TOWN OF
MARCH 17, 2008
COUNCIL MEETING
DRAFT
CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Richard Swart
The regular council meeting for the Town of Cathlamet was called to order by Mayor Richard Swart at 7:00 P.M. Monday, March 17, 2008.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL – Interim Clerk Treasurer Sylvia Costich
Those Council members present were David Goodroe, William Talbott, Walter Wright John Hannah and Danielle Erickson. Others present were Interim Clerk/Treasurer Sylvia Costich, Town Attorney Thomas Doumit, Wahkiakum Eagle reporter Rick Nelson, Gray & Osborne engineer Eric Noah and members of the public.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
The Public Hearing on the Town of Cathlamet 2008 – 2014 Water Plan was called to order at 7:02 p.m. Engineer Eric Noah presented a draft summary of the plan for examination. Mayor Swart asked if there were anyone interested in speaking for or against the plan, or any questions about the plan. Citizen Dean Snyder questioned the size of the emergency backup generator included in the plan. Mr. Snyder suggested that the town may not need a generator of that capacity. Mr. Noah said that he would do some further investigation regarding it. Wahkiakum Eagle Editor Rick Nelson asked about potential well sites, expansion plans and acquiring water rights. With no further questions from the public, the hearing closed at 7:14 p.m.
PROCLAMATIONS and
PRESENTATIONS
ADDITIONS,
CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
Council Member David Goodroe asked what the process was for adding items that have been tabled back on to the agenda. Mayor Swart told him that there must be a motion to take an item off the table before it can be added back to the agenda.
Council Member Walter Wright requested that Resolution temporarily numbered 03172008-08 declaring air packs as surplus for the Fire Dept. be added to the agenda.
Council Member John Hannah requested an Executive Session regarding personnel issues. Council member Hannah said the session should last about 20 minutes.
Motion to approve the
Agenda as amended was made by David Goodroe and seconded by William
Talbott. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0
Abstentions.
CITIZEN’S
PARTICIPATION
Mr. Dean Snyder said that he feels that the traffic on River Street should go north as a one-way street to avoid hazards near the Post Office and that Butler Street should have parking on only one side and become a one-way street.
Ms. Joan Chester-Harvey of the Wahkiakum Chamber of Commerce
requested financial aid from the Town to replace funding that was cut by the
County for the upkeep of flower boxes placed along
Ms. Chester- Harvey also noted that a donated swing at the Town Dock had been well used for the year that it had been there and wondered if the Town might consider acquiring another one. Ms. Chester-Harvey also said that it would be nice to have a “Welcome to Cathlamet” sign placed at both ends of Broadway. Mayor Swart said that the sign issue is still being addressed.
Council Member David Goodroe requested the use of the old
Fire Hall for an art display during Bald Eagle Fest. Attorney Thomas Doumit said that the Town
could allow the use of the building for the art display if it was used for the
public benefit. Motion to allow the use of the old Fire Dept. for the use of the art
display was made by William Talbott and seconded by Danielle Erickson. Motion
carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Council Member Walter Wright suggested that the Fire Dept.
brush truck could be used on Thursday evenings to water the plants on
VOUCHER REVIEW
COMMITTEE
The Voucher Review Committee for the April 21, 2008 meeting consists of David Goodroe and Danielle Erickson. William Talbot will be the alternate.
CONSENT AGENDA
David Goodroe made a motion to approve the
Consent Agenda, second by Danielle Erickson.
The consent agenda consists of the Minutes of February 19, 2008 Regular
Meeting, Vouchers for February and Treasurer’s report for February. With no changes to the consent agenda the
motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
ORDINANCES
Town Attorney Thomas Doumit read Ordinance No. 500; an Ordinance Amending CMC 3.75.040 Related to Planning, Permits and Fees for the second, third and final reading.
Motion to approve
Ordinance No. 500; for the second, third and final reading was made by David
Goodroe and seconded by Danielle Erickson.
Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Attorney Doumit read Ordinance No. 501; Related to Passage
of Ordinances, and Repealing Ordinance No. 82 for the second, third and final
reading. Motion to approve Ordinance No.
501 for the second, third and final reading was made by David Goodroe and
seconded by Danielle Erickson. Motion
carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Motion to approve Resolution No. 03172008-08
was made by John Hannah and seconded by David Goodroe. Council Member Goodroe asked if all towns are currently using the PSI air
packs. Council Member Wright said that
fewer jurisdictions are using them and have replaced most of them with the MSA
air packs that are available from the United States Department of Homeland
Security. By passing the resolution designating them as surplus, the Town will
be eligible for the MSA packs. Motion
carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Note: The
Resolution has been permanently numbered as Resolution No. 255-08.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
The issue of
mailboxes on town streets is still tabled. It will be considered at the April
Council meeting.
Mayor Swart told the Council that he will be preparing a letter with the Town Attorney to remind the owners of the Columbia Ridge Estates of their responsibilities associated with the terms of the development. The Mayor said that he will share the letter with the Council after it has been completed. The Mayor expressed his concern regarding the lack of enforcement of the conditions that had been placed on the construction of the development and said that he is working with the Town Attorney to try and find better methods of enforcement.
Mayor Swart said that the Planning Commission had
recommended against restricted parking on
The Mayor said that he and Council Member David Goodroe have scheduled a meeting later this month to discuss the subject of a public-private sector development grant for the wastewater treatment plant project.
Council Member John Hannah requested that Item 5a, “Council Action to Approve the Mayor’s Appointment on Sylvia Costich as Clerk/Treasurer and Tina Schubert as Deputy Clerk” be included in the executive session. Motion to approve items 5b through 5e was made by John Hannah and seconded by David Goodroe. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
NEW BUSINESS
Motion to approve a
salary budget increase for the positions of Clerk/Treasurer and part-time
office help to create a 60% FTE Clerk/Treasurer and a 60% FTE Deputy Clerk was
made by David Goodroe and seconded by Danielle Erickson. Motion carried 5 Yes,
0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Citizen Kurt Davis requested that the Council consider
altering its current pit bull ordinance.
Mr. Davis said that he and his wife were unaware that the town had a pit
bull ordinance before they purchased their home in Cathlamet. Mr. Davis said that he and his wife have had
a pit bull for some time and that they try to keep it in their house but it was
on a chain one day and the meter reader came up to the house and the dog broke
his chain and went after the meter reader.
Mr. Davis said that they try to make sure that the dog is monitored
while it is outside and usually only let it out when it needs to go to the
bathroom. Mr. Davis asked permission to
reinstate the 1991 standards which would allow a pit bull in the town limits if
it meets certain requirements. Mayor Swart
suggested that Mr. Davis consult with the Town Attorney to see if there are any
concessions that may be made. Mayor
Swart said that he recommend suspending enforcement action against the
Mayor Swart asked the Town Engineer Eric Noah if the Council
should accept the draft water plan for submission to the WA State Department of
Ecology. Mr. Noah suggested that the
Council adopt the plan as it is. Motion to approve the submission of the 2008
-2014 Draft Water Plan was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Danielle
Erickson. Council Member John Hannah asked if there would be a problem if
the town decides that they would require a different size generator after
submitting the plan to the state.
Council Member Hannah said that he wanted to be certain that a change
such as this would not constitute having to resubmit the entire plan as
modified. Council Member Walter
Wright said that currently there is a switch on the public power lines that is
in front of the treatment plant that is able to shut off electricity to homes
further down the Elochoman in the event of an emergency that also shuts the
power off to the treatment plant.
Council Member Wright asked if the switch could be relocated to prevent
the water plant from losing power. Mayor
Swart said that he has asked the PUD to look into relocating the switch beyond
the water plant in an effort to reduce the frequency of using a back-up generator.
Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0
Abstentions.
Mayor Swart told the Council that the former parsonage next to the Town Hall was used by the Fire Dept. as a training drill and that it had gone very well. The Mayor said that the parsonage had been deemed to be economically prohibitive and unfeasible to attempt to restore it, so the Fire Dept. had burned it down at the Town’s request. Council member John Hannah, a member of the Fire Dept. said that the drill was a great opportunity for some of the younger members of the department to receive excellent training.
Motion to authorize
application to FEMA emergency aid for December storm event costs retroactively to meet the March 17,
2008 deadline was made by John Hannah and seconded by David Goodroe. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
MAYOR REPORT – Richard Swart
A copy of the Mayor’s report is included in the Minutes.
Council Member Walter Wright said that there is an error in the Mayor’s Report that refers to Cathlamet Fire Dept. handing off to Cowlitz 2 Fire District. Council Member Wright said that it should have said AMR instead.
CLERK/TREASURER REPORT – Interim Clerk/Treasurer Sylvia Costich
A copy of the Clerk/Treasurer’s report is included in the Minutes.
Council Member David Goodroe asked about the omission of $5, 000 earmarked annually for CWCOG from the budget. Council Member Goodroe said that he will try to get together with the Interim Clerk/Treasurer to go over the budget.
TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT – Thomas Doumit
PUBLIC WORKS – David Vik
A copy of the Public Works report is included with the Minutes..
PLANNING COMMISSION –
A copy of the Planning Commission report is included with the Minutes.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
PARKS & PROPERTIES – Danielle Erickson & John Hannah
Council Member John Hannah said that there is a broken piece
on the Fireman’s Pole playground equipment up at
.
POOL – Walter Wright & William Talbott
PUBLIC SAFETY – Walter Wright & John Hannah
STREETS & DOCKS – Danielle Erickson & John Hannah
WATER & SEWER – Walter Wright & David Goodroe
Council Member David Goodroe said that he, Mayor Swart, John Hannah and several Gray & Osborne engineers met to discuss various design questions regarding the proposed wastewater treatment plant. It was agreed that the discussion had been productive, and that answers to some of the questions were still forthcoming.
ANNEXATION – Danielle Erickson & Walter Wright
REVENUE & SALARIES – William Talbott & David Goodroe
REVITALIZATION – David Goodroe & Danielle Erickson
ANNOUNCEMENTS –
EXECUTIVE SESSION –
The regular meeting of the Town Council was recessed at 8:15 p.m. The Executive Session began at 8:15 p.m. The Executive Session ended at 8:39 p.m. with no action taken. The regular meeting resumed at 8:39 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.
________________________
____________________________________
Richard A. Swart,
Mayor Sylvia G. Costich, Interim
Clerk/Treasurer