Clifton council approves attorney payment, well-head overage, rent increase and limits on Triangle Gateway signage

The Clifton Town Council on July 7, 2015 approved several routine financial and land-use items and adopted a new policy limiting signage at the town’s Triangle Gateway.

The council voted to pay an attorney invoice for $2,225 and approved an overage to remove a well head after crews found an unexpected cement structure that required removal. Both motions were recorded as passing by unanimous roll call, with Mayor Bill Hollaway, Vice Mayor Dwayne Nitz, Wayne Nickum, Deborah Dillard, Jennifer Heilmann and Eric Hencken recorded as voting Aye.

Marilyn Barton, the town treasurer, presented the financial reports showing BPOL (business, professional and occupational license) filings through June totaling $42,287.43 (about 92 percent of the projected figure) and reported an anticipated accrual of roughly $5,600 for lagging sales-tax receipts; she also noted $500 received from the Classic Car Show and $225 from parks rentals. The council approved the treasurer’s financial and statistical reports as presented.

Council members withdrew a motion to re-engage the incumbent auditors after discussion about seeking local firms to reduce travel costs. Deborah Dillard and Eric Hencken asked staff to identify local audit candidates; the treasurer will reach out and options are expected to be presented in August with a decision in September.

On planning items, the council accepted Planning Commission recommendations with conditions: Clifton Cleaners, Inc. was approved conditioned on resolving Architectural Review Board-flagged noncompliance (vinyl windows and an unscreened dumpster) and submitting the required application within 120 days; Clifton Café was asked to confirm seat counts and, if not compliant, come into compliance within 30 days and appear at the August council meeting; the preliminary use permit for 7184 Clifton Road was recommended with the applicant’s note that they will not close until the county approves the building permit and anticipated construction in late September or early October. The council also asked the Planning Commission to review required parking for the Buckley Store building after a tenant placed a planter in a required parking space.

The council approved renewal of the Pink House back-building lease for the Tim Hugo Group with rent increased to $1,200 per month for the first two years starting Jan. 1, 2016, $1,300 per month for the following two years starting Jan. 1, 2018, and an option for a two-year extension.

New-business action included a motion, moved by Vice Mayor Dwayne Nitz and seconded by Eric Hencken, to prohibit any additional signs at the Triangle Gateway; the motion passed unanimously. The permanent sign will be used to advertise official town events established prior to 1970 and Clifton Day only.

The council entered and later exited an executive session for legal matters and confirmed that only legal matters were discussed in session. The meeting adjourned following a unanimous motion to adjourn.

The council recorded additional financial notes in the meeting packet, including outstanding Haunted Trail IOUs (115 paid, 13 outstanding totaling $370), a June receipt of $231 in additional vehicle tag fees, a July purchase of stone for the Caboose parking lot, and payments totaling $1,372.50 to the Land, Planning & Development Association for work on the Clifton Triangle project. Staff follow-ups include Treasurer outreach on auditor options and Planning Commission and ARB actions to oversee required corrections for permitted uses.