Town Council - Regular Meeting

[snorts] the muted.

Good evening everyone. Happy new year to everyone. Thank you all for coming out tonight to our first 2026 council meeting. Um Kim, if you would please call roll. Yes, sir. Mr. Webb here. Miss Quetch here. Miss Pion here. Vice Mayor Austin present. And Mayor Anderson here. Now, if we'll stand up, I'm going to lead everyone in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Now, if everyone will please remain standing. I have Pastor Steve Bond. I'm sorry about that. From straight street. Work up for those Christmas calories. Yes, that's it. A little workout. Would [laughter] you bow your heads with me this evening? Dear heavenly father, we thank you for the opportunity to come together in this new year. Lord, we pray for your blessing as we go forward into this new calendar year. We pray for wisdom. We pray for your direction. We pray for your continued safety over our employees, over our town, over the town's folk. Lord, bless us, minister to us, give us your grace and your wisdom. And let this year be a great year. In Jesus name we pray. And everyone said, "Amen." Amen. Thank you. [snorts]

Now, do I have uh I need an approval for today's agenda. Um I will make a motion to approve the agenda with an amendment. Um we need to move the noise ordinance. It is on the agenda as a second reading of the ordinance, but this is actually our first reading. So I would like to move to approve the agenda with changing item L2 to go under item K. Second. Any further discussion? Kim, if you'll please call roll. Mr. Webb. I. Miss Quetch. I. Miss Pion. I. Vice Mayor Austin. Hi.

And Mayor Anderson. I. Now, if I could get an approval for the minutes of our last council meeting for December the 1st, 2025. So, moved. I have a second. Second. Any further discussion? Kim, if you'll please call roll. Mr. Webb, let the record reflect I was absent. So, nay. Thank you. Miss Quetch. I. Miss Pion. I. Vice Mayor Austin. I. And

Mayor Anderson. Hi. Now we'll move on down to we have no public comments today or we have several people signed up for public comments today. Excuse me for that. Um when I call your name, if you'll please come to the podium, state your first and last name and your mailing address. The first one on the uh public comments today will be Miss Julianne Miles. Hi, good evening. I'm Julian Miles. I live at 384 Oakmont Drive in Abington, Virginia. I'm here to speak to you this evening once again about the ordinance that's a second reading tonight about chapter 18 um peddlers, vendors, canvasers, solicitors. Um we're getting there. This has been a very incremental process over the last couple of months with this um ordinance. There is still a piece that I take exception to which is on page 27 of your packet in the section the new section that was added most recently about a right to privacy. Chapter 7 operate other than these are exemptions um that it that you cannot operate other than between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. It says exempt exempt canvasers who may operate between 9:00 am and with one half hour of sunset Monday through Saturday including holidays. But in the very next paragraph it says that you're prohibited from operating on state or federal holidays. That's conflicting language there. Um, but I really want to go back to what the state code of Virginia says, uh, in chapter 172, and this was approved in March 28th of 2024 by the general assembly where it authorizes localities to, um, pass ordinances that um, regulate certain

vendors. In the sub paragraph under that under C where it lays out regulating vendors, it says nothing herein shall be construed to apply to any person who on behalf of any political party as defined in paragraph 24.2-101 or any political campaign required to file a report etc. Um engages in providing information, opinion sampling, polling or other similar canvasing activity. Canvasing should not be in this ordinance at all. It just should not be there. And I feel like I've been saying that since October and it's still there and it doesn't belong in this ordinance. Canvasing something you have all done and knocking [clears throat] on doors is part and parcel of running for office and regulating it in this way. You know, we've made progress. There were requirements for permits in the first round of this thing and that's changed, but there are still restrictions in place that I think don't be don't belong there. So that's all I need to say about that.

Thank you, Miss Moss. Next up for public comment will be Miss Lynn Maniller. I don't know if I said your last name. I wasn't born with it, so I'll let go. Yes, ma'am. [laughter] Yes, ma'am. Yes, ma'am. And let me tell you, it took me several months to learn how to spell it. Yes, ma'am.

Um, I'm Lyn Manweiler. I live at 18129 North Fort Road. I appreciate the opportunity to be able to speak tonight. I'm not a town resident, but I feel passionate about this for many reasons. Um, we many times start our conversations with friends and neighbors, and that's what we are. We're friends, and we're neighbors. I felt very passionately about someone who uh talked to Dan and I about my husband Dan and I about running for board of supervisors this year and I was thrilled about it. He did not end up running because of a commitment with his business and some changes. But I felt it very important to go to my neighbors and tell them about Justin because they didn't know Justin. That's what we do when we canvas. We need to bring canvasing back to our communities so that if Cam's excited about somebody that I may not know, he can tell me about

never gets excited. [laughter] But that's beside the point. [laughter] But that is my point. And I agree with Julian. Canvasing does not need to be in this because we can stop this very easily with a very discreet sign that says no trespassing. Every single canvaser, you guys know this because you're elected officials, you can't go on a property that says that. So, I have a way to stop that. Why do I have the right to tell everybody else in Abington that nobody else can do it either? That's my problem. We are allowing I assume a few people who don't want to have this happen to tell everybody else. Nobody can do it for you either. And that's what I think is is wrong. Did anybody actually complain? Um many times let me jump back to Joe Picket Johnson and I'll wrap up quickly. But lordy me, how many um Rotary Club jokes were about I I still remember one about this was before he passed away about an accident they dreamed up and they said, "Well, he was crossing the street and somebody had their wind because we all laughed about who Joe picket always shan." That's what we need to do. Whenever [clears throat] I need to know something, I go to Facebook and I say, "Hey guys, who's the plumber? Who's this? Who's that?" We want our community to come tell us about our community members that can help us. We don't want to stop that. Thank you.

Thank you. Next, Miss Heather. I think it's I can't read the last name, but is it Evans? Yes, ma'am. Miss Heather Evans. Good to see you tonight, Heather.

Hi, everybody. My name is Heather Evans, and I live at 123 Stonewall Heights. Um, I'm here tonight to also speak about the amendment to chapter 18, business article 6. Specifically, I would like to discuss how important canvasing is to local candidates. So, one of the basic tenants of democracy is for [clears throat] people to be informed about what's going on in their communities and then hopefully to vote, right? Those are the two big ones. We need education and then we need engagement. And the only real way that that happens locally is through going doortodoor. When I ran for office in 2023 for uh for the school board, I did not have the name recognition that many people have in the community due to their last name or say who they're working for. I lacked that. And actually, I ended up meeting some of you as I went door to door specifically because canvasing exists. So, going door todo and meeting people one-on-one and having these conversations is actually for me the best part of running for office. And you'd be surprised about how many people told me that nobody had ever knocked before. Nobody had ever said they were running. They some people didn't even know there was an election going on and they had a lot of questions. A lot of people invited me into their homes and they wanted to chat about myself like tell me about yourself, tell me who's your family, tell me about your job, tell me about your kids, especially since I was running [clears throat] for school board. And so without canvasing, I wouldn't have had those experiences and I wouldn't have the relationships that I do today because of that. Now, my reading of this amendment means that the town is considering limiting canvasing from 9:00 to 9:00, which by the way, that's completely legal. But then also, there's a piece of it

that says canvasing cannot happen on Sundays and on holidays. So, we'll return to that in a minute. So, first of all, I would like to say I think and I'm a professor, so I believe and I I talk about politics all the time. That's my job. I think we should be encouraging every person to run for office. No matter who they are, no matter what their name is, no matter what their background is, right? I I don't care if you're an incumbent. Incumbents have an advantage over people who are not incumbents. Anyone should be able to run for office. And so to do that, canvasing is really, really important for those unknown candidates. Now, the Supreme Court has also ruled that municipalities cannot restrict canvasing between 9 to 9. So, we've got that, but also cannot restrict it on particular days of the week. So, the Supreme Court has ruled that canvasing is legal seven days of the week, 365 days of the year. Now, this is important for people who have jobs also outside of their positions um because they don't have access to people regularly. And I noticed my time went off.

Yes, ma'am. We'll give you a couple more minutes. Go ahead. Just Thank you. Um, but it's important for people who aren't known, right? Let's say they have a 9 to5 and then they even have kids that they have sports happening in the in the evenings or their grandparents and they're going to those sporting events, too. Being able to have those seven days is really important. And if you limit it to only Saturday, you're limiting how people interact with people in our community. So, I would like to ask the board to consider taking out canvasing from this amendment. Thank you. Thank you. Next we have Miss Cindy Green.

Good evening. Um, obviously I will concur with what everyone else has said, but my name is Cindy Green and I'm live at 1075 Clark Street, [clears throat] Bristol, Virginia. You might wonder why am I here if I live in Bristol? Um, I believe strongly in freedom of political speech. I ran for House of Delegates in this last cycle and I plan on running again in 27. Uh, and I'm here regarding the proposed amendments to chapter 18 that place political canvasing under the same regulatory framework as commercial solicitation. As written, the ordinance explicitly defines canvasing to include political candidates, campaign volunteers, petition circulators, and issue advocacy. It then restricts when they that activity may occur and prohibits it on holidays. Political canvasing is not a business activity. It is a core first amendment right and the Supreme Court has as already mentioned has been clear that privacy concerns do not justify blanket restrictions on door-to-door political advocacy particularly when residents already have less restrictive ways to decline speech again the no trespassing I'm asking council to clarify on the record that political canvasing is not subject to these restrictions or to amend the ordinance to clearly exclude political speech from this regulation. Thank you.

Thank you.

Oh, first and foremost, I'd like to thank all of you all for coming out for the public hearing, comments, and for the council meeting. Um, this is what, you know, I like to hear. I like to hear feedback from people in our community and people that are interested in what's going on. So, thank you all very much for coming out for the public hearing. So, right now I would like to close the public comments.

Um, I'm going to say if you'll come up and state your first and your last name. I seen you walk in a little bit later once that we had called the meeting to order, but that's okay. If you will state your first and your last name and your mailing address and go ahead with your comments, please. I'm Katherine Abernathy. Slide over just a little bit. There you go.

In front of that. I'm Katherine Abernathy. I live at 237 Lland Street Southeast. I'm one of Dwayne Anderson's neighbors and I'm a friend of Amanda's here. Um and her mother. Uh I just want to say basically I stand with Julianne and Cindy. I am a canvaser. I will say that many many times people have thanked me for coming out. There have certainly been houses where they didn't answer the door. That was fine. There have been houses when they did answer the door and say we're not interested. That's fine. If I saw a no trespassing sign, never even walked down the driveway. But I really do hope you do not restrict this. I think this has been a very valuable service for a lot of the people that I've talked with. And I especially love when I canvased in our neighborhood, Wayne, that I got to meet a lot of our neighbors. But it's been generally a wonderful positive experience. I encourage a lot of my fellow citizens to do it. I think it's a great way to have that one-on-one contact with people and explained positions. And even if they don't wind up voting for my candidate, I feel better knowing that I've helped educate them that they can make a better choice. Thank you.

Thank you. [clears throat] Now I would like to close public comment. We'll now move on. Um we have no proclamations today. No public hearings today, no resolutions. And as we stated before, we do have a first reading of ordinance and that's going to be the ordinance to amend chapter 13 environment article 2 noise. And then we have Mike Cochran to speak on that.

Yeah, thank you, mayor. Uh yes, so um the uh current noise ordinances uh is written such that there's a lot of um it's there's nothing measurable in it. And so one of the challenges that happens with noise is what's loud to one person isn't loud to another or maybe some people have like hearing aids and and they don't hear or they hear really well. Uh but with um most places across the country use decel readings. That's the more common way to measure things because there's uh decimeters that people [clears throat] that you can purchase. They're relatively inexpensive. And then uh Virginia code allows for the officers uh to use the decimeter for sound measurement. uh and then you have to get them calibrated once a year similar to like radar equipment and things that we already have. And so, but by going with the the uh defined measurement uh that way it's not like well it's loud to me but not loud to you or I just don't like that kind of music. It's something that's it's a quantifiable measure that you can look at and you would know. And so if an officer would go to a scene um and chief's back there, but Felicia goes to a scene and they're able to measure uh the the noise and that way it gives them something to go with. And I think it's u you know it's in in the research what we found is the majority of the communities at least your more developed communities are using this measurement. It's just a more standard way to do things is the key is is that, you know, some people are more sensitive to noise, but it lets you uh it takes a subjectivity out of it and it lets the officer have something they can hang their hat on if they wear hats. I'm not sure if they do, but uh yeah, so that's that's what this ordinance does. And um it just uh is meant to to address the issues that the way that there's no just take some of the ambiguity out of the other way was set up. And you know, I think we've wor worked with uh you did a a fair amount of research on it, but the the numbers that are in there, uh as far as

decibel readings, uh they're set up, it's pretty much the standard across Virginia and across the country as far as the levels go. Um you know, I looked at even like Alexandria, which is a much busier place, but their noise levels are the same. Um and so, and I know the chief has also maybe done some research on it as well. Um, and we would have to purchase the decimeters, but between now and next month, we can get those. Um, and then it's an annual calibration. Yeah. Do you do you do the calibration in house or how does that work? Sorry. Come on up, chief. Happy New Year, Steve. Happy New Year. Yes, sir.

And the section everybody's referring to is it's 3032C. There's a chart in there by district, and it would be it would apply to receiving properties. So if you had a residential district that was adjacent to a commercial district, the measurement would be from the residential line and it would be from the property line. Dispatch had some questions. There are some differences in there of apartments or things that are in the same building and how that would apply inside with the windows shut and that sort of thing. But this is written to be measured at the proper. Sorry. So for the meters, yes, the code of Virginia requires that we send them off for calibration and and receive a certification of that calibration once a year. Um it' be like Mr. Cochran said, very similar to a a speed radar unit in our vehicles. We only we get those calibrated um every six months, but it would be kind of the same thing. and the officer would see the offense and then verify it using the meter to see exactly what what number it is and then compare that to the way that the ordinance is written before any kind of enforcement. [clears throat]

So I just looked up, you know, usually we talk about legal things in here and I have to look at Cam to explain this to me, but I get this. This is my job. So [laughter] I understand what decibb mean. Um finally, it's finally something that's pertinent to what I do. Um, but an example, I just looked up some examples. So, a sewing machine is 60 dB. So, if you're sitting next to a sewing machine, that level of 55 dB is about what a sewing machine would be. We had some discussion about this before about how loud these things actually were. Sound is also not a linear increase. It's a logarithmic increase. So, if you're talking about the difference between 50 dB and 60 dB, it's not the difference between 50 pounds and 60 pounds. It's it's a different scale. So, that complicates things. Um, I'm trying to find something. A power line mower is 65 dB. What's What are the other levels? 70. Um, I'm looking at this list. Um,

what' you say just then? Was like a power lawn mower. Power lawn mower.

Your garbage disposal is between 70 and 80 dB typically. Um, traffic. If you're in a if you're in a restaurant and you're sitting in the middle of the restaurant and there's a lot of noise, it's about 85 dB. So, those are all sounds that are not harmful to your ears, but they might be annoying to you if you're hearing them for a long amount of time. Um, this says a personal music player on high is about 112 dB. And I don't know if you have an Apple Watch. Um, sometimes I've been at a ball game and had an Apple Watch on and it'll say your sound is too loud. Um, and so that's that's loud. It's too loud for a long period of time is my point. So, I I am in favor of of putting numbers with the ordinance because I think it helps if somebody calls just because we were talking about it before. So, I said if Cam starts playing music at his house and it's super loud and it annoys me one day, the next time he plays music, even if it's softer, I'm going to be just as annoyed because I'm already annoyed at him for playing the music. So, this gives this right. So, [laughter] so and then the next time it may be even softer, but I'm really good and mad because I've had to put up with him. and so less of a stimulus is going to annoy me more. So I think that this gives you a quantitative way to measure it and say yeah they're they're within the ordinance so you're going to have to deal with it or hey you're out of the ordinance and you're going to have to turn it down. And I also think it'll be easier for our business owners because if they're worried about it then they can buy their own dimeter and they can say hey this is um I've I've already tested this. I feel comfortable knowing that this band is playing at a proper level or this music is the proper level. So, I think this is a great um addition to this ordinance.

I'm I'm not opposed to to the addition to the ordinance, but you know, I am I am what we call a business owner here in the town of Admin. Um, I'm one of those people that like I would like to to hear what to hear what that maximum volume is with my ears so that I could pass that along to my employees at my restaurant or other people who have establishments in the town of Admin that are interested in playing music as well. I I have no problems with the number decimal, but I would like to hear that before I make a decision on saying yes or no on this. I would like to personally hear what the maximum volume is before casting my vote on this or having my input on this. That's just me. And I've told members of council they can come by my office and I'll put them in the sound booth and play sounds for them at different levels so that they can and you know I'll do it for whoever um so that you can hear although that will be a different experience than because it'll be in a sound booth and [clears throat] it'll be in a completely quiet environment and right at your ear. So it'll be a different experience than say standing standing in you know the middle of your restaurant when there's a band. It's going to be a different

and way but it'll give you an idea. I'm also not opposed to with me being a business owner and me being the mayor here in the town of Avenue once we get the decimals here to bring the equipment to Dwayne and company and let's try it out and let's see what that volume is to where we can all I invite everyone on the council. I invite everyone to come and let's try this out and see what what that maximum volume is playing. They got these numbers from other communities. Oh, for Yeah. Yeah. It's it's the it's the standard fair across the uh but I would just personally like to hear what that

what that maximum volume is so that way like I can pinpoint that myself and and and maybe pass that on to fellow

business owners that play music in the town of Aon as well. That's just me. You know, this issue came before us, I know, several months ago, uh, for consideration. And at that point in time, we had, uh, a number of members of the community here, some in favor of, uh, changing the time for the the noise ordinance and some opposed to that. And we sat and we listened to that very carefully. At the conclusion of that, we altered the the time period that that music could be played. And and I left at that time thinking we'd reached a compromise uh that everyone was in agreement with and that everyone could could live with. Uh apparently that's not the case. But there was one gentleman u from the community that kept talking about what a balancing act this is. And it is for the council. It's for anyone. It's a balancing act.

We've got residential property and we respect that. And we respect the idea that uh people have a right to the quiet enjoyment of their home, but we also have businesses in town that uh that depend upon this type of uh activity in order to survive. And it's again a very careful balancing act because if you start to look at some of the uh restaurants in town for example right now you know we've got two three four maybe that have have closed and we certainly don't want to close our doors to being a friendly community for uh reasonable uh music to be played and and that sort of thing. So again I think we have to be very careful. I do like what uh uh as Pion said that I think it's you know it's probably a good idea to quantified in some fashion because all of us have different sensitivities. You know what might offend me doesn't offend you and vice versa. That goes with music that goes with the type of music that's being played and the list goes on and on. But I do like the idea of I I called it a science experiment. I'd love to be able to to go to the mayor's uh place of business and to listen to the sound and to walk outside and walk down the street both directions and see what the, you know, the tolerance that I personally would have for it before I considered this. And for those reasons, I'd like to make a motion that we table this for tonight and give us an opportunity to look into this a little more carefully.

Just first reading. So you could just let it pass over. Yeah, I know. But I don't want to fast track it even with that at this point. I I understand. [clears throat] I want and and I and something else that I think is very important. We've had a lot of people here tonight to talk with us about this one ordinance that that we're considering. I'm not sure that there's that and I know that this is all public record, but I'm not sure that it's well known that this is back for consideration tonight. And I'd like to give the opportunity for residents in the area to come in and also address council about it

and as well as business owners as well too that have that have that have restaurants or have an establishment that they are like you said they are relying on the music to come in to bring people into their establishments to keep their employees fed and to keep theirelves fed as well. So, I think that's a good point that you've reached on there, Vice Mayor Austin. So, you made a motion. I made a motion to table it for tonight's meeting. Do I have a second? I can second that. Any further discussion? Kim, if you'll please call roll. Mr. Web. Hi. Miss Qu. I. Miss Pian. I.

Vice Mayor Austin. Hi.

And Mayor Anderson. Hi. And now we'll be moving on to the second reading of ordinance and that's going to be the ordinance to repeal amend and reenact chapter 18 business article six peddlers vendors campusers solicitors food and beverage vendors including fair and festival. We have Mike Cochran and Cam Bell to speak on that. So, I I'll put it to to you guys. Obviously, there's some passionate people uh that think that this shouldn't apply to canvasers at all. If if council was inclined to amend that section, we can pass it over again [laughter] and uh try to come up with some other language. Um I appreciate the comments. The the first amendment of course isn't unlimited. Um the Supreme Court has ruled that um governing bodies can pass uh ordinances for instance that limit time manner in place. Uh that that's what this applies to. Some examples that you guys are familiar with. You can't put signs in the rightway. You can't have political speech within X number of feet of polling place. That that sort of thing. That's along the lines of of what this would entail. I don't expect that any of these uh canvasers expect to show up at your house at midnight on a Sunday. Um but that's what this technically would limit, but um it's up to to you guys. I I don't know uh at the present time if the the risk of canvasers going outside of this limit is enough uh to argue about. Uh so but it's up to to you guys if you want to include uh canvasers in that provision or

I have no problem with the provision except for I do feel after hearing what people have said and after thinking about it I have no problem with allowing canvasing on Sundays. Um as I sit and think about it I have probably canvased on Sundays. Um when I recall I when I ran for town council I didn't canvas because it was during COVID so I made phone calls. Um, but I have I have canvas quite a bit for my husband and I know that we have done it on I know that we did it on Sundays and um I feel strongly that nobody's going to be out at 9:00 p.m. knocking on people's doors because it's not safe. Um but it's it's always a balancing act for people knocking on doors. You don't want to wake people up. So you try to do it in the middle of the day, but it's difficult because you have to work. And so if you only have Saturday and Sunday to do it, um I have no problem with removing Sunday from the from the um ordinance.

I have no problem with moving Sunday as well too with me with me [clears throat] the type of business that I work in the restaurant business. You know, before I started the Wayneing Company, I was actually off on Saturdays and Sundays. And when I was going knocking door to door, those were the times that I was doing that. Um, and on Sundays, like basically I was eliminating that time for people to go to church. And then after church, my times on Sunday were probably 2 to maybe 4:35:00. I didn't get a whole lot of canvasing done in that that hour, but that's pretty much after 4:35. I felt like, you know, I have kids myself. I felt like people are getting ready to start their weekend or their daily week. So 4:00 was the limit. 4:30 5:00 was the limit. I didn't want to bother anybody after 4 4:30. So and I can say that I was canvasing on Sunday. You know, I was canvasing at my church. I was canvasing. You know, the lady here that's my neighbor, you know, I was canvasing Sunday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon. So I have no problem with taking that out.

And I don't think we want to limit I don't think we want to prohibit canvasing. I think we just want to have over my time on council I have found that just like with the noise ordinance sometimes it's a good idea to have things in writing and to have a policy so if something happens you have a guide to go by and I think that that's the intent of this ordinance. I don't think the intent is to restrict canvasing or [clears throat] protect or prevent canvasing at all. It's not from my point of view. Like I said, I've done a fair amount of it and I have the ultimate respect. If anybody knocks on my door from representing any political candidate, I'm going to talk to them because I know what it's like to be on the other side. Can we remove that language? Well, can [clears throat] entirely?

Yeah. It it seems to me rather than fight about it that we eliminate that from the ordinance and see if it becomes a problem. And if it becomes a problem, then we can amend that section to to something else. I think that's a good idea. How about um in that section seven just so we're clear uh except for exempt canvasers, peddlers, solicitors or vendors to whom this ordinance does not apply. Is that right?

But let me say I apologize to you, Mr. Bale. You asked me at a earlier meeting today if if I had any problem with this particular ordinance and I did not respond to you that I did and so for that I apologize. But after listening to these folks uh talk about it and rereading it. Uh they've convinced me that we need to remove from

and and that that's me as well. That's me as well too. I I feel the same way as well too. Um, you know, like we said, we were in a another meeting with Cam earlier and we were kind of running this back and forth and like you know, I'm all about the people. I'm I wouldn't be where I'm at today if it wasn't for the people that are here in what I call the peanut gallery right now. So, um, I appreciate you all coming out and voicing your opinions to help with the decision on the decision- making here. And if we had more of this, we would have less argumentation or with us just passing something here and then two days later it would be upsetting to you, him, her, anybody like that. So I mean, you know, we we serve the people. We're here for the people and we I just want the people to know that the council do hear where you all are coming from.

Yeah. And just uh on this whole thing, the objective for this has nothing to do with political candidates. Everything was about people going door to door trying to sell you stuff you don't want. And I think I think some of the people got the wrong impression about that and they took it to more towards canvasing. I understand I understand where you come from. But yeah,

I don't think that like like Mike Cochran was saying this wasn't this wasn't brought up for that purpose. We just want you to know that the purpose that it was kind of set up that the way that I was taking it was for elders in our community that people were knocking on their doors and maybe taking advantage of elders in our communities. And that's just Mike Cochran and the council looking out for citizens in the town of Avenue. And I think that it kind of got played out to where where we're at right now. And we want to straighten this out and we will get this straightened out. So, so Cam, what what do we need to do for the motion? [clears throat]

I think just somebody needs to make a motion uh to adopt the ordinance with the changes I suggested. So, just to be clear, we're removing canvasing all together. Correct. Yes, sir. Okay, I'll make that motion. I'll second. Technically, we're amending as presented uh 18-144B7 for the reasons I said and we can remove the definition section even it would be anything

just remove the C word from it. If it's not prohibited, we don't need to define it. [clears throat] I think there are other I was looking at the definition of canvaser. I think it's a little bit broader than political in in the definition. There there is a different section where uh it says which ones are exempt um

which is in 18-1324 work pretty long. I mean I'm looking at the definition of it here now and it you know it talks about petitions seeking signatures political candidates uh it also also talks about charitable nonprofit organizations

any cause issue but yeah you just want to strike canvaser all together then yeah I think it's I think it's safer just to strike it all all together. If if my initial motion reflects that, then that's what um No, but [laughter] in in addition to that and then so I'm going to strike every reference to canvaser in that in the all the ordinances. Yes, that's what I was in article. Yes, sir. Okay. So, Derek, you made a motion, right, to strike all canvas referencing and Donna second that. Any further discussion? Cam.

Nope. Any further discussion? Council. Cam, if you'll please call roll. Mr. Webb. I. Miss Quetch. Hi. Miss Pion. I. Vice Mayor Austin. Hi. And Mary Anderson. HI. [applause] SO, now we'll move down. We have no consideration of bids tonight. We do have some new business and that new business is discussing the regulation or is discussing regarding acceptance of a grant from the Wellspring Foundation of Southwest Virginia for funding the Virginia Creeper Trail Trust Maintenance. And we'll have Mike Cochran speak about that.

Yes. Um, sorry I didn't get my pages [clears throat] together. Uh, a couple weeks ago, the Wellspring Board had contacted me. Uh, after the storm, we started trying to do an in-depth assessment of the trestles because we own uh the ones between here and Damascus and um so anyway, we uh wanted to make sure that they were uh safe and all that. So, the um company that did the inspections for them identified some things that needed to get fixed uh in a shorter time frame. Uh and so their board has had uh offered to go ahead and pay for those immediate repairs uh in the amount of was it a million68,000 I believe is the amount uh and because it's deemed uh to be an emergency inland or I'm sorry Prosome Engineering had already put it out to bid because it they're deemed to be emergency repairs uh there it conforms with our procurement process. Um, but it basically there's no match to it whatsoever and it allows us to get them fixed right away. Uh, and they should, if everything goes according to plan, it'll be finished before [snorts] tourist season ramps back up. So, it's a it's a nice thing. It needed to happen. It's just a lot of work that needs to get done. And, um, so basically, it's just a accepting the million68. It's a reimbursement, so we have to put the money out in order to get the money back, but they're usually pretty quick about turning that around. So, and uh the company that's uh actually going to be doing it, they've already done work on the trestles before. There's two of them that are pretty adept with working with it and actually working together on this one. So, um the nice thing is we're just extremely um grateful to have u folks uh like Wellspring in the community that are more than willing to help make it happen for us.

So, yeah, with no match, it's literally just accepting the money. So, do we need a motion to accept it or uh Yeah. Yes, I think we need a motion. I'll make that motion. Second. Any further discussion? If you'll please call RO. Mr. Web. Hi, Miss Qu. Hi. Miss Pion. I. Vice Mayor Austin. Hi. And Mayor Anderson. Hi.

And like Mike Carr said, we are blessed to have the the Wellspring Foundation here in our community helping back us with the rebuild of the Virginia Creeper Trail and all that they do for the town of Admin. So, thank you to the Wellspring Foundation. Okay, now we will move on to we have we don't have any old business. Um, we have miscellaneous business and communication from our town manager, Mr. Mike Cochran.

U, it's 2026. Uh, yeah. No, I think just hope everybody had a great safe holiday. I know um uh it's just been exceedingly busy on a lot of different fronts and I don't have a massive amount prepared other than you know I'm just very appreciative of town staff. They really uh have been able to make it happen for us. Uh they we had a couple unexpected ice storms or snow storms or precipitation events when it was freezing and our public works guys were able to step up there. Um, and one other thing was um the uh that they've been able to really make happen for us is after Christmas they they did trash pickups like when they weren't scheduled trash pickups just to get the trash and they really step out of the way and uh I know that's one of the things our public works guys do. They you've seen the grapple out probably more than normal and you've seen the the trash trucks out and so they're very good about trying to make sure that that's get stuff gets picked up. So, I do want to say thanks to public works and uh police and fire too under the fire. They've been super busy with fires. Um it's why they're firemen. Uh but the police have actually Yeah, the police have been really working hard too. They've just everybody's been busy, but it's been a great holiday so far as far as New Year's Eve and everything went pretty good for everybody. So, that's it. I really don't have a ton other than, you know, hope everybody um

than the four hour speech you gave earlier today. Uh that was only three and a half. Yeah. And but anyway, that said, yeah, there was a lot going on. But yeah, we have a we're just very very fortunate to have um you know, the community that we have and and the amount of support that we have because we have a lot of really fun things happening in town. And um if anybody watching hasn't heard that we've finished the playground, you got to take your grandkids up there and go to the playground. Even if you don't have grandkids, just go up there to see what it looks like. Um I don't have grandkids, but that said, I still have I still have kids, but they're get big. that said it's an amazing playground. This is be I went up there. My daughter was in town. I went up there the day or so after Christmas and I just had to show it to them and any they were like wow you know and they live out in W Washington where they have a lot of money, a lot of playgrounds but nothing like that and it really is a it's an amazing thing and uh it'll be something that people will talk about for generations and uh you know really is amazing. So thanks for everybody that helped make that happen as well. Again, that was Wellspring, but there was also a lot of elbow grease. Um, and there was a couple months there where public works was not so happy with me because they were up there working while the their main projects were beginning sidelined because the pro the playground had to get done. So, it is done. And then one last bit is the pickle ball courts. Um, there was an unexpected emergency in the in contractor's family and they cannot finish the pickle ball conversion until it gets warm. So, public uh Kyle is working on getting some temporary pickle ball nets because you you if you can't play pickle ball, the world's going downhill. Yes, sir.

So, uh we're going to get those thing get those things up there pretty soon. So, and everything's working well. It's a fun exciting.

I just want to kind of piggyback on what Mike said with the public works. Um I had uh received an email from someone who lives on Stonewall Heights. Um they had the weather was kind of warm after Christmas. We all know that. And um they had several leaves in their yard. They're a little bit older. Um and they got the leaves out to the side of the road, not once but twice in one day. And public works, like you said, was out and about. They picked them up early in the morning. They picked them up later in the afternoon. And I'm just going to say the Bradley's were very thankful of public works for what they do. And I can also say in my neighborhood as well, you know, it was Christmas time. Um, our trash was a little bit heavier than what it usually is with boxes and so forth. And you know, I I live on Highland Street and Public Works is ones on Kings Mountain Drive. Uh, if I felt like that every time that they went out to go to another neighborhood, they would do a clean sweeper in my neighborhood. So, a big shout out to public works for everything that they've done the month of December and the fire department and the police force as well too.

No, but if I can just add one one pro tip, I picked this up because I have two two containers. I got like a fivestep step step ladder and it's embarrassing so there's no pictures of it, but I I stand on the trash [clears throat] [laughter] and it it really helps uh compact it in there. Yes, sir. Well, I will add to that and say that um my mother lives in in outside of the town of Abington and she has a trash pickup company and she got a she has gets charged if her trash doesn't fit in her trash can. So, her trash can didn't completely close the other day and she got a warning letter saying next time she would they would get charged. So, I know everybody comp not everybody, but often people complain about having to pay for trash service in the town of Abington, but aren't we fortunate that we have such a great public works department because my trash is often overflowing. So, um I'm very I'm very grateful that that I don't get fined when that happens and that they just take care of it for me.

I can show you how to use the stepladder. I would get You're a lot taller than me. Y'all would get in there and not be able to get out. [laughter] Vice [snorts] Mayor Austin, do you have any comments? I have no report. Thank you. Miss Donna, I just like to wish everybody a happy new year. And we had a council retreat today, spend hours together. So, we're making plans for 2026 and discussing the progress we made in 2025. So, I'm looking forward to that. Eric.

All right. Now we'll we'll move on to reappointments to boards and committees and um we have the veterans advisory board. Um we have to fill the vacancy of Clint Harris who whose term has expired and the vacancy of Dicky Kaiser who has um is an unexpired term but is stepping away. And um I think that we have I think we have three applicants, but I think two of them are residents of the town. Yes.

And I know we uh have had a policy in the past of wanting to fill those if possible with [snorts] town. Yes. And I'm on board with that. And are are I just see two that would be Laura Mitchell and Bernard Miles Jr. Town Res. Yes. Do we have more than two applicants? Yes, we have three. Is this also Isaiah Ellison, you know, I personally like Isaiah myself, but you know, as vice mayor, he has not applied to the veterans advisory board. What he applied for?

He applied for board of building code appeals, the HPB, the planning commission, sinking springs cemetery committee, and the tourism advisory committee. But he did not mark veterans advisory board. So, it appears, and I I just want to bring something up, not not to not to take away from anybody's application, but um I I don't know if this is something that we've run across before, but um one of the applicants is the spouse of a current member of the board. And so, I don't know if that is an issue. If we have two people from one household voting on something, is that an issue? It's just an advisory board. I don't think there's any rule against that. Okay. I just wanted to check. Thank you for bringing that up.

So, we have two applicants in two spots. Yeah. So, we'll just point those two motion to appoint Laura Mitchell uh to the vacancy of Clint Harris and a motion to appoint Vernon Miles Jr. to the unexpired term of Dicky Ka. Second that. Any further discussion? Cam if you'll please call roll. Mr. Web. Hi. Miss Qu. Hi. Miss Pion. I. Vice Mayor Austin. Hi. And Mayor Anderson. Hi. [clears throat]

And with that being said, we'll call this meeting adjourned. Thank you all for coming out tonight. Thank you.