Sewer Plant Update, Employee Recognition, School Updates, Resiliency Storm Water Plans, $110k Additional School Funds, $315k Park Spending, Sewer Funds, Bike Fest Approval, Community Center Lease, and Joint Work Session approved.
Caryn Self Sullivan absent
Approval of Minutes
August 21, 2024, August 7, 2024, December 6, 2023, November 15, 2023, November 1, 2023 - Approved 6-0 After the meeting, I asked the town clerk how many minutes she had to get caught up and she said 3 more from 2023.
Council Member Reports
Public Works - There were 194 commercial readings last quarter, Lead and Copper testing - no positive results, town emergency plan will be out at the beginning of the year.
Nonprofits - national night out will be Tuesday, October 1st 5pm to 8pm.
Public Safety - no report
Finance – audit to begin soon
Mayor – Beach music fest was a huge success with over 80 volunteers, County is now enforcing dump tag requirement, economic development committee to provide parking input, mentioned the candidate’s forum Thursday the 26th at 6 PM at the Elementary School.
Town Manager Update
New hires – planning tech for zoning department.
Gateway Signage – issues with VDOT approval due to distance and location.
Eleanor Park – subcontractor is laying out locations for benches.
Trees topped off on 9th Street – Arborist pronounced trees as dead, and Heritage Contracting has been issued a notice of violation letter.
ADA violation sidewalk letter – apparently the missing letter was only received via email, there were 8 locations noted on the letter, Bowman engineering working with the town to draft a response, the response is due by October 30.
Sewer Plant Fine - Notice we received from DEQ, Aqua Law was hired to help us address our response to potentially get fine reduced.
Beautification efforts – public Works is working to clean up Town Hill.
Sewer update – Operator reported that things are still going well, but there’s a flow meter that’s not working correctly, The plant is currently using half of it’s capacity to hold solids and we’re waiting on the belt press to be rebuilt to resolve that issue, it was asked how many employees were hired by Inboden and the answer was eight, but there were only three left.
Recognition of Wanda Reed, 45 Years of Service, CBPS Bus Driver - Thanks for your service!
Colonial Beach Public Schools, Dr. Addo, Superintendent - They are currently reviewing the crisis emergency plan, CB schools are fully accredited with the high school having some conditions, (achievement gap and absenteeism), in 22–23 CB schools ranked 101, in 2024 they ranked 70th an improvement of 9.9%. The concession stand is 85% complete, the high school got their permit for a new generator which will allow them to be used as an emergency shelter, raised concerns about the sidewalks especially on first Street and asked the town for assistance. I asked if the ADM (average daily membership) would have an impact on next year‘s budget and was told that the ADM is what drives the towns school share.
Resiliency presentation – Resiliency, Storm water and Shoreline Management Plan, The Berkley Group - we were given a summary of what is going on with the resiliency plan.
The work is ongoing including planning development.
Plan will help with additional grant applications.
Various surveys have been completed.
Numerous locations have been identified and investigated by a subcontractor.
The plane will come to the public in the next couple of months and then go to DCR.
Public Comment
Citizen – concerns over large number of Osprey deaths, which are the result of lack of fish.
Citizen – Beach music festival was a success with over 100 volunteers. Mentioned the Community Center and the foundation has run it since 2015 and prior to that was the lions club, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised.
Citizen - community center benefits the community.
Citizen – Mrs. Brubaker stated that Rick Wood paid her family’s business a special visit and asked if that was normal, mention the cost of the blue hotel and Dodson favors as well as DEQ fines. How are leftover funds being used.
Citizen – community center has served the town well including 4000 Covid shots in the foundation goal was to turn over to a new entity.
Citizen – asking for the towns consideration to support the Community Center move, example GMU event.
Citizen – Was a prior foundation president and stated the move to new entity has been in the works for years.
Citizen – looking forward to the bike fast and asked if parking was free. Yes, it is.
Write-in – Mentioned the scope of the resiliency plan has changed and it’s 1.5 years late and it’s now $312k, delays have caused the loss of grants. Does not agree with a joint meeting, as it will not be productive and takes input opportunities away from the community.
Write-in – mentioned the bike fest and the cost to the town, and supports the community center as it saves the town money.
PUBLIC HEARING Resolution #30-24, Amends and Appropriates FY23-24 Budget,General Fund for the CBPS FY23-24 ADM Local Match, CFO/Director of Finance - The town school funding match has increased from last year by $110k. Apparently, we didn’t get the final number until June. I asked if there was any way to plan for this better for next year so that we don’t end up caught short again. We happen to have this money just sitting around in our carryover fund. Thank goodness! Vote 6-0
PUBLIC HEARING Resolution #31-24, Amends and Appropriates FY24-25 Budget,
General Fund for Carryover Funds dedicated to Azalea and Eleanor Park Projects, CFO/ Director of Finance - The rest of council previously approved $315k for the parks and this was to re-authorize the funds. I did not support the spending because of all the infrastructure problems the town is facing. I believe we could save $200k by building a more appropriately scaled park on Azalea, and removing Eleanor Park spending from the budget until we have a realistic plan. Final vote 5–1 with me being the only NO vote.
Resolution #32-24, Amends and Appropriated FY24-25 Budget, Sewer Fund to Carryover funds from prior year, CFO/ Director of Finance Request for Public Hearing - This hearing will be to authorize the spending of $350k that was not spent last year for the sewer plant. I asked for a spending plan from the town manager for transparency on how this money is planned to be spent. The rest of council would NOT support the transparency. Vote to hold a hearing 6–0.
Resolution #33-24, Appointments to the Board of Zoning Appeals - there were three candidates, and I asked that they be separated from the vote. The vote for Mrs. Savage was 6–0 the vote for Mr. Scisciani was 5-1 with me being the only NO vote. (I voted no because of Mr. Scisciani‘s conduct on social media and how he speaks ill of council members and citizens). Mr. Scheafer, who happens to be a town employee was voted down primarily because of his being a town employee and potential conflicts. Vote 3-3 Wood, Allison, Roberson YES. Williams, Brown and Schick NO.
Special Event Application Consideration – Bikefest 2024, Director of Parks, Recreation & Events - this was to approve the bike fest. Some concerns were raised about security and the delay in getting the application to the council. Council asked why the application was delayed and the police chief stated it was due to delays from the Chamber the mayor and the rest of council said next year they want the application six months prior to the event. I raised concerns that without hearing from any of the members of the event that how could we make an arbitrary request of 6 months. None of the other council members supported my concerns and voted to require six months advanced application. The event application was approved Vote 6-0
Community Center Lease, Powell Duggan, Town Attorney Request for Public Hearing- This was only a vote to set the public hearing to allow a nonprofit to run the Community Center for 6 years with a nominal charge of $10 a year. I raised concerns of why a brand-new nonprofit was being given the only option to run the community center. The rest of the council didn’t seem to support my concern, but the town attorney did say that my concerns were valid. Previously, CB Community Foundation managed the community center and they have a long-standing in the community while this new group has no history. I requested at the minimum a business proposal from this new nonprofit group. I also asked if other nonprofits could be given the opportunity to submit a proposal. Council did not support competition, but they did allow me to request a business proposal from the only option they are allowing.
Request for Joint Work Session with Planning Commission (Article 13 (Parking), Article28 (Residential High Density(R4)), Floor to Area Ratio in R2 District Zone and Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)) -the mayor has proposed a joint meeting between council in the planning commission to address the CIP, parking ordinance, increasing the FAR and inclusionary housing. Concerns I have are:
Why are we having a joint meeting to address things that council never provided clear direction on?
The planning commission already addressed the FAR (size of houses allowed to be built) so why would we send back to the planning commission without further discussion from council.
We sent the parking ordinance back to the planning commission with no direction on what they should do with it.
Why are items the mayor and Dr. Self Sullivan added last minute prioritized over work plan items that have been on the agenda for years.
I have had numerous constituents comment on how members of council talk to me and other members of the community at council meetings. They feel like I’m being treated unfairly. I do my best to work with the other members and try to focus on the reason that I’m there which is to make this town better for the residents.
Please email or call with questions or comments:
540-604-4335
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