Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHE COMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT 6:33PMONMAY 9,2023, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIA WEB-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. The following Department Heads were present: Director ofITBillKelly, Assistant Director ofITAmy Evans, Anthony Martin (IT),Captain Parsons with BFD, Director ofBoard of Public Works (BPW) Pam Frey, Chief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan, andChief ofBPD Dean Bailey. ABSENT: Councilman Canter. The Mayor called themeeting toorder at6:33p.m.The public hadthe option tojointhe meeting either inperson orbyWEB-Xfrom theircomputer, orbyphone, using theweblink or phone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage atBeckley.orgorthe City’sFacebook page. The Mayor invited GirlScouts from Troops 3532, 32547, and Boy Scouts from Troop 3,along with theBoyScout Leader ofTroop 3,Dr.Fernald tolead thePledge ofAllegiance. Council dispensed with thereading and approval ofminutes from theCity Council meeting dated April 25, 2023, copies ofwhich hadbeendistributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten onamotion byCouncilman Sopher andseconded by Councilman Dunlap. Next, theMayor opened theonlybidreceived fortheprice ofasphalt, concrete, stone/abrasives/sand, andreinforcement rods. The bidwas intheamount of $101.25/tonfor Base IIorP&LI, $ 107.00/tonforWearing I, $ 144.00/tonforCurb Mix, and $144.00/tonfor Tennis Mix. Southern WV Paving, Inc. was theonly bidder. Next, the Mayor opened abidforthepaving andmilling ofN.Oakwood Avenue andSheridan Avenue. The bid was from AAA Paving & Sealing, Inc. intheamount of $150,000. Next, the Mayor opened abidforthepaving andmilling ofN.Oakwood Avenue andSheridan Avenue. The bidwas from Southern WVPaving, Inc. inthe amount of $266,344.00 Allbids willbegiven toMr.Trump Recorder-Treasurer, PamFrey Director ofBoard ofPublic Works BPS), Councilwoman atLarge Sherrie Hunter, andCouncilman atLarge Cody Reedy for possible award ataCouncil meeting inthe nearfuture. Thebids arehereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, theMayor said Council was previously provided acopy ofaletter from Mr.David Price, Superintendent ofRaleigh County Board ofEducation (RCBOE) requesting a contribution of $120,000.00fromthe City for thecompletion ofBeckley Stratton Elementary School. The Mayor stated thathe, Councilman Dunlap, Councilman Sopher, and Councilwoman Bullock recently toured thestate-of-the artfacility. Councilman Dunlap, Councilman Sopher, Councilwoman Bullock, andCouncilwoman Hunter commented on several aspects oftheschool including theoverall design oftheschool, thegymnasium in which theCity’ssummer basketball programs may beconducted, theSTEM Lab, a playground that willbebuilt, thefencing tobeinstalled encasing theproperty, eighty security cameras tobeinstalled, how well thought outthespace iswhich willbeutilized for performances withthecafeteria having adjoining walls toit,thememory tiles tobeplaced in thecafeteria, theaccess tointernet andcable, andwhat agreat school itwillbeforthe students. The Mayor said Mr.Price was supportive oftheCity’ssummer basketball programs continuing inthegymnasium atthisschool. Councilman Price commented that the 120,000.00request from theRCBOE totheCity isclose totheamount oftheB&Otaxes derived from theconstruction andtheCity isn’trequired toreduce theB&Oonthisproject. The Mayor said, inhisopinion, thiscontribution shouldn’tbecompared totheB&Orate and should notbeconsidered areduction inB&Otaxes. The Mayor said theCity iscollecting the fullB&Othatisduefrom thecontractor. Council approved thecontribution of $120,000.00to theRCBOE forthecompletion ofBeckley Stratton Elementary School onamotion made by Councilwoman Hunter andseconded byCouncilwoman Hunter ona5-1vote. Councilman Price voted against thecontribution. Next, Council unanimously approved amotion authorizing Councilman Sopher tosend aletter totheRCBOE requesting theRCBOE giftaparcel ofproperty totheCity. Superintendent Price hadrequested aletter from theCity. Mr.Trump andMr.Filepreviously reviewed the proposed letter explaining theCity willutilize this property (consisting ofthree acres) to create anoverlook toCranberry Creek andtheCranberry Creek Bridge located atthe Clarence W.Meadows Memorial Blvd. The overlook willbeahandicap accessible public access place. Councilman Sopher explained that thisproject coincides with thePiney Creek mission to create atrail connecting tothe New River. The motion was made byCouncilman Price and seconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. OLD BUSINESS: The Mayor thanked CityEvents Director JillMoorefield and Councilwoman atLarge Sherrie Hunter forcoordinating theNational Day ofPrayer. He thanked Leslie Baker, Director ofParks & Rec., andBeckley PD fortheir work atthe Exhibition Coal Mines when Brad Paisley andhisfather visited. The Mayor saidheand Councilwoman Bullock attended aCity Branding meeting hosted byOutdoor Economic Development Director (OEDD) Corey Lilly andDestination byDesign (DBD). Hesaid Corey didagreat job. Councilman Price joined thepresentation online andasked ifitwasrecorded. Ifso, hewould likeeveryone tohave access towatch thepresentation. TheMayor announced anupcoming Workshop which willbeMonday, May 15, 2023, at6:00p.m. Hesaidpotential items fordiscussion include food trucks andpanhandlers. Hesaidaseparate Workshop regarding Stiffler Drive mayneed tobescheduled forMay 22, 2023. Councilwoman Bullock thanked theBeckley PDforthearrests made thus farregarding therecent shootings. Chief Bailey said more arrests should beforthcoming. Councilwoman Hunter said shespent theday atCode Enforcement and thanked them forhosting herandsaiditisgreat tohave Code Enforcement andMunicipal Court inthesame location. Councilman Reedy said Beckley PD won thefirstannual Battle oftheBadges fundraiser basketball game. Councilman Sopher asked for anupdate onthe situation regarding opening theswimming pools thisseason. The Mayor said theCity ishopeful toopen New River Park PoolonJune 5,th butitislikely Black Knight pool willnotopen thisyear. The Mayor saidthatsome ofthelifeguards may be college students which means they may need toreturn toschool before Labor Day. The New River Park pool typically closes soon after Labor Day. Councilman Sopher said “Coffee with aCop” atMcDonalds was agreat community involvement event andhopes toseemore. Chief Bailey said more community outreach events will betaking place attwo other housing developments. NEW BUSINESS: Councilman Dunlap said there isawalking touralong with anart installation between hisoffice andCity National Bank. Five businesses currently participate intheprogram, “Inside Out.” Danielle Stewart with theHuman Rights Commission (HRC) andMarie Bechtel with Legal Aidhelped start thisintheCity. The program addresses social issues, thedisparity ofincome, andhow thatdisproportionally affects some incarcerated individuals. Councilman Dunlap encouraged thepublic tostop byoneofthefiveparticipating businesses toview theartwork. Mr.Trump said they also have adisplay inside theWJLS building which theCity owns. Councilwoman Hunter said Friendship Automotive Group volunteered tohelp outwith alitter sweep intheCity. Councilwoman Bullock said “Sweet Treats” event isMay13th andtheyouth group from NewHope Baptist Church, “God’s Squad”, willbesinging atnoon. Councilman Sopher asked iftheparking lotonEarwood Street andtheoneonNeville Street willbecompleted bytheendofthesummer. TheMayor said yes. Pam Frey, BPW Director said assoon asStormwater approves, theBPW will proceed with thework. PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Mayor announced ifcalling inbyphone dial *3toraise your hand. Ifconnected by computer: Click thehand icon” onyour Participants panel. Mary West shared herconcerns regarding drivers speeding onLarew Avenue. Mary said there aretrees she isconcerned about thatare ontheCity’sproperty. Shesaid thetrees may soon fallandneed attention. She said signage isneeded inthearea tohelp deter speeding. Councilwoman Bullock asked Pam Frey, Director ofBPW ifthe alley way Ms. West isreferring tohasbeen evaluated. Pam said there are twotrees there andthetrees would need tobeworked onbyacontractor. Girl Scouts Alexa Bierie (Troop 35392) andJasmine Arriola (Troop 32547) gave apresentation foraCivil War Project. Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority has adrop boxforunused flags. AFlag Retirement Ceremony location isneeded. The Girl Scouts isasking foradonation of  6,500.00tousetoward supplies andalocation atWooton Park. OnFriday, May 12th at7:00 p.m.aFlag Retirement Ceremony willbeheld atWooton Park. The Mayor said hecan authorize two hundred fifty dollars. However, anything exceeding thatamount requires Council’sapproval. Heasked theGirl Scouts tosend himaletter requesting theamount heis authorized tomake, andhewillensure they receive atleast two hundred fifty dollars. Dr. Fernald, Troop Leader forTroop 3, t(heonly Boy Scout Troop inBeckley) had hisscouts introduce themselves andasked forthecommunity’ ssupport ofBoy Scouts. Councilwoman Hunter said there isnotipping feetodispose offormerly used flags attheRaleigh County Solid Waste Authority. Tina Pannell, President ofJuneteenth, said theJuneteenth Festival will beJune 16atNew River Park. Sheasked forfinancial help andsupport from thecommunity. Danielle Stewart said theRaleigh County Family Support Center ishosting their next event June 7th from 11a.m.to2:00p.m. The Back ToSummer Bash willbeattheCommunity Transformation Center. Danielle said itwould benice ifBeckley FDwould have afiretruck onsitefor thekids andifBPW could have apiece ofheavy equipment onsiteforthe kids. Danielle said balls toplay sports with andartsupplies willbegiven away. This willhelpkids have something todothroughout thesummer. Danielle asked thatitems bedonated fortwo hundred fifty kids. Councilwoman Hunter said thesecond Friday ofeach month Mountaineer Food Bank willbeatEpling Stadium. Upon inquiry bytheMayor, Anthony Martin (IT)said noonesigned uponline orbyphone tomake public comments. With there being nofurther comments, Council unanimously approved amotion toadjourn which was made byCouncilman Price andseconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. The Mayor adjourned themeeting at7:17p.m. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer