TOWN OF
JANUARY 16, 2007
COUNCIL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Richard Swart
The regular council meeting for the Town of
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL –
Clerk/Treasurer
Those Council members present were David Goodroe, William Talbott, Walter Wright and Danielle Erickson. Council member John Hannah was absent. Others present were Clerk/Treasurer Virginia Welker, retired Prosecuting Attorney Fred Johnson and Wahkiakum Eagle Editor Rick Nelson.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
PROCLAMATIONS and
PRESENTATIONS
Mayor Richard Swart
read a Proclamation for late Wahkiakum County Commissioner Mark Linquist who
recently passed away from cancer, in recognition for his years of public
service to the community.
Mayor Swart read and
presented retired Wahkiakum County Prosecuting Attorney Fred Johnson with a
Proclamation thanking him for his years of service to the County and the
Town. Johnson is also Assistant Fire
Chief in the Cathlamet Volunteer Fire Department and the Chairman of the
Cathlamet Planning Commission.
ADDITIONS,
CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
An Executive session was requested by Mayor Richard Swart to discuss personnel following the regular meeting of the Town Council meeting. The session is expected to last for approximately 15 minutes.
Motion to approve the
Agenda as amended was made by David Goodroe and seconded by William
Talbott. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0
Abstentions.
CITIZEN’S
PARTICIPATION
VOUCHER REVIEW
COMMITTEE
The Voucher Review Committee for the February 20, 2007 meeting consists of Walter Wright and John Hannah. William Talbott will be the alternate.
CONSENT AGENDA
David Goodroe made a motion to approve the
Consent Agenda, second by Walter Wright.
The consent agenda consists of the Minutes of December 18, 2006 regular
Meeting, Vouchers and Treasurer’s report for December 2006. With no changes to the consent agenda the
motion carried Yes 4, No 0, Abstentions 0.
ORDINANCES
Mayor Swart announced that he has assigned Town Attorney William Faubion to work with the Port District #1 Attorney Tim Hanigan to draft a proposed ordinance regulating boaters who anchor and live for free on Town property near the Elochoman Marina. Attorney Faubion will report back to the Council at next month’s meeting.
Resolution No 238; a Resolution Appointing Authorized Agents
to seek Federal and/or State Disaster Funding for the Town of
Resolution No. 239; a Resolution Proclaiming the year 2007
as the Centennial year for the Town of
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Motion to
authorize expenditures of up to $10,000.00 from the Water/Sewer fund for the
purchase of new computer systems for the Town Hall office as approved by the
Water/Sewer Committee was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Walter
Wright. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0
Abstentions. Council Member David Goodroe expressed his
interest in exploring options that would bring the costs down, including the
possibility of purchasing a server.
Council Member Walter Wright agreed that a server might be a good
option. The Water/Sewer Committee agreed to contact the Town’s Information
Technology advisor, Doug Sheresh, to set up a meeting and discuss the
options.
Mayor Swart told the
Council that he would like to develop a proposal for Council approval to
replace the current meter reading equipment.
The Mayor said that the current instrument has become obsolete and the
manufacturer is no longer producing or supporting it. Mayor Swart requested the assistance of the
Water/Sewer Committee to help prepare the proposal. Council Member Walter Wright voiced his
interest in radio telemetry meter reading devices. The Committee will report back with a
proposal and a budget at the next meeting.
Mayor Swart told the
Council that he has spoken to a person who he feels would make an excellent
part-time employee to oversee work crews up at the Park. The Mayor also said that he feels the Town
needs an arborist to come in and evaluate the trees in the park for safety
issues. Mayor Swart said that he has
made an appointment to speak with the Public Works Director for the City of
Mayor Swart told the
Council that he had spoken with Town Attorney William Faubion who suggested
that the Planning Commissioners terms be staggered so that Commissioner Hap
Anderson’s term would expire on 12/31/07, Commissioner Chris Doumit on 12/31/08
and Commissioner Fred Johnson on 12/31/09.
Council Members David Goodroe and Walter Wright said that this would
provide continuity to the Planning Commission.
Motion to extend
the terms of Planning Commissioner Hap Anderson to 12/31/07, Commissioner Chris Doumit to 12/31/08, Commissioner
Fred Johnson to 12/31/09was made by Walter Wright and seconded by David
Goodroe. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0
Abstentions.
Council Member David
Goodroe presented the Council with a partial “wish list” from Public
Works. Goodroe said that the purchase of
a smooth lipped bucket for the backhoe, tires and a tune-up for the backhoe,
gas detecting equipment for confined spaces safety and a small tool inventory
for the new truck are currently the most important items on the current list. Council Member Goodroe said that most of the
items needed are within the existing budget with the backhoe bucket costing
approximately $1,000.00 and the tools at about $500.00. Fred Johnson approached the Council with
information about a sophisticated gas-detecting device currently owned by the
County, which is rarely used that may be available to use.
Mayor Swart proposed
that the final decision on the Broadway Street Improvement Project be held over
until the engineers and PUD take measurements and be certain that the project
will be in accordance with the electrical code.
Mayor Swart told the
Council that Attorney William Faubion developed a new contract that includes an
additional $1,158 for a performance bond from the contractor and recommends
approval of the bid from Longview Plumbing and Heating. The new bid is now $43,497 not including tax.
Motion to approve
awarding the Pool Heating contract to LP&H was made by William Talbott and
seconded by Walter Wright. Motion
carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Swart noted
that there are special conditions that must be agreed to by the Town Council
for the anonymous gift donation to the Town.
Council Member David Goodroe read the conditions, which include creation
of a dedicated account for the sole purpose of the remodeling of the Library
and the Town Hall. Motion to approve the conditions of the
donation was made by David Goodroe and seconded by William Talbott. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Mayor Swart asked
for nominations for the Wahkiakum Community Network. Hearing none, the Mayor went on to the next
item on the agenda.
Motion to authorize
the contract with the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments for the year
2007 subject to review by the Town Attorney was made by David Goodroe and
seconded by Danielle Erickson. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Motion to approve
acceptance of the contract for 2007 with the
MAYOR REPORT – Richard Swart
A copy of the Mayor’s report is included in the Minutes.
CLERK/TREASURER REPORT – Virginia Welker
A copy of the Clerk/Treasurer’s report is included in the Minutes.
TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT – William Faubion
PUBLIC WORKS – David Vik
A copy of the Public Works report is included with the Minutes.
Mayor Swart told the Council that Public Works Field Supervisor David Vik had several items that had not been included in his report, one being that he has ordered speed limit signs. Council Member David Goodroe noted that the Greenwood Reservoir Painting project has been on the PW report for quite some time and that he would like to see a schedule put together with Public Works as to when it will be completed. Goodroe noted that he has been on the Council for two years and that the item has been on the report for at least that long. Mayor Swart said that the tank must be empty before it can be repainted and that there have not been many opportunities to begin the project. Council Member Walter Wright suggested that the Town request a bid proposal from the town engineers. Mayor Swart assigned this task to Council Member Wright.
PLANNING COMMISSION –
A copy of the Planning Commission report is included with the Minutes.
Planning Commission Chairman Fred Johnson told the Council that the Commission is still working on finishing the draft of the revised zoning ordinance. Chairman Johnson questioned whether there were funds allotted in the budget for planning assistance. Chairman Johnson also said that the PC is working on the parking designation as Mayor Swart requested and that all members of the Commission were present at the last meeting.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
PARKS & PROPERTIES – Danielle Erickson & John Hannah
POOL – Walter Wright & William Talbott
Council Member David Goodroe asked Mayor Swart if he had
contacted county grant writer Karen Bertroch, to see if she could help the Town
obtain a grant to help bring the Pool up to
PUBLIC SAFETY – Walter Wright & John Hannah
Council Member David
Goodroe said that the tree that fell on the new fence on
STREETS & DOCKS – Danielle Erickson & John Hannah
WATER & SEWER – Walter Wright & David Goodroe
ANNEXATION – Danielle Erickson & Walter Wright
Mayor Swart announced that there will be an Annexation workshop notice of which was published in the Wahkiakum Eagle.
REVENUE & SALARIES – William Talbott & David Goodroe
REVITALIZATION – David Goodroe & Danielle Erickson
Council Member David Goodroe asked Mayor Swart if the name of the Revitalization Committee should be changed now that the Downtown Revitalization is under way. Mayor Swart responded that he and Council Member Danielle Erickson should consult on that and report back to the Council next month.
ANNOUNCEMENTS –
EXECUTIVE SESSION –
The regular meeting of the Town Council was recessed at 8:09 p.m. The Executive Session began at 8:15 p.m. The Executive Session ended at 8:33 p.m. with no action taken.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:33 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Virginia L. Welker
Clerk/Treasurer