Common Council

AREGULAR MEETINGOFTHECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHECITYOFBECKLEYCONVENED AT6:30PMONAPRIL26,2022, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS. THOSEPRESENT: MayorRobert R.Rappold, Recorder-Treasurer BillieTrump, Secretary SusanMiller,ITDirectorBillKelly, Assistant IT DirectorAmyEvans. CouncilMembers: CodyReedy, TomSopher, BobCanter, KevinPrice, SherrieHunter, RobertDunlap, andJanine Bullock. Thefollowing Department Headswerepresent: JeremiahJohnson, GMofBeckleySanitaryBoard, Assistant GMofBeckley SanitaryBoard, JohnPeplowski, Attorney fortheBeckleySanitaryBoard, GavinWard, ZachDobbins, DougSmithfromThrasher, Chief BaileyofBeckley PD,Captain Morgan, ChiefCodeOfficer, andShirley Trotter, HRDirector. Guests included Dr.BonnyBall Copenhaver, President ofNewRiverCommunity & TechnicalCollegeandScottHill,DirectorofTheatreWV. TheMayorremindedthepublicthattheywillbeabletomakecomments wheninvitedtodosobyeitherpressing *3ontheirphone andtheircallwillbetakenintheorderitisreceived, orifviewing bycomputer ortablet, raisingyourhandbyrightclickingyourname andchoosing "RaiseHand". Councilmembers, Department HeadsandthepublicjoinedthemeetingeitherinCouncilchambers orbyWEB-Xfromtheircomputer, orbyphone, usingtheweblinkorphonenumberprovided thedayofthemeetingontheCity'swebpage atBeckley.orgortheCity's Facebook page. TheMayorledthePledgeofAllegiance. Council dispensed withthereadingofminutesfromtheregularCouncilmeetingdatedApril 12,2022, copiesofwhichhadbeendistributed toeachmember. Councilunanimously approvedtheminutesonamotionby Councilman Sopherseconded byCouncilman Canter. Councildispensed withthereadingofminutesfromthespecial Councilmeeting datedApril19,2022, andunanimously adopted theminutesonamotionbyCouncilman Priceandseconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. AResolution toenterintoacontract/agreement withUSAPoolsofDelmarva (USAManagement, LLC) inwhichUSAPoolsofDelmarva shallmanage theCity'sswimming poolsatHistoricBlackKnightandNewRiverParkandshallprovideandmaintain adequate staffing levels, including Lifeguards, tooperatebothlocations fromMay28,2022, throughSeptember 5,2022, wasadopted byCouncilona motionbyCouncilman Dunlapandseconded byCouncilman Price. Councilwoman Hunterthankedeveryone thathastriedtohelpthe Cityinthissituation. Thisresolution isherebyincorporated intotheseminutes. AResolution wasreadinitsentiretybyMr.Fileauthorizing theCityofBeckleytocontribute $15,000.00toTheatreWestVirginiato assistwiththecostofconstructing atheatreversionofCoalwood WVontheGrandview Stagewhichwillbeusedintellingthestoryof theRocketBoysofMcDowell County. Theresolution wasadopted byCouncil onamotionmadebyCouncilwoman Hunterand seconded byCouncilman Price. Thisresolution isherebyincorporated intotheseminutes. Next,Jeremiah Johnson, General Manager (GM)oftheBeckley SanitaryBoard (BSB) explained thattheSanitaryBoardisasking Common Counciltoapproveseparate ordinances raisingSanitary/Sewerrates,Stormwater rates,andaprojectordinance required for theproposed Sanitary/Sewerprojects, perStatecode. HestatedthattheStormwater utilitywascreatedin2007andtheBSBhas continued operatingontheratesthatwereestablished atthattime.Therateshavenotbeenadjustedinapproximately fifteenyears. Heexplained thatthisrateincreaseisneeded tocovertheincreased operating expenses, Stormwater improvements and infrastructure improvements. Hepresented amaptitled "Completed Stormwater Projects (2007- 2022) whichshowsapproximately onehundred tenprojectsthatwerecompleted duringthepastfifteenyears. Oftheonehundred tenprojects, nineteen occurred in unincorporated areaslocatedoutsidetheCitylimitsbutwithinthewatershed. Aprojectisdefinedasanyconstruction thatexceeds 100linearfeet. Heintroduced anothermaptitled "Planned Stormwater Improvements" whichshowsareasofneededimprovements. TheStormwater improvements are "payasyougo" construction. TheBSBdid $2millioninStormwater bondsseveralyearsago, but theyhavenoremaining bondingcapacity. Twoprojects onthismaphavebeencompleted, oneofwhichisonChelsea andCromwell LaneoffStanaford Rd. Theothercompleted projectisonChaseandJonathan DriveoffEisenhower Dr. (bothprojectsareoutsideCity limits).Twoprojects arecurrently underconstruction. FirstistheCarterStreet, CityAvenueprojectwhichisa $1.2milliondollar Sanitary/SewerandStormwater replacement project. Also,theprojectatKotchandS.FayetteStreet. Thismapalsoidentifiesthe Hartley, Beckley LittleLeague andPinecrest Projectasthenumberonepriority. Thereason itisgiventhenumberonepriorityis becauseofthenumberofpeopleimpacted. Theneedforthisprojecthasexisted foroverfiftyyears. Thisisa $5.6millionproject, $3.2millionwillbetheStormwater work.Thisis anintegrated projectwhichrequiresbothStormwater andSanitary/Sewerwork. Mr.Johnsonexplained theneedfortheincreased revenue, howtheadditional incomewillbeused, andtheongoing effortsbeingmadetoobtainadditional fundsthroughgrantsand Congressional earmarks. TheSanitary/SewerrateshavenotbeenraisedinsevenyearswhichiswhentheRedBrushProjecttook place. ItextendedsewertotheRedBrushcommunity. SincethattimetheBSBcompleted a $13milliondollarplantprojectanddid notincrease rates. Mr.Johnsonexplained thattherearethreeordinances tobeacteduponfollowing publichearings thisevening. A Sanitary/SewerRateIncrease Ordinance, theProjectOrdinance (forSanitary/Sewerprojects), andtheStormwater RateIncrease Ordinance. TheMayorsaidthatnoonelikesrateincreases. Appalachian PowerCompany, theSolidWasteAuthority, andtheWV Parkways Authority haveallincreased theirrates. Hesaidthatthecostofpipetodaycompared towhatitwassevenoreightyears agoinsomeinstances hasincreased byonehundred percent. Mr.Filereadbytitleonlyandsummarized ANORDINANCE SETTING FORTHTHERATES, FEES, ANDCHARGES FORSERVICETOCUSTOMERS OFTHESEWERAGE SYSTEMOFTHECITYOFBECKLEY. Mr.File openedthepublichearingandclarifiedthatthisordinance isstrictlydealingwithjustthesewerage systemandthateachordinance thiseveningwillhaveapublichearingpriortoavotebyCouncil. Thefollowing peoplespokeinopposition totheordinance orhad questions aboutit: Ms.BarbaraCharleswiththeNAACP, XavierOglesby, JackieCrouse, RonniePack, VondieCook, JonathonMoore, andDanielleStewart. Thepublichearingwasclosed. TheMayorclarifiedthattheareaoutlined inblackonthemapsondisplayis theMS4area (whichisawatershed) andtheCityisresponsible fortheStormwater inthatarea,regardless ofwhether thepropertyis intheCitylimits. Mr.Filereadtheordinance againbytitleonly. Theordinance wasapproved byCouncil (5infavorand2opposed) on amotionmadebyCouncilman Sopherandseconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. TheMayoraskedforashowofhandsofthosevoting infavoroftheordinance andashowofhandsofthoseopposing theordinance. Councilwoman BullockandCouncilman Reedy opposed. Theordinance isherebyincorporated intotheseminutes. Next,Mr.Filereadbytitleonlyandsummarized anORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THEACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, ANDEQUIPPING OFCERTAINEXTENSIONS, ADDITIONS, BETTERMENTS, ANDIMPROVEMENTS TOTHEEXISTING PUBLICSANITARY SEWERAGE SYSTEM OFTHECITYOFBECKLEY. Mr.Fileexplained thatthisordinance included andauthorized theHartleyAvenue/BeckleyLittle League/Pinecrest AreaSanitary/SewerandStormwater upgrade; combined seweroverflow management planupdateand improvements; construction, pumping andtreatment equipment modernization program; operations centerconstruction projectand allappurtenances relatedthereto. Mr.Fileopenedthepublichearing. DanielleStewartspokeinopposition totheordinance. Mr.File closedthepublichearingandreadtheordinance bytitleonlyagain. Theordinance wasunanimously approved byCouncil onamotion byCouncilwoman Hunterseconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. Theordinance isherebyincorporated intotheseminutes. Next,Mr.Filereadbytitleonlyandsummarized theORDINANCE AMENDING THEARTICLEV,SECTIONS. 9-602,9-603,AND9-604OF THECODEOFTHECITYOFBECKLEY, WESTVIRGINIA ASTHESAMEAPPLIESTOSTORMWATER MANAGEMENT ANDSURFACEWATER DISCHARGE CONTROLANDAPPLICABLE RATESANDFEES. Thefollowing peoplespokeinopposition toorhadquestionsregarding the ordinance: MelKessler, JackieCrouse, JodyLovelace-Patrick, BillCrump, Johnathan Moore, RonniePack, VondieCrook, Danielle Stewart, andJoeNoggy. (Mr.Johnsonclarified thatsinglefamilyresidential isdefinedintheordinance andBSBbillsaflatfee of$3.75/mo. Allsinglefamilyresidential paysthesame. Thesizeofone'slotistakenintoconsideration fornon-singlefamily residential. It'sbilledbaseduponimpervious area. Theratethattheownerscurrently payisper1,000sq.ft. Healsoexplained the needfortheincreased revenue, howthefundswillbeusedandtheprojected revenuetherateincrease willgenerate.) Michelle Kincaid, XavierOglesby, JodyPatrick, Mr.Brown, VondieCook, andDougEplingalsovoicedconcerns orquestions. TheMayorread paragraph fourfromaletterofsupportfromAutumnCrowe, ProgramDirectorforWVRiversdatedApril26,2022: "WV Rivers supports theproactiveapproach oftheBSBtoprotectandimprove waterqualityinthewatershed surrounding Beckley. We understand thattheseapproaches oftenrequire sewerandstormwater rateincreases, whichcandisproportionately affectlow-and fixed-incomehouseholds. Wesupport BSB'sworktoconnectlow-incomeand/orfixed-incomecustomers withhousehold water assistance programs tolessenthisimpact. Ultimately, leveraging diversefundingsources, including sewerandstormwater rates, collaborative agencyfunding, andfederal infrastructure fundingprograms, asidentified bytheBSB, willallowforcompletion ofthe mostimpactful projects. Theimpactsoftheseprojectsarenotlimited towaterqualityimprovements. Inturn,thecompletion of theseprojectsstandtoimprove theeconomic andpublichealthoftheCityofBeckley." TheMayorreadparagraph numbertwofrom aletterofsupportfromJimFedders, Executive DirectorofPineyCreekWatershed Association datedApril19,2022: "Thecurrent stormwaterassessment hasnotbeenincreased sinceitsinitiationin2007whileinflationhascontinued toerodepurchasing powerof thesedollars. Tobegintacklingthelonglistofstormwaterprojects identified bytheBSB, itisimperative thattheassessment be increased. Thisisuncomfortable formetoadmitasmywifeandIwillbesubjecttothesamerateincreaseasotherhomeowners in Beckleybutitisanecessary costforamodernandhealthycommunity." Acopyoftheselettersareattached totheseminutes. Mr.Fileclosedthepublichearingandreadtheordinance bytitleagain. Councilman Sopheraskedifheshouldrecusehimselffrom votingbecausetwofamilymembers workforPineyCreekWatershed. Mr.Filesaidthereasongivendoesnotpresentalegalconflict ofinterestandhewouldnotberequired toabstainorrecusehimself. Councilman Sopherdidnotrecusehimselffromvotingonthis ordinance. AmotionwasmadebyCouncilwoman Hunterandseconded byCouncilman Price. Councilman ReedyaskedMr.Johnson howwereStormwater problems handledfinancially, priortoStormwater'sinception, before2007. Mr.Johnsonsaidthatin2004theCityofBeckleybecamerequiredbyfederallawtoaddaMS4whichisaseparate municipal sewer stormsystem permitthatisadministered byDEP (Dept.ofEnvironmental Protection). Thisiswhentheregulatory obligation began. At thattimeastormwater management planwasimplemented. TheBoardofPublicWorks (BPW) handledstormwater situations tothe extentthatiftheresidentboughtthepipetheBPWwouldinstallit.TheCitylookedtotheproperty ownerstofundthematerials. If anareainvolving numerous residents required themtocollectively buythepipeandoneresidentoptedoutofbuyingthepipe,the improvement orrepairdidnottakeplace. Byhavingresidents payarateforStormwater andSanitary/Sewerisawaytohelp distribute thecostwhichishowitisdonenationally. Councilman ReedyaskedMr.Fileaquestion regarding theHartleyAvenue problem. HeaskediftheCitycouldfundtheHartleyAvenueproject, thensub-leasetheStormwater toacontractor sinceitis considered infrastructure. Mr.FilesaidCityfundsandSewerfundscannotbecomingled withStormwater funds. Mr.Filestatedthat theBSBdoessubcontract Stormwater workanditispaidfromtheStormwater budget. Mr.FilesaidthattheCityandtheBSBmust separate Stormwater fromSewerandtheCitydoesnotandcannotgetinvolved. Jeremiah saidthattheCitydesignated theBSBas theresponsible entityfortheStormwater system. JeremiahsaidthattheSanitary/Sewersidedidthesame. Councilman Reedysaid hewouldlikefortheCitytoassisttheStifflerStreetprojects. Councilman Reedysaidthatvariouschurcheshavereachedouttohim abouttheStormwater rateincrease. Councilman Reedysaidthatbusinesses willhavetoraisetheirprices. Hethinksthereshouldbea five-to-ten-yearprocessfortheincrease insteadofitbeingimplemented allatoncebecauseitwouldbeeasierforpeople. Councilman Dunlapsaidthatnooneresponsible formakingthisdecisionishappyaboutit. Hesaidthattheyhavehadmeetings, workshops, donetheirduediligence, andhaduncomfortable conversations forpeoplewhodonotworkdirectly forthem. Councilman Dunlap saidthatheknowsthatthisincrease isnecessary. Hesaidthateventhoughitwillaffecthisfamilyheknowsthat itisneeded. Councilman Dunlapsaidthattheremaybeamechanism fortheMayor'seffortstotrytofundandassistinthisin different ways. Hereferredtoaprogram attheDHHRwhichhelpswithenergyrelatedexpenses. Mr.Dunlapsaidthattheproposed increases impacteveryone directlyandthatCityCouncilandtheMayoraren'thappyaboutiteither. Withnofurtherdiscussion, the Mayorcalledforavotebyashowofhandsindicating thoseinfavoroftheordinance. Councilmembers Sopher, Canter, Dunlap, Price, andHunterraisedtheirhands. Whenaskedforthoseopposed, Councilwoman Bullock andCouncilman Reedyraisedtheir hands. Whenaskedforthoseopposed, Councilwoman Bullock andCouncilman Reedyraisedtheirhands. TheMayorannounced the ordinance isadopted byCouncil onavoteof 5infavorand2opposed. Theordinance isherebyincorporated intotheseminutes. Nextwasthereceiptofbidsforasphalt, concrete, stone, andreinforcement rods. TherewasonebidfromSouthernWVPaving, Inc.: BaseIIorP&LIat $92.50perton,Wearing Iat $97.50perton,CurbMixat $107.00pertonandTennisMixat $107.00perton.Thebid willbegiventoCouncilwoman atLarge, SherrieHunterandCouncilman atLargeCodyReedytoreviewwithRecorder-Treasurer Billie TrumpandBoardofPublicWorksDirectorJerryStumpforpossibleawardatafuturemeeting. Thisbidisincorporated intothese minutes. OLDBUSINESS: Nocomments. NEWBUSINESS: Councilwoman Bullockannounced thatFriday, April29th Motown'sperformance beginsat8:00p.m.attheMullins Dogwood Festival. PUBLICCOMMENTS: DavidCarrington statedthathelivedatBeckleyTownhomes andwasevictedafternewownership boughtthe property. Mr.FilesaidthismaybeanissuethatWVLegalAidmaybeabletohelphimwith.Mr.Carrington saidthathereceived no helpfromWVLegalAid.Mr. Carrington statedthathedidfindaplacetoliveandisnothomeless. Councilwoman Bullock askedifhe spoketotheHumanRightsCommission. Mr.Carrington saidthathefiledacomplaint withthem.Withtherebeingnofurther business todiscusstheMayoradjourned themeetingat8:37p.m.onamotion byCouncilman Dunlapandseconded byCouncilman Price. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer