Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT6:30PMONNOVEMBER 22, 2022, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIAWEB-X. THOSE PRESENT: Mayor Robert R.Rappold, Recorder-Treasurer Billie Trump, andSecretary Susan Miller. Council Members: Cody Reedy, Bob Canter, Tom Sopher, Kevin Price, andJanine Bullock. The following Department Heads were present: Director of ITBillKelly, Assistant ITDirector Amy Evans, Corey Lilly Director ofOutdoor Economic Development, Pam Frey Director ofBPW, Captain Ernie Parsons with BFD, andChief ofPolice Dean Bailey. ABSENT: Councilwoman Hunter andCouncilman Dunlap. Guest: Lt.Chris Graham withtheBFD. The Mayor called theWorkshop toorder at6:30p.m.Council members, Department Heads and thepublic joined themeeting either inperson orbyWEB- Xfrom their computer, orbyphone, using theweblink orphone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’s webpage atBeckley.orgortheCity’s Facebook page. The Mayor ledthePledge ofAllegiance. Council dispensed with thereading and approval ofminutes from theCity Council meeting dated October 22, 2022, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten ona motion byCouncilman Price and seconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. Council dispensed withthereading and approval ofminutes from theNRGRDA Public Meeting held inCouncil chambers onNovember 3,2022, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved the minutes aswritten onamotion by Councilman Sopher andseconded by Councilman Price. Council dispensed with thereading and approval ofminutes from theCouncil Workshop held onNovember 3,2022, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten ona motion byCouncilman Sopher and seconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. Next, onthe Agenda wasthe Supplemental Resolution forthePension Funding Bonds. TheMayor said thatdue torising interest rates and changes inthe stock market thiswould bedelayed until market conditions improve. Next, Mr.File presented anOrdinance approving theCity entering into anon- exclusive franchise agreement with Cebridge Acquisition, LLC (dba Optimum). The public hearing will be December 13,2022, at5:30p.m.andthe second reading oftheordinance willbe during theCouncil meeting December 13, 2022. Mr.Filesaid thattherenewal period ofthisagreement isfive years, and itcontinues toprovide theCity with revenue offivepercent ofOptimum’s . gross revenue generated intheCity. Mr. Filereadtheordinance bytitle, An Ordinance Granting ARenewed Nonexclusive Franchise To Cebridge Acquisition, LLC Doing Business As Optimum ToConstruct, Operate and Maintain ACable Television System In The City OfBeckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia. TheMayor asked ifthere were anycomments orquestions regarding thisordinance. Councilman Price noted there were several strike throughs anddeletions intheagreement andMr.Filesaid that theformat isbeing finalized andSusan willforward to Council aclean draft. Mr.Filethanked Councilman Price for addressing thisand stated thatthe City isstillnegotiating a fewminor points with Cebridge which may require afewvery minor amendments totheAgreement. The Mayor stated thatMr.Filehas retained theservices ofAttorney Robert Rodecker toassist innegotiations. Mr.Rodecker hasassisted theCity inprior negotiations. Mr.Rodecker isanexpert onnegotiating these types ofcontracts with cable companies. Councilman Sopher asked if thisgives theCity anyleverage tomake sure thatsubdivisions likeWoodland Village andEwart Avenue have access to service. Mr.Filesaidthatitdoesn’t necessarily give leverage tothat. However, itdoes require thatcable be offered inareas with acertain amount of population. TheOrdinance was unanimously approved byCouncil ona motion made byCouncilwoman Bullock andseconded byCouncilman Price. The ordinance andtheagreement arehereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, theMayor spoke about apay supplement heisrecommending forCity employees. TheMayor said thatthe annual paysupplement was suspended during thepandemic when theCity found other ways toreward City employees through ARPA Funds. Mr.Fileexplained thattheresolution provides asalary enhancement which iscalled apay supplement intheamount of $850.00to eachfulltime City employee onthe payroll asofDecember 1,2022. Mr.File reiterated thatthisisapaysupplement. It isnotabonus. Theresolution was unanimously approved byCouncil ona motion made byCouncilman Reedy and seconded byCouncilman Price. The resolution ishereby incorporated into these minutes. TheMayor saidthat neither henorCouncil areeligible to receive thispaysupplement. Next, theMayor said thatthere isstill work taking place onthe Outdoor Economic Development Plan and itwill berevisited attheDecember 13, 2022, Council meeting. Next, Lt.Chris Graham from BFD spoke about theCERT Team. The CERT team trains individuals totake care of themselves incase ofemergency then branch outandhelp neighbors. The CERT team helped administer COVID tests andCOVID vaccinations. Councilman Reedy recommended the Beckley CERT Team fortheGovernor’s Service Award which honors volunteers andservice organizations. Although they were not selected aswinners this year, the Governor senttheBFD aCertificate of Accommodation andaletter. The Emergency Management Division ofWV presented Beckley CERT with athank youplaque atthelastLEPC meeting. Beckley CERT also partnered with American Red Cross andhelped with disaster responses. Lt.Graham thanked Chief Wills andCouncil fortheir support inhelping theBeckley CERT team. The Mayor thanked Lt.Graham foreverything hedoes farbeyond hisjob description and thanked theBeckley CERT team fortheir involvement inthefollow upopioid treatment thatsupplements what F.M.R.S. does. ForCouncil’sedification, Captain Donald Morgan (with theCode Office) read the WVABCA Class Blicense application from Hampton Inn’sManagement, LLC dbaHampton Inn) at110Harper Road. Captain Morgan said theClass Blicense would beused for agiftshop. Acopyof theapplication ishereby incorporated into these minutes. OLD BUSINESS: TheMayor said November 30, 2022, isJudy Lusk’slastdayasaCity employee. She has worked fortheCity forthirty-fiveyears. The Mayor encouraged everyone present tostop byandwishher well before herlastday. The Mayor commented onthe nice luncheon atBlack Knight forJerry Stump who is also retiring. Mr.Stump worked fortheCity forforty- fiveyears. Hislastday isalso November 30.th The Mayor invited alltoattend onDecember 3rd at11:00 a.m.the Veterans and Christmas parade. TheMayor announced anupcoming Workshop at5:05p.m. December 5th which willbetofurther discuss the Beckley CERT Team. Representatives from the Chamber ofCommerce willattend theWorkshop fora more in-depth discussion regarding theCity Manager form ofgovernment. TheMayor said thatother surrounding municipalities suchasCharleston, OakHill, Lewisburg, Princeton, Bluefield, andFayetteville already operate under theCity Manager formofgovernment. Councilman Sopher suggested toPam Frey (Director of Board ofPublic Works) thattheCitywork closely with theState Road andcreate asidewalk plan for the increasing number ofpedestrians inthe City. He suggested thesidewalks bemade safe forwheelchairs, babycarriages, and strollers. Councilman Sopher said thatalocal citizen hasbeen calling Mr.Trump once a month forsome time now asking foralease forthe Fruits ofLabor (FOL). Councilman Sopher said thathe understands why thisisbeing requested. Councilman Sopher suggested thatthe leasemay want tobe constructed with flexibility andtheability tore-evaluate things onanongoing basis with FOL toseeifany changes need tobemade. The Mayor agreed andsaid Mr.Filehasbeen working onthelease agreement. The Mayor said theCity isexpecting toreceive funds from theopioid settlements. Itishisunderstanding thata stipulation inspending these funds isthat theCity use these funds insupport oforganizations that provide recovery services such asFruits ofLabor, Brian’s Safehouse, andseveral other very good opioid recovery organizations. The Mayor said thismaybe a consideration inthefinallease terms. The Mayor said thathethinks onething thatneeds tobeconsidered is thatFOL hasarecovery program andafor profit restaurant andFOL ispaying B&Otaxes. Their sales are generating onepercent sales tax. The Mayor assured Councilman Sopher thattheCity willgetthelease agreement with FOL completed inthenear future. NEW BUSINESS: Councilwoman Bullock said that Stratton Elementary ishaving amural project December 4th from 1p.m. –5p.m. inthegymnasium. Shethanked Chief Bailey forthe help ofthe Beckley PD and complimented theBPD onthe professionalism ofthe Officers. Councilwoman Bullock said that the Mountaineer Food Bank isWednesday, November 23rd at11:00a.m. attheEpling Stadium. Sheasked the Mayor ifhereceived anyinformation regarding theEast Beckley Post Office. Hesaid hetalked toSenator Manchin’sField Representative, Ben Spurlock, last week. Heoversees post office facilities forSenator Manchin. Mr. Spurlock saidthisisavery difficult issue duetothecondition ofthat building. Asatemporary solution, untiltheroof isrepaired onthatbuilding, the Mayor proposed theidea ofthe East Beckley Post Office temporarily utilizing space attheBlack Knight. The Mayor said thathewas told thatduetothesecurity that isrequired byanypost office, theBlack Knight wouldn’t beanoption. TheMayor saidthatMr.Spurlock didnot give atentative date ofcompletion fortherepairs onthe building. Councilman Sopher said November 12th The WV Land Trust, Corey Lilly, andGary Moorefield leda hike toseetheLand Trust’sproperty which isbehind Woodrow Wilson High School andWoodcrest. Hesaid they looked ataparkarea, beautiful waterfalls, andan overlook thatoverlooks theCranberry Creek Bridge. Councilman Sopher said there were thirty-fivepeople there anditwas verywell received byeveryone, especially theresidents atWoodcrest. Councilman Sopher said that hewas very impressed with theentire experience. Councilman Sopher said there arethree water falls within lessthan onemile. Councilman Sopher complimented Corey with what hehas inmind forthis area. Councilman Sopher said theBoard of Public Works didawonderful jobpatching theroad that leddown tothehike. The Mayor said thatthisnatural asset hasbeen righthere foryears andforittobecoming into prominence isamazing. Councilman Sopher said thatthewhole Piney Creek project with themillandthe overlooks aresoexciting andit’sinourown back yard. Councilman Sopher saidthattheupcoming new President oftheHistorical Society created aSearch A Word withalistofMayors oftheCity ofBeckley onone side andalistofRaleigh County Places ontheback. It’s afun, educational sheet topasstime with. PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were nopublic comments. With there being nofurther comments the Mayor adjourned themeeting at7:03p.m. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer