* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. I'M ASSUMING, YEAH. [00:00:01] OKAY. [1. MOMENT OF SILENCE] I'M GONNA CALL TO ORDER THE FRONT ROW TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING FOR JULY 22ND TO ORDER. AND WE'RE GONNA START OFF FIRST WITH OUR MOMENT OF SILENCE. [2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ] NEXT UP, WE'RE GONNA DO OUR PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. AND AS YOU KNOW, DURING MY TERM, MS. MAYOR, I INVITE STUDENTS FROM THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL TO LEAD OUR COUNCIL IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. THIS MONTH WE WELCOME BELLA SCOOBY BELLA. CAN YOU COME FORWARD? AS BELLA IS COMING FORWARD, I'D LIKE TO SHARE THAT BELLA IS THE DAUGHTER OF MIKE AND MISTY SCOOBY. I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF TEACHING BELLA IN FIFTH GRADE THE YEAR THAT THE, UH, WORLD SHUT DOWN IN 2020. WE DIDN'T GET TO FINISH THE SCHOOL YEAR TOGETHER, BUT, UM, VIA COMPUTER, WE DID. BELLA'S 14 YEARS OLD AND AN UPCOMING SOPHOMORE AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL. SHE MADE THE VARSITY SOCCER TEAM AS A FRESHMAN AND HOPES TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PLAY SOCCER EVEN AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL. BELLA'S FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL IS MATH. SHE LOVES CHIPOTLE. SHE LOVES SPENDING TIME WITH HER FAMILY, WHICH INCLUDES SIX BROTHERS AND THREE SISTERS. SHE'S THE NINTH CHILD OF 10 CHILDREN IN HER FAMILY. SHE'S AN AUNT TO TWO NIECES AND THREE NEPHEWS. AND BELLA'S FAVORITE PART ABOUT LIVING IN FRONT ROYAL ARE ALL THE FRIENDS SHE HAS MADE TONIGHT. SHE CHOSE SPLUNK'S FOR HER GIFT CARD FROM ME. SHE'S ALSO RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE THANKING HER FOR HER PATRIOTISM AND PARTICIPATION IN THE FRONT ROYAL TOWN COUNCIL MEETING ON JULY 22ND. ARE YOU READY? OKAY, EVERYBODY, PLEASE 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. I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF TEACHING ALMOST ALL OF THE SCOOBY CHILDREN, AND THERE IS ONE LEFT COMING INTO FIFTH GRADE THIS YEAR. SO, [3. ROLL CALL ] NEXT UP, MS. PRESSLEY, WE CAN DO A ROLL CALL. MAYOR COCKRELL HERE. VICE MAYOR CLOC. HERE. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? HERE. COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? HERE. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? HERE. COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE. HERE. COUNCILMAN WOOD HERE. NEXT [4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES] UP IS ITEM NUMBER FOUR, THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES. DO I HEAR A MOTION? MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE 2024 COUNCIL MEETING. MINUTES OF JUNE 22ND, REGULAR MEETING, THE JULY 1ST WORK SESSION AND THE JULY 8TH WORK SESSION AS PRESENTED SECOND. OKAY. UH, WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? I'LL JUST ADD THE EXPLANATION. UM, SINCE I DIDN'T LAST TIME, I WILL BE ABSTAINING FROM THE VOTE DUE TO AN ABSENCE OF ONE OF THE WORK SESSIONS. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY, MS. PRESLEY, LET'S DO A ROLL CALL. VICE MAYOR OCK? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS. ABSTAIN. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN DE DAMON PAYNE? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. [5. ADDITION/DELETION OF ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA OR REVISION TO ORDER OF BUSINESS] NUMBER FIVE IS OUR ADDITION OR DELETION OF ANY ITEMS FROM THE AGENDA OR A REVISION TO ORDER OF BUSINESS. MADAM MAYOR, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE DELETE BUSINESS ITEM NUMBER 11 FROM THE AGENDA AND TABLE THAT FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION. [00:05:02] DO I HEAR A SECOND? SECOND. OKAY. UM, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WE WOULD NORMALLY DO A DISCUSSION ON, SO I'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND HAVE MS. PRESLEY, UH, DO A VOTE. VICE MAYOR TELO? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. OKAY. MOVING ON [6. RECOGNITIONS/AWARDS/REPORTS/PRESENTATIONS] TO ITEM NUMBER SIX. THIS IS OUR RECOGNITIONS AWARDS, REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS. AND FIRST UP, SIX A IS RECOGNITION OF VIRGINIA WATERWORKS OPERATOR, CLASS ONE CHRIS VAULT, AND OUR DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS. ROBBIE BOYER IS GOING TO BRING MR. VAULT FORWARD WHILE HE WAS IN SCHOOL. REALLY? UH, MADAM, MADAM MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, UH, WE WANT TO TAKE THIS CHANCE TO, UH, RECOGNIZE CHRISTOPHER VAULT WITH THE TOWNS WATER AND TREATMENT, UH, PLANT FACILITY. UH, CHRISTOPHER HAS BEEN WITH THE, UH, TOWN FOR FIVE YEARS, THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT FACILITY, AND HAS WORKED HIS WAY UP TO A CLASS ONE OPERATOR. UM, IN 2017, THE TEST WAS A, UH, MADE A CLOSED BOOK TEST. SO THE LAST FEW YEARS, THE AVERAGE PASS RATE'S BEEN 36%. UM, SO CHRIS HAS STUDIED HARD AND PASSED IT. WE WANTED TO RECOGNIZE HIM AND PRESENT HIM WITH A PLAQUE, UM, FOR GETTING OBTAINING HIS CLASS ONE, AND TELL HIM WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR US. THANK YOU. THANKS, CHRIS. CHRIS, CHRIS, DO YOU MIND IF WE COME DOWN? WE USUALLY LIKE TO COME DOWN AND SAY CONGRATULATIONS. ALRIGHT. ON THREE. 1, 2, 3. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, CHRIS. I THANK YOU. NEXT UP IS OUR RECOGNITION OF A CLASS A LINE TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATION. CODY LOMAN. HOPEFULLY I'M SAYING THAT CORRECTLY. AND OUR DIRECTOR OF ENERGY SERVICES CARRIES BELL IS GONNA PRETTY MR. LOWMAN FORWARD WITH AN EXTRA EXTRA FAMILY MEMBER THERE TO CELEBRATE YOU. SO, UH, WE'RE HERE TONIGHT TO PRESENT CODY WITH HIS FIRST CLASS LINEMAN CERTIFICATE. UH, CODY'S BEEN WITH THE TOWN FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS, STARTED WITH THE, UM, SIGNED DEPARTMENT FOR PUBLIC WORKS, AND HE MOVED WELL. SO HE'S, UH, WORKED FOUR AND A HALF YEARS TO EARN THIS CERTIFICATE, SO THAT'S WONDERFUL. WE APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO. BIG GUY JOB. THAT'S GREAT. NO JOKE. WHAT'S THE NEXT ONE? DO YOU I'M NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO GET ALRIGHT. ON THREE. 1, 2, 3. BRANDON, ARE YOU GOOD? YEAH, I GOT IT. ONE MORE. ONE MORE. WE GOT ONE MORE, RIGHT? IT'S, IT'S NOT A WELL DEPARTMENT HERE. I DON'T THERE PEOPLE FROM THE DEPARTMENT ARE HERE YET. YEAH, YOU, IF YOU WANNA STAY THERE, YOU CAN. SO NEXT UP IS OUR RECOGNITION OF [00:10:01] THE TOWN FOR THE WASTEWATER SYSTEM OF THE YEAR FROM THE VIRGINIA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION. AND I AM, UM, I DON'T, I I WOULD, I WOULD BE GLAD TO GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION. MR. WALTZ. DO YOU, I MEAN, I I KNOW YOU DON'T INTEND FOR ME TO READ THESE TWO PAGES. THAT'S THE REASON WHY I DIDN'T KNOW IF THERE WAS SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR YOU WANTED TO, TO SHARE ABOUT THAT. AND WE HAVE THEIR DEPARTMENT HERE. CORRECT? EXPLAIN THAT. YES. MIKE, DID YOU WANT TO DO ANY TALKING? NO, IT'S, UH, NATE OR ROBBIE? ROBBIE, CAN YOU START US OFF BY EXPLAINING THE AWARD PLEASE? THANK YOU, SIR. SO THE, UH, VIRGINIA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION WITH THE TOWN HAS BEEN MEMBERS OF FOR YEARS. UM, EVERY YEAR THEY, UH, NOMINATE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES. WE WATER TREATMENT PLAN OF THE YEAR, WATER OPERATOR, WASTEWATER, PLANT, WASTEWATER FACILITY, UM, OFFICE WORKER OF THE YEAR. THEY DO THAT EVERY YEAR. SO THIS YEAR, UM, WE WERE NOMINATED AS A WASTEWATER SYSTEM OF THE YEAR FOR ALL THE I AND I REDUCTION. WE'VE DONE, UH, REDUCTION OF, UH, CHEMICALS AND BYPASSES AT THE TREATMENT FACILITY. UM, SO AT THE, SORRY, AT THE, UH, APRIL CONFERENCE THAT THEY HAVE EVERY YEAR IN ROANOKE, UM, THE TOWN WAS SELECTED, UH, FOR THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FACILITY OF THE YEAR FOR, UH, APRIL OF 2024. THAT'S WONDER THAT'S GREAT. YEAH. I TOLD EVERYBODY THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO COME DOWN THERE AGAIN, BUT I'M STILL GONNA COME DOWN. OKAY. THANK YOU. THAT'S ALL RIGHT. YES, YOU, THAT'S OKAY. ON THREE. 1, 2, 3. THANK YOU, NICK. THANK YOU, SIR. THAT'S THE TRUTH. I'M HAVING STEPS NATHAN RUGES, RIGHT? YEAH. AM I SAYING THAT CORRECTLY? CONGRATULATIONS. SO NEXT UP ARE OUR PUBLIC HEARINGS. UM, AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE THREE TONIGHT. UM, I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND READ THE, UH, I, MS. PRESLEY, I'M ASSUMING SOME PEOPLE ARE SIGNED UP FOR THINGS. NO, WE DON'T HAVE ANYONE SIGNED UP FOR THE PUBLIC HEARINGS. OKAY. I WILL SEE IF ANYBODY WANTS TO. AND IF SO, THEN WE'LL DO, DO, UH, READ IT. [7.A. Special Use Permit to Allow a Short-Term Rental Located at 415 E. Main Street for Mark Poe.] SO, UH, SEVEN A IS A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT-TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT FOUR 15 EAST MAIN STREET FOR, UH, MARK POE. SO, MS. PRESLEY, IF YOU CAN READ THE SUMMARY. COUNSEL'S REQUESTED TO CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A REQUEST FROM APPLICANT MARK POE FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT FOR A SHORT-TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT FOUR 15 EAST MAIN STREET TAX MAP TWO OH A EIGHT DASH EIGHT DASH SIX. THE PROPERTY IS ZONED C DASH TWO DOWNTOWN BUSINESS DISTRICT AND IS LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC OVERLAY DISTRICT. THE APPLICANT INTENDS TO RENT THREE SEPARATE UNITS ON THE SECOND FLOOR, WHICH INCLUDES A TOTAL OF SIX BEDROOMS WITH NO MORE THAN 12 OCCUPANTS AT A TIME. PARKING IS NOT REQUIRED FOR BUSINESSES LOCATED ON MAIN STREET PLANNING COMMISSION. RECOMMENDED APPROVAL OF THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT PENDING FINAL APPROVALS BY THE WARREN COUNTY BUILDING OFFICIALS OFFICE. OKAY, THANK YOU. USUALLY AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANYBODY FROM STAFF WHO WISHES TO SPEAK TO THIS APPLICATION? YOU DON'T HAVE TO. I JUST DIDN'T KNOW. UM, AND DOES THE APPLICANT WISH TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS APPLICATION? OKAY. ALRIGHT, SO NORMALLY I'M, I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. I, I KNOW MS. PRESLEY SAID NO ONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, BUT IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD LIKE TO, TO SPEAK? OKAY, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND I'M GONNA OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THE COUNCIL APPROVE A REQUEST FROM APPLICANT MARK POE FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT TO ALLOW A SHORT-TERM RENTAL LOCATED AT FOUR 15 E [00:15:01] EAST MAIN STREET, CONDITIONED UPON AND FINAL APPROVALS BY THE WARREN COUNTY BUILDING CODE OFFICIALS OFFICE. SECOND? SECOND. OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? MADAM MAYOR, I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT I DO NEED TO DISCLOSE THAT WHILE I AM RELATED AS A COUSIN TO THE POSE THAT OWN THIS BUILDING, I DO NOT HAVE ANY AFFILIATION TO THIS BUSINESS, THIS PROJECT, OR ANY FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THIS PROJECT. OKAY. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? AND LET'S GO AHEAD AND, AND, UH, TAKE A VOTE. MS. PRESLEY, VICE MAYOR ? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN DE DEMON PAYNE? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. OKAY. MOTION PASSES. [7.B. Receive Public Comment Pertaining to an Application from Michael D. and Jane M. McCool Requesting the Town to Vacate a Portion of a Public Alley (2,000 SF) located behind and abutting 125 W. 8th Street.] SEVEN B IS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT PERTAINING TO AN APPLICATION FOR MICHAEL D AND JANE M MCCOOL REQUESTING THE TOWN TO VACATE A PORTION OF A PUBLIC ALLEY, 2000 SQUARE FEET LOCATED BEHIND AND ABUTTING 1 25 WEST EIGHTH STREET. UM, MS. PRESLEY, IF YOU WANNA GO AHEAD AND READ THAT SUMMARY, A BUDDING PROPERTY OWNER MICHAEL D AND JANE M MCCOOL, THE APPLICANT HAS APPLIED FOR THE VACATION AND SALE OF APPROXIMATELY 2000 SQUARE FEET OF PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY BEING THAT PORTION OF THE ALLEY LOCATED BEHIND AND ABUTTING 1 25 WEST EIGHTH STREET AS SHOWN AND DESCRIBED ON PLAT OF SURVEY ENTITLED BOUNDARY LINE ADJUSTMENT BETWEEN LOT 10 LOT 11 AND A PORTION OF AN UNAPPROVED 20 FOOT WIDE ALLEY PREPARED BY BROGAN LAND SURVEYING PLC DATED OCTOBER 11TH, 2023. RIGHT OF WAY, IF APPROVED, THE APPLICANT WILL MOVE FORWARD WITH MEETING THE CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE AND A LOT CONSOLIDATION. SEVERAL OF THE PARCELS ADJOINING THE TOWN'S UNDEVELOPED ALLEY ARE BEING REDEVELOPED WITH TOWNHOMES. THE TOWNHOUSE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS BY RIGHT. NO LEGISLATIVE APPROVALS ARE REQUIRED. THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE RIGHT OF WAY BEHIND THEIR PROPERTY TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL BUFFER FROM THE NEIGHBORING DEVELOPMENT. THANK YOU MS. PRESLEY STAFF, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD AT THIS TIME? OKAY. DOES THE APPLICANT HAVE ANYTHING THEY WISH TO SAY? ALRIGHT. UM, I'M GONNA OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING. MS. PRESLEY, HAS ANYONE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK NO. ONE SIGN? NO. DOES ANYONE WISH TO SPEAK ABOUT THIS APPLICANT? OKAY, THEN I AM GOING TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP TO COUNSEL. MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNSEL APPOINT VIEWERS TO VIEW THE VACATION REQUEST FROM THE APPLICANT TO VACATE A PORTION 2000 SQUARE FEET OF THE PUBLIC ALLEY LOCATED BEHIND 1 25 WEST EIGHTH STREET, AND TO REPORT TO COUNSEL IN WRITING ANY INCONVENIENCE TO THE PUBLIC THAT WOULD RESULT FROM DISCONTINUANCE OF THE RIGHT OF WAY. SO I HEAR A SECOND. SECOND. OKAY. ANY DISCUSSION MADAM MAYOR, I'VE JUST ADDED WITH EACH OF THESE ALLEY VACATIONS, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A RECORD NUMBER IN MY TIME ON COUNCIL THAT, UM, APPOINTING THE INDEPENDENT VIEWING COMMITTEE HELPS US AS COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE TOWN STAFF TO KNOW WHAT TO BE AWARE OF AND WHAT THINGS TO LOOK OUT FOR. WE ARE NOT PROFESSIONALS AND ALL OF THESE ASPECTS. AND, UM, THIS PROPERTY IN SPECIFIC, I THINK THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS BROUGHT UP AT THE WORK SESSION ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY LAND LOCKING, UM, A PORTION OF THE ALLEY WHICH WOULD CREATE A LIABILITY. SO JUST TO BE, UM, IN LINE WITH ALL THE OTHER ALLEY VACATIONS, I THINK A VIEWING COMMITTEE IS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? MADAM MAYOR? I WAS JUST GONNA ADD THAT, UH, UH, I BELIEVE THAT THERE, THERE WAS A COMMENT ABOUT THE ALLEY, I THINK ON THE WEST SIDE WOULD'VE BEEN BLOCKED IF, UH, THIS SAID GOING FORWARD. UH, AND, UH, THERE WAS COMMENT ABOUT VACATING THE ENTIRE ALLEY AT SOME POINT IN TIME. IS THAT, IS THAT ACCURATE? UH, STAFF? I'M ASKING STAFF. UH, COUNCILMAN, UH, A REP REPORT? YOU ARE CORRECT. WE, UH, DURING THE WORK SESSION, CHOSE TO TRY TO VACATE THE ENTIRE ALLEY. UH, I'LL ALSO, ALONG VIRGINIA, IT WAS 23 ADJOINING PROPERTY OWNERS THAT WE NOTIFIED OF THIS PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. I'M READING HERE FROM PUBLIC WORKS. PUBLIC WORKS HAS CHECKED THE REQUESTED AREA TO BE VACATED SINCE THERE ARE NO EXISTING UTILITIES IN THIS AREA. PUBLIC WORKS HAS NO COMMENTS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THIS REQUEST, AND THAT WAS BACK IN APRIL 10TH OF THIS YEAR. UM, MR. UH, WATS, DO WE MAINTAIN THAT ALLEY? IS THAT ONE OF THE ALLEYS THAT WE, THE TOWN MAINTAINS? [00:20:01] THIS IS PART OF THE TOWN'S ALLEYWAY. FAR AS WISE'S MAINTENANCE? I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MAINTENANCE WE HAVE DONE. I DO BELIEVE THE PROPERTY OWNERS IN THAT AREA HAVE BEEN MAINTAINING THAT ALLEY FOR YEARS. ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? OKAY. SINCE THERE'S NO OTHER DISCUSSION. UM, MS. PRESSLEY, CAN YOU GO AHEAD AND, UH, DO A ROLL CALL? THE MOTION TO APPOINT VIEWERS VICE MAYOR OCK? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS? YES. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILWOMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? NO. OKAY. MOTION PASSES. [7.C. Receive Public Comment and Consider Taking Action on the Resolution Approving the Proposed Public Use and Necessity of a Redundant Waterline for the Route 522 North Corridor and Directing the Acquisition of Property by Condemnation.] SEVEN C IS TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND CONSIDER TAKING ACTION ON THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PROPOSED PUBLIC USE AND NECESSITY OF A REDUNDANT WATERLINE FOR THE ROUTE 5 22 NORTH CORRIDOR AND DIRECTING THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY BY CONDEMNATION. MS. PRESLEY, COULD YOU, UM, PLEASE READ THE SUMMARY? THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYALS SEEKS TO CONSTRUCT PUBLIC FACILITIES OF APPROXIMATELY 26,000 LINEAR FEET OF 12 INCH WATER TRANSMISSION LINE ADDITION TO THE ROUTE 5 22 CORRIDOR SYSTEM TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY AND SYSTEM RELIABILITY. ANY DIS DISRUPTION IN THE QUALITY OR QUANTITY OF THE WATER SERVICE COULD SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACT THE USERS OF THE SYSTEM. PASSAGE OF THE RESOLUTION PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 15.2 DASH 1 9 0 3 WOULD CONFIRM THE PUBLIC USE AND NECESSITY OF THE REDUNDANT WATERLINE AND WOULD AUTHORIZE THE INITIATION OF THE CONDEMNATION PROCESS FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED PROJECT UNDER THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN PURSUANT TO SECTION 18 OF THE TOWN CHARTER AND VIRGINIA CODE SECTIONS ONE DASH 29 1A TWO AND SECTION ONE 15.21901 THROUGH 15.21902, AND 15.21907. THE PROPOSED RESOLUTION DETAILS, THE NECESSITY OF THE PROJECT AND STATES THE USE TO WHICH THE ACQUIRED PROPERTY WOULD BE PUT. THANK YOU, MS. PRESLEY. I DON'T, UM, BECAUSE THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING TO RE RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT, UM, I'M ASSUMING YOU KNOW THAT STAFF DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER AT THIS TIME UNLESS I'M INCORRECT, BUT, SO I'M GONNA OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING WELL TO RECEIVE PUBLIC COMMENT. AND I BELIEVE YOU SAID NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK, NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP. BUT IS THERE ANYBODY WHO WOULD NOW LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY, I'M GONNA CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AND OPEN IT UP. UM, REALLY? YEAH. OPEN IT UP TO COUNCIL. FEEL FREE, GO AHEAD. I DEFER TO CO COUNCILMAN WOOD MAD MAYOR, I MOVE THE COUNCIL, APPROVE THE RE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE PROPOSED PUBLIC USE AND NECESSITY OF REDUNDANT WATERLINE FOR THE ROUTE 5 22 NORTH QUARTER AND DIRECTING THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY, A COMBINATION AS PRESENTED. SECOND. OKAY. IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALL RIGHT, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO A ROLL CALL THEN PLEASE. MAYOR OT? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILMAN D DAMON PAYNE? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. OKAY. UH, MOTION PASSES. UH, THE NEXT PART [8. PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARINGS ] OF OUR MEETING IS OUR PUBLIC COMMENTS NOT RELATED TO PUBLIC HEARING. AND I'M GONNA ASSUME THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE HERE TO SPEAK DURING THAT IS, WOULD I BE ACCURATE THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE TO SPEAK? SO I'M GONNA GO AHEAD AND, UM, READ OUR, UM, OUR, OUR, UH, PROCEDURE. SO THE PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION OF THE MEETING. IT'S THE DUTY OF THE MAYOR TO CONDUCT THIS MEETING IN AN ORDERLY MANNER. PERSONS ADDRESSING THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL ARE ASKED TO LIMIT THE 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 NOT ADDRESS THE SUBJECT MATTER OF A PUBLIC HEARING BEING HELD DURING THE SAME MEETING. STAY WITHIN THE ALLOTTED THREE MINUTE TIME LIMIT. AFTER THAT TIME HAS EXPIRED, THE MICROPHONE WILL BE CUT OFF, REFRAIN FROM WORDS OR STATEMENTS WHICH ARE DEFAMATORY TO SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS OR DISPLAY OTHER DISRUPTIVE CONDUCT AND 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 WORN TO REFRAIN FROM SUCH CONDUCT ANY ADDITIONAL DISTURBANCE AFTER THE WARNING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED AND THE MAYOR WILL HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE. BUT TO ASK THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FRONT ROW POLICE DEPARTMENT TO REMOVE THE INDIVIDUAL GROUP OR CLEAR THE ROOM SO THAT THE COUNCIL CAN CONDUCT THE BUSINESS [00:25:01] OF THE TOWN. MS. PRESLEY, UH, NO ONE HAS SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. WE HAVE ONE SIGNED UP. OKAY. AND SAMANTHA BARBER. OKAY. GOOD EVENING. EVENING. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RO AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, MY NAME IS SAMANTHA BARBER. UH, MY ADDRESS IS MIDDLETOWN, VIRGINIA. UM, I, I'M NOT A RESIDENT OF THE TOWN. UH, TONIGHT I STAND BEFORE YOU AS PRESIDENT OF REACHING OUT, REACHING OUT NOW, AND HONORED TO BE REVITALIZING THE RAYMOND E ST. MEYER STUDENT UNIT ACTIVITY CENTER THIS YEAR, THIS EVENING, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITIES, YOUTH, AND TO SHARE. WE ARE WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS. A FEW YEARS, FEW DAYS AGO, I RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM ONE OF OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS IN RESPONSE TO MY REGULAR UPDATES THAT I SENT, THAT I SENT TO YOU ALL ON THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. I'M GRATEFUL FOR THE EMAIL AND I COMMEND YOUR INTEGRITY IN SHARING WITH US. OVER THE PAST COUPLE DAYS, I HAVE PONDERED, I'VE CRIED, I'VE SOUGHTED GUIDANCE, FELT SHOCK, SAT IN DISBELIEF, BUT THEN FELT A PEACE THAT SURPASSED IT ALL, UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS TOO SHALL PASS. LAST JUNE, I STOOD BEFORE THE COUNSELING TRANSPARENCY ABOUT OUR NEED AND THE SUPPORT THAT WE DESIRE FOR FROM OUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS. OVER THE PAST YEAR AS PROMISED, WE'VE CONSISTENTLY SENT UPDATES WHEN NEEDED AND A MESSAGE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAT SUPPORT REMAINED. I'LL SHARE THIS IN SHORT, I FEEL THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN UP ON US REACHING OUT NOW. IN CONCLUSION, FEEL THAT YOU HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO PRIORITIZE AND SUPPORT THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY AS IT PERTAINS TO THE STUDENT UNION. THIS TRULY IS BEYOND REACHING OUT NOW, HOW HARD AND OUR FIRST PRIORITY, OUR, OUR HARD AND OUR FIRST AND LAST PRIORITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROVIDING SUPPORT IN A SAFE SPACE FOR THE STUDENTS IN OUR COMMUNITY. YOU DID NOT DECIDE NOT TO FUND REACHING OUT NOW, BUT YOU FAILED AND DID NOT PRIORITIZE THEM IN A FINANCIAL DECISION WHEN YOU CHOSE TO EXCLUDE THEM FROM NOT SUPPORTING US. WHEN WE SEEK AND ASK FOR FUNDING TO STAFF THE STUDENT UNION OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE WILL NOT FAIL OUR CHILDREN. WE MAY HAVE THIS FINANCIAL SETBACK AND THE STUDENT UNION MAY TAKE A BIT LONGER TO OPEN. HOWEVER WE WILL STAND AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO FIGHT TO PROVIDE THE NEEDS FOR THE STUDENT UNION. YOU KNOW, WE LIVE IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY. IN PSALMS 50 10 SAYS THAT GOD OWNS A CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS AND HE PROVIDE FOR HIS CHILDREN ABUNDANTLY. THUS FAR, REACHING OUT NOW HAS INVESTED $106,000 IN THE STUDENT UNION RENOVATION AND PER AND PURCHASES FROM MONEY WE HAVE RAISED OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS FROM INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND CIVIC ORGANIZATION. IT HAS NOT BEEN EASY, BUT WE HAVE COME THUS FAR. WE'LL CONTINUE TO STAND ON GOD'S PROMISES AND PARTNER WITH OTHERS WHO'VE COME ALONGSIDE US IN THIS MISSION. NOT ON THE WORD. AND UNFORTUNATELY, SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE LACK OF SUPPORT THAT WE'VE RECEIVED THUS FAR. WE HAVE MADE A PROMISE TO OUR COMMUNITY'S YOUTH AND ONE THAT I INTEND TO KEEP AND SERVE AS A VOICE. AS I STAND HERE TO BEFORE YOU THIS EVENING, THIS SADDENS ME SO VERY DEEPLY. BUT IN EVERY SEASON, WE LEARN AND WE GROW. THE VISION OF THE RAYMOND E ST. MEYER STUDENT UNIT ACTIVITY CENTER REMAINS STRONG. I CLEARLY SEE THE HOPEFUL POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT THIS SPACE WILL BE. A HUB FOR SUCCESS, A PLACE TO LEARN, STUDY AND GROW, A PLACE TO EXPLORE AND HAVE FUN. A PLACE TO HANG OUT WITH FRIENDS. AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY OF THE GRAND OPENING. SO TONIGHT I POSE ONE QUESTION AND HOPEFULLY WITH AN EXPECTATION TO GET A RESPONSE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT OU DO DESERVE AN ANSWER AS TO WHY OUR COUNCIL HAVE NOT DECIDED TO FUND AND SUPPORT US IN THE GROWTH OF THE STUDENT UNION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. BARBER. MS. PRESSLEY, I BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT'S THE ONLY PERSON SIGNED UP, BUT IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK? UM, MELANIE SALANS. MIDDLETOWN, VIRGINIA. THERE YOU GO. OKAY, THANK YOU. UM, I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BOTH THE TOWN COUNCIL AND THE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ADOPT A RESOLUTION IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR BETTER ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE IN OUR AREA. THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT VALLEY HEALTH ARE COMING IN MORE RAPIDLY BY THE DAY, LACK OF [00:30:01] SERVICES, MONTHS, LONG WAIT TIMES FOR LIFE THREATENING ILLNESSES, HIGHER COSTS FOR CARE THAN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. INCORRECT BILLING, OVER BILLING ISSUES WITH INSURANCE, POOR QUALITY SERVICE, MEDICAL MISTAKES, LOSS OF STAFFING, AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. COMPETITION IMPROVES PERFORMANCE. WE NEED TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT OUR AREA WOULD WELCOME ALTERNATIVE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. I'VE WRITTEN A DRAFT RESOLUTION FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, WHEREAS THE BOARD VALUES THE HEALTH AND WELFARE OF ITS CITIZENS AND RECOGNIZES THE GROWING NEED FOR LOCALLY ACCESSIBLE, AFFORDABLE, AND TIMELY HEALTHCARE. WHEREAS THIS BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR CONSTITUENTS CONCERNS ABOUT THE LACKING CERTAIN MEDICAL SERVICES, LONG WAIT TIMES, BILLING COVERAGE, EXPENSE RELATED ISSUES, AND BURDENSOME TRAVEL TO ACCESS CARE OUTSIDE OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY. WHEREAS THE MARCH OF DIMES, A UNITED STATES 5 0 1 C3 NONPROFIT, THAT WORKS TO IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND BABIES RECOGNIZED AS AN EXPERT ON THE MATTER PERTAINING TO SAID HEALTH OF MOTHERS AND BABIES, HAS NOW IDENTIFIED PORTIONS OF THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AS BEING A MATERNITY DESERT. THIS BY DEFINITION MEANS WOMEN AND BABIES ARE AT AN INCREASED RISK. THIS BOARD RECOGNIZES THE NEED FOR SERVICES IN FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY IN CONSIDERATION OF THE REMOVAL OF WOMEN'S CARE IN 2018, AND THAT NO KNOWN ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO REINTRODUCE WOMEN'S CARE. THIS BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THE NEED TO EXPLORE ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS TO ENSURE THE NEEDS OF OUR WOMEN AND BABIES ARE ADEQUATELY MET. WHEREAS THIS BOARD RECOGNIZES THAT OUR LACK OF CERTAIN MEDICAL SERVICES IS RESULTING IN HIGHER FREQUENCY OF MEDICAL TRANSPORT TO FACILITIES OUTSIDE OF OUR AREA. THIS BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THAT MEDICAL TRANSPORT COMES WITH ADDITIONAL RISK AND EXPENSE, WHEREAS DATA PROVIDED BY WELDON COOPER AS OF JANUARY, 2024, SHOWS THE POST PANDEMIC INCREASE IN REMOTE WORK HAS RESULTED IN MIGRATION OUT OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND INTO RURAL NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES. THIS BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES THE NEED FOR MEDICAL SERVICES WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AS OUR POPULATION AND THE POPULATION OF NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES, COUNTY AND COUNTIES INCREASES. WHEREAS THE PROCESS BY WHICH TO OBTAIN A-C-O-P-N IS EXPENSIVE AND TIME CONSUMING. THIS BOARD WISHES TO ASSERT THEIR INTENTION OF WELCOMING NEW HEALTHCARE SERVICES INTO LOCALITY. WHEREAS FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY IS IDEALLY SITUATED IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AT THE INTERSECTION OF TWO MAJOR HIGHWAYS, BOTH 66 EAST SLASH WEST AND 81 NORTH SOUTH, AND MULTIPLE BYWAYS, ROUTE THREE 40, ROUTE 5 22, AND ROUTE 55. THIS BOARD BELIEVES OUR PRIME LOCATION WOULD STRATEGICALLY DRAW PATIENTS FROM NEIGHBORING AND RURAL COMMUNITIES TO HELP SERVE THEIR HEALTHCARE NEEDS AS WELL. WHEREAS THIS BOARD RECOGNIZES THAT REMOVING BARRIERS TO CARE HAS BEEN PROVEN TO RESULT IN BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES LONG TERM. WE BELIEVE IN EXPANDING TOTAL LOCAL HEALTHCARE OPPORTUNITIES WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR COMMUNITY. LET IT BE RESOLVED THAT THIS BOARD PUBLICLY AND INFORMALLY STATES ITS DESIRE TO EXPAND MEDICAL CARE AVAILABLE IN FRONT ROYAL WARREN COUNTY. AND WE ENCOURAGE PROVIDERS TO BEGIN THE PROCESS NEEDED TO DO SO. THAT IS ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. SALE. I HAVE THAT WRITTEN FOR RECORD. YEP. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO SPEAK DURING THIS PUBLIC COMMENTS PORTION? NO. OKAY. SO [9.A. Report of Town Manager] NEXT UP IS THE REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER. UH, YES. THANK YOU MADAM MAYOR. I WANTED TO UPDATE THE CITIZENS ON A FEW ROAD PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN TOWN. THE TOWN CURRENTLY HAS A CONTRACTOR CALLED ALPHA SPACE PERFORMING LINE PAINTING, CURB PAINTING AND THERMOPLASTICS AT NIGHT FROM EIGHT TO 8:00 PM TO 6:00 AM TOWN Y. WE, WE EXPECT THIS PROJECT TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS WEEK. WE ALSO WILL HAVE A CONTRACTOR MOVING IN THAT WILL BE MILLING THIS WEEK ON NORTH COMMERCE AVENUE BETWEEN NORTH ROYAL AND EAST FOURTH STREET ON JULY 24TH THROUGH 26TH. BETWEEN THE HOURS OF EIGHT AND 6:00 AM MILLING REFERS TO THE REMOVAL OF LAYERS OF EXISTING ASPHALT. THE CONTRACTOR WILL RETURN THE FOLLOWING WEEK ON JULY 29TH AND 30TH TO REPAVE THE ROAD AND THEN BACK ON JULY 31ST TO AUGUST 2ND. TO REMARK, THE ROAD TRAFFIC WILL BE REDUCED TO ONE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION. SO PLEASE TAKE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING IN THIS AREA. THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT FOR THE N MAYOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU MR. WALTZ. NEXT [9.B. Report of Councilmembers] UP IS OUR REPORT OF COUNCIL MEMBERS. WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING. OKAY. AND DOES NO PRESSURE. BUT, UH, MADAM MAYOR, I'D JUST LIKE TO REPORT, UM, UH, THIS PAST WEEK ON THE 17TH, UH, COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS AND I WERE ATTENDED OUR, UH, TRANSPORTATION, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING ALONG WITH, UH, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS [00:35:01] AND, UH, UH, SOME OTHER, UH, STAKEHOLDERS THERE. WE HAD A COUPLE LANDHOLDERS LANDOWNER THAT WERE PRESENT, UM, AS WELL. UH, THE MAJORITY OF DISCUSSION WAS, UH, POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR THE EAST WEST CONNECTOR. UH, IT NOTHING, UH, WHERE IT'S REALLY SET IN STONE. IT WAS JUST, UH, GETTING SOME, UH, UH, JUST GETTING SOME INTEL FROM, FROM THE LANDOWNER. AND VDOT UNFORTUNATELY WASN'T THERE. UH, SO WE COULDN'T GET ANY, UH, UPDATES FROM THEM. BUT, UH, IT WAS JUST A GENERAL DISCUSSION. BUT THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE KEY POINT OF THE AGENDA, THOUGH. SO UNLESS MADAM, UNLESS COUNCILWOMAN MORRIS MAY CAN ADD. SO DID YOU HAVE, DID YOU WANNA ADD ANYTHING TO TRANSPORTATION OR YOU'RE GOOD? I'LL GIVE MY COUNCIL REPORT SEPARATELY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. ANYBODY ELSE? UM, MADAM BEAR, I JUST HAVE A BRIEF REPORT. I DID ATTEND THE OPENING OF RATAN OF INANCE, WHICH I BELIEVE HAPPENED IN THIS PAST. AND IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE A, A WONDERFUL NEW VENUE FOR PEOPLE TO ENJOY FOR VARIOUS REASONS IN THE COMMUNITY. UM, I ALSO ATTENDED THE, UH, VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION, UH, ANNUAL POLICY REVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT MEETING. AND, UM, THOSE, UH, POLICIES THAT ARE BEING CONSIDERED WILL THEN BE INTRODUCED IN THE FALL AT THEIR ANNUAL MEETING, UM, FOR ADOPTION. SO THEY COVER A VARIETY OF, OF THINGS RELATED TO, UM, TO THOSE TOPICS. SO IT'S VERY INTERESTING AND YOU CAN, I'M SURE YOU CAN LOOK UP MORE DETAILS ONLINE. SO, AND THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? MADAM MAYOR. I ATTENDED THE, UH, COMMUNITY SHRED DAY HOSTED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF WARREN COUNTY IN THE FRONT ROYAL FEDERAL CREDIT UNION, UH, LATE LAST MONTH. AND I WANT TO SAY THAT IT WAS PRETTY GOOD SUCCESS. WE SHRED AT 5,300 POUNDS OF DOCUMENTS FOR CITIZENS FOR FREE. UH, AND TO GIVE YOU A COMPARISON, THE TRUCK ONLY HOLDS 6,000 POUNDS. SO, AND WE TOOK DONATIONS FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THAT, UH, CREATED $1,100 THAT WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. ALSO, UM, MERCHANTS DOWNTOWN HELD CHRISTMAS IN JULY THIS PAST SATURDAY. IT WAS A WEE BIT COOLER THAN IT WAS LAST YEAR. I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE SHOWED UP. UM, I THINK IT WAS VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL. AND, UM, I WANT TO COMMEND OUR MERCHANTS FOR WORKING TOGETHER AND PUT THAT ON LAST, BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST, UH, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY DISAPPOINTMENT. UH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, LAST MONTH WE VOTED ON A CONSENT AGREEMENT. AND THE CONSENT AGREEMENT HOLDS SEVERAL ITEMS IN IT THAT, UM, THE PUBLIC MAY OR MAY NOT UNDERSTAND. BUT, UM, WE VOTE ON IT AS A PACKAGE. SO IT'S LIKE A, A SET OF BILLS AND ALL SAY AYE AND NO AND SO FORTH. ONE OF THOSE, UM, ARTICLES IN THAT LAST CONSENT AGREEMENT IN JUNE WAS THE TRANSFER OF $535,000 OF EXCESS FUNDS FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, UM, TO OUR, UH, FUTURE SIDEWALK PROJECT ON ER ROAD, WHICH I HAVEN'T HEARD YET, THAT THAT'S BEEN APPROVED. BUT I DO KNOW THAT IN PREVIOUS WORK SESSIONS, WE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS ON THE USE OF THAT MONEY AND HOW IT COULD MOVE OUR TOWN FORWARD, PERHAPS IN, UM, GETTING RID OF BLIGHTED BUILDINGS AND ADDRESSING WALKABILITY, UM, HIRING OF NEEDED STAFF. AND TONIGHT WE HEARD, OF COURSE, FROM OUR PARTNERS THAT ARE REACHING OUT NOW, AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SEE US WHEN WE'RE GOING TO MOVE MONEY. I'D LIKE TO SEE US NOT DO THAT AS PART OF A CONSENT AGREEMENT SO THE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH THEIR TAX DOLLARS. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE WISH TO SPEAK? MR. RAPPAPORT? DID YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANNA SHARE THIS TIME? UH, YEAH. WELL, I'VE HAD A, I'VE HAD A FAIRLY QUIET MONTH. UH, I HAD FIELDED A FEW PHONE CALLS REGARDING THE WATER SITUATION, UH, UH, AND, UH, WE ALL KNOW THAT'S AT DIRE. WE'RE IN A DIRE SITUATION RIGHT NOW. UM, ALTHOUGH THIS WEEK WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET SOME RAIN, AND I'M HOPEFUL THAT WE WILL. UM, THE OTHER THING IS I DID ATTEND THE, UM, THE EVENT THAT, UH, COUNCILMAN WOOD ALLUDED TO, UH, THIS PAST SATURDAY. UM, AND I THINK IT WENT OVER WELL. UH, LASTLY, UM, MADAM MAYOR, I, I [00:40:01] WOULD LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, COMMENT ON, UH, MS. BARBER'S, UH, UH, CONCERNS. AND I, I WOULD, I WILL SAY THAT PERSONALLY I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP ON YOUR STUDENT UNION. UM, I, I, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, THAT I'M A PRODUCT OF, UH, OF THAT YOUTH CENTER ORIGINALLY, AS WAS COUNCILMAN LOC AND I BELIEVE COUNCILMAN MORRIS. MM-HMM. , UH, AND WOOD DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE YOU OUT. UH, MR. WOOD. UH, MY UNDERSTANDING IS, IS THAT ANY GIVEN TIME, IF OUR BUDGET ALLOWS, THAT WE CAN, AS A CONSENSUS, UH, MAKE A CONTRIBUTION ON, UH, FINANCIAL CON CONTRIBUTION AS A PILOT PROJECT. UH, IT'S JUST THINGS HAVE BEEN REALLY TIGHT, UH, THIS PAST YEAR. AND, UH, WE, AS I BELIEVE THE MAYOR HAS MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES, WE, UH, WE HAD ALREADY, UH, MADE OUR BUDGET OUT FOR THE YEAR. SO THERE WASN'T REALLY MUCH LEFT TO DO ANYTHING WITH, AND WE DID CONTRIBUTE. I BELIEVE WE CONTRIBUTED, UH, $25,000 TO THE PROJECT. UH, SO, UH, BE CLEAR THAT YOU ARE ON MY MIND AND PERSONALLY, UH, UH, I'LL BE MAKING A CONTRIBUTION AT SOME POINT THIS YEAR. SO I'VE BEEN KEEPING TRACK OF YOUR EMAILS AND I JUST WANT TO REASSURE YOU THAT AT LEAST FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU'RE NOT FORGOTTEN. OKAY. THANK YOU, MAYOR. APPRECIATE THAT. ANYBODY ELSE? MADAM MAYOR, THIS MONTH HAS BEEN A BUSY MONTH. I HAVE SEVERAL TOPICS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS DURING MY COUNCIL MEMBER'S REPORT. I AM VERY WELL AWARE THAT WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF A CAMPAIGN SEASON, LOCALLY, STATE, AND FEDERALLY. AND MANY PEOPLE ARE SEEKING A POSITION IN OFFICE OR RUNNING TO KEEP A SEAT IN OFFICE. AND, UM, IN MY ABSENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA, WE DO HEAR THAT THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY STILL THOUGH, AND I AM NOT SEEKING AN OFFICE OR A REELECTION, SO I'M NOT HERE TO CAMPAIGN. I'M HERE TO SPEAK TO THE CONSTITUENTS AND THE PEOPLE OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY TONIGHT. IN THE MONTH OF JUNE, I ATTENDED THE COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY COMMITTEE THAT I WAS APPOINTED TO AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR. AND I'VE BEEN PROUD TO HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO TWICE AND MY TIME ON COUNCIL. UM, THAT'S WHERE WE GET TO DISCUSS COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND HOUSING FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. AND IT'S PART OF THE VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE'S CALENDAR AND AGENDA EVERY YEAR. UM, LIZZIE LEWIS, OUR NEW, UM, TOURISM DIRECTOR, AND SHE HAS SO MANY HATS. I DON'T WANNA DISCREDIT HER WORK. SHE WAS ALSO A PART OF THAT POLICY COMMITTEE THIS YEAR AS WELL. UM, ALSO WITH THAT BEING SAID, I ATTENDED THE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE LAST WEEK. THAT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING WHERE WE DID HAVE SEVERAL LAND OWNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS IN THE ROOM. UM, THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE CONCEPTUAL PLAN OF THE 6 0 6 CONNECTOR, THE EAST WEST CONNECTOR, IS THAT WHAT IT'S CALLED? SORRY. UM, MASTER PLANS. IT'LL BE SIMILAR TO LIKE THE AVTEC AND ROCKLAND ROAD MASTER PLANS. UM, AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, FOR THE HAPPY CREEK CONNECTOR ROAD. UM, VDOT IS WORKING WITH THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION TO HAVE, UM, GRAVEL AND GATES PUT UP ON 66 FOR EMERGENCY ACCESS ONLY. SO IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY ISSUE OUT THERE WHILE THE TRAIN IS BLOCKING THE 6 0 6 CORRIDOR, THE AMBULANCE FIRE TRUCKS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE WILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS THAT LOCKED KEYED GATE OFF OF 66 TO GET BACK TO SHENANDOAH SHORES IN THE, UM, MEANTIME WHILE WE WORK ON GETTING A CONNECTOR ROAD IN PLACE. UM, ALONG WITH THAT, UM, THERE WERE TWO OTHER THINGS THAT I WANTED TO ADDRESS. ONE IS THAT THIS COUNCIL, UM, SAT IN ON WORK SESSIONS ON MAY 13TH AND JUNE 3RD, I BELIEVE ALL WERE IN ATTENDANCE FOR BOTH OF THOSE. ONE OF, UH, OUR MEMBERS OR TWO OF OUR MEMBERS WERE REMOTE FOR TWO OF THOSE. BUT WHEN BJ WILSON, OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR CAME TO US IN OUR WORK SESSION ON MAY 13TH, AND TOLD US THAT THERE WERE ADDITIONAL FUNDS IN THE BUDGET THIS YEAR THAT WERE ALLOCATED FOR A DIFFERENT PROJECT THAT WE HAD AVAILABLE TO OUR USE, EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER ON THIS DAIS HAD AN IDEA FOR HOW THOSE FUNDS WOULD BE USED. AND I JUST WANNA ADDRESS TO THE PUBLIC THAT REACHING OUT NOW WAS NOT MENTIONED ONE TIME IN THAT ROOM BY ANY COUNCIL MEMBER. SO AS A MOTHER OF THREE KIDS, TEENAGERS IN THIS COMMUNITY, AS A PRODUCT OF THE FRONT ROYAL RAYMOND EAST ST. MYERS YOUTH CENTER, I DO SUPPORT THAT. UM, UNDERSTANDINGLY, IT IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION. IT IS THE ONLY ONE THAT I KNOW IN THE TOWN'S HISTORY THAT THEY'VE EVER GIVEN [00:45:01] TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO. AND THAT IS BECAUSE EVERYBODY ON THIS COUNCIL IS AND WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE YOUTH OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY. WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE DO HAVE A REGULAR BUDGET CYCLE. THAT WAS THE ISSUE WE RAN INTO LAST YEAR. UM, THE FUNDS WERE REQUESTED OUTSIDE OF WHEN OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR WAS CREATING THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR. HOWEVER, WE STILL DID MAKE THAT WORK. EVERYONE ON COUNCIL WAS COMMITTED TO THAT TWO YEARS AGO, I APOLOGIZE. UM, AND WE CONTINUED TO ALLOCATE FUNDS MOVING FORWARD UNTIL IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A SELF-STANDING NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, LIKE THE OTHER ONES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. SO THERE WAS NO SINGLE PERSON ON THIS. I WENT BACK, I LOOKED AT THE MINUTES, I LOOKED TONIGHT AT THE EMAILS, UM, AND I WATCHED SOME OF THE MEETINGS. SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS SUGGESTED AN ASSISTANT TOWN MANAGER, SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS SUGGESTED AN ENGINEER. UM, NOBODY AT ANY POINT SAID TO ALLOCATE THOSE FUNDS TO REACHING OUT NOW, AND EVERYBODY ELSE SAID NO. SO THERE, UM, WAS NO LACK OF INTEGRITY REGARDING THE YOUTH OF FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY. THESE WERE FUNDS THAT CAME UP OUTSIDE OF OUR REGULAR BUDGET CYCLE. AND ACTUALLY, MYSELF AND ONE OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER HAVE BEEN HUGE PROPONENTS OF SIDEWALKS ON KREER FOR THE CHILDREN'S SAFETY, SPECIFICALLY, THAT ATTEND SKYLINE MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SKYLINE HIGH SCHOOL. THEY USE THAT PART OF THE ROAD TO WALK FOR PE CLASS. THEY USE IT TO WALK TO SCHOOL. THEY USE IT FOR AFTER SCHOOL AND BEFORE SCHOOL WALKING. THAT IS WHAT THE FUNDS WERE ULTIMATELY ALLOCATED FOR. UM, AND COUNCILMAN WOOD WAS A HUGE PROPONENT FOR THAT SIDEWALK AS WELL, AND HAD SUGGESTED THAT WE USE SOME OF THE FUNDS FOR THAT AS WELL. MOVING ON, I'M HEARING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF TALK ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, UH, TIKTOK, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M FORGETTING. I DON'T USE THOSE ABOUT THE WATER AND THE DROUGHT THAT WE'RE FACING. AND I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT FRONT ROYAL AND WARREN COUNTY IS NOT THE ONLY LOCALITY FACING THIS DROUGHT. LAST YEAR WAS INDEED THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL THAT WE'VE EVER WENT INTO AN EMERGENCY WATER CONSERVATION. AND IT WAS NO FAULT OF THE COUNCIL OR THE TOWN STAFF. NOBODY COULD HAVE PREDICTED THAT. NOBODY COULD HAVE PREVENTED IT. I'M SURE IF WE COULD HAVE MYSELF, THE MAYOR AND THE TOWN MANAGER IN PUBLIC WORKS WOULD'VE BEEN OUTSIDE DOING THE RAIN DANCE EVERY CHANCE WE GOT. UM, UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'T HAVE JUST ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE WATER SOURCE THAT WE'RE HOLDING THE GATES BACK FOR TO GET OUR WAY AND STRONG ARM DEVELOPERS OR HOLD BACK WATER FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE AND WORK HERE AND DO BUSINESS HERE IN FRONT ROYAL. WE DO HAVE A SPRING THAT WAS DISCUSSED BEFORE ANY OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO ARE SITTING ALONGSIDE ME, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE MAYOR, HAS BEEN BEING DISCUSSED AND, UM, LOOKED INTO SINCE I CAME ONTO COUNCIL. I KNOW FOR SURE, UM, BEFORE MR. WALTZ WAS EVEN HERE. IT WAS A POINT OF DISCUSSION. AND I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL HOURS WORTH OF THE MINUTES AND THE VIDEOS REGARDING MCKAY SPRINGS. IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN JUST POP UP A WATER PLANT ON OVERNIGHT. IT'S SOMETHING THAT COSTS MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN BEING DISCUSSED AND, UM, EXPLORED FOR WELL OVER TWO YEARS. SO BEFORE WE EXPERIENCED THE FIRST DROUGHT LAST YEAR, UM, I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH SOME OF THE RIVER KEEPERS OF THE SHENANDOAH, SOME OF THE SURROUNDING LOCALITIES TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING. UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY EXTRA RAIN EITHER. WE ALSO HAD A LIGHT WINTER WITH NOT MUCH SNOW, NOT HAVING THE MELTED SNOW AFFECTS THE GROUNDWATER. UM, WE'RE ALL BEING CONSCIOUS, BE GOOD STEWARDS. UM, WE DO ENFORCE A FINE FOR PEOPLE WHO VIOLATE IT IN THE PART OF THE MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTION THAT WE'RE IN NOW. UM, SOME OF THE PEOPLE ONLINE THAT HAVE SENT ME THEIR CONCERNS, THE ONLY COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES THAT ARE ALLOWED TO OPERATE LIKE A CAR WASH DURING THIS TIME WOULD BE ONES THAT HAVE WATER RECYCLERS. SO THEY'RE USING THE SAME WATER. THEY'RE NOT JUST CONTINUOUSLY RUNNING WATER. IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT WATER HAS BECOME A CAMPAIGN PLATFORM AND A POINT OF CONTENTION RATHER THAN JUST BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF OUR RESOURCES. I KNOW WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, WE DID A LITTLE DANCE AND SONG IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ABOUT TURN THE WATER OFF WHEN YOU BRUSH YOUR TEETH AND DON'T DANCE AND SING IN THE SHOWER FOR AN HOUR. AND SO WE, THIS COUNCIL HAS EVEN DISCUSSED WITH MAYOR COCKRELL, WHO'S A TEACHER AT AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IF THEY'RE STILL TEACHING IN IMPLEMENTING THESE THINGS IN WARREN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS. AND THAT WAS DISCUSSED WELL BEFORE THIS CURRENT DROUGHT AS WELL. SO PLEASE REST ASSURED FOR ANYONE WATCHING FROM HOME TONIGHT, FOR ANYONE WHO REPORTS ON THIS AND FOR ANYBODY IN FRONT OF US TONIGHT THAT WE ARE AWARE OF THE DROUGHT, WE WERE AWARE THAT IT WAS COMING. WE WERE AWARE LAST YEAR AND WE WEREN'T SITTING WITH OUR HANDS UNDER OUR LEGS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU. VICE MAYOR SEAL. I BELIEVE YOU SAID YOU WANTED TO ADD . I KNOW IT HEARD ME ASK THUNDER. UM, I, I WANT GET A SHOUT OUT TO LIZZIE ART, TO OUR TOURISM AND EVENTS LADY AT THE VISTA CENTER. I, I GO BY THE, UH, THIS THE GAZEBO DOWN THERE AND ALL THE TIME THERE'S SOMETHING CHIEFS DON'T WALK OUT YET. AND I WANT, OUR CHIEFS HAPPENED TO BE DOWN THERE THIS PAST THURSDAY NIGHT, UH, ENTERTAINING, UH, FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE. I WANTED TO THANK HIM FOR THAT. UH, AND PLEASE, PEOPLE [00:50:01] DON'T FORGET AND PASS THE WORD AROUND AUGUST THE SIXTH, THAT WILL BE NATIONAL NIGHT OUT CHIEF. I'M GONNA TAKE A LITTLE BIT, BUT GET THE KIDS OUT, GET THE GUYS WHAT GOES ALONG THAT LINE NOW, UH, STARTS AT 6 6, 6 TO EIGHT, RIGHT? THAT GOES SIX TO EIGHT DOWN IN THE, I CALL IT THE, THE TOWN COMMONS AREA, BUT IT'S BEAT DOWN AND THE BETTER OFF WE'RE GONNA BE. AND AGAIN, CHIEF THANK YOU FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT ON THURSDAY NIGHT. SURE, . THANK YOU, MAYOR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO [9.C. Report of the Mayor] WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO THE REPORT OF THE MAYOR. AND BEFORE I SHARE SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT, UM, THAT I PARTICIPATED IN THE LAST MONTH, I, I DO WANNA SPEAK ABOUT REACHING OUT NOW FOR JUST A MOMENT. UM, UH, CHILDREN THAT ARE REALLY MY BUSINESS, THAT'S MY PASSION. THAT'S WHAT I'VE SPENT MY CAREER, UM, AND MY LIFE WELL, WELL BEYOND. I COULD HAVE RETIRED MANY YEARS AGO AND, AND HAVE NOT YET. SO, UM, BUT I WILL SAY THAT AS I'VE SAID BEFORE ON THIS D TO PEOPLE THAT REACHING OUT NOW IS ACTUALLY A NONPROFIT. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DONATE. I I, NOT WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT MY OWN DOLLARS I HAVE DONATED. AND I WOULD ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO. UM, I HAVE SHARED OTHER IDEAS ABOUT WAYS TO, UH, UM, POSSIBLY HAVE SCHOOL SYSTEM EMPLOYEES DONATE THROUGH THEIR PAY STUBS. I'VE EMAILED ASKED ABOUT THAT. UM, I WILL DO THAT AGAIN WHEN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR BEGINS. I, I'VE EMAILED SEVERAL PEOPLE, UM, AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE TO ASK ABOUT THAT. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT OTHER COMPANIES CAN DO. UM, BUT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, I KNOW THEY CURRENTLY DO THAT WITH THE EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT, PEOPLE CAN DONATE BEFORE, UM, TAXES ARE TAKEN OUT. SO THAT'S ANOTHER THING. AND MAYBE THERE ARE OTHER COMPANIES WOULD DO THAT. BUT I ABSOLUTELY DO SUPPORT THE MISSION AND BELIEVE THAT, UM, SUPPORTING OUR, OUR YOUTH AND WHICH IS OUR FUTURE. UM, YOU KNOW, AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WHAT'S PERSONAL TO ME, UM, MAY NOT BE PERSONAL TO EVERY TAXPAYER IN IN FRONT ROYAL, AND WE'RE IN CHARGE OF THOSE DOLLARS. SO, BUT PERSONALLY, I, I HAVE FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED IT AND, AND WILL AGAIN. SO IN THE PAST MONTH, ON JUNE 28TH, I ATTENDED THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR FRONT ROW RIVER ADVENTURES. UM, THIS IS LOCATED DOWN WHERE THE FORMER VFW BUILDING WAS ALONG THE SHENDO RIVER. AND IF YOU'RE AN OUTDOORS WATER ADVENTURE PERSON, JEFF HAS SOMETHING FUN FOR YOU AND THE FAMILY DO. AND, AND ACTUALLY OTHER PEOPLE UP HERE, UM, WERE THERE AS WELL. UH, SO IT WASN'T JUST ME. JUNE 29TH AND 30TH, I ACTUALLY ATTENDED TWO DIFFERENT EVENTS CELEBRATING THE OPENING OF ROTO VINEYARDS AND THE OLD SPRING HOUSE EVENT CENTER. UM, I COULD NOT POSSIBLY DESCRIBE FOR YOU WHAT SHELLY COOK AND HER TEAM HAVE DONE WITH HER FAMILY'S LAND. THE EVENT CENTER IS BEAUTIFUL, BUT THE VIEW OF THE VINEYARDS AND THE MOUNTAINS, THE VILLA AND THE ORIGINAL SPRINGHOUSE ADD SO MUCH TO THIS WONDERFUL ADDITION TO HER COMMUNITY. ANA'S HOURS. AND THE EVENTS SUCH AS MUSIC ON WEDNESDAY NIGHTS CAN BE CHECKED OUT ON THEIR WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK PAGE. AND THEY ARE ALSO, UM, THERE WILL BE A WINE TASTING ROOM TO COME. SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE EVEN ADDING TO IT, I GUESS IS WHAT I SHOULD SAY. AND SOME CABINS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. SO, UH, IT WAS A REALLY WONDERFUL EVENT TO ATTEND ON FRIDAY NIGHT, AND THEN THE RIBBON CUTTING AGAIN ON SATURDAY. AND I WAS AMAZED ON SATURDAY. I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA, UM, COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT WAS THERE TOO. I THOUGHT IT WAS GONNA BE LIKE A QUICK RIBBON CUTTING. AND I WAS GONNA GO, AND EVERY TIME I'D START TO LEAVE, LIKE FIVE MORE PEOPLE WOULD COME IN THAT I KNEW. AND FINALLY BY LIKE TWO O'CLOCK, I WAS LIKE, I REALLY, I REALLY DO NEED TO, IT WAS BUSY AND PACKED ALL DAY LONG, SO, WHICH WAS NICE, NICE TO SEE. CHARLIE COOKS INVESTED A LOT IN OUR COMMUNITY. MAYOR, I'M SORRY, I COULD HAVE SLEPT THERE. . YES. SO JULY 3RD, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF ATTENDING THE FRONT ROW CARDINALS GAME WHERE THEY BROUGHT HOME THE WIN FOLLOWING THE GAME. THE TOWN SPONSORED FIREWORKS WERE ENJOYED BY VERY CROWDED STADIUM, BUT ALSO FROM ALL OVER TOWN. UM, I'VE WATCHED THESE FIREWORKS IN THE PAST FROM THE FRONT PORCH OF MY LATE PARENTS' HOME, BUT SITTING IN THOSE STANDS WHILE HAROLD CHUN PLAYED PATRIOTIC MUSIC, WHILE THE FIREWORKS WERE EXPLODING IN THE SKY BEHIND IT WAS JUST LIKE A WHOLE NOTHER LEVEL OF ENJOYMENT. IT, IT, EVERYBODY OOHED AND AWED AND, AND, UH, WAS, IT'S, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE TOWN THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT, UM, WAS STARTED WHEN I FIRST GOT ON COUNCIL AND, UM, IT'S, IT'S WELL WORTH IT. I THINK EVERYBODY REALLY ENJOYS IT. UM, JULY 10TH WAS A BUSY DAY AT LUNCHTIME. I JOINED FELLOW COUNCILWOMAN MORRISON, COUNCILMAN WOOD, UM, AT THE, UH, TOWNS EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION PICNIC. AND IT WAS A LITTLE WARM, [00:55:02] BUT OUR EMPLOYEES ENJOYED AN APPLE HOUSE LUNCH AND ICE CREAM FROM CNC FROZEN TREATS. I DON'T THINK WE CAN EVER THANK OUR EMPLOYEES ENOUGH FOR THE WORK THEY DO FOR OUR CITIZENS EACH AND EVERY DAY. BUT HOPEFULLY THEY FELT APPRECIATED, EVEN IF FOR THE AFTERNOON. AND THEN LATER THAT EVENING, I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WALKING IN THE FRONT ROW FIREMAN'S PARADE AND IT WAS DEFINITELY A HOT EVENING THAT PROBABLY AFFECTED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAME OUT TO WATCH, BUT THERE WAS STILL A CROWD. AND, UM, THEY WERE ENJOYING OUR LITTLE SMALL TOWN AMERICA PARADE. SO THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO PLAN THESE EVENTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. I KNOW THAT THE, UM, THE FIREMEN'S, UM, THE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE THE ONES THAT WERE PLANNING THAT EVENT, BUT I KNOW THERE WAS LOTS OF OTHER, OUR OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, LOTS OF PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT AND CLOSING DOWN STREETS. I'LL ALSO SAY THAT I HAD ALREADY HIT UP THE CARNIVAL THE NIGHT BEFORE TO GET THE ICONIC FIREMAN RELISH. IN FACT, I HAD TO GET A PINT FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WHO MOVED FOUR HOURS AWAY, BUT, UH, DIDN'T WANNA MISS THE CHANCE. SO ASKED ME TO GO DOWN AND GET HER SOME. UM, AND MIGHT ALSO SAY THAT THIS, SHE WAS JUST A LITTLE HOTTER THAN LAST. DID ANYBODY ELSE NOTICE THAT? NO. DELICIOUS. OH, IT WAS GOOD. GOOD. I'M JUST SAYING IT WAS A LITTLE, LITTLE HOTTER, BUT ONCE IT'S ON A HAMBURGER OR HOT DOG, IT'S, IT'S YUMMY. 580 GALLONS. 580 GALLONS. WOW. WOW. UM, JUST A COUPLE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF COMING UP TO, WELL, TOMORROW NIGHT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE TOWN COUNTY LIAISON MEETING, BUT THAT'S BEEN CANCELED. THE FAIR STARTS NEXT WEEK, TUESDAY, AUGUST 6TH, UM, FROM SIX TO EIGHT AS OUR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT TO BE HELD AT THE TOWN GAZEBO AREA. AND SATURDAY, AUGUST 10TH IS COMMUNITY FUN DAY. THAT'S GONNA BE HELD AT WARREN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL, BEGINNING AT 10:00 AM AND YOURS TRULY WILL BE IN THE DUNK BOOTH AT SOME POINT AT THAT DAY. AND SO I HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT TO SOME OF THESE COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OUR, UM, IN, IN OUR TOWN AND COUNTY. THAT'S IT FOR ME. I [10. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS] AM MOVING ON TO ITEM 10, WHICH IS THE CONSENT AGENDA. I'M LOOKING AT IT, I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON THERE THAT WOULD CAUSE ANYBODY TO WANT TO PULL SOMETHING OFF, BUT BY ALL MEANS, IF SOMEBODY WISHES TO, THIS WOULD BE THE TIME. UM, MADAM MAYOR, I MOVE THAT COUNCIL, APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED. SECOND, I DO HAVE DISCUSSION TO ADD TO THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS AS EVERYBODY'S SITTING HERE TONIGHT AND WATCHING FROM HOME SAW AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS MEETING. NUMBER FIVE ON OUR AGENDA WILL ALWAYS, AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN ADDITIONS, DELETIONS OF ITEMS OF FROM THE AGENDA OR REVISIONS TO THE ORDER OF BUSINESS. THIS COUNCIL HAS OFTEN CALLED OUT INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITIONS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE. AND THE CONSENT AGENDA ITEM, IT'S NEVER BEEN TO NOT DISCLOSE TRANSPARENCY. AND ACTUALLY OUR TOWN STAFF TYPICALLY ASKS AT THE WORK SESSION, I HAVE THE MINUTES IN MY NOTEBOOK HERE, ARE YOU OKAY WITH THIS BEING ADDED TO THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR, AND THEN THEY SAY THE DATE OF THE MEETING, THAT THAT WILL BE ON OUR CONSENT AGENDA ITEM. AND IT'S TO HELP BE MORE EFFICIENT IN THE GOVERNING OF THE TOWN OF FRONT ROYAL. BUT ANY COUNCIL MEMBER SITTING ON THIS D MAY CHANGE THIS AGENDA AT ANY TIME LIKE I DID TONIGHT. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? I, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO POINT OUT, 'CAUSE I, I LIKE TO DO THIS EACH TIME BECAUSE WE'RE JUST SO GRATEFUL. BUT TONIGHT, AS PART OF THE CONSENT AGENDA, WE'LL ACTUALLY BE, UM, APPOINTING SOME OF OUR CITIZENS TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. AND SO I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ANN SCHAFER IS HERE TONIGHT, BUT WE WILL BE APPOINTING HER TO THE L-B-B-C-A. UM, AND MICHAEL SPENCE, I DON'T BELIEVE MICHAEL SPENCE IS HERE EITHER. UM, UH, EM, MARIA DUTTON IS GOING TO BE APPOINTED TO, UM, THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS. AND THEN I DO BELIEVE ALAN NEIL IS HERE. RIGHT. AND HE IS GONNA BE, UH, APPOINTED TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TONIGHT, ASSUMING THAT EVERYBODY UP HERE TAKES ACTION ON THAT. SO, THANK YOU MR. NEIL. JUST A PLEA AS ALWAYS TO OUR CITIZENS. WE HAVE, WE STILL HAVE OPENINGS ON SOME OF OUR BOARDS AND, AND A NEW OPENING ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION. SO IF YOU, UM, EVER HAVE THE DESIRE TO GET INVOLVED, UM, WE WOULD GLADLY, UH, APPRECIATE SOME INTEREST AND FEEL FREE TO APPLY FOR THESE POSITIONS. SO, MS. PRESLEY, I BELIEVE WE CAN DO A ROLL CALL NOW FOR THE CONSENT AGENDA. VICE MAYOR OCK? YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILMAN DE DAMCO PAYNE? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. SO NUMBER 11 WAS REMOVED FROM THE, SO WE'RE GONNA [12. CLOSED MEETING] MOVE ON TO ITEM NUMBER 12, WHICH IS OUR CLOSED MEETING. DO I HEAR A MOTION MADAM MAYOR? I MOVE THAT TOWN COUNCIL CONVENE A CLOSED MEETING PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 2.2 DASH [01:00:01] 37 11 2 0.2 DASH 37 12 OF THE CODE OF VIRGINIA FOR THE FOLLOWING PURPOSE. ONE. CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY PUBLIC BODY REGARDING SPECIFIC LEGAL MATTERS REQUIRING THE PROVISION OF LEGAL ADVICE BY SUCH COUNSEL. MORE SPECIFICALLY, TWO LOAN DEFAULT LETTERS RECEIVED FROM UNITED BANK REGARDING FRONT ROW WARREN COUNTY EDA DEBT. SECOND. OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION. AND SECOND, UM, ROLL CALL. VICE MAYOR SEELO. YES. COUNCILMAN INGRAM? YES. COUNCILMAN MORRIS? YES. COUNCILMAN RAPPAPORT? YES. COUNCILMAN D DEMON PAYNE? YES. COUNCILMAN WOOD? YES. OKAY. WE ARE NOW ENCLOSED, UM, DWAYNE, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN SEE ME OR HEAR ME, HOPEFULLY, BUT, UM, WE, THERE'S, WE WON'T BE COMING OUT WITH ANY ACTION, SO THERE'S NO NEED FOR YOU TO STICK AROUND TONIGHT IF EVERYBODY WANTS TO. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.