Common Council

A REGULAR MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BECKLEY CONVENED AT 6:46 PM ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 IN COUNCIL CHAMBERS OF BECKLEY CITY HALL. DUE TO COVID 19, THE METTING WAS HELD BY WEB-X. THOSE PRESENT: Mayor Robert R. Rappold, Recorder-Treasurer Billie Trump, City Attorney, Mr. File, Secretary Susan Miller, Council Member: Tom Sopher, and Director of Parks and Recreation, Leslie Baker, Bill Kelly, Director of IT and Amy Evans, Assistant Director of IT. THOSE PRESENT BY WEB-X: Council members: Sherrie Hunter, Cody Reedy, Bob Canter, Robert Dunlap, Kevin Price, Ernie Parsons, and Janine Bullock. Also present by WEB-X were the following Department Heads: Captain of the Fire Department and Jerry Stump, Director of Board of Public Works, Chief of PD Lonnie Christian, Captain of FD and Chief Code Official, Donnie Morgan. 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”. The Mayor called the meeting to order at 6:46 p.m. Council members, Department Heads and the public joined the meeting by WEB-X 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 24, 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 Bullock. Next, the Mayor opened of the only bid received to replace the roof on the Welcome Center. The bid was from JH Building & Contracting. The total cost of the bid was $64,500.00. The Mayor stated that the bid will be turned over to the two Council members at Large, Sherrie Hunter and Cody Reedy, as well as Director of Board of Public Works, Jerry Stump, and Recorder Treasurer, Billie Trump. This bid is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next on the agenda was the approval of a bid for paving of East Main Street. The only bid received was from Southern WV Paving and the bid was for $73,000.00. Councilman Reedy made a motion to accept the bid, Councilman Canter seconded it and Council unanimously approved it. The bid was incorporated into the August 24, 2021 minutes. Mr. File presented the second reading and public hearing of an Ordinance requiring vehicles traveling South on Allen Avenue to stop at the intersection of Allen Avenue and Hartley Avenue prior to entering said intersection. There were no public comments. Mr. File closed the public hearing and the Mayor asked for a motion to adopt the Ordinance which was made by Councilwoman Hunter and seconded by Councilman Dunlap. Council unanimously approved the Ordinance and it is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr. File conducted a second reading and public hearing of an Ordinance requiring vehicles traveling North on Myers Avenue to stop at the intersection of Myers Avenue and Hartley Avenue prior to entering said intersection, and requiring vehicles traveling South on Myers Avenue to stop at the intersection of Myers Avenue and Hartley Avenue prior to entering said intersection. There were no public comments. Mr. File closed the public hearing and the Mayor asked for a motion to adopt this Ordinance which was made by Councilman Price and seconded by Councilman Dunlap. The Ordinance was unanimously approved by Council and is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Mr. File conducted the first reading of an Ordinance permanently closing the 10 ft. wide public right-of- way/alley between Ellison Avenue and Seaver Avenue and authorizing conveyance of said property to the owner of the adjacent property (The Salvation Army). Mr. File announced the second reading and public hearing will take place on this Ordinance on September 28, 2021. A motion to adopt the Ordinance was made by Councilman Canter, seconded by Councilwoman Hunter and unanimously approved by Council. This Ordinance is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr. File summarized the Resolution to permit the open burning of vegetation by reading the four main paragraphs contained in the Resolution. A motion to approve the Resolution was made by Councilman Price seconded by Councilman Reedy and unanimously approved by Council. A copy of this Resolution is incorporated into these minutes. Mr. File presented a Resolution to pay City of Beckley full-time employees a salary enhancement (pay supplement) of $1,500.00 per quarter for the next four quarters. To be eligible for this payment, the employee must be a full-time employee on the date of payment of the supplement. These pay supplements are to reward its essential employees for continuing to work and provide services to the public through this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The funds that will be used to pay the salary enhancements are from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The details for eligibility to receive these payments are contained in the Resolution which is incorporated into these minutes. A motion to approve the Resolution was made by Councilwoman Hunter seconded by Councilman Sopher and unanimously approved by Council. Any full time employee hired during a quarter and on the City's payroll when a supplemental payment is made shall receive a pro rata share for that quarter. The Mayor clarified that this pay supplement is for full-time employees only. Mr. File said that they are still working on something for part time employees. The Mayor stated that the pay supplement the City normally tries to pay employees in December will not be awarded this year. Mr. File presented a Resolution to pay $500.00 to each City employee who provides proof to the office of Human Resources on or before November 2, 2021 that the employee is fully vaccinated for COVID-19. A motion to approve the Resolution was made by Councilman Dunlap seconded by Councilman Sopher and unanimously approved by Council. The Mayor stated that this includes full time and part time employees and that all employees that have been fully vaccinated and show proof by November 2, 2021 will receive the payment. Councilman Sopher thanked the Mayor for moving so quickly on this. The Mayor thanked Councilman Sopher for initiating discussion on this payment. This Resolution is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr. File summarized the Resolution regarding the WV Governor's Highway Safety Program approving $342,100.00 to be used for WV Lifesavers and Data Tracking and Support Agencies. A motion to approve this Resolution was made by Councilman Price, seconded by Councilman Sopher and unanimously approved by Council. This Resolution is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr. File summarized the Resolution of the WV Governor's Highway Safety Program approving $404,748.00 for Law Enforcement Liaison Project. A motion to approve this Resolution was made by Councilman Sopher, seconded by Councilman Price and unanimously approved by Council. The Resolution is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Mr. File summarized the Resolution of the WV Governor's Highway Safety Program approving $367,800.00 for the Southern Regional Highway Safety Program. A motion to approve this Resolution was made by Councilman Canter seconded by Councilwoman Hunter and unanimously approved by Council. This Resolution is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Recorder Treasurer, Billie Trump explained to City Council that the City mistakenly had the "Drop Account" monies listed as a debt instead of an asset. The City has made the necessary correction and the "Drop Account" now has its own line item and is in balance as an asset. OLD BUSINESS: The Mayor stated that concrete was poured Monday and the landscaping company has been contacted in preparation for the unveiling of the statue at the corner of Heber and Neville Streets. The Mayor stated that the City closed on its purchase of the Neville Street building and Mr. File is reviewing the lease agreement with Fruits of Labor. Gayle Manchin of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) recently spent a day in Beckley with the Mayor and she was impressed. The Mayor thanked Chief Christian and Councilman Dunlap for the work they have done through the newly formed committee to help with the homeless problem in the City. Councilman Dunlap gave a brief update of the first three meetings that the committee has had and thanked the Council members that attended. Councilman Sopher commended owners of the buildings on Main Street adjacent to the buildings that collapsed last summer for their efforts in making the sides of their buildings very attractive. NEW BUSINESS: Councilwoman Bullock thanked Code Enforcement and Board of Public Works for their help. She also thanked the Beckley PD and the Prosecutor's office for solving the seven-year-old murder case of Ms. Sylvia Washington. Councilwoman Hunter congratulated Justin Ward for making the Woodrow Wilson Football Hall of Fame. She also thanked Tommy Taylor from the Board of Public Works for his help in getting a set of keys found on the road returned to the owner. Councilwoman Hunter congratulated Jina Belcher with NRGRDA for being chosen as one of fifty of West Virginia's Wonder Women. She was also chosen as one of the top Forty Under Forty women. Councilman Price thanked Board of Public Works for their work on the corner of Neville and Heber to allow the recent parade to happen. The Mayor also thanked Board of Public Works for moving the fence and all their work in helping the Kid's Classic event take place. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. The Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn at 7:15 p.m. which was made by Councilman Sopher and seconded by Councilwoman Hunter. _________________________________ ________________________________ Mayor Recorder-Treasurer