HomeMy Public PortalAbout1968_03_27 186
MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL, MARCH 27, 1968.
A regular meeting of the Leesburg Town Council was held 'in the Council
Chambers, 12 W. Loudoun Street, Leesburg, Virginia; on March 27, 1968 at 7:30
P.M. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Rollins, with Councilman Orr ;
offering the prayer. Those present were Mayor Kenneth B. Rollins, Councilmen
C. Maloy Fishback, G. Dewey Hill, Frederick R. Howard, Walter F. Murray and
Robert A. Orr ; also Town Manager James W. Ritter, Jr. and Town Attorney George M.
Martin. Absent from the meeting was Councilman John W. Pumphrey.
The Minutes of the regular meeting of March 13, 1968 were approved as
written.
Mr. Woodrow Fisher , representing approximately six or seven residents
of Prospect Hills Subdivision who were present at the meeting addressed Coun-
cil with regard to the debris and trash on the old Howard property to the rear
of these property owners, which is not only an eye-sore, but also a hazard to the
lives of small children in the area. He said Mr. Ritter has tried unsuccessfully
several times to get the owner to have this situation cleaned up; and they are
now asking that Council take some action to have something done about this mat-
. ter. Mr. Ritter said he was in complete agreement with these residents and that
he had contacted Mr. Scully, both by letter and by personal telephone conversations,
on numerous occasions, all to no avail , other than to have the Howard house pushed
down with a bulldozer. He said he talked to Mr. Scully again today and he (Mr.
Scully) takes the position that these residents' should come to him with their
problem, not go through the Town. Mr. Ritter said he could see no point in them
hiring a lawyer to make him clean up his property. He also said that there is
an Ordinance on the books pertaining to weeds and foreign growth, however, the
debris and other materials located on this lot are another matter and it will
take a bulldozer and trucks to haul it out of there. It is Mr. Ritter 's belief
that this can be taken care of under the Ordinance if the property owner will not
perform this work, and he can be billed or a lien levied against the property.
He pointed out . that it would be a time-consuming job though and that, if the
Town has to do the work, someone will probably have to be hired to do this. Dis-
cussion followed on this matter as to just how it can be handled and several pic-
tures of the deplorable condition of this lot were exhibited by Mr. Fisher.
Town Manager James W. Ritter reported the following:
(1) Regarding Addition No. 2 on the Agenda, this matter was discussed
at the last Council meeting and Mr. Gheen. advised us to wait until about the
25th or 26th of this month because of daily changes in the market condition. He
said a schedule of approximate payments has been worked out to the contractors
on the sewer work with Johnson and Williams', and he and Mr. Gheen went over this
schedule today, and Mr. Gheen believes that we can invest this $250,000 as shown
in the proposed resolution. Also, the $500,000 Certificate of Deposit will come
due on April 28th and, at that time, we will probably be in a position to invest
part of that money.
(2) An appeal has been made to the Water Control Board for more money for
construction of the sewage treatment facilities and we would be eligible for
another $190,000. The Board will meet the first Tuesday in April in regular
session, and we understand that our request will be considered at that time.
It looks as though we have a chance to get some of this money now and some after
the last of May.
(3) The W. & 0. D. and Alberts easements are still outstanding, although
the Alberts easement is just about concluded. We are trying to get together
some needed information for the W. & 0. D. , this information needed in order
to secure a permanent easement. This information should be ready to go to them
tomorrow.
(4) A tabulation of the bids on the sewage treatment facilities was
brought up yesterday from Johnson and Williams on all three projects. They
also sent their recommendation as to who should get the low bid, together with
financial statements of the low bidders, and the contracts. He said we do not
have to take any adtion tonight, however, Federal Form B has to be sent in to
the Water Control Board, and we have to await their 'approval before awarding
contracts. We need three items for this form: (1) The low bid we want to ac-
cept; (2):a statement from the Town Attorney that all easements have been ac-
quired; (3) we have to show the method by which we will get the extra money
needed to complete the project.
187.
MINUTES OF MARCH 27, 1968.
Mayor Rollins asked if Council is agreed that this money be secured by
General Obligation Bond. It was the general consensus that this be the method
by which to secure this money.
Councilman Hill asked, regarding the $250,000 to be invested in Treasury
Bills, what would happen to the other $9,000. Mr. Ritter said we would get this
in cash and put it in the Bond Issue Account, that the investment has to be in
increments of $10,000.
Councilman Fishback commented that he would prefer to wait on the bids
until after the Utility Committee meeting.
Councilman Murray asked if there would be any advantage to members of
Council attending the Water Control Board meeting: He said he thought as much
emphasis as possible should be placed on the needifor this money. Mr. Ritter
said he would check into this.
On motion of Councilman Fishback, seconded by Councilman Hill, the following
resolution was unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, the State of Maryland has granted permission to the Town of
N Leesburg to establish a water supply from the .Potomac River,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of
U Leesburg, that the Mayor be authorized to sign Permit No. M-68-SAP-1 ,
and Permit No. M-68-0b-1, on behalf of the Town of Leesburg, which
will allow the Town of Leesburg to appropriate and use Surface Water,
and also to erect a Waterway Obstruction in the Potomac River.
Mr. Ritter "read to Council a letter from the Department of Water Resources of
the State of Maryland, which letter explained the reasons for the above resolu-
tion and Councilman Fishback pointed out that one condition of our being allowed
to take water from the Potomac is that we must get started within a year to take
steps toward a connection for this water. Councilman Hill suggested that a no-
tation be made as to the date these permits are returned in order that the time
might not slip by with nothing accomplished.
On motion of Councilman Murray , seconded -by Councilman Orr, the following
resolution was unanimously adopted after members who were present at the meet-
ing with Mr. Craigie commented that they believed this will be advantageous to
the Town:
WHEREAS, Mr. F. W. Craigie met with the Mayor and four (4) members
of the Town Council on March .19 to discuss methods of financing pro-
posed construction projects, and
WHEREAS, it was the opinion of those present that F. W. Craigie & Co.
be retained for this purpose,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of •the "Town of
Leesburg, that the firm of F. W. Craigie & Co. be retained to con-
duct a financial feasibility study of proposed improvements for the
Town of Leesburg.
On motion of Councilman Orr, seconded by Councilman Fishback, the following
resolution was placed on the floor for discussion:
WHEREAS, a study has been made to investigate the feasibility of using
the vacant lot at the corner of Cornwall Street and Stack Lane for a
Parking Lot, and
II/
WHEREAS, it has been determined that it would cost approximately $1,000
to grade and place crushed stone on said lot, which would provide space
for about 25 vehicles, and
WHEREAS, the owner of said lot has expressed his willingness to per-
mit the Town to use the lot, provided there is no objection by people
in the immediate area,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Lees-
burg, that a Public Hearing be held on to deter-
mine this fact.
188
MINUTES OF MARCH 27, 1968 MEETING.
After discussion, on motion of Councilman Fishback, seconded by Councilman Orr ,
this resolution was unanimously tabled. On motion of Councilman Fishback, sec-
onded by Councilman Hill , this matter was unanimously referred to the Planning
Commission for their consideration.
On motion of Councilman Orr, seconded by Councilman Howard, the following
resolution was unanimously adopted :
BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, that the
owners, or occupants, of the area in Prospect Hills Subdivision de- '
scribed as the unsubdivided area surrounded by Sections 2-A, 2-B and II/Section 5, whereon is located a barn and remains of buildings, be and
they are hereby notified that the following conditions must be abated
or obviated by beginning within 14 days from the receipt of a certi-
fied copy of this resolution, and concluded within 60 days thereof,
namely:
• (1) Cutting and removal of weeds.
(2) Removal of the trash, lumber , tin cans, glass, cinder block,
old bricks, barbed wire, old chicken wire, tin, discarded
building materials, portions of old automobiles, dead tree
stumps, charred remains of trash, slabs of concrete curbing
and sidewalk, and other offensive and unsanitary substances.
(3) Razing and removal of all structures, except the barn and the
quonset hut.
(4) Proper grading and filling to eliminate stagnant water.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that , if such conditions are not abated or
obviated within said period, the Town Manager be and he is hereby
authorized to abate or obviate these conditions, and that the cost
thereof shall be charged to the owners and included in the real es-
tate tax for the ensuing year, or collected as provided by Section
II/
15.1-867
of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended, and the Charter
for the Town of Leesburg.
On motion of Councilman Orr , seconded by Councilman Howard, the following
resolution was unanimously adopted :
BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, that
the following appropriations be made : -
(1) S 100.00 - Stirling Harrison, representing William S.
Alberts on Easement for Sewer.
1967 Bond Issue Account. -
•
(2) 1,210.87 - William B. Dew, for professional services Febru-
ary 10 through March 8, according to contract.
General Fund-Capital Outlay, Town Office Con-
struction. _
(3) 330.00 - Johnson and Williams, Revisions to plans and
specifications to include Asbestos-Cement Pipe.
1967 Bond Issue Account.
(4) 803.93 - Johnson and Williams - Printing invoices from
Blueprinters on Plans, Specifications, etc.
1967 Bond Issue Account.
Mr. Ritter commented that the plans on the Town Office Building should be
ready any day.
On motion of Councilman Murray, seconded by Councilman Howard, the following
resolution was placed on the floor for discussion:
WHEREAS, the Town of Leesburg has 3259,000 invested in Treasury Bills
with First & Merchants National Bank that will mature March 31, 1968,
and
489
MINUTES OF MARCH 27, 1968 MEETING.
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Council to reinvest this money for
such periods of time that will meet payments to contractors on. the
sewer construction program, .
•
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of
Leesburg, that $120,000• be invested for 60 days and $130,000. be in-
vested for 90 days in Treasury Bills at the current rate of interest.
On motion of Councilman Hill, seconded by Councilman Orr, Council voted unani-
mously to amend this resolution to read '3140,000 be invested for 90 days" in
IIIlieu of"$130,000. " The resolution, as amended, was then unanimously adopted.
On motion of Councilman Orr, seconded by Councilman Hill, the following
resolution was unanimously adopted :
BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, that
$1,000.00 of the 1967 Bond Issue Account be invested for 90 days
in Treasury Bills with the First and Merchants National Bank of • ,
Leesburg, Virginia.
,v Councilman Fishback called attention to the fact that the Royal Street
CV water tank is still leaking and some repair work should be done to this tank.
N Mr. Ritter said he would contact Mr. Beaver and see if he will repair it.
O Councilman Fishback asked how Council feels about starting work on the Po-
tomac River water supply and when the engineers should start studying this proj-
ect. Councilman Murray said he hoped this would be included in the financial
feasibility study. Councilman Fishback said it would cost approximately $25,000
for Johnson and Williams to draw up plans, etc. Councilman Howard commented
that he believed the Town should try to put in some recreational facilities be-
low the water intake, that this would be a good location for such facilities.
Mr. Ritter said that Mr. Craigie had not yet contacted Johnson and Williams
relative to information from them on the various projects to be considered in
this feasibility study and he would contact Mr. Craigie regarding this in order
that we might get a report on this study as soon as possible.
Mr. Ritter also said that a letter from Westinghouse gives no definite
"Yes" or "No" as to whether or not they will build a new plant, but their im-
• mediate need is for water since they are presently depending on wells for their
water supply. It apparently is their hope to build a new plant by 1970.
Town Attorney Martin stated that he believed a traffic hazard exists at the
intersection of Route 7 and Fort Evans Road and that the speed limit should at
least be lowered in this area. He also suggested that a study be made as to
whether a traffic light should be installed at this location. He also mentioned
the situation which exists in front of Leesburg Plaza Shopping Center. .This
matter was discussed but no action taken.
There being no further business, the meeting ..wassa/adjourned at 8:35 P.M.
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Mayor
Clerk of t Council
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