[00:00:06]
ANYTHING AFTER OUR, IT KIND OF JUST KIND OF WENT SAME.
WE'RE GONNA GO AHEAD AND CALL THIS, UH, SPECIAL MEETING TO ORDER.
UH, AT THIS TIME, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ALLOW COUNCILLORS, HOLLOWAY, AND HARRIS TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY? SO MAY, I'LL SECOND IT.
IS THERE, UM, OH, UM, COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY AND THEN COUNCILLOR HARRIS, CAN YOU STATE WHERE YOU'RE CONDUCTING THE MEETING FROM AND THE REASON YOU'RE ASKING TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY? YES.
UH, COUNCILLOR HARRIS, CONDUCTING FROM MY HOME, UH, I'M A, A VICTIM OF A, A MULTITASKING BREAKDOWN.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? ALRIGHT.
YEAH, JUST ADMIT THAT MOTION PASSES FIVE TO ZERO.
UH, AT THIS TIME, UM, OH, EXCUSE ME.
I JUST REALIZED WE WERE VOTING ON US, RIGHT? I CA I, I CORRECT.
THAT'S WHY I SAID FIVE TO ZERO.
I I SKIPPED MY MIND JUST TO THE BACK.
UM, UH, WE HAVE TO DO A QUICK PUBLIC STATEMENT.
UM, AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE CLOSED MEETING DURING THE SPECIAL MEETING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH, 2025, THE REQUIRED CERTIFICATION WAS NOT DONE AT THIS TIME.
DO I HAVE A MOTION CERTIFYING THAT THE ONLY MATTERS DESCRIBED IN THE NOTICE, UH, FOR THAT CLOSED MEETING ON MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH, 2025 WERE DISCUSSED? SO MOVED.
SO WHAT, WHAT ARE WE CERTIFYING? I MEAN, WE ARE, WE'RE, ARE, WE WE'RE CERTIFYING MONDAY CLOSED CERTIFYING THAT MONDAY WE ONLY TALKED ABOUT THE MATTERS THAT WERE DISCUSSED IN THE CLOSED SESSION ON MONDAY.
SO I'M SAYING, SO THIS CERTIFICATION IS, UH, BE A CERTIFICATION TO COME OUT OF CLOSED.
AT THIS TIME, IS THERE A MOTION
[CLOSED MEETING]
TO GO INTO CLOSED MEETING FOR PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 37 11 A ONE TO DISCUSS AND CONSIDER PERSONNEL MATTERS INCLUDING BOARD AND COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS, HOPEWELL REDEVELOPMENT, HOUSING AUTHORITY, PLANNING COMMISSION, HEALTHY FAMILIES, COMMUNITY POLICY AND MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND DISCUSSION, CONSIDERATION AND INTERVIEW OF PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT.VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A 29, DISCUSSION OF THE AWARD OF A PUBLIC CONTRACT INVOLVING THE EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS, INCLUDING INTERVIEWS OF BIDDER, OF BIDDERS OFFERS, AND DISCUSSION OF THE TERMS OR SCOPE OF SUCH CONTRACT WHERE DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN SESSION WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE BARGAINING POSITION OR NEGOTIATING STRATEGY OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
AND VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 11 A SEVEN, CONSULTATION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND BRIEFINGS BY STAFF MEMBERS OR CONSULTANTS PERTAINING TO ACTUAL OR PROBABLE LITIGATION WHERE SUCH CONSULTATION OR BRIEFING IN AN OPEN MEETING WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT THE NEGOTIATING OR LITIGATING POSTURE OF THE PUBLIC BODY.
FOLLOWED BY AN OPEN SESSION TO DISCUSS THE REPEAL OF THE RECENTLY ADOPTED CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY.
AND TO THE EXTENT SUCH DISCUSSION WILL BE AIDED THEREBY SO MOVED.
[00:05:01]
BEEN MADE BY COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR ELLIS.IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
WE ARE GOING TO COME OUT A CLOSED MEETING.
[RECONVENE OPEN MEETING]
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO COME OUT A CLOSED SESSION? I MAY I SECOND IT.CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO VIRGINIA CODE SECTION 2.2 DASH 3 7 12 D WERE ONLY PUBLIC BUSINESS MATTERS.
LAWFULLY EXEMPTED FROM OPEN MEETING REQUIREMENTS AND TWO IDENTIFIED ENCLOSED MEETING.
UH, MOVING ON TO OUR WORK SESSION.
UH, MR. WARD, AFTER WE, I THOUGHT WE HAD TO VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS MATTERS FIRST.
NO, WE HAVE THEM RIGHT THERE IN THE REGULAR, UM, BUSINESS.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, REGARDS A ZONING AMENDMENT REQUEST TO ADD THE USE OF CHURCHES TO THE R ONE A, UH, LOW MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT.
THE APPLICANT FOR THIS IS RESTORED HOPE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE.
R ONE A IS A, UH, RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICT THAT, UH, COVERS PARTS OF WARDS FOUR, FIVE, AND SEVEN.
CURRENTLY DOES NOT ALLOW CHURCHES.
AND OF COURSE, THE REQUEST IS TO ADD CHURCHES AS AN ALLOWABLE USE.
AND, UH, THIS IS A WORK SESSION.
SO THERE WERE, UH, NO REQUIREMENTS THAT WERE REQUIRED TO BE SENT OUT FOR THIS PRESENTATION.
UH, JUST AS A REMINDER, ADDING A USE TO A DISTRICT MEANS THAT YOU'RE ALLOWING THAT USE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DISTRICT.
IT'S NOT RESTRICTED TO CERTAIN PROPERTIES.
AND HERE IN THIS MAP YOU CAN SEE IN THE, WITHIN THE YELLOW BOX IS GENERALLY WHERE THE R ONE A IS LOCATED.
CHURCHES AREN'T ALLOWABLE USE IN, IN ALL OTHER RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF HOPEWELL EXCEPT FOR R ONE A AND THE R ONE.
UH, THEY'RE BOTH THE LOW DENSITY DISTRICTS.
UM, CHURCHES ARE ALLOWABLE IN ALL OF OUR COMMERCIAL DISTRICTS AS WELL.
UM, I DID SOME BACKGROUND RESEARCH AS TO TO SEE AS TO WHY, UH, CHURCHES WERE EXCLUDED FROM R ONE OR R ONE A AND WAS NOT ABLE TO FIND ANY COMPELLING EVIDENCE AS TO ANY REASON WHY IT'S BEEN LEFT OUT.
AND IN FACT, UH, CHURCHES HAVE EXISTED IN THE R ONE A FOR 60 PLUS YEARS.
THERE'S, UH, THIS CHURCH HERE THAT IS THE APPLICANT EXISTED, UH, AT THEIR LOCATION, UH, FOR 60 SOME YEARS.
AND, UH, THERE'S A BAPTIST CHURCH THAT'S ALSO LOCATED IN R ONE A THAT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A SIMILAR LENGTH OF TIME.
SO THIS IS THE LOCATION HERE, UH, ON SHOWN ON THIS MAP AS TO WHERE THE CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE WAS LOCATED PREVIOUSLY.
IT WAS A TOTAL LOSS, AND, UH, IT'S TAKEN THEM, UH, QUITE A FEW YEARS TO GET, UH, FUNDRAISE THE MONEY AND EVERYTHING TO, TO GET FOR REBUILDING.
BUT WHEN THEY CAME BACK IN, THEY REALIZED CHURCH IS NOT ALLOWABLE USE.
SO, UH, FROM A PLANNING STANDPOINT, WE THOUGHT THAT THE BEST, UH, COURSE OF ACTION TO MOVE FORWARD WAS JUST TO ADD THE USE TO THE DISTRICT.
[00:10:01]
UH, ON THE LEFT, THAT IS THE R ONE A AREA, AND ON THE RIGHT, THOSE ARE ALL THE AREAS THAT, UH, PERMIT CHURCHES AS AN ALLOWABLE USE.SO STAFF RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST TO ADD CHURCHES TO SECTION A OF ARTICLE THREE DASH A RESIDENTIAL, EXCUSE ME.
UH, THREE DASH A RESIDENTIAL LOAD DENSITY DISTRICT AS AN ALLOWABLE USE.
UH, WE DID RECEIVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT DURING THE PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING, AND THAT, UH, WAS A COMMENT IN FAVOR OF, UH, APPROVING THE ADDITION OF THE USE AND PLANNING COMMISSION, UH, RECOMMENDS APPROVAL OF THE REQUEST.
THEY VOTED FOUR ZERO OF THEIR PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON DECEMBER 5TH.
THIS IS A WORK SESSION, SO NOT ASKING FOR ANY ACTION THIS EVENING, BUT I AM AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
HAVE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR MR. WARD? UH, SEEING NO LIGHTS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE GOING TO MOVE RIGHT INTO OUR, UH, OPEN MEETING.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO INCLUDE AN R SIX? UH, THAT WAS INADVERTENTLY LEFT OFF TO END ALL LITIGATION AGAINST CO COUNCIL RONNIE ELLIS.
SEEING THEIR LIGHTS FOR DISCUSSION.
WE MAY THE MOTION, UH, COUNCILLOR DAY? YES.
I DIDN'T KNOW WE HAD LITIGATION.
AND, UH, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH TIME, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO EXTEND THE MEETING UNTIL WE COMPLETE R SIX? SO MOVE AND I'LL SECOND IT.
SEEING NO LIKES FOR DISCUSSION.
COUNCILLOR HARRIS, YOU MOTION PASSES.
[REGULAR BUSINESS]
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR.UH, VICE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL.
UH, THIS IS THE FASTEST I'VE BEEN, UH, ON A R ITEM AND THE TWO YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE.
TONIGHT, I'M BEFORE YOU, UM, TO PRESENT TO SOME OF THE FIRST AND, AND TO OTHERS FOR THE SECOND TIME.
UH, WITH REVISIONS, THE CITY OF HOPEWELL DRAFT STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN, IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND.
UM, EARLY IN 2024, THE CITY OF HOPEWELL, UM, COUNCIL HAD A RETREAT.
AND IN THIS RETREAT, MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL IDENTIFIED THREE CRUCIAL AREAS OF THE CITY'S HEALTH AND SUSTAINABILITY.
AND THESE AREAS WERE ESTABLISHING A COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT, UM, DEVELOPING AN ECONOMIC STRATEGIC PLAN THAT ADVANCES THE CITY'S ECONOMIC STABILITY, DIVERSITY, AND GROWTH.
AND THEN TO DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED PUBLIC SAFETY APPROACH TO ENHANCE THE LIVES AND SAFETY OF ALL THE CITY RESIDENCES.
SO, UM, IT WAS IN, UH, EARLY SUMMER THAT, UM, THIS COUNCIL, UH, THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY, UH, SEATED IN JUNE OF 2024, TASKED THE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, WHICH I'M THE DIRECTOR OF, UM, TO COORDINATE BETWEEN THE HOPEWELL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND THE HOPEWELL CITY COUNCIL TO PREPARE AN UPDATE TO THE STRATEGIC ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN THAT HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY UPDATED IN 2014.
SO I WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH THE DESIGNATED MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL, WHICH WERE THE PREVIOUS VICE MAYOR GORE AND, UM, UH, REPRESENTATIVE, UH, COUNCIL PERSON, UM, RITA JOINER.
AND THEN I ALSO WORKED WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
[00:15:01]
AUTHORITY, UH, SUSAN BENTON AT THE TIME, AND JOHN AES.AND TOGETHER WE ROLLED UP OUR SLEEVES AND WE WENT THROUGH MULTIPLE HOURS OF WORK AND MULTIPLE SESSIONS TO, UM, PRESENT TO YOU THIS DOCUMENT, UH, WHICH WAS MOST RECENTLY UPDATED IN NOVEMBER OF 2024.
NOW, I THOUGHT THAT, UM, SINCE WE HAD EXTRA TIME TONIGHT, I WOULD READ EVERY SINGLE WORD OF THIS DOCUMENT, BUT IT IS, UH, 4,436 WORDS.
SO I WILL, I'LL SPARE THE, THE READING TONIGHT,
BUT, UH, WHAT I WOULD REALLY, REALLY LIKE TO DO, AND THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, UM, ON FEBRUARY THE SIXTH, WE ARE HAVING A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT HERE IN THE CITY AT THE JOHN RNO FOUNDATION.
EACH ONE OF YOU IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL RECEIVE AN INVITATION TO THAT SUMMIT.
AND, UH, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH MR. ROBERT BOB.
AND, UM, AND HE HAS HELPED ME TO PREPARE AN OUTLINE FOR THAT.
WHAT WOULD REALLY, REALLY BE FANTASTIC IS BEFORE THIS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT ON FEBRUARY 6TH, THAT, UH, THIS BODY WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO GO THROUGH THIS, UM, STRATEGIC PLAN AND LET ME KNOW, UH, AS THE POINT PERSON FOR COORDINATE THIS, IF THERE'S ANYTHING IN THIS PLAN THAT, THAT THEY DISAGREE WITH OR ANYTHING IN THIS PLAN THAT THEY THINK, UM, NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED OR CHANGED.
BECAUSE IT WOULD REALLY BE GREAT IF WE COULD GO INTO THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT ON FEBRUARY THE SIXTH WITH A, A PLAN THAT HAS BEEN ADOPTED BY COUNCIL.
SO WE HAVE CLEAR DIRECTION ON THE STRATEGIC THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING EVERY DAY AS WE LOOK AT PROPERTIES TO ACQUIRE AS, AS I BRING TO YOU OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN INVESTMENT AND FOR ENHANCEMENTS IN THE CITY, AND, UH, INCENTIVES AND, UH, THINGS TO THAT NATURE.
AND, UH, SO, UM, I WILL BE COMING BACK TO YOU ON, UM, JANUARY THE 28TH, UH, IN REGULAR SESSION, UNLESS THERE'S A POLAR VORTEX OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF EVENT THAT PREVENTS US FROM MEETING.
AND I'LL BE ASK, ASKING FOR ACTION AT THE, AT AT THAT TIME.
UM, BUT I REALLY, REALLY WOULD LIKE FOR COUNSEL TO, UH, TAKE THE TIME TO GO THROUGH THIS 14 PAGE DOCUMENT.
WE'VE BROKEN IT DOWN INTO AREAS OF THE CITY, UH, STRATEGIC AREAS OF THE CITY, PLACES THAT WE CAN, UM, UH, HAVE AN INFLUENCE AND, AND, AND MAKE A CHANGE TO SET THE TABLE, SO TO SPEAK, FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH AND, AND, AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY.
UM, THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO AS, AS A, AS A PUBLIC BODY AND THEN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH, UH, WITH DEVELOPERS AND, UM, AND INVESTORS ALIKE.
UM, THERE HAS BEEN SOME INCREDIBLE MOVEMENT JUST IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS.
UH, COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES THAT WERE ON THE MARKET FOR, UM, SOME TIME HAVE NOW GONE UNDER CONTRACT, UM, RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES.
I'M TALKING TO RESIDENTIAL BROKERS AND THEY'VE SEEN AN UPTICK JUST OVER THE, THE HOLIDAYS.
PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN LISTED SINCE AUGUST OF LAST YEAR ARE NOW UNDER CONTRACT FOR FULL, UH, FULL PRICE.
AND SOME HAVE MULTIPLE OFFERS ON THEM.
SO THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THAT, UH, CHANGE IS AFOOT IN, IN THE MARKETPLACE.
AND, UM, AND WE WANT TO BE READY TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT CHANGE.
UH, THERE'S AN AIR OF OPTIMISM.
IT'S A NEW DAY, AND I THINK THERE'S SOME REAL OPPORTUNITIES.
SO I WILL PAUSE FOR SOME, UH, QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STRUCTURE OF THIS DOCUMENT OR ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF COUNCIL? HEARING NONE.
I LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK AND SEEING YOU IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS.
MR. MAYOR, UM, VICE MAYOR, A MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL.
TONIGHT I AM BEFORE YOU TO REQUEST THE APPROVAL OF THE FORENSIC AUDIT SERVICES ON NOVEMBER THE 19TH.
UH, THE, THE PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED THE CITY MANAGER TO, UM, LIST THE RFP FOR SERVICES, FOR FORENSIC AUDIT SERVICES.
UM, WE HAVE, UH, BEEN THROUGH THAT PROCESS AND WE HAVE SELECTED A VENDOR.
AND SO NOW STAFF IS REQUESTING THAT THIS COUNCIL, WE RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL APPROVE THE FORENSIC AUDITED SERVICES AND DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND APPROVE THE COST UP TO $84,000.
ANY EXCESSIVE FUNDS THAT ARE NOT USED WILL BE RETURNED BACK TO, UM, THE CITY COFFERS.
UM, AND THOSE DOLLARS WILL COME FROM, UM, ANY SALARY
[00:20:01]
SAVINGS THAT WE, UM, WILL HAVE.AND THAT PRESENTATION OF SALARY SAVINGS WILL BE AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING ON, UH, FEBRUARY 21ST, I'M SORRY, JANUARY 21ST, WHICH IS NEXT TUESDAY, A YIELD FLOOR BACK TO THE MAYOR TO OPEN FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
IS THERE A MOTION ON THE FLOOR TO APPROVE THE FORENSIC AUDIT SERVICES AND TO DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER IN A CONTRACT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF HOPEWELL, UH, WITH APPROVING THE COST UP TO $84,000? SO MOVE SECOND.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOINER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILOR DETON.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING NO LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY? NO, I DIDN'T HEAR YOU.
COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY? I SAID NO.
UH, MS. JORDAN, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, EXCUSE ME.
I'M HERE TO DISCUSS, UM, THE POSSIBILITY AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS AS OF MOVING THE PERSONAL PROPERTY DUE DATE FROM MARCH 15TH TO MARCH 7TH, THE HOPEWELL CODE SECTION 34 DASH 44, THE TREASURER'S STATEMENT STATES THAT THE CITY'S TREASURER SHALL AT LEAST 15 DAYS BEFORE ANY PENALTY ATTACHES FOR NONPAYMENT OF TAXES.
UNDER THIS ARTICLE, MAILED A STATEMENT SHOWING THE NU TOTAL NUMBER OF TAXES DUE FOR THE CURRENT YEAR BY PUBLIC SERVICE CORPORATIONS OR ON TANGIBLE PRO PERSONAL PROPERTY OTHER THAN MACHINERY AND TOOLS TO SUCH TAXPAYERS.
THE BILLS WERE MAILED OUT, UH, I BELIEVE JANUARY 3RD BY THE TREASURER'S OFFICE IN HISTORY.
UM, PREVIOUSLY IT WAS A COURTESY THAT THE CITY OF HOPEWELL SENT THE BILLS OUT TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE TO THE CITIZENS.
UM, HOWEVER, THE CODE FOR HOPEWELL DOES NOT STATE THAT IT'S A REQUIREMENT.
THE CITY IS NOT A NONCOMPLIANCE.
UM, PUSHING THAT DUE DATE BACK FOR THE CITY POSSIBLY PREVENTS US FROM RECEIVING REVENUE IN MORE TIMELY FASHION.
WOULD COULD, WHICH COULD, UM, CAUSE US TO NOT BEING ABLE TO COMPLETE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
AND WE MIGHT BE IN ANOTHER FREEZE AS WE WERE EARLIER THIS YEAR BECAUSE THE, AGAIN, THE CITY'S PERSONAL PROPERTY IS ONLY ONCE A YEAR.
IT'S NOT TWICE A YEAR, AS WELL AS THE REAL ESTATE IS TWICE A, UH, TWICE A YEAR.
SO WE'RE REALLY, DECEMBER WAS THE LAST DUE DATE.
NOW WE'RE WAITING FROM DECEMBER ALL THE WAY UNTIL MARCH TO BE ABLE TO RECEIVE REVENUES INTO THE CITY.
MY RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE TO NOT PUSH THE DUE DATE, BUT IT'S ULTIMATELY COUNCIL'S DECISION.
COULD YOU REPEAT THAT? I SAID MY RECOMMENDATION AS A CFO FOR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL WOULD BE TO NOT PUSH THE DUE DATE BACK TO LEAVE IT AT F UM, FEBRUARY 15TH.
BUT THE ULTIMATE DECISION IS UP TO COUNCIL, OF COURSE.
WELL, WE CAN STILL LEAVE IT AT THE, THE DATE OF 15TH, BUT JUST WAIVE THE PENALTIES.
PENALTIES AND INTEREST, INTEREST AND FEE AND EVERYTHING ALL THE WAY THROUGH MARCH 7TH.
AND IF COUNSEL DOES DECIDE TO DO THAT, THE STATE CODE DOES REQUIRE THAT YOU DO A RESOLUTION TO THE TREASURER.
SO IF YOU, IF COUNSEL AGREES TO WAIVING THE, THE PENALTY, WE'LL HAVE THE RESOLUTION AT THE NEXT, UM, REGULAR MEETING FOR A VOTE.
UH, IS THERE A MOTION TO, UH, WAIVE ALL PENALTIES, FEES, AND INTEREST FOR PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES UNTIL MARCH 7TH, 2025? SURE.
UH, UH, COUNCILOR STOKES, UH, MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILLOR HARRISON, SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR STOKES.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION? SEEING NONE? ROLL CALL PLEASE.
UH, MOVING ON TO, UH, R FOUR, UH, THE REPEAL OF THE RECENTLY ADOPTED CONFLICT VENTURES POLICY ACT.
UM, I HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION WITH, UH, COUNCILLOR HARRIS ABOUT THIS ITEM.
AND, UM, I THINK WE CAME TO AN IDEA, UH, THAT I THINK IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE, UH, MORE BENEFICIAL, UH, FOR THE CITY.
AND, UH, THAT IS TO INVITE THE, UH, VIRGINIA CONFLICT ADVISORY, VIRGINIA CONFLICT OF INTEREST ADVISORY COUNCIL, UH, TO A WORK SESSION.
SO THEN THAT WAY ALL MEMBERS ON CITY COUNCIL
[00:25:01]
CAN GET TRAINING, ASK QUESTIONS, UM, AND ALSO BE A GOOD INFORMATIONAL, UH, SESSION FOR THE PUBLIC AS WELL.AND THEN TO, AND ANOTHER, UM, SEPARATE ACTION, UH, TO THEN HAVE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE, UH, WORK ON CONVERTING THE EXISTING CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY OVER INTO A, UH, COUNCIL CODE OF ETHICS, UH, SINCE THE AG HAS STRUCK DOWN, UM, THAT WE CAN'T HAVE OUR OWN SEPARATE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY.
UH, SO IS THERE A MOTION TO, UH, INVITE THE VIRGINIA CONFLICT OF INTEREST ADVISORY COUNCIL TO A TRAINING AND WORK SESSION, UH, IN FEBRUARY? SO, SO MOVED.
UH, MOTIONS BEEN MADE BY COUNCILLOR STOKES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILLOR HARRIS.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING THEIR LIGHTS ROLL CALL PLEASE.
AND IS THERE A MOTION TO CHARGE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE TO WORK ON CONVERTING THE EXISTING CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY TO A COUNCIL CODE OF ETHICS? I MAY.
UH, YOU GUYS ARE ON FIRE TODAY.
WE'RE DOING WHAT NOW? WITH, WITH, WITH THE, WE'RE CHARGING THE ETHICS COMMITTEE TO WORK ON CONVERTING THE EXISTING CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY OVER TO A COUNCIL CODE OF ETHICS.
SO, UH, I THINK, UH, COUNCILOR HOLLOWAY, UH, WAS ASKING, SO YOU WANT TO MOVE WHAT, WHAT WE HAVE NOW TO A CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY? NO, WE'RE TAKING THE COST CODE OF ETHICS.
CAN WE JUST GET RID OF THE, THE POLICY NOW AND THEN WORK ON A CODE OF ETHICS? UH, I MEAN, I THINK IT'S GOING TO END UP, IT, IT WILL GET RID OF ITSELF ONCE WE ADOPT THE CODE OF ETHICS.
SO LET'S, LET'S DO FIRST STEP AND THEN GO TO THAT.
IS THAT ALL RIGHT WITH COUNSEL? I MEAN, TO DO A FRIENDLY AMENDMENT? YES.
I'M ALL IN FAVOR OF DOING THE CODE OF ETHICS.
IIII WISH WE'D HAVE DONE IT FOUR YEARS AGO.
WHAT, WHAT ARE YOU ASKING TO DO? HOLD ON.
UH, MR. HARRIS, DID YOU TRY TO SAY SOMETHING? I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT THE, THE, THE COLA ETHICS WAS PLACED THIS CODE THAT WE HAD.
UH, I, YOU KNOW, I I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IN THE INTEREST OF, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT WE DO HAVE OTHER, UH, CONCERNS IN REGARDS TO MM-HMM
THE, THE, THE CONFLICT OF INTERESTING.
THINK THAT WHAT WE ARE DOING IN REGARDS TO BRINGING IN INDIVIDUALS TO HELP TRAIN THAT WILL HELP REPLACE WHAT IT IS THAT WE HAVE TO PLACE.
NOW, I, I DON'T SEE ME TO BE HAVING ANY OTHER KIND ACTIONS.
WHY, WHY ARE WE REPLACING THE, THE, THE, THE, I'M STOP YOU COUNCILOR HOLLOWAY.
I JUST DON'T SEE, I I WHAT IT IS THAT WE HAVE JUST TALKED ABOUT IN REGARDS TO HAVING INDIVIDUALS TO COME IN A WORK SESSION.
AND WHAT WE WOULD HAVE IS GUIDELINES IN REGARDS TO CONFLICT DEFENSE, BECAUSE INITIALLY GETTING RID OF IT OKAY.
WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT WAS, UH, SOMETHING THAT ALL OF COUNSEL WAS IN FAVOR OF, BUT AT ALL, THE COUNCIL IS IN FAVOR OF BRINGING THE WORK SESSION AND MAKING THIS THING VIABLE FOR EVERYBODY.
YEAH, MY, MY, I I, I GOT QUITE A BIT, UH, TO DISCUSS ABOUT THIS MATTER.
I THINK IT IS, I'VE, I'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION BEFORE.
I, I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND WHY WE ARE NOW AT THE PLACE WHERE WE'RE FIGHTING TO REPLACE IT.
UM, AS I HAD, UH, SET UP INTERVIEW TIME AND TRY TO GET SOME CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE DIRECTION THE CITY WAS GOING,
[00:30:01]
I WAS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING AND THE IMPRESSION HEARING COUNSELORS, UH, EVEN WITH THE ORDINANCE AND THE, UH, RESOLUTION THAT WE HAD, THAT COUNCIL COUNCIL BELIEVED THAT THE SITUATIONS THAT THE CITY IS FACING WAS, EVERYBODY SAID INDEED OF FACT A CONFLICT, BUT THEN WAS REQUESTING TO, UH, REPEAL THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST AND ALSO TO STOP THE CURRENT LITIGATION AT PLACE.UM, WHICH OF COURSE I HIGHLY VOTED AGAINST.
UM, I, I EVEN HAD STATEMENTS EVIDENCE THAT I SAID I WERE GONNA RELEASE TO THE, TO THE PUBLIC, WHEREAS IN, I, I FEEL THAT THERE'S A STATE, A STATE OF PRIVILEGE IN, IN PLACE.
AND ALSO RECORDED CONVERSATIONS WHERE PEOPLE, UH, COUNSELORS HAD EVEN PROTECT THEMSELVES TO SAY THAT THEY WERE STANDING IN PLACE TO BE A UNCLE TOM.
I, I THINK THAT THE DIRECTION THAT THE CITY IS GOING WITH THIS, AND THE, AND THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW REGARDING THIS IS LITERALLY A SCARY PLACE.
UM, BECAUSE THERE IS INDEED, IN FACT RIGHT NOW, CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
UM, IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP AND RAISED THE QUESTION OF HOW, UH, WE CAN HAVE A CITY COUNSELOR BEING THE BOSS TO THE CITY MANAGER, AND ALSO WORKING FOR THE CITY MANAGER.
THESE THINGS ARE, ARE OF GREAT CONCERN BECAUSE THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF HAVING A CONFLICT OF INTEREST ACT AND PLACE IS TO ELIMINATE THOSE TYPES OF CONFLICTS.
AND WE PUT A ORDER INTO PLACE AND THERE WAS AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OPINION, BUT IT DOESN'T MAKE OUR ORDINANCE MUTE AS IT HAS BEEN STATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
BUT I WOULD URGE THAT COUNSEL, UM, WOULD TAKE CONSIDERATION IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE, UH, THAT IDEALLY BECAUSE YOU FEEL PRIVILEGED TO DO SO, THAT NOBODY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE EXCUSED IN A SPACE.
IF WE'VE ALL AGREED THAT IT IS INDEED A, UH, UH, A CONFLICT AS TO WHY WE WOULD GO FORWARD AND STOP THE DECISIONS OF LITIGATIONS IN COURT, AND ALSO REPEAL ANY DECISION OR CHANGE ANYTHING THAT OUR RESOLUTION EXACTLY LINES UP WITH THE STATE CODE.
UM, AND, AND, AND, AND THOSE THINGS ARE SPECIFIC.
BUT THAT'S MY STATEMENT AS OF RIGHT NOW UNTIL I RELEASE ALL OF THESE RECORDINGS.
IS THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR CONCERNS? OKAY.
UH, HEARING NONE, UH, THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR IS TO CHARGE THE ETHICS COMMITTEE TO WORK ON CONVERTING THE EXISTING CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY OVER ONTO A COUNCIL CODE OF ETHICS.
UH, GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, VICE MAYOR, MEMBERS OF COUNCIL, ONCE AGAIN.
UM, THE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED A, UH, COUNCIL REQUEST TO INVESTIGATE, UM, SPECIFIC USES IN, UH, THROUGHOUT THE CITY, UH, IN VARIOUS, UH, ZONING DISTRICTS AND STATE CODE.
UH, ACCORDING TO 15.2 DASH 2286, THERE'S, UM, ONE OF THREE WAYS TO DO THAT.
UM, ONE WOULD BE A CITIZEN SUBMITS A PETITION, WHICH WOULD BE A, A ZONING AMENDMENT REQUEST APPLICATION.
UH, PLANNING COMMISSION CAN INITIATE, UH, UH, STAFF TO LOOK INTO AMENDING AN ORDINANCE AND COUNSEL CAN INITIATE, UH, STAFF TO LOOK INTO AMENDING THE ORDINANCE.
SO, UM, THAT'S WHY, UH, THIS IS ON HERE THIS EVENING AS AN R FIVE ITEM, UH, IS THAT A PARTICULAR COUNSELOR CANNOT INITIATE, UH, STAFF REVIEW, BUT YOU AS A BODY CAN.
SO, UH, AND BEING COMPLIANT WITH STATE CODE, UH, THIS RESOLUTION IS BEFORE YOU FOR CONSIDERATION.
[00:35:01]
AND THE SPECIFIC USE IN QUESTION IS AUTOMOTIVE RELATED USES.STAFF WILL ONE, ONCE INITIATED, OR IF INITIATED STAFF WILL INVESTIGATE THOSE TYPES OF USES AROUND THE CITY.
UH, ANY SORT OF PERFORMANCE STANDARDS THAT WE EITHER HAVE OR DON'T HAVE, UM, THAT YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN, THAT WE COULD POTENTIALLY PUT IN PLACE FOR THESE USES.
AND ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU, YOU, AS A BODY WOULD LIKE US TO LOOK INTO RELATED TO AUTOMOTIVE USES.
UM, THAT'S BASICALLY WHAT THIS RESOLUTION IS ABOUT.
AND I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE ANY.
UH, I JUST SAW YOUR HAND MOVED.
WELL, I, I, IN THE, IN, UM, I WAS THE, I WAS THE COUNSELOR.
I'M THE COUNSELOR THAT MADE THE REQUEST.
AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT HAD TO DO WITH, AS I LOOK AROUND THE CITY, THE PROLIFERATION OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AT THE, YOU CAN SEE AT THE VERY, YOU KNOW, SALES REPAIR, STORAGE.
I'M LOOKING, I THINK ABOUT CITY POINT ROAD, DOWN CITY POINT ROAD.
I MEAN, THERE'S A, A, A CAR USED CAR LOT OR REPAIR PLACE.
YOU KNOW, JUST, THERE'S JUST A PROLIFERATION OF THEM AND THEY'RE JUST POPPING UP EVERYWHERE.
AND I JUST THINK IT WOULD BE, IT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.
I'M NOT AGAINST CAR REPAIR PLACES OR CAR SALES PLACES, THAT KIND OF THING.
BUT I THINK THAT, UH, FOR PROLIFERATION OF 'EM IN ONE SECTION IS REALLY NOT WHERE WE NEED TO BE GOING.
UM, I THINK IT'S, IT'S SOME REAL PROBLEMS THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
AND SO I JUST ASKED, WAS THERE ANY WAY THAT WE COULD SORT OF CONTROL THIS IN SOME WAY? AND I DO KNOW THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT ZONE ORATE, UH, AMENDMENTS TO OUR CURRENT ZONING ORDINANCE, UM, REGS OUT THERE NOW.
AND, UH, BUT THAT'S GONNA BE A COUPLE OF YEARS FROM NOW BEFORE IT'S ALL ALL SET IN STONE.
AND I FELT LIKE, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO THEM AND SAID, IS THERE ANY WAY WE COULD DO THIS? AND THEY CAME UP WITH THIS, WHICH I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF.
AND SO I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNEW THAT I WAS THE COUNSELOR BEHIND THIS.
AND I ALSO THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TOO.
UM, I GO RUNNING, YOU KNOW, ALL THROUGHOUT THE CITY, DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN I GO DOWN B VILLAGE, UH, 7, 8, 9 10TH STREET, UM, I MEAN, AS TIGHT AS WHAT THEY ARE.
AND YOU HAVE, UH, SOME HOUSES THAT ARE, UH, WORKING ON VEHICLES OUT IN THE STREET AND THEN LEAVING THEM OUT IN THE STREET FOR DAYS UPON WEEKS.
UM, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, WOULD BE SOMETHING REALLY GOOD THAT WE COULD LOOK AT, UM, YOU KNOW, DOING AND, YOU KNOW, SEEING WHAT, YOU KNOW, STAFF CAN COME UP WITH TO HELP.
AND I THINK IT, YOU KNOW, IT WOULD END UP HELPING ANYONE, THE APPEARANCE, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, OVERALL FUNCTIONALITY OF OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
SO IS THERE A MOTION, UH, TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO INITIATE A ZONING ORDINANCE, AMENDMENT TO REVIEW THE ZONING REGULATIONS, UH, REGARDING MOTOR VEHICLE USAGE? SO MOVE SECOND.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY VICE MAYOR JOINER AND SECONDED BY, UH, COUNCILLOR DAY.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION SEEING, UH, UH, COUNCILLOR STOKES? UM, I, MY CONCERN IS, UM, YOU ALL PRESENTING THIS TONIGHT, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE MORE TIME TO DISCUSS THIS.
CAN YOU BE MORE SPECIFIC IN WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE WITH THIS? YEAH.
ALL THEY'RE, ALL THAT WE'RE CHARGING STAFF TO DO IS TO DEVELOP AN ORDINANCE AT WHICH THEY COME BACK TO US AND THEN THEY'LL DO LIKE A WORK SESSION, REVIEW IT WITH US.
WE GIVE THEM INPUT, MARKUPS AND CHANGES, AND THEN WE END UP VOTING ON, SO, SO THIS RESOLUTION IS JUST TO ALLOW THEM TO JUST CORRECT.
AND IF YOU HAVE INPUT, YOU CAN ALSO EMAIL IT OVER TO, UM, MR. WARD AS WELL.
WELL, I WOULD'VE HAD INPUT IF I'D HAD IT BEFORE TONIGHT.
UM, AND ALSO WOULD'VE LIKED AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE IT WITH MEMBERS, UM, OF THE WARD SIX COMMUNITY AND SEE IF THEY HAD ANY INPUT INTO THIS ALSO.
'CAUSE THIS SEEMS THAT YOU, YOU KEEP MENTIONING, UM, DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY AND DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE CITY SHOULD HAVE JUST AS MUCH INPUT INTO THIS RESOLUTION AS YOU GUYS.
WELL, IT'LL BE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIODS FOR I UNDERSTAND.
JUST TO BE CLEAR, WE'RE NOT, THIS IS NOT AMENDING THE ORDINANCE AT ALL.
THIS IS JUST DIRECTING STAFF TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE, COME UP WITH SOME OPTIONS, AND THEN BRING IT BACK TO YOU ALL AT A LATER DATE SO THAT, UM, YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION ON IF AND HOW YOU WANT TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE THAT WILL BE AT A LATER TIME.
'CAUSE THIS IS WRITTEN SOMEWHAT GENERIC, SO IT, IT'S, IT CAN BE A BIT CONFUSING.
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LITTLE WORDY WHEN REALLY ALL IT'S DOING IS JUST DIRECTING STAFF TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUE.IT'S REALLY WHAT IT ALL MEANS.
ALRIGHT, AND THEN THE LAST ITEM ON THE AGENDA IS TO, UH, END ALL LITIGATION AGAINST COUNCILOR RONNIE ELLIS.
IS THERE A MOTION TO END ALL AND WITHDRAW FROM, UH, LITIGATION LEGAL ACTIONS, LAWSUITS DE MERES AND APPEAL PETITIONS AGAINST, UH, COUNCILOR RONNIE ELLIS? SO MAY, I'LL SECOND THAT.
MOTION'S BEEN MADE BY COUNCILOR DAY AND SECONDED BY VICE MAYOR JOYNER.
UH, COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY AND THEN COUNCILLOR STOKES.
UH, AGAIN, I, I'D LIKE TO APPEAL TO THE, UH, CITIZENS, ESPECIALLY, UH, WITH THIS MATTER.
THIS IS A VERY HEAVY, UH, CONFLICT OF INTEREST MATTER, AND WE'RE IN THE MIDST OF LITIGATION WHERE LITIGATION HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP AGAINST THE CITY IN REGARDS TO THIS CONFLICT.
AND WE HAVE A COURT SYSTEM WHO WE, UM, HOPEFULLY CAN PUT OUR TRUST, UH, IN, TO MAKE THESE TYPE OF DECISIONS.
UM, I HAVE HAD SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH SEVERAL COUNSELOR MEMBERS, UM, AND AGAIN, WITH THE, UM, CONCERNS OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST.
AND I THINK IT IS IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST, UM, TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW THE, UM, THE CITY ATTORNEY, UM, TO GO FORTH WITH THE LITIGATION SO THAT THE COURT CAN PROPERLY RULE AND DO ITS INVESTIGATIONS WITH THE MATTER.
UM, UH, LIKE I SAID, I I HOPE THAT COUNSEL WOULD NOT BE BIASED IN THIS SPACE.
UM, UH, LIKE I SAID, I, I, I PLAN ON BRINGING WHATEVER INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC THAT IS NECESSARY SO THAT THE CITIZENS CAN BE UPDATED ON THIS MATTER.
UH, IT, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I CLEARLY THINK THAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HAD PUBLIC HEARING ON AND ALLOW THE CITIZENS TO COME IN AND SPEAK ON THE MATTER.
UM, UH, LIKE COUNSELOR, UM, STOKES HAS SAID PREVIOUS ON THE PREVIOUS MATTER, TO ALLOW CITIZENS IN SPACE TO, TO SPEAK ON THIS.
BUT I WOULD HOPE, UM, THAT WHERE THIS BAR IS DIVIDED, UM, THAT PEOPLE WOULD BE FAIR AND THOUGHT TO GIVE THE COURTS, ITS, UM, ITS SPACE TO GO FORWARD AS IT HAS ALREADY BEEN IN LITIGATION.
UM, IN REGARDS TO THIS HEAVY CONFLICT, IT IS DEFINITELY A CONFLICT.
ALL SEVEN COUNSELORS STATED THAT IT IS DEFINITELY A CONFLICT.
SO I, I COULDN'T SEE WHY ON EARTH, UH, WE WOULDN'T ALLOW THE LITIGATION TO PLAY OUT.
UM, OTHER THAN PEOPLE'S, UH, PERSONAL INTEREST.
AND AGAIN, AS I STATED, UM, FROM ONE COUNSELOR TO SAY THAT THEY WERE ONLY VOTING, UM, WITH THE OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY WERE STATED AS BEING, UH, REFERRED TO THEMSELVES AS AN UNCLE TOM.
UH, THAT'S MY STATEMENT AS OF RIGHT NOW ON THE MATTER.
DR. STOKES, UM, IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING, I THOUGHT FROM OUR CITY ATTORNEY THAT THERE, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY LITIGATION MOVING FORWARD.
UM, I WOULD'VE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN EVERYTHING BROUGHT TO A CLOSURE, UH, JUST AS COUNCILOR HOLLOWAY HAS STATED, UM, THAT IT SHOULD HAVE PLAYED OUT.
UH, MR. HARRIS, DID YOU TRY TO SAY SOMETHING? I THINK IT WAS CITY ATTORNEY.
UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE AWARE THAT THE CURRENT STATE OF THE MOTION, UM, IS IN, UH, WELL, IT'S INCORRECT FOR WHAT YOU'RE ATTEMPTING TO ACCOMPLISH BECAUSE THE CITY DOES NOT HAVE ANY LITIGATION PENDING AGAINST MR. ELLIS.
MR. ELLIS HAS A LAWSUIT PENDING AGAINST THE CITY.
AND THE MOTION SAYS THE OPPOSITE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT CLEAR.
SO HOW SHOULD THE MOTION READ? UM, THE MOTION SHOULD, UM, REFLECT THAT, UM, THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS, IS PENDING IS MR. ELLIS HAS AGAINST THE CITY AND, UM, THE CITY, UH, CHOOSES TO, UM, DISMISS THE LAWSUIT, UH, DISMISS, UH, ITS INTEREST IN THE LAWSUIT AND NOT PURSUE IT.
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ALL APPEALS, URS, EVERYTHING THAT'S BEEN DONE.IF A LAWSUIT IS DISMISSED, IT'S DONE.
SO THE MOTION, AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, MS. BURTON, THE MOTION TO READ THE LAWSUIT BROUGHT BEFORE THE CITY BY COUNSELOR RONNIE ELLIS, THAT IS CURRENTLY PENDING SHOULD THE CITY IS WITHDRAWING ITS INTEREST.
IS THAT RIGHT? IS THE CITY I AM SORRY.
UM, THE, THE CITY IS, HAS DETERMINED IT IS NOT INTERESTED IN PURSUING, UH, THIS CASE ANY LONGER AND SO DIRECTS THE CITY ATTORNEY TO, UH, TAKE THE APPROPRIATE STEPS TO HAVE IT DISMISSED.
THAT'S WHAT THE WAY IT SHOULD READ.
SO I'M GONNA COPY AND PASTE THAT VERBIAGE
SO EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE MOTION? YEAH.
YOU OKAY WITH THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT COUNSELOR, JOINER AND COUNCILOR? UH, YES.
LET, LET, LET ME CLARIFY THAT, GET CLARIFIED, WE DON'T HAVE A SUIT AGAINST MR. ELLIS, IS THAT CORRECT? THAT'S TRUE.
MR. ELLIS HAS A SUIT AS UP EXACTLY.
BUT THE APPEAL, RIGHT? SHE NOT APPEAL.
AND MR. TOWN, SO DOES EVERYONE THE SUIT ON THE, HOLD ON.
SO DOES EVERYONE UNDERSTAND THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR? YES.
COUNCILOR HOLLOWAY, THE SUIT, IN FACT, UH, ATTORNEY BURDEN IS, UH, AN THE EMPLOYMENT ISSUE, UH, THE RIGHT, THE SUIT FOR THE RIGHT TO, UH, SIT IN AS AN EMPLOYEE UNDER, UH, THE CITY MANAGER AND TO HOLD THE SEAT ON COUNCIL, UH, IS THE RIGHT TO HAVE THAT AND, AND TEMPORARILY HAVE, THERE'S A T WHERE, UH, TEMPORARY INJUNCTION GIVEN FOR THAT RIGHT.
UNTIL THE CASE WOULD COME TO FULL LITIGATION AND THE COURT IS ABLE TO DETERMINE BASED UPON FACTORS PRESENTED, CORRECT? MM-HMM.
M NO, I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
TO CONTINUE EMPLOYMENT, UH, WITH THE CITY OF HOPEWELL IN HIS POSITION AS THE, UH, BATTALION CHIEF AND ALSO CONTINUE THAT EMPLOYMENT WHILE SITTING ON HIS SEAT AS A COUNSELOR FOR THE CITY OF HOPEWELL, CORRECT? YEAH, THAT'S CORRECT.
WELL, THE, THE CASE HAS NOT PROCEEDED TO THE POINT WHERE IT HAS BEEN A WILL, HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT MR. ELLIS HAD A RIGHT, HAS A RIGHT TO NO, NO, NO, I WASN'T ASKING THAT IF HE HAD A RIGHT.
I WAS ASKING WAS THAT THE BASIS OF THE SUIT? HE, HE IS SUING FOR THE RIGHT TO BE EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF HOPEWELL WHILE SITTING IN HIS SEAT ON COUNCIL.
OKAY, SO EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR THAT BEVERLY, UH, HAS, UH, PRESENTED TO US.
COUNCILLOR HOLLOWAY? ABSOLUTELY NOT.
AND ALSO PLEASE NOTE FOR THE RECORD THAT, UM, COUNSELOR ELLIS RECUSED HIMSELF FROM THAT DISCUSSION.
SEEING NO OTHER ITEMS, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN? SO MOVED.