TOWN OF
MAY 17, 2010
COUNCIL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER – Mayor George Wehrfritz
The regular council meeting for the Town of
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
-
ROLL CALL – Clerk/Treasurer Tina Schubert
Present: Council Members Bob Rendler, David Goodroe, Ruth Doumit, Steve McNicholas and Mayor George Wehrfritz.
Absent: Wally Wright. Council Member David Goodroe made a motion to excuse Council member Wright. Seconded by Steve McNicholas. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No 0 Abstentions
Also present were Town Attorney Thomas Doumit, Clerk/Treasurer Tina Schubert, Wahkiakum Eagle reporter Rick Nelson, and members of the public.
ADDITIONS,
CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA –
Council Member David Goodroe asked to have the use of USDA funds for a groundwater project added to the agenda under New Business. Mayor Wehrfritz said that he will add it as item number G.
Council Member Bob Rendler asked to have USDA application approval for the Town Hall/Library project added. The Mayor added it as Item number H.
Council member Steve McNicholas asked to have a letter drafted in support for the National Heritage Area added as Item I.
Motion to approve the
agenda as amended was made by David Goodroe. Seconded by Ruth
Doumit. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
VOUCHER REVIEW
COMMITTEE -
1. Voucher Review Committee Report – David Goodroe said that there was an item for out-of-state travel reimbursement which must have prior approval and that he did not recall approving out-of-state travel, so he asked for that voucher to be pulled until he had a chance to examine it further. The vouchers were accepted as amended. Motion to approve the vouchers as amended was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Steve McNicholas. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 Abstentions.
2. The Voucher Review Committee for the June 21, 2010 meeting consists of Bob Rendler and Ruth Doumit. Steve McNicholas will be the alternate.
CONSENT AGENDA -
Motion
to approve the Consent Agenda made by David Goodroe, second by Bob Rendler. The
consent agenda consists of the Minutes of April 19, 2010 Regular Meeting,
Payroll for April in the amount of $14,802.44, EMS stipends for the month of April
in the amount of $2385.00, Manual
Warrants in the amount of $65,363.68, Vouchers for May in the amount of $102,142.01
and a one-time water bill adjustment for Fred Johnson. Council Member Goodroe said that there is a
typo on page two that refers to the May meeting as the “Mayo”Council meeting. The consent
agenda as amended carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
MAYOR'S REPORT –
Mayor George Wehrfritz reported that he had attended a meeting regarding the Just Grow It Community Garden project. The Mayor said that the project has now included the WIC program to supply small plots for the WIC participants and that planting is scheduled to begin this Saturday. The Mayor also said the application for an RCO grant for the Queen Sally Park grant has been submitted on time and that he will be attending a meeting to pitch the project to an RCO panel on June 18th. The Mayor says that the grant hinges on the Town updating its Park and Recreation plan which is on tonight’s agenda. Mayor Wehrfritz said that he was contacted by Mathew Johns of the Health Department regarding the ongoing failure of the Cathlamet Food Mart sewer system and the fact that the future of the business relies on the ability to connect to the Town sewer system. The $25,000.00 fee is prohibiting the connection to the system. The Mayor said that he is working with Council Member Goodroe and Public Works Superintendent David Vik to evaluate current fees which are a disincentive to business creation in the town. The Mayor said he is going to conduct a workshop that may help determine ways of modifying the current fee structure and lowering the costs. Mayor Wehrfritz said that he has been in discussion with Congressman Brian Baird regarding the Columbia-Pacific National Heritage Areas. The Mayor said that there is a letter in the meeting packet from the Chairman of the Columbia Ridge Estates in which they state their intention to abolish the current Homeowners Association. The Mayor said that he has responded that they are required to keep the Homeowners Association as part of the original approval of the development.
CITIZEN’S
PARTICIPATION -
CURRENT PROJECTS
REPORT –
A copy of the Public Works report is available at the Town Hall office on request.
Council Member David Goodroe said that the Town has
$190,000.00 in grant funds that must be used for water projects and suggested
that it be used for a groundwater test well that would help move forward to a
new water source for the Town. Motion to approve using the remaining
$190,000.00 in USDA grant funds for the purpose of studying the potential for a
new groundwater source was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob
Rendler. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0
Abstentions.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS –
Mayor Wehrfritz said that the
The approved lease was signed at this time by Pioneer Community Association Treasurer Randy Williams and the Mayor and Council.
NEW BUSINESS -
Pool Manager Lynette Ledgerwood gave a report to the Council
regarding the status of the upcoming pool season. Motion
to approve the new Pool Manager contract was made by David Goodroe and seconded
by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0
No, 0 Abstentions.
During discussion, the Council decided that they would like
to offer a trial free swim session on Saturday’s that would hopefully be
supported by local businesses. Motion to
approve a free swim session during the 2010 swim season was made by Bob Rendler
and seconded by Ruth Doumit. Motion
carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Fire Department representative Beau Renfro informed the Council of an upcoming mass casualty exercise on June 4, 2010 that would be conducted with the participation of four counties.
Mayor George Wehrfritz told the Council that he has
submitted the application for an
Motion to approve the
appointment of Jennifer Hanigan to the Planning Commission was made by David
Goodroe and seconded by Ruth Doumit.
Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Motion to approve the
contract for the use of the MRSC Small Works Consultant Roster was made by Bob
Rendler and seconded by David Goodroe.
Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
There was a discussion regarding the proposed Resolution for a moratorium on the issuance of building permits for the Columbia Ridge Estates.
Motion to proceed with
the grant application for the USDA Town Hall/Library project was made by Bob
Rendler and seconded by David Goodroe. After
discussion, Council member Goodroe withdrew his second. Motion died for lack of a second.
Council Member Steve McNicholas told the Council that he had
attended a meeting held on the proposed Columbia-Pacific National Heritage
Area. Mr. McNicholas said that he felt
it would be good for the county. Council
member Goodroe agreed. Motion to have the Mayor write a letter
indicating the Council support of the Columbia-Pacific National heritage Area
was made by Steve McNicholas and seconded by David Goodroe. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, o Abstentions.
Motion to approve
$15,000.00 in local match for grant funds from the Dept. of Transportation for
street lighting was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
ORDINANCES -
Motion to approve
Ordinance No. 530-10; an Ordinance Establishing the Mayor Succession policy for
the first reading was made by Bob Rendler and seconded by David Goodroe. Motion
carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Motion to approve
Ordinance No. 531-10; an Ordinance Establishing an Internet and Email policy
for the first reading was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Resolution No. 279-10;
Small Public Works and Consultant was read by Town
Attorney Tom Doumit. Motion to approve Resolution No. 279-10 was made by David
Goodroe and seconded by Steve McNicholas.
Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.
Motion to approve
Resolution No. 280-10; Issuing a Moratorium on the Issuance of Building Permits
for the Columbia Ridge Estates was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob
Rendler. Motion carried 4 Yes, 0 No, 0
Abstentions.
SIGNING OF ORDINANCES
AND RESOLUTIONS –
GENERAL DISCUSSION
& ANNOUNCEMENTS –
The Mayor said that Municipal Services Clerk Kerrie McNally has been out of the office due to a back injury and that due to the additional strain on the Clerk/Treasurer, the office may have limited public hours in order to give her time to work interrupted.
ADJOURNMENT -
The meeting was adjourned at 9:37 p.m.
George Wehrfritz, Mayor Tina Schubert, Clerk/Treasurer