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CITY OF TOWNSEND COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES On July 21st, 2009 |
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Attend: Attending the meeting was Mayor Pat Jenkins, Vice Mayor Ron Palewski, Commissioner Shannon Skidmore, Commissioner Charles Tippitt, Commissioner David Wietlisbach, Recorder Shelia Moss, Police Chief Ron Suttles, Fire Chief Don Stallions, Iva Butler, Mary Ann Ashworth, Craig Taylor Brown, Jackie Suttles, Don Headrick, Carl Goodman, as well as several other community members. Pledge: Mayor Jenkins opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Minutes: Commissioner Tippitt made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 16, 2009 Commission Meeting. Vice Mayor Palewski seconded and the motion passed with 4 yea votes. Commissioner Wietlisbach abstained. Finance Report: Recorder Moss gave the finance report for the month of June. Commissioner Wietlisbach made a motion to approve the finance report. Commissioner Tippitt seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. Police Report: Chief Suttles reported that there is a lot of traffic. He also reported that there was a major fire in Big Valley and that they were getting a lot of tubing calls. Chief Suttles mentioned that they do not have any major break downs and all equipment is running good. Maintenance: Chief Suttles reported that Glen McCampbell is playing catch up on mowing. He mentioned that Glen is keeping strips beside the sidewalks mowed, is putting weed killer on the bad spots, and is getting clean fill for the City property. Chief Suttles also reported that we need a pallet of bricks for a catch basin and three or four more tiles. He mentioned that Glen had sealed a section of the auditorium roof four times the size of the section leaking and after a hard rain there was still a small leak. Chief Suttles reported that Claude Scarbrough got in touch with the owner of the old Tennessee Greystone building and the owner had the building tore down. He mentioned that Kris Myers did the demolition. Chief Suttles reported that one or two more shrubs died and that we had a voucher to replace the dead shrubs. Mayor Jenkins asked about the storm drains along 321 having gravel and weeds growing out of them. Chief Suttles responded by saying that the State comes once a year with a long arm and sweeper when they get caught up to clean the storm drains. Fire: Chief Stallions reported that they were busy. He mentioned that the number of calls they went on doubled last month and were set for the same for this month. Chief Stallions stated that there were two major house fires and one car fire in the past three weeks. He reported that the fire in Big Valley was fully engulfed but were able to protect two others. Chief Stallions spoke about the new Fire Hall they were planning to build and mentioned that they are dealing with a lot of "red tape" such as preparation for flood, septic, and set backs. Vice Mayor Palewski stated he wanted to commend the Fire Department and the Police Department for the fireworks show on the Fourth of July. Chief Stallions stated that he appreciates the City as well as Chief Suttles and his officers. There was a brief discussion about the fireworks and tubing calls. Recreation: Commissioner Wietlisbach mentioned that he wanted to thank the Headricks, the Fire Department, the Police Department, Tiffany Webb, and Chilhowee Baptist for the Fourth of July celebration. He mentioned that Mr. Headrick supplied the location, Ms. Webb sang and that Chilhowee Baptist supplied water. Commissioner Skidmore reported that T Ball was finished. He reported that they won fifteen and lost three. Commissioner Skidmore mentioned that they had a party and eight went white water rafting. Townsend River Walk Landscaping Grant: Commissioner Tippitt reported that Elaine and Bob Russell are working on this project. Recorder Moss reported that Mr. Russell informed that there are four main people from the Garden Club working on this project, of which one is still out of town. Recorder Moss also mentioned that when this person gets back into town, the four are going to have a meeting to review all requirements. Recorder Moss stated that it appears that there is more to the front side of the grant than was anticipated in regards to engineering. She also reported that the Garden Club will be preparing preliminary plans and that she will touch base with them throughout the month and will have another update next month. Resolution 234-09-1C, Authorization for Code Update by the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS): Mayor Jenkins explained that MTAS would digitize our Code, so that we would have a searchable pdf document, and they have a technique of keeping track of revisions inside the document. Mayor Jenkins asked Recorder Moss if there was anything else MTAS would do with our Code. Recorder Moss responded by saying yes. She stated that last month the Commission requested her to determine if MTAS would update the Police Manual along with the Code and if so, how much more would it cost. Recorder Moss reported that MTAS would update the Police Manual at no charge. She also reported that for the codification process, she will have to pull copies of all the City's Ordinances and send them to MTAS. Recorder Moss also stated that once the codification is complete, the Attorney's for MTAS will review the updated Code and look at case studies which she mentioned was a concern of Commissioner Skidmore. She also reported that once the MTAS legal review is complete, it would then be presented to the City of Townsend and the City Attorney for review. Recorder Moss informed the Commission that this was not a quick process and that this could take up to a year. Mayor Jenkins asked about the cost. Recorder Moss stated the cost was $2,640 of which fifty percent was due up front and the remainder was due upon delivery of the first draft. Mayor Jenkins read the Resolution aloud. Commissioner Skidmore made a motion to approve. Vice Mayor Palewski seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. Personnel Policy for City Employee's (discussion): Mayor Jenkins mentioned that documentation was handed out last month about our personnel policy. He stated that to discuss this policy is going to be more than time would allow and would like to schedule a workshop. Mayor Jenkins stated that he had been reviewing ours and comparing it to Blount County's. There was a discussion regarding the personnel policy and workshop scheduling. Commissioner Skidmore mentioned he would like to push this back until everything slows down. Mayor Jenkins agreed and the Commission decided to defer this item until October. Proposed Special Event Permits: Mayor Jenkins mentioned that he is working with City Attorney Will Carver on this issue. He reported that he will bring a draft ordinance to the meeting next month for the Commission to review and discuss. Ordinance 244-09-1C, 2008-2009 Year End Budget Amendment, 1st Reading: By request of Mayor Jenkins, Recorder Moss read this Ordinance in its entirety aloud. Commissioner Skidmore made a motion to approve this Ordinance. Commissioner Tippitt seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. Ordinance 245-09-1C, Building Height, 1st Reading: Mayor Jenkins informed the Commission that this ordinance was referred to City Council by the Planning Commission. He stated that this Ordinance will allow for steeper pitched roofs which he felt that most people in town preferred. Commissioner Skidmore read this Ordinance in its entirety aloud. Commission Tippitt made a motion to approve this Ordinance. Commissioner Skidmore seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. Ordinance 246-09-1C, PUD signage, 1st Reading: Commissioner Wietlisbach read this ordinance in its entirety aloud. Commissioner Skidmore made a motion to approve this ordinance. Commissioner Tippitt seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. Local Opt-Out Prohibiting Handguns in Municipal Parks, Discussion: Mayor Jenkins mentioned the publication by the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) that was in their packets which included a model resolution. Commissioner Tippitt mentioned how close our park is to the school. Vice Mayor Palewski mentioned that he thinks the City should include the Bike Trail if they opt out. Chief Stallions asked if the Commission knew how many violations occurred from legal permit holders. Commissioner Wietlisbach stated that if the City opts out, a licensed, trained and law abiding citizen couldn't carry and also mentioned that if someone is going to commit a crime, they won't care that the City has a law prohibiting guns in parks or within so many feet of a school. Commissioner Wietlisbach stated that he was against prohibition. There was some discussion regarding firearm classes, opting out, and fines and penalties if the City opts out. No action was taken other than a request by the Mayor for the City Recorder to have a resolution for the August meeting. Auditorium use Request - David Sellers, Palm Ministries: David Sellers was not in attendance therefore, no discussion or action was taken. Other Business: *Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau: Mayor Jenkins explained the letter dated July 8, 2009 from the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau regarding the weekend of September 25th and 26th where the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Little River Railroad Museum, Tourism/Travel Council, and Nawger Knob will all have events taking place at the same time. Mayor Jenkins mentioned that the Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau would like for the Commission to participate in the Planning and to pass a Resolution acknowledging this joint cooperative effort as a City wide event. Commissioner Tippitt made a motion to pass a Resolution recognizing this event as a City wide event. Vice Mayor Palewski seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. *Knoxville Track Club: Recorder Moss introduced the letter from the Knoxville Track Club regarding the Wears Valley 15-K Road Race scheduled for September 13, 2009. Recorder Moss informed the Commission that she sends liability release paperwork to the organizers of this event and that the Knoxville Track Club always sends a request in writing each year for this event. Chief Suttles mentioned that this event usually takes about three hours and that the Knoxville Track Club needed to contact the Townsend Police Department and coordinate with them. There was a brief discussion regarding this event. Mayor Jenkins stated that for the Commission to issue a permit the Knoxville Track Club would need to submit their planned route to the Commission, ensure no PA systems will be blaring, ensure adequate restroom facilities, and designate a point man/woman to coordinate with the Police Department. Recorder Moss agreed to contact the Knoxville Track Club regarding these requirements. *Tubing and Rebar (email from Dana Green): Mayor Jenkins spoke about this email that claimed that Ms. Green had recently been tubing and found rebar sticking up out of the water. Chief Stallions stated that they had not received any calls regarding injury from rebar. There was discussion regarding this email. No action was taken. There being no further business, Commissioner Skidmore made a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Wietlisbach seconded and the motion passed with 5 yea votes. There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted by: Shelia Moss |
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