Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHECOMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT6:30PMONSEPTEMBER 13, 2022, BYWEB-X DUE TOCOVID-19. THOSE PRESENT: Mayor Robert R.Rappold, Recorder-Treasurer Billie Trump, City Attorney Bill File, Secretary Susan Miller, ITDirector, Bill Kelly, Assistant ITDirector, Amy Evans, Council Members: Cody Reedy, Tom Sopher, Robert Dunlap, Bob Canter, Kevin Price, andSherrie Hunter. Thefollowing Department Heads were present: Captain Parsons of Beckley FD,Chief Bailey ofBeckley PD, Captain Morgan with theCode Office, Director ofBoard of Public Works, Jerry Stump, andParks & Rec. Director, Leslie Baker. The Mayor called the meeting toorder at 6:30p.m.Council members, Department Heads and thepublic joined themeeting byWEB-Xeither from their computer, or byphone, using theweblink orphone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage atBeckley.orgor theCity’sFacebook page. TheMayor shared thattheBrian Miller, the sonofTerry andDawn Miller’s recently passed away andoffered his condolences tothefamily. He also acknowledged the passing ofQueen Elizabeth II. Heasked foramoment of silence inobservance ofthepassing away ofthese individuals. Council dispensed with thereading andapproval of minutes from theCity Council meeting dated August 23, 2022, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten onamotion byCouncilman Dunlap andseconded byCouncilwoman Hunter . Next, Mr.File read aloud numbers onethrough four oftheResolution andread itbytitle theResolution Of The Common Council OfThe City OfBeckley To Permit The Open Burning OfVegetation. The Resolution was unanimously approved byCouncil as written onamotion byCouncilman Price andseconded byCouncilman Dunlap. TheResolution ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr.Fileclarified theamount ofthegrant andsaid thattheCity hasnoliability forthisgrant. The City applied forandadministers thegrant funds. Mr. File read theResolution bytitle aResolution oftheWV DMV Governor’sHighway Safety Program Grant inthe amount of $355,800.00which was unanimously approved byCouncil aswritten onamotion by Councilman Sopher andseconded byCouncilman Dunlap. TheResolution ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr.Fileread theResolution bytitle aResolution oftheWV Lifesavers Grant from theGovernor’sHighway Safety Program intheamount of $342,080.00 which was unanimously approved by Council aswritten onamotion by Councilwoman Bullock andseconded by Councilman Dunlap. TheResolution is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr.Fileread theResolution bytitle aResolution oftheLaw Enforcement Liaison Grant from the Governor’sHighway Safety Program intheamount of 419,008.00which was unanimously approved by Council aswritten onamotion byCouncilman Price and seconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. TheResolution is hereby incorporated intothese minutes. Next, theCity received onebidforanew four-wheel drive mid-sized SUV fortheBeckley Police Department. The Mayor opened thesealed bidfrom Lewis Automotive fora2022 Nissan Rogue inthe amount of $30,344.42. The bid was given toRecorder- Treasurer, Billie Trump toreview with Councilwoman at Large Sherrie Hunter, Councilman atLarge Cody Reed, andChief Bailey forpossible award atafuture meeting. The bidishereby incorporated into these minutes. OLD BUSINESS: The Mayor said thattwo days this week theCity andCounty willbemeeting with a Consultant from anarchitectural firm regarding theneed forananimal shelter. September 19th three new Police Officers willbesworn invirtually. September 23rd Dancing With The Stars isattheConvention Center. Octoberstth 1 isChili Night. October 5 isanairport signage dedication attheMunicipal Court building. The Mayor thanked Merle Cole andCouncilman Sopher for working onthis. Councilman Sopher said that itisa Coal Heritage Highway Authority informational sign. Councilman Sopher said that Merle hasputupover twenty signs andthey have tried totouch allcorners of theCounty with similar informational signage. The Mayor suggested thatthe Cityand County holdtrick-or- treat onthesame date andthesame time, which is Monday, October 31st from 5:00p.m. . –7:00p.m. Councilwoman Hunter thanked Bishop Simms and the church fortheBlock Party atHeart ofGod Ministry. Shewished Councilman atLarge Reedy happy birthday. ShesaidthatAudra who isavolunteer attheBeckley Welcome Center said thatalotofpeople usethebicycles onthetrails and really enjoy it. Councilwoman Hunter thanked Councilman Price and Councilwoman Bullock forthegathering on9-11downtown where the steel beam isfrom the World Trade Centers. Shewasglad to seethree Police Officers inBeckley onfoot Sunday morning. There willbeaLittle Jimmy Dickens sign dedication inBolt intheparking lotattheBolt Church of God October 2nd at2:00p.m.She thanked Merle Cole andeveryone that expedited this. Councilwoman Bullock also thanked Bishop Simms andtheHeart of God Ministry Church fortheblock party. Shethanked Code Office, Board ofPublic Works, Beckley Police Dept., andRecorder-Treasurer Billie Trump. TheMayor said that hewould liketohave attended theblock party buthadCOVID atthattime. Councilman Sopher thanked Matt Mullins forallhedoes forthecommunity. TheMayor agreed andsaid thatMatt does alotofwork behind thescenes. The Mayor thanked Matt Mullins and Kate Sopher forallthework they didontheBillWithers project. Councilman Sopher congratulated Councilman atLarge Reedy asheandhiswife areexpecting ababy girl. NEW BUSINESS: There was nonew business. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Danielle Stewart said thatshe would like clarification regarding what thecode isinthe City regarding signs ontelephone poles. Sheasked for clarification regarding trash canskept infront lawns. Mr.Filesaid that itisagainst City Code tohave signs on poles andtheCity would bejustified iftheBoard of Public Works removed thesigns. Thenight before and thedayofgarbage pickup thetrash cans canbeoutfront onthedriveway orsidewalk. Mr.Filesaidthatother than thatspecified time itisagainst City Code tohave trash cansinthefront. Danielle said thatshehasnoticed trash receptacles being built inthefront yards ofhouses onPrince Street and Glenn Avenue. She suggested reminding City residents that thisisnotwithin theCity Code. Councilwoman Hunter clarified thattrash bags must beinatrash receptacle. TheMayor saidthat several years agotheCityandAppalachian Power Company agreed thatthere would benosignage allowed onpower poles within Citylimits. Hesaid that ifthe Community Pride group orBoard ofPublic Works notices signs onpoles, atanyheight, theCity has Appalachian Power’spermission toremove them. The Mayor said thatthisisnotsomething thatthepower company takes care of. TheMayor said thattheCity willbemore aware ofthisandasked theCode Office andBoard ofPublic Works tohelp. The Mayor thanked Danielle forher comments. Councilwoman Hunter asked CityAttorney BillFileifhewould describe the ordinance regarding the time thatlawnmowing inCity limits can takeplace. Mr.File said that within City limits grass cutting hours during weekdays are between 7:00a.m.through 9:00p.m. Weekends grass cutting may begin after 8:00a.m. Amotion made byCouncilman Price and seconded by Councilman Sopher was unanimously approved by Council toadjourn at6:58p.m. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer