MINUTES
Town of Blowing Rock
Board of Commissioners
Regular Meeting – November 13, 2007
The
Town of Blowing Rock Board of Commissioners held their regular meeting on
Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. at the Town Hall Council Chambers. Attending were Mayor J.B. Lawrence,
Commissioners Bobby Ball, Keith Tester, Terry Lentz, Rita Wiseman and Tommy
Klutz. Others in attendance were Town
Manager Scott Hildebran, Town Attorney Allen Moseley, Town Engineer Doug
Chapman, Planning Director Kevin Rothrock, Police Chief Eric Brown, Public
Works Director Johnny Lentz, Emergency Services Director Kent Graham, Finance
Director Nicole Norman, Planning Intern Adam Stillman, Parks & Recreation
Director Jennifer Brown, and Town Clerk Sharon Greene.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor
Lawrence called the meeting to order at 6:55 p.m. and welcomed those in
attendance.
PRESENTATION
The
Blowing Rock School Chorus, under the direction of Mrs. Becky Reis entertained
everyone with several songs.
Mayor
Lawrence thanked them for their presentation.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A
motion was received from Commissioner Lentz to approve the October 2, 2007
minutes as written, seconded by Commissioner Wiseman Unanimously approved.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Planning
Director Kevin Rothrock and Annette Munz were sworn to speak during the public
hearing.
Planning
Director Rothrock presented a request from Blowing Rock Renovators for a major
amendment to CUP #2006-09 to add a 14-space parking lot at Pssghetti’s
Restaurant. Mr. Rothrock explained the
restaurant currently has a 25-space parking lot that serves the business. He
also advised a parking lot expansion of 25 spaces was approved in June of 2006,
but was not constructed and the plans have since been revised. Mr. Rothrock advised the proposed parking lot
expansion would involve less of a disturbance to the property than the plan
approved in 2006.
Mr.
Rothrock further explained the majority of the lot is severely sloped, but the
proposed lot should not exceed 7% grade according to the site engineer. He stated the restaurant utilizes valet
parking attendants to serve their customers and will continue with this
service. Mr. Rothrock conveyed the proposed parking lot access drive would cause
two (2) existing spaces to be eliminated, and with the approval of the proposed
change, a total of 37 spaces would exist.
Storm
water management and landscaping were also briefly discussed. Mr. Rothrock acknowledged the proposed CUP
did not require a retaining wall for the proposed parking lot. However, after detailed review it appeared
that a retaining wall would be needed in the northeast corner of the lot to
keep the grading within the boundaries of the General Business zoning of the
property.
Council
was advised that during the October 18th meeting of the planning
board, the proposed major amendment to CUP 2006-09 was approved.
After
a brief discussion regarding handicap spaces and the retaining wall, a motion
was made by Commissioner Ball, seconded by Commissioner Klutz to close the
public hearing.
Commissioner
Tester made a motion to approve Major Amendment #2 to CUP 2006-09 with the
following changes: in Item 2, second sentence, that reads unless spaces are reduced from
additional required landscaping, be removed, in Item 5, the word may be changed to will,
and Item 9, wording be changed that added requiring the engineer cost estimate be
reviewed and agreed upon by the Town Planning Director, seconded by
Commissioner Klutz. Commissioner Lentz
suggested the motion be amended to include; the second handicap parking space
be specifically marked on the proposed plans.
Commissioner Tester agreed to this addition, seconded by Commissioner
Klutz. Unanimously approved.
CUP 2006-09 Exhibit A
NEW BUSINESS
During
the September 11, 2007 Council meeting, Mr. & Mrs. David Baskin urged
Council to further review town policy on no dogs allowed in town parks. It was their desire that this policy be
changed to allow pets in these areas.
Previously
in 1982 a policy was enacted prohibiting dogs in the municipal parks and signs
were installed stating such. In June of 1993, Council voted on the subject and
decided not to allow dogs in any municipal park.
Mayor
Lawrence inquired if anyone wished to speak on this subject. Mr. David Baskin began by thanking Council
for adding this topic to their agenda. He requested that Council rescind the
policy and allow dogs in town parks; if not all the time, during special events
such as July 4th, Concerts in the Park, etc. if they were on leashes
and well behaved. Mr. Baskin also
suggested that bags be provided by the Town for the purpose of cleaning up
after the dogs.
Mr.
David Laughter disagreed with Mr. Baskin’s statement by communicating that he
too had dogs but he also has two small children who visit the park frequently
and children playing the in park should not have to step or roll in dog waste.
Next
to speak was Ms. Regina Pelsmaeker, informing Council she had walked her dogs
around
Ms.
Karen Hamby commented that a compromise should be met regarding this
issue. She suggested that the front area
of Memorial Park allow dogs on leashes but not in the playground area.
Mr.
R.V. Hayes reiterated that a compromise should be established and agreed that dogs
should be allowed in the front area of Memorial Park.
Ms.
Annette Munz acknowledged that she did not see how this could be patrolled and
separated to allow dogs in one area and children in the other.
Ms.
Lisa Carlson stated she was the previous owner of The Barking Rock Boutique and
Blowing Rock was a very pet-friendly town.
She advised several downtown shops allowed pets and that Blowing Rock
has many pet-friendly motels too. Ms.
Carlson agreed a compromise should be made.
Ms.
Mary Jo Hayes expressed the need for a compromise in this situation and felt
that bags should be provided to pet owners to clean up after their pets.
Mrs.
Jean Baskin spoke of her desire for dogs to be allowed in town parks.
Mayor
Lawrence thanked everyone for their comments and conveyed that Council would
need to discuss this matter further at their annual retreat held in January
before a final decision could be made.
Commissioner
Klutz suggested the park be divided into two sections with fencing to allow
dogs in the front but not beyond the fence where children were playing. Mr.
Klutz felt that Town policy should be enforced in reference to this issue.
2. Surplus – Vehicles/Equipment
(Resolutions #2007-15)
Town
Manager Hildebran presented Council with Resolution #2007-15 authorizing the
appropriate Town Official to dispose of personal property valued at less than
$5,000 through informal procedures to obtain fair market value.
Mr.
Hildebran also presented Resolution #2007-15 to Council for their consideration
declaring the following equipment surplus and authorizing the Town Manager to
sell on GovDeals.com.
- 2 –2002 Model M782
- 1 - 1999 Model M780
- 1 – 1999 Model P990
- 1 – 1996 Model D17280-LS
A
motion was received from Commissioner Wiseman approving Resolution #2007-15 as
presented, seconded by Commissioner Lentz.
Unanimously approved. Resolution #2007-15 Exhibit B
Town
Manager Hildebran presented Council with Change Order #003 for building/site
work changes totaling $56,698.60 at the Emergency Services Building Project.
Mr.
Hildebran stated with the previously approved change orders the new contract
sum totaled $4,382,394.01. He also
advised the budget included $276,000 for contingencies for this project and the
total change order to date was $103,394.01 or 2.42% of the original contract.
Commissioner
Lentz asked why some of the changes listed in Change Order #003 had not been
figured into the original cost estimate.
Commissioner Klutz inquired if these were items that were missed or were
the plans being “tweaked”. Emergency
Services Director Kent Graham stated that a little of both probably accounted for
the change order request.
Commissioner
Lentz made a motion for Town Manager Hildebran, Emergency Services Director
Graham as well as the building committee to meet with the project architect and
renegotiate the items listed on Change Order #003, seconded by Commissioner
Klutz. Unanimously approved.
Budget
Amendment (Ordinance #2007-10) for fiscal year 2007-2008 was presented to
Council for their approval by Town Manager Hildebran. Mr. Hildebran stated that Section One on the
General Fund allocated additional funds received for the Powell Bill Expenses
and recognized reimbursements from
With
no further discussion, a motion was made by Commissioner Wiseman approving
Ordinance #2007-10 as presented, seconded by Commissioner Ball. Unanimously approved. Ordinance #2007-10 Exhibit C
SPEAKERS FROM THE FLOOR
None
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS
Council
inquired about the current drought situation.
Public Works Johnny Lentz advised the water reservoir was 4 inches below
full pond and the town would start pumping from Chetola the next day. Town Manager Hildebran stated the long-range
forecast was not favorable for rain and a dryer than normal winter was also expected.
Commissioner
Wiseman inquired about the meeting with the Department of Natural Resources
that Mayor Lawrence and Mr. Hildebran attended.
Mayor Lawrence stated interconnection with the Town of
With
no further business to discuss, the meeting recessed until 5:00 p.m. on
November 14, 2007 to discuss fiscal year audit for 2006-2007 with town auditor
Billy Combs.
Mayor____________________________
J.B. Lawrence
Attest:
_________________________
Sharon Greene, Town Clerk
Attachments
Exhibit
A - CUP #2006-09 (Pssghetti’s Restaurant)
Exhibits
B - Resolution #2007-15 (Surplus Vehicle/Equipment)
Exhibit
C - Ordinance #2007-10 (Budget Amendment)