2003-05-19 - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL CHAMBER - May 19, 2003 Council met in regular session on this date with the following members present: Mr. Caravati, Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards, Mr. Schilling. Mr. Cox acknowledged members of the Charlottesville High School Chorus who pe rformed prior to the meeting. AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS : Public Works Snow Crew; Public Works Week Proclamation Mr. Cox acknowledged employees of Public Works for their extraordinary work during the past winter. Mr. Cox read the Public Works Week proclamat ion. PUBLIC Ms. Naomi Roberts, 1140 St. Clair Avenue Extended, an employee of the Police Department, asked Council about the new ISP system and converting to biweekly payroll. She said employees will lose money from September to December, and she quest ioned why payroll is being changed. Mr. Schilling asked that the City Manager provide a report to Council on converting to biweekly payroll. Mr. O'Connell said that all affected employees are being met with, and noted that two thirds of all employees a re already paid on a biweekly basis. Mr. O'Connell said this conversion has been in the works for years and is intended to streamline the procedure and save money. Mr. O'Connell said he will provide additional information to Council. Mr. Kevin Kotlarsk i, 2316 Fontaine Avenue, thanked Councilors who attended the neighborhood meeting regarding the Fontaine Avenue project. Mr. Kotlarski presented a petition with 399 signatures expressing concern about the project. He asked that the project be stopped unt il the issues are resolved. Mr. Len Schoppa, 1439 Westwood Road, representing ACCT, thanked Council for participating in the Safe Routes to School program. Mr. Schoppa supported the appropriation for Greyhound operations, and said he hopes Council will demonstrate their continued support for this mode of transportation. Ms. Bekah Saxon, 913 Blenheim Avenue, representing the Charlottesville Education Association, thanked Council for increasing the meals tax in order to support unmet capital needs of th e schools. Ms. Saxton said that CEA urged Council to take further steps to encourage State government to meet their responsibilities to the schools. Ms. Barbara Myer, 1318 - B Hampton Street, said that Council will soon be receiving a report from the Jeff erson School Task Force. In that report is a th recommendation that Jefferson School be used during the 50 anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education. Ms. Myer said she thinks this is a stellar idea. st Mr. Waldo Jacquith, North 1 Street, presented what he said will be the first of ten ideas for the City to consider: 1) making grants of $100 each available for residents under 21 who work for social change (at an annual cost of approximately $5,000); and 2) provide a sizeable grant for sustaining a social activist. Mr. Stan Tatum, 540 Park Street, said that traffic is bad in Charlottesville and is getting worse, especially on East High Street, McIntire Road, West Main Street, Barracks Road Shopping Center, and around the University. Mr. Tatum recommende d that lines be repainted, that some traffic signals be eliminated and others coordinated. Mr. Tatum suggested that the running of red lights be addressed with cameras or some other means.