Common Council

A SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BECKLEY CONVENED AT 5:05 PM ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2021, VIA WEB-X DUE TO COVID-19. THOSE PRESENT: Mayor Robert R. Rappold, Recorder-Treasurer Billie Trump, City Attorney, Mr. File, Secretary Susan Miller, Bill Kelly, Director of IT, Amy Evans, Assistant Director of IT, Controller, Jessica Chandler, Captain of the FD, Ernie Parsons, Chief Code Officer and Captain of the FD, Donnie Morgan, and Gary Moorefield, Trail Specialist. Council Members: Sherrie Hunter, Tom Sopher, Robert Dunlap, Cody Reedy, Bob Canter, and Kevin Price. Andrew Davis and Jina Belcher from the NRGRDA were present. THOSE ABSENT: Councilwoman Bullock. The public was invited to attend this meeting virtually. The only item on the agenda was the transfer of ownership of the former Beckley Trash Dump. Mr. File explained that this Ordinance is necessary if the City is going to be involved with the Brownfields Remediation Program. Mr. File explained that this Ordinance will authorize the City to transfer the property described in Exhibit "A" attached here-to and made a part here-of to the New River Gorge Reginal Development Authority (NRGRDA) which has agreed to accept the property. The NRGRDA will hold the property throughout the duration of the remediation. The agreement is that at the conclusion of the remediation, the property will be conveyed back to the City. Mr. File read by title only the ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY FORMERLY USED AS BECKLEY TRASH DUMP/LANDFILL TO NEW RIVER GORGE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. Mr. File said that if the Ordinance is approved tonight there will be a second reading and public hearing next week. Council will be notified in advance of that date. Jina Belcher, Director of NRGRDA said that this project has been long awaited by many and when the NRGRDA approached the Brownfields Center they were on board in supporting the NRGRDA. She said that in addition to the cleanup of the property, the NRGRDA has access to resources through the DEP and the EPA Brownfields Assistance Center which allows NRGRDA to access technical assistance to support market analysis, feasibility studies, and other resources supporting this project. Jina said that the NRGRDA is happy to take ownership of the landfill/trash dump. Andrew Davis with the NRGRDA is taking the lead on this project because he has experience with this work. They are working on a property in Hinton. Andrew said that this project makes sense because there is an identified use for it. The Mayor thanked Andy for his involvement. The Mayor told Jina and Andy that he appreciates them working together to make this happen. Recorder Treasurer, Billie Trump said that Council needs to be aware that the transfer must be made by December 1, 2021, which is the deadline for the application. Jina said that the NRGRDA has the preliminary draft application documents with the support of George Carrico at the Brownfields Assistance Center. Due to the timeline, the NRGRDA is actively packaging this grant now. If the transfer of property should not take place, the NRGRDA would not submit the application at this time. The Mayor asked Mr. File to confirm that if the City meets Monday, November 29, 2021, for the second reading and public hearing of this Ordinance, would this allow a seventy-two-hour (three business days) notice of the special Council meeting to be posted. Mr. File said this would be fine. The Mayor asked if anyone had a scheduling conflict. No one had a scheduling conflict. The Mayor said that the City will plan to meet on November 29, 2021, at 5:05 p.m. Councilwoman Hunter made a motion to approve the Ordinance as described by Mr. File on the first reading which was seconded by Councilman Price, and unanimously approved by Council. The Ordinance is hereby incorporated into these minutes. The Mayor asked if there were any public comments. There were no public comments. A motion was made by Councilman Price and seconded by Councilwoman Hunter to adjourn. The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 5:14 p.m. ___________________________________ __________________________________ Mayor Recorder-Treasurer