Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHE COMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF BECKLEY CONVENED AT 6:30PMONFEBRUARY 22, 2022, BYWEB-XDUE TOCOVID-19. THOSE PRESENT: Mayor Robert R.Rappold, Recorder-Treasurer Billie Trump, City Attorney BillFile, Secretary Susan Miller, ITDirector, BillKelly, Assistant ITDirector, Amy Evans, Council Members: Cody Reedy, Tom Sopher, Robert Dunlap, Bob Canter, Kevin Price, Sherrie Hunter, andJanine Bullock. The following Department Heads were present: Director ofBoard ofPublic Works, Jerry Stump, Captain Parsons ofBeckley FD,Chief Christian ofBeckley PD, Deputy Chief Bailey ofBeckley PD, Controller, Jessica Chandler, Captain Morgan, andParks & Recreation Director, Leslie Baker. The Mayor reminded thepublic that they will beable tomake comments when invited todoso byeither pressing * 3ontheir phone andtheir callwillbetaken intheorder itisreceived, orif viewing bycomputer ortablet, raising your hand byrightclicking your name andchoosing Raise Hand". The Mayor called the meeting toorder at6:30p.m.Council members, Department Heads and thepublic joined themeeting byWEB-Xeither fromtheir computer, orbyphone, using the weblink orphone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage at Beckley.orgorthe City’sFacebook page. Council dispensed with thereading andapproval ofminutes from theregular Council meeting dated February 8,2022, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten onamotion byCouncilman Price andseconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. Next Mr.File explained that theBeckley Sanitary Board (BSB) isasking theCity topurchase atract of realestate onCarter Street onitsbehalf. This property isneeded for aninfrastructure project thattheBSB is working onattheCarter Street, City Avenue area. The cost ofthisproperty is $12,500.00. The BSB negotiated thisprice with theOwners, Willie JoeChandler andMary Katherine Chandler. Mr.Fileread by title only anOrdinance Authorizing City ofBeckley ToPurchase ATract OfReal Estate OnCarter Street In The Hedrick-Walker-Carter Addition Described AsLotNo. 418 And APortion OfAnEighteen (18) Foot/ Alley Located OffOfCarter Street. The ordinance was unanimously approved onthefirst reading by Council onamotion made byCouncilman Sopher andseconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. This ordinance is incorporated into these minutes.  Next Mr.File explained that theBeckley Sanitary Board (BSB) isasking theCity topurchase another tract ofreal estate for thesame infrastructure project. This property isowned bytheCatholic Church. The BSB hasnegotiated aprice of $8,000.00which consideration willbepaid bytheBSB. Mr. Fileread bytitle only anOrdinance Authorizing City OfBeckley ToPurchase ATract ofReal Estate InThe Vicinity OfCarter Street And CityAvenue InThe Hedrick-Walker-Carter Addition AsShown OnTax Map32, As Parcels 28, 29, 30, 31, 139, 140, City OfBeckley District. The ordinance wasunanimously approved onthe first reading byCouncil onamotion made byCouncilman Sopher andseconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. This ordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes.  Next was thesecond reading bytitle only byMr. FileanOrdinance Amending City ofBeckley Code Chapter 2,Sec.2-509And Sec. 2-510Increasing From $15K to $25K The Requirement OfFormal Bid Procedures ForThePurchase ofGoods. Mr.File opened thepublic hearing forpublic comments. There were nopublic comments. Mr. Fileclosed thepublic hearing. The ordinance was unanimously approved by Council onamotion made byCouncilman Dunlap andseconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. The ordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes.  Next was thesecond reading bytitle only byMr.FileanOrdinance Amending City ofBeckley Code Chapter 13, Article XIII.Hotel Tax ToIncorporate The Marketplace Facilitator Into The Chapter. Mr.File opened thepublic hearing. There were nopublic comments. Mr.Fileclosed thepublic hearing. The ordinance was unanimously approved byCouncil onamotion made byCouncilman Price andseconded by Councilwoman Bullock. This ordinance isincorporated into these minutes. Next theMayor suggested thattheCity table theOrdinance Authorizing theCity OfBeckley ToAccept AsA Gift From Harper Rentals, Inc. Real Property Identified AsLot 25, Main Street (Commonly Known AsThe WJLS Building). First reading oftheordinance was onFebruary 8,2022. The Mayor suggested that the ordinance betabled until thenextmeeting onMarch 8,2022, atwhich time thebids foranew roof should be available. The Mayor said thatheandMr.Fileconsulted regarding theneed fortheCity toobtain bids for a new roof onthebuilding. Mr.Bickey isspeaking tothecontractors regarding the cost ofanew roof. The Mayor said that there isanunderstanding ifthecontractor finds additional repairs while performing thework, theprice mayincrease. Mr.File joined intherecommendation theordinance betabled until thenext meeting. Amotion totable theordinance until theMarch 8,2022, meeting was unanimously approved byCouncil ona motion made byCouncilman Price andseconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. Next istheResolution Authorizing City OfBeckley ToRenew Lease OfRaleigh Playhouse And Theatre From Mine Power Systems, Inc.,ForPeriod OfOne Year ForOriginal Annual Consideration Of $36,000.00. Parks and Recreation Director, Leslie Baker expressed hersupport totheMayor fortherenewal ofthislease which herelayed toCouncil. Councilman Dunlap asked iftheHVAC system andtheoverhead projector have been repaired. TheMayor saidthat Mr.Bickey ispaying tohave theHVAC system repaired. The Mayor said thatheisuncertain about the working order ofthe overhead projector, but hewillfind outmore about it. Councilman Reedy asked ifthelease amount of $36,000.00willremain thesame. Mr. Filesaid yes, andtheterms andconditions willremain thesame. Councilman Sopher asked iftheCity cansublease the basement. Mr. Filesaid that theCity may sublease thebasement butwould need torefer totheagreement for specifics. The resolution was unanimously approved byCouncil onamotion byCouncilman Dunlap andseconded byCouncilman Sopher. The resolution ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next istheResolution OfThe Common Council OfThe City OfBeckley ToPermit The Open Burning Of Vegetation. Mr.Filereadthe four pertinent parts asoutlined inthe resolution along with theeffective dates foropen burning ofvegetation. The resolution was unanimously approved byCouncil aswritten onamotion made byCouncilman Price andseconded byCouncilman Reedy. The resolution ishereby incorporated into these minutes. OLD BUSINESS: The Mayor expressed hissympathy forthe family ofBetty Wilkes asBetty passed away afewdays ago. The Mayor said hepresented Quincy Madison aLiving Legend Award last Saturday. Councilman Price asked ifthere isanupdate ongetting theHistoric Black Knight ontheCity's website. ITDirector BillKelly said that hewill further discuss thiswith Ms. Baker andcontinue working with Cucumber andCompany onthisproject, aswellasmany other projects tobring theCity'stechnological capabilities current sothattheresidents have online services. Councilman Reedy asked ifCouncil meetings could resume being inCouncil chambers March 8th since mandates are being lifted. The Mayor said itwill be decided onaday-to-daybasis. Councilman Sopher said that hewould also liketoseeCouncil resume having meetings inperson. Councilman Dunlap expressed hisexcitement with theprogress IThasmade towards the City ofBeckley appandthanked ITforallthework that they do. Councilman Dunlap asked Mr.Kelly ifa tentative date tointroduce theappisavailable. Mr.Kelly said that ITisintheprocess ofgathering departmental information tohelp launch theappsuch as: parking payments, viewing municipal accounts, payment arrangements, paying B&Otaxes, paying BSB accounts online, parks andrecreation fees, etc. Mr. Kelly said that ITdoes nothave atarget date, buthedoes notthink itwillbetoomuch longer. Mr.Kelly reminded everyone thatthePassport Parking App isalways anoption anddowntown merchants canvoucher parking fortheir customer'sifthey sochoose. Mr.Kelly said thatthisoption needs communicated to thedowntown merchants. Amy Evans, Assistant ITDirector, said that theyhave been working with Cucumber & Company toaddtheagendas fortheCouncil meetings, aswell asthevideos ofCouncil meetings totheCity's website. These options areavailable now. Amy said thattheagenda isuploaded the Friday before the Council meeting. Ontheright side ofthescreen ontheCity's siteis "TextMyGov" which allows viewers totextakeyword tothatnumber andtoberouted totheappropriate link. This allows feedback totheITdepartment. Ifsomeone asks aquestion using "TextMyGov" andtheanswer isnot available, theITdepartment isnotified which allows them toknow what information isneeded. NEW BUSINESS: Councilman Sopher said thatwhen youpullinto Industrial Drive off Clarence Meadows Blvd. there isnotgood signage togetpeople tothemunicipal court andtotheITDept. Hethinks a permanent better-quality sign isneeded there. The Mayor said that theBoard ofPublic Work's sign making department should beabletohelp with this. Councilman Dunlap updated Council onthe efforts torecruit lifeguards for NewRiver Pool andthe pool atHistoric Black Knight. Hemet with seventeen student athletes between theages ofsixteen andseventeen years oldatWoodrow Wilson High School. The cost totrain and certify eachlifeguard is $250.00attheYMCA. Mr.Dunlap said he, aswell asmany others, areworking hard trying tomake sure recreational options areopen atthepools. Hewillreach outtotheyouth atShady Spring High andWVU Tech'sswim team. Councilwoman Bullock mentioned thefollowing individuals as February isBlack History Month: Quincy Madison, Attorney Wilbert Payne, hisfather, andgrandfather, Ms. Pamela Moore who was anEducator who passed away just afewdays ago, and Mayor Daniel Wright of Oak Hill. Sheannounced thatonthelastSaturday inFebruary Rev. Watts willbehosting alecture series in theOak HillCity Council Chambers at6:00p.m. Shealso listed former Council members, Charles Jones, Madrith Chambers, Lorraine Seay, Frank Williams, Cedric Robertson, Ronnie Booker, andLeeLeftwich. The Mayor added former Council member Albert Scott. The Mayor commended Oak Hillforthelecture series thatthey are doing. PUBLIC COMMENTS: No public comments. The Mayor adjourned themeeting at7:13onamotion made byCouncilman Dunlap andseconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer