Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT6:34PMONAPRIL 11, 2023, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIAWEB-X. PRESENT: Mayor Robert R.Rappold, Recorder- Treasurer Billie Trump, City Attorney BillFile, and Secretary Susan Miller. Council Members: Janine Bullock, Robert Canter, Robert Dunlap, Cody Reedy, Tom Sopher, andKevin Price. Thefollowing Department Heads were present: Director ofITWilliam Kelly, Assistant Director ofITAmy Evans, Anthony Martin (IT),Captain Coughlin with BFD, Director of Board ofPublic Works (BPW) Pam Frey, Chief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan, Chief ofBPD Dean Bailey, Director ofParks andRecreation Leslie Baker, andDirector ofOutdoor Economic Development Corey Lilly. ABSENT: Councilwoman Hunter. The Mayor called themeeting toorder at 6:34p.m.The public hadtheoption to jointhemeeting either inperson orby WEB-Xfrom their computer, orby phone, using theweblink orphone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage atBeckley.orgor theCity’sFacebook page. The Mayor ledthePledge ofAllegiance. Council dispensed with thereading and approval ofminutes from theCity Council meeting dated March 28, 2023, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten ona motion byCouncilman Sopher and seconded byCouncilman Dunlap. Council unanimously approved the minutes from theWorkshop held April 4, 2023, onamotion byCouncilwoman Bullock andseconded byCouncilman Dunlap. Next, Director ofOutdoor Economic Development (DOED) Corey Lilly and City Attorney Mr.Filesummarized the Memorandum ofUnderstanding (MOU) between TheWest Virginia Land Trust, Inc., (WVLT) and theCity ofBeckley COB). TheMOU isarecognition that theWVLT andtheCOB have mutual interests inprotecting andmanaging the Piney Creek Preserve andRecreation Area. TheMOU acts asamechanism to formalize anddefine therelationship between theWVLT andCOB todevelop andmanage thePiney Creek Preserve and Recreation Area. Each Council member received acopy oftheMOU prior tothe Council meeting. The Mayor asked ifany Council member hadquestions regarding theMOU. There were noquestions. The MOU wasunanimously approved by Council onamotion byCouncilman Price andseconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. The MOU ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next was thesecond reading andpublic hearing ofanOrdinance Amending Zoning ofProperty onCentral Avenue from “M” Manufacturing, to “B-1”, Neighborhood Highway Business District. Mr.File read theordinance by title, AnOrdinance Amending The City OfBeckley Zoning Ordinance Of1971 And The Comprehensive Plan OfThe City OfBeckley AndThe Zone Map Of The City OfBeckley, AsFrom Time To Time Has Been Amended, ToProvide For The Re-zoning OfSeven (7)Parcels On Central Avenue And One (1)Parcel On Virginia Street, AllInThe CityOf Beckley, Raleigh County, WV, Including Parcels 33, 34, 37,38, 40,And 41As Shown On Beckley Corporation TaxMap 29, And Parcels 272and272.1 AsShown OnBeckley Corporation TaxMap30, From “M,”Manufacturing District , To B-1,”Neighborhood-Highway Business District. Mr.Fileopened the public hearing. Danielle Stewart spoke infavor ofthe ordinance. TheMayor announced ifcalling inbyphone dial *3toraise your hand. Ifconnected bycomputer: Click the hand icon” onyour Participants panel. There were nopublic comments byphone oronline. Mr.Brian Brown, the developer, announced thatthename ofhis upcoming development willbe “The District.” Heintroduced investors and support staff. The Mayor commended Mr.Brown forhishard work and congratulated him ontheupcoming development of “The District.” There were noother comments. Mr. Fileclosed thepublic hearing. The ordinance was unanimously approved byCouncil ona motion made byCouncilman Reedy and seconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. The ordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, forCouncil’sedification, Chief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan read aWVABCA application for Kumo Japan. Thenotice ofapplication is hereby incorporated into these minutes. OLD BUSINESS: The Mayor thanked Beckley Police Department forproviding police escort services fortheprocession fortheformer first lady, Lynn Smith O’Brien, and hecomplimented the employees atBlack Knight forthe luncheon thatfollowed Mrs. O’Brien’s services. Councilwoman Bullock asked theMayor when theworkshop regarding Stiffler Drive willbe. Heasked Mr. File ifhehasadate forthisworkshop anda date foraworkshop regarding theCity Manager form ofgovernment. Mr.File said the workshops should bescheduled within thenexttwo –three weeks. Councilwoman Bullock expressed her condolences for therecent lossofMr. Brown’saunt. Shecongratulated himon the upcoming development of “The District.” NEW BUSINESS: There wasnonew business todiscuss. PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Mayor announced ifcalling inbyphone dial *3 toraise yourhand. Ifconnected by computer “click thehand icon” onyour Participants panel. Anthony Martin (IT) said noonesigned uponline orbyphone tomake public comments. Mary West shared herconcerns regarding drivers speeding onLarew Avenue. TheMayor said hehasspent alotoftimeobserving Larew Avenue anddoes notwitness drivers speeding orrunning stop signs. The Mayor asked Chief Bailey ifradar patrols show evidence ofspeeding inthis area. Chief Bailey said no. Pam Upton listed hername forpublic comments. When theMayor asked herifshewould liketospeak, shesaid nothank you. Brian Brown said hehopes the Citydoes notdecide toimplement theCity Manager form ofgovernment. Hewould liketo seetheCity beinvolved with the Raleigh County Board ofEducation tomake them responsive tothethreats happening in schools, gunviolence, andtoimprove safety inschools. Mr.Brown offered his help regarding theshortage oflifeguards. Next, Mr.Jesse Cecil (Operations Manager) with The West Virginia Land Trust submitted apetition forannexation for thePiney Creek Preserve tobeinside City boundaries. Mr.Cecil said he submitted thedocuments toMr. File regarding thisannexation. Mr.File said theCity does nothave adefinite timetable astowhen theannexation may take place. Councilman Dunlap asked theMayor if hehashadanycommunication with Frontier regarding thephone outage. The Mayor said the only information that he received iswhen hestopped andtalked to Frontier employees working torestore service andthey could notgive himan estimated time ofrestoration. Councilman Dunlap said anysupport the Mayor could lend itaneffort tospeed up theprocess isappreciated. TheMayor said thattheworkshop regarding theCity Manager formofgovernment willbe open tothepublic. Hehopes those with questions/concerns canattend. Hesaid notice oftheworkshop will beposted at least seventy-two hours inadvance. Mr.  Brown repeated hisopposition to changing theform ofgovernment from strong Mayor toCity Manager. Next, Mr.File, pursuant toWV Code 6- 9A-1et.seq. Attorney-Client Privilege regarding alegal issue, asked foramotion forCouncil toenter into Executive Session. Council unanimously approved themotion made byCouncilman Dunlap andseconded byCouncilman Price for Council toenter into Executive Session at 7:04p.m. Amotion made byCouncilman Dunlap andseconded byCouncilwoman Bullock was unanimously approved to exitExecutive Session and reconvene the regular meeting at7:18p.m. TheMayor announced nodecisions were made andnovotes taken while in Executive Session. With there being no further comments, Council unanimously approved amotion toadjourn which was made byCouncilman Dunlap and seconded byCouncilman Sopher. The Mayor adjourned themeeting at7:20p.m. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer