BRISTOL, Va. – With little discussion and no executive session, the City Council filled an imminent vacancy on the Bristol Virginia Utilities board of directors.
Council members voted 3-2 to appoint attorney Doug Fleenor to replace Kurt Pomrenke, who is leaving the board at the end of this month. Previous appointee Vicie Dotson declined the position in February.
The council appeared poised to adjourn to executive session when Vice Mayor Ernie Sprouse asked if that was necessary.
“Mr. Mayor, I’m ready to nominate somebody,” Sprouse said, offering Fleenor’s name for consideration.
“He is a native of Bristol, Va., was educated in our school system and has practiced law here for 18 years,” Sprouse said. “He has requested this position. I believe he would bring new blood to that board, which has a number of veteran members, that I believe would be helpful.”
Councilman Guy Odum then nominated former Mayor R.L. Light, who currently serves with Odum on the Planning Commission.
Without further discussion, Sprouse, Mayor Jim Rector and Councilman Fred Bowman voted for Fleenor, while Odum and Councilman Jim Heaney supported Light.
Contacted later by phone, Fleenor said he looks forward to serving.
“This is truly an honor for me. I’ve got a lot to learn, but I believe I’ll be an asset,” Fleenor said.
He also chairs the Bristol Virginia Housing and Redevelopment Authority board of directors.
Fleenor will replace Pomrenke on April 1 for a term that technically expires in June 2011. But provisions of the BVU authority act would automatically extend that term until 2015.
Also during the meeting, police Chief Bill Price and fire Chief J.C. Bolling presented the annual reports of their respective departments. While each focused on performance, concerns about funding weren’t far removed.
Price said the police department has about 10 vehicles that will likely have to be parked sometime this year because they’re no longer safe to operate.
“I feel very strongly that if we can’t provide a vehicle for an officer to do his job and do it safely, then we’ve got a problem there,” Price said.
Rector responded, saying city leaders would have to review the situation.
“That will be part of the process when we begin looking at the budget and we’ll do what we can,” the mayor said.
In recent years, the city has limited vehicle and equipment purchases as part of an ongoing effort to limit capital expenditures.
After the meeting, Bolling said the fire department doesn’t expect to add vehicles in the upcoming fiscal year.
“We were fortunate two years ago to replace two apparatus. We have two more that need to be replaced and other vehicles, but we don’t have the money,” Bolling said. “We’ve just got to be creative and get through this financial crisis.”
City Manager Dewey Cashwell said he plans to concentrate on developing a tentative budget proposal next week so the council can begin discussions soon.
As a precursor of its budget proceedings, the council unanimously approved a request from city Purchasing Agent Don Quesenberry to again use competitive negotiations to procure employee health insurance, continuing a trend of recent years.“There are other things to consider besides price,” Quesenberry said. “The insurance company that offers the best price may not have the provider network we require.”
Reading from the Quesenberry’s request, Councilman Heaney asked the purchasing agent which “public body” he was referring to approving the request.
“The City Council,” Quesenberry said. “The [insurance] committee handles the negotiation process, but it comes as a recommendation to you folks.”
dmcgee@bristolnews.com | (276) 645-2532
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