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
7:00 p.m.
January 8, 2007

Present: Edwin Keller, Mayor, Pam Harlowe, Vice-Mayor, Brooks Besley, Roy Payne, Bernice Wilson-Kube, Roy McGehee, William Thomas, Jack Maus, Town Attorney, Willie Harper, Town Manager and Ti-Lea Downing, Town Clerk.

Also present: Janice Abercrombie, Jimmy Dodd, Dorie Simpson, and Jaclyn O'Laughlin with The Central Virginian.

Public Comments:

There were no public comments

Setting of Agenda

Under new business add

Town Engineering

Motion made by Brooks Besley to adopt agenda with amendments, seconded by Roy Payne. Motion passed 6-0.

Discussion of December minutes. Motion made to approve December minutes by Roy Payne, seconded by Roy McGehee. Motion passed 6-0.

Mrs. Wilson-Kube requested that the January bills have the attorney bill pertaining to the Jarvis case pulled for a separate vote.

Discussion of January 2007 bills. Motion to approve payment of January 2007 bill without the Jarvis matter attorney bills included by Roy Payne, seconded by Brooks Besley. Motion passed 6-0.

Bernice Wilson-Kube stated to Council that she was not on Town Council when this lawsuit (Town of Mineral vs. Jarvis) began and to date she has not received any briefing of any sort pertaining to the Jarvis case. William Thomas stated that Mrs. Wilson-Kube needs to meet with the Mayor or manager and be given the history on the case.

Motion made by Brooks Besley to pay the attorney bills for Jarvis matter, seconded by William Thomas. Motion passed 5-1 with Bernice Wilson-Kube voting against.

Willie Harper presented the Town Council with his manager's report.

Jack Maus presented the Town Council with his attorney's report.

Committee Reports:

Beautification/Anti-Litter: The Town Beautification Committee will resume meeting on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the library at 7:30 p.m.

Budget & Finance: No Report.

Cemetery Committee: The details of the brick structure that houses the sign are still being worked on.

Economic Committee: No Report.

Personnel report: No Report.

Police & Legal Matters: Mr. Payne stated that there needs to be a type of protocol for contacting the attorney so that Council members don't contact the attorney without first going through the Mayor or Town Manger to prevent unnecessary legal fees. Motion made by Roy Payne to implement a protocol for contacting the Town Attorney that all inquires from Councilpersons or other town agencies go through Town Manager, seconded by William Thomas. Motion passed 6-0.

Streets: Bernice Wilson-Kube asked if anything had been said about the stoplight. The Town Manger stated that nothing had been said about the stoplight and Virginia Dominion Power had stated that the pole would be replaced the last time he spoke with them.

Walton Park: Virginia Tech will be in contact concerning the park in late spring.

Water & Sewer: William Thomas stated that he does not fill comfortable with the reaction of the contractor who did the work on last years water project. Mr. Harper stated that at a meeting with the contractor and engineer their reaction was their people did not do that type of work. Mr. Thomas recommends that we should send the contractor a bill for the connections the Town has had to replace. It was also suggested that the BBB should be contacted.

New Business:

A. Set Workshop for Sarkis Satian project: The Mayor appointed Roy Payne and William Thomas to a committee that would work with the Draper Aden associate, along with the Town Manager and come before Council with the information they have gathered.

B. Masonic lodge request for two handicap spaces and a streetlight: Motion made by Roy Payne to provide the Masonic lodge with a streetlight, seconded by Bernice Wilson-Kube. Motion passed 6-0. More information would be obtained pertaining to the handicap parking spaces.

C. Engineering proposal: Brooks Besley and Roy Payne had met with three applicants. Their recommendation to Council was to accept Rice Engineering's proposal. Motion made by Brooks Besley to hire Rice Engineering to work for the Town as needed as matters arise, seconded by Roy Payne. Motion passed 6-0.

Old Business:

A. Cemetery sign. This was discussed in the standing committee reports. See Cemetery report above.

B. Ordinance Changes Chapter 3 and 3.1: the code committee recommended that this chapter be deleted. Motion made by Bernice Wilson-Kube to repel chapters 3 and 3.1 of the Mineral code, seconded William Thomas. Motion passed 6-0.

Motion made by Roy Payne to adjourn, seconded by Roy McGehee. Motion passed 6-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m.