Apr 22, 2024 Town Council

[1. MOMENT OF SILENCE]

[00:00:02]

I AM GONNA CALL THE FRONT ROW TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FOR MONDAY, APRIL 22ND TO ORDER.

UH, WE'RE GONNA START OFF, UH, WITH A MOMENT OF SILENCE AND, UM, IT'S BEEN REQUESTED THAT WE KEEP IN OUR PRAYERS, UH, A FAMILY HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY, ONE OF OUR DEPUTIES WHO'S, UH, LOST THEIR HOME, UH, AND TODAY COMPLETE LOSS, UM, IN A FIRE.

SO PLEASE KEEP THEM IN YOUR THOUGHTS.

OKAY.

[2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE]

JAYDEN IS THE SON OF MICHELLE AND BRIAN MATTHEW JAYDEN ATTENDS UKIAH.

AM I, DID I SAY THAT RIGHT? IT'S ARIA.

ARIA.

OOH.

I SHOULD HAVE ASKED BEFORE ARIA CHRISTIAN ACADEMY, AND HE IS IN THE SIXTH GRADE.

HE AND HIS FAMILY HAVE LIVED IN FRONT ROYAL SINCE 2011.

JAYDEN LOVES KAYAKING AND HORSES.

I UNDERSTAND HE ALSO LOVES VOLUNTEERING AT THE WARREN HERITAGE SOCIETY, WHICH WE SHOULD ALL BE GRATEFUL FOR, THAT YOU MUST LOVE HISTORY.

HE ALSO LOVES A CHALLENGE BY BUILDING INTRICATE LEGO MODELS.

JAYDEN SELECTED HIS GIFT CARD FROM GARCIA ENO, AND HE'S GONNA BE RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE TONIGHT, THANKING HIM FOR HIS PATRIOTISM AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FRONT ROYAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING, UH, 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.

YES.

OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

SO NEXT UP WE'LL

[3. ROLL CALL]

MAYOR RO.

HERE, VICE MAYOR.

HERE.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? HERE.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? HERE.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? HERE.

COUNCILMAN MEIDA.

MONICA PAYNE.

HERE.

COUNCILMAN WOOD HERE.

OKAY,

[4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]

DO I HEAR A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT.

COUNCIL APPROVE THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 25TH, 2024, AND WORK SESSION MINUTES OF APRIL 1ST AND APRIL 8TH, 2024 AS PRESENTED.

SECOND.

OKAY.

MISSION IS SECOND.

ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY.

A ROLL CALL PLEASE.

VICE MAYOR SELO? YES.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES.

COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES.

OKAY.

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL OR ATLE OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA OR REVISION TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS? OKAY,

[6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS]

AND SO I'M GONNA START OFF FIRST WITH THE PROCLAMATION FOR ARBOR DAY.

I'M GONNA READ THAT OUT LOUD FOR EVERYONE.

UM, I ACTUALLY READ THIS YESTERDAY, UH, AT, UM, OUR LONE PINE DAY, WHEREAS IN 1872, THE NEBRASKA BOARD OF AGRICULTURE ESTABLISHED A SPECIAL DAY TO BE SET ASIDE FOR THE PLANTING OF TREES.

AND WHEREAS THIS HOLIDAY CALLED ARBOR DAY WAS FIRST OBSERVED WITH THE PLANTING OF MORE THAN A MILLION TREES IN NEBRASKA.

AND WHEREAS ARBOR DAY IS NOW OBSERVED THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND THE WORLD, AND WHEREAS TREES CAN BE A SOLUTION TO COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE BY REDUCING THE EROSION OF OUR PRECIOUS TOP SOIL BY WIND AND WATER, CUTTING, HEATING AND COOLING COSTS, MODERATING THE TEMPERATURE, CLEANING THE AIR, PRODUCING LIFE, GIVING OXYGEN,

[00:05:01]

AND WHEREAS TREES ARE A RENEWABLE RESOURCE, GIVING US PAPER WOOD FOR OUR HOMES, FUEL FOR OUR FIRES, AND COUNTLESS OTHER WOOD PRODUCTS.

AND WHEREAS TREES IN OUR CITY INCREASE PROPERTY VALUES, ENHANCE THE ECONOMIC VITALITY OF BUSINESS AREAS AND BEAUTIFY OUR COMMUNITY.

AND WHEREAS TREES, WHEREVER THEY ARE PLANTED ARE SOURCE OF JOY AND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL.

AND NOW, THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL DO HEREBY PROCLAIM FRIDAY, APRIL 26TH, 2024 IS ARBOR DAY IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY AND TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO PROTECT OUR TREES AND WOODLANDS.

AND FURTHER, WE URGE ALL CITIZENS TO PLANT TREES TO GLADEN THE HEART AND PROMOTE THE WELLBEING OF THIS.

AND FUTURE GENERATIONS DATED THIS 22ND DAY OF APRIL, 2024.

MAYOR COCKRELL, UM, OUR, WE AND THESE, UH, PROCLAMATIONS WE ACTUALLY DON'T TAKE ACTION ON.

SO I'M JUST GONNA SHARE THESE WITH YOU.

SO NEXT UP IT, AND LET ME JUST ASK, IS THERE ANYBODY IN HERE FROM OUR ACES? I DON'T THINK ANYBODY'S HERE FROM ACES.

I JUST WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THEM.

UM, NEXT STEP IS OUR PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS, WHEREAS PUBLIC WORKS, UM, I'M SORRY, LET ME BACK UP.

THIS IS FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK PROCLAMATION, AND THAT'S MAY 19TH THROUGH THE 25TH, WHICH WOULD HAPPEN BEFORE OUR NEXT, UH, REGULARLY, UM, SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING.

AND THIS, UH, THE THEME IS ADVANCING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.

WHEREAS PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES AND SERVICES THAT ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO SUSTAINABLE AND RESILIENT COMMUNITIES AND TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, HIGH QUALITY OF LIFE AND WELLBEING OF THE PEOPLE OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

AND WHEREAS THESE INFRASTRUCTURE, FACILITIES AND SERVICES COULD NOT BE PROVIDED WITHOUT THE DEDICATED EFFORTS OF PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS WHO ARE ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REBUILDING, IMPROVING, AND PROTECTING OUR NATION'S TRANSPORTATION, WATER SUPPLY, WATER TREATMENT, WASTEWATER TREATMENT, AND SOLID WASTE SYSTEMS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND OTHER STRUCTURES AND FACILITIES ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CITIZENS.

AND WHEREAS IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST FOR THE CITIZEN CIVIC LEADERS AND CHILDREN IN TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF AND MAINTAIN AN ONGOING INTEREST AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC WORKS AND PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMS IN THE RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.

AND WHEREAS THE YEAR 2024 MARKS THE 64TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK, SPONSORED BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, CANADIAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION, VIETNAM, THEREFORE THE TOWN, THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL DO HEREBY DESIGNATE THE WEEK, MAY 19TH THROUGH 25TH.

2024 IS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK AND THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL AND URGE ALL CITIZENS TO JOIN WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WORKS ASSOCIATION AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND ACTIVITIES, EVENTS AND CEREMONIES DESIGNED TO PAY TRIBUTE TO OUR PUBLIC WORKS PROFESSIONALS, ENGINEERS, MANAGERS, AND EMPLOYEES, AND TO RECOGNIZE THE SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS THEY MAKE TO PROTECTING OUR NATIONAL HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ADVANCING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL.

WE TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE ALL THE HARD WORK OF THE APPROXIMATELY 68 PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES WHO WORK HARD EVERY DAY DURING THEIR SHIFT AND WHILE ON CALL 24 7 FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS AND BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM FAMILY.

THEY MAINTAIN 138.2 MOVING LANE MILES OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ROADS.

THEY MAINTAIN 92 MILES OF STORM SEWER.

THEY MOW WEED, EAT, AND TRACTOR MOW TOWN PROPERTIES RIGHT OF WAYS AND MEDIANS PLANS, DESIGNS, INSTALLS AND MAINTAINS FLORAL LANDSCAPES, HANGING BASKETS.

AND OVER 350 TREE PLANTINGS COLLECTS TRASH RECYCLING YARD WASTE FROM 5,928.

CUSTOMERS CLEANS DISINFECTS TOWN BUILDINGS AND PERFORMS SKILLED MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS TO TOWN BUILDINGS.

FABRICATES INSTALLS AND REPLACES TOWN STREET SIGNS AND MAINTAINS CROSSWALKS, PERFORMS PAVING POTHOLE AND STREET REPAIRS, BRIDGE MAINTENANCE AND STREET SWEEPING, PERFORMS SIDEWALK AND CURB AND GUTTER INSTALLATION AND REPAIRS, STORM DRAIN INSTALLATION AND REPAIRS AND STORM DAMAGE CLEANUP, ASSIST TOWN WITH COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ROAD CLOSURES, SNOW REMOVAL, REPAIR WATER BREAKS, SEWER BACKUPS, PROVIDES WATER TO 6,436 CUSTOMERS AND SEWER TO 6,133.

CUSTOMERS.

WASTE WASTEWATER TREATS 4.5 MILLION GALLONS OF SEPAGE PER DAY.

WATER PRODUCES 2.3 MILLION GALLONS PER DAY,

[00:10:01]

AND I JUST WANNA ADD THAT IF YOU EVER ASK WHAT THE TOWN IS DOING FOR YOU, THAT LIST, UM, IS DEFINITELY COMPREHENSIVE OF OUR PUBLIC WORKS.

AND THAT TO ME IS SPEAKS VOLUMES OF WHAT'S GOING ON, UM, WITH THOSE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

SO THAT'S OUR PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC WEEKS.

UM, WAIT, SORRY.

PUBLIC WORKS WEEK.

I'M SORRY.

NOW THE NEXT ONE IS PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY, AND THAT'S APRIL 24TH, WHICH IS WEDNESDAY.

WHEREAS DURING WORLD WAR II, THE NEED FOR SKILLED ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, PARTICULARLY IN THE UNITED STATES.

AND TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS, THE NATIONAL SECRETARY'S ASSOCIATION WAS FORMED.

AND WHEREAS OVER TIME, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS, WHICH IS IAAP WAS FORMED EMPHASIZING EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EXCELLENCE AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK.

THUS PROMOTING NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY WITH THE FIRST OBSERVANCE LAUNCHED IN 1952, HIGHLIGHTING THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS ACROSS VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE MODERN ECONOMY AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT WORLDWIDE.

AND WHEREAS NATIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY RECOGNIZES THE WORK OF ALL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO SECRETARIES, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS, OFFICE MANAGERS, RECEPTIONISTS, AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF WHO PLAY ESSENTIAL ROLES IN KEEPING THE OFFICE RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND EFFICIENTLY EVERY DAY.

AND WHEREAS ORGANIZATION FLEXIBILITY AND ABILITY TO HANDLE THE UNEXPECTED OR KEY TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS, REQUIRING ADVANCED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE AND COMMUNICATIONS, OFFICE TECHNOLOGY, PROJECT MANAGEMENT, TIME MANAGEMENT, AND CUSTOMER SERVICE TO NAME A FEW.

AND NOW THEREFORE THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL HEREBY RECOGNIZE AND PROCLAIM APRIL 25TH, 2024 AS ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS DAY IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL SALUTING THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALL ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS ON THE TOWN STAFF, AND ENCOURAGE ALL EMPLOYERS TO SUPPORT CONTINUED TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS.

RECOGNIZING THAT A WELL-TRAINED WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE ANY OF OUR ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS IN, UH, THE AUDIENCE WITH US TODAY.

I KNOW WE, SORRY HILARY TO CALL YOU OUT, BUT YOU'RE IN THIS CATEGORY WITH US, RIGHT? SO THANK YOU AND TO ALL THE OTHER, UM, STAFF MEMBERS ON THE TOWN STAFF, BUT EVEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND TINA TINA'S ACTUALLY KEEP, HOLD ON.

SHE'S COMING.

.

UH, SHE'S TOO DOWN.

ALRIGHT, SO, UM, NEXT IS OUR PROCLAMATION FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK.

WHEREAS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TO TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK IS HELD ANNUALLY TO HONOR PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS FOR THEIR COMMITMENT, SERVICE, AND SACRIFICE.

AND WHEREAS N-P-S-T-W, WHICH STANDS FOR NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS, WE INITIALLY STARTED IN 1981 BY PATRICIA ANDERSON OF THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA IN 1994, PRESIDENT WILLIAM J. CLINTON SIGNED A PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION DECLARING THE FIRST WEEK IN APRIL AS A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND THANK TELECOMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL ACROSS THE NATION FOR SERVING OUR COMMUNITY CITIZENS AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL.

24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, AND NOW THEREFORE THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL PROCLAIM APRIL 14TH THROUGH THE 20TH 2024 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL, RECOGNIZING OUR OWN TELECOMMUNICATIONS PERSONNEL AT THE FRONT ROYAL POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THANK THEM FOR DEDICATING THEIR LIVES TO SERVING THE PUBLIC.

AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO READ SOME OF THEIR NAMES.

I DON'T KNOW IF SOME OF YOU GUYS ARE HERE.

CASEY BREWSTER, UH, PAMELA CARRO, UH, HOPEFULLY I'M SAYING THAT RIGHT.

CHIEF, YOU CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

HANNAH CONLEY, CASSIE COURTNEY, BRITTANY DENNIS, JOHN DEAVER, ROBIN DOTSON, UM, JAMES JT LONG BRITTANY SEALE AND ALICIA WINES.

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE, UM, DEDICATED TELECOMMUNICATORS, WHICH THERE, UM, THERE ARE DISPATCHERS, CORRECT? YES.

YES.

THANK YOU.

ALRIGHT, LAST BUT NOT LEAST,

[00:15:01]

WHEREAS THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MUNICIPAL CLERKS IIMC WAS FOUNDED IN 1947.

IT CURRENTLY HAS 16,000 MEMBERS, INCLUDING DEPUTY CLERKS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AND 15 OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND WHEREAS IIMC INITIATED MUNICIPAL CLERKS WEEK IN 1969 AND WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED AS THE FIRST FULL WEEK BY FORMER PRESIDENT REAGAN IN 1984 TO RECOGNIZE THE UNI ESSENTIAL ROLE MUNICIPAL AND DEPUTY CLERKS PLAY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

AND WHEREAS THE CLERK'S TYPICAL RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MAINTAINING OFFICIAL COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES, ORDINANCES RESOLUTIONS, AND ALL RECORDS AND DOCUMENTS FOR THE ELECTED BODY AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, KEEPING COMMUNITY HISTORY AND RECORDS ARCHIVED FOR FUTURE USE, RECEIVING, DISTRIBUTING, AND FILING CORRESPONDENCE TO AND FROM THE ELECTED BODY, CITIZENS AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AND PERFORMING OTHER DUTIES AS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF DAILY GOVERNMENT BUSINESS KEEPING MINDFUL OF NEUTRALITY AND PARTIALITY AND IMPARTIALITY BY RENDERING EQUAL SERVICE TO ALL.

AND NOW THEREFORE, THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL PROCLAIMED THE WEEK OF MAY 5TH THROUGH THE 11TH 2024 AS PROFESSIONAL MUNICIPAL CLERK'S WEEK IN THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

AND THAT, UM, RECOGNIZES OUR CLERK OF COUNCIL, UM, FOR, FOR THIS COUNCIL, UM, MS. PRESLEY.

AND I WOULD SAY ALL THOSE THINGS DESCRIBE YOU AND THERE'S PROBABLY A FEW THEY'VE LEFT OUT .

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[7.A. Adoption of the 2024 Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Rates]

THIS IS WHERE YOU GUYS GET TO TALK.

SO, UM, OUR FIRST PUBLIC HEARING IS THE ADOPTION OF THE 2024 REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATES.

UM, MS. PRESLEY, IF YOU'LL READ THE SUMMARY, COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER ADOPTION OF THE 2024 REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATES AS PRESENTED THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE AT 10 CENTS PER $100 ASSESSED VALUE, WHICH REPRESENTS NO INCREASE FROM THE 2023 TAX RATE, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE AT 64 CENTS PER $100 ASSESSED VALUE, WHICH REPRESENTS NO INCREASE OVER THE 2023 TAX RATE, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF RATE OF 42% OF VALUE ON THE FIRST $20,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE FOR QUALIFYING VEHICLES WITH AN ASSESSED VALUE GREATER THAN A THOUSAND DOLLARS, AND A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF RATE OF A HUNDRED PERCENT FOR QUALIFYING VEHICLES WITH AN ASSESSED VALUE OF A THOUSAND DOLLARS OR LESS PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 58.1 DASH 35 24.

THANK YOU, MS. PRESLEY.

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

OKAY.

UM, I WILL, UM, I, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND JUST ASK DOES ANYBODY WISH TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS TOPIC? NEW ONE.

OKAY.

UM, I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN UP TO COUNCIL FOR A MOTION.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL ADOPTED 2 20 24 REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATES AS PRESENTED THE REAL ESTATE TAX RATE OF 10 CENT PER 100 ASSESSED VALUE, WHICH REPRESENTS NO INCREASE FROM THE 2023 TAX RATE, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE AT 64 CENTS PER 100 ASSESSED VALUE, WHICH REPRESENTS NO INCREASE OVER THE 2023 TAX RATE, THE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF RATE, PPTR OF 42% OF VALUE ON THE FIRST 20,000 OF ASSESSED VALUE FOR QUALIFYING VEHICLES WITH AN ASSESSED VALUE GREATER THAN $1,000, AND A PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF RATE OF 100% FOR QUALIFYING VEHICLES WITH AN ASSESSED VALUE OF $1,000 OR LESS PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE 58 1 DASH 35 24.

SECOND.

OKAY.

WITH A MOTION AND SECOND OH, WAYNE.

OKAY.

YEP.

DOES ANYBODY WISH TO DISCUSS ANYTHING? I THINK WE DID A TON OF DISCUSSION AT THE WORK SESSIONS, BUT IF ANYBODY ELSE WISHES TO SAY ANYTHING FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T WATCH THE WORK SESSION, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD, UM, COMMENTS HERE TONIGHT FOR THOSE WHO MAY BE WATCHING LIVE, UM, AT HOME OR HERE IN THE AUDIENCE.

I THINK IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT FOR US AS THIS COUNCIL THIS YEAR TO TAKE INTO

[00:20:01]

I'M CONFIDENT WITH OTHER CHANGES MADE, BUT IN A YEAR WITH RECORD HIGH INFLATION AT THE GROCERY STORE AND THE GAS PUMP, IT WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

I KNOW FOR ME PERSONALLY TO, UM, NOT INCREASE THE TAX RATE JUST TO FULFILL OUR WISHLIST.

AND I KNOW THAT BJ AND HIS STAFF PUT A LOT OF TIME INTO DOING THIS TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE.

UM, BECAUSE WITH THAT RECORD INFLATION, EVERYTHING THAT THE TOWN HAS TO DO TO MAINTAIN ITS NORMAL OPERATING SERVICES HAVE INCREASED AS WELL.

UM, SO I HOPE THE PEOPLE WILL BE GRATEFUL FOR NO INCREASE.

ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? YEAH, MADAM MAYOR, I'D JUST LIKE TO, UH, ADD WHAT COUNCILWOMAN, UH, MORRIS JUST SAID.

UM, UM, I'D LIKE THE FOLKS TO KNOW THAT, UH, A LOT OF THOUGHT WENT INTO THIS.

UM, WE KNOW WITH, UH, THE RECENT DECISION THAT WAS MADE BY THE COUNTY WITH, UM, WITH INCREASING TAXES, YOU KNOW, FOR, UH, FOR PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE, UH, AND THIS WAS TAKING IN CONSIDERATION.

SO, UM, I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THERE, THERE WAS A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT WENT INTO THIS.

IT WASN'T EASY.

UM, AS COUNCILWOMAN MOORE SAID, YOU KNOW, UH, BJ AND STAFF PUT A LOT OF WORK INTO THIS.

SO, UH, I THINK IT'S THE BEST DECISION WE CAN MAKE FOR WHAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR.

ANYBODY ELSE? AND, AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO BJ AND MR. WALTZ.

I KNOW THAT YOU AND, AND FINANCE AND ALL THE DEPARTMENT HEADS HAD TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT, UM, THAT, UH, THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND THEIR BUDGETS.

SO I KNOW IT WOULDN'T HAVE, COULDN'T HAVE BEEN EASY, BUT THANK YOU.

SO, MS. PRESLEY, I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A VOTE.

VICE MAYOR, SEA LOCK? YES.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN MEDIDA.

MONICA PAYNE? YES.

COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES.

OKAY.

MOTION PASSES.

NEXT IS

[7.B. Ordinance Amendments to Town Code Chapter 134 to Increase Sanitary Sewer Service Rates]

UM, MS. PRESLEY, CAN YOU READ THE SUMMARY COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 34 DASH 22.1 AND 1 34 DASH 22.4 TO INCREASE SANITARY SEWER RATES AS PRESENTED? IF APPROVED, THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2024.

THE INCREASE OF APPROXIMATELY 2.25% WAS RECOMMENDED BASED UPON THE TOWN CONSULTANTS UPDATED WATER AND SEWER RATE ANALYSIS.

OKAY.

I AM 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? OKAY.

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

DO I HAVE A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, APPROVE AN ORDINANCE AMENDMENT TO TOWN CODE CHAPTER 1 34 DASH TWO 2.1, AND 1 34 DASH 22.4 TO INCREASE SANITARY SEWER RATES AS PRESENTED IN EFFECTIVE JULY 1ST, 2024.

SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST NOTE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN, UM, KNOWN FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW.

I THINK IT PREDATES MY TIME ON COUNCIL EVEN THAT OUR, UM, SANITARY SEWER RATES WERE NOT UP TO PAR, UM, WHERE THEY NEEDED TO BE FOR THE TOWN.

AND SO WE'VE EFFECTIVELY TAKEN A LOSS, AS I'VE UNDERSTOOD IT, ON PROVIDING THIS SERVICE, UM, ARE A DEFICIT, RATHER NOT A LOSS, BUT, UM, TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE TO TOWN RESIDENTS.

SO, UM, IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WE HAVE TO INCREASE RATES, BUT IT'S JUST PART OF WHAT I SAID BEFORE, THAT THE COST OF EVERYTHING IS INCREASING.

AND SO THIS WILL HELP BRING THE TOWN INTO LINE WITH WHERE WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN.

ANYBODY ELSE WISH? JUST TO MAKE A COMMENT? UH, I'LL JUST ADD THAT, UH, MADAM MAYOR, THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, THINGS AS, AS YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE AGES AND WHATNOT, YOU HAVE TO, AT SOME POINT IN TIME, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, TO REV RECOVER THE COST.

AS WE KNOW, UH, WITH INFLATION, THE COST OF MATERIALS AND WHATNOT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS CONTINUED TO GO UP AND UP.

LABOR'S GOING UP.

UH, SO THIS IS ONE WAY THAT WE HAVE TO APPROACH THINGS TO TRY TO RECOVER AND KEEP THINGS IN LINE.

ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? YES.

SO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO PUSH UPON US REGULATIONS AND COMPLIANCE.

AND I THINK THAT OUR, OUR, OUR STAFF AT THE, UM, WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT DOES AN

[00:25:01]

UM, THANKS TO OUR, OUR TOWN MANAGER AND HIS STAFF, UH, WE'RE TRYING TO UPDATE THE FACILITY FURTHER.

SOME OF THE UPDATING OF THE EQUIPMENT WILL IN FACT SAVE US MONEY IN THE LONG RUN.

SOME WILL MAKE US MORE EFFICIENT.

UM, BUT AT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE WANT TO RELEASE CLEAN, UH, WATER BACK INTO THE, UH, SOUTH FORK OF THE SHENANDOAH RIVER AND MINIMIZE WHAT WE HAVE TO HAUL TO THE, UH, WASTE, UH, LANDFILL OVER IN PAGE COUNTY.

SO I CONGRATULATE THEM FOR DOING A WHOLE LOT WITH VERY LITTLE.

I'M PLEASED THAT WE DID NOT HAVE TO INCREASE THIS, UH, BEYOND THE POINT THAT WE DID THIS YEAR.

BUT AGAIN, A LOT OF THAT IS DUE TO THE MAGIC THAT OUR STAFF WORKS WITH THE RESOURCES.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE? UH, MADAM MAYOR, I'D JUST LIKE TO MAKE A NOTE FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT, UH, THIS INCREASE IS ACTUALLY A, A GRADUAL INCREASE.

UH, WE MADE A DECISION TO LESSEN THE BURDEN WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR INSTEAD OF MAKING SUCH A DRAMATIC INCREASE, UH, IMMEDIATELY.

UH, THAT WAY IS NOT MUCH, IS NOT AS MUCH STICKER SHOCK.

UM, AND OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY NOBODY WANTS TO RAISE ANY FUNDS, BUT THIS IS GIVEN THE INFORMATION THAT WE RECEIVED.

THIS WAS, THIS HAS BEEN DUE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, GIVEN OUR CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND OUR CURRENT, UH, UH, FLOW OF, OF, UH, OF, UH, SEWAGE AT THIS POINT.

MR. MR. WILSON, UM, THIS WAS PART OF THE, EACH OF THE INCREASES OVER THE THREE YEARS, RIGHT? THIS ONE, THIS WAS A TOTAL OF FIVE YEARS.

YES.

AND WE'RE ON WHICH YEAR? UH, THIS IS THE FIFTH YEAR, RIGHT? THAT'S RIGHT.

RIGHT.

I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, UM, SO WHEN I FIRST, UH, UH, JOINED COUNCIL AS A COUNCILMAN, WE WERE AT THE BEGINNING STAGES OF THIS CONSULTANCY COME IN, DONE A, UH, A STUDY, AND, AND THEY, UM, GAVE US A NUMBER.

AND RATHER THAN, AS, UH, COUNCILMAN INGRAM SAID, RATHER THAN PUTTING EVERYTHING UP FRONT, IT WAS A GRADUAL INCREASE.

UM, SO, AND UNFORTUNATELY FIVE YEARS, WE'LL BE DOING ANOTHER STUDY AGAIN, BUT IT IS, UH, A DOLLAR 29 A MONTH FOR EACH, UH, CUSTOMER.

AND I DON'T, UM, I DON'T PROVE, I DON'T, UH, ASSUME THAT I UNDERSTAND EVERYBODY'S BUDGET.

SO A DOLLAR 29 A MONTH MIGHT BE, UH, VERY COSTLY TO SOME, AND MAYBE NOT AS MUCH FOR OTHERS, BUT AS, AS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID, UM, GRADUALLY INCREASING IT VERSUS ALL AT ONE TIME HAS ALLOWED PEOPLE TO ADJUST TO THIS.

SO, SO FOR, FOR UM, 55,000 GALLONS OF SEWER USAGE, IT WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF A DOLLAR 29 MONTHLY.

SO 5,505,000, WHAT DID I SAY? 55,000.

OH, I MEANT 55.

I'M LOOKING AT 5,500.

THANK YOU.

YEAH.

5,500 GALLONS.

ALRIGHT, ANYBODY ELSE? ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A VOTE.

VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN DE DAMCO PAYNE? YES.

COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES.

[7.C. Annual Appropriation Ordinance for Year July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025]

EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT AT JULY ONE, WE ARE ALREADY, UH, TALKING AND, AND HAVE TO TAKE ACTION ON THAT.

SO THE SUMMARY IS COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO APPROVE THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR YEAR JULY 1ST, 2024 TO JUNE 30TH, 2025.

AS PRESENTED, THE 2024 REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RATE HAVE BEEN ADOPTED TWO PUBLIC HEARINGS AGO, ALONG WITH THE APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE TO INCREASE SANITARY SEWER SERVICE RATES BY 2.25%.

SO, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

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

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY, THEN I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

DO I HEAR A MOTION? MADAM, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL ADOPT THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATE APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE FOR YEAR JULY 1ST, 2024 TO JUNE 30TH, 2025, AS PRESENTED.

SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? OKAY, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION THEN.

VICE MAYOR LOC? YES.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN D DEMON COPA? YES.

COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES.

SO

[7.D. Ordinance Amendment to Town Code Chapter 134 Extension Moratorium Areas, to add a W. Criser Road Parcel]

[00:30:01]

MS. PRESLEY, DO YOU MIND READING THE SUMMARY? I WAS GOING TO, BUT I DON'T WANT YOU TAKE COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 1 34 DASH ONE POINT D POINT EXTENSION MORATORIUM AREAS TO ADD A WEST ER ROAD PARCEL CONSISTING OF 8.4769 ACRES TAX, TAX MAP ID NUMBER 28 1 28.

ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023, THE TOWN RECEIVED A REQUEST FOR WATER AND SEWER CONNECTION FROM WARREN COUNTY AND CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON FOR SERVICE ON PROPERTY LOCATED ON WEST CRIER ROAD.

IT IS OUTSIDE THE TOWN'S CORPORATE LIMITS.

THE TOWN CODE ADDRESSES EXTENSION OF WATER AND SEWER SERVICE TO WARREN COUNTY AND CHAPTER 1 34 DASH ONE C EXTENSION POLICY BEYOND TOWN LIMITS AND CHAPTER 1 34 DASH 1D EXTENSION MORATORIUM AREAS.

OKAY.

I'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.

HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK? NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? OKAY, I'LL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL.

MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL APPROVE AN AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 1 34 DASH ONE DASH D EXTENSION MORATORIUM AREAS TO ADD A WEST CHRYSLER ROAD PARCEL CONSISTING OF 8.4769 ACRES.

TAX MAP ID 2 8 1 2 8 ON NOVEMBER 9TH, 2023 AS PRESENTED.

SECOND.

OKAY.

WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I, I JUST HAD A QUESTION.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I'M CLEAR ON THIS.

SO, UM, THE MORATORIUM AREAS IN THE TOWN, MR. SONNET, IF WE WOULD END UP IN A POSITION WHEREVER OUR WATER CAPACITY WAS SUCH THAT WE COULDN'T PROVIDE FOR THOSE AREAS, IS THERE A CLAUSE IN THIS THAT ALLOWS US TO SAY, 'CAUSE I KNOW WE ARE, WE ARELI WE'RE OBLIGATED TO PROVIDE WATER TO THOSE WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS? I KNOW WE HAVE SEVERAL, WHAT I WOULD SAY CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN LIMITS, BUT IF FOR SOME REASON WE WOULD EVER BE IN A SITUATION WHERE WE WOULD NOT HAVE THE WATER CAPACITY, UM, WOULD, WOULD THE METHOD BE THAT WE WOULD JUST CHANGE THE TOWN CODE? OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? 'CAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT OUR WATER CAPACITY IN THE LAST MONTH RIGHT AFTER THIS, THIS ISSUE CAME UP.

UM, YES.

THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR.

UM, SO, UH, SERVICE OUTSIDE OF TOWN LIMITS IS BASED ON EXCESS CAPACITY.

OKAY.

THAT IS WHAT UNDERPINS, UH, THE ABILITY, ABILITY TO DO THAT.

IF, IF THERE WERE TO COME A POINT AT WHICH THERE WAS NO EXCESS CAPACITY EITHER ON THE WATER OR SEWER SIDE, UM, PREFERENCE WOULD HAVE TO BE GIVEN TO TOWN RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES.

OKAY.

THAT SAID, LET ME ADDRESS YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTION, WHICH IS, UM, UH, A, A PROVISION TO THAT EFFECT WILL BE IN THE ACTUAL WATER AND SEWER CONTRACT, WHICH IS, UM, ITEM 11 B ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA.

THANK YOU.

THAT I JUST KNOW THAT WAS A CONCERN THAT WAS SHARED WITH ME.

AND SO I WANTED TO CLARIFY WITH OTHERS THAT IF THINGS CHANGE WITH OUR WATER CAPACITY, UH, THE TOWN DOES HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THINGS IF NEED BE.

OKAY.

THANK YOU.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, MR. PRESSLEY, WE'RE READY FOR A VOTE.

VICE MAYOR OCK? YES.

COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES.

COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES.

COUNCILMAN RAPORT? YES.

COUNCILMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES.

COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES.

OKAY, THANK YOU.

MOTION PASSES.

UH, OUR NEXT SECTION IS

[8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS]

UM, BEFORE I READ THE, UM, FOR, UH, THE, BASICALLY THE DIRECTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION, IS ANYBODY SIGNED UP? WE HAVE NO SIGNED UP.

IS THERE ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO SIGN UP OR ANYBODY THAT WISHES TO? OKAY, THEN LET ME GO THROUGH THE, LET ME GO THROUGH EVERYTHING.

WE NOW COME TO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE AGENDA.

IT IS THE DUTY OF THE MAYOR TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING IN AN ORDERLY MANNER.

PERSONS ADDRESSING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE ASKED TO LIMIT THEIR REMARKS TO THOSE RELEVANT TO THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL.

NO PERSONS IN ATTENDANCE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO VOICE REMARKS EXCEPT AS RECOGNIZED BY THE MAYOR OR THE CLERK OF COUNCIL.

UPON RECOGNITION BY THE MAYOR OR THE CLERK OF COUNCIL, THE SPEAKER SHALL STATE THEIR NAME, ADDRESS AND INDICATE IF THEY'RE A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL DIRECT.

THEIR COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL SHALL

[00:35:01]

STAY WITHIN THE ALLOTTED THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT.

AFTER THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT OFF REFERRING FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT, INCLUDING OBSCENITY AND VULGARITY GROUPS OR INDIVIDUALS IN THE AUDIENCE CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE DETRIMENTAL TO OR DISTURBING.

THE ORDERLY CONDUCT OF THE MEETING WILL BE WARNED TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT.

ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED.

THE MAYOR WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO ASK THE REPRESENTATIVE.

IN THIS CASE, IT'S THE CHIEF OF THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP.

WE CLEAR THE ROOM, SAID THAT THE COUNCIL CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE TOWN.

AND THAT WAS NOT DIRECTED TOWARDS YOU NECESSARILY, MR. SAYER.

IT'S JUST THE COMMENTS I I ALWAYS READ.

SO, UH, MR. SARAH, YOU WISH TO SPEAK THOMAS ER, 8 35 CHAND SHORES ROAD, FRONT ROYAL VIRGINIA.

ON JUNE 13TH, 2022, THE TOWN FRONT ROYAL HAD A TOWN SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING.

ON THE AGENDA WAS FISCAL YEAR 22.

BUDGET AMENDMENT AND PAYMENT FOR LEGAL FEES RELATED TO LITIGATION SAYS STEVEN HICKS.

I WENT BACK AND I LOOKED AT THE MEETING THAT WAS CALLED AND, AND LISTENED TO THE, IT WAS ABOUT SIX MINUTES, ABOUT TWO MINUTES OF THE FIRST WAS ABOUT THIS SPECIAL MEETING.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE MOTION MADE I, AND I THINK HOLLOWAY WASN'T THERE.

AND I THINK THE VICE MAYOR, MAYBE IT WAS YOU, LORI, AND YOU WERE THERE, PROBABLY IN PLACE OF CHRIS HOLLOWAY.

BUT THE MOTION MADE WAS TO $150,000 TO BE SENT TO VRSA VIRGINIA RISK SHARING ASSOCIATION FOR LEGAL FEES RELATED TO LITIGATION.

NOW, THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT WITH JENNIFER BARRY BROWN, MY UNDERSTANDING, $300,000 AND THE ATTORNEY FOR THE TOWN AND THE DEFENDANTS.

I'M NOT FOR SURE EXACTLY HOW THEY GOT THEIR WORD OUT TO, TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, BUT GAVE 'EM THEIR OPTIONS.

AND, AND THE TOWN COUNCIL DECIDED, APPEARS TO ME TO FUNNEL THIS MONEY TO THE VRSA AND DIDN'T EXACTLY EXPLAIN WHAT IT WAS FOR.

NOW, THIS MONEY CAME OUT OF GENERAL RESERVES.

SO THAT'S MONEY, THAT'S REAL ESTATE TAXES, PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES, TOWN BUSINESS TAXES.

THIS IS A HARD EARNING TAXPAYERS, A FRONT ROYAL.

THIS IS MONEY THAT THEY'VE EARNED AND THEY, THEY GIVE IT OVER TO THE TOWN FOR TAXES, FOR SAFEKEEPING TO BE USED FOR APPROPRIATE PURPOSES.

SO I DON'T FAULT ANYBODY FOR SETTLING A CASE, BUT IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT, DO IT TRANSPARENTLY.

DO IT TO WHERE IF YOU THINK PEOPLE, I MEAN, IF YOU'RE GONNA DO IT TO SAVE FACE, DO IT IN A WAY THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'RE DOING IT.

AND IF YOU THINK PEOPLE MIGHT BE MAD AT YOU FOR DOING IT, WELL, I MEAN, THAT'S THE DECISION YOU MADE.

AND TO USE THE HARD EARNING TAXPAYER DOLLARS LIKE THAT POINT OF ORDER TOWN ATTORNEY, THIS IS ALLEGED CONDUCT.

ALSO, WE CAN'T DISCUSS LEGAL BUSINESS THAT WAS TAKING PLACE ENCLOSED.

THIS IS ALLEGED.

I WOULD ADVISE ALL COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR NOT TO RESPOND.

UH, THIS SETTLEMENT WAS CONFIDENTIAL.

UM, AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT.

DO I GET A FEW MORE SECONDS OR MINUTES NOW AFTER, I WOULD SAY, I WOULD SAY 30 SECONDS WOULD PROBABLY BE MORE THAN FAIR NOT TO RESPOND TO THAT.

BUT JUST THAT I DO UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT APPARENTLY IT WAS UNDER SOME KIND OF COURT SEAL, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, ALLEGEDLY THE SETTLEMENT WAS THREE, $300,000, UH, UNDER.

BUT UNDERSTAND, AND AGAIN, TO USE THE HARD EARNING TAXPAYER DOLLARS LIKE TO OF $150,000, TO ME, JUST IS INAPPROPRIATE.

AND I THINK YOU NEED TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND OPEN TO THE PEOPLE.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

UM, AND ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK AT THE PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANYBODY ELSE?

[00:40:01]

WE'LL COME, WE COME TO, UH, SECTION

[9.A. Report of Town Manager]

UH, THANK YOU MAYOR.

UH, FIRST I WANNA REMIND THE CITIZENS THAT WE'RE PICKING UP YARD WASTE NOW ON WEDNESDAYS THROUGHOUT THE END OF THE YEAR.

SECOND, WE WILL BE CONDUCTING WATER HYDRANT FLUSHING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS AROUND TOWN.

THE HYDRANT FLUSHING IS AN IMPORTANT PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY THAT HELPS ENSURE THE INTEGRITY OF THE WATER SYSTEM AND TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST QUALITY WATER TO OUR SYSTEMS, TO OUR CITIZENS.

MORE SPECIFICALLY, HYDRANT FLUSHING SERVES THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES, FLUSH THE SEDIMENTS FROM THE WATER MAIN PIPES, THUS ENHANCING WATER QUALITY.

VERIFIES THAT OUR FIRE HYDRANTS ARE WORKING PROPERLY, AND AMPLE WATER IS AVAILABLE FOR FIREFIGHTER NEEDS AND ALSO AIDS IN DETERMINING WEAKNESS IN OUR WATER PIPES AND RELATED FITTINGS AND VALVES.

WE NORMALLY DO WATER, UH, FLUSHING HYDRANTS, UH, TWICE A YEAR.

UH, LAST FALL THOUGH WE HAD TO NOT DO IT DUE TO THE WATER CONSERVATION MEASURES.

ALSO, UH, WANT TO LET THE CITIZENS KNOW THAT PINE KNOLL CONSTRUCTION WILL HAVE A LANE CLOSURE, UH, STARTED TODAY ON NORTH ROYAL AVENUE BETWEEN COMMERCE AND WEST 14TH STREET.

THEY'RE, UH, CLOSING THAT LANE TO REMOVE AND REPLACE THE CURB SIDEWALK.

UH, NORTHBOUND TRAFFIC WILL BE MERGING TO THE LEFT ON ROYAL LANE, UH, THROUGH THE REMAINING OF THIS WEEK FROM NINE TO THREE.

UH, WE WILL HAVE SIGNS AND ARROW BOARDS IN THE AREA.

WE JUST ASK YOU TO, UH, USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING IN THAT AREA.

LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE TOWN EMPLOYEES WHO SUPPORTED THE LONE PINE DAY YESTERDAY.

YOUR PREPARATION AND WORK BEHIND THE SCENES MADE THIS ANOTHER GREAT FESTIVAL.

SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.

AND THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT TONIGHT, MAYOR.

THANK YOU.

UH, NEXT

[9.B. Report of Councilmembers]

IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WISHES TO SPEAK FIRST OR NOT AT ALL? MADAM MAYOR.

I HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT, BUT I JUST, UM, I WAS JUST LOOKING UP SOME DATES THERE ON MY PHONE TO MAKE SURE.

BUT JUST REMIND EVERYONE THAT, UH, MAY IS KIND OF THE START OF OUR FESTIVAL SEASON.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE A FAMILY FUN DAY ON, UH, MAY 11TH, AND THEN THE FOLLOWING SATURDAY, UH, IS OUR, UH, WINE CRAFT FESTIVAL.

SO JUST, UH, HOPEFULLY EVERYBODY, WE'LL, WE'LL SEE EVERYBODY THERE.

THANKS.

OKAY.

ANYBODY ELSE? MADAM MAYOR.

TWO THURSDAYS AGO I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE ACES MEETING THEY HAD, UM, TALKING ABOUT THE, THE TRAIL THEY WANT TO WORK ON, UH, AND SOME OTHER ISSUES.

THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE REALLY FIXING UP.

UH, IT WAS REALLY INTERESTING TO HEAR WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE.

UM, I THINK IT'S GONNA BE NICELY IF WE CONTINUE TO HAVE THEM DO THINGS AROUND FOREST.

THEY, THEY'VE REALLY SHOWN A BIG INTEREST IN WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

THANK YOU.

ANY, ANY OTHER COUNCIL MEMBERS? COUNCILMAN WOOD? UM, MADAM MAYOR.

UH, I ALSO ATTENDED, I THINK THE SAME MEETING AS YOU AT THE LIBRARY WITH THE ACES AND THE PARTNERSHIP.

OKAY.

OH, OKAY.

WELL, WE GO TO DIFFERENT MEETINGS.

THAT'S NOT A BAD THING.

SO I DID ATTEND THE MEETING THAT ACE HAS HOSTED WITH ALL THE, UM, PARTNERS FOR THIS APPALACHIAN TRAIL TO FRONT ROYAL THAT WE'RE GONNA BE DISCUSSING, OF COURSE LATER, UH, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE THERE, PEOPLE FROM THE, UM, REMOUNT STATION OR THE SMITHSONIAN.

UM, EVERYBODY.

BUT, UH, THAT I COULD TELL 'CAUSE I ARRIVED A COUPLE MONTHS LATE AND MISSED SOME INTRODUCTIONS.

BUT EVERYBODY WAS THERE PERHAPS EXCEPT FOR THE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS, WHICH THEY WOULD HAVE TO CROSS AS THEY COME INTO TOWN.

UM, IT WAS VERY WELL RUN MEETING, VERY, UH, A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM, NO NAYSAYERS.

UM, WE DID HAVE, UM, SOME OF OUR STAFF, UH, UH, ATTEND THAT MEETING AS WELL AND REPRESENT US.

THE INTERESTING THING WAS THE WARNING FROM OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS THAT THE WHEELS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GRIND ALONG SLOWLY AND THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME.

BUT HE DID NOT SEEM TO FEEL THAT IT WAS ANYTHING THAT COULDN'T BE OVERCOME.

IT'S JUST THE LENGTH AND THE PROCESS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

SO IT WAS VERY ENCOURAGING TO HEAR THAT WE, UM, COULD VERY WELL BE MOVING FORWARD WITH ALL THE PARTNERS ALONG THE 5 22 QUARTER TO GET THE FOLKS IN TOWN.

ALSO WANT TO MENTION THAT IT CAME UP AGAIN AND MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE, CERTAIN TIME OF THE YEAR.

AND I BELIEVE IT, IF IT HASN'T STARTED, IT WILL START SOON THAT OUR TROLLEY RUNS OUT TO WHERE THE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CROSSES 5 22, AT LEAST TWICE TODAY TO BRING HIKERS AND SUCH IN OR TO TAKE HIKERS AND SUCH OUT, WHICH CERTAINLY IS A, A, A NICE THING TO HAVE GOING ON FOR THEM.

UM, THE OTHER THING I WANTED TO MENTION, UM, UH, ALONG WITH THE, UH,

[00:45:01]

YESTERDAY'S, UH, LONE PINE DAY WAS, WAS A HUGE, HUGE SUCCESS.

I FORGOT YOU, MAYBE YOU WERE.

NO.

OKAY.

ALRIGHT.

WELL, UM, I, I WAS VERY PROUD ONCE AGAIN TO BE PART OF A TOWN THAT PUT ON THIS EVENT.

THE VENDORS WERE VERY, VERY PLEASED AND FULL OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THE ABILITY TO EITHER SELL THEIR WARES OR TELL ABOUT, UH, THE THINGS THEY DID.

WE HAD A LOT OF NON-PROFITS THERE.

ACES WAS THERE, OUR TREE STEWARDS WERE THERE.

AND OF COURSE, THE TREE GIVEAWAY.

HIGHLY, HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL.

THE TREES WERE GONE PROBABLY IN THE FIRST HOUR.

OUR MAYOR, UM, DUG A HOLE.

WELL, SHOVEL HOLE AND PLANTED A TREE, MAN, SOME MULCH.

THE HOLE IS ALREADY UP.

ALRIGHT.

UM, BUT ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF, YOU KNOW, GOOD THINGS THAT WE DO, AND I GIVE KUDOS TO, UH, UM, UH, JOE AND HIS STAFF FOR ALL THE ASSISTANCE FROM PUBLIC WORKS, UH, WASTE AND ALL THE OTHER REPRESENTATIVES THERE, AND THE PROFESSIONALISM AND THE ENGAGEMENT, UH, WITH THE PUBLIC BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF.

AND, UM, LASTLY, WELL, NOT LAST ONE, ONE OTHER THING.

WE HAD A WEEKEND AGO PLANTING OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE WARREN COUNTY ROTARY CLUB.

THE ACES THE TREE STEWARDS TOOK PLACE AT THE CORNER OF JOHN MARSHALL.

AND, UM, UH, COMMERCE, WHERE IN TWO AND A HALF HOURS, I FORGET HOW MANY PLANTS AND TREES AND SUCH WERE, WERE DONE.

BUT, UM, A GREAT OCCASION.

AGAIN, I WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVING, UM, THAT GRANT WITH THE ROTARY CLUB AND, UM, YOU KNOW, HOPE WE CAN DO MORE OF THAT IN THE FUTURE.

LASTLY, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A LOCAL TALENT HERE.

AND I JUST LEARNED THIS THE OTHER NIGHT, THAT CONNIE MARNER, WHO IS RECENTLY ELECTED AS OUR, UH, CHAIRPERSON OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS OF LAST WEEK, JUST PUBLISHED A BOOK.

AND SHE HAS SPENT FOUR YEARS OF HER LIFE.

AND I'LL TRY TO READ THIS, UM, MONASTERY AND HIGH CROSS, THE FORGOTTEN EASTERN ROOTS OF IRISH CHRISTIANITY.

UH, CONNIE, OF COURSE, BEING A LOCAL PERSON, A LOCAL AUTHOR.

I THINK THAT'S TREMENDOUS WHEN WE HAVE ONE OF OUR CITIZENS DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

UM, SHE HAD AN AUTOGRAPHED THIS YET, BUT I, I WILL GET THAT FROM HER.

THAT CAN BE PURCHASED.

I'M GONNA BE SHAMELESS HERE IF I CAN READ THIS.

IT CAN BE PURCHASED ON AMAZON, UM, SOPHIA INSTITUTE.COM/UH, SLASH MONASTERY.

BUT I'M SURE IF YOU WANT TO GET A COPY OF THE BOOK, UM, SHE CERTAINLY HAS 'EM.

BUT KUDOS TO HER AND, UM, HARD WORK.

AND THIS IS PART OF HER DISSERTATION FOR HER PROGRAM.

SO, CONGRATULATIONS, CONNIE, ON GETTING YOUR BOOK PUBLISHED.

THANK YOU.

ABSOLUTELY.

ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? GO AHEAD, MADAM MAYOR, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO, UH, TO OFFER PEACE AND BLESSINGS TO THOSE WHO ARE HONORING PASSOVER OVER THE NEXT WEEK.

UM, I DID HAVE ABILITY TO ATTEND, UH, THE LIAISON MEETING WITH WARREN COUNTY.

AND I CONTINUE TO ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND, AND TRY TO WORK THROUGH SOME OF OUR CONFLICTING ISSUES AND UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER BETTER.

I WANTED TO THANK THE ROTARY AND THE OTHER GROUPS WHO, UM, CONTINUE TO TAKE PRIDE IN THE COMMUNITY AND, AND TRY TO BEAUTIFY IT WHERE THEY CAN.

AND I ALSO, UM, I WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, STRAIGHT OUTTA COLLEGE, MY FIRST FULL-TIME JOB WAS AS A SECRETARY.

UM, AND FORTUNATELY I'M, UH, I'M NOT DOING THAT ANYMORE.

THAT WAS A VERY TOUGH JOB.

UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT EVERY APRIL IT MEANT A LOT TO HAVE THAT DESIGNATED DAY IN THE EARLY DAYS, UM, TO HAVE PEOPLE REMEMBER.

AND FOR ALL THESE GROUPS, PUBLIC WORKS, PUBLIC SAFETY, MUNICIPAL CLERK, UM, AND ADMIN PROFESSIONALS, IT'S SO EASY TO FORGET THE PEOPLE WHO ARE BEHIND THE SCENES DOING IMPORTANT WORK.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S A LOT OF PROCLAMATIONS, BUT WE KIND OF NEED THOSE PROCLAMATIONS TO REMIND US THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT, THAT DO, UM, DIFFICULT JOBS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT MAKE ALL OF OUR LIVES EASIER.

UM, SO THAT'S IT.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO OFFER A REPORT? I, THERE'S NO PRESSURE, BRUCE.

I'M JUST LOOKING YOU AWAY 'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW IF YOU WANTED TO OR NOT.

, I DON'T HAVE A WHOLE LOT FOR YOU MADAM MAYOR.

UM, ACTUALLY, UH, I DID ATTEND THE ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S SURPRISING A LOT OF PEOPLE, I GUESS YOU GOTTA BE OLD ENOUGH TO KNOW ABOUT LAUREL AND HARDY.

BUT, UH, , I KNOW THERE, THERE WAS THIS SONG CALLED THE TRAIL OF THE LONESOME PINE.

AND, UH, AND IT'S, IT'S REALLY A FUN SONG.

[00:50:01]

IF I'M OUT ON KESSLER AND I LOOK, LOOK OUT ACROSS THE, THE RANGE THERE, I SEE THAT LEMON AND PINE OUT THERE.

I THINK ABOUT THAT SONG.

AND, UH, AS, UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, WOOD INDICATED IT WAS A GREAT EVENT YESTERDAY.

UH, GOSH.

UH, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN MM-HMM.

THAT SHOWED UP.