HomeMy Public PortalAbout1984_06_30SPEC SPECIAL MEETING OF LEESBURG TOWN COUNCIL, JUNE 30, 1984. 153
A special meeting of the Leesburg Town Council was held in the Council
Chambers, 10 West Loudoun Street, Leesburg, Virginia on June 30, 1984 at
10:00 a.m. , pursuant to Notice thereof having been delivered to all council-
members. The meeting was called to order by the Mayor, with Mr. Tolbert lead-
ing the Lord's Prayer, and followed with the Salute to the Flag led by Mr.
Willis. Present were: Mayor Robert E. Sevila, Councilmembers Charles A. Bos,
Edgar L. Coffey, Jr. , Marylou Hill, John W. Tolbert, Jr. , Charles J. Williams
and Howard M. Willis, Jr. ; also Town Manager John Niccolls, Deputy Manager
Jeffrey H. Minor, Director of Finance Donald 0. Taylor, Director of Planning
and Development Marc Weiss, Director of Engineering Andrew G. Shope, Director
of Utility Plants Randolph W. Shoemaker and Town Attorney George M. Martin.
On motion of Mr. Bos, seconded by Mr. Tolbert, Council voted unanimously
to go into executive session to discuss personnel matters, as authorized by Sec- .
tion 2.1-344(a) (1) of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended. Town Manager John
Niccolls and Town Attorney George Martin were asked to attend this session: •
Aye: Councilmembers Bos, Coffey, Hill, Tolbert, Williams, Willis and
Mayor Sevila.
Nay: None.
The meeting was reconvened at 10:40 a.m.
Mayor Sevila announced that it has been suggested that Town Manager John
Niccolls submit his resignation. He asked if this is the desire of the Council?
All councilmembers agreed that this is the wise decision.
84-102 - RESOLUTION - CONCERNING ACCEPTANCE OF. THE RESIGNATION OF. JOHN_NICCOLLS
AND APPROVING A CONSULTING AGREEMENT.
On motion of Mr. Bos, seconded by Mr. Tolbert, the following resolution was
proposed:
WHEREAS, this Council is willing, with regret, to accept the resignation
of John Niccolls from the position of town manager; and
WHEREAS, John Niccolls' special expertiese, knowledge and abilities are
required by the town in certain pending matters; and
WHEREAS, an agreement between the Council and John Niccolls is necessary
and approperiate to provide for the above:
THEREFORE, RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as
follows:
SECTION I. The mayor, on behalf of the town and the Council, shall execute
an agreement with John Niccolls providing as follows:
(a) For the payment to John Niccolls of the sum of $14,125 in accordance
with Section III of Resolution No. 76-27;
(b) For the payment to John Niccolls of compensation at his FY 1985 pay
rate for all unused accrued vacation leave and regular and extended
sick leave as of the date of the agreement;
(c) For the appointment of John Niccolls as Special Consultant to the
town for a period of six months from the date of agreement, during f
which time he shall attend such meetings and conferences and pro-
vide such advice as requested by the Town Council. Among the ser-
vices he shall provide are advice and assistance to the town in
matters pertaining to the Potomac River Treatment Plant. Nothing
in the agreement shall prohibit John Niccolls from accepting other
employment during the term of this agreement.
(d) As Special Consultant to the town, John Niccolls will receive the
sum of $5,000 and continued membership and benefits as an employee
at town expense for the period of this agreement in town's employee
group health, disability and life insurance policies with the privi-
lege of continuing dependent coverages under these plans at his ex-
pense.
154 MINUTES OF JUNE 30, 1984 SPECIAL MEETING.
SECTION II. Appropriations to the Executive Department accounts for per-
sonal and contractual services are hereby made and set aside from the
general fund unappropriated balance to pay the sums required to be paid
in the agreement provided above and the Finance Director shall make such
payments to John Niccolls upon execution of the agreement by the parties.
Mr. Bos commented that he was attracted to Leesburg by its style of town
living 15 years ago. As he became more entrenched in the community, he saw. the
value of the town to him and other residents and took a greater and greater inter-
est. .. A lot of the stores were empty and the sidewalks were paved in concrete,
which was not in keeping with the historic district. It was a relatively small
government in a small community. Changes were taking place and in the late 60's
and early 70's there was a period of rapid growth and the town government could
. not keep up with it . When Mr. Niccolls was hired in 1976, we needed the services
of a sophisticated town manager, which he has certainly been. Under his term
. and under the direction of several councils , the town has never looked better.
He personally will miss Mr. Niccolls' services. They are starting a lot of things,
some..of'_which will probably be debated for another generation or so. He has..ef-
fectively_carried out Council's direction on the utility_system, has instigated a
sophisticated budgetary system and Capital Improvements Program, the Town Plan,
etc. He looks forward though to forming a new partnership with a new Council and
hopes they can form a strong partnership with the Council, the staff and the citi-
zens. _
Mr. Williams felt Mr. Niccolls' unique management skills, techniques and his
forward vision have been shared by the people in Leesburg and wished him well in
his endeavors.
Mrs. Hill and Mr. Willis wished him the best of luck.
Mr. Coffey repeated a comment heard last night giving Mr. Niccolls and the
staff credit for the growth and many other good things that have happenedlin Lees-
burg, while many of the other towns in the County are pretty much status quo.
He shared this comment and felt Leesburg has progressed - a lot of it has been
due to Mr. Niccolls' vision and his abilities. He wished him luck.
Mr. Tolbert said he has lived here 53 years and everybody says the town
has never looked better - a lot of this credit goes to Mr. Niccolls. He quoted
from Julius Caesar - "We come to praise him, but not to bury him."
Mayor Sevila shared everyone else's feelings of regret and reluctance, but
it is inevitable that Mr. Niccolls' resignation be accepted. In discussing this
both publicly and privately with many citizens, the overwhelming reaction in the
community is that he will be sorely missed and greatly appreciated down through
the years . All you need to see his mark is to look around the town. In the
eight years he has managed our multi-million dollar projects, he took the time
to see that the grass was cut, the potholes repaired and the garbage picked up.
He considers Leesburg today to be unique in the County and in the State - it is
aesthetically one of the most pleasant places to live or visit. Without hesita-
tion, the town owes a great deal to John Niccolls for his touch and his addition
to the aesthetic qualities of Leesburg to its residents and its visitors. He
has completed many projects - too numerous to mention - and leaves incomplete
some significant ones. His legacy to the town includes not just the things he
has accomplished, but the quality and efficiency of government and the quality
staff we have. To each member of the staff, the town will look to them for as-
_ sistance, guidance, leadership and ability in the months to follow - he hoped
they will remain and continue to provide the kind of government to which this
town has been accustomed for the last eight years.
The resolution was unanimously adopted:
Aye: Councilmembers Bos, Coffey, Hill, Tolbert, Williams, Willis and
I
Mayor Sevila.
Nay: None.
On motion of Mrs. Hill, seconded by Mr. Tolbert, the meeting was adjourned.
JJ� Mayor
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Clerk of t1L Council