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HomeMy Public PortalAbout1970_11_25 249 MINUTES OF REGULAR MEETING OF LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL, NOVEMBER 25 , 1970 . A regular meeting of the Leesburg Town Council was held in the Council Chambers , 10 West Loudoun Street, Leesburg , Virginia , on Novem- ber 25, 1970 at 7 :30 P.M. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor, with Councilman Howard offering the prayer . 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 meeting of November 11, 1970 were approved as written . Town Manager Ritter reported the following : (1) A resolution on the Agenda giving the Town the right to put up the Christmas lights is the same as the one adopted each year. We expect to start putting up these lights the first part of next week. (2) The $4,000 appropriation asked for a Shop Addition is in line with the Master Plan for additions and is necessary to house the equip- ment and provide sufficient space to properly maintain the equipment . He had proposed $2 ,500 for this item in the Budget and $2 ,000 was set up for it . At that time , they had not gone into detail on the design of -) the building , however, it had to be designed so that there will not be any settlement, since this is to be built on a "filled" area . Therefore, a lot of the cost is in the foundation. This will be a cinder block build- ing and will be high enough to house the grader, and there will be a hoist to lift heavy objects . There will be a concrete floor with a drain and water in the building. The gas heater from the old Ford Garage will be used . Also, there will to two overhead front doors , one of which was taken from the old Ford Garage . This cost is for material only, and the work will be 'done by Town Forces . (3) Concerning the contract for construction of the Semones-Durfey storm drain, about a year ago, we sent out advertisements for bids, with the low bid being $9, 100 , and the high being over $10,000 . It was de- cided not to do anything at that time . There is $25 ,000 in the Budget for storm sewer work and this is a project that we are obligated to do - we have the easements and have been promising these people to do this work for a long time . We now find that Maryland Excavators can do this job right away and Mr. Nicholson of that firm has tentatively agreed to do this work at a price of $9, 100 , which is equal ,tothe low bid of over a year ago. During the past year, the cost of materials and labor has risen and we would probably not be able to get this job done this cheap. We can legally do this - it is not necessary that it be put out to bid. Mr. Moody reported that they have been working with English Construc- tion Company and Johnson and Williams on some of the items at the Plant that have not been completed. Johnson and Williams have been trying to get some action from Dorr Oliver . There are only a few items that really need correction and they are not hurting the Plant operation, but they are little things that keep gnawing at us . We have finally received the motor for the No . 1 primary clarifier, but no gear box to go with it . We still do not have the proper size hinges for the doors on the chlorine room, in spite of the fact that he has talked with the Superintendent on the By-Pass job here and called the Vice-President of the Company several times . The only way to keep the water from freezing in the glass tubes on the water line is to keep the heaters directly on them. We have put them on notice again and, if any damage occurs , they will be held re- sponsible . He said he and Mr. Ritter and Johnson and Williams have done all they can and it looks as though it might be necessary to bring suit against English Construction Co . The Plant itself is going pretty good. They have hired a new man from Manassas , who will be able to do all the lab work, and the men are now on 8-hour shifts . They are using some of the laborers to work on holidays , with operators on call . It looks as though water seals will be necessary on the gorator sludge pumps , which will cost about $400 to $500 more . They are not getting satisfactory results with the design of the flow meters - they are operating on 1 to 5% of the chart. They are getting all the tests required by the Health Department set up. 250 MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25 , 1970 MEETING. Mr. Moody also reported that the Valley View Ave . Sewer Line is going along very well and they have hit no rock , which will keep the cost down considerably. On the Wright Apartment Project, most of the water line is in, as well as the sewer line . Mr . Nicholson is having a little trouble with the booster station in Country Club Subdivision though. Councilman Wallace suggested that the Street Committee consider ,; limiting free parking for the Christmas season when they bag the meters this year. Each year it is the people whowork in Town that take advan- tage of the free parking and park in these spaces all day and the mer- chants object to this . It would seem _that perhaps we could limit this to 2-hour parking. - Mayor Rollins asked that the Street Committee take up this matter before the next Council meeting . Councilman Wallace also asked how much longer Davis and Lee Avenues will be closed. Mr . Ritter and Mr. Moody both said it is partially open to traffic now . Councilman Howard asked about the lab tests at the Sewer Plant since we have a new man, however , Mr . Moody and Mr . Ritter pointed out that he ' has not yet had time to conduct these tests , he just started work Monday. Councilman Pumphrey asked, in the event the contrra�ct for the Semones- Durfey storm sewer is awarded to Maryland Excavators ,t\they will put up the proper Bond. Mr. Ritter said they would. Mr. Pumphrey also asked i,. how long Mr . Ritter thought this job would take . Mr. Ritter said he did not believe it would take over 30 days . Councilman Orr asked the status of the Hospital Road. Town Attorney ' George Martin said he had a conference with the three owners of the land needed Friday a week ago , however , it was rather unsatisfactory . Mr. Brown, one of the owners, thinks he has a tremendously valuable piece of property and would like to see it zoned c anmercial . He said he be- lieves we will have to go to condemnation to get this land, however, he thinks we can go on the land under the 'State Code regulations . Mr. Ritter said that , at the last Council meeting, we had a letter from COG stating that the Hospital was asking for Federal money . Since that time , they have withdrawn their request for Hill-Burton money. , Mayor Rollins presented correspondence for the files regarding their withdrawal for these funds . It is anticipated that groundbreaking will be sometime in the spring and construction will probably take approximately one year. Council discussed whether or not there should be a median strip . Mr. Moody said he has some more survey work to do on the Road and then he will design it , however, if there is to be a median strip, there would have to be more right-of-way . It was thought that this road should cer= tainly match the one from Cornwall Street up to the Hospital . Mayor Rollins , therefore, asked that Mr . Valentine, Administrator of the Hos- pital, be asked to attend the next Street Committee meeting and bring with him any plans they might have for their part of the Road. On motion of Councilman Orr, seconded .by Councilman Howard, the fol- lowing resolution was unanimously adopted: BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, that the Town Manager be authorized to make application to the Virginia Electric and Power Company for the privilege of attaching to a number of their poles along King Street and Market Street certain wires and other fixtures necessary to provide decorative lighting for the Christmas season, " and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town will assume all re- sponsibility for each installation and agrees to save Vir- ginia Electric and Power Company harmless from any loss , cost, injury , or damage to persons or property resulting out of or arising from the installation, operation, use, non-use , or removal of such installations , and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town of Leesburg agrees to assume responsibility for the payment to Virginia Elec- tric and Power Company for all electric energy used through said installations , with the understanding that billing will be made under the existing municipal contract . 251 • MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25 , 1970 MEETING. Mr. Ritter pointed out that the Christmas decorations have been used for about the last seven years and perhaps more. There is nothing in the Budget for thisand perhaps it should be considered in the next Budget . Councilman Hill asked that the Town 's insurance carrier be notified of this additional liability . On motion of Councilman Pumphrey, seconded by Councilman Wallace, the following resolution was unanimously adopted : BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg , . that an appropriation be made in the amount of $2 .50 to pay A & E Blueprinters for printing on Sewer Projects , such ap- propriation to come out of 1969 Bond Issue . On motion of Councilman Pumphrey , seconded by Councilman Wallace , the following resolution was presented : BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg, that the Town Manager be authorized to proceed with an addi- • tion to the Town Equipment Maintenance Building, at an ap- proximate cost of $4,000 . t O This resolution was discussed, with Councilman Wallace stating that he nndoes not really see the need for this building yet. The Town does not own a street sweeper at this time and he believes the motor for the Q grader could be repaired by a local firm. Also, he does not think the Town crew should be spending time building this when they do not have time to work on the Semones-Durfey Storm Sewer. Mayor Rollins stated that he has always been against the Town forces building this storm sewer. Councilman Howard asked if the Town has a mechanic capable of working on all of this equipment , to which Mr. Ritter replied that we do have . He also pointed out that work on the storm sewer would involve full time work by the Town crews since the yards would be torn up until the work is finished, where the Town Shop Building could be constructed in spare time . He definitely feels that we need this building now - the existing garage is too small . If we get the grader in there and it is broken down, we can get nothing else in. It is now stored in an open shed and, in winter weather, the men can ' t work on equipment unless they are in an en- . closed building . Councilman Pumphrey added that he believes we need a street sweeper and this could not be stored outside . On motion of Mayor Rollins , seconded by Councilman Orr , Council voted 6 to I, with Council- man Wallace voting against , to amend the resolution by eliminating "at an approximate cost of $4 , 000" and adding the following : "and an appropria- tion of $4 ,000 is hereby made for this purpose . " The resolution, as amended, was then adopted by a roll call vote of 6 to 1, with Councilman Wallace casting the dissenting vote, and reads as follows : BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg , that the Town Manager be authorized to proceed with an addi- tion to the Town Equipment Maintenance Building, and an ap- priation of $4,000 is hereby made for this purpose . On motion of Councilman Pumphrey , seconded by Councilman Hill , the following resolution was unanimously adopted : BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg , that a contract be awarded to Maryland Excavators for the con- struction of the Semones-Durfey Storm Sewer, at a negotiated price of $9, 100 . Councilman Pumphrey asked if the proper Performance Bond and insurance coverage would be provided for this . Mr. Ritter said it would, and he did not believe this would take over 60 days, at the most , to complete the work . On motion of Councilman Pumphrey , seconded by Councilman Orr, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: BE IT RESOLVED by the Town Council of the Town of Leesburg , that an appropriation be made in the amount of $758 .09 to pay Lynchburg Foundry Co . for 12" Pipe and ells for 12" water line at By-Pass , such appropriation to come out of 1969 Bond Issue . Mr. Ritter said that we will salvage some of the present line after this new one is put into service . .252 MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 25 , 1970 MEETING. Mayor Rollins asked just what the status is insofar as the Town of Purcellville being interested in purchasing our old pumps , etc . at the old Sewer Plant . Mr. Ritter explained that a tentative offer of $500 for the motors and pumps was made by representatives of Purcellville, but he does not feel that this is enough money. However, they are no good to us now. We could possibly sell the motors to a firm in Winchester who repairs same . He would like to see some Town get this equipment , but he does not believe Purcellville has any immediate use for them. It is anticipated that none of this equipment can be used by us in the future. He said he believed we can move the sludge with our portable diaphragm 3 inch pump. Councilman Hill said he was at the Plant yesterday and there seemed to be a substance going through the Plant that was causing it not to operate normally . The Operator seemed to think it looked like oil. He suggested that perhaps we should check to see if some service station or some other business is discharging something of this type into the system. Mr. Moody said they would investigate all service stations and other possible sources to see where this sewage is coming from . Town Attorney Martin said a real estate broker has asked him if the old Sewer Plant property is on the market for sale . Council seemed to be of the opinion that Lee Warner had it listed for sale, however, Mr. Martin said he would like a firm commitment on this . It cas decided that the Street Committee would take up this matter at its meeting. There being no further business , the meeting was adjourned at 8 :35 P.M. 1:r—et Mayor • Clerk of he Council 1