Minutes 11/14/1989 - Laserfiche WebLink

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t88 TUESDAY, NOVt~BER 14, 1989 In acceptance of Councilman Cole's recommendation, Council unanimously waived resident requirements for appointees to--and members of--the City's recently- established Blue Ribbon Drug Study Committee, of which Mr. Cole is Chairman. In so doing, Council concurred with Mr. Cole's conclusion that, while the Committee's primary efforts will be confined to the City, the nature of the (drug) problem knows no boundary lines and, further, there are a number of residents of Henry County who, if appointed to this Committee, can be of great help in carrying on the work of the Committee. Under the agenda portion of staff reports, City Manager Brown reported (in summary), as follows: On the current status of Virginia cities with regard to authority (or lack of authority) to initiate annexation proceedings. (Note: Council renewed its previously-extended invitation to the present leader of the Coalition for Effective Local Government to appear before Council and discuss legislation being proposed as a result of the Grayson Commission study, such as restructuring Virginia cities.) On refuse collection/disposal charges, which became effective July 1, 1989, with Mr. Brown noting that income from this source may fall slightly below budget estimate for 198'9-90; and noting,'too, that he will soon recommend some adjustments to the current fee schedule as well as include a late-payment penalty provision inadvertently omitted from the original ordinance which became effective July 1, 1989. In connection with this report and subject matter, Mr. Robert L. Canupp, Jr., owner/operator of Martinsville Office Supply (located in the downtown area of the City) and present at this meeting, cited some problems being encountered with privately-owned "dumpsters" as well as suggested that there is a need on the City's part to do better "PR" (public relations) job in its implementation of the new refuse collection/disposal regulations. On the response by citizens to the latest edition of the City's newsletter (Martinsville Government Messenger), reporting that, of 99 responses received so far, 88 were favorable and 11 were unfavorable (presumably to the continuation of the newsletter). On a recent visit by a group of citizens/officials from Shelby, North Carolina, to examine the development and accomplishments by Martinsville of its downtown "streetscape" project°