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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1968_01_24 165 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL, JANUARY 24, 1968. A regular meeting of the Leesburg Town Council was held in the Council Chambers, 12 W. Loudoun Street, Leesburg, Virginia on January 24, 1968 at 7:30 P.M. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rollins, with Councilman Murray leading the group in prayer. Those present were : Mayor Kenneth B. Rollins, Councilmen C. Maloy Fishback, G. Dewey Hill , Frederick R. Howard, Walter F. Murray, Robert A. Orr and John W. Pumphrey; also Town Manager James W. Ritter , Jr. and Town Attorney George M. Martin. The Minutes of the regular meeting of January 10, 1968 were approved as written. Mrs. Ted Moody read to Council a letter addressed to Mayor Rollins from Lt. Col. Matthew C. MacLaughlin, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Loudoun County. This letter , in essence, stated the purpose of the Tourism Committee and its progress to date, and asked that a member of the Leesburg Town Council be appointed to represent the Town in this interest. Mrs. Moody added that there had been 2500 visitors to the "log cabin" on Loudoun Street from June 1 until the end of December of last year , including visitors from foreign countries and every State in the Union. C4 Mrs. Lester Carr addressed Council , supplementing what Mrs. Moody had said about the general purposes of the Tourism Committee. She stated that the Com- mittee is working on a brochure which they hope will attract tourists to Loud- oun County, this brochure to include 24 pictures of various points of interest V in the County, and to be used as the basis for a driving tour of the County. She exhibited to Council sketches of these pictures, along with sketches of how the Committee would eventually like to develop the present "log cabin" and the property adjacent thereto , all of this property belonging to the Town. She also said it is the hope of the Committee to talk to all Town Councils in the County and that they will cooperate in trying to encourage tourists to stop and spend some of their money in the County. However , her main purpose in appearing before this body was to ask the Council to withhold any action to destroy the "log cabin" or the building on the corner and let the Committee come back periodi- cally and give a progress report on their activities to. restore these properties. 111 She said they would hope perhaps to eventually turn the log cabin into a silver- smith shop and perhaps use the building on the corner as a craft shop. Mrs. Carr also presented to Council figures which the Committee had compiled as to how much they believe could be realized from such a venture and its advantages to the Town and the County , compared to what it would cost the Town to put this area into parking area and the funds derived therefrom, pointing out that it would take approximately 75 years to amortize the Town 's investment in these properties. In addition to asking the Town to withhold action to destroy these properties, the Committee asked that the Town consider contributing $3,000 to this program and that a Councilman be appointed to the Tourism Committee. Mrs. Carr also pointed out that it is hoped that funds will be raised through public subscription and that she is Chairman of this committee and Mayor Rollins is one of the Co-Chairmen. Mr. Frank Raflo also addressed Council in this regard, stating that this had been started last summer as an experiment and that it had certainly pro- gressed much further than the Committee for Leesburg had hoped. He said the Committee for Leesburg gives its fullest endorsement to the proposed plans of the Tourism Committee. Mr. Paul McDonald, member of the Planning Commission, also addressed Council , saying that the Commission had met with this Committee and that they are very pleased with, this type of planning. He said the Commission wants to be a part of their plans and hopes and aspirations and is willing to work hand in hand with the Committee. He also said that the Commission is pleased with the fact that j the Committee plans to go to public subscription because they feel that the time has come for the people in Leesburg to support a movement of this nature, to create pride in their community , and that he hopes the Town will also get behind it and help bring it to complete fruition. Council members discussed this matter , especially the pros and cons of restoring the building on the corner of Loudoun and Wirt Streets. Also, it seemed to be the general consensus of the Council that it would be best to let the Committee come back with some plan and then consideration might be given'.to an appropriation, however , Councilman Murray suggested that public subscription be tried first. Councilman Fishback also pointed out that, if we give this property, we have already contributed a good slice. On motion of Councilman Orr , seconded by Councilman Howard , the following motion was unanimously adopted by roll call vote : 166 MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 1968 MEETING. That Council allow the Tourism Committee to use that parcel of land bounded on the west by Wirt Street and on the south by Loudoun Street , extending east along Loudoun from Wirt Street to the east end of the "old log cabin, " and going north to a point later to be determined, • at approximately the back of said dwellings, for the year of 1968 , with • an option to renew the above. This shall be given to the Committee for • the rent of $1.00 per year. Col. 0. B. Knight, surveyor , addressed Council , explaining that Mr. Ritter had asked him to give a price on doing some small jobs in Town and that he had brought to Mr. Ritter 's attention the fact that a coordinate system needed to be worked out for the Town, such as the location of streets, water and sewer lines, etc. He explained that a ma", showing these points would be advantageous to the Town planners and the Council and this map would bring up-to-date the present streets within the Town, from which other development could be planned, the last map showing such things being drawn in about 1859. He said this could not be done cheaply, easily or quickly. He introduced Mr. Tom Holland, his as- sociate, who presented a proposed map to the Council and explained how the "pink points" would be arrived at and what they would mean, concluding with the fact that these "pink points, " to be established by electronic equipment , would fur- nish a foundation from which the planners and the Council could work in any di- rection within the Town. An estimated cost to place these "pink points" only would be $1 ,500.00 and Col. Knight explained that this was not a firm figure, merely an estimate. Mr. Ritter explained how this originated, that there are streets in Waverly Heights for which we are not being paid maintenance by the State because of hedges, etc . which encroach on the right-of-way and we do not know who is en- croaching_how much. We have to get these items moved back so that we can be paid maintenance for these streets. Upon questioning•.from Councilman Hill as to whether there are any other situations like this, Mr. Ritter said there are some cases on Wirt Street where there are porches that are encroaching, but we are not in a position to tell these people that they have, to tear off their porches. He said there is less than a mile of streets on which these conditions • exist. He asked Col. Knight what he would do if he asked' him to put in street lines in Waverly Heights. Col. Knight said it would have to be done arbitrarily since there isn 't information on record to establish these lines. Councilman Fishback asked, if this system is set up and the centerline does not agree with the property lines that have been set earlier , what effect would this have on the property owners and between the property owners and the Town? Col. Knight said that , in the City of Alexandria, it was necessary to take this to Court in some cases to establish a common property line and it took legislation from Richmond to give the Town authority to do this. Mr. Ritter commented that it is very difficult to plot anything on a map, that what we have is not related to each other or tied in at all. Councilman Murray said he thinks it appropriate to ask the Planning Com- mission to give this consideration and get a recommendation from the Commission and the Utility Committee. Mayor Rollins said he would ask the Committee to look into this. Mayor Rollins reported that , at the meeting in Charlottesville last week regarding sewage treatment facilities, the matter was discussed pretty thoroughly and the indication was that the Federal Government would make a decision within a week or 10 days. The Mayor also announced that there was to be a joint meeting of the Plan- ning Commission and the Council on Thursday night, January 25th. Apparently, there were conflicts on this date , so this meeting was set for Tuesday, January 30th at 7 :30 P.M. Mayor Rollins also reported that he had a copy of a letter from the Maryland Water Control Board, stating that a decision on the Town of Leesburg taking water from the Potomac should not be long delayed. Town Manager Ritter reported that Mr. John Alderman had written a letter re- garding his stand on the question of the sewage treatment facilities and he read this letter to Council. Also , Mr. John Ours had been in the office and also re- ported that he was not a part of the Taxpayer 's Committee opposing,;the Council 's decision to build its own plant. In this connection, Mayor Rollins reported that he had a letter from Mr . J. Terry Hirst , congratulating Council on its de- cision, and also a letter from the Brandon Civic Association, which said they firmly stand behind the Council 's decision on building its own treatment plant. 167. MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 1968 MEETING. Mr. Ritter reported that , regarding the urban project between Church Street and Morven Park Road , somebody will be here shortly from Mr. Bolton 's office to go over this matter. Mr. Dew said he should have preliminary plans on the new Town Office Build- ing ready by the end of next week. The Teen Center on Royal Street is closed indefinitely because the cash box was stolen the other day. Also, problems have been reported with regard to beer cans and parking in this area. Mr. Ritter explained that , with regard to the appropriation to Johnson and Williams for review of the Burns & McDonnell Report, they charged $15.00 per hour for 258 hours, plus mileage. He also reported that they had sent a blank invoice for the water study, no charge. The bill from Martin and Riemenschneider is for title examination on the Leesburg Motors Property. On the snow removal appropriation, this money is needed to purchase chemicals, you cannot anticipate in the Budget how much will be needed for this type of thing. Mayor Rollins asked Councilman Fishback, as Chairman of the Utility Com- mittee, to have his Committee consider where and how to begin to correct the in- C\I filtration into the sewer lines , this to be done between now and the time for CSS the next Budget, in order that this work might be started. He added that it appeared that the decision of the Federal Agency might depend on this infiltra- o tion. Councilman Hill reported that the Utility Committee had met with the Hos- pital Board of Trustees last night , however , not much was accomplished. Only one Supervisor was present and they were unable to get any kind of commitment from him. They thought there should be something more definite on the cost to build the road and the drainage that would be needed, therefore , a study will have to be.made. However , Mr. Hill said the Hospital will have to. make some study on its own. The one Supervisor present seemed to think this survey should be done by the Town or the Hospital, or a combination of the two. Apparently the new ' Hospital will not be started for a year or two , but the road could be used now. Councilman Fishback said that the one Supervisor present thought we should find out whether we can get a right-of-way across the property. He asked Mayor Rol- lins if he would look into this and he said he would. Mr. Forbes says there is a road across there in the Master Plan. Mr. Ritter said he and Mr. Bozel had worked up some figures on this project and that he had talked to Lee Phillips about it. He explained that there would be about 100 acres that would drain into Route 7 at that point and that a cul- vert or pipe arch would have to be built to take care of this much drainage. In discussing the cost of the drainage study from Route 7 to the Town Branch with Mr. Phillips, he (Mr. Phillips) said he thought this study could be done for around $2,000.00, however, he would prefer to do it on a time basis. Mr. Ritter explained that this is a problem which the Town is eventually going to have to solveand a study will have to be made regardless, and he believed it worthwhile to have this study made now. Councilman Hill said he thought the availability of the easements would be the first step. Mr. Bozel estimated that the cost of the street alone would .be about $25,000.00. Mayor Rollins asked the Utility Committee to determine whether this survey should be made and said that. this problem will be held in abeyance until he can investigate the easement situation. Councilman Howard said that he understood from Mr. Forbes that the Town should apply to the Board of Architectural Review for a Certificate of Appropriate- ness for the new Town Office Building. Also, he asked if the proposal to West- inghouse could be made on an "if" basis while waiting for a decision from the ' Federal Agency on the sewage treatment facilities. Mr. Ritter said he would do this. Councilman Fishback said he understands any information we wish is avail- able from the Sanitation Authority and asked that rates in Sterling Park and hook-on charges be obtained from the Authority. Councilman Howard also asked if the Street Committee had investigated plac- ing the parking meters removed from Wirt Street on E. Loudoun Street. Councilman Hill said that a proposition had been presented whereby meters would have a 2= hour limit in the business areas, however , the problem arose as to how this could be checked. Mr. Ritter said the Town Code would have to be revised in order to do this and asked that the Town Attorney look into this before it is brought up again. 168 MINUTES OF JANUARY 24, 1968 MEETING . Councilman Murray asked what had happened to the Frederick Cablevision franchise. It was the general consensus of the Council that Mr. Ritter advise this Company that their franchise is void. Town Attorney Martin asked if the Town 's public liability insurance would cover any activities conducted by the Tourism Committee insofar as tourists and employees would be concerned. Mr. Ritter .was asked to check into this. Councilman Fishback reported that he had talked to Stirling Harrison about the Alberts ' easement and that he said Mr. Alberts has it and has no objection to it. Mayor Rollins said he understood that the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad abandonment had been approved today by the ICC and that he had noticed that it might be possible for the Town to get some money for taking up the tracks. He said he thought this should be investigated. On motion of Councilman Fishback, seconded by Councilman Hill , and after explanation by Mr. Forbes of the map prepared by him, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, that the Parking Lot arrangement and location of Town Hall , as shown on map prepared by Robert Forbes and approved by the Street Committee on January 15, 1968, be adopted. Mr. Forbes said there would be 106 parking spaces and 20 ' alleys. Mayor Rollins said that the Leesburg Motors building should be prepared to move into :when the time comes. •Discussion followed on the method of advertising for bids on the new Town Office Building. On motion of Councilman Howard , seconded by Councilman Murray, and after explanation by Mr. Ritter that the payment to the Fire Department is based on the population as of December 31st of the previous year , and the population in- crease was not anticipated in the Budget , the following resolution was unani- mously adopted : BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, that the following appropriations be made : (a) $3,878.70 - Johnson and Williams - for reviewing Burns and McDonnell 's Report - 1967 Bond Issue Account. (b) 1 ,200.00 - Supplemental appropriation for Snow Removal. (c) 450.00 - Title Examination - Martin & Riemenschneider. (d) 225.00 - Supplemental Appropriation - Fire Dept. .Operating Payment. Councilman Hill said that the Rescue Squad is thinking about asking the County for funds (they are paid no mileage at all by the County) , and he was wondering what position the Town might be in for- this type of thing. Councilman Fishback commented that he believed Johnson and Williams could have given us a more fair comparison on another basis by setting up our capital assets over a 20-year period , that this would have given us a better argument on building our own sewage treatment plant. Mayor Rollins asked Mr . Ritter how the situation is at the Airport. Mr. Ritter says there have been no complaints since the deadline of February 14th was set , but that they have not been doing anything much out there because of the bad weather. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 9 :45 P.M. • o,• r' Al5; A63/L: • Mayor Clerk of he Council •