIDA.