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The pledge of allegiance.

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I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

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United States of America, and to the

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republic for which it stands, one nation

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under God, indivisible, with liberty and

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justice for all.

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Good afternoon to everyone. Another good

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crowd.

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We have some interesting

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items on the agenda to bring everyone

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out.

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Um, first thing is approval of the

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minutes. You all

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had a chance to review the minutes. And

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any additions, if you please,

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corrections?

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If there's anything good, so they stand

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approved as is.

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Report of town manager, Mr. Warner.

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Thank you, Mayor Stahli, members of

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council. Uh,

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first item I want to report on is under

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the terms of section 58-171 of the town

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code, the updated six-month priced cost

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adjustment for the electric utility

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bills is scheduled to take effect as of

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May 1st. Based on a projected increase

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in cost to customers

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uh, related to that calculation, staff

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is asking council to defer that

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adjustment for 1 month in order to give

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us some time to determine ways in which

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those costs can be reduced or deferred.

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So, when the time comes, I will be

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asking for this to be added as an item

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of new business at tonight's meeting as

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a revision to the agenda.

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Also, I just wanted to report really for

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the

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benefit of the public, council will be

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engaging in your work session on

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Saturday, May 2nd, to review and discuss

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fiscal year '26-'27 budget. Few

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highlights as it is currently proposed I

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want to pass along is that it does

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include

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a proposed increase in B pole to 20

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cents per $100 on businesses with gross

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revenues of $10 million and above, while

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the current rate is 15 cents. No other

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tax increases are currently proposed.

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Uh, the budget also demonstrates a

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concerted effort to identify all costs

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associated with the electric utility and

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to allocate those costs within the

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electric fund.

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This eliminates the traditional transfer

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from electric to general funds. However,

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a payment in lieu of taxes is included

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as general fund revenue related to the

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electric utility.

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This is calculated as the amount of tax

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revenue that the town would receive from

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the utility if it were a private entity.

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Compared to last year's transfer of

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$799,000,

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the proposed payment in lieu of taxes is

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$589,000.

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Also, I want to report that the decision

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to withdraw from commercial solid waste

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service is showing some benefit. Solid

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waste fund is actually transferring

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revenues, $10,000 for the first time in

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memory, to the general fund.

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The budget includes a 2% cost of living

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adjustment for employees. We were

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originally looking at 2.8% to match the

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social security cost of living

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adjustment, but our health insurance

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costs increased once again.

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On that note, the budget includes

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continued funding of employee only

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health insurance coverage

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for all employees at the $1,000

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deductible level, but we are already

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looking to make changes in fiscal year

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'27-'28

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to drop the $500 deductible plan and

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offer a high deductible health care plan

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instead.

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Also, note that there is one vacancy in

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public works as a result of retirement

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that will be frozen and is not proposed

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to be funded. Other vacancies that occur

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through retirement will be considered in

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similar fashion during the coming year.

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And finally, I just want to close by

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noting that there is a $332,000

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contingency budgeted within the general

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fund, uh, but this includes the

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possibility of debt for the municipal

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building renovations and other

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obligations, but it is nice to balance

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without use of prior year reserves and

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actually to budget a contingency.

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And that concludes my report for you.

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Thank you, Mr. Warner.

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And before this before council,

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we have a few.

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And before I get started, let me tell

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everyone

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you will have a 3-minute time limit. We

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have a lot on the agenda today, so you

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will be limited to 3 minutes total. So,

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once you hear the buzzer go off, your

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time is

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up. So, please be courteous to that.

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Uh

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the first one is Mr. Ken Bolka.

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Take me 3 minutes to get up to the

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stand.

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Well, your time [laughter] will begin

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then. Thank you, Mr. Mayor,

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Vice Mayor, and distinguished council

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members,

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and town manager. Good evening,

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everyone.

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I stand before you as a resident of

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Bedford as co-founder with my wife,

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Linda, of the Bedford Boys Tribute

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Center. We've had in operation for 7

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[clears throat] years now with

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approximately 22,000 visitors from all

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50 states and 34 countries.

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I'm here to discuss a very important

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issue that requires your immediate

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attention, discussion, and decision.

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The issue at hand is the proper time to

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display our community's Vietnam War

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fallen and the Bedford Boys lamp post

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street banners in a respectful and

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appropriate manner.

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Recently, I had a very very sincere

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discussion on the issue with the

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leadership of the Vietnam War Monument

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Board of Directors.

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It was presented to me that in the

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opinion of the board that the Vietnam

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War fallen banners should be displayed

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with the same equal 9-month period as

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the Bedford Boys banners are displayed.

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The reasoning offered was that

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eventually, over time, the National

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D-Day Memorial and the Bedford Boys

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Tribute Center will fall out of

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visitors' interest and no longer be

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visited.

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Furthermore, it was expressed to me that

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the downtown historic district of

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Bedford is in a depressed state and has

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no retail future to speak of. In the

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board's opinion, the new Vietnam War

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Monument would become the new draw

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for visitors to come to Bedford and

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therefore be an important attraction

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that will be the source of

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revitalization for downtown Bedford.

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I strongly

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disagree with this reasoning and

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position.

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To accept the fact that National D-Day

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Memorial and the Bedford Boys Tribute

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Center will be less visited in the

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future

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would be like saying eventually, we will

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be forgetting Gettysburg and Valley

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Forge.

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The DNA of our town is the D-Day

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invasion and on June the 6th of 1944

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and our Bedford Boys first wave 9

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minutes of sacrifice.

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To provide equal 9-month

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lamp post exposure at the same time for

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both the D-Day and Vietnam fallen would

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truly be an injustice to the legacies of

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our beloved Bedford Boys.

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Do not

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under any condition

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>> [snorts]

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>> interpret

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or have the opinion that I do not have

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respect for our fallen Vietnam boys.

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To the contrary, they must be honored,

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but in an appropriate fashion and time.

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Let's face some facts.

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Liberty University did not produce a

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play featuring the Vietnam fallen,

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nor has there been a book written about

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them.

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I offer these perspectives for the

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benefit of the town of Bedford. Because

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of the historical worldwide uniqueness

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related to the invasion, I firmly

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believe that the National D-Day Memorial

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and the Bedford Boys Tribute Center

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will continue to be recognized

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nationally and will be increasingly

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visited because two new hotels are under

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construction. Mr. Parker, your time is

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up. We'll have to ask you to whatever

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else you have, pass that on to us. But

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uh next time, you know, be more brief.

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We understand what you're saying. Fully

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understand. And we know what you've said

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about the banners. And I I understand

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what where you're coming from. We're

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here to recognize all the all the fallen

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heroes as you well know. I don't

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disagree with you, but we understand

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what you're saying. So, whatever else

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you want to say to us, put it in print

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and pass it out, please.

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Thank you.

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All right.

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Next one [clears throat] is Mr. George

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Palmer.

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And give your name and address, too. I'm

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sorry. Yes, George Palmer.

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1100 Pine Crest Pine Crest Avenue. I've

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been a resident for 12 years.

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Uh tonight, I just want to address the

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council about this new business proposal

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9-CC-15-1-4-21

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speed limit change on Longwood Avenue.

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First of all, I personally, on a daily

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basis, either jog or walk the streets of

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Bedford. In the past 12 years,

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observations I've made is that people

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have become increasingly distracted in

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their driving. And any type of speed

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limit change going from a lower limit to

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a higher limit, I highly disagree with

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because it puts me at a risk and it puts

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the other people at risk. Longwood

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Avenue is a highly residential area with

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a lot of foot traffic and pedestrian

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traffic. And

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it wasn't but a couple years ago that

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the change was made from 35 to 25 as I

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understand it. Now, maybe I I'm

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incorrect on that, but was that change

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not made too long ago? So, I would like

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to know what data you have that would

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suggest that a change to increase it

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would be beneficial

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because based on the observations I've

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made by driving and walking on the town streets, people

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they definitely don't pay attention to

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the speed limits now. So, increasing it

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would be a danger.

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I also suggest that

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a little more traffic enforcement be

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exercised in these areas, especially

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in on Longwood where it's it narrows

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down and people excessively drive over

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the speed limit. Thank you for your

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time. I appreciate what you do. Thank

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you.

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All right. Tom Ippolito.

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He finally let me speak.

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>> [laughter]

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>> Name Name and address. Uh Tom Ippolito,

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1680 Quaker Mill Road. I just wanted to

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remind all of you uh that Bart had

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brought up about the

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uh

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what you guys are going to be passing

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soon. But you need to uh

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make sure that you

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00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,360
go ahead and hire somebody for the

281
00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:51,920
ticket [clears throat] person.

282
00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:53,360
I don't know how you do all that, but

283
00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:55,600
you got to vote on it and stuff.

284
00:16:55,600 --> 00:16:58,536
But we do need that revenue in town.

285
00:16:58,536 --> 00:16:58,560
>> [clears throat]

286
00:16:58,560 --> 00:16:59,800
>> So, I mean, you need to really think

287
00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:01,079
that over.

288
00:17:01,079 --> 00:17:10,470
That's all I have. Okay. Thank you.

289
00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:11,600
All right.

290
00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:16,310
Leslie Mahaffey.

291
00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:17,880
Come on down.

292
00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,720
Leslie Mahaffey, 1517 Woodland Road here

293
00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:23,160
in town.

294
00:17:23,160 --> 00:17:25,240
Thank you, gentlemen, for allowing me to

295
00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,400
come before you to speak. I'm in here in

296
00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:32,360
reference to the proposed banner policy.

297
00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:34,840
In review of this uh

298
00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:37,320
items that are under the placement under

299
00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:40,760
C, it's listed as historically

300
00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,440
significant persons.

301
00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,240
I'm taking that that that's the museum

302
00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:48,520
historical banners and I would

303
00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:50,679
respectfully ask that that name be

304
00:17:50,679 --> 00:17:52,600
changed to such.

305
00:17:52,600 --> 00:17:56,400
Um also, there are 18 of those banners

306
00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,480
that are currently There's only 17 on

307
00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,120
display right now due to a fire damage,

308
00:18:03,120 --> 00:18:06,840
but the 18 is not identified.

309
00:18:06,840 --> 00:18:10,000
And looking over the policy, also, I see

310
00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,320
that there is some inconsistencies

311
00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:14,880
in naming of streets.

312
00:18:14,880 --> 00:18:18,000
Uh Central Street, North Bridge, doesn't

313
00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,760
say street. And also within the

314
00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:24,320
uh C section where the

315
00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,919
historical banners are, um

316
00:18:27,919 --> 00:18:30,000
in years past, they have historically

317
00:18:30,000 --> 00:18:33,120
been on Bridge Street. The way that I'm

318
00:18:33,120 --> 00:18:35,240
reading this, you're tacking it on at

319
00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:38,440
the end of the Vietnam veterans and the

320
00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,720
end of the Bedford Boys.

321
00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,360
I would like to see that actually on

322
00:18:43,360 --> 00:18:46,120
North Bridge Street. The museum has been

323
00:18:46,120 --> 00:18:50,000
in this town for 93 years. We are your

324
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,880
next door neighbors. We represent all

325
00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:56,159
history from when the town went from the

326
00:18:56,159 --> 00:19:00,360
county was formed in 1754,

327
00:19:00,360 --> 00:19:03,040
the town in 1782,

328
00:19:03,040 --> 00:19:05,520
all the way through. We represent

329
00:19:05,520 --> 00:19:07,800
history of everyone.

330
00:19:07,800 --> 00:19:10,640
So, those items I would ask for your

331
00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,200
consideration

332
00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,919
on that. Thank you for your time.

333
00:19:14,919 --> 00:19:16,280
Thank you, Leslie.

334
00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:16,960
Um

335
00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:18,840
Mr. Warner, did you take notes on that?

336
00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:19,679
>> Got it.

337
00:19:19,679 --> 00:19:21,000
Good deal.

338
00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,000
What What did I ask?

339
00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:33,630
All right. Uh Terry Foster.

340
00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:36,240
Hi, I'm Terry Foster. I live at 611

341
00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,960
Longwood Avenue in Bedford.

342
00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,200
I'd like to address the proposal to

343
00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:44,159
increase the speed limit on Longwood.

344
00:19:44,159 --> 00:19:45,919
First, let me express my huge

345
00:19:45,919 --> 00:19:48,080
disappointment that this is even up for

346
00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:51,480
consideration again when it was resolved

347
00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:53,880
less than 2 years ago,

348
00:19:53,880 --> 00:19:56,680
Longwood Avenue is mostly residential

349
00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,160
and speed limits in residential areas

350
00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,560
are 25 through most of the town. Most

351
00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,560
homes on Longwood are old and it's these

352
00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:08,440
homes that make Bedford charming. Some

353
00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:10,920
homes, including ours, are within

354
00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:14,040
Bedford's historic district. These homes

355
00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,480
were built long before heavy vehicles

356
00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,480
came along. The heavy weight is

357
00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:20,520
destructive to the foundations of a

358
00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,640
house, especially an old house. Every

359
00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:27,960
house or our house is 150 years old and

360
00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,360
I assure you that we feel every bump and

361
00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:32,800
rattle day and night when large

362
00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:35,680
vehicles, especially trucks, drive past

363
00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:38,040
our house and that's with the current

364
00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:40,360
speed limit of 25.

365
00:20:40,360 --> 00:20:43,040
Whether we own one or not, we are all

366
00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,760
stewards of these old houses. Driving

367
00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,840
slowly on Bedford's on every Bedford

368
00:20:48,840 --> 00:20:52,000
street is how we do our part to protect

369
00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,040
them. Driving at 25 is a small price to

370
00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,160
pay to live in such a special town

371
00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,120
filled with old houses and history.

372
00:21:01,120 --> 00:21:02,840
Longwood has a walking loop and

373
00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:05,360
crosswalks. Our residents and families

374
00:21:05,360 --> 00:21:07,480
who walk and run the loop need to be

375
00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:09,560
kept safe. Drivers aren't paying

376
00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:11,560
attention like they used to and

377
00:21:11,560 --> 00:21:13,400
increasing the speed limit near a

378
00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,160
walking trail is a dangerous idea. Also,

379
00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,960
bicycles and scooters drive along the

380
00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,760
street and oftentimes in the center of

381
00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,160
the street.

382
00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:26,640
Unless your address is Longwood Avenue,

383
00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:29,520
you really have no idea how a speed

384
00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:31,960
increase, even a small one, will affect

385
00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,400
the traffic. Drivers aren't going to

386
00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:36,360
yo-yo back and forth. They will increase

387
00:21:36,360 --> 00:21:39,360
their speed and keep it there, which is

388
00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:43,000
the which is the same reason we had the

389
00:21:43,000 --> 00:21:46,680
problem 2 years ago and fixed it. When

390
00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:49,320
the speed limits were inconsistent a few

391
00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,880
years back, they were resolved with a

392
00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:55,560
consistent speed of 25 throughout the

393
00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:58,080
entire stretch of Longwood, which is

394
00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:01,640
only 1.2 miles and it still makes sense

395
00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,040
today. I'm not sure who wants to

396
00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:06,679
increase the speed limit again, but I'll

397
00:22:06,679 --> 00:22:08,640
take a wild guess they don't live on

398
00:22:08,640 --> 00:22:11,320
Longwood Avenue. This is our street. We

399
00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,000
live here. We see, feel, and hear the

400
00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:16,840
traffic every day. They don't. They pass

401
00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:18,640
through and complain they have to drive

402
00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,679
slowly. At the current 25 mile an hour

403
00:22:21,679 --> 00:22:24,960
speed limit, it takes only 4 minutes to

404
00:22:24,960 --> 00:22:28,120
drive from Food Lion to the old middle

405
00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:30,920
school. I'm dumbfounded that this issue

406
00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,640
has resurrected again. Please keep the

407
00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:37,040
25 mile an hour speed limit consistent.

408
00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,000
And if you do anything, please enforce

409
00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:43,400
the law and add a few more traffic signs

410
00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:44,520
while you're at it. Thank you.

411
00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:48,470
>> Thank you.

412
00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:53,540
All right. Brinkley Hill.

413
00:22:53,550 --> 00:22:57,510
» [clears throat]

414
00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:59,720
» Hey there. Brinkley Hill, 706 Vine

415
00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:01,320
Street. I also just wanted to speak

416
00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:02,800
against

417
00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:04,600
raising the

418
00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:07,040
back to 35 on Longwood.

419
00:23:07,040 --> 00:23:08,760
Um I think that it'd be dangerous to do

420
00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:11,040
so. It's unnecessary. But

421
00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:12,840
I just wanted to add it acts as a great

422
00:23:12,840 --> 00:23:14,640
like traffic calming area when you're

423
00:23:14,640 --> 00:23:16,880
coming into a town as a driver. You just

424
00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:19,480
naturally feel the sense when the speed

425
00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:21,440
limit goes down, it's showing you, okay,

426
00:23:21,440 --> 00:23:23,400
I'm coming into town. People live here.

427
00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:24,960
People are playing outside. People are

428
00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:27,400
walking. They're on Longwood. Um other

429
00:23:27,400 --> 00:23:30,280
towns like Stanton or Warrenton or

430
00:23:30,280 --> 00:23:32,080
Farmville do the same thing where as a

431
00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,440
driver indicates to you, okay, I'm

432
00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:36,160
coming into a town. It's time to slow

433
00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,360
down. Um one thing I might suggest is

434
00:23:39,360 --> 00:23:41,600
that I think people feel like it should

435
00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,440
be a 35 in that area because there's

436
00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:46,120
still two lanes like when you're driving

437
00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:47,760
on the right, there's two lanes on other

438
00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:49,920
parts. When you see a two-lane road as a

439
00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:52,120
driver or a wide road, you just

440
00:23:52,120 --> 00:23:53,760
naturally feel like, okay, it's time to

441
00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,080
drive faster. Um so I don't think that

442
00:23:56,080 --> 00:23:58,000
it's enough to even necessarily just

443
00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,240
smack the 25 sign out there. I think

444
00:24:00,240 --> 00:24:02,960
it'd be really great to even decrease it

445
00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:05,360
to one lane on either side with like a

446
00:24:05,360 --> 00:24:07,440
grass median in the middle, put some

447
00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,640
trees up. It does You You see this in

448
00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:11,400
numerous other towns, right? And it

449
00:24:11,400 --> 00:24:13,760
indicates to you, okay, I'm in a small

450
00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,080
town. Slow down. People live here. It'd

451
00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:17,720
be a great place to add a bike lane

452
00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:19,280
even.

453
00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:21,320
Or increase the sidewalks or I have

454
00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:22,480
kids, you know, I love pushing my

455
00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:24,120
stroller and walking next to my wife at

456
00:24:24,120 --> 00:24:27,280
the same time. Uh so but Longwood is a

457
00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:29,120
It It's a beautiful place and it shows

458
00:24:29,120 --> 00:24:30,480
you like like I've been mentioning, the

459
00:24:30,480 --> 00:24:32,400
historic homes, the loop goes through

460
00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:34,760
there. People walk. So just generally,

461
00:24:34,760 --> 00:24:37,080
even on top of not increasing it to a

462
00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:38,840
35, I think it'd be a great place to

463
00:24:38,840 --> 00:24:41,080
make a statement for the town of this is

464
00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:43,400
a beautiful place. People live here.

465
00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:47,560
So I say keep it at 25 and also let's make it a beautiful place as well.

466
00:24:47,560 --> 00:24:50,142
Thank you, guys. Thank you.

467
00:24:50,142 --> 00:24:52,470
>> [clears throat]

468
00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:54,200
» All right.

469
00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:59,957
And finally, Mark Knutson.

470
00:24:59,967 --> 00:25:02,870
» [clears throat]

471
00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,320
» Hey. My name is Mark Knutson. I live at

472
00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:08,480
720 Longwood Ave. I'm also here to speak

473
00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,760
about the speed limit change and I am

474
00:25:11,760 --> 00:25:15,240
against it increasing to 35.

475
00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:18,240
I have four kids and our house is pretty

476
00:25:18,240 --> 00:25:20,560
close to the road. So

477
00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:22,480
our safety, just in case a ball goes

478
00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:24,280
rolling into the road, I'd rather not

479
00:25:24,280 --> 00:25:26,840
have the speed increase for any reason

480
00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:30,600
to make that more dangerous for them. Um

481
00:25:30,600 --> 00:25:33,040
I know that also in this area, you know,

482
00:25:33,040 --> 00:25:35,560
Halloween is is a big thing and the

483
00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:39,800
roads get really busy and I know that um

484
00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:41,120
there's there's going to be a lot of

485
00:25:41,120 --> 00:25:43,000
foot traffic, especially during times

486
00:25:43,000 --> 00:25:44,560
like that. So

487
00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:46,320
for that reason I think as well it would

488
00:25:46,320 --> 00:25:49,679
be good to keep the speed low

489
00:25:49,679 --> 00:25:50,920
and

490
00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:52,280
you know,

491
00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:53,920
I That's really it.

492
00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:57,750
Thank you for your time. Thank you.

493
00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,320
And that concludes the

494
00:26:00,320 --> 00:26:02,440
appearances before council.

495
00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:05,870
Councilman Evans.

496
00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:07,520
Councilman Bileto, what do you have for

497
00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:08,520
us?

498
00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:09,800
Oh,

499
00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:11,200
it's good to see a big crowd here this

500
00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:13,160
evening. We appreciate everybody that

501
00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:16,440
spoke. Ken, George, Tommy, Leslie,

502
00:26:16,440 --> 00:26:18,800
Terry, Brinkley,

503
00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:21,040
and Mark. We hear all of what you're

504
00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:22,360
saying.

505
00:26:22,360 --> 00:26:24,920
Um we appreciate it. I'm sure y'all know

506
00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:26,520
through Facebook that they have

507
00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:29,920
increased the ticket limits in town of

508
00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:31,480
your parking

509
00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,760
and stuff and I don't know if y'all paid

510
00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:35,160
attention or noticed a lot, there's a

511
00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:37,960
lot more places to park now in town.

512
00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:39,640
Which so we are very happy about because

513
00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:41,760
now our customers can come see us, which

514
00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:43,960
will get that food tax up.

515
00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:45,200
Um

516
00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:46,360
I also had the pleasure of meeting a

517
00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:49,560
couple this week that purchased Holy

518
00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:51,640
Land. I don't know if how many of y'all

519
00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:54,480
ever went to Holy Land or remember Holy

520
00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:56,800
Land, but they purchased Holy Land

521
00:26:56,800 --> 00:26:58,760
and they signed the papers today and

522
00:26:58,760 --> 00:27:00,800
they're in the works of reopening Holy

523
00:27:00,800 --> 00:27:03,040
Land back up. So it was a real good

524
00:27:03,040 --> 00:27:04,880
pleasure to meet them and see them and

525
00:27:04,880 --> 00:27:06,240
hopefully that'll get some more touring

526
00:27:06,240 --> 00:27:09,600
back in to town with us.

527
00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,950
That's all I got.

528
00:27:12,960 --> 00:27:15,679
Well, thank everybody that's here today.

529
00:27:15,679 --> 00:27:17,360
I hope everybody had a chance to vote

530
00:27:17,360 --> 00:27:21,040
today. It's after voting time now. Um we

531
00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:22,720
have a busy meeting tonight, so I won't

532
00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:24,400
say a lot. I just want to thank you for

533
00:27:24,400 --> 00:27:25,360
being here and thank you for your

534
00:27:25,360 --> 00:27:28,950
comments tonight.

535
00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:31,360
Um just want same thing some of the what

536
00:27:31,360 --> 00:27:32,840
Todd said and everybody else said. Thank

537
00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:34,880
everybody for being here tonight. Thank

538
00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:37,280
you for all your comments and concerns

539
00:27:37,280 --> 00:27:38,800
that you came up here and spoke and

540
00:27:38,800 --> 00:27:40,000
whatever.

541
00:27:40,000 --> 00:27:43,360
Um also I want to say I I attended a

542
00:27:43,360 --> 00:27:45,160
event Saturday. I attended the Bedford

543
00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,040
Professional Women's event. It was

544
00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:48,880
pretty cool. Going in, I ain't know how

545
00:27:48,880 --> 00:27:52,470
many women in that.

546
00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:53,600
But

547
00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,040
they had some of the best food in the

548
00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:58,320
world there at the event. And they This

549
00:27:58,320 --> 00:28:00,200
is a fashion show they put on for every

550
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,920
year for people and stuff like all that

551
00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:04,720
vents and different

552
00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:06,000
clothing

553
00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:09,360
um organizations and stuff like that. So

554
00:28:09,360 --> 00:28:11,720
I think that was a real great event to

555
00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:14,640
just go to and just sit there and watch.

556
00:28:14,640 --> 00:28:16,640
I met a lot of people. I saw a lot of

557
00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:18,120
people I already knew. So it's pretty

558
00:28:18,120 --> 00:28:20,240
cool going to something like that.

559
00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:22,159
And [clears throat] I just want to say

560
00:28:22,159 --> 00:28:26,950
thank everybody for being here tonight.

561
00:28:26,960 --> 00:28:28,560
Councilman Haley, we've discussed a

562
00:28:28,560 --> 00:28:30,280
whole lot of things since I've been on

563
00:28:30,280 --> 00:28:32,200
council. That's the biggest I've seen

564
00:28:32,200 --> 00:28:35,464
you smile about anything particular.

565
00:28:35,464 --> 00:28:42,230
>> [laughter]

566
00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:43,720
» But yeah, thanks thank everyone for

567
00:28:43,720 --> 00:28:48,800
being here. Appreciate you coming in and sharing your thoughts with us.

568
00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:50,760
All right. I thank every body that you

569
00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:52,880
have for coming up tonight and you know,

570
00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:55,080
and also we listen to y'alls comments.

571
00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:57,360
We take a lot of comments and also like

572
00:28:57,360 --> 00:28:59,120
to welcome the people watching by

573
00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:01,280
YouTube. I get a lot of comments from

574
00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:05,909
people watching by YouTube.

575
00:29:05,919 --> 00:29:08,080
Well, I'd just echo appreciate everybody

576
00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,000
coming out. It's good to hear

577
00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:11,720
uh

578
00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:13,520
your opinions and also to see so many

579
00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:15,400
people out. There's two things I just

580
00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,200
wanted to bring up real quickly. A few

581
00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,480
meetings ago I I mentioned a group

582
00:29:20,480 --> 00:29:21,840
called Mission Serve is coming here in

583
00:29:21,840 --> 00:29:24,679
July. They're the group that comes

584
00:29:24,679 --> 00:29:26,240
basically sixth graders through

585
00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:30,080
18-year-olds who come and do work on

586
00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:33,000
homes for the needy in the community.

587
00:29:33,000 --> 00:29:34,200
They'll be back like I said, back here

588
00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:36,560
in July. And if if you want to make

589
00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:38,159
donations, you can still make it to the

590
00:29:38,159 --> 00:29:40,360
town of Bedford. Just in the memo, put

591
00:29:40,360 --> 00:29:43,040
Mission Serve there. But also was

592
00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:46,440
reminded that I if if you need work done

593
00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:49,680
on your house, if you're in need,

594
00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:50,440
um

595
00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:52,560
you can contact our very own Mary

596
00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:54,840
Zirkle, director of planning community

597
00:29:54,840 --> 00:29:59,350
development at 540-587-6006.

598
00:29:59,360 --> 00:30:01,520
She's compiling a list of

599
00:30:01,520 --> 00:30:04,600
people who need who need work done.

600
00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:07,360
And lastly, I just wanted to do uh

601
00:30:07,360 --> 00:30:09,040
tell everybody that came out the last

602
00:30:09,040 --> 00:30:11,120
Tuesday for the electric meeting.

603
00:30:11,120 --> 00:30:13,320
Appreciate all the citizens coming out,

604
00:30:13,320 --> 00:30:15,120
but also wanted to just do a shout out

605
00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:15,880
to the

606
00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:18,320
our Ampere rep and for for John for

607
00:30:18,320 --> 00:30:19,600
being there and

608
00:30:19,600 --> 00:30:21,360
taking questions and answers at that

609
00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,680
meeting. So, thanks.

610
00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:25,800
Um

611
00:30:25,800 --> 00:30:27,280
I have

612
00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:29,840
very little other than to say

613
00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:32,240
I too want to thank everyone who came up

614
00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:33,840
here and spoke.

615
00:30:33,840 --> 00:30:36,360
Uh we do appreciate that. Taking the

616
00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:38,480
time to voice your opinion. There are

617
00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:41,000
times where you we may be undecided

618
00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,440
about a few things, but when we hear the

619
00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:45,760
public opinion you know, that makes a

620
00:30:45,760 --> 00:30:48,040
big decision

621
00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:53,800
uh for us. So, I do appreciate that. And I also want to touch

622
00:30:53,800 --> 00:30:55,120
uh

623
00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:58,880
based on what uh Stacy said. Uh my wife

624
00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:00,800
is usually involved in that uh fashion

625
00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:01,880
show.

626
00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:04,400
Uh she's usually one of the models, so

627
00:31:04,400 --> 00:31:06,200
but we were out of town this

628
00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:08,120
uh week, so I walked in and asked her,

629
00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:11,680
"So, what would I do if I came?" Cuz I'd

630
00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:13,880
be the only guy. She said, "Probably so,

631
00:31:13,880 --> 00:31:15,680
but you know a lot of them just sit

632
00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:17,960
there and talk." So, so maybe next year

633
00:31:17,960 --> 00:31:19,871
we'll both go, Stacy.

634
00:31:19,871 --> 00:31:21,950
>> [laughter]

635
00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:24,760
» All right, uh moving on. Report of

636
00:31:24,760 --> 00:31:26,760
council committees. Um

637
00:31:26,760 --> 00:31:29,320
I don't think we had any. Nope.

638
00:31:29,320 --> 00:31:31,880
And revisions to the agenda, Mr. Warner?

639
00:31:31,880 --> 00:31:33,360
Yes, sir. I would like to request that

640
00:31:33,360 --> 00:31:36,680
we add as item number 12 a

641
00:31:36,680 --> 00:31:39,160
an action to defer the implementation of

642
00:31:39,160 --> 00:31:41,880
the PCA for 1 month.

643
00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:43,440
Uh let me look at that. That's at the

644
00:31:43,440 --> 00:31:45,840
very end you want to put that. Yes, sir.

645
00:31:45,840 --> 00:31:52,612
All right.

646
00:31:52,622 --> 00:31:56,790
» [clears throat]

647
00:31:56,800 --> 00:31:59,990
» All right.

648
00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:04,350
Is everyone okay with that? Yep.

649
00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:06,360
All right.

650
00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:09,750
Okay.

651
00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:11,600
Public hearings.

652
00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:15,000
Adoption of Bedford 2045 comprehensive

653
00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:17,360
plan.

654
00:32:17,360 --> 00:32:19,160
Notice is given of a public hearing to

655
00:32:19,160 --> 00:32:21,840
be held by the town council 7:00 p.m. on

656
00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:24,400
Tuesday, April 21st for the purpose of

657
00:32:24,400 --> 00:32:26,000
considering adoption of the proposed

658
00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:28,320
town comprehensive plan as required by

659
00:32:28,320 --> 00:32:32,640
the Code of Virginia section 15.2-2223.

660
00:32:32,640 --> 00:32:34,120
The proposed plan includes studies,

661
00:32:34,120 --> 00:32:36,320
goals, and strategies for key topics

662
00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:37,679
such as land use, housing,

663
00:32:37,679 --> 00:32:40,800
transportation, economy, infrastructure,

664
00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:42,480
and community facilities and services

665
00:32:42,480 --> 00:32:44,800
for guiding future development. Copies

666
00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:46,560
of the proposed plan have been available

667
00:32:46,560 --> 00:32:48,360
for public review in the office of

668
00:32:48,360 --> 00:32:50,200
planning and community development, and

669
00:32:50,200 --> 00:32:51,800
I understand that tonight there are

670
00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,240
representatives of EPR who

671
00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:55,600
did excellent work in drafting the

672
00:32:55,600 --> 00:32:58,640
proposed plan who may be prepared to

673
00:32:58,640 --> 00:33:01,160
give a brief presentation ahead of the

674
00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:02,840
opening of the public hearing.

675
00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:04,160
Okay.

676
00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,000
Um

677
00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,000
Yeah, Todd, I think you and

678
00:33:09,000 --> 00:33:11,560
Alan. Okay. Um

679
00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:13,640
I will open this public hearing and then

680
00:33:13,640 --> 00:33:15,040
you all come up and give your

681
00:33:15,040 --> 00:33:17,520
presentation and if anyone else wants to

682
00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:19,520
make any comments, then we'll go from

683
00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:20,800
there.

684
00:33:20,800 --> 00:33:23,600
So, the public hearing for 2045

685
00:33:23,600 --> 00:33:29,390
comprehensive plan is now open.

686
00:33:29,400 --> 00:33:31,040
And then once we go down the agenda,

687
00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:32,280
we'll make all you back for further

688
00:33:32,280 --> 00:33:36,430
questions.

689
00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:38,400
I made the screen come on, but thank you

690
00:33:38,400 --> 00:33:40,120
very much for having us. I'm Todd

691
00:33:40,120 --> 00:33:42,480
Gordon, I'm principal planner at EPR.

692
00:33:42,480 --> 00:33:44,280
With me is Alan Simpson,

693
00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:47,040
also at EPR.

694
00:33:47,040 --> 00:33:48,840
There we go. There's some slides.

695
00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:49,679
Um

696
00:33:49,679 --> 00:33:52,280
So, we have had the opportunity and

697
00:33:52,280 --> 00:33:53,480
we're very thankful for the opportunity

698
00:33:53,480 --> 00:33:55,160
to work with

699
00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:56,640
town staff and with the planning

700
00:33:56,640 --> 00:33:59,040
commission on the update of town's

701
00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:00,960
comprehensive plan. We've been working

702
00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:04,080
on that for approximately 18 months.

703
00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:05,040
Um

704
00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:09,560
and so uh we'd like to make a brief presentation of the contents of

705
00:34:09,560 --> 00:34:12,510
that.

706
00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,440
I may have gone the wrong way. Uh so, we

707
00:34:15,440 --> 00:34:17,720
uh called this plan our goal Bedford

708
00:34:17,720 --> 00:34:19,240
2045.

709
00:34:19,240 --> 00:34:22,120
Um and so, the comprehensive plan is uh

710
00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:23,600
meant to look approximately 20 years

711
00:34:23,600 --> 00:34:25,560
into the future at where the town of

712
00:34:25,560 --> 00:34:27,720
Bedford would like to see itself and

713
00:34:27,720 --> 00:34:29,520
what strategies should be in place in

714
00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:31,600
order to get you there. Um

715
00:34:31,600 --> 00:34:33,720
with this plan, the town has expressed

716
00:34:33,720 --> 00:34:36,200
its aims to protect town's history and

717
00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:39,159
identity while growing the local economy

718
00:34:39,159 --> 00:34:40,919
and providing reliable infrastructure

719
00:34:40,919 --> 00:34:44,878
and services.

720
00:34:44,888 --> 00:34:45,640
» [clears throat]

721
00:34:45,640 --> 00:34:47,200
>> Some of you may be veterans of

722
00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:49,080
comprehensive planning, others may be

723
00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:51,320
new to this idea, uh

724
00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,120
but the comprehensive plan is required

725
00:34:53,120 --> 00:34:55,159
by Virginia law, required required by

726
00:34:55,159 --> 00:34:56,480
the Code of Virginia for all cities,

727
00:34:56,480 --> 00:34:59,680
counties, and towns. Um the code is the

728
00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:01,680
plan is meant to be a guide to future

729
00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:03,359
decision-making

730
00:35:03,359 --> 00:35:05,080
on a range of topics.

731
00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:05,880
Um

732
00:35:05,880 --> 00:35:07,840
and it's very important to note that the

733
00:35:07,840 --> 00:35:09,560
comprehensive plan is a non-binding

734
00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:11,600
guide. It's meant to be a reference that

735
00:35:11,600 --> 00:35:13,480
you can look to as you make many little

736
00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:15,960
decisions about building or approving

737
00:35:15,960 --> 00:35:17,200
developments

738
00:35:17,200 --> 00:35:18,920
um and so on um

739
00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:20,840
to keep on track for

740
00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:22,240
where what the town is aiming for over

741
00:35:22,240 --> 00:35:24,080
the next 20 years.

742
00:35:24,080 --> 00:35:27,040
Um ultimately, the plan is a guide. Um

743
00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:28,600
it does not hold the force of law the

744
00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:30,880
way a zoning ordinance does. So,

745
00:35:30,880 --> 00:35:33,840
important to keep that in mind.

746
00:35:33,840 --> 00:35:35,280
I wanted to briefly mention the planning

747
00:35:35,280 --> 00:35:37,160
process. As I said, approximately 18

748
00:35:37,160 --> 00:35:39,320
months since we initially started. We

749
00:35:39,320 --> 00:35:41,640
kicked off the project in the summer of

750
00:35:41,640 --> 00:35:43,280
2024.

751
00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:45,560
Um we had the

752
00:35:45,560 --> 00:35:47,320
information and a community survey

753
00:35:47,320 --> 00:35:51,000
available at CenterFest that fall. Um

754
00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:52,400
throughout that winter and into

755
00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,000
February, we met with various

756
00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:56,080
stakeholders, um

757
00:35:56,080 --> 00:35:57,640
community groups,

758
00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:00,480
town departments, and others.

759
00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,040
We conducted a great deal of technical

760
00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:04,320
and and demographic analysis looking at

761
00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:06,800
the town's growth, um

762
00:36:06,800 --> 00:36:10,000
property values, housing values, etc.

763
00:36:10,000 --> 00:36:11,520
And began to come up with strategic

764
00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:14,960
proposals and goals for the future. Um

765
00:36:14,960 --> 00:36:16,640
We presented goals and strategic

766
00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:19,160
proposals at another public workshop in

767
00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:21,600
August 2025.

768
00:36:21,600 --> 00:36:23,840
Um and then drafted plan language

769
00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:25,640
through the fall.

770
00:36:25,640 --> 00:36:28,000
We then presented again to the public

771
00:36:28,000 --> 00:36:30,280
the draft plan in February

772
00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:32,880
a couple of months ago and then made

773
00:36:32,880 --> 00:36:34,920
revisions and brought that plan back to

774
00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:38,320
the planning commission in in March.

775
00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:39,880
And so, um

776
00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:41,800
ultimately, we've had a a wonderful time

777
00:36:41,800 --> 00:36:43,320
and I'm very happy to work with the

778
00:36:43,320 --> 00:36:45,040
planning commission on the construction

779
00:36:45,040 --> 00:36:46,600
of this plan.

780
00:36:46,600 --> 00:36:47,760
Um and they have recommended the

781
00:36:47,760 --> 00:36:49,480
approval of this plan to you, and so we

782
00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:51,240
bring it to you this evening.

783
00:36:51,240 --> 00:36:53,840
Um I mentioned a minute ago the the

784
00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:55,560
number of stakeholders that are involved

785
00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:58,520
in that in this. Um and so, uh spoke

786
00:36:58,520 --> 00:37:00,600
speaking to the public through

787
00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:02,480
uh in-person interactions at various

788
00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:04,920
events and meetings, um

789
00:37:04,920 --> 00:37:06,840
getting the public's

790
00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:08,240
input through a survey that we

791
00:37:08,240 --> 00:37:10,160
conducted, but we also sat down

792
00:37:10,160 --> 00:37:13,760
individually with um various folks um

793
00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:15,400
who had something they might share with

794
00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:17,720
us about the future of Bedford. Um and

795
00:37:17,720 --> 00:37:19,320
those included some of the people listed

796
00:37:19,320 --> 00:37:20,800
here, the police department, fire and

797
00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:22,600
rescue, public works,

798
00:37:22,600 --> 00:37:24,600
um County of Bedford,

799
00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:26,400
the hospital administration and other

800
00:37:26,400 --> 00:37:28,560
health care providers, church groups,

801
00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:30,760
property owners, small businesses and

802
00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:32,920
business groups, uh the real estate

803
00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:34,560
industry and real estate agents and

804
00:37:34,560 --> 00:37:35,840
professionals,

805
00:37:35,840 --> 00:37:38,280
um schools, utility providers, as well

806
00:37:38,280 --> 00:37:39,200
as the Virginia Department of

807
00:37:39,200 --> 00:37:41,720
Transportation.

808
00:37:41,720 --> 00:37:43,240
In doing all of that, we've had this

809
00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:45,040
website up throughout and I hope many

810
00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:46,440
people have had the opportunity to visit

811
00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:48,640
it, but bedford2045.com

812
00:37:48,640 --> 00:37:50,920
where we posted all the draft materials,

813
00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:54,240
results of surveys, uh presentations,

814
00:37:54,240 --> 00:37:56,160
invitations to come to public meetings,

815
00:37:56,160 --> 00:37:57,440
and others.

816
00:37:57,440 --> 00:37:59,600
Um and so, the draft plan that's uh

817
00:37:59,600 --> 00:38:01,440
available in your packet is also up on

818
00:38:01,440 --> 00:38:03,720
this website, and we've used the website

819
00:38:03,720 --> 00:38:05,840
to collect feedback on it.

820
00:38:05,840 --> 00:38:11,920
And so, this website continues to be the landing place for this project

821
00:38:11,920 --> 00:38:15,030
through its adoption.

822
00:38:15,040 --> 00:38:17,000
And so, the the comprehensive plan

823
00:38:17,000 --> 00:38:18,920
starts very broadly with where Bedford

824
00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:20,800
wants to be in the future and and

825
00:38:20,800 --> 00:38:22,440
whittles itself down to specific

826
00:38:22,440 --> 00:38:23,960
strategies and actions that might be

827
00:38:23,960 --> 00:38:26,560
taken to to help deliver you there. But

828
00:38:26,560 --> 00:38:28,040
the the vision statement that was

829
00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:29,520
constructed

830
00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:31,680
using the input of of residents through

831
00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:32,880
the survey

832
00:38:32,880 --> 00:38:34,920
is essentially a vision of growing the

833
00:38:34,920 --> 00:38:37,240
economy and and culture

834
00:38:37,240 --> 00:38:38,800
of Bedford,

835
00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:41,560
becoming a hub for your region,

836
00:38:41,560 --> 00:38:42,840
and being a town filled with

837
00:38:42,840 --> 00:38:44,800
high-quality housing,

838
00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:46,280
um high-quality employment, and

839
00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:49,480
high-quality public services.

840
00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:51,080
So, I'll invite Alan to speak for a

841
00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:52,359
minute.

842
00:38:52,359 --> 00:38:53,240
So, I'll talk a little bit about the

843
00:38:53,240 --> 00:38:56,680
plan itself. So, as you review it as you

844
00:38:56,680 --> 00:38:58,160
have reviewed it, it's organized around

845
00:38:58,160 --> 00:38:59,760
12 chapters.

846
00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:01,200
So, each cover different topics. So, we

847
00:39:01,200 --> 00:39:02,760
have

848
00:39:02,760 --> 00:39:03,960
analysis of key issues and

849
00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:05,880
opportunities, so strengths, weaknesses,

850
00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:07,760
opportunities, and threats,

851
00:39:07,760 --> 00:39:09,120
demographic analysis of current

852
00:39:09,120 --> 00:39:11,800
conditions and projected population, uh

853
00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:13,400
so on and so forth.

854
00:39:13,400 --> 00:39:14,760
Uh so, then we talk about the economy,

855
00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:16,680
we talk about housing, community

856
00:39:16,680 --> 00:39:19,120
facilities and services, uh

857
00:39:19,120 --> 00:39:20,960
infrastructure, transportation, parks

858
00:39:20,960 --> 00:39:22,800
and rec. We have one on community

859
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:24,720
identity and partnerships,

860
00:39:24,720 --> 00:39:26,359
uh then land use and growth management.

861
00:39:26,359 --> 00:39:28,200
That includes future land use map,

862
00:39:28,200 --> 00:39:29,680
existing zoning, that sort of thing. And

863
00:39:29,680 --> 00:39:31,160
then finally, implementation to talk

864
00:39:31,160 --> 00:39:33,080
about how the plan will actually be put

865
00:39:33,080 --> 00:39:34,680
forth. Uh

866
00:39:34,680 --> 00:39:36,080
so,

867
00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:38,520
first, you know, each chapter has uh

868
00:39:38,520 --> 00:39:42,200
some analysis of existing conditions. Um

869
00:39:42,200 --> 00:39:44,480
so, it includes public facilities,

870
00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:46,360
demographics, utility statistics. This

871
00:39:46,360 --> 00:39:48,600
is an example of the one for water and

872
00:39:48,600 --> 00:39:50,640
sewer services. So,

873
00:39:50,640 --> 00:39:52,200
uh, you know, we we have that analysis

874
00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:54,040
there as kind of a baseline.

875
00:39:54,040 --> 00:39:55,040
Um,

876
00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:56,440
and

877
00:39:56,440 --> 00:39:58,040
with that we go on to information

878
00:39:58,040 --> 00:39:59,840
analysis. So, we then analyze

879
00:39:59,840 --> 00:40:01,600
opportunities,

880
00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:03,280
uh, threats, strengths, weaknesses that

881
00:40:03,280 --> 00:40:05,800
we identified through our own analysis,

882
00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:06,960
through talking to the public,

883
00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:08,840
stakeholders, and the survey, things

884
00:40:08,840 --> 00:40:10,320
that the town is real good at, things

885
00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:11,720
that people would like to see the town

886
00:40:11,720 --> 00:40:13,080
improve at.

887
00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:15,600
Um, so it has, uh, you know, information

888
00:40:15,600 --> 00:40:17,800
on future growth and change for each

889
00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:19,360
chapter topic.

890
00:40:19,360 --> 00:40:20,120
Um,

891
00:40:20,120 --> 00:40:22,360
and then finally, goals and strategies

892
00:40:22,360 --> 00:40:24,200
for each topic in the plan. So, each

893
00:40:24,200 --> 00:40:26,240
chapter proposes one or two goals for

894
00:40:26,240 --> 00:40:27,560
the chapter topics, the overarching

895
00:40:27,560 --> 00:40:29,120
goals, and within those strategies to

896
00:40:29,120 --> 00:40:30,560
spell out actions to achieve those

897
00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:31,560
goals,

898
00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:32,560
um, and

899
00:40:32,560 --> 00:40:34,840
some strategies below that.

900
00:40:34,840 --> 00:40:37,480
Um, so the implementation chapter has a

901
00:40:37,480 --> 00:40:40,480
matrix that talks about, um, we've got

902
00:40:40,480 --> 00:40:42,280
the overarching goal. So, here for

903
00:40:42,280 --> 00:40:43,840
economic development, goal one is to

904
00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:45,520
strengthen and diversify the town's

905
00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:47,360
economy while revitalizing downtown and

906
00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:49,920
our community. How do we get there? We

907
00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:53,320
have strategy 1A, 1B, 1C that that dig

908
00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:55,600
down into how to how to get that done.

909
00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:57,760
Uh, talks about who the lead authorities

910
00:40:57,760 --> 00:40:59,553
would be on that, uh, who would be

911
00:40:59,553 --> 00:41:02,320
[clears throat] support on that. Um,

912
00:41:02,320 --> 00:41:04,680
and in general terms it talks about the

913
00:41:04,680 --> 00:41:06,280
length of time it would take to achieve

914
00:41:06,280 --> 00:41:10,120
that, the the cost using dollar figures.

915
00:41:10,120 --> 00:41:12,640
Uh, so, you know, one dollar sign being

916
00:41:12,640 --> 00:41:15,080
low cost, three being higher cost,

917
00:41:15,080 --> 00:41:16,920
uh, and then, uh, some discussion about

918
00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:18,680
the resources available

919
00:41:18,680 --> 00:41:20,720
to achieve those things. So, that's at

920
00:41:20,720 --> 00:41:22,080
the end of the document and it's kind of

921
00:41:22,080 --> 00:41:23,520
a summary of everything that we talk

922
00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:27,000
about and then recommend in the plan.

923
00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:30,000
Um, transportation is the transportation

924
00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:31,080
chapter is probably the most significant

925
00:41:31,080 --> 00:41:33,600
chapter in terms of content in the plan.

926
00:41:33,600 --> 00:41:35,680
So, uh, we talk about transportation

927
00:41:35,680 --> 00:41:37,520
being more than just about moving cars

928
00:41:37,520 --> 00:41:40,400
and automobiles around. Uh, so it used

929
00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:41,720
to be about supporting center access to

930
00:41:41,720 --> 00:41:44,640
downtown, uh, schools, parks, jobs,

931
00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:46,000
services for people of all ages and

932
00:41:46,000 --> 00:41:47,200
abilities.

933
00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:49,080
Uh, so Bedford obviously is positioned

934
00:41:49,080 --> 00:41:51,600
around Route 460, regional ties in your

935
00:41:51,600 --> 00:41:53,800
nearby metropolitan areas. Bedford

936
00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:55,120
shares commuting, freight, and visitor

937
00:41:55,120 --> 00:41:57,440
travel. So, we focus on walkability,

938
00:41:57,440 --> 00:42:00,200
uh, safer crossings, transit,

939
00:42:00,200 --> 00:42:01,760
uh, and readiness for a future passenger

940
00:42:01,760 --> 00:42:04,640
rail stop. Um, so we worked with, uh,

941
00:42:04,640 --> 00:42:06,680
the CVPD C to develop this chapter. They

942
00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:09,680
were, uh, co-authors on on that part of

943
00:42:09,680 --> 00:42:12,040
the plan, um, and it was reviewed and

944
00:42:12,040 --> 00:42:13,360
approved by the Virginia Department of

945
00:42:13,360 --> 00:42:14,640
Transportation.

946
00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:16,560
So, that is a significant part of the

947
00:42:16,560 --> 00:42:17,880
plan.

948
00:42:17,880 --> 00:42:19,040
Uh, another significant part of the plan

949
00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:20,560
is the future land use map. Um, for

950
00:42:20,560 --> 00:42:22,640
those who, uh, have not looked at the

951
00:42:22,640 --> 00:42:24,680
future land use map before, um, it's a

952
00:42:24,680 --> 00:42:26,120
complement to the zoning map. So, the

953
00:42:26,120 --> 00:42:27,920
existing zoning map

954
00:42:27,920 --> 00:42:29,920
talks about what's here now, uh, what

955
00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:32,760
the land use is as of today. Um, and the

956
00:42:32,760 --> 00:42:34,840
future land use map is not a zoning map.

957
00:42:34,840 --> 00:42:37,680
It is a guide for what the future zoning

958
00:42:37,680 --> 00:42:40,680
should look like. So, this is uh, the

959
00:42:40,680 --> 00:42:43,040
vision for what the town would look like

960
00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:44,880
in horizon year 2040.

961
00:42:44,880 --> 00:42:45,640
Um,

962
00:42:45,640 --> 00:42:47,440
it's not necessarily,

963
00:42:47,440 --> 00:42:48,240
um,

964
00:42:48,240 --> 00:42:50,400
it is not law and it is not

965
00:42:50,400 --> 00:42:52,920
prescriptive, but it's a guide and a

966
00:42:52,920 --> 00:42:55,640
kind of a way forward to what the plan

967
00:42:55,640 --> 00:42:56,920
what the town wants the town to look

968
00:42:56,920 --> 00:42:57,454
like in

969
00:42:57,454 --> 00:42:57,640
>> [laughter]

970
00:42:57,640 --> 00:42:58,760
>> 2040. So, [cough]

971
00:42:58,760 --> 00:43:00,000
uh, this is an important feature of most

972
00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:02,080
comprehensive plans.

973
00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:03,520
It helps organize areas that may be

974
00:43:03,520 --> 00:43:04,760
appropriate for different types and

975
00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:07,240
scales of growth and development.

976
00:43:07,240 --> 00:43:08,880
Um,

977
00:43:08,880 --> 00:43:09,760
so

978
00:43:09,760 --> 00:43:13,790
Todd, you want to take over?

979
00:43:13,800 --> 00:43:17,320
So, it it's it's certainly difficult to summarize the whole comprehensive

980
00:43:17,320 --> 00:43:19,240
plan in a in a brief presentation. The

981
00:43:19,240 --> 00:43:21,640
document is roughly 100 pages long. Um,

982
00:43:21,640 --> 00:43:23,520
I encourage everyone to to give it a

983
00:43:23,520 --> 00:43:25,080
read. In the grand scheme of

984
00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:26,880
comprehensive plans, it is, uh,

985
00:43:26,880 --> 00:43:28,200
relatively brief compared to some

986
00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:29,960
places. Um,

987
00:43:29,960 --> 00:43:30,840
but the plan is meant to be

988
00:43:30,840 --> 00:43:33,240
comprehensive. It covers, uh, a wide

989
00:43:33,240 --> 00:43:36,440
variety of topics, um, but ultimately,

990
00:43:36,440 --> 00:43:39,520
um, it is, uh, again, a guide, uh, to

991
00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:41,560
decision making, um,

992
00:43:41,560 --> 00:43:43,400
primarily to be used by you all as you

993
00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:45,560
approve developments, consider budgets,

994
00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:47,520
and other priorities. Um, there are some

995
00:43:47,520 --> 00:43:49,440
other uses to comprehensive plans. Uh,

996
00:43:49,440 --> 00:43:51,240
the comprehensive plan is in some ways a

997
00:43:51,240 --> 00:43:54,400
key to funding that may be granted by

998
00:43:54,400 --> 00:43:57,400
the state or or even federal agencies.

999
00:43:57,400 --> 00:43:58,480
Um,

1000
00:43:58,480 --> 00:44:00,280
in many cases those agencies want to

1001
00:44:00,280 --> 00:44:03,040
know that these plans, uh, or or your

1002
00:44:03,040 --> 00:44:04,560
request for funding is included in your

1003
00:44:04,560 --> 00:44:06,720
comprehensive plan, um, because that

1004
00:44:06,720 --> 00:44:09,000
shows that it is, uh, accepted as part

1005
00:44:09,000 --> 00:44:10,160
of the vision for the future of your

1006
00:44:10,160 --> 00:44:10,960
community.

1007
00:44:10,960 --> 00:44:11,680
Um,

1008
00:44:11,680 --> 00:44:13,840
it's also true, um, in our experience

1009
00:44:13,840 --> 00:44:16,160
that the comprehensive plan is turned to

1010
00:44:16,160 --> 00:44:18,680
very often by potential investors in

1011
00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:21,320
your town, um, employers, um, property

1012
00:44:21,320 --> 00:44:23,600
developers, and others as an indication

1013
00:44:23,600 --> 00:44:26,280
of, uh, what the town is, uh, interested

1014
00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:28,040
in and what its vision for its future

1015
00:44:28,040 --> 00:44:29,160
is.

1016
00:44:29,160 --> 00:44:31,640
So, we we present this plan that we

1017
00:44:31,640 --> 00:44:33,880
think is, uh, strongly based in public

1018
00:44:33,880 --> 00:44:35,640
input and feedback,

1019
00:44:35,640 --> 00:44:39,160
um, charts the the demographic, um,

1020
00:44:39,160 --> 00:44:41,280
and and other, uh, existing conditions

1021
00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:42,920
of the town, and presents goals and

1022
00:44:42,920 --> 00:44:46,160
strategies to to point Bedford toward

1023
00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:47,680
where your community has indicated

1024
00:44:47,680 --> 00:44:50,760
they'd like to be, uh, in the future.

1025
00:44:50,760 --> 00:44:51,440
Uh,

1026
00:44:51,440 --> 00:44:53,760
so, uh, your last comprehensive plan

1027
00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:56,520
was, uh, adopted in 2017. There have

1028
00:44:56,520 --> 00:44:58,520
been some updates and additions in the

1029
00:44:58,520 --> 00:45:00,840
intervening years, um, and now we

1030
00:45:00,840 --> 00:45:04,800
present this as, uh, this year's update to the

1031
00:45:04,800 --> 00:45:06,520
comprehensive plan. Um,

1032
00:45:06,520 --> 00:45:09,120
we are certainly happy to hear your

1033
00:45:09,120 --> 00:45:10,680
comments, public comments, and answer

1034
00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:12,240
any questions you have.

1035
00:45:12,240 --> 00:45:14,040
Probably time once we get to the, uh,

1036
00:45:14,040 --> 00:45:15,800
new business we'll probably call you

1037
00:45:15,800 --> 00:45:18,120
back up with any questions we may have

1038
00:45:18,120 --> 00:45:19,320
or,

1039
00:45:19,320 --> 00:45:21,080
uh, any concerns.

1040
00:45:21,080 --> 00:45:26,131
Yeah.

1041
00:45:26,141 --> 00:45:28,310
» [clears throat]

1042
00:45:28,320 --> 00:45:29,680
» Is there anyone else who would like to

1043
00:45:29,680 --> 00:45:35,790
make comments on the comprehensive plan?

1044
00:45:35,800 --> 00:45:38,160
Going once. Going twice.

1045
00:45:38,160 --> 00:45:41,120
And the public hearing for comprehensive

1046
00:45:41,120 --> 00:45:44,950
plan is closed.

1047
00:45:44,960 --> 00:45:47,240
Now, the next one is vacant building

1048
00:45:47,240 --> 00:45:48,640
registry.

1049
00:45:48,640 --> 00:45:51,200
Mr. Warner. Notice is hereby given of a

1050
00:45:51,200 --> 00:45:52,880
public hearing to be held by the town

1051
00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:55,280
council at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April

1052
00:45:55,280 --> 00:45:57,800
21st. Purpose of the public hearing is

1053
00:45:57,800 --> 00:45:59,800
to receive comment on a proposed

1054
00:45:59,800 --> 00:46:01,440
ordinance to require buildings that are

1055
00:46:01,440 --> 00:46:03,560
vacant, boarded up, and disconnected

1056
00:46:03,560 --> 00:46:06,160
from utilities for more than 12 months

1057
00:46:06,160 --> 00:46:08,280
to register with the town as vacant

1058
00:46:08,280 --> 00:46:11,880
structures and pay an annual $100 fee.

1059
00:46:11,880 --> 00:46:13,320
Further information on this action has

1060
00:46:13,320 --> 00:46:14,880
been available in the office of the town

1061
00:46:14,880 --> 00:46:17,760
manager. Also, before the, uh,

1062
00:46:17,760 --> 00:46:19,120
public hearing is open, I wanted to note

1063
00:46:19,120 --> 00:46:21,880
council has received comments by email

1064
00:46:21,880 --> 00:46:24,320
from three citizens. Well,

1065
00:46:24,320 --> 00:46:26,440
first is Barbara Owen, second is Bill

1066
00:46:26,440 --> 00:46:28,440
Moseley, and the third is Ms. Ann

1067
00:46:28,440 --> 00:46:30,400
DeLong. And I would ask that those

1068
00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:32,880
comments be appended to the minutes in

1069
00:46:32,880 --> 00:46:34,720
the official record of the meeting.

1070
00:46:34,720 --> 00:46:36,600
All right.

1071
00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:39,160
And this public hearing for the vacant

1072
00:46:39,160 --> 00:46:42,200
building registry is now open.

1073
00:46:42,200 --> 00:46:43,600
Anyone who would like to come up and

1074
00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:45,720
speak about that, you may come up at

1075
00:46:45,720 --> 00:46:47,520
this time and tell us what's on your

1076
00:46:47,520 --> 00:46:50,627
mind.

1077
00:46:50,637 --> 00:46:53,470
» [laughter]

1078
00:46:53,480 --> 00:46:55,320
» This is a big surprise, but I love

1079
00:46:55,320 --> 00:46:59,120
Bedford, and I can't stand seeing these

1080
00:46:59,120 --> 00:47:01,440
empty buildings. The

1081
00:47:01,440 --> 00:47:03,120
this does not sound like it's going to

1082
00:47:03,120 --> 00:47:06,080
deter anyone from having an empty

1083
00:47:06,080 --> 00:47:07,760
building.

1084
00:47:07,760 --> 00:47:11,280
I think $100 a year, woo be do, that's

1085
00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:13,040
nothing. I think it should be harsh it

1086
00:47:13,040 --> 00:47:16,240
should be very harsh and you need to hit

1087
00:47:16,240 --> 00:47:19,120
a hit them harder than that. Thank you.

1088
00:47:19,120 --> 00:47:23,349
Good. Thank you.

1089
00:47:23,359 --> 00:47:28,230
Um, could you

1090
00:47:28,240 --> 00:47:30,120
Um,

1091
00:47:30,120 --> 00:47:33,950
then anyone else?

1092
00:47:33,960 --> 00:47:36,200
This public hearing is

1093
00:47:36,200 --> 00:47:38,670
closed.

1094
00:47:38,680 --> 00:47:40,880
All right, consent agenda. Uh, Bedford

1095
00:47:40,880 --> 00:47:43,680
Town Carnival. Mr. Warner. Bedford

1096
00:47:43,680 --> 00:47:45,560
County Fair Incorporated has requested

1097
00:47:45,560 --> 00:47:47,200
permission to host the Bedford Town

1098
00:47:47,200 --> 00:47:48,920
Carnival at Liberty Lake Park from

1099
00:47:48,920 --> 00:47:51,880
August 21st through 23rd. The event will

1100
00:47:51,880 --> 00:47:53,600
also require quite a bit of put up and

1101
00:47:53,600 --> 00:47:55,720
take down work in the days before and

1102
00:47:55,720 --> 00:47:57,800
after the event. Special event

1103
00:47:57,800 --> 00:47:59,480
application has been completed and is

1104
00:47:59,480 --> 00:48:01,640
attached for council's reference.

1105
00:48:01,640 --> 00:48:03,240
In addition, all fees included within

1106
00:48:03,240 --> 00:48:04,880
the current special events policy have

1107
00:48:04,880 --> 00:48:06,920
been paid. Tonight town council is

1108
00:48:06,920 --> 00:48:08,760
requested to approve the Bedford Town

1109
00:48:08,760 --> 00:48:13,560
Carnival on August 21st, 22nd, and 23rd

1110
00:48:13,560 --> 00:48:17,240
from Friday at 4:00 p.m. until Sunday at

1111
00:48:17,240 --> 00:48:20,040
6:00 p.m. at Liberty Lake Park. All

1112
00:48:20,040 --> 00:48:22,440
right, hear a hear a motion? Yeah.

1113
00:48:22,440 --> 00:48:24,000
Uh, Councilman Haley

1114
00:48:24,000 --> 00:48:25,920
made the motion and Councilman Haley

1115
00:48:25,920 --> 00:48:27,520
made the second.

1116
00:48:27,520 --> 00:48:29,840
Any questions, comments?

1117
00:48:29,840 --> 00:48:31,720
Same concept from last year where they

1118
00:48:31,720 --> 00:48:32,720
had it out there, right? That's my

1119
00:48:32,720 --> 00:48:35,000
understanding, yes. Okay. Yeah.

1120
00:48:35,000 --> 00:48:37,520
And and I will say last year was kind of

1121
00:48:37,520 --> 00:48:38,680
a

1122
00:48:38,680 --> 00:48:40,280
kind of

1123
00:48:40,280 --> 00:48:42,560
a a new beginning, kind of

1124
00:48:42,560 --> 00:48:45,560
went along and did things, uh,

1125
00:48:45,560 --> 00:48:48,120
as per the moment, but this year,

1126
00:48:48,120 --> 00:48:50,960
uh, it's in line. It's kind of more as

1127
00:48:50,960 --> 00:48:52,840
Jonathan Haley said, we copy and paste

1128
00:48:52,840 --> 00:48:55,120
and think we have it down pat and worked

1129
00:48:55,120 --> 00:48:57,240
out well last year and, uh, I'm happy

1130
00:48:57,240 --> 00:48:58,800
they came back for this

1131
00:48:58,800 --> 00:48:59,640
uh,

1132
00:48:59,640 --> 00:49:02,240
year at Liberty Lake Park.

1133
00:49:02,240 --> 00:49:04,480
Anything else?

1134
00:49:04,480 --> 00:49:05,320
All right.

1135
00:49:05,320 --> 00:49:06,640
Dorsey.

1136
00:49:06,640 --> 00:49:08,843
Mr. Evans. Aye. Mr. Foreman.

1137
00:49:08,843 --> 00:49:11,400
[clears throat] Aye. Mr. Foster. Aye.

1138
00:49:11,400 --> 00:49:12,880
Mr. Haley.

1139
00:49:12,880 --> 00:49:15,720
Aye. Mr. Aquilino. Aye. Mr. Eftekhari.

1140
00:49:15,720 --> 00:49:18,520
Aye. Mayor Stanley. Aye. Motion carries

1141
00:49:18,520 --> 00:49:20,640
with all members voting aye.

1142
00:49:20,640 --> 00:49:21,920
All right, new old business and new

1143
00:49:21,920 --> 00:49:23,240
business.

1144
00:49:23,240 --> 00:49:27,560
Invitation for bids for a franchise for the lease of the town's

1145
00:49:27,560 --> 00:49:29,760
transfer station. Mr. Warner. Yes, Mayor

1146
00:49:29,760 --> 00:49:31,040
Stanley, members of council, as you may

1147
00:49:31,040 --> 00:49:33,320
recall, um, when we exited the

1148
00:49:33,320 --> 00:49:36,480
commercial solid waste business, we

1149
00:49:36,480 --> 00:49:38,200
retained ownership of the transfer

1150
00:49:38,200 --> 00:49:40,160
station facility that frankly we have no

1151
00:49:40,160 --> 00:49:42,480
practical use for since we no longer

1152
00:49:42,480 --> 00:49:45,760
collect and dispose of

1153
00:49:45,760 --> 00:49:48,160
solid waste from customers directly.

1154
00:49:48,160 --> 00:49:49,960
We advertised

1155
00:49:49,960 --> 00:49:51,920
a request for

1156
00:49:51,920 --> 00:49:53,680
firms to express interest in obtaining a

1157
00:49:53,680 --> 00:49:56,360
franchise and tonight I can report that

1158
00:49:56,360 --> 00:49:58,840
we have received one qualified proposal

1159
00:49:58,840 --> 00:50:02,560
from Baze Trash Removal to negotiate for

1160
00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:04,520
bids for franchise. I will tell you that

1161
00:50:04,520 --> 00:50:06,360
staff's opinion is

1162
00:50:06,360 --> 00:50:08,440
it's not quite where we'd like to see it

1163
00:50:08,440 --> 00:50:11,600
but we would ask for your authority to

1164
00:50:11,600 --> 00:50:14,440
engage them in negotiations to bring a

1165
00:50:14,440 --> 00:50:17,120
possible franchise agreement back under

1166
00:50:17,120 --> 00:50:20,120
the terms of the process.

1167
00:50:20,120 --> 00:50:23,030
Okay.

1168
00:50:23,040 --> 00:50:24,400
And uh

1169
00:50:24,400 --> 00:50:26,440
the town attorney advises me that

1170
00:50:26,440 --> 00:50:29,040
approval of this motion does require a

1171
00:50:29,040 --> 00:50:32,360
3/4 vote. Okay.

1172
00:50:32,360 --> 00:50:34,280
So we're giving you the approval

1173
00:50:34,280 --> 00:50:36,000
Yeah. Yeah. You're you're not approving

1174
00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:39,080
the franchise just to to To negotiate

1175
00:50:39,080 --> 00:50:40,960
Request Enter into negotiations. Yes, of

1176
00:50:40,960 --> 00:50:41,880
course.

1177
00:50:41,880 --> 00:50:43,720
All right. We just you know

1178
00:50:43,720 --> 00:50:46,560
Does everyone understand that?

1179
00:50:46,560 --> 00:50:48,760
I hear a motion. So moved. Councilman

1180
00:50:48,760 --> 00:50:51,920
Haley made the motion. Second.

1181
00:50:51,920 --> 00:50:54,080
Vice Mayor Updike.

1182
00:50:54,080 --> 00:50:56,680
Any questions or or discussion?

1183
00:50:56,680 --> 00:50:57,680
I have a question.

1184
00:50:57,680 --> 00:51:00,120
By the way

1185
00:51:00,120 --> 00:51:01,640
The only question I had

1186
00:51:01,640 --> 00:51:03,520
probably dealt with the maybe franchise

1187
00:51:03,520 --> 00:51:05,600
fees, royalties or other charges. Talks

1188
00:51:05,600 --> 00:51:07,280
about town waste.

1189
00:51:07,280 --> 00:51:08,880
But I my question I guess really

1190
00:51:08,880 --> 00:51:10,840
generally is for town residents are we

1191
00:51:10,840 --> 00:51:12,600
still are residents still going to be

1192
00:51:12,600 --> 00:51:14,120
able to

1193
00:51:14,120 --> 00:51:18,800
use the first 500 lbs free drop off

1194
00:51:18,800 --> 00:51:20,720
their residential waste there like we do

1195
00:51:20,720 --> 00:51:22,080
now?

1196
00:51:22,080 --> 00:51:24,560
That's something we can negotiate

1197
00:51:24,560 --> 00:51:26,720
as part of the franchise

1198
00:51:26,720 --> 00:51:27,800
but

1199
00:51:27,800 --> 00:51:30,870
I'll make a note of that.

1200
00:51:30,880 --> 00:51:32,840
And brush also.

1201
00:51:32,840 --> 00:51:34,640
Yes.

1202
00:51:34,640 --> 00:51:36,360
there are certain

1203
00:51:36,360 --> 00:51:38,000
town interests that were referenced in

1204
00:51:38,000 --> 00:51:42,080
the advertisement that we will pursue.

1205
00:51:42,080 --> 00:51:43,640
Good. Very good.

1206
00:51:43,640 --> 00:51:47,790
Anything else?

1207
00:51:47,800 --> 00:51:49,400
All right. Dorsey.

1208
00:51:49,400 --> 00:51:53,240
Mr. Foreman. Aye. Mr. Foster. Aye. Mr.

1209
00:51:53,240 --> 00:51:56,800
Deely. Aye. Mr. Ippolito. Aye. Mr.

1210
00:51:56,800 --> 00:51:58,360
Updike. Aye.

1211
00:51:58,360 --> 00:52:01,440
Mr. Evans. Aye. Mayor Sumner. Aye.

1212
00:52:01,440 --> 00:52:02,800
Motion carries with all members present

1213
00:52:02,800 --> 00:52:04,000
voting aye.

1214
00:52:04,000 --> 00:52:06,360
All right. Next is a

1215
00:52:06,360 --> 00:52:08,520
brief presentation regarding operations

1216
00:52:08,520 --> 00:52:10,080
and outcomes of the

1217
00:52:10,080 --> 00:52:13,200
planning and community development. Miss

1218
00:52:13,200 --> 00:52:16,270
Zucco.

1219
00:52:16,280 --> 00:52:32,830
Floor is yours.

1220
00:52:32,840 --> 00:52:34,840
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I am the second of

1221
00:52:34,840 --> 00:52:36,200
our department heads that are bringing

1222
00:52:36,200 --> 00:52:38,360
presentations for

1223
00:52:38,360 --> 00:52:40,560
to the public and so I wanted to give

1224
00:52:40,560 --> 00:52:42,040
you just a very brief overview of what

1225
00:52:42,040 --> 00:52:43,960
community development does and also have

1226
00:52:43,960 --> 00:52:45,440
some information on the economic

1227
00:52:45,440 --> 00:52:46,960
development side of the house that we

1228
00:52:46,960 --> 00:52:48,360
have in the two departments that I

1229
00:52:48,360 --> 00:52:49,880
supervise.

1230
00:52:49,880 --> 00:52:51,760
Um starting with the building side of

1231
00:52:51,760 --> 00:52:54,280
community development, we have two staff

1232
00:52:54,280 --> 00:52:56,080
there. We have the building official and

1233
00:52:56,080 --> 00:52:57,360
building inspector and wanted to give

1234
00:52:57,360 --> 00:52:59,280
you some statistics on what they

1235
00:52:59,280 --> 00:53:00,720
processed last year in the way of

1236
00:53:00,720 --> 00:53:03,520
building permits. They processed 226

1237
00:53:03,520 --> 00:53:04,880
permits and they range from everything

1238
00:53:04,880 --> 00:53:07,280
from electrical change of services to

1239
00:53:07,280 --> 00:53:10,120
bouncy houses on up to commercial things

1240
00:53:10,120 --> 00:53:12,320
like the hotel and I wanted to give you

1241
00:53:12,320 --> 00:53:14,280
some statistics. 28 new houses. That's

1242
00:53:14,280 --> 00:53:15,480
pretty big number for the town of

1243
00:53:15,480 --> 00:53:17,400
Bedford to see in town and we we know

1244
00:53:17,400 --> 00:53:19,600
that's going to be growing over time. So

1245
00:53:19,600 --> 00:53:22,000
um some scale for that growth over time

1246
00:53:22,000 --> 00:53:24,640
is building permits year to date 76 and

1247
00:53:24,640 --> 00:53:25,960
if we continue that current rate of

1248
00:53:25,960 --> 00:53:27,880
growth we'll end up with 260 at that

1249
00:53:27,880 --> 00:53:30,720
rate. So compare that to 226 of the last

1250
00:53:30,720 --> 00:53:32,920
year. We know those are coming mostly in

1251
00:53:32,920 --> 00:53:34,240
Eastern Crossing and the other

1252
00:53:34,240 --> 00:53:35,960
subdivisions that are currently being

1253
00:53:35,960 --> 00:53:38,520
built. Uh second part of permitting is

1254
00:53:38,520 --> 00:53:41,040
inspections. So just for scale there

1255
00:53:41,040 --> 00:53:43,480
each single family dwelling has about 11

1256
00:53:43,480 --> 00:53:45,440
inspections that need to be done

1257
00:53:45,440 --> 00:53:47,440
um for the final certificate of

1258
00:53:47,440 --> 00:53:48,840
occupancy for someone to move in for

1259
00:53:48,840 --> 00:53:50,320
safety. That's what it's all about is

1260
00:53:50,320 --> 00:53:52,640
safety cuz that is the public purpose of

1261
00:53:52,640 --> 00:53:54,680
most all things is

1262
00:53:54,680 --> 00:53:56,000
public health, safety and welfare

1263
00:53:56,000 --> 00:53:57,800
whether it's building or zoning.

1264
00:53:57,800 --> 00:53:59,720
Uh other parts of that and we do share

1265
00:53:59,720 --> 00:54:02,200
this lovely responsibility between those

1266
00:54:02,200 --> 00:54:03,960
of us in the town among us

1267
00:54:03,960 --> 00:54:05,960
in that in the department. So a lot of

1268
00:54:05,960 --> 00:54:07,359
the things we see for enforcement are

1269
00:54:07,359 --> 00:54:08,920
signs that are in the right of way and

1270
00:54:08,920 --> 00:54:11,320
we keep a running tally of the look in

1271
00:54:11,320 --> 00:54:13,760
the back of the the trucks that staff

1272
00:54:13,760 --> 00:54:15,120
has as they're picking this up again out

1273
00:54:15,120 --> 00:54:16,720
of the right of way, not on private

1274
00:54:16,720 --> 00:54:19,240
property. Um property maintenance so it

1275
00:54:19,240 --> 00:54:20,920
is now grass season as we're beginning

1276
00:54:20,920 --> 00:54:22,920
to put out those notices.

1277
00:54:22,920 --> 00:54:24,560
Other things that we look for are

1278
00:54:24,560 --> 00:54:26,400
illegal uses that didn't receive zoning

1279
00:54:26,400 --> 00:54:29,160
approval or that are unsafe.

1280
00:54:29,160 --> 00:54:31,600
Nuisances in zoning that can be lighting

1281
00:54:31,600 --> 00:54:33,240
as you see in some things we get calls

1282
00:54:33,240 --> 00:54:35,840
for lights that are too bright. Uh on

1283
00:54:35,840 --> 00:54:37,480
down to unsafe structures which are the

1284
00:54:37,480 --> 00:54:39,359
most imminent danger to the public that

1285
00:54:39,359 --> 00:54:41,440
they will get on very quickly if there's

1286
00:54:41,440 --> 00:54:43,120
a situation or someone

1287
00:54:43,120 --> 00:54:45,160
car goes into a building. Those those

1288
00:54:45,160 --> 00:54:47,359
are within their purview as well.

1289
00:54:47,359 --> 00:54:48,880
For planning and zoning on my side of

1290
00:54:48,880 --> 00:54:49,880
the house we also share an

1291
00:54:49,880 --> 00:54:52,600
administrative staff and

1292
00:54:52,600 --> 00:54:54,280
most of the processing of zoning permits

1293
00:54:54,280 --> 00:54:56,160
are done by Kathy Johnson in the office

1294
00:54:56,160 --> 00:54:59,520
and we processed 126. Those range from

1295
00:54:59,520 --> 00:55:01,920
sign permits down to chickens in that

1296
00:55:01,920 --> 00:55:03,800
lower left picture. So if anyone has any

1297
00:55:03,800 --> 00:55:05,400
chickens we're happy to give you that

1298
00:55:05,400 --> 00:55:07,800
permit there and get you hooked up so

1299
00:55:07,800 --> 00:55:08,840
that your neighbors don't call us and

1300
00:55:08,840 --> 00:55:10,760
tell us you have chickens.

1301
00:55:10,760 --> 00:55:12,760
Planning actions these go mostly to the

1302
00:55:12,760 --> 00:55:13,800
planning commission. These are

1303
00:55:13,800 --> 00:55:15,400
conditional use permits, rezoning

1304
00:55:15,400 --> 00:55:17,520
actions, map amendments

1305
00:55:17,520 --> 00:55:20,440
and the like that we have there and

1306
00:55:20,440 --> 00:55:22,120
we also do

1307
00:55:22,120 --> 00:55:24,359
uh notices basically the letters of

1308
00:55:24,359 --> 00:55:25,880
determination when someone needs to have

1309
00:55:25,880 --> 00:55:27,120
something in writing what they can do

1310
00:55:27,120 --> 00:55:28,280
with their property. That comes through

1311
00:55:28,280 --> 00:55:31,240
us as well. We also do site plans and

1312
00:55:31,240 --> 00:55:33,120
plats of platting of subdivisions. So

1313
00:55:33,120 --> 00:55:34,840
that's what the picture is of the large

1314
00:55:34,840 --> 00:55:36,200
one there at the top there as we bring

1315
00:55:36,200 --> 00:55:37,880
things online

1316
00:55:37,880 --> 00:55:39,359
they go through a review process that

1317
00:55:39,359 --> 00:55:41,480
goes among agencies and lastly are

1318
00:55:41,480 --> 00:55:43,000
signed off by the subdivision agent

1319
00:55:43,000 --> 00:55:44,440
which is me before they are recorded in

1320
00:55:44,440 --> 00:55:46,640
the courthouse. And you heard tonight

1321
00:55:46,640 --> 00:55:47,880
the long range planning that we've been

1322
00:55:47,880 --> 00:55:50,280
working on for 18 months here

1323
00:55:50,280 --> 00:55:51,920
was our comprehensive plan which we've

1324
00:55:51,920 --> 00:55:53,640
been very excited about to have and we

1325
00:55:53,640 --> 00:55:55,000
appreciate the work of the planning

1326
00:55:55,000 --> 00:55:56,880
commission in guiding that process as is

1327
00:55:56,880 --> 00:55:58,840
required. Is required for code but it's

1328
00:55:58,840 --> 00:56:01,280
also something that we need to have

1329
00:56:01,280 --> 00:56:02,960
a thought of what we want Bedford to

1330
00:56:02,960 --> 00:56:04,760
look like. So that's actually a good

1331
00:56:04,760 --> 00:56:06,640
exercise for us to go through. That also

1332
00:56:06,640 --> 00:56:08,760
informs the capital improvement program

1333
00:56:08,760 --> 00:56:11,000
for budgeting purposes.

1334
00:56:11,000 --> 00:56:13,440
And so I also serve as staff to the

1335
00:56:13,440 --> 00:56:14,920
housing authority. That is one of your

1336
00:56:14,920 --> 00:56:16,400
appointed bodies that you're familiar

1337
00:56:16,400 --> 00:56:17,720
with. The big things they're working on

1338
00:56:17,720 --> 00:56:19,160
right now are the community development

1339
00:56:19,160 --> 00:56:20,920
block grant which is over a million

1340
00:56:20,920 --> 00:56:22,280
dollars for the second phase in the

1341
00:56:22,280 --> 00:56:23,840
Hilltop community. This is one of the

1342
00:56:23,840 --> 00:56:25,320
houses that have been built on Cook

1343
00:56:25,320 --> 00:56:27,320
Street nearing completion as soon as we

1344
00:56:27,320 --> 00:56:28,760
can get a sewer hookup there where we

1345
00:56:28,760 --> 00:56:30,480
thought there was one and there wasn't.

1346
00:56:30,480 --> 00:56:33,720
So we're so close. And the second part

1347
00:56:33,720 --> 00:56:35,880
that you may be familiar with is

1348
00:56:35,880 --> 00:56:38,640
South Street lots that town council that

1349
00:56:38,640 --> 00:56:40,359
you sent about to bid and you did not

1350
00:56:40,359 --> 00:56:43,120
receive any buyers. You gave those to

1351
00:56:43,120 --> 00:56:44,520
the housing authority and they turned

1352
00:56:44,520 --> 00:56:47,160
those into their budget. So the first

1353
00:56:47,160 --> 00:56:49,440
lot was sold to the Habitat for Humanity

1354
00:56:49,440 --> 00:56:51,440
Greater Lynchburg and that home

1355
00:56:51,440 --> 00:56:53,200
dedication is this Saturday 10:00 a.m.

1356
00:56:53,200 --> 00:56:55,320
Everyone is invited. Just watch where

1357
00:56:55,320 --> 00:56:57,120
you park but you are more than welcome

1358
00:56:57,120 --> 00:56:58,840
to attend that for the new the new

1359
00:56:58,840 --> 00:57:00,600
homeowner there. The second lot is under

1360
00:57:00,600 --> 00:57:02,920
contract and due to go to closing right

1361
00:57:02,920 --> 00:57:05,400
now actually. So thank you for that in

1362
00:57:05,400 --> 00:57:06,960
lieu of budget. They were able to turn

1363
00:57:06,960 --> 00:57:08,840
that into money that they are then using

1364
00:57:08,840 --> 00:57:10,640
for grants part of which is going to go

1365
00:57:10,640 --> 00:57:13,160
for Mission Serve as Councilman Foster

1366
00:57:13,160 --> 00:57:14,720
mentioned to you. Some of that money

1367
00:57:14,720 --> 00:57:16,320
will go there as well as other home

1368
00:57:16,320 --> 00:57:18,920
improvement in the community.

1369
00:57:18,920 --> 00:57:20,920
The other body that I serve for is the

1370
00:57:20,920 --> 00:57:22,359
economic development authority another

1371
00:57:22,359 --> 00:57:24,080
one of your appointed groups and they

1372
00:57:24,080 --> 00:57:26,280
had a strategic plan in 2021. They laid

1373
00:57:26,280 --> 00:57:27,640
out three projects and they're pretty

1374
00:57:27,640 --> 00:57:30,080
much through with all three of them. So

1375
00:57:30,080 --> 00:57:31,000
they're looking to update their

1376
00:57:31,000 --> 00:57:32,840
strategic plan. The first was a business

1377
00:57:32,840 --> 00:57:34,680
class hotel. You can see the Hampton Inn

1378
00:57:34,680 --> 00:57:36,640
is under construction and should be

1379
00:57:36,640 --> 00:57:39,320
opening early next year. Second project

1380
00:57:39,320 --> 00:57:41,120
was the metal workforce training center

1381
00:57:41,120 --> 00:57:43,080
that took over the old Wheelabrator Frye

1382
00:57:43,080 --> 00:57:45,040
Winola building in order to focus that

1383
00:57:45,040 --> 00:57:47,040
on I say that's almost done. The study

1384
00:57:47,040 --> 00:57:49,200
is done. They had a grant to do that and

1385
00:57:49,200 --> 00:57:50,680
now we're looking for tenants in that

1386
00:57:50,680 --> 00:57:52,040
space. We're focusing mostly on a

1387
00:57:52,040 --> 00:57:54,200
foundry or others who may be looking to

1388
00:57:54,200 --> 00:57:56,280
do critical or rare earth mineral

1389
00:57:56,280 --> 00:57:57,840
reclamation. So that's how we're

1390
00:57:57,840 --> 00:57:59,359
marketing that. And the third project

1391
00:57:59,359 --> 00:58:01,200
was an incubator or business development

1392
00:58:01,200 --> 00:58:03,440
center. We used tobacco commission funds

1393
00:58:03,440 --> 00:58:05,760
to do that. That study is going to the

1394
00:58:05,760 --> 00:58:07,320
plant the

1395
00:58:07,320 --> 00:58:10,040
EDA on May 8th at their meeting as a

1396
00:58:10,040 --> 00:58:11,640
draft and we'll be bringing that back to

1397
00:58:11,640 --> 00:58:13,040
the public. We had a really good meeting

1398
00:58:13,040 --> 00:58:14,465
of entrepreneurs a couple

1399
00:58:14,465 --> 00:58:17,040
[clears throat] of weeks ago at CVCC in

1400
00:58:17,040 --> 00:58:18,400
order to find out who would be the

1401
00:58:18,400 --> 00:58:20,440
tenants of this space. So those are the

1402
00:58:20,440 --> 00:58:21,720
three projects. I'll talk about

1403
00:58:21,720 --> 00:58:23,359
incentives on the next slide but the

1404
00:58:23,359 --> 00:58:25,320
other thing that I do is retention and

1405
00:58:25,320 --> 00:58:28,120
expansion visits of our top employers on

1406
00:58:28,120 --> 00:58:30,600
a regular basis annually. Go out and ask

1407
00:58:30,600 --> 00:58:31,880
them what they need, what their

1408
00:58:31,880 --> 00:58:33,640
challenges are and who their friends are

1409
00:58:33,640 --> 00:58:35,240
in case we can bring them here to the

1410
00:58:35,240 --> 00:58:38,840
town to as a supplier or another entity

1411
00:58:38,840 --> 00:58:40,520
in their supply chain. That is the

1412
00:58:40,520 --> 00:58:42,520
trickiest part of economic development

1413
00:58:42,520 --> 00:58:44,840
is having space for businesses to

1414
00:58:44,840 --> 00:58:46,320
locate. People ask me all the time well

1415
00:58:46,320 --> 00:58:47,400
what's coming in? Where are you putting

1416
00:58:47,400 --> 00:58:48,520
them? Where are they coming? I'm like

1417
00:58:48,520 --> 00:58:50,600
where am I putting them? Exactly. We

1418
00:58:50,600 --> 00:58:52,960
have essentially one publicly held piece

1419
00:58:52,960 --> 00:58:54,920
of property and that is the Bedford

1420
00:58:54,920 --> 00:58:57,280
Center for Business which is held by the

1421
00:58:57,280 --> 00:58:58,680
Bedford County Economic Development

1422
00:58:58,680 --> 00:59:00,920
Authority. We do have a shovel ready lot

1423
00:59:00,920 --> 00:59:02,320
right there. It's actually graded and

1424
00:59:02,320 --> 00:59:04,200
ready to go. So that is one that we end

1425
00:59:04,200 --> 00:59:06,520
up marketing jointly with the county and

1426
00:59:06,520 --> 00:59:08,080
we did just have the joint EDA meeting

1427
00:59:08,080 --> 00:59:10,680
of both bodies last week. So we do that

1428
00:59:10,680 --> 00:59:14,000
annually with the two EDAs and there's

1429
00:59:14,000 --> 00:59:15,880
going to be a working group convened

1430
00:59:15,880 --> 00:59:17,680
members from both of those bodies to get

1431
00:59:17,680 --> 00:59:19,560
things done not just once a year but

1432
00:59:19,560 --> 00:59:21,440
throughout the year.

1433
00:59:21,440 --> 00:59:24,359
I mentioned that we have the

1434
00:59:24,359 --> 00:59:26,040
incentives that the economic development

1435
00:59:26,040 --> 00:59:27,800
authority does.

1436
00:59:27,800 --> 00:59:29,200
What the print is kind of hard to read

1437
00:59:29,200 --> 00:59:34,640
but from 2018 to 2025, 68 grants were

1438
00:59:34,640 --> 00:59:36,480
awarded in the downtown area for real

1439
00:59:36,480 --> 00:59:38,560
property improvement that totaled over

1440
00:59:38,560 --> 00:59:41,160
$248,000

1441
00:59:41,160 --> 00:59:43,440
across 68 recipients. Now, some of them

1442
00:59:43,440 --> 00:59:45,400
have come back more than once for facade

1443
00:59:45,400 --> 00:59:46,680
or other work that they've had done to

1444
00:59:46,680 --> 00:59:50,320
update it. And in 2025, the EDA led the

1445
00:59:50,320 --> 00:59:52,560
charge on child care grants. We had two

1446
00:59:52,560 --> 00:59:55,440
recipients that each received $15,000

1447
00:59:55,440 --> 00:59:57,520
in order to enable child care as a

1448
00:59:57,520 --> 00:59:59,640
workforce issue.

1449
00:59:59,640 --> 01:00:03,200
So, trying to move that forward in that body.

1450
01:00:03,200 --> 01:00:04,720
Uh transportation, some of the other

1451
01:00:04,720 --> 01:00:06,720
work that we do. Uh the Federal Rail

1452
01:00:06,720 --> 01:00:08,320
Administration has given us the grant

1453
01:00:08,320 --> 01:00:09,920
that you are familiar with in order to

1454
01:00:09,920 --> 01:00:13,080
be siding the Amtrak passenger rail stop

1455
01:00:13,080 --> 01:00:15,520
there along Main Street. So, that is

1456
01:00:15,520 --> 01:00:17,640
underway. AECOM is your consultant who

1457
01:00:17,640 --> 01:00:19,000
is doing that work for you. That will be

1458
01:00:19,000 --> 01:00:21,280
wrapped up in early 2027 so that we can

1459
01:00:21,280 --> 01:00:22,480
talk about how we actually fund

1460
01:00:22,480 --> 01:00:24,800
construction of that. So, stay tuned for

1461
01:00:24,800 --> 01:00:27,000
how we're going to do that. Uh we This

1462
01:00:27,000 --> 01:00:29,120
is a breaking news here for the Otter

1463
01:00:29,120 --> 01:00:31,120
Bus. We had 4 years of demonstration

1464
01:00:31,120 --> 01:00:33,040
grants through the state. We are now on

1465
01:00:33,040 --> 01:00:36,120
the list the the 6-year plans for the

1466
01:00:36,120 --> 01:00:39,120
state has put us in as a Federal Transit

1467
01:00:39,120 --> 01:00:41,000
Administration recipient for going

1468
01:00:41,000 --> 01:00:42,600
federal. Where we've talked about this

1469
01:00:42,600 --> 01:00:44,480
before, you've authorized an 80/20 grant

1470
01:00:44,480 --> 01:00:46,000
through the state, then you authorized a

1471
01:00:46,000 --> 01:00:48,240
70/30 application, and it looks like we

1472
01:00:48,240 --> 01:00:50,240
will be getting that if it passes

1473
01:00:50,240 --> 01:00:51,400
in June with the Commonwealth

1474
01:00:51,400 --> 01:00:53,480
Transportation Board.

1475
01:00:53,480 --> 01:00:55,600
Another aspect of what my department

1476
01:00:55,600 --> 01:00:58,160
does is grants, and ones you're most

1477
01:00:58,160 --> 01:00:59,720
familiar with recently are the USDA

1478
01:00:59,720 --> 01:01:01,920
downtown strategy. That was a $50,000

1479
01:01:01,920 --> 01:01:03,640
grant that was done to provide

1480
01:01:03,640 --> 01:01:06,000
information on actionable strategies

1481
01:01:06,000 --> 01:01:07,960
that are meant to be done in 5 years.

1482
01:01:07,960 --> 01:01:09,320
So, the next steps for that, as you're

1483
01:01:09,320 --> 01:01:11,400
aware, we'd like to assign core teams

1484
01:01:11,400 --> 01:01:12,880
that will be responsible for each of the

1485
01:01:12,880 --> 01:01:14,800
different actions in that. And one of

1486
01:01:14,800 --> 01:01:16,080
those is actually on your agenda

1487
01:01:16,080 --> 01:01:17,720
tonight. The recommendations we've

1488
01:01:17,720 --> 01:01:18,960
talked about carrots, and one of the

1489
01:01:18,960 --> 01:01:21,240
recommendations was to have a vacant

1490
01:01:21,240 --> 01:01:23,240
property registry, and that was

1491
01:01:23,240 --> 01:01:25,520
recommended in that strategy as well to

1492
01:01:25,520 --> 01:01:27,360
close that circle.

1493
01:01:27,360 --> 01:01:29,160
One of the things you may you think you

1494
01:01:29,160 --> 01:01:31,320
should be aware of the FEMA grant that

1495
01:01:31,320 --> 01:01:33,680
the hospital has for a new generator.

1496
01:01:33,680 --> 01:01:36,080
So, that's another large-scale grant of

1497
01:01:36,080 --> 01:01:37,680
$8 million. Well, that's $4 million but

1498
01:01:37,680 --> 01:01:39,920
$8 million project.

1499
01:01:39,920 --> 01:01:41,640
And other things for my department,

1500
01:01:41,640 --> 01:01:43,240
workforce development. This was the most

1501
01:01:43,240 --> 01:01:46,400
recent chamber event we had with the

1502
01:01:46,400 --> 01:01:48,720
Career Tech Expo that was held at Susie

1503
01:01:48,720 --> 01:01:51,360
Gibson for all of the eighth graders in

1504
01:01:51,360 --> 01:01:53,800
Bedford County came through.

1505
01:01:53,800 --> 01:01:55,600
It was a fun day. Highly recommend if

1506
01:01:55,600 --> 01:01:57,360
you want some excitement, stand in the

1507
01:01:57,360 --> 01:01:59,080
hall while the kids are going through.

1508
01:01:59,080 --> 01:02:01,520
And this is your attraction. I want to

1509
01:02:01,520 --> 01:02:03,400
just remind everyone we had the World

1510
01:02:03,400 --> 01:02:05,160
War II Heritage City designation from

1511
01:02:05,160 --> 01:02:06,720
the National Park Service. We do have

1512
01:02:06,720 --> 01:02:08,957
new brochures out and about, and signage

1513
01:02:08,957 --> 01:02:10,280
[clears throat] is the last step in that

1514
01:02:10,280 --> 01:02:12,160
grant that we received for that. So,

1515
01:02:12,160 --> 01:02:14,880
that will wrap that up. And as everyone

1516
01:02:14,880 --> 01:02:17,120
knows, all of us in the town have other

1517
01:02:17,120 --> 01:02:18,640
duties as assigned, and we're happy to

1518
01:02:18,640 --> 01:02:21,080
do them. And the website for

1519
01:02:21,080 --> 01:02:22,640
specifically for economic development is

1520
01:02:22,640 --> 01:02:27,350
betterinbedford.com.

1521
01:02:27,360 --> 01:02:29,440
Well, thank you, Mary. Any questions,

1522
01:02:29,440 --> 01:02:32,630
comments?

1523
01:02:32,640 --> 01:02:35,000
Things you did not know?

1524
01:02:35,000 --> 01:02:37,880
Oh. Earlier this week, I had a uh

1525
01:02:37,880 --> 01:02:39,560
conversation with an

1526
01:02:39,560 --> 01:02:41,520
individual who certainly has the the

1527
01:02:41,520 --> 01:02:43,000
gift of gab.

1528
01:02:43,000 --> 01:02:45,800
Our conversation was was about electric

1529
01:02:45,800 --> 01:02:48,920
rates. Um so, I knew at that point it

1530
01:02:48,920 --> 01:02:50,480
was going to be a very long

1531
01:02:50,480 --> 01:02:53,240
conversation. And um

1532
01:02:53,240 --> 01:02:54,240
uh

1533
01:02:54,240 --> 01:02:57,760
at one point he said that he'd had um

1534
01:02:57,760 --> 01:03:01,240
uh had spoken with with with Mary Beth

1535
01:03:01,240 --> 01:03:03,240
you know, some some some various aspects

1536
01:03:03,240 --> 01:03:05,120
of of that

1537
01:03:05,120 --> 01:03:07,800
issue that he was trying to resolve. And

1538
01:03:07,800 --> 01:03:08,440
um

1539
01:03:08,440 --> 01:03:11,120
and at some point the conversation got

1540
01:03:11,120 --> 01:03:13,000
to um

1541
01:03:13,000 --> 01:03:15,920
the the the the tourism

1542
01:03:15,920 --> 01:03:18,840
and and the lady that runs that and how

1543
01:03:18,840 --> 01:03:22,080
just involved and on the ball and had an

1544
01:03:22,080 --> 01:03:24,280
answer for everything that she was.

1545
01:03:24,280 --> 01:03:26,000
He compared her

1546
01:03:26,000 --> 01:03:28,320
compared Mary to this lady. He said,

1547
01:03:28,320 --> 01:03:30,640
"And if I can find a way for the county

1548
01:03:30,640 --> 01:03:32,160
to scoff Mary up, I'm going to find a

1549
01:03:32,160 --> 01:03:34,360
way to do that."

1550
01:03:34,360 --> 01:03:36,728
Don't say that in a public meeting.

1551
01:03:36,728 --> 01:03:38,038
>> [laughter]

1552
01:03:38,038 --> 01:03:38,720
[clears throat]

1553
01:03:38,720 --> 01:03:39,680
>> But

1554
01:03:39,680 --> 01:03:41,640
you know, he was he was very much aware

1555
01:03:41,640 --> 01:03:43,040
of some of the things that that Mary was

1556
01:03:43,040 --> 01:03:46,800
involved Mary was involved with and was

1557
01:03:46,800 --> 01:03:48,240
very thankful for the things So, thank

1558
01:03:48,240 --> 01:03:49,000
you for all the work that you do.

1559
01:03:49,000 --> 01:03:51,480
>> Thank you. It's my pleasure to serve.

1560
01:03:51,480 --> 01:03:53,600
And they're done that, but uh

1561
01:03:53,600 --> 01:03:56,120
I will say too, I'm very pleased with

1562
01:03:56,120 --> 01:03:58,080
what I'm seeing, and and I told Mary

1563
01:03:58,080 --> 01:04:00,240
several times, I don't really know what

1564
01:04:00,240 --> 01:04:03,080
you do. So, you know, this gives us a a

1565
01:04:03,080 --> 01:04:05,080
lot better indication as to all the

1566
01:04:05,080 --> 01:04:07,880
duties that she has. I mean, we tend to

1567
01:04:07,880 --> 01:04:10,200
and and and the citizens do focus on one

1568
01:04:10,200 --> 01:04:12,080
thing, but there's a lot more going on

1569
01:04:12,080 --> 01:04:16,000
here than just one item. Uh but uh

1570
01:04:16,000 --> 01:04:17,560
I thank you for all you do, and just

1571
01:04:17,560 --> 01:04:19,680
keep up the good work, and uh

1572
01:04:19,680 --> 01:04:21,600
and whenever you retire, I'll come back

1573
01:04:21,600 --> 01:04:23,840
and and sing or whatever you want me to

1574
01:04:23,840 --> 01:04:24,880
do

1575
01:04:24,880 --> 01:04:26,509
if I'm still around.

1576
01:04:26,509 --> 01:04:28,400
>> [laughter]

1577
01:04:28,400 --> 01:04:30,240
>> All right.

1578
01:04:30,240 --> 01:04:31,840
Thank you again.

1579
01:04:31,840 --> 01:04:34,440
All right. Resolution, adoption of the

1580
01:04:34,440 --> 01:04:38,040
Bedford 2045 Comprehensive Plan by Mr.

1581
01:04:38,040 --> 01:04:39,760
Warner. All localities in the

1582
01:04:39,760 --> 01:04:41,480
Commonwealth are required to adopt a

1583
01:04:41,480 --> 01:04:43,440
comprehensive plan prepared through the

1584
01:04:43,440 --> 01:04:45,080
Planning Commission according to the

1585
01:04:45,080 --> 01:04:46,480
Code of Virginia.

1586
01:04:46,480 --> 01:04:47,680
Town Planning Commission has been

1587
01:04:47,680 --> 01:04:50,440
contemplating a revision to the 2017

1588
01:04:50,440 --> 01:04:53,840
Comprehensive Plan since late 2022

1589
01:04:53,840 --> 01:04:55,600
awaiting incorporation of new land with

1590
01:04:55,600 --> 01:04:56,920
the second phase of the boundary

1591
01:04:56,920 --> 01:04:59,680
adjustment agreement through reversion.

1592
01:04:59,680 --> 01:05:01,440
After a competitive bidding process,

1593
01:05:01,440 --> 01:05:03,800
Town Council authorized a contract with

1594
01:05:03,800 --> 01:05:05,440
EPRPC

1595
01:05:05,440 --> 01:05:08,520
in May 2024 for planning services.

1596
01:05:08,520 --> 01:05:10,240
Work was carried out over several months

1597
01:05:10,240 --> 01:05:12,560
and included numerous opportunities for

1598
01:05:12,560 --> 01:05:14,280
public engagement during the drafting of

1599
01:05:14,280 --> 01:05:15,600
the plan.

1600
01:05:15,600 --> 01:05:18,280
Our goal, Bedford 2045,

1601
01:05:18,280 --> 01:05:20,359
is a long-range policy guide for growth

1602
01:05:20,359 --> 01:05:22,240
and development for the Town of Bedford

1603
01:05:22,240 --> 01:05:24,480
through the year 2045.

1604
01:05:24,480 --> 01:05:25,880
It provides a foundation for

1605
01:05:25,880 --> 01:05:28,000
decision-making on land use, housing,

1606
01:05:28,000 --> 01:05:30,240
transportation infrastructure, and

1607
01:05:30,240 --> 01:05:32,359
community facilities so that future

1608
01:05:32,359 --> 01:05:33,840
development aligns with the community's

1609
01:05:33,840 --> 01:05:35,120
goals.

1610
01:05:35,120 --> 01:05:36,800
The plan combines technical data and

1611
01:05:36,800 --> 01:05:39,400
trend analysis with extensive community

1612
01:05:39,400 --> 01:05:41,480
input to paint a clear picture of where

1613
01:05:41,480 --> 01:05:43,640
Bedford stands today and where it

1614
01:05:43,640 --> 01:05:45,359
aspires to go.

1615
01:05:45,359 --> 01:05:47,200
The plan also references various other

1616
01:05:47,200 --> 01:05:49,520
planning efforts undertaken in the past,

1617
01:05:49,520 --> 01:05:51,000
including those by the Redevelopment and

1618
01:05:51,000 --> 01:05:52,920
Housing Authority and the Economic

1619
01:05:52,920 --> 01:05:55,400
Development Authority.

1620
01:05:55,400 --> 01:05:56,359
The Virginia Department of

1621
01:05:56,359 --> 01:05:58,120
Transportation is required to review

1622
01:05:58,120 --> 01:06:00,760
local comprehensive plans, and VDOT

1623
01:06:00,760 --> 01:06:03,480
found the proposed plan to be consistent

1624
01:06:03,480 --> 01:06:05,640
with state transportation plans on

1625
01:06:05,640 --> 01:06:08,600
February 2nd, 2026.

1626
01:06:08,600 --> 01:06:09,800
Planning Commission held a public

1627
01:06:09,800 --> 01:06:13,040
hearing on April 2nd, 2026. No citizen

1628
01:06:13,040 --> 01:06:15,240
spoke at the public hearing.

1629
01:06:15,240 --> 01:06:17,000
Commissioners discussed the best chapter

1630
01:06:17,000 --> 01:06:18,840
for pocket parks in the plan and a

1631
01:06:18,840 --> 01:06:20,920
paragraph about the potential

1632
01:06:20,920 --> 01:06:23,000
recreational opportunities on the

1633
01:06:23,000 --> 01:06:24,880
reservoir property.

1634
01:06:24,880 --> 01:06:26,120
Commission decided to leave the

1635
01:06:26,120 --> 01:06:27,840
reservoir information in for Town

1636
01:06:27,840 --> 01:06:30,200
Council to choose how to address that

1637
01:06:30,200 --> 01:06:32,880
based on recent Council action.

1638
01:06:32,880 --> 01:06:34,920
Planning Commission voted unanimously to

1639
01:06:34,920 --> 01:06:37,080
recommend the Comprehensive Plan to Town

1640
01:06:37,080 --> 01:06:40,240
Council for their action to adopt it as

1641
01:06:40,240 --> 01:06:42,280
required in the Code of Virginia.

1642
01:06:42,280 --> 01:06:44,040
Tonight, Town Council is requested to

1643
01:06:44,040 --> 01:06:47,640
adopt the Our Goal, Bedford 2045

1644
01:06:47,640 --> 01:06:50,000
Comprehensive Plan as recommended by the

1645
01:06:50,000 --> 01:06:52,520
Planning Commission.

1646
01:06:52,520 --> 01:06:53,886
All right.

1647
01:06:53,886 --> 01:06:54,800
>> [clears throat]

1648
01:06:54,800 --> 01:06:57,400
>> Do I hear a motion? Motion.

1649
01:06:57,400 --> 01:06:59,280
All right.

1650
01:06:59,280 --> 01:07:01,040
Councilman Evans made the motion.

1651
01:07:01,040 --> 01:07:03,680
Second? Second. All right. Councilman

1652
01:07:03,680 --> 01:07:04,880
Foster

1653
01:07:04,880 --> 01:07:06,331
made the second.

1654
01:07:06,331 --> 01:07:06,760
>> [clears throat]

1655
01:07:06,760 --> 01:07:10,150
>> Questions? Discussions?

1656
01:07:10,160 --> 01:07:11,640
And Daryl, you've been heavily involved

1657
01:07:11,640 --> 01:07:14,640
in this. I was involved in in my time on

1658
01:07:14,640 --> 01:07:17,630
Planning Commission.

1659
01:07:17,640 --> 01:07:20,080
Yeah, there was a a lot of a lot of work

1660
01:07:20,080 --> 01:07:23,560
that went into this

1661
01:07:23,560 --> 01:07:27,280
comprehensive plan. Um

1662
01:07:27,280 --> 01:07:28,880
you know, like to have seen a little

1663
01:07:28,880 --> 01:07:31,000
more community involvement with that,

1664
01:07:31,000 --> 01:07:32,960
but

1665
01:07:32,960 --> 01:07:35,480
I think that between the the town and

1666
01:07:35,480 --> 01:07:37,720
the consultants that we had,

1667
01:07:37,720 --> 01:07:39,480
they did a did a good job of trying to

1668
01:07:39,480 --> 01:07:41,480
reach out and and and bring people into

1669
01:07:41,480 --> 01:07:44,960
the into the discussion, and and got

1670
01:07:44,960 --> 01:07:46,160
some you know, real really good

1671
01:07:46,160 --> 01:07:47,960
information and feedback you know, from

1672
01:07:47,960 --> 01:07:49,760
that from that process.

1673
01:07:49,760 --> 01:07:51,560
Um

1674
01:07:51,560 --> 01:07:55,920
the the the product that that's before us, I think it's

1675
01:07:55,920 --> 01:07:57,520
a very good plan.

1676
01:07:57,520 --> 01:07:58,320
Um

1677
01:07:58,320 --> 01:07:59,960
you know, is is it a perfect plan?

1678
01:07:59,960 --> 01:08:01,840
That's you know, kind of a

1679
01:08:01,840 --> 01:08:03,520
you know, an individual analysis

1680
01:08:03,520 --> 01:08:05,960
evaluation kind of thing, but uh

1681
01:08:05,960 --> 01:08:07,720
it is a very good plan.

1682
01:08:07,720 --> 01:08:10,920
And um

1683
01:08:10,920 --> 01:08:12,800
you know, it's

1684
01:08:12,800 --> 01:08:14,840
as far as the

1685
01:08:14,840 --> 01:08:16,839
uh the section area that that discusses

1686
01:08:16,839 --> 01:08:18,080
the um

1687
01:08:18,080 --> 01:08:19,040
uh

1688
01:08:19,040 --> 01:08:20,480
the property around the reservoir and

1689
01:08:20,480 --> 01:08:23,319
stuff, and you know, my position was we

1690
01:08:23,319 --> 01:08:26,400
need to take that out, but um you know,

1691
01:08:26,400 --> 01:08:28,880
that's kind of what

1692
01:08:28,880 --> 01:08:31,359
what's before us.

1693
01:08:31,359 --> 01:08:35,829
All right.

1694
01:08:35,839 --> 01:08:37,319
You know, I want to say something.

1695
01:08:37,319 --> 01:08:39,440
Please please do. You're getting better.

1696
01:08:39,440 --> 01:08:40,652
I like that.

1697
01:08:40,652 --> 01:08:41,520
>> [laughter]

1698
01:08:41,520 --> 01:08:43,160
>> Well, I mean, first of all, I would just

1699
01:08:43,160 --> 01:08:46,120
I did want to like echo what

1700
01:08:46,120 --> 01:08:48,080
Vice Mayor Updike said about all the

1701
01:08:48,080 --> 01:08:49,359
hard work that went into it. That's why

1702
01:08:49,359 --> 01:08:50,880
I wanted to go on record to thank the

1703
01:08:50,880 --> 01:08:52,719
Planning Commission and EPR and Mary and

1704
01:08:52,719 --> 01:08:56,120
her staff for all all that hard work.

1705
01:08:56,120 --> 01:08:57,920
And you can call me a nerd because I

1706
01:08:57,920 --> 01:08:59,920
actually enjoyed reading the

1707
01:08:59,920 --> 01:09:01,319
comprehensive plan. I mean, the

1708
01:09:01,319 --> 01:09:04,040
narrative was really well thought out,

1709
01:09:04,040 --> 01:09:06,560
but I really enjoyed the the piece on

1710
01:09:06,560 --> 01:09:08,280
the SWOT, you know, the

1711
01:09:08,280 --> 01:09:09,839
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities,

1712
01:09:09,839 --> 01:09:11,920
and threats, but also the way the

1713
01:09:11,920 --> 01:09:15,480
strategies were laid out. So, my comment

1714
01:09:15,480 --> 01:09:18,880
would be if we adopt this plan, I would

1715
01:09:18,880 --> 01:09:21,719
like to make sure there's a way we can

1716
01:09:21,719 --> 01:09:23,228
use it as a guide.

1717
01:09:23,228 --> 01:09:23,520
>> [cough]

1718
01:09:23,520 --> 01:09:25,480
>> Kind of And I believe I say that but

1719
01:09:25,480 --> 01:09:27,480
similar to what the town manager has

1720
01:09:27,480 --> 01:09:29,799
been doing with the downtown strategy.

1721
01:09:29,799 --> 01:09:32,080
How when we

1722
01:09:32,080 --> 01:09:34,359
something comes up before council, he

1723
01:09:34,359 --> 01:09:36,839
kind of has tagged certain things to the

1724
01:09:36,839 --> 01:09:39,279
downtown strategy so to make sure that

1725
01:09:39,279 --> 01:09:43,200
we're following this guide or the plan

1726
01:09:43,200 --> 01:09:45,920
that we tagged things

1727
01:09:45,920 --> 01:09:48,720
for decision making to the plan. Does

1728
01:09:48,720 --> 01:09:49,560
that make sense?

1729
01:09:49,560 --> 01:09:51,680
>> Mhm. A lot of sense.

1730
01:09:51,680 --> 01:09:54,040
Um and and Mr. Warren, you help me out

1731
01:09:54,040 --> 01:09:56,440
here. I think that's one thing that

1732
01:09:56,440 --> 01:09:58,480
uh I have discussed with the previous

1733
01:09:58,480 --> 01:10:01,080
one and that sometimes things get lost

1734
01:10:01,080 --> 01:10:03,400
in the weeds and that we don't give it a

1735
01:10:03,400 --> 01:10:05,760
clear direction at times and that's one

1736
01:10:05,760 --> 01:10:10,320
thing we have to keep pushing and and seeing where we are and what we we

1737
01:10:10,320 --> 01:10:13,000
want to do and what we can do or

1738
01:10:13,000 --> 01:10:14,840
probably some things are not going to

1739
01:10:14,840 --> 01:10:17,720
work out the way we thought. But uh

1740
01:10:17,720 --> 01:10:19,200
and and

1741
01:10:19,200 --> 01:10:22,040
the question to to Mr. Foster is

1742
01:10:22,040 --> 01:10:23,920
that will technically be up to council

1743
01:10:23,920 --> 01:10:26,640
to review or would it go back to the

1744
01:10:26,640 --> 01:10:28,240
planning commission

1745
01:10:28,240 --> 01:10:30,640
then? And I'll I'll defer to Mary here

1746
01:10:30,640 --> 01:10:32,160
and say but there is a statutory

1747
01:10:32,160 --> 01:10:34,080
requirement that it be reviewed every 5

1748
01:10:34,080 --> 01:10:36,320
years. I will say that planning

1749
01:10:36,320 --> 01:10:38,480
commission has the ministerial duty

1750
01:10:38,480 --> 01:10:41,320
primarily to do that and and does that.

1751
01:10:41,320 --> 01:10:43,600
I mean honestly, I think on an annual

1752
01:10:43,600 --> 01:10:45,880
basis there probably one meeting where

1753
01:10:45,880 --> 01:10:48,240
they review the contents and

1754
01:10:48,240 --> 01:10:49,520
what things are working, what things are

1755
01:10:49,520 --> 01:10:51,920
not, what needs to be included. But yes,

1756
01:10:51,920 --> 01:10:53,920
on a formal basis uh

1757
01:10:53,920 --> 01:10:55,480
we'll make sure that we comply with the

1758
01:10:55,480 --> 01:10:58,720
review requirement of state code and

1759
01:10:58,720 --> 01:11:00,320
you know, if it comes time to to review

1760
01:11:00,320 --> 01:11:01,720
the whole thing, we'll we'll certainly

1761
01:11:01,720 --> 01:11:04,760
do that. I'll I will say editorially

1762
01:11:04,760 --> 01:11:06,600
I was the author of the last two plans.

1763
01:11:06,600 --> 01:11:08,280
This is a great improvement over what I

1764
01:11:08,280 --> 01:11:11,310
did.

1765
01:11:11,320 --> 01:11:13,120
Well, I will say you you learn as you go

1766
01:11:13,120 --> 01:11:15,880
along. And it's it's no different than

1767
01:11:15,880 --> 01:11:18,440
the county fair or or town carnival,

1768
01:11:18,440 --> 01:11:19,640
excuse me.

1769
01:11:19,640 --> 01:11:21,080
Uh you learn things as you go along,

1770
01:11:21,080 --> 01:11:23,040
have to improve and make things better

1771
01:11:23,040 --> 01:11:24,840
and that's that's what we're doing and

1772
01:11:24,840 --> 01:11:27,480
making no fault for anybody. We just

1773
01:11:27,480 --> 01:11:29,400
learn how to do things better and that's

1774
01:11:29,400 --> 01:11:31,560
the key as long as we learn and improve.

1775
01:11:31,560 --> 01:11:33,680
So, does that answer your question?

1776
01:11:33,680 --> 01:11:35,320
It'll kind of be

1777
01:11:35,320 --> 01:11:37,320
the council and

1778
01:11:37,320 --> 01:11:39,680
we need to keep bringing it up to to

1779
01:11:39,680 --> 01:11:42,880
review. Yeah, I I just my I guess my

1780
01:11:42,880 --> 01:11:48,320
just what your point you made is that we use it as we must start making

1781
01:11:48,320 --> 01:11:50,600
decisions for the future or on different

1782
01:11:50,600 --> 01:11:52,600
things. We look to this and say, "Okay,

1783
01:11:52,600 --> 01:11:55,844
this fits right here for this." and And

1784
01:11:55,844 --> 01:11:56,040
>> [clears throat]

1785
01:11:56,040 --> 01:11:59,080
>> and and as I keep saying, 2045's a long

1786
01:11:59,080 --> 01:12:01,080
way away. Of course, it'll be here

1787
01:12:01,080 --> 01:12:03,080
before you know it. But it's a vision

1788
01:12:03,080 --> 01:12:06,520
and a guide to go by. It it things will

1789
01:12:06,520 --> 01:12:08,920
change. Technology will change some of

1790
01:12:08,920 --> 01:12:11,040
it and [clears throat] and people will

1791
01:12:11,040 --> 01:12:12,960
come and go, but it's a guide and a

1792
01:12:12,960 --> 01:12:16,400
vision to go by basically is what it is.

1793
01:12:16,400 --> 01:12:17,640
So.

1794
01:12:17,640 --> 01:12:19,960
But but you have to kind of read this

1795
01:12:19,960 --> 01:12:22,080
thing. You made a good point. Every

1796
01:12:22,080 --> 01:12:24,920
decision you make you see how does that

1797
01:12:24,920 --> 01:12:26,000
fit in

1798
01:12:26,000 --> 01:12:30,430
with with what you're doing? Yeah.

1799
01:12:30,440 --> 01:12:32,440
And just couple things I'd like to add,

1800
01:12:32,440 --> 01:12:34,360
you know, along with

1801
01:12:34,360 --> 01:12:36,800
dovetailing with Councilman Foster said,

1802
01:12:36,800 --> 01:12:39,470
um

1803
01:12:39,480 --> 01:12:41,560
I think it would be beneficial

1804
01:12:41,560 --> 01:12:44,760
if when we do our strategic planning

1805
01:12:44,760 --> 01:12:48,000
things, that we have the comprehensive

1806
01:12:48,000 --> 01:12:50,400
plan there so that we don't have two

1807
01:12:50,400 --> 01:12:55,160
different good plans moving parallel. We want them to converge at some point

1808
01:12:55,160 --> 01:12:57,560
and that would also create an avenue for

1809
01:12:57,560 --> 01:12:58,400
us

1810
01:12:58,400 --> 01:13:00,760
to review everything, you know, what was

1811
01:13:00,760 --> 01:13:02,600
talked about in the strategic plan last

1812
01:13:02,600 --> 01:13:04,120
year versus what it is we want to do

1813
01:13:04,120 --> 01:13:05,920
this year versus how does it compare

1814
01:13:05,920 --> 01:13:08,200
with the comprehensive plan.

1815
01:13:08,200 --> 01:13:12,200
Um and the the other note is uh

1816
01:13:12,200 --> 01:13:14,280
again, this is a state mandated, you

1817
01:13:14,280 --> 01:13:16,360
know, document

1818
01:13:16,360 --> 01:13:18,720
uh and there is a specific section in

1819
01:13:18,720 --> 01:13:21,320
there and you'll find it in most any

1820
01:13:21,320 --> 01:13:23,760
community comprehensive plan.

1821
01:13:23,760 --> 01:13:25,480
It's about parks.

1822
01:13:25,480 --> 01:13:26,680
You know, and we need to take a

1823
01:13:26,680 --> 01:13:29,480
realistic look on, you know, how we're

1824
01:13:29,480 --> 01:13:32,400
going to meet those needs. And if we're

1825
01:13:32,400 --> 01:13:34,160
going to keep growing

1826
01:13:34,160 --> 01:13:36,600
residential areas, we need green spaces

1827
01:13:36,600 --> 01:13:39,000
other than just places to mow. We need

1828
01:13:39,000 --> 01:13:40,760
things for for families to have, you

1829
01:13:40,760 --> 01:13:41,960
know, some type of interaction, you

1830
01:13:41,960 --> 01:13:45,160
know, that kind of stuff. So, um

1831
01:13:45,160 --> 01:13:46,520
so again, they like I said, we need to

1832
01:13:46,520 --> 01:13:48,680
keep these things, you know, uh

1833
01:13:48,680 --> 01:13:50,280
you know, up front and and we need to be

1834
01:13:50,280 --> 01:13:52,080
focused on them, you know, with just

1835
01:13:52,080 --> 01:13:55,480
about every time we meet, you know, how are we meeting those particular

1836
01:13:55,480 --> 01:13:59,160
standards that we set for ourselves?

1837
01:13:59,160 --> 01:14:01,080
Very good. Very good comments. What

1838
01:14:01,080 --> 01:14:02,320
else?

1839
01:14:02,320 --> 01:14:06,836
We're kind of on a roll now, so let's keep going.

1840
01:14:06,846 --> 01:14:06,920
» [clears throat]

1841
01:14:06,920 --> 01:14:07,920
>> So,

1842
01:14:07,920 --> 01:14:10,640
only thing with Mr. Warren said is play

1843
01:14:10,640 --> 01:14:12,280
comprehensive plan is pretty much what

1844
01:14:12,280 --> 01:14:14,080
everybody else has said.

1845
01:14:14,080 --> 01:14:16,000
It's a guide to move forward or

1846
01:14:16,000 --> 01:14:17,880
whatever. Things can change over time

1847
01:14:17,880 --> 01:14:19,480
like he said, some things is working,

1848
01:14:19,480 --> 01:14:20,960
some things are not working and stuff

1849
01:14:20,960 --> 01:14:24,080
like that. So, it's really just

1850
01:14:24,080 --> 01:14:26,160
having a vision to move forward in the

1851
01:14:26,160 --> 01:14:28,640
future or whatever. So, and Mary has

1852
01:14:28,640 --> 01:14:30,640
done a great job on putting this

1853
01:14:30,640 --> 01:14:32,880
together or whatever with her hard work

1854
01:14:32,880 --> 01:14:34,480
and stuff. So, we that's why we're here

1855
01:14:34,480 --> 01:14:36,480
at this moment tonight voting on this to

1856
01:14:36,480 --> 01:14:40,910
move forward for the future.

1857
01:14:40,920 --> 01:14:46,190
Anything else?

1858
01:14:46,200 --> 01:14:48,680
Um I just want to also thank uh

1859
01:14:48,680 --> 01:14:50,400
Todd E PR.

1860
01:14:50,400 --> 01:14:52,080
Uh you guys did a great job. You come

1861
01:14:52,080 --> 01:14:54,200
in. I was in there in the beginning and

1862
01:14:54,200 --> 01:14:58,480
then uh rotated off. But uh I know you

1863
01:14:58,480 --> 01:15:00,160
all kept it going and Mary, thank you a

1864
01:15:00,160 --> 01:15:03,040
lot for being involved in this. So,

1865
01:15:03,040 --> 01:15:05,360
planning commission did a great job.

1866
01:15:05,360 --> 01:15:09,280
I sat through some of the meetings and uh

1867
01:15:09,280 --> 01:15:11,200
saw some of the uh slides and all that

1868
01:15:11,200 --> 01:15:12,840
and it was a lot of thought that went

1869
01:15:12,840 --> 01:15:16,600
into this. Uh so, I thank everybody that

1870
01:15:16,600 --> 01:15:19,760
was involved did a great job and here we

1871
01:15:19,760 --> 01:15:21,680
are.

1872
01:15:21,680 --> 01:15:24,040
Nothing else? We will

1873
01:15:24,040 --> 01:15:29,960
proceed. Well, No, what What about the item about the reservoir land

1874
01:15:29,960 --> 01:15:31,400
acquisition? Do you want to We we can

1875
01:15:31,400 --> 01:15:33,680
address that later. Okay. Cuz we we

1876
01:15:33,680 --> 01:15:35,840
don't have documents here to address

1877
01:15:35,840 --> 01:15:38,200
that. But Mary, the planning commission

1878
01:15:38,200 --> 01:15:41,840
I guess would address that.

1879
01:15:41,840 --> 01:15:44,080
They actually wanted town council to um

1880
01:15:44,080 --> 01:15:46,480
Right. to to have that conversation.

1881
01:15:46,480 --> 01:15:47,440
Yeah, this is one they didn't feel

1882
01:15:47,440 --> 01:15:48,880
comfortable taking out or doing anything

1883
01:15:48,880 --> 01:15:49,640
with that. They want it to be your

1884
01:15:49,640 --> 01:15:53,800
decision. Okay, then as what did it say?

1885
01:15:53,800 --> 01:15:57,870
I can read that for you.

1886
01:15:57,880 --> 01:15:59,320
What is it? We don't own the property

1887
01:15:59,320 --> 01:16:01,960
around the reservoir anymore. Or we're

1888
01:16:01,960 --> 01:16:04,240
No, I'm

1889
01:16:04,240 --> 01:16:06,920
Let's let's see how we need to address the

1890
01:16:06,920 --> 01:16:09,480
reference. Yeah. So, it it currently

1891
01:16:09,480 --> 01:16:11,520
references it under um I believe it's

1892
01:16:11,520 --> 01:16:13,560
under the greenway section of parks area

1893
01:16:13,560 --> 01:16:15,520
of trails and open space other open

1894
01:16:15,520 --> 01:16:16,640
spaces.

1895
01:16:16,640 --> 01:16:18,080
And this will change of course. The town

1896
01:16:18,080 --> 01:16:19,680
also owns an undeveloped reservoir

1897
01:16:19,680 --> 01:16:21,440
property that currently serves solely as

1898
01:16:21,440 --> 01:16:22,800
a water supply and is closed to the

1899
01:16:22,800 --> 01:16:24,760
public. This large wooded area presents

1900
01:16:24,760 --> 01:16:26,640
a unique opportunity for future passive

1901
01:16:26,640 --> 01:16:28,680
recreation such as hiking, nature

1902
01:16:28,680 --> 01:16:30,920
observation, fishing or picnicking if

1903
01:16:30,920 --> 01:16:32,360
portions of the land can be opened to

1904
01:16:32,360 --> 01:16:34,200
the public. Any use of the reservoir

1905
01:16:34,200 --> 01:16:35,600
property would require rigorous

1906
01:16:35,600 --> 01:16:37,080
protections for water quality and

1907
01:16:37,080 --> 01:16:39,080
safety, but with careful planning, this

1908
01:16:39,080 --> 01:16:40,600
site could eventually provide residents

1909
01:16:40,600 --> 01:16:42,160
with a new place to enjoy Bedford's

1910
01:16:42,160 --> 01:16:44,040
natural environment.

1911
01:16:44,040 --> 01:16:46,160
This might be a great time and for the

1912
01:16:46,160 --> 01:16:48,600
public here as well to speak to the

1913
01:16:48,600 --> 01:16:50,160
action we took recently with regard to

1914
01:16:50,160 --> 01:16:52,120
that reservoir property. We resolved an

1915
01:16:52,120 --> 01:16:54,320
ownership question raised by the water

1916
01:16:54,320 --> 01:16:56,880
authority about specific parcels. But we

1917
01:16:56,880 --> 01:16:59,880
continue to pursue plans to conserve the

1918
01:16:59,880 --> 01:17:01,920
property and to certainly conserve the

1919
01:17:01,920 --> 01:17:03,440
water supply.

1920
01:17:03,440 --> 01:17:04,920
We're engaging with the water authority

1921
01:17:04,920 --> 01:17:07,000
in that discussion um as well as the

1922
01:17:07,000 --> 01:17:09,520
county to explore possibilities of

1923
01:17:09,520 --> 01:17:12,720
passive recreation that

1924
01:17:12,720 --> 01:17:13,960
can [clears throat] be applied to it

1925
01:17:13,960 --> 01:17:15,800
regardless of the other administrative

1926
01:17:15,800 --> 01:17:19,720
factors. So, we we are pursuing that and

1927
01:17:19,720 --> 01:17:20,760
I forgot the name of the gentleman in

1928
01:17:20,760 --> 01:17:22,640
Lexington who is advising me on that

1929
01:17:22,640 --> 01:17:24,560
currently, but that that is underway.

1930
01:17:24,560 --> 01:17:29,280
So, thank you for bringing that up. So, at this point, we we own the

1931
01:17:29,280 --> 01:17:30,640
property on the opposite side of the

1932
01:17:30,640 --> 01:17:32,400
reservoir and and but we're not sure

1933
01:17:32,400 --> 01:17:34,080
what we're going to do with it at this

1934
01:17:34,080 --> 01:17:36,720
point in time. So, it technically could

1935
01:17:36,720 --> 01:17:37,760
go

1936
01:17:37,760 --> 01:17:41,040
into something of that nature. Yes. But

1937
01:17:41,040 --> 01:17:42,520
I guess my question is do we need to

1938
01:17:42,520 --> 01:17:45,160
change that in any way, shape or form

1939
01:17:45,160 --> 01:17:46,920
from what it says now?

1940
01:17:46,920 --> 01:17:47,880
>> And again, we're talking about a

1941
01:17:47,880 --> 01:17:50,320
document that is a long-term vision kind

1942
01:17:50,320 --> 01:17:52,280
of thing. So, we're not any one

1943
01:17:52,280 --> 01:17:53,960
particular thing is is is nothing that's

1944
01:17:53,960 --> 01:17:55,400
going to, you know, happen fast. You

1945
01:17:55,400 --> 01:17:57,320
know, this we got to do it anyway. Yeah,

1946
01:17:57,320 --> 01:17:59,640
and I will say and Mary, correct me if

1947
01:17:59,640 --> 01:18:01,680
I'm wrong here, none of that is etched

1948
01:18:01,680 --> 01:18:04,760
in stone. It can be changed by planning

1949
01:18:04,760 --> 01:18:07,000
commission or reviewed at some point in

1950
01:18:07,000 --> 01:18:09,600
time or when something does change, it

1951
01:18:09,600 --> 01:18:13,000
can be revisited and and and changed.

1952
01:18:13,000 --> 01:18:13,880
So,

1953
01:18:13,880 --> 01:18:15,280
uh so,

1954
01:18:15,280 --> 01:18:16,760
I don't want to throw it back to the

1955
01:18:16,760 --> 01:18:18,320
planning commission. I don't I don't

1956
01:18:18,320 --> 01:18:19,880
want to play this

1957
01:18:19,880 --> 01:18:23,400
ping pong back and forth, but I do think

1958
01:18:23,400 --> 01:18:26,160
that that's where we're at right now.

1959
01:18:26,160 --> 01:18:26,640
Where are we at?

1960
01:18:26,640 --> 01:18:28,320
>> If we come back with a

1961
01:18:28,320 --> 01:18:30,280
programmatic solution conjunction with

1962
01:18:30,280 --> 01:18:32,000
the state, we can add that as an

1963
01:18:32,000 --> 01:18:34,560
amendment to the comp plan. Yeah, but at

1964
01:18:34,560 --> 01:18:36,920
this point, all that is a possibility

1965
01:18:36,920 --> 01:18:38,080
right now.

1966
01:18:38,080 --> 01:18:39,880
As to the property we own

1967
01:18:39,880 --> 01:18:42,520
cuz we've not yet decided what we're

1968
01:18:42,520 --> 01:18:45,320
going to do with it. And I think that's

1969
01:18:45,320 --> 01:18:47,160
will be a long discussion on another

1970
01:18:47,160 --> 01:18:47,560
time.

1971
01:18:47,560 --> 01:18:50,480
>> Oh yeah, but but that was It was in uh

1972
01:18:50,480 --> 01:18:52,160
yeah. The uh planning commission asked

1973
01:18:52,160 --> 01:18:55,200
us to discuss it. But uh or we're just

1974
01:18:55,200 --> 01:18:57,760
saying that I think it's okay as is.

1975
01:18:57,760 --> 01:18:59,719
I'm good with that. You good?

1976
01:18:59,719 --> 01:19:02,910
Everybody else good?

1977
01:19:02,920 --> 01:19:04,680
Mr. Carson?

1978
01:19:04,680 --> 01:19:06,360
Mr. Evans?

1979
01:19:06,360 --> 01:19:11,080
Aye. Mr. Foreman? Aye. Mr. Foster? Aye.

1980
01:19:11,080 --> 01:19:14,920
Mr. Haley? Aye. Mr. Rebello? Aye. Mr.

1981
01:19:14,920 --> 01:19:18,560
Updike? Aye. Mayor Stanley? Aye. Motion

1982
01:19:18,560 --> 01:19:20,840
passes with all members voting aye.

1983
01:19:20,840 --> 01:19:25,760
All right, next is ordinance registry.

1984
01:19:25,760 --> 01:19:28,040
At its regular meeting on February 17th,

1985
01:19:28,040 --> 01:19:31,160
2026, town council discussed development

1986
01:19:31,160 --> 01:19:32,600
and passage of a vacant building

1987
01:19:32,600 --> 01:19:34,120
registry ordinance.

1988
01:19:34,120 --> 01:19:36,160
A proposed draft was used for specific

1989
01:19:36,160 --> 01:19:38,320
reference as part of that discussion at

1990
01:19:38,320 --> 01:19:39,600
that time.

1991
01:19:39,600 --> 01:19:41,360
Consensus of council was to move forward

1992
01:19:41,360 --> 01:19:42,920
with formal consideration of such an

1993
01:19:42,920 --> 01:19:44,760
ordinance and to include a public

1994
01:19:44,760 --> 01:19:46,920
hearing as part of that process. Since

1995
01:19:46,920 --> 01:19:48,960
that time, staff and the town attorney

1996
01:19:48,960 --> 01:19:50,520
have worked to develop a final working

1997
01:19:50,520 --> 01:19:53,200
draft for consideration by council.

1998
01:19:53,200 --> 01:19:54,800
Tonight, town council is requested to

1999
01:19:54,800 --> 01:19:57,280
consider adoption of the vacant building

2000
01:19:57,280 --> 01:19:59,280
registry ordinance as submitted by the

2001
01:19:59,280 --> 01:20:01,520
town attorney. Okay.

2002
01:20:01,520 --> 01:20:03,200
I'm not going to ask for a motion yet

2003
01:20:03,200 --> 01:20:05,400
cuz I think there may be some discussion

2004
01:20:05,400 --> 01:20:07,400
we want to have and figure out just

2005
01:20:07,400 --> 01:20:09,600
exactly what we want to do and what

2006
01:20:09,600 --> 01:20:11,800
direction we want to go. So,

2007
01:20:11,800 --> 01:20:15,160
I'll open up for discussion.

2008
01:20:15,160 --> 01:20:16,840
Uh

2009
01:20:16,840 --> 01:20:18,800
I'll start off with

2010
01:20:18,800 --> 01:20:20,560
maybe a talking point, maybe it leads on

2011
01:20:20,560 --> 01:20:23,720
to something else, but uh

2012
01:20:23,720 --> 01:20:25,560
Mr. Lockaby mentioned

2013
01:20:25,560 --> 01:20:28,840
previously that uh the vacant building

2014
01:20:28,840 --> 01:20:30,520
registry was

2015
01:20:30,520 --> 01:20:32,720
uh kind of one of the things that was uh

2016
01:20:32,720 --> 01:20:35,560
recommended by the consultants

2017
01:20:35,560 --> 01:20:37,840
uh for the you know, to help us

2018
01:20:37,840 --> 01:20:40,320
revitalize downtown.

2019
01:20:40,320 --> 01:20:42,960
But I think they also said that it would

2020
01:20:42,960 --> 01:20:44,600
be better

2021
01:20:44,600 --> 01:20:47,760
if those types of regulations, rules, or

2022
01:20:47,760 --> 01:20:51,160
whatever were came from the business

2023
01:20:51,160 --> 01:20:54,480
community as opposed to being mandated

2024
01:20:54,480 --> 01:20:56,240
by by council.

2025
01:20:56,240 --> 01:20:58,191
And that is certainly

2026
01:20:58,191 --> 01:20:58,280
>> [clears throat]

2027
01:20:58,280 --> 01:21:01,680
>> I feel like the the best case scenario.

2028
01:21:01,680 --> 01:21:04,760
Um however,

2029
01:21:04,760 --> 01:21:06,080
uh

2030
01:21:06,080 --> 01:21:08,640
we still have

2031
01:21:08,640 --> 01:21:13,760
buildings that that need some type of addressing.

2032
01:21:13,760 --> 01:21:18,550
Um

2033
01:21:18,560 --> 01:21:21,160
A- and if you know, proprietors, you

2034
01:21:21,160 --> 01:21:23,120
know, can't or won't, you know, bring

2035
01:21:23,120 --> 01:21:24,360
these buildings to where they are a

2036
01:21:24,360 --> 01:21:28,320
little more marketable, you know, then maybe, you know, council does need

2037
01:21:28,320 --> 01:21:31,840
to step in. Um

2038
01:21:31,840 --> 01:21:36,440
But but I do have some issues regarding, you know,

2039
01:21:36,440 --> 01:21:38,200
property rights and mandating what what

2040
01:21:38,200 --> 01:21:42,720
people can and can't do with with their property, but um

2041
01:21:42,720 --> 01:21:45,080
you know, I'm certainly open for to hear

2042
01:21:45,080 --> 01:21:46,560
more discussion about it.

2043
01:21:46,560 --> 01:21:48,600
All right.

2044
01:21:48,600 --> 01:21:51,590
What else?

2045
01:21:51,600 --> 01:21:53,960
I'm going to ask you a question.

2046
01:21:53,960 --> 01:21:56,480
Um in under derelict building, it says

2047
01:21:56,480 --> 01:21:58,120
not lawfully connected to electric

2048
01:21:58,120 --> 01:22:00,680
service, not lawfully connected to water

2049
01:22:00,680 --> 01:22:03,120
or sewer service, and then it's got if

2050
01:22:03,120 --> 01:22:04,840
required. What do they mean by if

2051
01:22:04,840 --> 01:22:06,720
required?

2052
01:22:06,720 --> 01:22:09,480
Or what do we mean by if required?

2053
01:22:09,480 --> 01:22:12,440
I thought we were requiring it by the

2054
01:22:12,440 --> 01:22:16,070
ordinance, but

2055
01:22:16,080 --> 01:22:18,080
I didn't draft that part, so I'm sorry.

2056
01:22:18,080 --> 01:22:19,080
Yeah.

2057
01:22:19,080 --> 01:22:20,960
It just seems like it should be required

2058
01:22:20,960 --> 01:22:22,440
and then we're putting if required at

2059
01:22:22,440 --> 01:22:22,960
the end.

2060
01:22:22,960 --> 01:22:25,120
>> I'm trying to I'm trying to I'm not just

2061
01:22:25,120 --> 01:22:26,960
saying whether you're not required to to

2062
01:22:26,960 --> 01:22:30,030
be honest.

2063
01:22:30,040 --> 01:22:33,640
There may be rare exceptions where

2064
01:22:33,640 --> 01:22:36,480
um there might be some private systems

2065
01:22:36,480 --> 01:22:38,480
that are

2066
01:22:38,480 --> 01:22:40,840
allowed, but I'm I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

2067
01:22:40,840 --> 01:22:42,600
>> re- I mean, it wouldn't be possible to

2068
01:22:42,600 --> 01:22:44,720
remove that at the end?

2069
01:22:44,720 --> 01:22:46,720
If required. And I'm sorry. I'm looking

2070
01:22:46,720 --> 01:22:48,720
at Mary. I just forgot. I I can't I

2071
01:22:48,720 --> 01:22:49,800
can't imagine there are too many

2072
01:22:49,800 --> 01:22:51,240
exceptions. And I don't know if that's

2073
01:22:51,240 --> 01:22:53,960
straight out of the state definition for

2074
01:22:53,960 --> 01:22:55,640
um derelict building. I think that was

2075
01:22:55,640 --> 01:22:57,360
the source of much of Mr. Lockaby's

2076
01:22:57,360 --> 01:22:59,360
drafting of this was to be in compliance

2077
01:22:59,360 --> 01:23:01,400
with Perhaps there are communities that

2078
01:23:01,400 --> 01:23:03,120
have private water and sewer systems and

2079
01:23:03,120 --> 01:23:05,360
that informs the state language.

2080
01:23:05,360 --> 01:23:09,110
But I'm speculating, so.

2081
01:23:09,120 --> 01:23:10,600
I imagine it is probably the state

2082
01:23:10,600 --> 01:23:12,040
language. I think it was Graham Anderson

2083
01:23:12,040 --> 01:23:14,040
who was

2084
01:23:14,040 --> 01:23:15,640
Cuz it just seems like it would make it

2085
01:23:15,640 --> 01:23:17,520
a little confusing for somebody to see

2086
01:23:17,520 --> 01:23:19,320
that. Cuz we

2087
01:23:19,320 --> 01:23:20,960
Cuz I've supported this all along. We

2088
01:23:20,960 --> 01:23:23,480
want to have something to help to help

2089
01:23:23,480 --> 01:23:26,280
uh because we offer, as Mary said

2090
01:23:26,280 --> 01:23:28,400
earlier, we offer a lot of carrots, but

2091
01:23:28,400 --> 01:23:30,280
we need a stick to get people to comply

2092
01:23:30,280 --> 01:23:31,680
sometimes.

2093
01:23:31,680 --> 01:23:33,280
Um and that's what they talked about in

2094
01:23:33,280 --> 01:23:35,240
the meetings that we were at.

2095
01:23:35,240 --> 01:23:37,720
And this is

2096
01:23:37,720 --> 01:23:40,480
there's not This is a very easy so far.

2097
01:23:40,480 --> 01:23:41,960
I mean, all you have really have to do

2098
01:23:41,960 --> 01:23:44,000
is have a building with electric service

2099
01:23:44,000 --> 01:23:45,120
and

2100
01:23:45,120 --> 01:23:48,760
um water water connection to it. So,

2101
01:23:48,760 --> 01:23:51,520
and if you have those uh for 6-month

2102
01:23:51,520 --> 01:23:53,200
period, then you're not a bit derelict

2103
01:23:53,200 --> 01:23:56,750
building or vacant building.

2104
01:23:56,760 --> 01:23:59,560
So, I mean, it makes it very easy.

2105
01:23:59,560 --> 01:24:00,720
So,

2106
01:24:00,720 --> 01:24:02,280
you know, so that's that's something

2107
01:24:02,280 --> 01:24:04,080
that I thought we needed to look at that

2108
01:24:04,080 --> 01:24:05,560
if required and and I know you're

2109
01:24:05,560 --> 01:24:07,040
looking at it now, sir.

2110
01:24:07,040 --> 01:24:08,440
>> Mr. Mayor, uh

2111
01:24:08,440 --> 01:24:12,360
the statute that that uh

2112
01:24:12,360 --> 01:24:13,840
Mr. Lockaby

2113
01:24:13,840 --> 01:24:16,800
was referring to had to be referred to,

2114
01:24:16,800 --> 01:24:20,000
does or speak to uh not lawfully

2115
01:24:20,000 --> 01:24:22,520
connected to any required water or sewer

2116
01:24:22,520 --> 01:24:24,880
service from a utility service provider.

2117
01:24:24,880 --> 01:24:26,120
So,

2118
01:24:26,120 --> 01:24:29,600
and the language that he used was

2119
01:24:29,600 --> 01:24:31,000
close to that.

2120
01:24:31,000 --> 01:24:32,920
Um and and I think it's to the same

2121
01:24:32,920 --> 01:24:36,680
point, but it the derelict building

2122
01:24:36,680 --> 01:24:40,000
definition is in statute and includes

2123
01:24:40,000 --> 01:24:42,800
this this uh concept of what is So, they

2124
01:24:42,800 --> 01:24:44,640
have to have it. So, it's saying it is

2125
01:24:44,640 --> 01:24:46,640
required to have it.

2126
01:24:46,640 --> 01:24:48,640
Well, it's If if it's required to have

2127
01:24:48,640 --> 01:24:50,400
it. What what I would

2128
01:24:50,400 --> 01:24:52,200
kind of surmise is that

2129
01:24:52,200 --> 01:24:54,320
most places you got to have electric,

2130
01:24:54,320 --> 01:24:56,360
but some commercial buildings may not

2131
01:24:56,360 --> 01:24:57,400
have

2132
01:24:57,400 --> 01:24:59,840
uh water connections or

2133
01:24:59,840 --> 01:25:01,680
a restroom or anything, so that would

2134
01:25:01,680 --> 01:25:04,320
not be required because they don't have

2135
01:25:04,320 --> 01:25:06,240
water or sewage coming into the

2136
01:25:06,240 --> 01:25:07,680
building, but

2137
01:25:07,680 --> 01:25:08,800
that would be That'd be the only reason

2138
01:25:08,800 --> 01:25:11,200
I would think that that would be there.

2139
01:25:11,200 --> 01:25:12,520
But certainly you do have some buildings

2140
01:25:12,520 --> 01:25:16,440
that don't have those water or sewage.

2141
01:25:16,440 --> 01:25:18,280
Everybody's got to have electric because

2142
01:25:18,280 --> 01:25:21,070
it's

2143
01:25:21,080 --> 01:25:23,440
If they make Yeah, I Okay. I Yeah, I

2144
01:25:23,440 --> 01:25:25,360
think yes. I think you may be right

2145
01:25:25,360 --> 01:25:27,920
there. And it says or, so it either has

2146
01:25:27,920 --> 01:25:30,560
electric or has sewage connection. So,

2147
01:25:30,560 --> 01:25:32,800
it's not both. A- And I think it's one

2148
01:25:32,800 --> 01:25:34,120
thing that

2149
01:25:34,120 --> 01:25:39,200
it's the the terms they use to cover

2150
01:25:39,200 --> 01:25:41,600
everything that could possibly happen.

2151
01:25:41,600 --> 01:25:44,560
Um and I I I will say this.

2152
01:25:44,560 --> 01:25:46,200
Um

2153
01:25:46,200 --> 01:25:49,160
To to back to what Vice Mayor Black

2154
01:25:49,160 --> 01:25:51,880
said, this this stems from the downtown

2155
01:25:51,880 --> 01:25:53,320
strategy.

2156
01:25:53,320 --> 01:25:54,080
Um

2157
01:25:54,080 --> 01:25:57,720
and it and and that and and I thank Mary

2158
01:25:57,720 --> 01:25:58,800
I thank her a hundred times. I'll

2159
01:25:58,800 --> 01:26:00,680
probably thank her another hundred times

2160
01:26:00,680 --> 01:26:02,520
for our league for this, getting that

2161
01:26:02,520 --> 01:26:05,880
grant cuz it's given us guidance as to

2162
01:26:05,880 --> 01:26:07,680
what we can do.

2163
01:26:07,680 --> 01:26:09,680
And it's kind of like comprehensive

2164
01:26:09,680 --> 01:26:12,840
plan. It's it's a guide. And this is

2165
01:26:12,840 --> 01:26:15,760
something they said that we encourage to

2166
01:26:15,760 --> 01:26:19,440
be done and that No, it it doesn't hit

2167
01:26:19,440 --> 01:26:20,920
them very hard.

2168
01:26:20,920 --> 01:26:24,440
It's it's very light, but it's a start.

2169
01:26:24,440 --> 01:26:26,760
And and it's something that has not been

2170
01:26:26,760 --> 01:26:28,960
done up to this point.

2171
01:26:28,960 --> 01:26:31,360
And and until you

2172
01:26:31,360 --> 01:26:36,920
start something and then, as I say, like a lot of things, we can look at it

2173
01:26:36,920 --> 01:26:40,280
in 6 months or or a couple months and do

2174
01:26:40,280 --> 01:26:42,080
if we want to tweak it, do we want to

2175
01:26:42,080 --> 01:26:45,760
change it? But this is a start to start

2176
01:26:45,760 --> 01:26:48,280
addressing some of the vacant buildings

2177
01:26:48,280 --> 01:26:51,960
that may make this model. That I I don't

2178
01:26:51,960 --> 01:26:53,760
know if there are any or not, but it's

2179
01:26:53,760 --> 01:26:54,880
very

2180
01:26:54,880 --> 01:26:56,560
I would call this

2181
01:26:56,560 --> 01:26:58,840
for what it's worth, very lightweight.

2182
01:26:58,840 --> 01:27:01,520
But it can be changed and it can be

2183
01:27:01,520 --> 01:27:03,240
uh

2184
01:27:03,240 --> 01:27:05,760
made to hit a little harder

2185
01:27:05,760 --> 01:27:08,280
whenever council wants to do that. But

2186
01:27:08,280 --> 01:27:10,480
it But it's more than than what we've

2187
01:27:10,480 --> 01:27:14,040
had in that I know we've

2188
01:27:14,040 --> 01:27:15,920
I'll just be blunt.

2189
01:27:15,920 --> 01:27:17,720
We get criticized if we don't do

2190
01:27:17,720 --> 01:27:18,960
anything.

2191
01:27:18,960 --> 01:27:21,120
We get criticized if we do something.

2192
01:27:21,120 --> 01:27:23,720
So, this is a start and

2193
01:27:23,720 --> 01:27:27,200
it it it's something to try to address

2194
01:27:27,200 --> 01:27:28,640
the vacancy.

2195
01:27:28,640 --> 01:27:29,880
So.

2196
01:27:29,880 --> 01:27:31,560
And I knew one of the public comments

2197
01:27:31,560 --> 01:27:33,840
talked about the criminal blight in it,

2198
01:27:33,840 --> 01:27:35,440
but I think it's something we can leave

2199
01:27:35,440 --> 01:27:37,360
in it and then if we want to expand it

2200
01:27:37,360 --> 01:27:38,880
in the future to other areas in the

2201
01:27:38,880 --> 01:27:41,400
downtown area. I don't think I don't

2202
01:27:41,400 --> 01:27:43,000
think we'll have any criminal blight in

2203
01:27:43,000 --> 01:27:46,000
our downtown areas by this definition

2204
01:27:46,000 --> 01:27:48,400
when I read it. But if we decide to

2205
01:27:48,400 --> 01:27:50,120
expand the areas in the future, we

2206
01:27:50,120 --> 01:27:52,160
could. And and that was one of the

2207
01:27:52,160 --> 01:27:54,120
questions that I had, you know,

2208
01:27:54,120 --> 01:27:58,560
it is is there a reason why we are

2209
01:27:58,560 --> 01:28:01,000
making requirements of

2210
01:28:01,000 --> 01:28:03,280
buildings in a certain section of of the

2211
01:28:03,280 --> 01:28:05,640
city or the of the town

2212
01:28:05,640 --> 01:28:07,400
that we're not requiring buildings

2213
01:28:07,400 --> 01:28:09,240
elsewhere to to to meet those same

2214
01:28:09,240 --> 01:28:10,360
standards?

2215
01:28:10,360 --> 01:28:11,280
Uh

2216
01:28:11,280 --> 01:28:13,600
you know, could you know, Well,

2217
01:28:13,600 --> 01:28:15,320
it's only because this was called the

2218
01:28:15,320 --> 01:28:17,920
downtown strategy. It addressed downtown

2219
01:28:17,920 --> 01:28:19,719
now. I understand where it came from.

2220
01:28:19,719 --> 01:28:21,440
I'm just saying couldn't we apply that

2221
01:28:21,440 --> 01:28:23,360
to all town buildings? Well, I guess my

2222
01:28:23,360 --> 01:28:24,800
question would be

2223
01:28:24,800 --> 01:28:27,920
this was modeled for downtown, the

2224
01:28:27,920 --> 01:28:29,840
downtown area.

2225
01:28:29,840 --> 01:28:32,880
If we wanted something to expand to the

2226
01:28:32,880 --> 01:28:34,360
other parts of town,

2227
01:28:34,360 --> 01:28:37,719
I would suggest a different ordinance,

2228
01:28:37,719 --> 01:28:39,000
but

2229
01:28:39,000 --> 01:28:41,600
we can discuss expanding this, but I

2230
01:28:41,600 --> 01:28:43,840
think this was modeled or targeted for

2231
01:28:43,840 --> 01:28:46,960
downtown, the downtown district. But if

2232
01:28:46,960 --> 01:28:49,800
we want to expand that to the other

2233
01:28:49,800 --> 01:28:52,240
parts of the the town, then

2234
01:28:52,240 --> 01:28:54,120
we could probably get something very

2235
01:28:54,120 --> 01:28:55,280
similar,

2236
01:28:55,280 --> 01:28:56,480
but uh

2237
01:28:56,480 --> 01:28:58,520
of course, would hit a lot harder. We'll

2238
01:28:58,520 --> 01:29:00,320
just take out the reference to downtown

2239
01:29:00,320 --> 01:29:02,040
district. Yeah, I was going to say if

2240
01:29:02,040 --> 01:29:03,480
you just take that out, it would be the

2241
01:29:03,480 --> 01:29:04,120
whole town.

2242
01:29:04,120 --> 01:29:06,200
>> Then it would apply to everyone.

2243
01:29:06,200 --> 01:29:08,120
That that would Okay.

2244
01:29:08,120 --> 01:29:11,120
Why? I mean, I don't know.

2245
01:29:11,120 --> 01:29:13,470
But

2246
01:29:13,480 --> 01:29:15,040
So,

2247
01:29:15,040 --> 01:29:17,400
a couple of questions myself is I I was

2248
01:29:17,400 --> 01:29:18,520
going

2249
01:29:18,520 --> 01:29:19,280
uh

2250
01:29:19,280 --> 01:29:21,680
talked to uh Councilman Foreman about

2251
01:29:21,680 --> 01:29:23,880
criminal blight, but also

2252
01:29:23,880 --> 01:29:26,080
where you sit over here,

2253
01:29:26,080 --> 01:29:28,600
Washington Street is split, cuz you

2254
01:29:28,600 --> 01:29:30,520
know, one side of Washington Street had

2255
01:29:30,520 --> 01:29:32,000
businesses too, just as well as the

2256
01:29:32,000 --> 01:29:34,520
other side of Washington Street. So, how

2257
01:29:34,520 --> 01:29:36,920
can you

2258
01:29:36,920 --> 01:29:39,520
break the street up as when you have

2259
01:29:39,520 --> 01:29:41,680
businesses on the right-hand side going

2260
01:29:41,680 --> 01:29:42,800
up Washington Street and on the

2261
01:29:42,800 --> 01:29:46,000
left-hand side you have businesses?

2262
01:29:46,000 --> 01:29:48,080
I mean, that just don't make sense. I

2263
01:29:48,080 --> 01:29:50,280
mean,

2264
01:29:50,280 --> 01:29:52,240
I don't mean that's not picking on any

2265
01:29:52,240 --> 01:29:54,120
businesses on the right-hand side, but

2266
01:29:54,120 --> 01:29:56,320
it it should be fair and fair if you

2267
01:29:56,320 --> 01:30:00,000
going focus us on downtown and business

2268
01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:01,920
related

2269
01:30:01,920 --> 01:30:05,200
things. And also, you talked about

2270
01:30:05,200 --> 01:30:07,200
I read a couple of the

2271
01:30:07,200 --> 01:30:08,800
um

2272
01:30:08,800 --> 01:30:11,120
uh papers that people was sending here.

2273
01:30:11,120 --> 01:30:13,120
Couple good points said a few points

2274
01:30:13,120 --> 01:30:15,320
that talked about hard fees. I don't see

2275
01:30:15,320 --> 01:30:17,960
where we need to really punish anybody.

2276
01:30:17,960 --> 01:30:20,640
I think we need to just

2277
01:30:20,640 --> 01:30:23,520
show them and help them to move forward

2278
01:30:23,520 --> 01:30:25,400
with our buildings and stuff like that.

2279
01:30:25,400 --> 01:30:32,670
So, I that's my opinion.

2280
01:30:32,680 --> 01:30:35,160
The vacant building registry, is that

2281
01:30:35,160 --> 01:30:36,720
going to be listed online like the other

2282
01:30:36,720 --> 01:30:38,640
vacant building registries, or is that

2283
01:30:38,640 --> 01:30:40,760
just going to be something kept here

2284
01:30:40,760 --> 01:30:42,160
within

2285
01:30:42,160 --> 01:30:46,430
our office?

2286
01:30:46,440 --> 01:30:48,160
We will follow the direction of council.

2287
01:30:48,160 --> 01:30:50,160
Our understanding is the intent is to

2288
01:30:50,160 --> 01:30:52,080
publish it on the website. And it would

2289
01:30:52,080 --> 01:30:54,440
be for it would be it would be you'd be

2290
01:30:54,440 --> 01:30:55,800
able to obtain it through the Freedom of

2291
01:30:55,800 --> 01:30:57,560
Information Act anyhow.

2292
01:30:57,560 --> 01:30:59,520
The um yeah, but I was looking tonight

2293
01:30:59,520 --> 01:31:01,120
through and you know, I'm all for doing

2294
01:31:01,120 --> 01:31:03,280
downtown. I'm one of the people that's

2295
01:31:03,280 --> 01:31:05,600
been all about let's fix the downtown,

2296
01:31:05,600 --> 01:31:07,800
but the vacant building registry, if you

2297
01:31:07,800 --> 01:31:09,440
look on there,

2298
01:31:09,440 --> 01:31:11,560
they get treated very nasty, really

2299
01:31:11,560 --> 01:31:12,880
nasty.

2300
01:31:12,880 --> 01:31:15,200
And their buildings get overlooked,

2301
01:31:15,200 --> 01:31:17,520
their insurance gets canceled.

2302
01:31:17,520 --> 01:31:19,160
Um some of them are forced to lose their

2303
01:31:19,160 --> 01:31:22,320
buildings. There's a lot goes on once

2304
01:31:22,320 --> 01:31:25,880
you put them on there. And I understand

2305
01:31:25,880 --> 01:31:28,000
that they say that we, like I said, give

2306
01:31:28,000 --> 01:31:30,120
them a lot of carrots, but I passed out

2307
01:31:30,120 --> 01:31:32,680
18 applications to different businesses

2308
01:31:32,680 --> 01:31:35,840
downtown to tell them, yes, we have help

2309
01:31:35,840 --> 01:31:37,240
here,

2310
01:31:37,240 --> 01:31:39,280
but then at the same time they was told,

2311
01:31:39,280 --> 01:31:41,120
well, you got to wait. So, how you going

2312
01:31:41,120 --> 01:31:42,440
to punish somebody when you tell them

2313
01:31:42,440 --> 01:31:43,880
that you got to wait? Yeah, I'm giving

2314
01:31:43,880 --> 01:31:45,520
you this hand, but you can't have it

2315
01:31:45,520 --> 01:31:46,600
right now.

2316
01:31:46,600 --> 01:31:48,280
You got to wait for it.

2317
01:31:48,280 --> 01:31:50,240
So,

2318
01:31:50,240 --> 01:31:52,720
you know, yeah, we need to help them and

2319
01:31:52,720 --> 01:31:56,160
we need to get them fixed, but I don't

2320
01:31:56,160 --> 01:31:57,480
think they need to be punished by

2321
01:31:57,480 --> 01:32:00,360
putting on the vacant building registry

2322
01:32:00,360 --> 01:32:02,760
and

2323
01:32:02,760 --> 01:32:05,320
you humiliated by everybody. And then

2324
01:32:05,320 --> 01:32:06,960
plus two, once they get their building

2325
01:32:06,960 --> 01:32:09,200
fixed, it's still going to show that

2326
01:32:09,200 --> 01:32:10,840
they was on there.

2327
01:32:10,840 --> 01:32:13,400
So, you know, it's kind of like a when

2328
01:32:13,400 --> 01:32:14,680
you get [cough] a ticket, it stays on

2329
01:32:14,680 --> 01:32:15,800
there

2330
01:32:15,800 --> 01:32:18,040
and it follows you around. But if you

2331
01:32:18,040 --> 01:32:19,560
read it, all they have to do is keep the

2332
01:32:19,560 --> 01:32:21,800
electricity on in the building. Right.

2333
01:32:21,800 --> 01:32:22,680
But what if suppose you can't get

2334
01:32:22,680 --> 01:32:23,760
electricity in the building? It's not

2335
01:32:23,760 --> 01:32:26,750
ready for it yet.

2336
01:32:26,760 --> 01:32:28,360
You know, not not every building

2337
01:32:28,360 --> 01:32:30,160
downtown is It's an older building.

2338
01:32:30,160 --> 01:32:35,990
>> Is that a building permit? Yeah.

2339
01:32:36,000 --> 01:32:38,360
Okay. It's not it's not immediate. It's

2340
01:32:38,360 --> 01:32:40,560
uh they have to be over 6 months.

2341
01:32:40,560 --> 01:32:43,880
>> Yeah, they they have time for that

2342
01:32:43,880 --> 01:32:46,360
to correct it. If if they are in that

2343
01:32:46,360 --> 01:32:48,240
situation, which

2344
01:32:48,240 --> 01:32:50,080
I I don't know. Cuz I mean, I just don't

2345
01:32:50,080 --> 01:32:52,320
want to see somebody go out, you know,

2346
01:32:52,320 --> 01:32:54,440
tomorrow and get slammed on a vacancy

2347
01:32:54,440 --> 01:32:57,440
What? on a vacant building registry that

2348
01:32:57,440 --> 01:32:58,920
It won't won't happen that quick, you

2349
01:32:58,920 --> 01:33:01,200
know. It has to be over six in excess of

2350
01:33:01,200 --> 01:33:03,160
six months. Well, when does the six

2351
01:33:03,160 --> 01:33:06,560
months start? From today or from We

2352
01:33:06,560 --> 01:33:10,840
could we can say that like I can We can say a start date for the

2353
01:33:10,840 --> 01:33:12,960
ordinance if you want. Yeah.

2354
01:33:12,960 --> 01:33:14,640
The um cuz I mean, I do want to see town

2355
01:33:14,640 --> 01:33:17,080
fixed and you know, I've done a lot to

2356
01:33:17,080 --> 01:33:18,840
try to help to get the town fixed, but

2357
01:33:18,840 --> 01:33:20,160
at the same time I don't want to really

2358
01:33:20,160 --> 01:33:22,280
kill people too.

2359
01:33:22,280 --> 01:33:23,720
That

2360
01:33:23,720 --> 01:33:26,160
you know, sometimes it's just not

2361
01:33:26,160 --> 01:33:27,880
as simple as you think when you you

2362
01:33:27,880 --> 01:33:31,640
know, you own the buildings to do.

2363
01:33:31,640 --> 01:33:34,120
Until you actually have owned a building

2364
01:33:34,120 --> 01:33:35,760
downtown, run a business downtown and

2365
01:33:35,760 --> 01:33:37,680
dealt with the whole downtown,

2366
01:33:37,680 --> 01:33:41,720
it's not nothing easy to have to

2367
01:33:41,720 --> 01:33:43,280
deal with.

2368
01:33:43,280 --> 01:33:44,640
Well, most people who own the buildings

2369
01:33:44,640 --> 01:33:45,720
if they got a tenant in there, they

2370
01:33:45,720 --> 01:33:46,560
going to

2371
01:33:46,560 --> 01:33:48,280
take care of the building and keep them

2372
01:33:48,280 --> 01:33:49,600
up to date and keep them going if they

2373
01:33:49,600 --> 01:33:52,040
want to keep the tenants in there.

2374
01:33:52,040 --> 01:33:53,320
So, I have a You have to rent the

2375
01:33:53,320 --> 01:33:55,440
buildings downtown.

2376
01:33:55,440 --> 01:33:56,640
Well, most

2377
01:33:56,640 --> 01:33:58,160
>> thank god I got a good I got a good

2378
01:33:58,160 --> 01:33:59,920
landlord now, but there I've had some

2379
01:33:59,920 --> 01:34:00,800
rough ones, let me tell you.

2380
01:34:00,800 --> 01:34:02,040
>> Well, that's my point, Jay, and I'm not

2381
01:34:02,040 --> 01:34:03,200
going to argue with you, but I'm just

2382
01:34:03,200 --> 01:34:06,560
saying, most rental property, if you

2383
01:34:06,560 --> 01:34:07,760
want to keep a tenant in there, you're

2384
01:34:07,760 --> 01:34:09,600
going to take care of it and keep it up

2385
01:34:09,600 --> 01:34:11,440
to code and

2386
01:34:11,440 --> 01:34:13,640
whatever else you have to do.

2387
01:34:13,640 --> 01:34:15,680
You're not going to let it dilapidate,

2388
01:34:15,680 --> 01:34:16,880
because then you're going to move out

2389
01:34:16,880 --> 01:34:17,760
and go somewhere else.

2390
01:34:17,760 --> 01:34:22,510
>> Well, that's why I moved six times.

2391
01:34:22,520 --> 01:34:24,520
What do you mean?

2392
01:34:24,520 --> 01:34:26,040
So, so what do y'all want to say? What

2393
01:34:26,040 --> 01:34:27,720
do you want to do here? How do you want

2394
01:34:27,720 --> 01:34:31,830
to phrase this?

2395
01:34:31,840 --> 01:34:33,240
I just want to ask a couple questions.

2396
01:34:33,240 --> 01:34:34,440
Oh, well.

2397
01:34:34,440 --> 01:34:34,985
I just want to

2398
01:34:34,985 --> 01:34:35,400
>> [laughter]

2399
01:34:35,400 --> 01:34:37,600
>> say it's okay. I mean, I I know it's

2400
01:34:37,600 --> 01:34:39,720
but I No, no. I just have a couple of

2401
01:34:39,720 --> 01:34:41,760
things. I mean, one of one of the things

2402
01:34:41,760 --> 01:34:44,960
in on the second page, now paragraph B,

2403
01:34:44,960 --> 01:34:47,680
which talks about the owner or owners of

2404
01:34:47,680 --> 01:34:49,480
buildings that have been vacant for

2405
01:34:49,480 --> 01:34:51,840
continuous period of 12 months or more,

2406
01:34:51,840 --> 01:34:54,840
and then it has three stipulations, and

2407
01:34:54,840 --> 01:34:56,320
then it says or for the fourth

2408
01:34:56,320 --> 01:34:57,800
stipulation.

2409
01:34:57,800 --> 01:35:00,640
And my understanding the way that is

2410
01:35:00,640 --> 01:35:05,520
grammatically is that that and applies to the first three

2411
01:35:05,520 --> 01:35:07,840
stipulations, that it would have to

2412
01:35:07,840 --> 01:35:09,600
be uh

2413
01:35:09,600 --> 01:35:10,840
it have to be within the downtown

2414
01:35:10,840 --> 01:35:13,240
district at least right now, and it'd

2415
01:35:13,240 --> 01:35:14,960
have to be a derelict building, and it'd

2416
01:35:14,960 --> 01:35:17,320
have to have criminal blight. And to me,

2417
01:35:17,320 --> 01:35:20,080
those three criteria, it

2418
01:35:20,080 --> 01:35:21,400
I would think that it would be in the

2419
01:35:21,400 --> 01:35:23,440
downtown district and a derelict

2420
01:35:23,440 --> 01:35:26,280
building or criminal blight,

2421
01:35:26,280 --> 01:35:28,040
because

2422
01:35:28,040 --> 01:35:29,320
the uh

2423
01:35:29,320 --> 01:35:30,800
you know, criminal blight is

2424
01:35:30,800 --> 01:35:32,520
self-explanatory.

2425
01:35:32,520 --> 01:35:34,520
So, I don't I don't think it's Does that

2426
01:35:34,520 --> 01:35:35,880
make sense not meeting the first three

2427
01:35:35,880 --> 01:35:37,440
criteria

2428
01:35:37,440 --> 01:35:40,080
as far as having and in there?

2429
01:35:40,080 --> 01:35:43,360
So, I would say one and

2430
01:35:43,360 --> 01:35:46,040
are within the downtown district if we

2431
01:35:46,040 --> 01:35:48,840
continue to have it at that and derelict

2432
01:35:48,840 --> 01:35:51,840
building or criminal blight or in which

2433
01:35:51,840 --> 01:35:55,000
the town manager designates.

2434
01:35:55,000 --> 01:35:57,520
And that's one comment, the other is,

2435
01:35:57,520 --> 01:35:59,920
you know, we talked about earlier in

2436
01:35:59,920 --> 01:36:02,160
vacant it being vacant for six months

2437
01:36:02,160 --> 01:36:04,480
and then

2438
01:36:04,480 --> 01:36:07,120
I do wonder why

2439
01:36:07,120 --> 01:36:09,920
if vacant is

2440
01:36:09,920 --> 01:36:11,440
or I guess derelict building is

2441
01:36:11,440 --> 01:36:13,480
explained as six months, then why would

2442
01:36:13,480 --> 01:36:14,280
we

2443
01:36:14,280 --> 01:36:16,920
wait 12 months for it to be continuously

2444
01:36:16,920 --> 01:36:21,710
vacant before we we act on it.

2445
01:36:21,720 --> 01:36:23,120
Would you want to table this and wait

2446
01:36:23,120 --> 01:36:25,320
for Mr. Lockaby to get back and explain

2447
01:36:25,320 --> 01:36:26,520
his uh

2448
01:36:26,520 --> 01:36:27,960
Sorry.

2449
01:36:27,960 --> 01:36:31,320
his explanation's better? Well, this I I

2450
01:36:31,320 --> 01:36:33,830
do

2451
01:36:33,840 --> 01:36:35,480
I'm struggling with that with this

2452
01:36:35,480 --> 01:36:41,190
paragraph B myself.

2453
01:36:41,200 --> 01:36:43,440
Could So, it would be 12 months from

2454
01:36:43,440 --> 01:36:46,200
then from this. But I do struggle I do

2455
01:36:46,200 --> 01:36:48,160
have had the same problem that

2456
01:36:48,160 --> 01:36:51,160
Councilman Foster had about being and it

2457
01:36:51,160 --> 01:36:53,240
has to be I read it also the same way

2458
01:36:53,240 --> 01:36:55,000
that it has to be criminal blight also.

2459
01:36:55,000 --> 01:36:56,160
Oh, yeah, all inclusive.

2460
01:36:56,160 --> 01:36:58,600
>> All inclusive between all three or it

2461
01:36:58,600 --> 01:37:00,520
would have to be the last thing. That's

2462
01:37:00,520 --> 01:37:07,150
the way I see it also.

2463
01:37:07,160 --> 01:37:08,920
Changes?

2464
01:37:08,920 --> 01:37:10,240
Comments?

2465
01:37:10,240 --> 01:37:12,120
Why don't we just table it and let's

2466
01:37:12,120 --> 01:37:14,280
clean it up and let Mr. Lockaby come

2467
01:37:14,280 --> 01:37:17,400
back and have had a solid, strong thing

2468
01:37:17,400 --> 01:37:19,880
where we can get these questions out of

2469
01:37:19,880 --> 01:37:21,640
the way. It's not going to We don't need

2470
01:37:21,640 --> 01:37:23,480
to table it, but

2471
01:37:23,480 --> 01:37:25,520
uh six months and nothing like that.

2472
01:37:25,520 --> 01:37:27,160
We'll table it to maybe the next meeting

2473
01:37:27,160 --> 01:37:28,680
or meeting after that or something like

2474
01:37:28,680 --> 01:37:30,560
that. Have it done before the first of

2475
01:37:30,560 --> 01:37:31,000
July.

2476
01:37:31,000 --> 01:37:32,600
>> the only question I would have is do we

2477
01:37:32,600 --> 01:37:34,600
want to leave it as just downtown or do

2478
01:37:34,600 --> 01:37:36,800
we want to expand it cuz that was kind

2479
01:37:36,800 --> 01:37:38,720
of the Vice Mayor brought up, so I I

2480
01:37:38,720 --> 01:37:41,160
wanted to ask that question. What do you

2481
01:37:41,160 --> 01:37:42,400
What do y'all want?

2482
01:37:42,400 --> 01:37:45,000
Doesn't have to be all of town.

2483
01:37:45,000 --> 01:37:46,560
It can Well, right now it's written just

2484
01:37:46,560 --> 01:37:48,520
for the downtown. Yeah, but I think when

2485
01:37:48,520 --> 01:37:49,920
you look at that bylaw, it's supposed to

2486
01:37:49,920 --> 01:37:51,600
be all of the buildings like Well, that

2487
01:37:51,600 --> 01:37:53,200
ordinance that would be up to the

2488
01:37:53,200 --> 01:37:54,960
attorney.

2489
01:37:54,960 --> 01:37:55,800
Yeah.

2490
01:37:55,800 --> 01:37:57,480
Well, Well, that

2491
01:37:57,480 --> 01:37:58,680
The way it's written now, it's just

2492
01:37:58,680 --> 01:38:00,600
downtown. Yeah.

2493
01:38:00,600 --> 01:38:03,280
We can pose that question Yeah. for Mr.

2494
01:38:03,280 --> 01:38:05,640
Lockaby to consider. Okay. Yes, sir.

2495
01:38:05,640 --> 01:38:07,960
We'll we'll uh we will

2496
01:38:07,960 --> 01:38:11,960
uh consult on that. You have your mission, if you decide to

2497
01:38:11,960 --> 01:38:14,412
accept it.

2498
01:38:14,412 --> 01:38:15,400
>> [laughter]

2499
01:38:15,400 --> 01:38:17,840
>> Is that okay to where we table it?

2500
01:38:17,840 --> 01:38:20,440
Do we need a vote on that or

2501
01:38:20,440 --> 01:38:22,480
I don't know. I don't think an action is

2502
01:38:22,480 --> 01:38:25,040
necessary. General consensus.

2503
01:38:25,040 --> 01:38:27,680
Okay. I think it's a good idea Okay. to

2504
01:38:27,680 --> 01:38:29,840
table it. I I think it's a good idea.

2505
01:38:29,840 --> 01:38:31,280
It puts the questions we have.

2506
01:38:31,280 --> 01:38:38,719
>> All right.

2507
01:38:38,719 --> 01:38:41,920
Next is consideration of a formal banner

2508
01:38:41,920 --> 01:38:44,080
policy, Mr. Warner.

2509
01:38:44,080 --> 01:38:46,080
On two separate occasions, March 3rd,

2510
01:38:46,080 --> 01:38:49,560
2026 and March 17th, 2026,

2511
01:38:49,560 --> 01:38:51,080
the Streets Committee of Council met to

2512
01:38:51,080 --> 01:38:53,120
review and discuss development of a

2513
01:38:53,120 --> 01:38:56,120
formal policy related to

2514
01:38:56,120 --> 01:38:57,719
a consistent policy governing the

2515
01:38:57,719 --> 01:39:00,760
locations and time frames for display of

2516
01:39:00,760 --> 01:39:02,440
banners other than town government

2517
01:39:02,440 --> 01:39:05,280
banners on municipal light poles.

2518
01:39:05,280 --> 01:39:06,840
Based on direction provided by the

2519
01:39:06,840 --> 01:39:08,920
committee to staff, such policy has been

2520
01:39:08,920 --> 01:39:11,240
drafted and submitted for discussion and

2521
01:39:11,240 --> 01:39:13,400
consideration. So, I town council is

2522
01:39:13,400 --> 01:39:15,920
requested to consider adoption of a town

2523
01:39:15,920 --> 01:39:18,320
of Bedford banner policy document as

2524
01:39:18,320 --> 01:39:21,910
submitted for review.

2525
01:39:21,920 --> 01:39:23,840
All right. I think you had a chance to

2526
01:39:23,840 --> 01:39:25,520
read that and study it. Do I hear a

2527
01:39:25,520 --> 01:39:29,190
motion?

2528
01:39:29,200 --> 01:39:30,840
Or do we want to discuss it? I think it

2529
01:39:30,840 --> 01:39:32,880
needs to be some discussion. All right.

2530
01:39:32,880 --> 01:39:35,080
Then we can do that.

2531
01:39:35,080 --> 01:39:37,560
What is on your mind?

2532
01:39:37,560 --> 01:39:39,000
Oh, wait. What?

2533
01:39:39,000 --> 01:39:40,920
I'm going to go. I don't know. I guess I

2534
01:39:40,920 --> 01:39:47,240
guess I'm just a little confused on

2535
01:39:47,240 --> 01:39:49,120
the

2536
01:39:49,120 --> 01:39:53,920
one of the Well, Mr. Parker, his comments earlier.

2537
01:39:53,920 --> 01:39:56,600
What the

2538
01:39:56,600 --> 01:39:59,000
If we've got 19 of the Bedford board

2539
01:39:59,000 --> 01:40:01,080
banners going to be displayed throughout

2540
01:40:01,080 --> 01:40:03,200
most of the year except for one at

2541
01:40:03,200 --> 01:40:05,440
Christmas time and I guess when the art

2542
01:40:05,440 --> 01:40:06,840
things are

2543
01:40:06,840 --> 01:40:08,760
and we also have the Vietnam veterans

2544
01:40:08,760 --> 01:40:13,680
banners. Is it Is it placement that

2545
01:40:13,680 --> 01:40:15,360
you've been worried about? I guess

2546
01:40:15,360 --> 01:40:23,070
that's my question or is it placement?

2547
01:40:23,080 --> 01:40:24,080
As

2548
01:40:24,080 --> 01:40:26,240
>> I think it's placement and length of

2549
01:40:26,240 --> 01:40:30,040
time that other banners are displayed.

2550
01:40:30,040 --> 01:40:33,790
Yeah.

2551
01:40:33,800 --> 01:40:36,400
You know, that and and I

2552
01:40:36,400 --> 01:40:37,720
spoke to

2553
01:40:37,720 --> 01:40:39,320
Councilman Haley about this earlier and

2554
01:40:39,320 --> 01:40:42,080
he was reviewing some other places

2555
01:40:42,080 --> 01:40:43,600
policies and

2556
01:40:43,600 --> 01:40:45,920
had some ideas that he would share them.

2557
01:40:45,920 --> 01:40:48,800
Well, my ideas are this. And I mean, no

2558
01:40:48,800 --> 01:40:51,800
disrespect to nobody. But, you know,

2559
01:40:51,800 --> 01:40:53,920
I read the policies like Rocky Mount and

2560
01:40:53,920 --> 01:40:56,480
stuff like that. They don't seem to have

2561
01:40:56,480 --> 01:41:00,000
any groups or any special organization.

2562
01:41:00,000 --> 01:41:02,080
They just put the banners in general

2563
01:41:02,080 --> 01:41:03,360
where

2564
01:41:03,360 --> 01:41:05,080
it has like I'm going to read you what

2565
01:41:05,080 --> 01:41:10,510
Rocky Mount does. Just be patient.

2566
01:41:10,520 --> 01:41:12,640
And you know, this will rectify a lot of

2567
01:41:12,640 --> 01:41:15,160
the things, hopefully,

2568
01:41:15,160 --> 01:41:19,150
where it make it easy for all of us.

2569
01:41:19,160 --> 01:41:26,070
So, Rocky Mount

2570
01:41:26,080 --> 01:41:28,160
A person granting permission to display

2571
01:41:28,160 --> 01:41:30,320
a banner over a public right-of-way or

2572
01:41:30,320 --> 01:41:32,720
public meeting will surely reimburse the

2573
01:41:32,720 --> 01:41:35,720
town of town reasonable costs. So, we

2574
01:41:35,720 --> 01:41:37,960
don't have to charge. It's just reading

2575
01:41:37,960 --> 01:41:40,000
the things to let you know.

2576
01:41:40,000 --> 01:41:43,440
But, it says in the end of the day

2577
01:41:43,440 --> 01:41:46,510
um

2578
01:41:46,520 --> 01:41:48,240
the town manager shall determine the

2579
01:41:48,240 --> 01:41:50,160
cost of the erection or the removal of

2580
01:41:50,160 --> 01:41:52,160
the banner using the cost of labor or

2581
01:41:52,160 --> 01:41:54,080
equipment and all the signs a town

2582
01:41:54,080 --> 01:41:56,160
employee shall erect or remove banners.

2583
01:41:56,160 --> 01:41:58,520
You know, the whole point is we use a

2584
01:41:58,520 --> 01:42:01,240
lot of town employees to put banners up.

2585
01:42:01,240 --> 01:42:04,080
And we use they pretty much take a day

2586
01:42:04,080 --> 01:42:07,680
or two days to put banners up downtown.

2587
01:42:07,680 --> 01:42:09,640
You know, I'm not saying that we charge,

2588
01:42:09,640 --> 01:42:11,040
but I think it should be some kind of

2589
01:42:11,040 --> 01:42:13,760
process or application where

2590
01:42:13,760 --> 01:42:15,560
you fill this application out, give it

2591
01:42:15,560 --> 01:42:18,040
to town manager. Let's take town council

2592
01:42:18,040 --> 01:42:20,080
out of the equation about this part of

2593
01:42:20,080 --> 01:42:22,120
the banner thing right here. Say, "Well,

2594
01:42:22,120 --> 01:42:24,680
any new banners

2595
01:42:24,680 --> 01:42:26,680
or any other requests to display a

2596
01:42:26,680 --> 01:42:28,920
banner should be a standard form or and

2597
01:42:28,920 --> 01:42:31,240
shall be reviewed by town council." You

2598
01:42:31,240 --> 01:42:32,680
know,

2599
01:42:32,680 --> 01:42:33,680
really uh

2600
01:42:33,680 --> 01:42:35,520
I think we got better things a lot of

2601
01:42:35,520 --> 01:42:37,960
other things to make decision on what

2602
01:42:37,960 --> 01:42:40,080
banners go up on our street. That's more

2603
01:42:40,080 --> 01:42:42,840
to the economic side or more to

2604
01:42:42,840 --> 01:42:45,560
town manager side or whatever.

2605
01:42:45,560 --> 01:42:47,800
But, you know, I think it should be a

2606
01:42:47,800 --> 01:42:50,120
universal universal

2607
01:42:50,120 --> 01:42:53,560
policy where, you know, if you want your

2608
01:42:53,560 --> 01:42:55,080
banner up this month, put in

2609
01:42:55,080 --> 01:42:56,640
application, we'll put it up for this

2610
01:42:56,640 --> 01:42:58,320
month. And it makes it fair to

2611
01:42:58,320 --> 01:43:00,920
everybody. Cuz, you know, this other

2612
01:43:00,920 --> 01:43:03,400
times of the year, say if February is

2613
01:43:03,400 --> 01:43:05,280
Black History Month. Just using that for

2614
01:43:05,280 --> 01:43:06,640
an example.

2615
01:43:06,640 --> 01:43:09,240
And you come up here, you got October

2616
01:43:09,240 --> 01:43:11,840
Breast Cancer Month. So, I mean, it

2617
01:43:11,840 --> 01:43:15,200
makes it more and it like I said,

2618
01:43:15,200 --> 01:43:17,000
we can keep the banners in certain areas

2619
01:43:17,000 --> 01:43:19,440
downtown or whatever, but what it does

2620
01:43:19,440 --> 01:43:21,200
it gives other opportunities for other

2621
01:43:21,200 --> 01:43:22,480
people

2622
01:43:22,480 --> 01:43:24,200
to put different banners up. And

2623
01:43:24,200 --> 01:43:25,080
remember,

2624
01:43:25,080 --> 01:43:26,760
talking about we was on Bedford Main

2625
01:43:26,760 --> 01:43:28,960
Street. So, the Bedford Boys banners

2626
01:43:28,960 --> 01:43:31,240
actually came from the D-Day and they

2627
01:43:31,240 --> 01:43:32,960
paid for them banners.

2628
01:43:32,960 --> 01:43:34,800
So, in the process we had the Bedford

2629
01:43:34,800 --> 01:43:36,880
Overlord banners that Main Street

2630
01:43:36,880 --> 01:43:39,960
created. That was downtown. I mean,

2631
01:43:39,960 --> 01:43:43,800
we are rich in history, but, you know,

2632
01:43:43,800 --> 01:43:46,600
let's give everybody opportunity to put

2633
01:43:46,600 --> 01:43:49,440
different banners, Vietnam veterans. So,

2634
01:43:49,440 --> 01:43:51,000
I mean, we got Civil War. How about the

2635
01:43:51,000 --> 01:43:52,320
Iraq

2636
01:43:52,320 --> 01:43:54,160
veterans? How about the

2637
01:43:54,160 --> 01:43:56,080
uh Desert Storm veterans and stuff like

2638
01:43:56,080 --> 01:43:57,960
that. So, there's a lot of stuff in the

2639
01:43:57,960 --> 01:44:00,680
down in the way where we can

2640
01:44:00,680 --> 01:44:03,840
play display some pride in our town.

2641
01:44:03,840 --> 01:44:06,720
I like its size because the size will

2642
01:44:06,720 --> 01:44:10,160
minimize a lot of aggravation, a lot of

2643
01:44:10,160 --> 01:44:12,360
town employees to try to put banners up.

2644
01:44:12,360 --> 01:44:14,080
So, you know,

2645
01:44:14,080 --> 01:44:15,720
you see sometimes you go into they have

2646
01:44:15,720 --> 01:44:17,520
banners coming straight into town. So,

2647
01:44:17,520 --> 01:44:19,880
we can run banners all the way up

2648
01:44:19,880 --> 01:44:23,800
to CVS up here to make it look nice for

2649
01:44:23,800 --> 01:44:25,720
us coming in town. Run it all the way to

2650
01:44:25,720 --> 01:44:27,840
D-Day. Run it all the way to 460 out

2651
01:44:27,840 --> 01:44:28,920
here.

2652
01:44:28,920 --> 01:44:30,440
Run it all the way down past the middle

2653
01:44:30,440 --> 01:44:32,800
school. Maybe Longwood.

2654
01:44:32,800 --> 01:44:34,800
It gives everybody

2655
01:44:34,800 --> 01:44:36,880
in town to have different ideas and

2656
01:44:36,880 --> 01:44:38,920
stuff on banners. And you know, a

2657
01:44:38,920 --> 01:44:42,800
universal policy will just be easy.

2658
01:44:42,800 --> 01:44:46,160
Instead of organization, cuz you read

2659
01:44:46,160 --> 01:44:48,600
Lynchburg, Salem,

2660
01:44:48,600 --> 01:44:53,040
all that policy, they don't need no such groups. They just put the banners.

2661
01:44:53,040 --> 01:44:54,920
What the policy is, what can be done,

2662
01:44:54,920 --> 01:44:57,870
how you do it.

2663
01:44:57,880 --> 01:45:06,110
And that makes it easy for everybody.

2664
01:45:06,120 --> 01:45:09,240
There's a couple things that um

2665
01:45:09,240 --> 01:45:10,680
that uh

2666
01:45:10,680 --> 01:45:14,280
Mr. Parker pointed out that I

2667
01:45:14,280 --> 01:45:16,440
From my perspective, there's there's no

2668
01:45:16,440 --> 01:45:17,520
argument.

2669
01:45:17,520 --> 01:45:19,840
Um

2670
01:45:19,840 --> 01:45:22,680
One is that uh

2671
01:45:22,680 --> 01:45:24,840
D-Day and

2672
01:45:24,840 --> 01:45:27,480
those servicemen that that that that

2673
01:45:27,480 --> 01:45:29,120
died in that

2674
01:45:29,120 --> 01:45:29,800
um

2675
01:45:29,800 --> 01:45:30,840
you know,

2676
01:45:30,840 --> 01:45:33,520
they deserve recognition and at least

2677
01:45:33,520 --> 01:45:35,400
for this community

2678
01:45:35,400 --> 01:45:39,240
um you know, should not be forgotten.

2679
01:45:39,240 --> 01:45:42,440
Understand that in other places

2680
01:45:42,440 --> 01:45:43,920
of the world

2681
01:45:43,920 --> 01:45:45,640
outside of our little

2682
01:45:45,640 --> 01:45:47,440
slice of heaven here,

2683
01:45:47,440 --> 01:45:50,360
um that people may forget.

2684
01:45:50,360 --> 01:45:53,080
But, that's why we have organizations

2685
01:45:53,080 --> 01:45:54,400
such as

2686
01:45:54,400 --> 01:45:56,560
D-Day and the Bedford Boys Tribute

2687
01:45:56,560 --> 01:45:57,480
Center

2688
01:45:57,480 --> 01:46:00,640
to promote that particular aspect.

2689
01:46:00,640 --> 01:46:02,080
Um

2690
01:46:02,080 --> 01:46:04,800
you know, and we also have the Vietnam

2691
01:46:04,800 --> 01:46:05,960
veterans.

2692
01:46:05,960 --> 01:46:08,320
And uh

2693
01:46:08,320 --> 01:46:10,400
you know, one of the comments that Mr.

2694
01:46:10,400 --> 01:46:12,960
Parker made was that, you know,

2695
01:46:12,960 --> 01:46:15,600
basically, no one service member's

2696
01:46:15,600 --> 01:46:18,640
sacrifice is any greater or lesser than

2697
01:46:18,640 --> 01:46:20,960
another service member's sacrifice. You

2698
01:46:20,960 --> 01:46:22,440
know, and and I and I totally agree with

2699
01:46:22,440 --> 01:46:24,600
that. Um

2700
01:46:24,600 --> 01:46:28,480
as as far as a governing body

2701
01:46:28,480 --> 01:46:30,880
um I think that

2702
01:46:30,880 --> 01:46:35,200
we should make sure that we recognize

2703
01:46:35,200 --> 01:46:38,520
each particular

2704
01:46:38,520 --> 01:46:39,400
uh

2705
01:46:39,400 --> 01:46:41,000
historical event

2706
01:46:41,000 --> 01:46:43,480
of that nature equally. We need to make

2707
01:46:43,480 --> 01:46:46,560
sure that it's all done

2708
01:46:46,560 --> 01:46:49,760
equally as far as we're concerned. Now,

2709
01:46:49,760 --> 01:46:52,360
again, you know, we've got, you know,

2710
01:46:52,360 --> 01:46:54,280
organizations that, you know, are here

2711
01:46:54,280 --> 01:46:55,320
to

2712
01:46:55,320 --> 01:46:55,960
um

2713
01:46:55,960 --> 01:46:59,920
you know, make sure that D-Day is not forgotten, that World

2714
01:46:59,920 --> 01:47:02,160
War II is not forgotten. And we have an

2715
01:47:02,160 --> 01:47:03,680
organization that, you know, is here to

2716
01:47:03,680 --> 01:47:07,040
make sure that, you know, the the veterans that that died in

2717
01:47:07,040 --> 01:47:09,280
Vietnam that uh that they're not

2718
01:47:09,280 --> 01:47:11,960
forgotten either. Uh

2719
01:47:11,960 --> 01:47:13,280
you know,

2720
01:47:13,280 --> 01:47:15,520
I think we need to honor both of those.

2721
01:47:15,520 --> 01:47:17,080
And

2722
01:47:17,080 --> 01:47:18,080
you know,

2723
01:47:18,080 --> 01:47:19,960
and if another, you know, organization

2724
01:47:19,960 --> 01:47:21,920
says that, yeah, in time that these

2725
01:47:21,920 --> 01:47:24,760
things may be forgotten, maybe, but not

2726
01:47:24,760 --> 01:47:26,880
here.

2727
01:47:26,880 --> 01:47:27,840
So.

2728
01:47:27,840 --> 01:47:29,280
Uh

2729
01:47:29,280 --> 01:47:34,030
Yeah, that's that's that's kind of where I am with it. That

2730
01:47:34,040 --> 01:47:35,600
we need to make sure that both are

2731
01:47:35,600 --> 01:47:37,120
forgotten.

2732
01:47:37,120 --> 01:47:39,320
You know, I just want to say that the

2733
01:47:39,320 --> 01:47:42,920
15th of this month was 1 year

2734
01:47:42,920 --> 01:47:45,280
that I started working on the banners,

2735
01:47:45,280 --> 01:47:46,840
the new banners that we have. Working

2736
01:47:46,840 --> 01:47:48,840
with Leslie with the Vietnam vets,

2737
01:47:48,840 --> 01:47:51,240
working with April with D-Day to come up

2738
01:47:51,240 --> 01:47:53,440
with these new banners. The banners we

2739
01:47:53,440 --> 01:47:56,840
had in town are over 20 years old.

2740
01:47:56,840 --> 01:48:00,920
And there shouldn't need to be

2741
01:48:00,920 --> 01:48:03,520
all of this over switching a 20-year-old

2742
01:48:03,520 --> 01:48:06,080
banner. When you have a Vietnam vet

2743
01:48:06,080 --> 01:48:07,560
thing here, you should automatically

2744
01:48:07,560 --> 01:48:10,920
know Vietnam vet flags need to go here.

2745
01:48:10,920 --> 01:48:13,600
When the Bedford Boys march down Main

2746
01:48:13,600 --> 01:48:15,400
Street, okay,

2747
01:48:15,400 --> 01:48:17,520
take them down Main Street. You know,

2748
01:48:17,520 --> 01:48:19,440
the historical things that Leslie talks

2749
01:48:19,440 --> 01:48:21,640
about for the museum, you know, those

2750
01:48:21,640 --> 01:48:24,520
are people that really did something for

2751
01:48:24,520 --> 01:48:25,680
Bedford.

2752
01:48:25,680 --> 01:48:28,800
But, in creating banners, if y'all only

2753
01:48:28,800 --> 01:48:31,800
knew what a headache it was. 7 months

2754
01:48:31,800 --> 01:48:34,440
just to get

2755
01:48:34,440 --> 01:48:36,680
a copy [clears throat] of one to see

2756
01:48:36,680 --> 01:48:38,240
because it can't have a church, it can't

2757
01:48:38,240 --> 01:48:39,800
have a business, it can't have this, it

2758
01:48:39,800 --> 01:48:45,440
can't have that. I mean, after thing after thing after thing.

2759
01:48:45,440 --> 01:48:47,680
And, you know,

2760
01:48:47,680 --> 01:48:49,880
going to see about something and being

2761
01:48:49,880 --> 01:48:51,760
told no and then going to see about

2762
01:48:51,760 --> 01:48:53,600
something say I don't have time for you.

2763
01:48:53,600 --> 01:48:56,440
And, you know, it was just

2764
01:48:56,440 --> 01:48:59,160
a horrendous deal to deal with just to

2765
01:48:59,160 --> 01:49:00,600
say And Stacy knows cuz he did the

2766
01:49:00,600 --> 01:49:03,480
Christmas banners. It is nothing easy to

2767
01:49:03,480 --> 01:49:06,000
create banners for this town.

2768
01:49:06,000 --> 01:49:08,600
I mean, you got to it to create a banner

2769
01:49:08,600 --> 01:49:10,320
for this town.

2770
01:49:10,320 --> 01:49:12,080
And

2771
01:49:12,080 --> 01:49:13,280
you know, this is to me this is

2772
01:49:13,280 --> 01:49:17,960
nonsense. It's It's the right thing to do, but it's

2773
01:49:17,960 --> 01:49:19,560
like Stacy said, we have other stuff to

2774
01:49:19,560 --> 01:49:21,640
do than to sit here and say, "Oh, you

2775
01:49:21,640 --> 01:49:23,680
can do this and you can do that."

2776
01:49:23,680 --> 01:49:25,120
You know, if the person that wants to

2777
01:49:25,120 --> 01:49:26,200
come up and they want to hang their

2778
01:49:26,200 --> 01:49:28,280
banners up, God help them. Well, I'll

2779
01:49:28,280 --> 01:49:29,440
help them. They'll come see me cuz I

2780
01:49:29,440 --> 01:49:30,920
can't help them.

2781
01:49:30,920 --> 01:49:32,200
They um

2782
01:49:32,200 --> 01:49:34,480
but I mean, I don't think it's something the council

2783
01:49:34,480 --> 01:49:36,000
should be involved in

2784
01:49:36,000 --> 01:49:39,400
either on that. I think it should be

2785
01:49:39,400 --> 01:49:41,160
you know, the right thing to do for

2786
01:49:41,160 --> 01:49:44,120
wherever the stuff is. Because that way

2787
01:49:44,120 --> 01:49:46,200
Keans getting his banners leading down

2788
01:49:46,200 --> 01:49:48,000
because whenever they leave Keans, when

2789
01:49:48,000 --> 01:49:49,520
people come in my restaurant all the

2790
01:49:49,520 --> 01:49:50,560
time,

2791
01:49:50,560 --> 01:49:51,800
you know, they say they're going to be

2792
01:49:51,800 --> 01:49:53,840
day or they've came in and they got

2793
01:49:53,840 --> 01:49:55,360
their little D-Day stickers on. I ask

2794
01:49:55,360 --> 01:49:56,520
them, "Have you been down to the Bedford

2795
01:49:56,520 --> 01:49:58,720
Boys Tribute Center?" Some say yes, some

2796
01:49:58,720 --> 01:50:00,920
say no. I send them there.

2797
01:50:00,920 --> 01:50:03,280
You know, we talked about taking some of

2798
01:50:03,280 --> 01:50:05,040
the remember banners leading them up

2799
01:50:05,040 --> 01:50:07,000
Crenshaw Street up to the Welcome Center

2800
01:50:07,000 --> 01:50:08,560
so they can follow the banners to and

2801
01:50:08,560 --> 01:50:09,960
from town.

2802
01:50:09,960 --> 01:50:11,120
I mean, there's a lot of stuff we can

2803
01:50:11,120 --> 01:50:13,960
do, but

2804
01:50:13,960 --> 01:50:16,560
that's not for us.

2805
01:50:16,560 --> 01:50:18,640
You know, let's

2806
01:50:18,640 --> 01:50:22,360
just let it be and and and let it go and

2807
01:50:22,360 --> 01:50:24,160
you know, I understand that the Bedford

2808
01:50:24,160 --> 01:50:25,760
Boys went all the way up this way. But

2809
01:50:25,760 --> 01:50:27,760
you know what? There's 26 light poles

2810
01:50:27,760 --> 01:50:29,560
from Bridge Street

2811
01:50:29,560 --> 01:50:31,880
down to where you turn at whatever that

2812
01:50:31,880 --> 01:50:35,200
street is, Crenshaw, what's it called?

2813
01:50:35,200 --> 01:50:37,760
There's 26 poles. There's only 20

2814
01:50:37,760 --> 01:50:39,520
Bedford Boy banners.

2815
01:50:39,520 --> 01:50:41,200
You know, there's 20 poles this way.

2816
01:50:41,200 --> 01:50:43,360
There's only 14

2817
01:50:43,360 --> 01:50:46,080
poles cuz trust me, we painted them.

2818
01:50:46,080 --> 01:50:48,520
And you know, uh people do stop and read

2819
01:50:48,520 --> 01:50:49,920
those banners. When we was painting

2820
01:50:49,920 --> 01:50:51,440
those banners, you would be surprised

2821
01:50:51,440 --> 01:50:53,880
how many people you see looking at those

2822
01:50:53,880 --> 01:50:55,600
banners, stopping and taking pictures

2823
01:50:55,600 --> 01:50:57,200
with those banners.

2824
01:50:57,200 --> 01:50:58,520
You know, when the Vietnam veteran

2825
01:50:58,520 --> 01:51:00,480
banners was up there, people was

2826
01:51:00,480 --> 01:51:02,800
constantly with the Vietnam banners

2827
01:51:02,800 --> 01:51:04,800
being up there, they see that name, they

2828
01:51:04,800 --> 01:51:06,320
can look at those faces right there in

2829
01:51:06,320 --> 01:51:07,760
the front of them. So, it's kind of a

2830
01:51:07,760 --> 01:51:09,640
common sense thing.

2831
01:51:09,640 --> 01:51:11,040
But I don't think we need to be involved

2832
01:51:11,040 --> 01:51:12,120
in it.

2833
01:51:12,120 --> 01:51:13,200
Well,

2834
01:51:13,200 --> 01:51:14,720
and I guess the only response I have to

2835
01:51:14,720 --> 01:51:17,000
that is that

2836
01:51:17,000 --> 01:51:18,320
I think

2837
01:51:18,320 --> 01:51:21,400
the council needs to do

2838
01:51:21,400 --> 01:51:24,000
things necessary to keep us out of civil

2839
01:51:24,000 --> 01:51:25,240
litigation.

2840
01:51:25,240 --> 01:51:29,080
And if we don't have some type of policy

2841
01:51:29,080 --> 01:51:30,840
and somebody

2842
01:51:30,840 --> 01:51:32,880
fills out an application and gets turned

2843
01:51:32,880 --> 01:51:35,240
down

2844
01:51:35,240 --> 01:51:37,320
and we don't have a policy, I think that

2845
01:51:37,320 --> 01:51:38,760
weakens our position and I mean, the

2846
01:51:38,760 --> 01:51:40,640
attorneys can weigh in on that, but you

2847
01:51:40,640 --> 01:51:43,160
know, that's just you know, my layman's

2848
01:51:43,160 --> 01:51:45,720
outside view of things. Sure. We have to

2849
01:51:45,720 --> 01:51:50,240
have a little guidance of some kind and there is a lot of liability issue

2850
01:51:50,240 --> 01:51:52,360
involved here, too, to where you can't

2851
01:51:52,360 --> 01:51:55,120
just let anybody hang banners or

2852
01:51:55,120 --> 01:51:57,040
things like that, but

2853
01:51:57,040 --> 01:51:59,000
I'm I'm misunderstanding the point here

2854
01:51:59,000 --> 01:52:00,480
in that

2855
01:52:00,480 --> 01:52:03,600
are we we focusing on when the

2856
01:52:03,600 --> 01:52:07,360
individual banners go up or or where?

2857
01:52:07,360 --> 01:52:08,880
What What are we

2858
01:52:08,880 --> 01:52:11,040
I'm not sure what we're discussing and

2859
01:52:11,040 --> 01:52:14,240
talking about. Well, the way that

2860
01:52:14,240 --> 01:52:15,840
this is written out, it it addresses

2861
01:52:15,840 --> 01:52:19,640
both the where banners are hung and the

2862
01:52:19,640 --> 01:52:21,600
times of during the year that they are

2863
01:52:21,600 --> 01:52:22,640
put up.

2864
01:52:22,640 --> 01:52:25,640
Are we okay with that, I guess?

2865
01:52:25,640 --> 01:52:27,760
That is the question.

2866
01:52:27,760 --> 01:52:30,360
Well, the problem is

2867
01:52:30,360 --> 01:52:32,000
the Bedford Boys banners always been up

2868
01:52:32,000 --> 01:52:33,640
on this end.

2869
01:52:33,640 --> 01:52:35,240
So, I mean, if you put them down that

2870
01:52:35,240 --> 01:52:37,240
end,

2871
01:52:37,240 --> 01:52:39,320
I mean, you've got to compromise either

2872
01:52:39,320 --> 01:52:40,640
you've got to either put them here or

2873
01:52:40,640 --> 01:52:42,400
there. And uh

2874
01:52:42,400 --> 01:52:43,800
I'm going to say this and I'm trying to

2875
01:52:43,800 --> 01:52:45,320
make nobody mad.

2876
01:52:45,320 --> 01:52:49,240
Promising people stuff shouldn't happen.

2877
01:52:49,240 --> 01:52:51,200
My point is

2878
01:52:51,200 --> 01:52:53,160
you're talking about

2879
01:52:53,160 --> 01:52:54,920
uh so, if you want to put the Bedford

2880
01:52:54,920 --> 01:52:56,280
Boys up one side of the street and the

2881
01:52:56,280 --> 01:52:58,840
Vietnam up the other side of the street

2882
01:52:58,840 --> 01:53:00,960
to make it even, to be fair to

2883
01:53:00,960 --> 01:53:02,120
everybody?

2884
01:53:02,120 --> 01:53:04,360
But you know, the whole point is it's

2885
01:53:04,360 --> 01:53:05,880
like I was talking about Bedford Boys.

2886
01:53:05,880 --> 01:53:08,440
We're not taking away from our respect

2887
01:53:08,440 --> 01:53:10,280
and our dead and our people that fought

2888
01:53:10,280 --> 01:53:12,680
for our country and that that actually

2889
01:53:12,680 --> 01:53:14,680
lived here in Bedford. We was the

2890
01:53:14,680 --> 01:53:17,400
highest number of boys lost during World

2891
01:53:17,400 --> 01:53:19,800
War II. Per capita.

2892
01:53:19,800 --> 01:53:21,640
So, you got World War I. You got the

2893
01:53:21,640 --> 01:53:24,400
Revolution War. You got the Civil War.

2894
01:53:24,400 --> 01:53:26,760
You got other stuff like I was talking

2895
01:53:26,760 --> 01:53:29,840
about that other people in Halifax, I'm

2896
01:53:29,840 --> 01:53:31,440
going to use this as a sample.

2897
01:53:31,440 --> 01:53:34,400
They got veterans that's still alive and

2898
01:53:34,400 --> 01:53:36,680
got banners up on the street. So, you

2899
01:53:36,680 --> 01:53:39,200
know, there's different stuff.

2900
01:53:39,200 --> 01:53:41,400
I know you made a comment up uh Vice

2901
01:53:41,400 --> 01:53:43,440
Mayor update, that our town is based on

2902
01:53:43,440 --> 01:53:46,400
war. It is based on war. Our town is a

2903
01:53:46,400 --> 01:53:47,920
war

2904
01:53:47,920 --> 01:53:50,320
based town because of what the heritage

2905
01:53:50,320 --> 01:53:52,360
and history we have. Not taking that

2906
01:53:52,360 --> 01:53:53,440
away.

2907
01:53:53,440 --> 01:53:54,560
But

2908
01:53:54,560 --> 01:53:57,440
the whole point is placement of banners

2909
01:53:57,440 --> 01:53:59,160
and this and that,

2910
01:53:59,160 --> 01:54:00,760
you know, the town's been putting up

2911
01:54:00,760 --> 01:54:02,120
banners

2912
01:54:02,120 --> 01:54:03,960
and we hadn't been involved with it for

2913
01:54:03,960 --> 01:54:05,400
years.

2914
01:54:05,400 --> 01:54:07,680
And now we're trying to get us we have a

2915
01:54:07,680 --> 01:54:09,480
policy, put the policy down, let our

2916
01:54:09,480 --> 01:54:11,120
town employees take care of it. That's

2917
01:54:11,120 --> 01:54:14,080
what I'm trying to do. So, we do not as

2918
01:54:14,080 --> 01:54:16,080
council need to get in here and tell

2919
01:54:16,080 --> 01:54:19,400
people where to put banners up downtown.

2920
01:54:19,400 --> 01:54:21,480
That's my opinion.

2921
01:54:21,480 --> 01:54:23,280
So, you're talking about F.

2922
01:54:23,280 --> 01:54:24,400
Yeah.

2923
01:54:24,400 --> 01:54:26,520
So, we have to we'll review it every

2924
01:54:26,520 --> 01:54:27,760
time somebody wants to come and put a

2925
01:54:27,760 --> 01:54:32,910
different banner up.

2926
01:54:32,920 --> 01:54:37,350
That's my opinion, but

2927
01:54:37,360 --> 01:54:40,200
So, what is the rest of council's

2928
01:54:40,200 --> 01:54:42,520
thoughts?

2929
01:54:42,520 --> 01:54:45,120
What direction do we want to go? I mean,

2930
01:54:45,120 --> 01:54:49,550
leave this as is, tweak it or

2931
01:54:49,560 --> 01:54:54,350
where are we?

2932
01:54:54,360 --> 01:54:55,400
What?

2933
01:54:55,400 --> 01:54:57,680
What do you think?

2934
01:54:57,680 --> 01:54:59,120
I agree with Stacy.

2935
01:54:59,120 --> 01:55:00,800
Why should we get involved in it? I

2936
01:55:00,800 --> 01:55:02,600
mean,

2937
01:55:02,600 --> 01:55:03,560
Well, let's ask the attorney.

2938
01:55:03,560 --> 01:55:06,160
>> Nobody got a banner going. No. No. I

2939
01:55:06,160 --> 01:55:07,240
mean,

2940
01:55:07,240 --> 01:55:08,520
They had banners running all the way

2941
01:55:08,520 --> 01:55:10,320
down Jackson Street one time. Bedford

2942
01:55:10,320 --> 01:55:12,160
Main Street did. I mean,

2943
01:55:12,160 --> 01:55:14,360
I agree with him.

2944
01:55:14,360 --> 01:55:16,160
Let's let our town staff take care of

2945
01:55:16,160 --> 01:55:18,720
it. Give our Yep. Uh and I'm I'm going

2946
01:55:18,720 --> 01:55:19,880
to say this.

2947
01:55:19,880 --> 01:55:22,360
Sometimes we always step up bounds with

2948
01:55:22,360 --> 01:55:24,600
Mr. Warner and we tell Mr. Warner to

2949
01:55:24,600 --> 01:55:27,240
take care of stuff and then we go behind

2950
01:55:27,240 --> 01:55:31,680
and do different, but let Mr. Warner and the public works director take care

2951
01:55:31,680 --> 01:55:35,640
of this and we take ourselves out of it.

2952
01:55:35,640 --> 01:55:37,800
I do like the standards on it, though.

2953
01:55:37,800 --> 01:55:39,080
Yeah.

2954
01:55:39,080 --> 01:55:41,280
I like them being standardized and I

2955
01:55:41,280 --> 01:55:42,840
like that I like that. [laughter] I I'm

2956
01:55:42,840 --> 01:55:45,720
with you, Todd. I like something in

2957
01:55:45,720 --> 01:55:47,480
order. Yeah.

2958
01:55:47,480 --> 01:55:50,950
I I don't like

2959
01:55:50,960 --> 01:55:52,400
What What do we want to do is the

2960
01:55:52,400 --> 01:55:53,520
question.

2961
01:55:53,520 --> 01:55:54,960
What Well,

2962
01:55:54,960 --> 01:55:56,680
legally, where would we stand? That's

2963
01:55:56,680 --> 01:56:01,150
right. If we just allow,

2964
01:56:01,160 --> 01:56:04,240
this this the town manager to do something

2965
01:56:04,240 --> 01:56:05,520
and then if another one comes in later

2966
01:56:05,520 --> 01:56:07,040
on, you know, he has a he or she has a

2967
01:56:07,040 --> 01:56:09,720
different viewpoint and so that, you

2968
01:56:09,720 --> 01:56:11,520
know, then there is no consistency,

2969
01:56:11,520 --> 01:56:13,840
there is no, you know, so what what

2970
01:56:13,840 --> 01:56:14,440
what's [clears throat] our legal

2971
01:56:14,440 --> 01:56:16,720
standing in

2972
01:56:16,720 --> 01:56:19,320
turning this over to the town manager?

2973
01:56:19,320 --> 01:56:20,800
And then how does our town manager feel

2974
01:56:20,800 --> 01:56:23,760
about, you know,

2975
01:56:23,760 --> 01:56:26,640
creating internal policy uh to address

2976
01:56:26,640 --> 01:56:28,000
something like that?

2977
01:56:28,000 --> 01:56:30,360
They've been doing it for years.

2978
01:56:30,360 --> 01:56:32,280
We also had lower tax rate for years.

2979
01:56:32,280 --> 01:56:33,880
Look where we are now. Yeah. So, we

2980
01:56:33,880 --> 01:56:35,000
can't base it

2981
01:56:35,000 --> 01:56:36,360
What we did for years.

2982
01:56:36,360 --> 01:56:37,400
Let's let's be

2983
01:56:37,400 --> 01:56:39,400
Let's let's tell it like it is. Yeah,

2984
01:56:39,400 --> 01:56:40,120
the only question

2985
01:56:40,120 --> 01:56:41,680
>> Things are going to change. Yeah. The

2986
01:56:41,680 --> 01:56:44,040
only question I would have about it is

2987
01:56:44,040 --> 01:56:45,640
with what he's with with what's being

2988
01:56:45,640 --> 01:56:47,280
said here and this is where I would ask

2989
01:56:47,280 --> 01:56:49,320
a question and it I think it's very

2990
01:56:49,320 --> 01:56:51,520
similar to what

2991
01:56:51,520 --> 01:56:55,280
the Vice Mayor is asking, but you're putting specific ones on here.

2992
01:56:55,280 --> 01:56:57,200
What happens when somebody else comes

2993
01:56:57,200 --> 01:56:59,120
and wants to put an add a banner to this

2994
01:56:59,120 --> 01:57:01,400
list and they're they're restricted from

2995
01:57:01,400 --> 01:57:02,960
doing it because it's someone else that

2996
01:57:02,960 --> 01:57:05,200
wants to do it. And does that have bad

2997
01:57:05,200 --> 01:57:06,360
liability If you're talking about

2998
01:57:06,360 --> 01:57:08,000
liability, does that add liability

2999
01:57:08,000 --> 01:57:10,080
because you're you're taking the

3000
01:57:10,080 --> 01:57:11,800
opportunity from someone else away from

3001
01:57:11,800 --> 01:57:14,080
doing it? Well, we have 94 poles.

3002
01:57:14,080 --> 01:57:16,520
>> Yeah, we have light poles everywhere. No, I'm

3003
01:57:16,520 --> 01:57:18,120
just saying by listing them out like

3004
01:57:18,120 --> 01:57:22,320
this and saying, "This and this and this one." Mr. Lockaby did address

3005
01:57:22,320 --> 01:57:24,280
that in the uh streets committee

3006
01:57:24,280 --> 01:57:25,600
meeting. There are some kind of

3007
01:57:25,600 --> 01:57:28,720
liabilities to certain

3008
01:57:28,720 --> 01:57:32,350
I forgot how he said it.

3009
01:57:32,360 --> 01:57:33,600
The ones that

3010
01:57:33,600 --> 01:57:34,760
Mr. Mayor,

3011
01:57:34,760 --> 01:57:37,000
uh the the

3012
01:57:37,000 --> 01:57:39,320
ones that are specified in here where

3013
01:57:39,320 --> 01:57:41,200
you have the specific guidance that I

3014
01:57:41,200 --> 01:57:47,000
mean, Mr. Lockaby has reviewed it and approved it. Uh you know, that

3015
01:57:47,000 --> 01:57:48,480
and and uh

3016
01:57:48,480 --> 01:57:51,320
indicated to me that those don't create

3017
01:57:51,320 --> 01:57:53,440
First Amendment problems, which is what

3018
01:57:53,440 --> 01:57:56,320
I think what we're concerned about here.

3019
01:57:56,320 --> 01:57:57,480
Um

3020
01:57:57,480 --> 01:58:01,080
the the remaining uh category, which is

3021
01:58:01,080 --> 01:58:02,240
F,

3022
01:58:02,240 --> 01:58:03,320
um

3023
01:58:03,320 --> 01:58:06,680
does say that that uh these requests do

3024
01:58:06,680 --> 01:58:08,800
give you It does give town council some

3025
01:58:08,800 --> 01:58:10,960
guidance on what it can accept or gives

3026
01:58:10,960 --> 01:58:13,160
you a, you know, the ability to say

3027
01:58:13,160 --> 01:58:14,760
maybe not this one.

3028
01:58:14,760 --> 01:58:15,680
Uh

3029
01:58:15,680 --> 01:58:19,120
but uh the banners cannot uh establish

3030
01:58:19,120 --> 01:58:21,360
formal uh formal statement, speech or

3031
01:58:21,360 --> 01:58:23,560
position on behalf of the town. That

3032
01:58:23,560 --> 01:58:29,840
Those are words, legal words that that are designed to um help keep you

3033
01:58:29,840 --> 01:58:32,000
from uh running into First Amendment

3034
01:58:32,000 --> 01:58:34,040
problems, getting sued.

3035
01:58:34,040 --> 01:58:35,760
Um but

3036
01:58:35,760 --> 01:58:42,320
I I uh

3037
01:58:42,320 --> 01:58:44,080
I'm not sure that that just throwing it

3038
01:58:44,080 --> 01:58:46,400
on the city or town manager that she,

3039
01:58:46,400 --> 01:58:49,680
you know, change the the um

3040
01:58:49,680 --> 01:58:54,990
the risk from liability.

3041
01:58:55,000 --> 01:58:56,920
And they cover some of that uh right

3042
01:58:56,920 --> 01:58:59,440
there in number F.

3043
01:58:59,440 --> 01:59:01,000
liability going to other

3044
01:59:01,000 --> 01:59:02,240
banners.

3045
01:59:02,240 --> 01:59:04,000
Um

3046
01:59:04,000 --> 01:59:06,120
Right now, where we're addressing the

3047
01:59:06,120 --> 01:59:17,470
ones that are normally up.

3048
01:59:17,480 --> 01:59:19,160
Do we have any consensus? Do we want to

3049
01:59:19,160 --> 01:59:22,520
just pass this and tweak it or any

3050
01:59:22,520 --> 01:59:24,760
issues that Mr. Warner has, he can come

3051
01:59:24,760 --> 01:59:28,790
back to us?

3052
01:59:28,800 --> 01:59:30,520
Well, were all these

3053
01:59:30,520 --> 01:59:32,160
Cuz I wasn't involved in this policy.

3054
01:59:32,160 --> 01:59:34,880
The Were all the people on this because

3055
01:59:34,880 --> 01:59:36,320
we have Mr. Parker is the only one that

3056
01:59:36,320 --> 01:59:38,520
spoke today about it. Were they all

3057
01:59:38,520 --> 01:59:40,600
involved in the conversation of forming

3058
01:59:40,600 --> 01:59:43,360
this policy? We have heard from Vester

3059
01:59:43,360 --> 01:59:46,240
Boyd, from D-Day, from Vietnam,

3060
01:59:46,240 --> 01:59:52,310
Leslie historical. Okay. Yeah. Yes.

3061
01:59:52,320 --> 01:59:54,680
Only after the fact.

3062
01:59:54,680 --> 01:59:56,800
After they've been

3063
01:59:56,800 --> 01:59:58,880
submitted. Yes.

3064
01:59:58,880 --> 02:00:00,480
So so these are the ones that are

3065
02:00:00,480 --> 02:00:04,960
normally put up during the year.

3066
02:00:04,960 --> 02:00:06,720
And they're normally up all the time all

3067
02:00:06,720 --> 02:00:08,440
of them. Yeah. Yeah. It's just a

3068
02:00:08,440 --> 02:00:09,840
replacement of

3069
02:00:09,840 --> 02:00:12,000
really replacement for what this is what

3070
02:00:12,000 --> 02:00:14,480
the contract is. And and back to what

3071
02:00:14,480 --> 02:00:16,840
Councilman Haley said, I

3072
02:00:16,840 --> 02:00:19,320
probably Bridge Street would be D-Day,

3073
02:00:19,320 --> 02:00:22,520
maybe East Main, Vietnam I I don't know.

3074
02:00:22,520 --> 02:00:26,000
That's could be decided. But

3075
02:00:26,000 --> 02:00:27,320
that's

3076
02:00:27,320 --> 02:00:30,080
may be may be looked at.

3077
02:00:30,080 --> 02:00:32,440
All I'm saying is this. You got 94

3078
02:00:32,440 --> 02:00:34,040
poles. Yeah.

3079
02:00:34,040 --> 02:00:36,000
I ain't saying poles. We

3080
02:00:36,000 --> 02:00:37,400
I counted them

3081
02:00:37,400 --> 02:00:39,760
counted poles years ago. What my point

3082
02:00:39,760 --> 02:00:42,400
is, I think we do need a policy. I don't

3083
02:00:42,400 --> 02:00:44,320
mind a policy. I just think the policy

3084
02:00:44,320 --> 02:00:46,120
needs to be

3085
02:00:46,120 --> 02:00:48,800
cleaned up some little bit and get

3086
02:00:48,800 --> 02:00:51,400
things where it would be

3087
02:00:51,400 --> 02:00:54,560
fair to everybody. That's my opinion.

3088
02:00:54,560 --> 02:00:56,040
That's all I'm going to say.

3089
02:00:56,040 --> 02:00:58,240
Cuz I've told the town manager that we

3090
02:00:58,240 --> 02:01:00,920
do need a policy on the banners.

3091
02:01:00,920 --> 02:01:03,280
But I think it needs to be fair and

3092
02:01:03,280 --> 02:01:06,000
cleaned up. That's all I'm going to say.

3093
02:01:06,000 --> 02:01:07,640
And I'm I mean we don't have banners for

3094
02:01:07,640 --> 02:01:09,870
today.

3095
02:01:09,880 --> 02:01:11,520
That's all I'm going to say.

3096
02:01:11,520 --> 02:01:14,280
It's 250. Because we wasted time to take

3097
02:01:14,280 --> 02:01:16,800
banners down at the end of March well in

3098
02:01:16,800 --> 02:01:18,000
April.

3099
02:01:18,000 --> 02:01:19,960
And then we didn't put nothing back up.

3100
02:01:19,960 --> 02:01:20,960
Okay.

3101
02:01:20,960 --> 02:01:22,840
I don't know that to you. That's That's

3102
02:01:22,840 --> 02:01:24,600
for a Christmas.

3103
02:01:24,600 --> 02:01:25,960
Well no, but I'm saying if we got people

3104
02:01:25,960 --> 02:01:27,440
coming for a parade and it's going to be

3105
02:01:27,440 --> 02:01:30,000
a military parade in the town, we'd want

3106
02:01:30,000 --> 02:01:32,120
some something up there. Then I'm sure

3107
02:01:32,120 --> 02:01:34,760
it will be. But at the same time, let's

3108
02:01:34,760 --> 02:01:36,480
decide on something

3109
02:01:36,480 --> 02:01:38,200
on this right now.

3110
02:01:38,200 --> 02:01:40,400
That's where we are. We we're in April

3111
02:01:40,400 --> 02:01:44,320
here. Are you all okay with this?

3112
02:01:44,320 --> 02:01:46,800
To pass it as is or do you want to tweak

3113
02:01:46,800 --> 02:01:49,960
it or I'd like to tweak it. Okay.

3114
02:01:49,960 --> 02:01:51,880
All right. Councilman Haley says tweak

3115
02:01:51,880 --> 02:01:54,920
it. What about the rest of you?

3116
02:01:54,920 --> 02:01:56,960
Want to pass it as is or

3117
02:01:56,960 --> 02:02:00,440
Can we pass it and take out banners?

3118
02:02:00,440 --> 02:02:02,880
But I don't think we'd want to do that.

3119
02:02:02,880 --> 02:02:06,000
Because F allows other banners to be

3120
02:02:06,000 --> 02:02:08,800
posted at other street lamps or light

3121
02:02:08,800 --> 02:02:11,000
posts or you know, that kind of stuff.

3122
02:02:11,000 --> 02:02:12,400
And that's the very thing that Mr.

3123
02:02:12,400 --> 02:02:14,280
Lackey mentioned in the streets

3124
02:02:14,280 --> 02:02:15,360
committee.

3125
02:02:15,360 --> 02:02:17,520
Yeah, that that covers us.

3126
02:02:17,520 --> 02:02:18,800
It covers

3127
02:02:18,800 --> 02:02:22,110
the the town.

3128
02:02:22,120 --> 02:02:24,400
All right. Well, I guess the only thing

3129
02:02:24,400 --> 02:02:27,040
that I I hear

3130
02:02:27,040 --> 02:02:28,680
Councilman Haley and maybe Councilman

3131
02:02:28,680 --> 02:02:30,320
Foreman was that

3132
02:02:30,320 --> 02:02:33,200
in the in in F where it says on behalf

3133
02:02:33,200 --> 02:02:34,760
of the town should be reviewed by town

3134
02:02:34,760 --> 02:02:36,240
council

3135
02:02:36,240 --> 02:02:37,320
then

3136
02:02:37,320 --> 02:02:39,240
maybe it's just you want to get out of

3137
02:02:39,240 --> 02:02:41,160
the business. So maybe it should be by

3138
02:02:41,160 --> 02:02:44,760
town manager reviewed by town manager.

3139
02:02:44,760 --> 02:02:47,320
Is that in F? For F? For F.

3140
02:02:47,320 --> 02:02:50,320
I mean we've never we've never

3141
02:02:50,320 --> 02:02:52,240
I long I'm going to say as long as I sit

3142
02:02:52,240 --> 02:02:53,760
on council

3143
02:02:53,760 --> 02:02:55,560
I don't know if I'll ever vote on any

3144
02:02:55,560 --> 02:02:58,550
banners.

3145
02:02:58,560 --> 02:03:01,750
And I'm being honest.

3146
02:03:01,760 --> 02:03:03,440
You can ask Leslie. She's been seeing me

3147
02:03:03,440 --> 02:03:05,360
up here for years.

3148
02:03:05,360 --> 02:03:07,280
We have never voted on banners. We've

3149
02:03:07,280 --> 02:03:10,800
never It's really just been a a

3150
02:03:10,800 --> 02:03:12,040
I'm going to say Bethune Main Street

3151
02:03:12,040 --> 02:03:14,280
contacted Mr. Warner when we put up the

3152
02:03:14,280 --> 02:03:17,400
Bethune Memorial banner on Condit D-Day.

3153
02:03:17,400 --> 02:03:18,720
They weren't they went up there a couple

3154
02:03:18,720 --> 02:03:20,520
weeks later. Okay. So so what is the

3155
02:03:20,520 --> 02:03:21,120
solution?

3156
02:03:21,120 --> 02:03:22,720
>> Yeah, exactly. Let's let's get down to

3157
02:03:22,720 --> 02:03:24,080
nuts and bolts.

3158
02:03:24,080 --> 02:03:26,120
What are we going to do? Do we want to

3159
02:03:26,120 --> 02:03:28,680
vote this as is

3160
02:03:28,680 --> 02:03:31,760
unless Mr. Warner and let them hear or

3161
02:03:31,760 --> 02:03:32,600
unless

3162
02:03:32,600 --> 02:03:34,840
Let let let let me ask

3163
02:03:34,840 --> 02:03:36,880
the question same way.

3164
02:03:36,880 --> 02:03:39,000
Um

3165
02:03:39,000 --> 02:03:45,400
can we vote on this

3166
02:03:45,400 --> 02:03:50,080
with two changes? Okay. One, we

3167
02:03:50,080 --> 02:03:50,840
um

3168
02:03:50,840 --> 02:03:53,080
redesignate historical significant

3169
02:03:53,080 --> 02:03:54,640
persons to

3170
02:03:54,640 --> 02:03:56,480
the recommendation that that Leslie

3171
02:03:56,480 --> 02:03:57,760
made.

3172
02:03:57,760 --> 02:04:00,440
Uh We're going to do that anyway,

3173
02:04:00,440 --> 02:04:01,680
And

3174
02:04:01,680 --> 02:04:03,600
um

3175
02:04:03,600 --> 02:04:05,680
and in F

3176
02:04:05,680 --> 02:04:09,400
where it says reviewed by town council,

3177
02:04:09,400 --> 02:04:11,920
uh review that by town manager.

3178
02:04:11,920 --> 02:04:13,480
I'm okay.

3179
02:04:13,480 --> 02:04:15,880
I think you hit the nail on the head.

3180
02:04:15,880 --> 02:04:17,040
I mean

3181
02:04:17,040 --> 02:04:19,960
I would be fine with that. Are we still

3182
02:04:19,960 --> 02:04:21,880
Let me ask you a question. Are we still

3183
02:04:21,880 --> 02:04:23,480
placing poles and where is stuff

3184
02:04:23,480 --> 02:04:25,600
supposed to be going or is it just going

3185
02:04:25,600 --> 02:04:27,520
to be first come first serve?

3186
02:04:27,520 --> 02:04:29,840
For all other poles, first come first

3187
02:04:29,840 --> 02:04:32,150
serve.

3188
02:04:32,160 --> 02:04:34,360
Outside of these. Outside of what's

3189
02:04:34,360 --> 02:04:35,800
already in there.

3190
02:04:35,800 --> 02:04:37,680
Outside of the the three categories that

3191
02:04:37,680 --> 02:04:41,670
we that we have to deal with presently.

3192
02:04:41,680 --> 02:04:43,200
I mean we can vote on that if you want

3193
02:04:43,200 --> 02:04:44,520
to. I mean I don't have a problem with

3194
02:04:44,520 --> 02:04:46,000
that.

3195
02:04:46,000 --> 02:04:46,920
But

3196
02:04:46,920 --> 02:04:49,440
is that a motion you made? So moved.

3197
02:04:49,440 --> 02:04:52,240
That would be the amendment to the

3198
02:04:52,240 --> 02:04:53,080
We haven't made the motion

3199
02:04:53,080 --> 02:04:54,760
>> We haven't made a motion yet. I made a

3200
02:04:54,760 --> 02:04:57,960
motion. So then yes, that would be the

3201
02:04:57,960 --> 02:05:00,240
motion. Mr. Warner, do you think those

3202
02:05:00,240 --> 02:05:00,800
changes

3203
02:05:00,800 --> 02:05:03,160
>> I got it. Okay. So you You got Leslie's

3204
02:05:03,160 --> 02:05:05,120
changes and you'll let me handle all the

3205
02:05:05,120 --> 02:05:06,480
ones that are not [laughter]

3206
02:05:06,480 --> 02:05:08,840
I can handle it.

3207
02:05:08,840 --> 02:05:12,870
He can handle it.

3208
02:05:12,880 --> 02:05:14,901
Are Are we okay with that?

3209
02:05:14,901 --> 02:05:15,200
>> [clears throat]

3210
02:05:15,200 --> 02:05:18,230
>> Okay.

3211
02:05:18,240 --> 02:05:20,080
Who wants to make the motion?

3212
02:05:20,080 --> 02:05:23,560
I'll make the motion that we approve

3213
02:05:23,560 --> 02:05:25,800
with the changes. with the with the

3214
02:05:25,800 --> 02:05:27,880
changes that we have listed.

3215
02:05:27,880 --> 02:05:30,000
I'll second it.

3216
02:05:30,000 --> 02:05:32,800
Vice Mayor Updike made the vote motion.

3217
02:05:32,800 --> 02:05:35,280
Councilman Haley made the second.

3218
02:05:35,280 --> 02:05:37,680
Any further discussion?

3219
02:05:37,680 --> 02:05:39,800
No, please.

3220
02:05:39,800 --> 02:05:41,040
Darcy.

3221
02:05:41,040 --> 02:05:43,720
Mr. Foster. Aye. Mr. Haley.

3222
02:05:43,720 --> 02:05:47,320
>> Aye. Mr. Burrito. Aye. Mr. Updike. Aye.

3223
02:05:47,320 --> 02:05:50,400
Mr. Evans. Aye. Mr. Foreman. Aye. Mayor

3224
02:05:50,400 --> 02:05:52,760
Stanley. Aye. Motion carries with all

3225
02:05:52,760 --> 02:05:55,520
members voting aye. All right. Next on

3226
02:05:55,520 --> 02:05:56,920
the agenda is speed limit change on

3227
02:05:56,920 --> 02:05:59,320
Longwood Avenue. Mr. Warner. At a

3228
02:05:59,320 --> 02:06:01,800
regular meeting on October 8th, 2024,

3229
02:06:01,800 --> 02:06:03,960
Town Council voted unanimously to apply

3230
02:06:03,960 --> 02:06:07,800
a speed limit of 25 mph to the entirety

3231
02:06:07,800 --> 02:06:10,080
of Longwood Avenue within town limits.

3232
02:06:10,080 --> 02:06:11,600
This action was taken in response to a

3233
02:06:11,600 --> 02:06:13,880
recommendation made by the Public Safety

3234
02:06:13,880 --> 02:06:16,000
Committee of Town Council on September

3235
02:06:16,000 --> 02:06:18,160
24th, 2024.

3236
02:06:18,160 --> 02:06:21,000
At its meeting on March 3rd, 2026,

3237
02:06:21,000 --> 02:06:22,560
member of the members of the Streets

3238
02:06:22,560 --> 02:06:24,480
Committee of Town Council moved to

3239
02:06:24,480 --> 02:06:28,160
revisit this decision and to consider restoring the

3240
02:06:28,160 --> 02:06:31,480
previous speed limit of 35 mph in both

3241
02:06:31,480 --> 02:06:33,880
directions on Longwood Avenue between

3242
02:06:33,880 --> 02:06:36,040
its intersection with Oakwood Street and

3243
02:06:36,040 --> 02:06:37,920
its intersection with Grove Street.

3244
02:06:37,920 --> 02:06:40,400
Tonight Town Council is requested to

3245
02:06:40,400 --> 02:06:42,240
consider the recommendation made by the

3246
02:06:42,240 --> 02:06:44,160
Streets Committee at its meeting on

3247
02:06:44,160 --> 02:06:47,040
March 3rd, 2026. All right.

3248
02:06:47,040 --> 02:06:49,320
You have a motion?

3249
02:06:49,320 --> 02:06:50,680
So moved.

3250
02:06:50,680 --> 02:06:52,600
Vice Mayor Updike made the motion.

3251
02:06:52,600 --> 02:06:54,960
Second.

3252
02:06:54,960 --> 02:06:56,320
I'll go to go to sleep. Somebody make

3253
02:06:56,320 --> 02:06:56,360
it.

3254
02:06:56,360 --> 02:06:57,880
>> All right. I'll do it. All right.

3255
02:06:57,880 --> 02:07:00,720
Councilman Debleto, discussion. I have a

3256
02:07:00,720 --> 02:07:03,360
discussion. All right. Discussion.

3257
02:07:03,360 --> 02:07:06,160
So 35

3258
02:07:06,160 --> 02:07:08,760
me and Councilman Foreman was on safe

3259
02:07:08,760 --> 02:07:10,560
public safety committee when we did

3260
02:07:10,560 --> 02:07:12,760
happen. And you know, I'm not

3261
02:07:12,760 --> 02:07:14,800
picking on the mayor. I'm not picking on

3262
02:07:14,800 --> 02:07:16,680
streets committee, but it should have

3263
02:07:16,680 --> 02:07:18,560
been a public safety committee meeting

3264
02:07:18,560 --> 02:07:20,440
on this instead of a streets committee

3265
02:07:20,440 --> 02:07:23,680
on this about changing speed limit which

3266
02:07:23,680 --> 02:07:25,320
street the public safety committee

3267
02:07:25,320 --> 02:07:27,800
actually changed the speed limit.

3268
02:07:27,800 --> 02:07:28,920
So

3269
02:07:28,920 --> 02:07:31,600
35 mph all the way up to Grove Street,

3270
02:07:31,600 --> 02:07:33,360
you know,

3271
02:07:33,360 --> 02:07:35,960
that gives that opportunity for people

3272
02:07:35,960 --> 02:07:37,840
when they come off right after you pass

3273
02:07:37,840 --> 02:07:39,800
the graveyard, you can hit up the that

3274
02:07:39,800 --> 02:07:42,920
45, you're still almost running 35 45

3275
02:07:42,920 --> 02:07:44,200
around that curve before you get up

3276
02:07:44,200 --> 02:07:46,280
there to the middle school.

3277
02:07:46,280 --> 02:07:48,760
I think my opinion

3278
02:07:48,760 --> 02:07:51,480
is keep it at 25 cuz it confuses our

3279
02:07:51,480 --> 02:07:54,280
citizens. It confuses everybody else.

3280
02:07:54,280 --> 02:07:57,120
It's a safety issue on top of it. And

3281
02:07:57,120 --> 02:07:58,960
the whole point is we just changed this

3282
02:07:58,960 --> 02:08:01,160
less than a year and a half ago. And I

3283
02:08:01,160 --> 02:08:02,760
think it would be ridiculous for us

3284
02:08:02,760 --> 02:08:04,760
going back and changing it about 35 cuz

3285
02:08:04,760 --> 02:08:07,160
a couple people complained about it.

3286
02:08:07,160 --> 02:08:09,040
That's my opinion.

3287
02:08:09,040 --> 02:08:10,120
Thank you.

3288
02:08:10,120 --> 02:08:15,018
got it.

3289
02:08:15,028 --> 02:08:17,310
» [applause]

3290
02:08:17,320 --> 02:08:19,200
» What was the reason with the street

3291
02:08:19,200 --> 02:08:21,760
committee changing it?

3292
02:08:21,760 --> 02:08:23,040
What's the reason?

3293
02:08:23,040 --> 02:08:24,800
We stood up in the Remember the hot

3294
02:08:24,800 --> 02:08:26,360
summer we stood up there on that woman's

3295
02:08:26,360 --> 02:08:28,560
grave. Bugs eating us up, sweating

3296
02:08:28,560 --> 02:08:33,600
running down our back. No no, let's make it clear.

3297
02:08:33,600 --> 02:08:35,400
It was mentioned.

3298
02:08:35,400 --> 02:08:37,960
And I said we can discuss anything.

3299
02:08:37,960 --> 02:08:41,520
I'm willing to discuss anything that

3300
02:08:41,520 --> 02:08:43,560
they want to put on the agenda. And that

3301
02:08:43,560 --> 02:08:46,360
was a discussion. I've heard I've heard

3302
02:08:46,360 --> 02:08:49,480
just as many people complain about 25 as

3303
02:08:49,480 --> 02:08:54,440
I heard about 35. So it it's it

3304
02:08:54,440 --> 02:08:56,160
you can

3305
02:08:56,160 --> 02:08:58,200
we'll People don't respond to surveys.

3306
02:08:58,200 --> 02:09:01,840
if we did one, you get about 50/50.

3307
02:09:01,840 --> 02:09:03,480
Now, I go that way about every day of

3308
02:09:03,480 --> 02:09:05,440
the week unless I'm going down through a

3309
02:09:05,440 --> 02:09:07,160
line, but uh

3310
02:09:07,160 --> 02:09:09,920
I dare say not many people drive 25,

3311
02:09:09,920 --> 02:09:12,240
it's more when it's 25 it's 30, when

3312
02:09:12,240 --> 02:09:16,640
it's 35 it's 40, but no, I do agree with

3313
02:09:16,640 --> 02:09:19,200
what the people who live along that

3314
02:09:19,200 --> 02:09:20,760
street said. And I

3315
02:09:20,760 --> 02:09:23,080
reiterate what I said earlier. I'm glad

3316
02:09:23,080 --> 02:09:24,360
y'all came tonight and said what you

3317
02:09:24,360 --> 02:09:25,560
did.

3318
02:09:25,560 --> 02:09:27,520
So, no, it was only a

3319
02:09:27,520 --> 02:09:28,120
couple of suggestions.

3320
02:09:28,120 --> 02:09:29,600
>> Suggestions. Yeah, comment. It's just a

3321
02:09:29,600 --> 02:09:31,080
comment. That's all it was. So, that's

3322
02:09:31,080 --> 02:09:32,400
why they changed And and we're talking

3323
02:09:32,400 --> 02:09:33,960
about it and I think I think we're

3324
02:09:33,960 --> 02:09:36,800
getting a very good response.

3325
02:09:36,800 --> 02:09:39,760
And you know, ever since we we adjusted

3326
02:09:39,760 --> 02:09:45,200
the speed limit uh from 35 to 25 uh

3327
02:09:45,200 --> 02:09:47,280
I've heard more people that weren't in

3328
02:09:47,280 --> 02:09:48,920
favor

3329
02:09:48,920 --> 02:09:50,920
of that particular action

3330
02:09:50,920 --> 02:09:53,840
than in favor of that particular action.

3331
02:09:53,840 --> 02:09:58,080
Now as far as the people that were

3332
02:09:58,080 --> 02:09:59,560
complaining about the speed limit being

3333
02:09:59,560 --> 02:10:01,560
reduced, whether they live on Longwood

3334
02:10:01,560 --> 02:10:04,400
Avenue or not, I don't know.

3335
02:10:04,400 --> 02:10:05,640
Um

3336
02:10:05,640 --> 02:10:06,840
I would venture to say that they

3337
02:10:06,840 --> 02:10:09,240
probably do not.

3338
02:10:09,240 --> 02:10:11,320
But I also venture to say that they are

3339
02:10:11,320 --> 02:10:14,640
people that that travel that road on a

3340
02:10:14,640 --> 02:10:16,240
daily basis.

3341
02:10:16,240 --> 02:10:17,480
And so

3342
02:10:17,480 --> 02:10:20,920
they they had concerns about it being lowered.

3343
02:10:20,920 --> 02:10:23,510
Um

3344
02:10:23,520 --> 02:10:25,400
In the 27 years that I worked for the

3345
02:10:25,400 --> 02:10:27,560
police department, I don't ever remember

3346
02:10:27,560 --> 02:10:30,520
Longwood Avenue being a traffic hazard

3347
02:10:30,520 --> 02:10:31,920
at 35.

3348
02:10:31,920 --> 02:10:34,160
Or as the mayor said, probably closer to

3349
02:10:34,160 --> 02:10:35,960
40.

3350
02:10:35,960 --> 02:10:38,400
Um

3351
02:10:38,400 --> 02:10:41,150
you know

3352
02:10:41,160 --> 02:10:43,480
Chief, well I I got complaints every day

3353
02:10:43,480 --> 02:10:44,920
about speeding, every day about

3354
02:10:44,920 --> 02:10:45,400
speeding.

3355
02:10:45,400 --> 02:10:46,760
>> you got complaints you got complaints,

3356
02:10:46,760 --> 02:10:48,720
but do do about the whole But you have

3357
02:10:48,720 --> 02:10:50,560
many traffic accidents do we have? I

3358
02:10:50,560 --> 02:10:51,920
don't know I don't have those details.

3359
02:10:51,920 --> 02:10:52,760
That'd be a good question. I don't

3360
02:10:52,760 --> 02:10:54,320
recall looking any.

3361
02:10:54,320 --> 02:10:56,600
Uh I had one right there on right in

3362
02:10:56,600 --> 02:10:58,720
front of his house where one speeding

3363
02:10:58,720 --> 02:11:00,160
though, but they had a pole hit the

3364
02:11:00,160 --> 02:11:02,400
tractor trailer. Right.

3365
02:11:02,400 --> 02:11:04,840
And and

3366
02:11:04,840 --> 02:11:05,840
That's

3367
02:11:05,840 --> 02:11:07,680
you know, that that's not that's not a

3368
02:11:07,680 --> 02:11:09,520
speed that's not a speed issue. That was

3369
02:11:09,520 --> 02:11:10,800
But there was also a child struck in the

3370
02:11:10,800 --> 02:11:13,600
street though.

3371
02:11:13,600 --> 02:11:15,880
Yes. Yes, there was a child struck on

3372
02:11:15,880 --> 02:11:17,640
that street when the car was speeding

3373
02:11:17,640 --> 02:11:19,085
toward Halloween.

3374
02:11:19,085 --> 02:11:19,360
>> [cough]

3375
02:11:19,360 --> 02:11:20,280
>> Right. And [clears throat]

3376
02:11:20,280 --> 02:11:23,200
and even at Halloween and even with all

3377
02:11:23,200 --> 02:11:25,720
the signage that that we had up there

3378
02:11:25,720 --> 02:11:27,200
you know That was that was before the

3379
02:11:27,200 --> 02:11:28,960
signage was up.

3380
02:11:28,960 --> 02:11:30,720
That was when we started doing it after

3381
02:11:30,720 --> 02:11:31,160
that.

3382
02:11:31,160 --> 02:11:33,360
>> Okay. Jim Chief Day was there then.

3383
02:11:33,360 --> 02:11:34,920
Okay. Um

3384
02:11:34,920 --> 02:11:36,600
So, yes.

3385
02:11:36,600 --> 02:11:39,480
You know I've had you more more concerns

3386
02:11:39,480 --> 02:11:42,400
about the speed limit being reduced

3387
02:11:42,400 --> 02:11:44,240
than than than I've had you know, people

3388
02:11:44,240 --> 02:11:46,320
you know, speaking tonight. Uh so you

3389
02:11:46,320 --> 02:11:48,960
know, that's another reason why it was brought up.

3390
02:11:48,960 --> 02:11:50,640
Um

3391
02:11:50,640 --> 02:11:53,240
you know, I don't think that um

3392
02:11:53,240 --> 02:11:57,080
uh again, you know, it it's 35 you know

3393
02:11:57,080 --> 02:11:58,920
back when I was here, you know, I didn't

3394
02:11:58,920 --> 02:12:03,320
see that uh as as being

3395
02:12:03,320 --> 02:12:06,760
a traffic safety

3396
02:12:06,760 --> 02:12:08,120
issue.

3397
02:12:08,120 --> 02:12:10,320
Um you know, we addressed the the

3398
02:12:10,320 --> 02:12:13,400
traffic and at certain times we we

3399
02:12:13,400 --> 02:12:15,040
heightened the enforcement you know,

3400
02:12:15,040 --> 02:12:18,240
during those areas. Um

3401
02:12:18,240 --> 02:12:19,680
but um

3402
02:12:19,680 --> 02:12:20,600
but again

3403
02:12:20,600 --> 02:12:21,800
uh

3404
02:12:21,800 --> 02:12:24,000
we have

3405
02:12:24,000 --> 02:12:25,720
Like the mayor said, we probably had you

3406
02:12:25,720 --> 02:12:27,320
know, as many people that wanted up as

3407
02:12:27,320 --> 02:12:30,120
we wanted down. They had concerns and

3408
02:12:30,120 --> 02:12:32,040
again, that's why it was brought brought

3409
02:12:32,040 --> 02:12:33,960
here to be discussed. I will say So, I

3410
02:12:33,960 --> 02:12:35,520
don't I don't think that it was you

3411
02:12:35,520 --> 02:12:38,080
know, nonsense for us to discuss it. I

3412
02:12:38,080 --> 02:12:40,200
think that any type of you know, citizen

3413
02:12:40,200 --> 02:12:42,120
concern needs to be addressed. And it's

3414
02:12:42,120 --> 02:12:44,320
like like CG said, we're willing to

3415
02:12:44,320 --> 02:12:46,160
listen to anything and hear anything

3416
02:12:46,160 --> 02:12:48,440
out, but like said

3417
02:12:48,440 --> 02:12:50,760
it's it's just the

3418
02:12:50,760 --> 02:12:53,000
senseless on our part have to go down

3419
02:12:53,000 --> 02:12:55,840
and change it again and somebody else

3420
02:12:55,840 --> 02:12:57,080
will complain about it and then we'll

3421
02:12:57,080 --> 02:12:59,480
have to change it again and then we just

3422
02:12:59,480 --> 02:13:01,400
keep rolling back and forth and wasting

3423
02:13:01,400 --> 02:13:04,120
time and poor wasting time putting signs

3424
02:13:04,120 --> 02:13:06,760
up and stuff like that. And it's you

3425
02:13:06,760 --> 02:13:08,240
know

3426
02:13:08,240 --> 02:13:10,240
it's just awful right awful day a little

3427
02:13:10,240 --> 02:13:12,200
bit like Mr. Warner said. You have like

3428
02:13:12,200 --> 02:13:13,680
three or four different designs you

3429
02:13:13,680 --> 02:13:18,040
know, that four lane highway that's what causes all this 35 and 25

3430
02:13:18,040 --> 02:13:20,240
stuff. It's that four lower half of

3431
02:13:20,240 --> 02:13:22,160
almost a mile four lane highway right

3432
02:13:22,160 --> 02:13:24,480
there in the middle of the town. I mean,

3433
02:13:24,480 --> 02:13:26,840
we could do we they moved us off at one

3434
02:13:26,840 --> 02:13:28,640
time before put up the little things in

3435
02:13:28,640 --> 02:13:30,920
the middle to slow down traffic.

3436
02:13:30,920 --> 02:13:32,320
But you know

3437
02:13:32,320 --> 02:13:34,160
I just think

3438
02:13:34,160 --> 02:13:35,920
it's great to bring it up, it's great to

3439
02:13:35,920 --> 02:13:37,520
talk about it, but I think it should

3440
02:13:37,520 --> 02:13:40,440
just stay the same. That's my opinion.

3441
02:13:40,440 --> 02:13:42,720
I will say this that when we voted on it

3442
02:13:42,720 --> 02:13:45,120
last time we voted I think on four

3443
02:13:45,120 --> 02:13:48,800
different streets at one time. It wasn't

3444
02:13:48,800 --> 02:13:52,160
one street voted on. It was all lump sum

3445
02:13:52,160 --> 02:13:53,160
and

3446
02:13:53,160 --> 02:13:53,840
uh

3447
02:13:53,840 --> 02:13:56,160
Longwood was one of those that that we

3448
02:13:56,160 --> 02:13:57,400
probably should have put them out pulled

3449
02:13:57,400 --> 02:13:59,200
them out separately and voted on them,

3450
02:13:59,200 --> 02:14:00,960
but we did not vote on each one

3451
02:14:00,960 --> 02:14:04,560
separate. But uh now I think uh

3452
02:14:04,560 --> 02:14:08,880
at some point in time I think that area will take care of itself with

3453
02:14:08,880 --> 02:14:11,600
uh some revisions, some uh need not

3454
02:14:11,600 --> 02:14:14,040
funding and you'll probably be back to

3455
02:14:14,040 --> 02:14:17,520
two or two lanes like it was back 50s

3456
02:14:17,520 --> 02:14:19,600
and part of the 60s. So,

3457
02:14:19,600 --> 02:14:21,320
there's there's change on the way, I'm

3458
02:14:21,320 --> 02:14:22,560
sure.

3459
02:14:22,560 --> 02:14:23,880
Are we okay?

3460
02:14:23,880 --> 02:14:25,320
No.

3461
02:14:25,320 --> 02:14:27,480
Yeah, since everybody else had a talk,

3462
02:14:27,480 --> 02:14:28,800
since I live on Longwood, I've got to

3463
02:14:28,800 --> 02:14:30,400
say something before we start.

3464
02:14:30,400 --> 02:14:33,880
So, I I just something real quick um you

3465
02:14:33,880 --> 02:14:35,720
know, that half mile stretch we're

3466
02:14:35,720 --> 02:14:37,480
talking about on Longwood, it's got 37

3467
02:14:37,480 --> 02:14:40,000
driveways and six road intersections.

3468
02:14:40,000 --> 02:14:42,160
Obviously stopping distances increase

3469
02:14:42,160 --> 02:14:43,480
with speeds.

3470
02:14:43,480 --> 02:14:45,800
Um it's so it's safer to maintain the

3471
02:14:45,800 --> 02:14:48,520
lower speed. Um and so for instance

3472
02:14:48,520 --> 02:14:49,880
we get a lot of semi trucks coming

3473
02:14:49,880 --> 02:14:51,000
through there, which aren't supposed to

3474
02:14:51,000 --> 02:14:52,120
be coming through there, but they do

3475
02:14:52,120 --> 02:14:55,080
anyway. Um

3476
02:14:55,080 --> 02:14:57,280
you know, if they're fully loaded and

3477
02:14:57,280 --> 02:14:58,880
they're traveling at 35 miles an hour,

3478
02:14:58,880 --> 02:15:01,040
it takes them twice as long stopping

3479
02:15:01,040 --> 02:15:03,160
distance to stop than it does at 25

3480
02:15:03,160 --> 02:15:04,400
miles an hour.

3481
02:15:04,400 --> 02:15:06,480
So, people pulling out, kids playing or

3482
02:15:06,480 --> 02:15:09,040
whatever, you've got a a

3483
02:15:09,040 --> 02:15:11,840
semi truck that takes almost over 200

3484
02:15:11,840 --> 02:15:15,120
feet to stop at 35 miles an hour and

3485
02:15:15,120 --> 02:15:18,040
only takes about 80 to 100 feet at 25

3486
02:15:18,040 --> 02:15:19,400
miles an hour.

3487
02:15:19,400 --> 02:15:20,320
Um

3488
02:15:20,320 --> 02:15:23,160
yeah, the other thing uh

3489
02:15:23,160 --> 02:15:26,600
the PD had a uh a radar

3490
02:15:26,600 --> 02:15:27,360
uh

3491
02:15:27,360 --> 02:15:29,560
whatever it's called Speed check down on

3492
02:15:29,560 --> 02:15:30,040
the street.

3493
02:15:30,040 --> 02:15:32,760
>> Speed camera type thing, whatever.

3494
02:15:32,760 --> 02:15:36,600
In December. So, just in December the in

3495
02:15:36,600 --> 02:15:39,240
December one way traffic the total

3496
02:15:39,240 --> 02:15:42,680
volume was 101,441

3497
02:15:42,680 --> 02:15:45,280
44 vehicles in the month. That's at

3498
02:15:45,280 --> 02:15:49,240
average of 3,272 vehicles a day

3499
02:15:49,240 --> 02:15:51,080
coming one way on Longwood. So, it's

3500
02:15:51,080 --> 02:15:53,200
easy to extrapolate that you got uh

3501
02:15:53,200 --> 02:15:56,760
6,500 cars going both ways on Longwood.

3502
02:15:56,760 --> 02:15:59,040
And even if you have 15% speeders,

3503
02:15:59,040 --> 02:16:00,520
that's 1,000

3504
02:16:00,520 --> 02:16:03,800
people speeding per day on on on that

3505
02:16:03,800 --> 02:16:06,360
stretch of the area. Whether and that

3506
02:16:06,360 --> 02:16:07,560
not the

3507
02:16:07,560 --> 02:16:08,920
then I agree with what the vice mayor

3508
02:16:08,920 --> 02:16:11,680
said about uh time, but whether you have

3509
02:16:11,680 --> 02:16:14,160
27 years or or 60 years in law

3510
02:16:14,160 --> 02:16:16,040
enforcement and you never had an

3511
02:16:16,040 --> 02:16:19,080
accident, that's not a reason to raise

3512
02:16:19,080 --> 02:16:22,520
the speed limit uh to 35 miles an hour.

3513
02:16:22,520 --> 02:16:24,440
And lastly, I'll just say that we you

3514
02:16:24,440 --> 02:16:26,080
know, not long ago we adopted a bike

3515
02:16:26,080 --> 02:16:27,840
walk plan

3516
02:16:27,840 --> 02:16:31,120
and it recommends that we place bicycle

3517
02:16:31,120 --> 02:16:33,200
pavement markings on Longwood. So,

3518
02:16:33,200 --> 02:16:35,040
instead of increasing the speed like we

3519
02:16:35,040 --> 02:16:37,160
talked about because of four lanes, how

3520
02:16:37,160 --> 02:16:38,960
about we restripe Longwood down to two

3521
02:16:38,960 --> 02:16:41,320
lanes with a center turn lane and follow

3522
02:16:41,320 --> 02:16:43,639
a plan we adopted by also providing bike

3523
02:16:43,639 --> 02:16:47,160
lanes. That's that's all I'll say.

3524
02:16:47,160 --> 02:16:48,760
And something like that's probably to

3525
02:16:48,760 --> 02:16:51,880
come at some point, yeah.

3526
02:16:51,880 --> 02:16:54,280
And replacing the park signs so

3527
02:16:54,280 --> 02:16:55,960
Okay, park until they're not being good

3528
02:16:55,960 --> 02:16:57,000
read.

3529
02:16:57,000 --> 02:16:58,840
Working on that. Okay.

3530
02:16:58,840 --> 02:17:01,320
You need you need more comments.

3531
02:17:01,320 --> 02:17:08,519
I echo what Mr. Wallace said, you know, with the tractor trailers stopping at 35

3532
02:17:08,519 --> 02:17:11,240
and 25, I witness that pretty much every

3533
02:17:11,240 --> 02:17:13,519
day.

3534
02:17:13,519 --> 02:17:16,000
So, I can agree to that. Yeah.

3535
02:17:16,000 --> 02:17:19,599
You know, stopping distance on vehicles. I think

3536
02:17:19,599 --> 02:17:22,080
tractor trailers do get And cars same

3537
02:17:22,080 --> 02:17:25,000
way. Yeah, it's GPS that I think messes

3538
02:17:25,000 --> 02:17:26,840
them up at times.

3539
02:17:26,840 --> 02:17:27,440
Uh

3540
02:17:27,440 --> 02:17:28,719
they're not been here don't know what

3541
02:17:28,719 --> 02:17:30,559
they're getting into.

3542
02:17:30,559 --> 02:17:32,760
But that's

3543
02:17:32,760 --> 02:17:34,920
neither here nor there.

3544
02:17:34,920 --> 02:17:37,120
You need

3545
02:17:37,120 --> 02:17:39,400
Are we good? Mhm.

3546
02:17:39,400 --> 02:17:40,760
Ready to vote?

3547
02:17:40,760 --> 02:17:42,160
I accept. So, we're we're making motions

3548
02:17:42,160 --> 02:17:43,559
here, aren't we? Yeah.

3549
02:17:43,559 --> 02:17:45,400
All right, Dorsett.

3550
02:17:45,400 --> 02:17:46,760
Mr. Aley?

3551
02:17:46,760 --> 02:17:48,280
No.

3552
02:17:48,280 --> 02:17:50,840
Mr. Aguilera? No.

3553
02:17:50,840 --> 02:17:54,470
Mr. Uptain? Yeah.

3554
02:17:54,480 --> 02:17:57,800
I'm sorry, Mr. Stanley No.

3555
02:17:57,800 --> 02:17:59,840
Mr. Evans? No.

3556
02:17:59,840 --> 02:18:02,400
Mr. Foreman? No.

3557
02:18:02,400 --> 02:18:06,280
Mr. Foster? No. Mr. Stanley? No.

3558
02:18:06,280 --> 02:18:08,200
Motion carried with all members voting

3559
02:18:08,200 --> 02:18:10,000
no.

3560
02:18:10,000 --> 02:18:12,080
Okay, next resolution approval of

3561
02:18:12,080 --> 02:18:14,760
Central Virginia Safety Action Plan. Mr.

3562
02:18:14,760 --> 02:18:16,679
Warner. Central Virginia Planning

3563
02:18:16,679 --> 02:18:18,840
District Commission received a USDOT

3564
02:18:18,840 --> 02:18:20,840
Safe Streets for All Grant to advance a

3565
02:18:20,840 --> 02:18:22,960
collaborative regional approach to

3566
02:18:22,960 --> 02:18:24,440
improve safety along the region's

3567
02:18:24,440 --> 02:18:26,519
roadways with special emphasis on

3568
02:18:26,519 --> 02:18:29,000
reducing fatal and serious accidents.

3569
02:18:29,000 --> 02:18:30,880
The Central Virginia Safety Action Plan

3570
02:18:30,880 --> 02:18:33,280
Safe Streets for All documents the areas

3571
02:18:33,280 --> 02:18:34,760
within the region that have the highest

3572
02:18:34,760 --> 02:18:37,599
number of serious and fatal accidents,

3573
02:18:37,599 --> 02:18:39,639
establishes performance measures, and

3574
02:18:39,639 --> 02:18:41,480
provides programmatic and project

3575
02:18:41,480 --> 02:18:43,760
recommendations to improve safety for

3576
02:18:43,760 --> 02:18:46,280
all users along the region's roadways.

3577
02:18:46,280 --> 02:18:47,679
Plan was developed through an extensive

3578
02:18:47,679 --> 02:18:49,719
stakeholder engagement process and

3579
02:18:49,719 --> 02:18:50,719
aligns with the Commonwealth

3580
02:18:50,719 --> 02:18:53,760
Transportation Board adopted Virginia's

3581
02:18:53,760 --> 02:18:56,080
Strategic Highway Safety Plan, which

3582
02:18:56,080 --> 02:18:57,920
establishes the target to reduce roadway

3583
02:18:57,920 --> 02:19:01,679
fatalities and serious injuries by 50%

3584
02:19:01,679 --> 02:19:03,599
by 2045.

3585
02:19:03,599 --> 02:19:05,760
CVSAP was adopted by both the Central

3586
02:19:05,760 --> 02:19:07,400
Virginia Planning District Commission

3587
02:19:07,400 --> 02:19:09,000
and the Central Virginia Transportation

3588
02:19:09,000 --> 02:19:11,480
Planning Organization on November 20th,

3589
02:19:11,480 --> 02:19:13,240
2025.

3590
02:19:13,240 --> 02:19:15,000
By adopting the Central Virginia Safety

3591
02:19:15,000 --> 02:19:17,480
Action Plan, Safe Streets for All, Town

3592
02:19:17,480 --> 02:19:18,960
of Bedford will support the goal to

3593
02:19:18,960 --> 02:19:21,320
improve safety along its roadways and

3594
02:19:21,320 --> 02:19:22,960
the goal to reduce serious and fatal

3595
02:19:22,960 --> 02:19:26,920
accidents by 50% by the year 2045.

3596
02:19:26,920 --> 02:19:28,840
There is no penalty by VDOT or federal

3597
02:19:28,840 --> 02:19:30,719
transportation for not meeting safety

3598
02:19:30,719 --> 02:19:31,760
goals.

3599
02:19:31,760 --> 02:19:35,080
Rather, adopting the CVSAP document and

3600
02:19:35,080 --> 02:19:36,840
committing to the goal to reduce serious

3601
02:19:36,840 --> 02:19:39,400
and fatal accidents provides access to

3602
02:19:39,400 --> 02:19:41,639
certain federal transportation planning

3603
02:19:41,639 --> 02:19:44,000
and construction program funds.

3604
02:19:44,000 --> 02:19:46,320
Included Included is eligibility to

3605
02:19:46,320 --> 02:19:50,000
apply for US DOT SS4A planning and

3606
02:19:50,000 --> 02:19:52,440
construction program, which just opened

3607
02:19:52,440 --> 02:19:54,800
a $1 million application round with

3608
02:19:54,800 --> 02:19:58,280
applications due May 26th. Tonight, Town

3609
02:19:58,280 --> 02:19:59,800
Council is requested to adopt the

3610
02:19:59,800 --> 02:20:01,920
resolution approving the Central

3611
02:20:01,920 --> 02:20:04,320
Virginia Safety Action Plan, Straight

3612
02:20:04,320 --> 02:20:06,520
Safe Streets for All.

3613
02:20:06,520 --> 02:20:09,040
right, you've heard the reading. Do

3614
02:20:09,040 --> 02:20:11,800
I hear a motion? Yes.

3615
02:20:11,800 --> 02:20:13,320
Councilman Ippolito, and how about a

3616
02:20:13,320 --> 02:20:15,440
second? Second.

3617
02:20:15,440 --> 02:20:18,000
Councilman Evans, any discussion? Any

3618
02:20:18,000 --> 02:20:19,400
questions?

3619
02:20:19,400 --> 02:20:21,000
Any comments?

3620
02:20:21,000 --> 02:20:22,080
Dorsey.

3621
02:20:22,080 --> 02:20:25,560
Mr. Ippolito? Aye. Mr. Updike? Aye. Mr.

3622
02:20:25,560 --> 02:20:28,080
Evans? Aye. Mr. Foreman? Aye. Mr.

3623
02:20:28,080 --> 02:20:30,880
Foster? Aye. Mr. Haley? Aye. Mayor

3624
02:20:30,880 --> 02:20:32,880
Stanley? Aye. Motion carries with all

3625
02:20:32,880 --> 02:20:35,160
members voting aye. All right. Grant

3626
02:20:35,160 --> 02:20:36,520
Management Agreement and Budget

3627
02:20:36,520 --> 02:20:38,960
Amendment for SAFER grant received by

3628
02:20:38,960 --> 02:20:40,760
the Bedford Volunteer Fire Department.

3629
02:20:40,760 --> 02:20:42,080
Mr. Warner.

3630
02:20:42,080 --> 02:20:43,760
Bedford Volunteer Fire Department was

3631
02:20:43,760 --> 02:20:45,280
awarded a grant in the amount of

3632
02:20:45,280 --> 02:20:46,960
$258,000

3633
02:20:46,960 --> 02:20:48,080
from the Department of Homeland

3634
02:20:48,080 --> 02:20:50,320
Security. This grant award covers a

3635
02:20:50,320 --> 02:20:52,320
period of 4 years and the subject annual

3636
02:20:52,320 --> 02:20:53,600
caps.

3637
02:20:53,600 --> 02:20:55,160
The award provides for two separate

3638
02:20:55,160 --> 02:20:56,840
programs, which include a tuition

3639
02:20:56,840 --> 02:20:59,240
assistance program and a pay per call

3640
02:20:59,240 --> 02:21:00,520
program.

3641
02:21:00,520 --> 02:21:02,120
For the current year, the program awards

3642
02:21:02,120 --> 02:21:05,000
$20,000 towards tuition assistance and

3643
02:21:05,000 --> 02:21:08,000
$40,000 towards pay per call stipends to

3644
02:21:08,000 --> 02:21:09,600
volunteers.

3645
02:21:09,600 --> 02:21:11,560
The pay per call program starts at $5

3646
02:21:11,560 --> 02:21:13,600
per call at a minimum participation

3647
02:21:13,600 --> 02:21:16,920
level of 10% of call volume each year,

3648
02:21:16,920 --> 02:21:18,680
as well as a requirement that volunteers

3649
02:21:18,680 --> 02:21:22,000
attend 25% of training drills and 50% of

3650
02:21:22,000 --> 02:21:23,200
meetings.

3651
02:21:23,200 --> 02:21:24,840
The pay per call rate increases based on

3652
02:21:24,840 --> 02:21:27,520
the increased response percentage for $1

3653
02:21:27,520 --> 02:21:30,080
for each 5% above that minimum.

3654
02:21:30,080 --> 02:21:31,880
This program was previously initiated

3655
02:21:31,880 --> 02:21:34,320
through another SAFER grant program. The

3656
02:21:34,320 --> 02:21:36,280
new award would allow the town to

3657
02:21:36,280 --> 02:21:38,520
continue the existing pay per call

3658
02:21:38,520 --> 02:21:41,400
program through FEMA grant assistance.

3659
02:21:41,400 --> 02:21:43,000
The award was issued directly to the

3660
02:21:43,000 --> 02:21:45,320
Bedford Volunteer Fire Department. In

3661
02:21:45,320 --> 02:21:47,240
order for the department for the town to

3662
02:21:47,240 --> 02:21:49,400
administer the grant, the town needs to

3663
02:21:49,400 --> 02:21:51,160
enter into a grant management services

3664
02:21:51,160 --> 02:21:53,080
agreement with the Bedford Volunteer

3665
02:21:53,080 --> 02:21:55,560
Fire Department and amend the existed

3666
02:21:55,560 --> 02:21:57,800
existing budget to include the grant

3667
02:21:57,800 --> 02:22:00,000
award for the first year allocation.

3668
02:22:00,000 --> 02:22:01,600
Tonight, Town Council is requested to

3669
02:22:01,600 --> 02:22:03,760
approve the attached budget amendment,

3670
02:22:03,760 --> 02:22:05,200
which will appropriate budget to the

3671
02:22:05,200 --> 02:22:07,440
general ledger accounts and authorize

3672
02:22:07,440 --> 02:22:09,840
the town manager to enter into a grant

3673
02:22:09,840 --> 02:22:11,760
management agreement with the Bedford

3674
02:22:11,760 --> 02:22:15,310
Volunteer Fire Department.

3675
02:22:15,320 --> 02:22:17,080
All right, do you hear a motion? So

3676
02:22:17,080 --> 02:22:21,320
moved. Councilman Haley and second? Yes.

3677
02:22:21,320 --> 02:22:22,920
Councilman Ippolito,

3678
02:22:22,920 --> 02:22:23,840
I think this pretty well

3679
02:22:23,840 --> 02:22:25,600
self-explanatory.

3680
02:22:25,600 --> 02:22:27,960
Any questions? Comments?

3681
02:22:27,960 --> 02:22:28,960
Dorsey.

3682
02:22:28,960 --> 02:22:32,200
Mr. Updike? Aye. Mr. Evans? Aye. Mr.

3683
02:22:32,200 --> 02:22:35,120
Foreman? Aye. Mr. Foster? Aye. Mr.

3684
02:22:35,120 --> 02:22:38,760
Haley? Aye. Mr. Ippolito? Aye. Mr.

3685
02:22:38,760 --> 02:22:40,800
Sorry, Mayor Stanley? Aye.

3686
02:22:40,800 --> 02:22:42,600
Motion carries with all members voting

3687
02:22:42,600 --> 02:22:45,560
aye. All right. PSA agreement to

3688
02:22:45,560 --> 02:22:46,800
1 month?

3689
02:22:46,800 --> 02:22:49,000
Yes, I think I can be quick in answers

3690
02:22:49,000 --> 02:22:50,400
for everybody here.

3691
02:22:50,400 --> 02:22:51,880
So, according to the town code, the

3692
02:22:51,880 --> 02:22:54,520
price cost adjustment goes into effect

3693
02:22:54,520 --> 02:22:56,720
automatically every 6 months.

3694
02:22:56,720 --> 02:22:57,840
Um

3695
02:22:57,840 --> 02:23:00,480
we are set to see that take effect May

3696
02:23:00,480 --> 02:23:03,000
1st and we'll defer to Mr. Wager and Ms.

3697
02:23:03,000 --> 02:23:05,120
Cantrell to tell you the details, but

3698
02:23:05,120 --> 02:23:06,440
we're looking at a pretty significant

3699
02:23:06,440 --> 02:23:08,600
increase and frankly, all of us have had

3700
02:23:08,600 --> 02:23:11,000
several high bills lately anyway, so

3701
02:23:11,000 --> 02:23:13,800
what we'd like for you to do is to defer

3702
02:23:13,800 --> 02:23:16,320
the automatic action of the PCA for at

3703
02:23:16,320 --> 02:23:19,040
least 1 month to give us a chance to

3704
02:23:19,040 --> 02:23:21,160
find a way to offset or defer those

3705
02:23:21,160 --> 02:23:25,000
costs for all of our electric customers,

3706
02:23:25,000 --> 02:23:27,200
including ourselves.

3707
02:23:27,200 --> 02:23:29,760
Yes, I think that's very reasonable.

3708
02:23:29,760 --> 02:23:32,520
Do we understand that? Yes.

3709
02:23:32,520 --> 02:23:34,280
Be okay with Yeah, I'm just curious what

3710
02:23:34,280 --> 02:23:36,920
it's going to cost us. Yeah. That's my

3711
02:23:36,920 --> 02:23:38,960
question. Go Go ahead and tell them,

3712
02:23:38,960 --> 02:23:40,920
John or Randy. If we defer for 1 month,

3713
02:23:40,920 --> 02:23:42,800
what's it going to cost? I'm I'm sorry,

3714
02:23:42,800 --> 02:23:44,920
what What what what is what would the

3715
02:23:44,920 --> 02:23:47,800
PCA cost be May 1st if we enacted all of

3716
02:23:47,800 --> 02:23:47,960
it?

3717
02:23:47,960 --> 02:23:50,200
>> Oh, yeah, it's going to be significant.

3718
02:23:50,200 --> 02:23:51,800
It would be

3719
02:23:51,800 --> 02:23:54,430
uh

3720
02:23:54,440 --> 02:23:55,760
I don't even know if I want to say this,

3721
02:23:55,760 --> 02:23:58,400
but uh

3722
02:23:58,400 --> 02:24:01,160
it would be about uh 2.4 cents per

3723
02:24:01,160 --> 02:24:03,640
kilowatt hour in addition to the

3724
02:24:03,640 --> 02:24:05,680
current rate, uh

3725
02:24:05,680 --> 02:24:10,720
which translates to uh for the typical 1,000 kilowatt hour per

3726
02:24:10,720 --> 02:24:14,400
month customer, about $24.32.

3727
02:24:14,400 --> 02:24:16,680
Okay, so if we delay it for 1 month,

3728
02:24:16,680 --> 02:24:19,840
what's the cost going to be to the town?

3729
02:24:19,840 --> 02:24:21,480
approximately. I know you can't

3730
02:24:21,480 --> 02:24:23,480
>> Actually, we we waited as long as we

3731
02:24:23,480 --> 02:24:25,320
could to calculate it because we wanted

3732
02:24:25,320 --> 02:24:27,560
to get March into it. March was

3733
02:24:27,560 --> 02:24:29,200
favorable,

3734
02:24:29,200 --> 02:24:31,600
so it reduced the amount that we had to

3735
02:24:31,600 --> 02:24:34,200
our under recovery was. I don't know I

3736
02:24:34,200 --> 02:24:36,120
wasn't suggesting we recalculate. We

3737
02:24:36,120 --> 02:24:39,160
could do that using April data. Yeah,

3738
02:24:39,160 --> 02:24:41,160
but there but we got to cover that cost

3739
02:24:41,160 --> 02:24:42,920
for 1 month, right? That's what I'm

3740
02:24:42,920 --> 02:24:44,080
thinking.

3741
02:24:44,080 --> 02:24:46,240
For You mean the shortfall? We've

3742
02:24:46,240 --> 02:24:49,120
already paid for it. From May until

3743
02:24:49,120 --> 02:24:50,560
June, we have to cover that month,

3744
02:24:50,560 --> 02:24:51,760
correct?

3745
02:24:51,760 --> 02:24:53,920
If we delay it for 1 month.

3746
02:24:53,920 --> 02:24:55,400
Well, I'm what I'm trying to say is I

3747
02:24:55,400 --> 02:24:57,640
think that in April, we may be

3748
02:24:57,640 --> 02:25:00,000
favorable. Oh, okay. So, it's going to

3749
02:25:00,000 --> 02:25:01,775
lower maybe lower. Right. The shortfall

3750
02:25:01,775 --> 02:25:03,040
[clears throat] was from January

3751
02:25:03,040 --> 02:25:04,200
specifically, right?

3752
02:25:04,200 --> 02:25:05,920
>> Correct. It was primarily from January.

3753
02:25:05,920 --> 02:25:08,240
If If we hadn't had that

3754
02:25:08,240 --> 02:25:11,200
uh call it weather event in January, we

3755
02:25:11,200 --> 02:25:13,200
wouldn't even have an increase.

3756
02:25:13,200 --> 02:25:15,160
We wouldn't be asking for it.

3757
02:25:15,160 --> 02:25:17,640
But unfortunately, we did have it. Uh it

3758
02:25:17,640 --> 02:25:19,800
was a significant shortfall.

3759
02:25:19,800 --> 02:25:20,520
Uh

3760
02:25:20,520 --> 02:25:22,560
right now, we've already paid it. It's

3761
02:25:22,560 --> 02:25:24,160
already been paid.

3762
02:25:24,160 --> 02:25:26,520
Uh now, the question is how how we want

3763
02:25:26,520 --> 02:25:28,760
to recover that or how much we want to

3764
02:25:28,760 --> 02:25:29,200
reduce it.

3765
02:25:29,200 --> 02:25:30,960
>> is So, what we're talking about is the

3766
02:25:30,960 --> 02:25:34,520
money that we the billion dollars we paid

3767
02:25:34,520 --> 02:25:35,720
back in January.

3768
02:25:35,720 --> 02:25:37,800
>> Correct. That we got to recover somehow.

3769
02:25:37,800 --> 02:25:39,760
That's correct. That's our income draw

3770
02:25:39,760 --> 02:25:41,440
or our money draw. That's correct. We

3771
02:25:41,440 --> 02:25:44,080
will have some options. Yeah.

3772
02:25:44,080 --> 02:25:45,800
So, we're not accruing interest or

3773
02:25:45,800 --> 02:25:46,480
anything like that.

3774
02:25:46,480 --> 02:25:50,040
>> No, it's already gone. Right.

3775
02:25:50,040 --> 02:25:52,240
I think I think we've had

3776
02:25:52,240 --> 02:25:54,000
some bad experiences with trying to

3777
02:25:54,000 --> 02:25:55,560
defer Yes, that's why.

3778
02:25:55,560 --> 02:25:57,120
>> increased costs and and I I don't want

3779
02:25:57,120 --> 02:25:59,320
to go down, you know, that that that

3780
02:25:59,320 --> 02:26:01,400
road again either. You know, as opposed

3781
02:26:01,400 --> 02:26:04,680
to, you know, 2.3, 3.4, whatever

3782
02:26:04,680 --> 02:26:07,360
percent, we get hit with a 15% increase

3783
02:26:07,360 --> 02:26:09,400
just because we have to make up time.

3784
02:26:09,400 --> 02:26:10,680
That doesn't

3785
02:26:10,680 --> 02:26:12,600
Nobody swallows that pill easy. Right.

3786
02:26:12,600 --> 02:26:15,520
No, and the clock will restart uh

3787
02:26:15,520 --> 02:26:17,080
from uh beginning of Okay, so it's not

3788
02:26:17,080 --> 02:26:18,480
like what we've what's happened in the

3789
02:26:18,480 --> 02:26:20,480
past where we Right. It just has to

3790
02:26:20,480 --> 02:26:22,440
happen every 6 months. Well, 6 months

3791
02:26:22,440 --> 02:26:25,560
just happens to be May 1st. Okay.

3792
02:26:25,560 --> 02:26:27,240
I think that's a good point. This will,

3793
02:26:27,240 --> 02:26:30,120
yeah, come up every 6 months. Right. And

3794
02:26:30,120 --> 02:26:31,680
hopefully,

3795
02:26:31,680 --> 02:26:33,880
restarting the clock, it goes down.

3796
02:26:33,880 --> 02:26:34,480
Yeah.

3797
02:26:34,480 --> 02:26:36,400
Okay. Yeah.

3798
02:26:36,400 --> 02:26:37,840
Exactly.

3799
02:26:37,840 --> 02:26:42,550
Anything else?

3800
02:26:42,560 --> 02:26:44,080
Go ahead, Dorsey. I'd like to make a

3801
02:26:44,080 --> 02:26:45,840
motion. Yeah. Oh, we've not made a

3802
02:26:45,840 --> 02:26:48,160
motion. You're serious.

3803
02:26:48,160 --> 02:26:49,400
Motion.

3804
02:26:49,400 --> 02:26:51,640
Vice Mayor to accept the recommendation

3805
02:26:51,640 --> 02:26:54,160
by by Councilman Evans by by Town

3806
02:26:54,160 --> 02:26:56,200
Manager on deferment for 1 month. I know

3807
02:26:56,200 --> 02:26:59,630
what it was.

3808
02:26:59,640 --> 02:27:01,200
Uh Vice Mayor

3809
02:27:01,200 --> 02:27:03,120
Updike and uh

3810
02:27:03,120 --> 02:27:05,760
Who Who made the second?

3811
02:27:05,760 --> 02:27:09,000
Uh Councilman Foster. All right, Dorsey.

3812
02:27:09,000 --> 02:27:12,120
Mr. Foster? Aye. Mr. Haley? Aye. Mr.

3813
02:27:12,120 --> 02:27:14,720
Ippolito? Aye. Mr. Updike? Aye. Mr.

3814
02:27:14,720 --> 02:27:17,160
Evans? Aye. Mr. Foreman? Aye. Mayor

3815
02:27:17,160 --> 02:27:19,080
Stanley? Aye. Motion carries with all

3816
02:27:19,080 --> 02:27:20,320
members voting aye.

3817
02:27:20,320 --> 02:27:22,240
Okay, this meeting will be adjourned to

3818
02:27:22,240 --> 02:27:24,160
Saturday, May 2nd

3819
02:27:24,160 --> 02:27:27,040
at uh 9:00 a.m. Light breakfast at 8:30

3820
02:27:27,040 --> 02:27:30,200
a.m. for a budget work session right

3821
02:27:30,200 --> 02:27:33,320
here in Town Hall. And we are

3822
02:27:33,320 --> 02:27:35,760
adjourned.