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Staff report re: <br />Barrett Day Care <br />Center <br /> <br />Appropriation re: <br />$6,000 Barrett <br />Day Care Center <br /> <br />Staff report re: <br />Fairgrounds park <br />property <br /> <br />397 <br /> <br /> investors, also spoke in favor of the project and explained the <br /> financing by the investors. Since the property is located near <br /> Venable School and was originally owned by the School Board and <br /> may be wanted for future school facilities, Council decided to <br /> discuss the issue with the School Board at their next joint <br /> meeting this week and therefore took the matter under consideration. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cole Hendrix, City Manager, gave a report on the request <br /> by Barrett Day Care Center for a one-time appropriation of $6,000 <br /> to assist them through a financial crisis. He said that Albemarle <br /> County had recently rejected Barrett's similar request to them <br /> for $4,000. He suggested that Council had the options of (1) <br /> making a one-time grant or loan, (2)~ assisting the center through <br /> some kind of scholarship program, and (3) doing nothing. A <br /> discussion ensued between Council and Mrs. William T. Brown, <br /> president of the Barrett Board, and Ms. Diana Gray, secretary <br /> for the Board, about the reasons for the financi~al crisis and <br /> the center's ability to weather the problem and remain intacn. <br /> <br /> On motion by Dr. Hall, seconded by Ms. Gleason, the appropriation <br /> of $6,000 was offered and carried over to the next meeting for <br /> consideration. Mr. Conover remarked that he would prefer a loan <br /> rather than a grant so as not to establish a precedent of making <br /> grants to rescue agencies or organizations in financial trouble. <br /> <br />Mr. Wiley said that Council could make a grant with the understanding <br />that it would be repaid, as they had with JAUNT. Mr. Albro <br />stated he would vote against the measure, whether it be a grant <br />or loan, because the City simply can't afford it and should not <br />establish such a precedent. Ms. Gleason said she felt the City <br />had some responsibility since it had encouraged the establishment <br />of the Mollie Michie Infant Care Center, which was supported <br />by Barrett financially and was the cause of the present crisis <br />after it closed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Hendrix reported to Council ghat the Planning Commission <br />had recommended against the sale of the old fairgrounds park <br />property to a private developer who wishes to erect a motel and <br />office building while the Charlottesville Development Group <br />has recommended that Council sell a p?rtion of the property in <br />question, 2.5 acres rather, than the fdll! six. Mayor Buck said <br />that he understood that the developer is trying to work out <br /> <br />a mutually agreeable solution among ti <br />in the area:~to develop the smaller poz <br />suggested that Council defer consider~ <br />Commission's recommendation until the <br /> <br />negotiations are known. He stated thc <br />the problems raised by the residents c <br />and that the consensus of the Council <br /> <br />the full six acres. <br /> <br />.e businesses and neighbors <br />tion of the property and <br />tion of the Planning <br />results of those <br />t the burden of solving <br />f the area is on the developer <br />seemed to be not to sell <br /> <br />By common consent, Council deferred its <br /> <br />decision. <br /> <br /> <br />