are allowed to be here tonight and do the business of the town.
Give us clarity in our minds as we proceed through the meeting in your
name. Amen. >> Let us stand for the pledge of
allegiance.
I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the
republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible
and justice for all.
» Has council had an opportunity to review the minutes of the regular March 9th
meeting? Yes. >> Are there any additions to the agenda or
edits to the minutes
» um if we can
» walking
» [snorts]
» Uh if we could just add to a close session um I believe it's
a a um discussion of um uh economic opportunity.
» Okay. All righty.
So, I will entertain a motion to accept. >> I move to accept with the addition.
» With the addition. Thank you, Vice Mayor.
Is there a second?
» All in favor? >> I opposed.
I just voted. >> Old habits are hard break.
» The motion carries. Okay. So just a [clears throat]
just a reminder that there is a five minute time limit on public comments. Do
we have any public comments? Anyone from the audience wish to speak? [laughter]
» I'm getting a nodding head. So um we will move on to review of bills.
Does council have any comments, questions, or concerns about the bill
sheets?
No. Okay. Town manager report. >> Okay. Thank you. Um the we had the uh uh
department head evaluations today. Uh they all went well. Um no one left
crying, I think. So, >> well, that's always positive thing,
» right? Um let's see. Uh like what taxes we're we're moving
forward on. Um
uh let's see. Water projects are moving forward. Um
not much.
Nope. Uh the um deadline for the governor's action was or uh on our um
legislation is 11:59 today. I haven't checked since Friday, so we'll see. And
uh and then of course if it uh if it doesn't um she doesn't it becomes law on
that 59 today, I believe. Um, that's it for for me.
» Okay. Mayor's report. I don't really have anything at this time either. Uh,
town attorney report. >> I have nothing new to report at this
time, but happy to answer any questions or address any issues you all may have.
I can't. >> Okay, let's move on to committee
reports. Finance Committee, Councilman Davis.
personnel committee. Vice Mayor Stenson, >> we're advertising some positions. So, I
hope we get lots of applicants. Okay. >> I will add to that that uh we we do
welcome our newest uh police officer to [laughter] to town.
» I wasn't going to say >> he comes with he comes to us with a with
a significant experience. Officer Lee Dowy has [laughter]
» he really? >> Yes. So,
[laughter] >> took him two weeks to realize his
mistake and he came right on back. >> Absolutely. So, we are we're happy to
have him back. >> We are happy to have him back.
» Well, happy day we are. Welcome back. >> Told him not to go.
» Officer Dowy. Okay. Community development committee. That would be me.
I really don't have anything. Do you or Tiffany have anything about homecoming
at all? >> Uh Jess is still um uh planning
homecoming. >> Okay. All righty. Infrastructure
Committee. Councilman Stith. Councilman Payne.
» Yeah. The Can you give me a follow up on what
you did to the road on Gateway Avenue down there? You never I never heard any
more about it when I gave a report that it was
» Gatewood. >> What was
» Gatewood? >> Gatewood.
» Right. But uh that's the one about the You asked about the um the trash can
there. >> Yeah. Uh, so staff looked at that and
» um, now I'm trying to think back. Um,
the they they live at the end of a very long driveway. I think the the issue
with the with the property owner is they don't want to necessarily put their
trash can um, uh, out at the at the end of the drive because that would then be
in the in front of the neighbor's house. So, I guess the situation is they they
have, you know, a a driveway that basically goes right next to the the
neighbor's house. So, really, it's a it's it's a matter of of preference
there. Uh they can either work with the work with the neighbor and and put it
out there and leave it out there or um or they can uh bring it out uh uh weekly
or twice a week. >> So, the truck going down to the
neighbor's house, the that would be the first one on the right hand side going
in before you get to the dead end.
I'd have to go out there. I mean, I I I assume if it's on the road and it's uh
uh then yes, but I'll check with the staff on that. Um the issue with the
with the individual you were talking about, I uh I believe is that they have
a long driveway and don't want to necessarily bring their trash can out
every every week. But that's a that's a personal preference.
No, my preference was that while they paying for water and sew it and the lady
got to roll her trash can 100 yards to get it picked up. That was my
preference. >> Well, I'm I'm speaking to their
preference, but but basically that's a you know, we they don't have to if they
work with the neighbor and um ask them if they can, you know, just put the put
a corral out in front. >> I think they said that road was not
State >> property.
» Not state, but town road or something. >> Private.
» Yeah. >> That house where they live,
» right? >> Private.
» I was only talking about the first house in on the right going down there because
TJ had put rock down there for the truck.
» He fixed the road, >> right? But you're last,
» unless we uh we looked at the wrong one, but you were referring to they've got
like a very long driveway. >> Yeah. with the people that live at the
one at the end of it, >> right?
» It's supposed to have been where you couldn't turn the truck around at. And
I, you know, I said, "Well, hey, it is what it is down there at the end." But
I'm talking about the people on the right hand side going down to it. That's
the 100 yard trash can pull from there to the end of the street
» to the hard service. >> Right. And TJ went in there and worked
the road up. So my question was, was they picking the latest trash up or not?
Uh if it's put out where it uh where it needs to be, then yes. But we do not go
on private property to pick up trash.
» Is it >> is there a specific solution you'd uh
you'd like for it or >> I mean if the lady pay for it, she
needed to pick it up, right? >> If if it's put in the in the appropriate
place, then yes. >> So for all these years they had to roll
their trash out to the end of the street.
» If they want the trash picked up. Or they could have a corral out there.
Uh if they have to, you know, work with the with the neighbor if it's in front
of their house, they can put a corral out there and leave the uh leave the
cans there. >> Clarify something for me.
» I know. I'm confused, too. >> Gateway comes down hard road hangs a
right at the green house. >> Yeah.
» This is the road they keep straight >> and it's grab
» but it's a private road. That's not town.
Is that is that accurate from the hard pavement straight ahead?
» Is that a town >> road? Do we would we go or is that all
private property? >> So my understanding is that there's a
driveway that the individuals live on or live off of that and and
» comes off the hard pavement and goes down in between the sets of trees
» and Al Simpson's brother used to live on the right. Mhm.
» You go on back down in there and there's a white house or something all the way
at the end if I remember right or a couple of small back in there.
» So is the problem that they can't they're having to bring the trash to the
hard surface road. >> Well, I guess we need clarification on
you know whether or not if it's a private road from the end of the
blacktop whether they should be going down in
there or if it's okay to send it down in there. Then how far off that Do they
live these people live 100 yards off that road
» or from the hard pavement? >> Well, the where this begin the dead road
begins after the hardwood service. >> But here the clip to it. If the town
pull the road and put a rock in it >> if it was a private drive, why did they
do that? >> That's a good question.
» So, but I'm I'm still confused now. So, there's And Tiffany is holding it up, I
think, so I can take a better look at this.
talking about this stretch >> Gatewood's that's council
» go straight down Gatewood >> it's going to be that gravel road or
driveway or whatever it is >> okay so that so if if it's
» if it's a driveway So, there's a difference between a driveway and a
private road. >> Yeah. I didn't think it was a driveway.
» I've been down in this house. >> Yeah. I just don't know if it's a town.
» Yeah, that's >> if it's a town street that we should be
sending our trucks down anyway.
» But it's okay to send. >> Let me uh let me talk to Matt again.
» Well, it's obvious there They fix the road, then they're taking the truck down
there. So, it's a matter of if this is the road that goes back in there.
» Sure. Yeah. Houses are off. >> But I can see that it would be hard if
they truck went all the way down there. >> They'd be turning around on private
property on the right hand if you dragging a trash can to the hard
service. >> Okay.
» Well, that's probably why because they probably shouldn't be taking the truck
down there on a private lane anyway. >> But if they are, then I don't could be
picked up.
» Well, that's what I
» Okay. Well, we'll uh we'll we'll get back to you on that.
» I'm trying to find out. So, okay. Where am I?
» Oh, economic development committee, guys.
» Uh the county EDC meets This week, next week. Next week.
And that is Yeah, that's that's that.
» Okay. Planning Commission. >> Oh. Um, planning commission will meet
the first Wednesday or Thursday in May.
» They'll meet the first week in May. >> Yes. Somewhere. Yes. I'm not quite sure
which. Water committee. Councilman Davis. Uh you should have in your packet
where Hurt and Profit has started working on the $4 million project for
the delivery system and uh it breaks down pretty good what the um what the
timeline I'm sorry >> it's okay
» you guys should all have in your packet uh the information that hurt and prov uh
profit provided to Phil uh gives you a timeline gives you a breakdown of what
the steps are um you know it's not a quick project it's something that you
know we probably won't may be breaking ground by year end of this year. By the
time it goes through all of the different processes that are involved,
the planning, um, you'll see a 30% plan, you'll see a 60% plan, you'll see where
it's put out, uh, eventually to bid. So, it it's a it's a long drawn out process.
Um, I guess that's relative, you know, for something like this.
» So, they'll be working on it and hopefully we'll start seeing some stuff
moving next year, you know, hopefully sooner. But uh it is moving forward. So
that's good news for us. >> Yeah.
» And on the on the other side of that, the um the new water treatment plant uh
the engineers did send us the 60% uh plans. So that is uh moving forward.
» Okay. So
» we are moving forward to new business. 11A legislator invite. Uh each year uh
council invites uh our state legislator tours uh to uh to uh brief us. Uh and
then there's we we usually uh precede that with a uh with a dinner with the uh
the manager, the mayor and one member of council [snorts]
uh for more um in-depth conversation with the with the legislators. Um uh so
basically question is um May 11th good for everyone for that and if so is there
one member of council who wants to represent council at the dinner.
[snorts] >> This is probably a good time to say I
will not be in town for next month's meeting. Okay
» or this situation. So >> do you want us to move it to June?
» Uh it's not necessarily I was there last time. Somebody else can go and and have
the conversations this time. And >> I'll be
in town. >> I'll be in Mexico.
» You want to go? [snorts] >> It's going to be somewhere in Cruz.
» Just somewhere in town or you know one year we uh we did just in my office and
brought in the yogurts >> and the other one we ate at Bravos the
last time I think. >> So for the for dinner.
» Yeah.
» Oh, okay. Oh, wow. Yeah. I mean, it would just be the uh the two
legislators, the mayor, me, and one member of council, which would be you.
» I mean, if you want I'll offer it if you like it.
» Okay. We we can certainly look at that. >> That sounds wonderful.
» We'll let uh council member Estus be the um representative this year.
» What do you >> May 11.
» May 11. >> Now, where we still have to do the uh do
the invite and uh they may not be available May 11th um especially if they
don't have a budget right now. Um, but we'll we'll plan for that. Awesome.
Thank you. >> Okay.
All righty. Then we'll move on to 11B, which is which is head shot.
» Yep. So, um, we don't have professional head shot for the uh for the website for
for us or uh for whatever other uses for staff as well. Uh, thought about
bringing in there's a photographer that we've worked with in the past for uh um
photos of the town and such, a local photographer. Um, I was going to say,
um, uh, schedule for May 11th, but, if at least two of you are gone, we'll, uh,
we'll look at the, uh, uh, ahead of the June meeting. If, uh, you will all be
here for the June meeting. >> At least one of the two of us that'll be
gone doesn't care one way or the other. >> We'll just use a head shot from
somewhere else. >> So, anyone have any uh, any objection to
that? >> Perfect.
» Okay. 11 Council compensation. I want to say one thing in the packet. It kind of
refers to Blackstone and their request. That had nothing to do with why I asked
for it. Um I asked to revisit it because a few members of council are interested
and I felt it was important that we bring it up.
» Okay. So, um and as you know, Blackstone has been uh been um uh discussing
council compensation as most localities do uh at at this time each year. Um
[snorts] >> I'm sorry.
» Just been discussing it. It's been in the news.
» Right. Right. So it's a it's at the forefront, which you know could uh um
anyway uh so um mayor requested that this be put on our agenda. Just a little
bit of a of compensation history. Uh the mayor receives $3,800 stipen per year
paid every two weeks with staff payroll. After taxes, that comes about to $134
every two weeks. Um uh council effectively receives no pay. uh back
before Ann and I started um right before Ann and I started council was paid $50
per meeting um and then the majority outgoing council removed that pay um but
the most if not all were donating it back to the uh to the town. Um for the
last several years council had the option of a $50 per month cell phone
internet reimbursement. >> Uh very few ever took advantage of it
and no one had in the last two or three years. So it was move removed from this
fiscal year's budget. Um technically
per a vote several years ago, council is paid a dollar per year and that has
» has to do with the public service loan forgiveness, things like that. Um
nothing that applies I think to anyone here. Um,
» so I have a question. >> Just I have Well, that's
um so if anybody was interested on council but not everyone was interested,
could the people that are interested submit for it or I don't know how that
works. >> So
» I'm asking that question because I asked that question.
» Sure. So, uh, so, um, >> to help get
» there. I I think that there's a difference between compensation and
reimbursement for for cell phone. So, reimbursement for cell phone vote. Um,
council could vote in uh either the next fiscal year and we don't have to worry
about finding the money now or you can vote it in uh now and we'd uh we'd have
to just just find the uh find the budget for it.
» Um, the
um uh uh the um compensation any kind of pay you could only vote in for the next
council. Uh you cannot uh uh increase your own uh your own pay but you can
increase reimbursement for from nothing to something for for cell phones.
» Okay. So because you guys were like so pay is one
thing and reimbursement for your cell phone bill is another.
So, if you were going to do pay, it would have to be voted in for the next
council. >> Correct. The next council.
» But if you're going to want a reimbursement for your cell phone bill,
then you just submit. >> Well, you uh council would have to
approve that. That's a it's a minor item, but uh but it's an item that has
» it would have to be put in the budget, right?
» Correct. >> It's not in the budget right now.
» Right. And and if uh if council wants to wait until the uh the next fiscal year,
which begins in July, I can certainly put that in the in the budget. I think
comes out to 4,800 a year. We do that. >> I think 25 grand a year is a fair price
for my time. [laughter]
[laughter] >> I mean,
» so can I speak to this?
» Sure. So, we I was here for these previous
discussions and it's been brought up occasionally and I know that it's hard
and I know that everybody, you know, I make I make uh comments all the time
outside of here that, you know, if people have problems, complaints,
concerns that all they have to do is get off their couch on the first Monday or
second Monday of every month and come in here and join us because we have to do
that. I >> um I have stood on and I will go with
counselor's council's pleasure on this. I have stood on the fact that I don't
get paid to be here. So I don't have to
always I don't owe you a listening ear. That's what I'm here for and I'll try my
best. But we don't get paid to do this. We don't get paid for the 10 o'clock at
night phone calls. It just comes with the job. And I've always enjoyed being
able to say, you know what, my loyalty is not for sale, I do what I do, and
when I'm tired of doing it, I'll get off. And if anybody else doesn't like
it, they they have elections, you know, every other year.
» You're welcome to come grab a seat and put in your free time. Um because it's a
civic duty. Now, times have changed and it is pretty difficult to sit here and
watch the county guys get paid what they get paid and the Blackstone folks get
paid what they get paid and and you know while it is nice to be able to say,
"Hey, look, we're the only body in the county that doesn't take a dollar of
taxpayers money. Um, but I also know that I couldn't be a member of the board
of supervisors. You almost have to be retired or own your own business to to
be able to volunteer for that position." Mhm.
» Um and I don't know how Blackstone is the inner workings, you know, for their
group, but um you know, and again, I will whatever the group here decides is
fine. I'm not trying to guilt trip anybody or make a decision. You guys
know what your time's worth. Um that's just kind of where we've always been
with it. Of course, I also didn't realize that the mayor was getting a
check the whole time that we was going hungry.
» What do you mean you didn't realize? >> You know, I I had to I had to find that
out, you know, on a separate thing. But again, [laughter]
» you know, >> I appreciate it.
» It's not an easy It's not an easy job being here.
» Um, it does take time outside of, you know, when you're trying to work and it
takes time when you're at home and it takes coming up here, you know, for at
least once, if not two times a month. So, I'm not going to argue or fight with
anybody that thinks that it's time. Um, I just wanted to put that out there that
I've always enjoyed being able to say I do what I do for the town and for the
people of this town and I don't take a dollar for it. So, you guys, whatever
you all think. >> Okay. I'm um Well, I don't even know
what I'm asking for a motion for. >> Well, uh, [laughter] it does what what
is the pleasure of council? Um, uh, is is there a desire? Because the other
side of that is you can also donate back to town or not not accept it. Um or if
we go back to a uh a cell phone reimbursement. Um
» I never did that first. >> Right. So take the reimbursement or
don't take the reimbursement. I guess it's [clears throat] what is what is
council's spiel on all this? >> So
the reimbursement doesn't have to be every month. It can be some months or it
can be where it's every month or I'm not asking for myself. I'm just asking.
» So the um uh the last time it was implemented it was uh you could um uh uh
apply for monthly reimbursement for for your cell phone bill up to $50.
» So if we if we would approve that and the people that don't want to
participate just don't participate. Correct. And the people that do
» you'd have to come to the office and submit your cell phone bill.
» Okay. >> Besides phone,
» um we can call it internet. Um I think last time it was cell phone andor
internet >> as far as water or sewage or any of
that. Now >> that's not
» that's legal or whatever. No, that's not [laughter]
the option for that is [clears throat] um like Sean said, you get phone calls
at 10:00 >> um at night and you know you you use
your personal uh phone. So, I mean, if you wanted to do your if you have a
landline and and want to get reimbured for your landline, then that's a that's
another option. >> And I want to be clear, I'm not trying
to guilt trip you all. If you all want to do that, that's fine. I mean, that's
fine. I'm just telling you what the history has been
» because if we do if we do the reimbursement we can vote on it now but
if we do the other then it's not going to apply to this council it'll apply to
the next council whether you're on it or not but right
» I think if we're going to discuss pay because of what's in the recent news
let's discuss pay >> and answer that question first because
$50 a month for a cell phone bill is not pay you know what I'm saying
» and what's this up you You guys have obviously seen it, you know, in the in
the newspaper discussion. >> No, in all fairness, I've been asked
this since January off and on so long before Blackstone.
» Someone there's someone among us that [clears throat] feel like and it's okay.
I don't want to I'll take the check if everybody's going to take it, but
[laughter] we decided that that's not what we were
going to do. >> Yeah. So,
» so I guess >> y'all figured out. Can we
» not interested in pay, but if somebody wanted to take the reimbursement, that's
fine.
» Yeah. >> Other thoughts?
» I don't have an opinion. I don't I'm not asking for the pay every single month.
» So, how do we how do we first we do the compensation and then we do the
reimbursement? >> That is that is certainly one one way of
going about it. What well, what is everyone what what are everyone's
thoughts? Is there any appetite for any of this or um uh and and how much um I
guess is going to be so and that will help determine if it's reimbursement
based or if it's compensation. Well, I feel the same way you know if
it's reimbur because we are given an iPad that needs to have internet
connection to you know to access the documents. So
that's a requirement. So if it wants to if we want to have a reimbursement ever
how you want to call it for um internet use or cell phone I'm fine with that
either or it's not going to break or make me but um if it if all of us I'm
fine with it. I would say yes. I would agree to it.
» Okay. Anyone else? >> We should make at least as much as
» if you don't stop saying that. >> I'm with you.
One person wants to do it. >> Yeah.
» I'm not going to take it myself. Anybody one person wants to do it.
» Okay. >> So, it sounds like a reimbursement.
» Yeah. >> Um
» that's where I said we needed to
» I'm personally I would be concerned about compensation as far as my tax
liability. >> Yeah. I was talking about reimbursement
when I spoke. Yeah. compensation, you know, is and that doesn't
» just because you old and old social security.
» No, I didn't. >> I still got to work.
» It's because I'm old and I save my money.
» Okay. Um, I'm in for reimbursement >> and and I don't want to put anyone on
the spot. Um, but >> so what we can do now is just uh uh
preliminarily agree to a reimbursement. Um, uh, and then if anyone
wants to talk one-on-one with me about compensation and I can uh bring it um uh
uh >> that sounds like
» confidentially to uh to to council. So it's uh we protect individuals privacy.
» Okay. >> Um that sounds good.
» And so in terms of the reimbursement, are we thinking
» with the next next fiscal year or do we want to start that with the the end of
this fiscal year? >> Fiscal year.
» Fiscal year. Okay, perfect. I will I'll include that in the in the budget.
expensive internet. That's like $45$500 a month.
» Okay. >> Okay. [laughter]
We're going to put a cap on how much you get.
» Okay. So, so we have that all >> that's uh that's all done.
» Okay. So, we have that all settled. So, let's move
» I don't think there needs to if it's just added into the into the budget for
for next year. It'll just be just be part of that
» $50 or something like that, >> right? $50 for everyone. That's what it
was last time. Councilman Stiff, he said it's $50.
» Okay. >> Yeah. Robin, I mean, Councilwoman
» Sap is over four. They How long ago was that that it was 50
» a couple of years ago? >> Well, it was just just last year, but uh
again, no one no one's actually taking advantage of it.
» Nobody ever remembered to bring the bills in. So,
» that's really true. >> Yeah.
» Okay. Well, what do we Okay. Um, so we'll uh we'll I'll if
everyone's good with the 50, unless we want to do more, let me know. Okay.
We'll we'll include that in the um in the budget for for next year.
» Okay. Okay. Happy joyful day. Unfinished business 12A bound. Oh, it's happening.
I >> think you skipped 11 D
» D and E. >> Did I?
Well, it's on the next page.
» Okay. Um 11D, uh the NA Youth Rec Association Parks.
» I thought this would uh would would get Sean's Sean's attention here.
» Oh, I've spent several hours in conversation about this topic in the
last. So, basically for uh for everyone there and everyone online, um staff
received the uh received a message from the uh from the NY chair. Just uh just
uh throwing it out there that they might be um uh uh
no longer taking advantage of the lease for the uh for the ball fields. Um a
portion of the Veterans Memorial Park, as you know, is owned by the town of
Crew. A second portion is leased by the town from the railroad. And a third
portion with the ball fields is leased by the NY from the railroad. Uh since
the merger of the CB y and y into the NY, crew has uh
» seen significantly less use of the ball fields despite pre merger agreements for
equal use. Uh we've talked about this um a lot last year I believe. Um
» so can I >> Yes, go ahead. So to bring history into
perspective, they've been playing baseball on that ball field over there
for 74 years. They were playing baseball on that ball field and as early as 1951
before there was a Dixie youth baseball before there was those fields were
originally the recreational fields for the railroad hotel that sat right where
the railroad museum is now. Norfick and Western, they would bring the guys in,
they would break there, and they had baseball teams that traveled and played
for entertainment for the guys in all the different places. So that's, you
know, if you ever noticed, the seats on the boy side are actually bent rail. Um,
they all our our two generations ago, I think probably Pacan was probably one of
the last that passed away, they literally the railroad guys bent rail.
It's rail that's turned upside down. So, the flat part is what goes on the
ground. Huge amount of history there. Um,
long before I was I was over there for just over 20 years. Um, lots of friends
that put in their heart and soul and spent hundreds of hundreds of hundreds
if not thousands of hours working on that piece of dirt over there to keep it
going. It eventually got to the point where they were down to eight of us and
all the grass still had to be cut. All the paintings still had to be done. All
the concessions still had to be worked. All the ball fields still had to be
done. Somebody had to commission them. Somebody had to coach them. And somebody
had to umpire. And so we started discussions with NYRA several years ago
about and add to that our numbers were falling. So NYRA opened their season at
their open day today and they were making a lot of noise about the fact
that they had 195 kids playing ball in Blackstone this year. Our last year over
there, we had 210 playing just softball. That's without the baseball and the
T-ball and anything else. So, we they've probably at least keeping it alive for
now. Um, but they want their cake and eat it too.
When we wrote those bylaws, I wrote those bylaws, by the way. I did. Um, it
was months of sitting at a bargaining table with the members of by going
through every line of our bylaws and their bylaws and what was going to work
and what we could agree to. And one of the things that both sides agreed to was
a 50/50 split, half the practices, half the games [snorts]
in Blackstone and in Crew. So that we still had those Friday night lights and
Saturday night lights here in town bringing people into the town. Um, you
know, any of us that grew up here, those lights have been on on Friday night with
baseball going on for as long as anybody probably alive can remember.
» Um, and so, you know, it it it was for a couple of us. You also, if you're not
from here, you don't understand the Blackstone crew mentality, and that's a
big deal historically. Um, we we have thankfully moved by a lot of that. They
are doing they are putting on a a good program in Blackstone. Don't get me
wrong, my grandkids are playing. Been down there two nights a week, but it was
a promise made and that promise is not being stuck with. And so, and I get it.
If what they were told is they they had 18 positions on their board,
they should have strove to have nine and nine.
» But if people from this end of the county aren't involved,
then the people from Blackstone don't fill the spots. And when the people from
Blackstone fill the spots, where would you rather oversee a baseball game,
» three blocks from your house or 10 miles away in crew?
» Well, to uh to I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt, but to that point, what I
would uh what I would say is when you're elected either by, you know, of an
organization or accounts or whatever um to a leadership position, your
um uh uh responsibility isn't just for your needs anymore. It's for the
organization and the constituency as a whole. And when there is inequitable and
disproport in inequity and disproportionate uh uh impact to you
know a whole half of the county. Those are things that leaders need to uh
» hold on a second. I get my back. I'll keep talking without
um and and you are correct philosophically
» and and from a highlevel oversight mentality.
But when you can't find somebody to cut grass, when you can't find somebody to
drag ball fields, when you can't find people to sell a hot dog to a kid, um
you do what you if you love the program and you love what it does, you do what
you have to do to keep it alive. Now again, people in the west end of the
[clears throat] county were told you have to get involved. You have to be
part of this board. You have to be willing to put in the work. It's a
working board. You got to be over there doing it. And unfortunately, there
aren't as many from the west end of the county that have made their feelings
known, that have gotten involved in the board. And so, again, if I'm the
baseball commissioner and I have to be at every single ball game, I'm going to
have that ball game as close as I can at home most of the time. There's lots of
ancillary things that go along the availability of umpires, the the
availability of people to work the concession stand. There's all kinds of
things go along with it. I have been approached by multiple people inquiring
as to what it would take to separate the leagues again and bring baseball and
softball back to crew because they are missing out on some of the kids from the
far west end of the county that can't get back and forth to Blackstone for
practices and games. My answer to that is find bodies.
There's a way out right now. They're the best game in town. They're providing the
service for the kids that the kids deserve to have. So, you know, I'm not
willing to jump up and down and try to, you know, jerk the rug out from
underneath them. Marshion them do a good job. Um, but it is not the same here. My
problem with this proposal,
let me be clear. Norfick and Southern owns that 6.75 acres. They've always
owned it. They've never given it to anyone else. It is on a lease to the
what was the Krue Barkville Rec Association, then the Krueville Youth
Rec Association and every other iteration of it as boards changed. We
used to lease it for a dollar a year. Now I think it's up to about 350 or 500
a year. They're still paying that. Um they have to carry insurance on
everything that goes on over there both for the kids playing ball and every
person who steps on the ground. So the liability insurance is out there. Um
crew would have to um think about whether or not and I actually asked a
former town manager if he was willing to put it underneath the umbrella of the
town of crew and he quickly told me no. He wasn't interested. Um
so I think it's something that bears discussion.
I think that we still have a bigger picture issue. I do I've had a couple
people approach me and say if the town of crew were to take it, could I lease
it and from the town of crew or be involved with crew and do travel ball
tournaments over there, which would bring kids we don't know into town and
the guy who's talking to me knows exactly what he's doing and could make
it happen. He's running four age groups of a travel ball team. So, there's lots
of options. My one hang-up is the line in that that says they get
first dibs. I think if if the lease were to come
back to the town of crew like it was for a few years and town of crew was
managing it. I mean our guys are already cutting part of the grass. We're
maintaining the ditch lines. We're keeping things looking neat. Um
there there's some that ele that loss of element of control would be a problem
for me. I I would think that, you know, not that
Tiffany and him don't have enough to do, but a communication with the head of the
NYRA would be as simple as going, "Hey, are you guys having anything this
weekend up here?" Because if you're not, we're going to find somebody else who
will. Don't take it if we're not going to do anything with it. It's, you know,
it's that simple. But, um, you know, it it took a lot to put these wreck leagues
together. It's a lot of history between Blackstone and crew that had to be
overcome to to try to save it. It's a dying breed and um you know the kids are
having a good time in Blackstone and things are going the way that I think
that they they should go having worked in a league before. But it is uh
disappointing to see that field over there empty on Friday nights and
Saturday nights. So, so let me ask you uh this Sean um uh to
separate I guess divorce CBR from the NY again um takes you know takes some
doing. How much >> which which part when you say separation
you have two different things. One, you have a body of a local wreck association
that's comprised of people from both ends of the county. And two, you have
the sanctions that they play under, Dixie boys baseball and Dixie girls
softball. And those franchises govern where these kids play under that Dixie
umbrella. So the simple answer is if you don't care about Dixie, you simply say,
you know what, we're going to start baseball and softball back up here. Not
sanctioned, no allstars. Just come and have a good time. We can talk to Little
League. You can talk to Babe Ruth. You can talk to all these different
organizations. Dixie would be a trick because as of the merger, they own the
boundary lines and it's the entire county of Nawway. So, we would have to
have a movement within Dixie. And there are
very wellrespected members of the Dixie organization that would back a a
res-plit to bring it back out. But it still comes down to bodies and the town
of crew can own it. We can cut the grass for them. We can drag drag the bases for
them. We can do all of that stuff. But if you don't have mas and daddies that
are going to give of themselves to put it on for these kids, then leave it
alone and let them stay in Blackstone because at least they're getting to
play. >> So what about the what about Gohead?
» And it's a huge amount of work. You guys have no idea how much work. It's seven
days a week. >> So what about travel ball here?
» Um well I mean we've got teams that play travel ball. Would that be the same
amount of work? >> My granddaughter is having practice in
crew right now. Mhm. >> And when that practice with that coach
is over with, his travel ball team then comes in and they practice for another
hour and a half with the travel ball team.
» Um there are two other travel ball groups, they rent, they pay rent to NY
for the uh the ability to get on the field.
» There'd be no difference in that. And if it was being run through the town hall
with people that wanted to set a schedule, this is what we want to do.
Um, you know, again, my problem with it is,
and this is tainted, at the Blackstone fields, town of Blackstone employees cut
it. Town of Blackstone employees drag it. Town of Blackstone employees fix
everything that's broke. Town of Blackstone employees bring any tools and
anything that they doesn't do anything at those fields except run the games and
work the concession stand. So what they've told Phil previously was
if town and crew would take them over and do all of that in crew, she'd bring
games back to crew. Well, that's being held hostage and we're not going to do
that. Um my my first responsibility is here even if my history is with them. So
I think that that one piece of telling us that they get first dibs, it would
have to be controlled very tightly to make sure that if they said we need the
fields this weekend, they use the fields that weekend because there's other
people that would come to you and go, you know what, I'm going to bring in a
10 team roundroin tournament on Saturday and Sunday and I'm going to sell all the
food and I'm going to sell all the drinks. we're going to charge the teams
$400 a team to come in and play and you know this is how much we'll pay you in
rent to get the fields that exists and it's been done over there before. So I I
I don't Phil and I have talked about this what five years ago, four years ago
when it came up the first time, three years ago. I I I I have
there's a lot more that I could say that I won't say sitting in this room. I just
want us to be sure that if we decide to try to take advantage of that, there is
no condition on who gets to use the fields. It's our le and I don't even
know the Norfick and Western whether they'll give us back Norfick and
Southern whether they'll give us back the leases or not. They've been offered
a lot of money for that grass before. >> Well, and and they say uh they say in
the or the NY says in the in the email that they're thinking about getting rid
of um returning the fields to the railroad, which I guess means giving up
their lease. um they're going to pay the lease for one additional year and look
at options. So either they're going to give up the lease or they're not um and
if they give up the lease then there will be you know other
» so one of the things that I would recommend that you do while this is
being considered >> is reach back out. God, those Norfick
and Southern reps are probably long gone by now that we used to deal with. Um,
but there was um there were a couple of guys that we talked with and you could
reach back out and see what their pleasure is ahead of time saying that
we've been give them the email. We it's been reached out to us, but we want to
know what their pleasure is because they might very well just say, you know,
they'll never give land away, but you know, somebody offers a developer
something, who knows? So, I would I would start my process early and reach
out to Norphick, to the railroad. I probably keep using their name wrong. I
think Norfick and Southern now, right? Um,
I'd probably make contacts with their real estate department and say, "Hey,
you've got these leases. They're with NYRA. Traditionally, they've been with
CBRA. They've reached out to us about giving them up. We'd like to talk to you
about opportunity." >> So, a couple things. one, the railroad
has gotten much much more difficult to work with since I
since I moved to Georgia. >> Um, second, from what I recall, and this
has been several years and may remember, the last time someone asked the question
about purchase
of the property, they put it for sale. Um, which then resulted in in I guess we
renamed the the the park, the Veterans Memorial Park, things like that. Um,
» so do do we want to necessarily
ask the question if it gives us an answer that we don't want? Well, our
listening to Sean has the expertise here, but if
the current lease holders are thinking about they're going to pay another year,
I think the question to the railroad person would be, would they
lease it to us, not necessarily that we buy it? Is that what you're saying,
Sean? I think that the most important thing
that you can make known to Norfick and Southern is that you intend for the
fields to continue to be used with for their intended purpose. They are not
going to talk to you about buying it as long as there are kids putting on
uniforms and playing in those fields. That's why NYRA
making this overture and potentially eventually telling them we're not going
to run baseball up there anymore. Then you may find yourself back in a
situation where they're like, "Well, you know what? they just want to sell it,
but they're not going to take it out from underneath the kids.
» We we discussed that multiple times at length with reps from Norphick, you
know, the first time this all happened. And they were adamant that they did not
want Channel 12 on your side, >> sitting there with 263 kids in uniform
saying, "Please don't take our ball fields." Um,
we actually laughed about that that he said that would not be fun for them. But
yeah, I mean, I think you got to let it be known to Norfick and Southern that if
you were if we were interested in this that the intended use would remain youth
sports [snorts] fields. >> Other thoughts?
» I'm sorry. Do they even know it's >> they know they know that the leases are
not now being held by not
youth. So my guess is yeah, they probably do because they had to get the
leases rewritten. >> And like I mentioned, the the railroad
all their operations have moved to or their
» Georgia. So they I don't want to say don't care, but
» care less than >> we got their attention. We got their
attention when the town crew previously managed to get the leases without
telling CB and then we called Norick and made it known. they they pipe right on
up and send us a guy right on down here to talk to us. So,
» um I think that when it comes to the kids, they are responsible. They don't
want to take that away from them. >> So, as long as you're not playing, you
know, if you come talk to them about building a shopping center there, yeah,
they're going to tell you no, it's going to the highest building, but they're not
going to take those fields out from underneath kids whether they play one
time a year or every other day. >> Okay. So, any other uh any other
thoughts? >> I mean, I think exp exploring the
leasing option and bringing it under the town of crew doing a study on you know
this the financial impacts of it and what it could cost what bringing travel
ball would be is something we should look into.
» Okay. >> Yeah.
» Uh another thing that I thought I put the the bulleted in here but I must have
left it out. Um >> in theory um if you were to have a if
you wanted to create more equity um uh and and opportunity for everyone that's
something that the uh that the county could uh could take a lead in and
theoretically the county can establish a parks and reccks department that that
oversees and ensures equity. >> So, it's funny you should mention that
because I've spent probably 150 million hours having that discussion with
members of the board of supervisors and it was a great idea right up until
Blackstone spent a million dollars on the complex they have. We wanted to talk
about building a spot um was that Reagan store right there at Cherry Tree
Crossing. It would have been a perfect area, middle of the of the area, plenty
of acorage where if we had bought it, we could have built soccer fields and
baseball fields and and buildings for basketball and buildings for volleyball
and, you know, plenty of parking. The problem with it is is in the meantime,
while not drugged its feet, the town of Blackstone being the proactive town that
they are, they said, you know what, we're going to drop 400,000 to build
these fields. And then the next year they dropped another 100,000 in it. And
then they dropped another 100,000 in it. and they've got great patent cages. They
just finished a football field for their the the note Gator uh youth football
program that's not NYRA affiliated. It's just another program in this in the c in
the town and they take care of everything and it cost them I don't even
want to know what their maintenance >> you have to look at their budget and see
what they spend >> from the county as well. I mean look
where we went with the courthouse. >> Yeah, I would stay for competitions like
that. We've got to be able to start pushing forward for us
» so that the county will then pay attention to us
» and not continue. Well, I'm I'm saying that's why we need to fend for
ourselves. >> Yeah.
» I'm not saying so I'll >> and that can be done.
» Idea should be here as we progress. Phil, go ahead. I would look into some
of that. Bring it back to us. The overriding thing should be do we want to
do we want to run fields or do we not? Do we want to have somebody have that's
going to be in charge of scheduling or not. Do we want to deal with the
insurance liability or not? That's not cheap. Um, so there's lots of whatifs
that go with that. I would make that decision with absolutely zero
consideration given to Dixie girls softball, Dixie boys
baseball, which is now Diamond Boys Baseball. Regardless of whether you get
kids back from NY, you need to know that you got a use for those fields. and then
we can figure out how from there.
» Okay. Nope. Uh that's uh that's that's great. Um
» sorry I took a slow but there's a lot of history there.
» Then and the uh the other thing the other complicating factor is I
believe Norfolk Southern is trying [snorts] to merge or and there's
been hostile takeover attempts. So there's a lot of corporate things going
on too >> that I don't know how owning property
» impacts any of that. Okay.
» Real estate. >> Okay. I I will uh we'll we'll go from
there. >> Steven.
» Okay. So, can we Yep. >> Can move on. [clears throat]
» 11E road name. >> Okay. Um speaking [clears throat] of
railroad, um we received a request from a railroad employee.
They'd like a street address for um delivery purposes at one of their one of
their sites basically right behind the um road museum. And you could I think I
put in the uh the map on there. >> Um site is part of a larger parcel that
uh has and the larger parcels address is Robertson siding road.
» Uh but the tracks are between that part and Robertson siding road. So, a
delivery driver couldn't, you know, go down Robert Siding Road and access the
uh the spot. Um, it's primarily accessed from 460 uh um to the road by the uh by
the railroad museum. Um I believe the uh road is owned by the railroad.
» Absolutely, 100%. >> Okay. And as far as I know, that road is
unnamed. Virginia law grants localities the
ability to name streets, roads, and alleys, including new private roads that
need official uh names in the 911 address database. Being a road for 911
addressing uh is not the same thing as being a public street or statemaintained
road. Um so basically would just be for naming. Um so once the road is named,
staff will uh determine a numbering structure and send the information to
the county for entry into the 911 database. Um, so basically you need to
name a road. Um, I threw some uh some possible names out there.
[laughter] >> We ignored the last one,
» right? So any uh any thoughts?
» It would be >> Isn't it between the picnic pavilion and
the railroad museum? >> It's the one where you turn in for the
railroad museum. It's a It's on the map there.
Yeah, it's right. It's right.
» It's not the ball field side. >> It's a train museum side.
[snorts]
» You like what? >> This is simple. Roundhouse Loop.
» Rename the park Railroad Park. >> But is it a loop?
» It is a loop, isn't it? >> It is.
» It loops. You go in, go. >> I like that, too.
» Roundhouse. >> Roundhouse.
» Roundhouse Loop sounds good. The other ones sound weird to me.
» Drive. >> Yeah, that's not that. Just something
simple. That's all we're doing is name and Southern's permission.
» So, It's all up to the local. They can call it whatever they want internally,
but for 911 purposes, it's the locality that uh that
» names it. >> Simple,
» right? >> Okay. So,
» okay. So, can we What are we doing? >> I do, too.
» Can we get a second? >> Second.
» Well, we haven't gotten Well, you you said I vote.
» Well, I guess we just need to direct you to move forward on finding out what we
need to do and all that, right? >> No, that's a
» you have to do it by a motion. >> So, can I get a motion on the name?
» I move that we authorize our town manager to take whatever action
necessary to name that specific road [clears throat]
park.
» Can I get a second for that? >> A second.
» All in favor? I
» one day we'll get >> Did you put your statue over there?
» Okay. >> Okay. So, the motion carries. We're
moving on, guys. Okay. >> Unfinished business.
» Okay. the boundary line adjustment um last year. Um
» him >> just give him a second so I can explain.
» I am trying to stop. I am trying to explain something so he understand what
we're talking about. >> Well, let's hold up a minute and let
them settle. >> Wait so Mr.
» Well, then we need to vote again >> because I don't think he voted. Did you
vote? Or did you not understand and you want
to revote? >> I just wanted to see where it was.
» Do you need a pin? >> Huh? Okay. All right. So, we can move on
now. Or is everything okay? >> Uh,
» okay. >> Pointing out a different road.
» All right. So, we're moving on to 12A boundary line adjustment.
» Okay. Um, yep. Uh, as you know, we're uh we're looking at uh adjusting the uh the
boundary line um to include uh the indust uh the rest of the industrial
park that's not uh already included. Um which means some of the Luxone property.
Also trying to grab in the um take in the uh uh Dominion substation out there.
Um our cemetery which is not in the town of Crew.
» That's weird, isn't it? >> It is. you know, so when people, you
know, spend the >> their eternity in the in the crew
cemetery, they probably want to be in the in the town of Crew.
» Um just a sliver of the uh railroad
property that's not currently in town on on Robertson Siding Road. Um
the town shop um and you know, just just cleaning up things a bit. Um, we finally
got the um uh the survey back from uh from the
surveyor. Um, and I'm working on color coding that for, you know, for
advertisement and such. Um, like we had our our last one color coded by by owner
and such. Um, so next steps are confirm the So, last time I talked to the board
about it was several months ago. Uh, they seemed willing to proceed. So I
just have to confirm that um with them. Uh then each body schedules a public
hearing and advertises. Notices are sent to all impacted and adjacent property
owners. Public hearings are held. Both bodies agreed to the BLA and BLA is
submitted to the circuit court. Um so
» uh and well a lot of that's already already drafted from the from the last
time we did this. So uh so >> got some uh you know templates we can
use there. So, um, depending on how quickly I can hear back from the board,
um, I might put that on the agenda for our work session. Um, just so we can
keep moving forward.
» Okay. >> Call a work session just to talk about
that. >> No, it's a it's the budget work session
on the uh on >> the fourth Tuesday of this month.
» Mostly budget, but >> Okay. So, can we move on or?
» Yep. And unless there are any other questions.
» Okay. 12B architectural review board. >> Uh, does anyone have any suggestions for
the architectural review board? >> Do you not have anyone to be on it?
» Uh, I did talk to someone. Um, I need to just confirm. Uh, it's an individual who
does who lives in Blackstone but does um historic renovations.
uh and you know sounds like he he'd be willing to do it. I just want to confirm
with him. Um and then that that would be the one person who's not on the So if
you'll recall there are five members of the board, three of whom would be coming
from business or property ownership within the uh the historic district. So
if you can especially focus on those individuals um we can
point them at uh at and and then of course one member of the planning
commission which we'll talk to the planning commission about at the
planning commission meeting. >> Okay.
» Uh and speaking of planning commission I don't have it on here but also be
thinking about at least one member of planning commission one has asked to um
not serve at the end of the this current term.
» Yes. >> Okay. Perfect.
Okay, so let's move on toformational items.
» Um, I may have included this last time, but if not, or if I did, then you get to
see it twice. The um uh annual reports in there. Uh, the um proposal from Hearn
Profit uh is in there. And uh I I especially included that just so you can
uh you can see the timeline of uh of what we're looking at. And BDH was okay
with the uh with the timeline. I was a little nervous at first because it's
pushing it way back farther than I uh than I thought. Um
but uh but basically they'd be opening bids uh end of this year uh December
10th uh give or take. So um they're doing a field investigations uh the
design completion then uh uh putting everything out for bid. Uh so that means
um early next year uh is when construction will start.
Uh any thoughts, comments, questions on that?
Okay. Um you also had have in there the uh the
press release regarding uh Officer West who uh who left us for Sussex. So don't
go speeding through um
» No. >> No.
» No. He's um >> Yeah. No, he he he was a he's a great uh
great great employee. Um uh but he followed a girl I think. Yeah.
» Yeah. >> Is is what happened there.
» Um >> that's not a bad reason.
» So uh so um yep with that. Oh and uh just a few events. I believe the
supper this uh this month is uh spaghetti. So come out for for pasta on
the on the fourth Thursday. Um, and the food truck rodeo, the tas of crew.
[laughter] Still like that. >> No, it's not. I texted him after I got
like 10 people texting me saying it's >> taste the crew. It said t a s e.
» Yes. >> Um, but no, it has been changed.
» What is the the date of that? >> That's Friday night.
» That is this Friday night. So, come out for that on this Friday night. And I
will say the last one it was pouring down raining and they were all texting
me saying this is great. We've got such a great turnout. So I'm thinking if they
all came out in the rain they'll really come out in the sunshine.
» Absolutely. >> I saw the um the lobster truck that I
» Yeah, the lobster truck will be here Friday night
» which you know it's no different than than getting a lobster roll in Boston.
» Oh yeah, but they're good. the um >> and budget work session is April 28th
that Tuesday. So >> okay,
» what time is that? >> 6
» 6 28. Okay. So once again just reminding everyone we do have a five minute limit
on our comments. Is there anyone who wishes to speak from the audience?
Okay. >> If I gotcha. If there's no one else,
we're going to move on. Announce and announcements and points of personal
privilege. This is an opportunity for each member of council to provide
announcements about personal or community happenings.
Councilman >> Payne,
» Councilman Stith, >> what is the
date?
[laughter] and then council.
» So, as soon as USDA gets back to me, um we're, you know, we we have the the
funding uh allocated by Congress. I send in uh send in the paperwork. They just
have to uh have to get back to me on um basically there's, of course, it's the
Fed, so they have their processes. Uh they'll have to review the um uh uh
information from the engineers that I sent them, and they'll have to review
the budget and and all that. And then um I believe from what they told me there's
no um
additional procurement outside of our own procurement that that we need to go
through. So it's uh hopefully pretty quickly. Now, of course, we'd have to um
put it out for bid. Um we we do have a quote and a uh and and a um
plan from from at least one uh firm for underneath. Um, but hopefully very
quickly. You >> think it'll be done this year?
» I would hope so. I I I would do it tomorrow if I could.
[laughter] >> Councilman Davis, do you have anything?
» I don't have a single thing. >> Vice Mayor Stensson,
» on May 30th, there will be a Let's Get Dirty festival at the community garden.
» I'm glad you explained it. over at the library and there'll be um free hot dogs
and hamburgers. Um there'll hopefully be vendors with garden related or craft
kind of things. Um there'll be demonstrations on um
planting and >> and that's May 30th.
» May 30th from 10 to 2. >> Okay, everybody got that?
» They um I've got to be at the school. Robin can
probably tell me more about this than I even know, but I have to be at the
school in the morning cuz they're receiving some kind of major award honor
that they've never had something to do at the H yaw school, the mini
auditorium. >> Oh, it's the um
» All I know is I have to be there with the other mayors, but I don't know why.
» Um gosh, it's the Gear Virginia. So, Gear
Virginia is uh given to seventh graders. It's a grant. If you have children or
grandchildren that's currently in the 11th grade, they got it um when they
were in the seventh grade. And that grant will follow the student with
special programming opportunities to go on field trips and different things.
Now, I know that the one that they're currently going to wrap up next year
when those kids graduate, they also get a little money. It's not a whole lot of
money, but it's like a thousand or so that they'll get towards their college.
Um, as >> this one is seventh grade that they're
kicking off for the new seventh graders, >> but I don't think that's what she said.
She she was talking about >> happy hour cafe and she was talking
about an award the department of education will be there in the morning
and TV channels and all of that, but I didn't Okay. Well, we're not
» Virginia. That was in my email today was Gear of Virginia was happening. Um that
they're kicking that off because I said um
» No, it's [snorts]
» No, it's okay. I just I didn't get the whole explanation. I just was told to be
there. >> There's a lot there's so many things
going on that I don't know. >> Okay. Councilwoman Sataweski,
» nothing for me. Nothing happening at the library.
» Well, Ann already mentioned uh one thing.
» Okay. >> Yeah. And we do have an Earth Day event
coming up on the 22nd >> of May
» of April. Okay. All righty. >> Okay. Nothing. All right.
» I will say that the governor did sign our bill today. So that is now law.
» Happy day. >> Effective July 1st.
» So I would like to ask the town manager to take us into close session. Sure. Um,
we need a motion to go into close session for pursuant to Virginia Code
section 2.2-3711A3. Discussion or consideration of the
acquisition of real property for public purpose or for the disposition of
publicly held real property where discussion in an open meeting would
adversely affect the bargaining position or negotiating strategy of the public
body. And A8 um discussion of a uh potential uh economic development
» prospect. A A8 is legal guidance for advice with a consultation with legal
counsel. A5 is the one you're looking for development project that hasn't been
publicly announced. >> Okay. So A5 devel economic development
project that hasn't been publicly announced.
» Okay. >> Thank you, Eric.
» Can I have a motion? >> I move we go into close session.
» Is there a second? >> Second.
» All in favor? >> Opposed?
» We are in close session. and take about five minutes for a break.
» Is there a flyer for this week's um food truck radio?