Town of Mineral
Post Office Box 316
102 E. First Street
Mineral, VA 23117
540-894-5100
Email: mineral@louisa.net

Minutes of Town of Mineral Council Meeting
July 14, 2008
7:00 p.m.

Roll Call

Invocation was given by by Roy Payne

Public Comments
Tex Pierce addressed the budget and questioned Council's action relative to the Vice-Mayor voting when filling in for the Mayor.

Albert Guteknesat addressed the budget and water rates and also questioned Council's action relative to the Vice Mayor voting when filling in for the Mayor.

David Whitlock addressed Council concerning the possibility of a law firm offering pro bono help pertaining to the school and expressed his hope that Council would accept the law firm's offer.

Mr. Maus addressed the citizen's questions concerning the voting rights of the Vice Mayor when acting as the Mayor. If it Council's wish he will contact the Attorney General and receive their opinion on this matter, Council asked the Town Attorney to contact the Attorney General.

Set meeting dates, times, etc - Mr. Payne feels that the Council should wait on the attorney findings pertaining to the voting of the vice mayor before the resolution is adopted pertaining to the Town's organizational meeting. Mr. Maus stated that charter states that the Mayor can vote only when it is a tie. Mr. Thomas asked if it possible if the Council could rescind the motions that were passed at the June 2008 Council meeting. 3.10 of the Charter touches on the rescinding of previous motion. Bernice Wilson-Kube made a motion to adopt the organization resolution as amended. William Thomas seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Roy Payne made a motion to take the water and sewer rates back to the budget committee and look at the possibility of spreading the proposed water and sewer increases over three years and not the proposed two years. The committee will also review staff increase. Brooks Besley seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Adopt Agenda (add or take away items at this time)
Under new business review the proposal for Arnold and Porter to work pro bono for the Town pertaining to the Old Mineral School
Under new business add the use of the Church of Incarnation for the Town meetings. Roy Payne made a motion to adopt the agenda as amended. William Thomas seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Approval of June regular meeting minutes
Pam Harlowe made a motion to approve the minutes as amended. Bernice Wilson-Kube seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Approval of July bills to be paid
Bernice Wilson-Kube made a motion to approve the bills as presented. Roy McGeHee seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Town manager's report: Mr. Harper was absent - written report submitted

Town attorney's report

Standing Committee Reports:

Beautification / Anti-Litter Committee: Additional banners have been ordered for Mineral Avenue and Louisa Avenue.

Budget & Finance Committee: No report

Cemetery Committee: The committee has soil proposals to review. It was also asked if the Sheriff of Louisa could purchase one grave site to put the remains of three indigents. The committee has discussed the request of the Sheriff and the committee feels that the Council should consider this request. The committee will bring back the soil proposals and other items to discuss at the August meeting.

Economic Development Committee: No report

Personnel Committee: No report

Police & Legal Matters Committee: No report

Streets Committee: No report

Walton Park Committee: There were a lot of positive comments about the parks appearance.

Water & Sewer Committee: No report

New Business:

BPOL Ordinance - Discussion followed. The attorney will work on this and bring it back to Council.

Offering of out of town trash service - extend to Spring Road - Discussion followed and Council stated that if there was enough interest that this could be extended to out of town water customers. The Town clerk will send out notices offering this service and see if there is enough response to extend this service.

Motel definition - discussion - The Town Attorney was asked to work on this with the Town Manager.

Legal services from the law firm Arnold and Porter - Mr. Maus has been in contact with Brian Emmonds a lawyer with Arnold and Porter pertaining to the old school building and the improvement of this structure. Discussion followed. Roy Payne made a motion to accept their proposal. Bernice Wilson-Kube seconded the motion. Motion passed 5/1 with Pam Harlowe voting in the negative.

Use of the Church of Incarnation for the Town meeting - Roy Payne made a motion to continue the meeting at the Church of Incarnation for a dollar. Roy McGeHee seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

At the end of the meeting on June 9, 2008 Mr. Thomas felt that Council was going on the wrong course. Mr. Payne and Mr. Thomas had some ideas that they felt the Council should consider. Mr. Payne and Mr. Thomas will include this in their committee discussion, along with water and sewer rates and salary increase.

Old Business:

Deanne Henline was asking for the $200.00 that she had over paid; Mr. Maus had researched this and found that the best way to handle this is that the Council refund the amount Ms. Henline is asking for. Bernice Wilson-Kube made a motion to refund Ms. Henline the $200.00 she over paid on the gravesites. Roy McGeHee seconded the motion. Motion passed 5/1 with Brooks Besley voting in the negative. (See June 9, 2008 council meeting minutes)

Roy Payne made a motion to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel pursuant to VA Code 2.2. 37 11 A1. Roy McGeHee seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Certification that what was announced was discussed only
Edwin Keller / yes
Pam Harlowe / yes
Brooks Besley / yes
Roy Payne / yes
Bernice Wilson-Kube /yes
William Thomas / yes
Roy McGehee / yes

William Thomas made a motion to adjourn. Roy Payne seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.