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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1969_09_10 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL, SEPTEMBER 10, 1969. A regular meeting of the Leesburg Town Council was held in the Council Chambers , 10 W. Loudoun Street, Leesburg , Virginia, on Sep- tember 10, 1969 at 7 :30 P.M. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor, with a prayer by 'Councilman Hill . Those present were: Mayor Kenneth B. Rollins , Councilmen G. Dewey Hill, Frederick R. Howard, Walter F. Murray , Robert A. Orr, John W. Pumphrey and John A. Wallace, Jr. ; also Town Manager James W. Ritter, Jr. and Town Attorney George M. Martin. The Minutes of the regular meeting of August 27 , 1969 were approved as written. Town Manager Ritter reported. the following : (1) There was a break in the 8-inch water line today, which caused • a lot of worry for the time, between Edwards Ferry Road and Route 7 about 200 feet south of Edwards Ferry Road. This was a complete break, • which is easier to repair. This type of break is usually caused by the pipe laying on a rock or a piece of concrete , but we 'found nothing under it. The men never were able to shut the water off completely in order to work on it, which proves that some of the valves are not holding . They were able to get it fixed under pressure , though it was quite a job. He did not believe this leak had been going on for any length of time, it probably happened during the night . There was no sign of any- thing at the time of the water shortage earlier in the summer, when this line was walked. (2) The water situation, in general, is very good since the Myers Well has been put into the system. The part for the permanent pump has not yet arrived from Sydnor Hydrodynamics , but the Well is pumping about 150 gallons per minute . A man was here today from the Health Depart- ment and we ran some tests on the water. We found this is a very soft water. Eight out of ten samples of raw water sent for bacteriological tests passed. A chemical analysis will be made shortly by Froehling and Robertson. (3) Johnson and Williams have made a study of the two sites that could be possibilities on the Potomac River Project , one on the Clark property and one on the Carr property . They do not recommend either of these sites because both would have to go across the island to get on the north side . They feel that the cost differential to do this would be $100 ,000 more. He said he has written Mr. Williams , stating that the difference in the amount of line to be laid, which would be considerably less , would be about $87 ,000, but no reply has been received on this yet. Johnson and Williams are to do nothing on this project until they hear from us . (4) We still have heard nothing from the Highway Department on the study of the extra lane on Route '7 east at Leesburg Plaza . ' He has written for standards and specifications on placing flashers on the two "Dangerous Intersection ' signs on Route 7 and Loudoun Street west of Ayr Street . (5) The Street Committee met with Lee Phillips last Wednesday on the storm drainage situation downtown and they went over it in detail. He will give us an approximate cost to make a study . In the meantime , ' Town forces are making some studies , which will assist him, such as lo- s cating storm sewers , size of catch basins , etc . This will all 'be neces- . sary in the new design for the storm sewer. So far, they have traced this line out to a point on Church Street where it goes down by Truck Suppliers, then it cuts across and heads towards Saffer 's Mill . (6) The Hospital Watershed study has been received from Lee Phillips and is being studied by the Street Committee . (7) Recently the Highway Department made its annual inspection on the streets and congratulated us on the fine job we are doing, especially in the area of snow removal. They called our attention to a bridge on Evergreen Mill Road which needs extensive repairs . We are working up a cost estimate on this . It must be done before July 1970. 79 MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 10, 1969 MEETING. (8) We will open bids on the Route 654 sewer crossing on Sep- tember 15th. Advertisements will go out on the By-Pass crossing at Route 7 in October and work should start in November or December. We should have had Crickenberger ' s sewer plan for Section II of Country Club Subdivision, but it has not come yet . This is holding up the Route 15 sewer crossing . Dewberry , Nealon & Davis -are making a study on the crossing at the By-Pass and Evergreen Mill Road. (9) The Auditors should have their report by next meeting . Councilman .Wallace asked about the traffic counters set up by the Highway Department . Mr. Ritter explained that this is done in the spring arid fall of each year and assists them in determining the number of cars that pass certain points over a given period of time . They will give us a report on this . Councilman Howard asked about the sewer line to Mr. Curry ' s prop- , erty. Mr. Ritter said he is waiting for Mr. Bozel to return to discuss this further, but believes we can catch the first floor of any build- ing with the line we are discussing. CD Councilman Pumphrey asked if Mr. Moody and his crew were able to figure out the storm drains at the intersection of Routes 7 and 15 . C: Mr. Moody explained their findings and recommended that all of the catch basins be redesigned and rebuilt , they are, all too small . Q Mayor Rollins read a letter praising Officer Lloyd of the Police Force for his courtesy , etc . at the time of an accident in Leesburg. He also referred to a letter from the Northern Virginia Regional Plan- ning Commission, in which they ask that Leesburg take action regarding the Charter by October 1st . Fairfax County has approved this Charter. He referred this matter to the Laws and Administration Committee for report at the next session of Council . He also called attention to a letter from TransAmerican Airports re glider operations at the Airport. . Mr. Huntington Harris , County Supervisor for Leesburg Magisterial District, appeared before Council and presented four basic alternatives with regard to the redistricting of the County . He explained the prob- lems , as he sees them, and the various alternatives and asked that Council advise him of its wishes in this matter. The various alterna- tives were discussed at length and it was the general consensus of Coun- cil that a Public Hearing be set for Leesburg Magisterial District . A Public Hearing for the entire County will be held in mid-October. Mayor Rollins asked Mr. Harris if the County has reached any de- cision regarding joining the proposed Planning District No . 8. Mr. Harris said the feelings of the Board are somewhat mixed, but this will be voted on at the next Board meeting . It would seem foolish not to be a part of this District if we are to know what is going on at all. Also, the Council of Governments is an advisory body, so the relationship between the two is rather vague . Mr. Ritter said that he did not believe we would be eligible for any Federal money unless we are a member' of this Planning District and he believes the Council of Governments will be -phased out with the establishment of the Eighth Planning District. Mayor Rollins appointed Councilmen Hill, Wallace and Howard as a Com- mittee from this Council to meet with a committee from the Board of Supervisors and asked Mr. Ritter to inform the Board that this Com- mittee would like to meet with them. • Mayor Rollins also asked Mr. Harris if the Board has made any fur- ther plans on an Office Building . Mr. Harris said he is told that this will be unveiled at their next meeting . Councilman Wallace asked Mr. Harris what the County ' s thinking is on the water and sewer program. Mr. Harris said that Dewberry, Nealon and Davis are studying this for them and should have some recommendations in the next few weeks . He said there is some indication that the "take" from-the Potomac River should be consolidated with that of the Town. 8( ) I MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 10, 1969 MEETING. On motion of Councilman Hill, seconded by Councilman Murray, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg , that the following appropriations be made from the 1969 Bond Issue Fund : • $37 ,897 . 97 - Limbach Co . , for Est . #1 (Final) on Project S-IV . 97 , 143 .66 - English Construction Co. for Est . #11 on Project S-I . 28,792 .44 - English Construction Co. for Est . #10 on Project S-I . 22 .35 -Johnson and Williams - Printing at A & E Blueprinters during month of July . • 2 , 276 .62 - Johnson and Williams - General Engineering and Coordination on Contracts S-I, S-II and S-III . Mayor Rollins asked when the completion date is on Contract S-I . Mr. Moody said it is October 31st , and gave his progress report at this time. He said that they are still having labor and weather problems , but they have completed a lot of piping and other work inside the Con- • trol Building. He said the labor situation is bad all over the country , but the contractor knew this when he took the contract . He doesn ' t feel we should go overboard in extending this contract , but feels we - should make the contractor do much more than he is doing now. He thinks we should write him another letter, indicating that we will look mighty hard before we would extend the contract beyond October 31st . He said it definitely could not be finished by that date, and would hope by Christmas, and this would depend on the weather and the fact that he definitely would have to have some help on the labor situation. We should also get Johnson and Williams to write him. He said it is very difficult to get the penalty clause on a contract to stand up in Court . Mayor Rollins asked the Utility Committee to consider notifying the contractor that we will not extend the contract , or whatever they think necessary. He asked Mr. Moody to meet with the committee . • On motion of Councilman Orr, seconded by Councilman Wallace, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : • BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, that the following supplemental appropriation be made to com- plete the Resurfacing Program on Rt . 15 South : $193 . 50 - Tri-County Asphalt Co . - General Fund-Capital Outlay. On motion of Councilman Hill, seconded by Councilman Pumphrey, and after discussion, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg , that Ayr Street between Loudoun and Market Streets be made one-way northbound. Councilman Orr asked that parking be taken off of Loudoun Street , both to the east and west of -Liberty Street, in order to give sight distance coming out of this street onto Loudoun Street . Mr. Ritter said this can be done . A list of delinquent real estate taxes for 1968 was discussed by Council . Mr. Ritter said these taxes have been recorded as liens against the property in the Clerk 's Office . Council questioned as to whether - these properties could be sold for taxes . Mr. Martin said the Virginia Code provides for the sale of such property, but it must be done by order of the Court . Mayor Rollins asked the Finance Committee to dis- cuss this and determine how they want these delinquent taxes handled. S1 MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 10 , 1969 MEETING. On motion of Mayor Rollins , seconded by Councilman Howard, and there being no objection to considering this tonight, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: • (BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, that the owners of the property at the southeast corner of Loudoun and Wirt Streets be notified that the residence lo- cated thereon is dangerous , offensive , unhealthy and is a general nuisance , by reason of dilapidation and defect of structure, and has become dangerous to life and property, and ' BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that , because of such condition, the property owners of said property be notified that the con- tinuance of the above building is in violation of Sec . 12-8 of the Town Code . Dr. DeVier spoke for both he and Dr. Birkett , both owners of this prop- erty, stating that they are in favor of this action . This would allow them to evict the tenants , clean up the property and start construction of a decent building, and this is the only way the Bank will let them dis- pose of the property. He asked that a copy of this resolution be sent to First & Merchants National Bank. O Dr. DeVier also said that he does not own the property at 29 South b Wirt Street, that Mr . Sumney and Mr. Riemenschneider own this property. 0 On motion of Councilman Pumphrey, seconded by Councilman Hill, the following appointment was unanimously made : Town Manager : James W. Ritter, Jr. Term of Office : Indefinite Salary : $13 ,000 per year. On motion of Councilman Howard, seconded by Councilman Orr, the following appointment was unanimously made : Police Justice : Kenneth B. Rollins Term of Office : 2 years Salary : $ 1,000 per year, payable quarterly . On motion of Councilman Howard, seconded by Councilman Orr, the following appointment was unanimously made : Substitute Police Justice : Thomas W. Murtaugh Term of Office : 2 years Salary : $25 .00 per session. On motion of Councilman Murray, seconded by Councilman Orr, the following appointment was unanimously made : Clerk of Council : Dorothy B. Rosen Term of Office : Indefinite . Salary : $5 ,400 per year. On motion of Councilman Orr, seconded by Councilman Murray, the following appointment was unanimously made : Clerk of Police Court : Margaret G. Buchanan Term of Office : Indefinite Salary : $2,600 per year. Mr. Ritter commented that this is soon going to become a full-time job . Council asked that this be discussed at Committee meeting . On motion of Councilman Pumphrey, seconded by Councilman Orr, the following appointment was unanimously made : Town Attorney : George M. Martin Term of Office : Indefinite Salary :$2,200 per year, payable quarterly . St MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 10, 1969 MEETING. On motion of Councilman Howard, seconded by Councilman Orr, the following appointments were unanimously made : Issuing Justices : Clagett H. Moxley and Frances Hardy Term of Office : Indefinite Compensation : The said Issuing Justices shall retain the fees for performing the services of an Issuing Justice in the same amount as is permitted under the State law, but shall render an accounting thereof to the Auditor- Treasurer semi-annually. On motion of Councilman Pumphrey , seconded by Councilman Murray, the following appointment was unanimously made : Mayor Pro-Tem: Robert A. Orr Term of Office : 2 years Salary : None. On motion ' of Councilman Orr, seconded by Councilman Pumphrey, the following appointment was unanimously made : Fire Marshal : David M. McDonald . Term of Office : Concurrent with that of the Council Salary : $450.00 per year. There being no further business , the meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M. 1 f. /111.111! / ayor Clerk of t e Council