Common Council

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BECKLEY CONVENED AT 6:30 PM ON AUGUST 24, 2021 IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF BECKLEY CITY HALL. THE PUBLIC WAS ABLE TO ATTEND IN PERSON IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS AND BY WEB-X. THOSE PRESENT: Mayor Robert R. Rappold, Recorder-Treasurer Billie Trump, City Attorney, Mr. File, Secretary Susan Miller, Council Members: Tom Sopher, Kevin Price, Robert Dunlap, Cody Reedy, Jeanine Bullock and Sherrie Hunter, Amy Evans, Assistant Director of IT, Bill Kelly, Director of IT, Donnie Morgan Fire Department Captain and Chief Code Official, and Chief of Police Lonnie Christian, and guest Michael Spain, II. THOSE PRESENT BY WEB-X: Ernie Parsons, Captain of the Fire Department and Jerry Stump, Director of Board of Public Works. THOSE ABSENT: Councilman Robert Canter. The Mayor reminded the public that they will be able to make comments when invited to do so by either pressing *3 on their phone and their call will be taken in the order it is received, or if viewing by computer or tablet, raising your hand by right clicking your name and choosing “Raise Hand”. Prior to the start of the meeting, the Mayor asked for a moment of silence in memory of Mr. Charlie Gillian. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. The Mayor asked that all in attendance stand and recite The Pledge of Allegiance. The public joined the meeting in person in Council chambers and had access to join the meeting either from their computer, or by phone, using the weblink or phone number provided the day of the meeting on the City’s webpage at Beckley.org or the City’s Facebook page. Council dispensed with the reading of the minutes of the regular Council meeting dated August 10, 2021, copies of which had been distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved the minutes as written on a motion by Councilman Price seconded by Councilwoman Hunter. Next, Mr. File presented for first reading by title an Ordinance To Provide For An Amendment To The Traffic Control Map/Other Than Parking And Traffic Control File Requiring Vehicles Traveling South On Allen Avenue To Stop At The Intersection Of Allen Avenue And Hartley Avenue. The Mayor asked Chief Christian if he had any comments regarding this Ordinance and he said no. A motion by Councilman Sopher to approve the Ordinance on first reading was seconded by Councilwoman Hunter and unanimously approved by Council. This Ordinance is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Mr. File presented for first reading by title only an Ordinance To Provide For An Amendment To The Traffic Control Map/Other Than Parking And Traffic Control File Requiring Vehicles Traveling North Or South on Myers Avenue To Stop At The Intersection Of Myers Avenue And Hartley Avenue. A motion by Councilman Sopher to approve the Ordinance on first reading was seconded by Councilman Reedy and unanimously approved by Council. This Ordinance is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, the Mayor opened the bid from Southern West Virginia Paving for the paving of East Main Street (3,647 square yards). This was the only bid received. The bid was in the amount of $73,000.00. The Mayor said the bid will be given to the two Council Members at Large, Councilman Reedy and Councilwoman Hunter, Recorder Treasurer Billie Trump, and the Director of the Board of Public Works Jerry Stump for their review and recommendation to Council. This bid is incorporated into these minutes. Next, the Mayor read and presented a proclamation to Michael Shawn Spain, II and presented him with a Beckley Challenge Coin. Councilwoman Hunter presented him with a certificate of excellence and Councilwoman Bullock presented him with a gift card to show appreciation for his volunteer work at Hunter Cemetery. OLD BUSINESS: Councilman Reedy reported that some people on Stiffler Street (off Crescent Road) approached him about getting that area added to the list of streets in Beckley to be paved. The Mayor referred this matter to Jerry Stump. Councilwoman Bullock thanked Mr. File and Chief Christian for their quick work in preparing the two Ordinances presented in this meeting. Councilman Sopher stated that the ongoing traffic that goes across Maxwell Hill from Pinewood to Holiday Drive to Pikeview Drive is still bad and suggested that Council have another master plan to address this issue. He stated that the half of the road from the school down to Pikeview is getting paved but the other half of that road has rotted away and feels like Council needs to revisit this issue. The Mayor said that this issue, as well as the danger of exiting New River Drive onto Robert C. Byrd Drive, were discussed at the NPO meeting yesterday. They also discussed the danger of coming down Sprague Hill and making a right turn on to New River Drive. The Mayor said the plan being considered may involve condemnation of some property adjacent to the Ollies parking lot in order to utilize the existing light there. The Mayor stated that, in his opinion, I improved access to and from New River Drive may improve the flow of traffic. Councilman Reedy said that he has had to sit through green traffic lights due to the traffic being so bad. He asked if the City could work with the WV DOH about getting a traffic light installed there at the four way stop beside Dunkin Donuts. The Mayor said that he & Jerry Stump, Director of Board of Public Works, are attending a meeting tomorrow morning at District 10 of WV DOH in Princeton and he will make them aware of Councilman Sopher's and Councilman Reedy's concerns. The Mayor said a conversation about eliminating the curve at the top of Pikeview Drive needs to happen. Councilman Sopher said that the City might consider making property acquisitions through Holiday Drive and putting a real road through there with sidewalks and bike lanes and properly funnel the traffic through there as this is right in the middle of that neighborhood. The Mayor said that he agreed.  NEW BUSINESS: Councilwoman Hunter complimented the joint efforts for the litter sweep last weekend that Danielle Stewart helped with. She also thanked Code Enforcement for their help in taking care of abandoned properties in the City. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Kevin Reedy expressed concern for the drug/homelessness problem in the City and offered to help anyway that he can. Councilman Dunlap shared in his concern and said that he will contact anyone interested in forming a committee to help combat this problem. With no further comments the Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn. Councilman Reedy made the motion and Councilman Sopher seconded. The meeting adjourned at 7: 15 p.m. _________________________________ ________________________________ Mayor Recorder-Treasurer