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
October 14, 2008
7:00 p.m.

Roll Call

Invocation was given by Roy Payne

Public Comments
Tex Pierce stated that he had spoke on the subject of the proposed water and sewer rates. He would like the council to clarify the previous motion adopting the water and sewer rate for this year only. He would also like the budget to show the $80,000 water increase. He would also like to know what the results are concerning the meals and transient occupancy tax that he brought up at the last meeting.

Adopt Agenda (add or take away items at this time)
Under old business add:
Discussion of water leak repair proposals
Discussion of meals tax
Discussion of Attorney General's ruling on vice mayor voting in absence of Mayor

William Thomas made a motion to adopt the agenda as amended. Brooks Besley seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Public Hearing BPOL

The Mayor opened the public hearing for the BPOL. There were no public comments concerning the public hearing for BPOL. Attorney Jack Maus gave a brief overview of the BPOL ordinance. William Thomas made a motion to close the public hearing for the BPOL. Roy McGeHee seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.
Brooks Besley made a motion to adopt the BPOL ordinance and rates as presented. Roy Payne seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Approval of September regular meeting minutes
Roy Payne made a motion to adopt the minutes as amended, Brooks Besley seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with none voting in the negative. (Mineral Historical Foundation to Mineral Historical Society)

Approval of October bills to be paid
Roy Payne made a motion to accept the bills to be paid as presented. William Thomas seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Town manager's report

Town attorney's report

Standing Committee Reports:

Beautification / Anti-Litter Committee: The flowers in front of the Town hall have been replaced and work on the flower bed at Luck Field has started. The citizens of Region Ten would like to start watering and taking care of the flowers with supervision.

Budget & Finance Committee: No report

Cemetery Committee: Presentation of M&M Soil Consultant's report of their findings at the cemetery. M&M Soil Consultants are of the opinion that a French drain may correct this problem. Roy Payne made a motion to get bids for dirt work at the cemetery. Brooks Besley seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Economic Development Committee: Mr. Payne stated there has been some inquires by businesses concerning available land and the Town Manager has been working on these inquires.

Personnel Committee: No report

Police & Legal Matters Committee: Mr. McGehee reported that there has been one larceny in Town and two larcenies right outside of Town. There have been some breaks in the cases and there is expected to be arrests in the next week.

Streets Committee: Ms. Wilson-Kube had asked Mr. Harper to ask VDOT to patch the potholes behind the VFW. Mr. Harper contacted VDOT the next day and the potholes have been patched.

Walton Park Committee: Mr. Harper gave a brief overview of the engineer's finding at Walton Park pertaining to the water flow leaving the park along 5th street. Roy Payne made a motion to pursue the engineering and solicate bids for the work. William Thomas seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Water & Sewer Committee: No report

New Business:

None at time agenda printed.

Old Business:

Discussion of new town hall / remodel: The drafting students at the high school are working on a drawing for the proposed renovations. Mr. Harper gave a brief description of the proposed remodeling. Further information needs to be obtained for Councils consideration.

Walton Park engineering - This was discussed in the Walton Park standing committee report.

Hourly water leak proposals - This was advertised and only one bid was received from Central Virginia Contractors. William Thomas made a motion to accept Central Virginia proposal as presented until the end of the year. Bernice Wilson-Kube seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.

Discussion of meals tax - The meals tax was adopted by insufficient margin when it was previously adopted. William Thomas made a motion to accept the meals tax retroactive to January 2008. Roy Payne seconded the motion. Motion tied 3/3 with Pam Harlowe, Roy McGeHee and Bernice Wilson-Kube voting in the negative. The Mayor's vote for the tie breaker would be for the meals tax. The motion failed due to the lack of the two thirds vote needed.

The question was also raised concerning the transient occupancy tax - William Thomas made a motion to make the transient occupancy tax retroactive to January 2008. Roy Payne seconded the motion. Motion passed 4/2 with Pam Harlowe and Bernice Wilson-Kube voting in the negative.

Discussion of Attorney General's office answer concerning the vote of the Vice-Mayor in the absence of the Mayor - The Town Attorney brought the Attorney General's reply to the Town Council and there is no further discussion needed.

Brooks Besley made a motion to go into closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel pursuant to VA Code 2.2-37 11 A1. Roy Payne 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

Bernice Wilson-Kube made a motion to adjourn. Pam Harlowe seconded the motion. Motion passed 6/0 with None voting in the negative.