Council approves changes to utility deposits & Carter St. vacate request

The Front Royal Town Council meeting held Monday, August 26, included the approval of several ordinance, budget amendments, and staff reports on ongoing matters such as actions being taken on EDA issues and zoning improvements. The meeting began, however, with a more lighthearted matter: the “Star of the Month” Award.

Awarded as an encouragement for citizens to go above and beyond for the community, the Star of the Month recognizes one citizen who put the community first in their actions. The award was given to Sharon Pendleton for exemplary actions in her work in the Town Finance Department. As the Manager of Finance for the Town, Ms. Pendleton’s detail-oriented attitude helped her recognize a check that was written for the wrong amount. Her diligence in pursuing contact with the customer to ensure that the customer did not overpay prevented a financial dilemma for the customer and avoided a complicated situation for the Finance Department. Ms. Pendleton was also praised for her helpful and friendly nature at work by several councilmen as well as Director of Finance BJ Wilson.

“I am very grateful to have her, Sharon has excellent communication skills that exceed expectations and continue to exceed expectations,” Wilson said of Pendleton.

Sharon Pendleton receives the “Star of the Month” Award. Photo and video by Mark Williams, Royal Examiner.

Council then turned to the next item on the agenda, reports from the Town Manager and the Interim Mayor. Waltz acknowledged construction work on North Shenandoah Avenue.

“There is only two weeks’ worth of work left for the construction around 14th Street and North Shenandoah, it should be completed soon,” Waltz told council.

Interim Mayor Matt Tederick then offered updates on several upcoming meetings concerning EDA matters, assuring the public that the Town was still taking action in these regards. “I am anxious to have the next meeting with the EDA, supervisors and receive a full report from them. I think that the Reform Committee led by Archie Fox and Jake Meza was a success. With the Citizen’s Committee coming up, I want the community to be able to get involved and get the answers they deserve,” Tederick said.

The next joint meeting of the full council, county supervisors and EDA Board of Directors will be held tonight, Tuesday, August 27, at 6 p.m. at the Villa Avenue Community Center.
Then came approval of a two-item Consent Agenda: purchase of a 2019 Ford F250 pickup truck for the Horticulture Department; and approval of a bid for water meters from sole source Core & Main in the amount of $73,500.

Discussion indicated that additional purchases will be made moving forward and have already been allocated in the existing budget. The old pickup truck being replaced in the Town fleet will be added to a coming Town public auction.

Council then moved into two public hearings and second reading approval of an ordinance amendment concerning placement and approval of meeting agenda items.
The first public hearing concerned vacating a portion of Carter Street; the second, first reading of an ordinance amendment, Chapter 134-71 pertaining to Utility Accounts Payments and Termination of Service.

The ordinance concerning amending Chapter 134-71 was proposed in an attempt to decrease the Town’s bad debt on utility accounts. This ordinance will cause an increase in deposit amounts required for existing residential utility service from $125 to $250 or the highest monthly bill from the previous 12 months, whichever is higher. That change becomes effective September 9 – and after last year’s experience with skyrocketing winter utility bills, if not at Monday’s public hearing, may create a great deal of public comment upon implementation.

The deposits are not meant to be retroactive.  If approved, the Town would begin collecting the new deposit amounts after September 9^th.  Existing accounts would not have the new deposit amounts collected unless they get into a situation where a deposit is required.

The amended ordinance will also raise deposits for existing commercial utility accounts from $200 to $500 or twice the average monthly bill over the previous 12 months. Business accounts will also require the addition of a person’s name to act as a personal guaranty on business utility accounts.

Information on other changes are available at the Town website or from applicable town staff.

The only speaker at either public hearing was Ms. Cherry Nickens, who addressed concern with the vacating a portion of Carter Street. The requested vacating of the 136-foot by 40-foot (5,442 square feet total area) came from Councilman Chris Holloway, who recused himself from the vote and discussion. Holloway plans “to create five townhouse lots facing Steele Avenue” in the area the agenda summary noted.

The requested vacated portion of Carter Street contains a Town water and sewer main “that would require an easement to maintain or repair … as needed” the staff summary noted.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to purchase the property – if you don’t have an area to turn around on that street, cars just do it in my front yard,” Nickens told council.

Councilman Tewalt and the interim mayor responded to Nickens’ concerns.

“We have looked at that particular area and found that it has no value to the Town,” Tewalt explained of the Town’s stance on letting the portion of the street go.

“When applied properly, the zoning should take care of those issues,” Interim Mayor Tederick told Nickens, observing, “By having the development up there, it may remedy your situation.”
With no other speakers on the two issues, Council approved the street vacating request by a 5-0 roll call vote, Holloway abstaining; and the utility deposit conditions by a unanimous roll call vote.

The last item unanimously approved by council was an ordinance to amend Chapter 4-19 pertaining to Order of Business and Placement and Approval of Items on the Agenda. The most notable change approved was under section C of the Order of Business; Placement and Approval of Items on Agenda’s section.

As explained in the agenda packet what was up for approval was, “removal of Council’s ability to override the Mayor’s disapproval of any item which has been submitted by adopting a motion to place the item on its agenda by a unanimous vote from all members of Council present and voting,” as well as other clauses pertaining to moving adding items to work sessions when those items do not meet the deadline and approval criteria.

Council then moved into a closed meeting in which was discussed EDA related items and other issues concerning the financing of the new Police Department Headquarters.

Watch the Regular Town Council Meeting in its entirety in this exclusive Royal Examiner Video: