Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHE COMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT 6:30PMONNOVEMBER 28, 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, Kevin Price, Robert Dunlap, Tom Sopher, Sherrie Hunter, andCody Reedy. Councilman Bob Canter joined remotely. The following City employees were present: Director ofITBill Kelly, Assistant Director ofITAmy Evans, Anthony Martin (IT),Chief Ed Wills ofBFD, Director ofBoard ofPublic Works (BPW) Pam Frey, Chief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan, Chief ofBPD Dean Bailey, Director ofBeckley Events JillMoorefield, andDirector ofParks & Recreation Leslie Baker. The Mayor called themeeting toorder at6:30p.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 announced thatCouncilman Bob Canter joined themeeting remotely ashewas traveling andunable tojoininCouncil Chambers. Council dispensed withthereading ofminutes from theCity Council meeting dated November 14, 2023, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten onamotion byCouncilman Price and seconded by Councilman Dunlap. Next, the Mayor stated theCity received timely three responses totheRequest forProposal for the2024 Comprehensive Plan. The Mayor opened each proposal andstated theamount listed oneach proposal willnotbedisclosed during thismeeting. Acommittee willreview each proposal toensure each meets allthespecifications requested bytheCity. Thefirstone was from Destination byDesign. The second onewasfrom Benchmark, andthethird onewas from W.G.I.Consulting Services. Recorder-Treasurer Billie Trump said thecommittee including thetwo Council persons atLarge) willreview theproposals forpossible award ata future Council meeting. Next was theaward ofbidforthepurchase oftwo extended cab4-wheel drive trucks. The only bidreceived wasfrom Lewis Automotive. Councilwoman atLarge Hunter said onetruck willbeused bytheParks & Recreation Department andtheother willbeused bytheBoard of Public Works. The price forone2024 Frontier extended cab4x4truck is $36,728.93and the City ispurchasing two trucks. Thebidwas incorporated intotheNovember 14, 2023, minutes. The bidwas unanimously approved byCouncil onamotion byCouncilwoman at Large Hunter andseconded byCouncilman atLarge Reedy. Councilman Dunlap asked why other automobile dealerships would nothave beenable to place abid. Heasked ifitisbecause the other dealerships are notintheCity limits. The Mayor said adealership isnotrequired tobelocated intheCity tobeeligible tosubmit abid. The Mayor said Stephens Auto inBoone County hassubmitted bids inthepast. Hesaid Lewis Automotive islocated inside theCity limits, anditistheonly dealership that submitted abid. Next was theaward ofbidforthe purchase oftwo SUV’sforCode Enforcement and the Beckley Fire Department. The firelevy willcover thecost ofthe vehicle purchased forthe Fire Department. The only bidwas from Lewis Automotive intheamount of $31,974.42for one2023, Nissan Rogue. (The City ispurchasing two vehicles.) The bidwas incorporated into theNovember 14, 2023, minutes. The bidwas unanimously approved byCouncil onamotion byCouncilman atLarge Reedy and seconded by Councilwoman atLarge Hunter. Next, Mr.Fileread theresolution titled “Resolution ForAOne Time PaySupplement ForAll Full-Time City Employees”. The Mayor said that thispaysupplement isfor allfull-time City employees andexcludes theMayor andCity Council. Mr.Fileread theresolution inits entirety. The Mayor said that thisissomething theCityishappy todowhen itcanafford it. It isnotaChristmas bonus. Itisapaysupplement. The resolution was unanimously approved byCouncil onamotion made byCouncilman Pirce andseconded byCouncilman atLarge Reedy. The resolution ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr.Filesaid tonight isthefirst reading ofanordinance that establishes aCity Manager- Mayor form ofgovernment. Ifthisordinance ispassed onfirst reading tonight, thesecond reading andpublic hearing willbeduring the December 12th Council meeting. Mr.File said thepress hascovered thistopic very well andhethinks thepublic hasbeen wellinformed. He said thishasbeen thesubject ofseveral Workshops and thinks Council hashadavery good opportunity toreview andunderstand thistopic. The finalWorkshop regarding thistopic was lastnight. Mr.File read bytitle AnOrdinance Establishing ACity Manager-Mayor PlanOf Municipal Government And Amending The Code OfThe City OfBeckley, AsAmended, By Adding Thereto ANew Article, Designated “ Article IX. Manager-Mayor Plan” InChapter Two, Part Two, TheCity Code, ByAmending “Section 2.2.Compensation OfOfficers And Employees; Allowing Time Off” InArticle I,Chapter Two, Part Two OfThe Code; All Relating ToProviding ForThe Qualifications, Duties, And Responsibilities OfThe City Manager, Allowing ForThe Appointment And Removal OfACityManager, Providing Transition Rules From Strong-Mayor Plan ToAManager-Mayor Plan ofMunicipal Government, Requiring The City Manager And Mayor ToBeBonded, Setting Compensation OfThe Office OfMayor And Members OfCouncil Under AManager-Mayor Form Of Municipal Government, And Other Matters Related Thereto. Mr.File saidMr.Mark Matkovich hasbeen veryinstrumental inpreparing thisordinance. Mr.Matkovich isthe former City Attorney andnow practices inCharleston. Mr.Matkovich isCouncil fortheWV Municipal League. Mr.Fileexpressed hisappreciation toMr.Matkovich forhisassistance. The Mayor thanked Mr.Matkovich forallhishelp. Councilman Sopher made amotion to amend theordinance toincrease thepayfortheMayor’ssalary increasing itfrom $9,600.00 annually to $12,000.00annually. The Mayor stated thatnow isthetime tomake any amendments totheordinance. Mr.Fileagreed. Councilman Price seconded themotion to amend theordinance andCouncil unanimously approved themotion toamend theordinance. Councilman Dunlap said hespoke totheHR staffmember regarding health insurance. He said Council members arenot eligible tobeonthehealth insurance plan through theCity because Council members aredesignated asnon-full-time employees. Heasked ifthe new Mayor, attheir own expense, would beeligible toreceive the health insurance benefits although hehas read theCity’spolicy and Council can make itavailable tothe Mayor and to Council members ifthey sochoose. Councilman Dunlap said that thismay help those interested inrunning forthese positions ifhealth insurance wasmade available attheir discretion. The Mayor said more discussion with theHRdepartment andtheinsurance company would need totake place. The health insurance company may have arequirement of aminimum number ofhours worked perweek for eligibility. Councilman Dunlap said hewas told byHRthatthistopic would need addressed atthetime ofrenewal withthehealth insurance company. Mr.Trump said hethinks renewal ofthe health insurance plan isin September. Mr.Filesaid, ifthisordinance ispassed, itwould gointo effect atthebeginning ofthe next term, which isJuly 1,2024. Any change inbenefits for theMayor andCouncil must beapproved byJuly 1inorder tobeineffect next term. Mr.File said theordinance as presented makes the position ofMayor apart time employee. TheMayor asked ifthere was anyother discussion regarding themotion toamend theordinance regarding increasing the Mayor’ssalary. With there being nofurther discussion onthemotion toamend, theMayor asked foramotion topass theordinance asamended onfirst reading. Council passed onfirst reading theordinance asamended onamotion byCouncilman Price andseconded by Councilman Sopher. Councilwoman Bullock, Councilwoman atLarge Hunter, and Councilman atLarge Reedy opposed theordinance. The Mayor asked Council members in opposition totheordinance toindicate their vote byashow ofhand. Councilwoman Bullock, Councilwoman atLarge Hunter, andCouncilman atLarge Reedy allraised their hand. The ordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr.Filesaid thefirst reading oftheordinance reducing thespeed limitonHull Street is tonight and, ifpassed, thesecond reading andpublic hearing willbeduring theDecember 12th Council meeting. Mr. Fileexplained thatthisordinance willreduce thespeed limit from25 mph to15mph onHull Street. Mr.File read bytitleAn Ordinance ToProvide For The Amendment ToThe Traffic Control Map-Other Than Parking-And Traffic Control File Amending The Speed Limit OnHull Street ToFifteen (15) Miles PerHour. TheMayor said thishasbeen under study byChief Bailey andtheBeckley Police Department andunder discussion bytheCity forsome time now. Hesaid this isanarrow street with anumber of curves andhills. The ordinance was unanimously approved byCouncil onamotion made by Councilman Sopher and seconded byCouncilman Price. Theordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes. OLD BUSINESS: The Mayor said thesecond Council meeting inDecember isthe26,th the dayafter Christmas andasked Council tobethinking about whether they want tocancel that meeting. HesaidtheChristmas parade isSaturday, December 2nd at11:00andencouraged everyone toattend. The Mayor said CoalTown Christmas isalso thisweekend atThe Exhibition Coal Mine. Councilwoman Hunter asked why speed humps/bumps cannot be installed onLarew Avenue. The Mayor said there isopposition fromtheBoard ofPublic Works andthePolice Department. The traffic study theWV Department ofHighways conducted found that there isvery little speeding onLarew Avenue. The Mayor saiditneeds further discussion. NEW BUSINESS: Councilwoman atLarge Hunter thanked Director ofBoard ofPublic Works Pam Frey forworking with theRaleigh County Solid Waste Authority onacalendar forthe recycling schedule. Pam saidthe flyers willbedelivered next week. PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Mayor announced ifcalling inbyphone dial *3toraiseyour hand. Ifconnected bycomputer: Click the “hand icon” onyour participant’spanel. Mary West voiced herconcerns regarding drivers speeding onLarew Avenue. Tom Mosley thanked theMayor, Mr.Trump, Chief Bailey, Mr.File, and Council forpassing onfirst reading theordinance lowering thespeed limit to15mph onHull Street. Michael Smith made suggestions toimprove theCity. Heasked foralistofaccomplishments Council hasachieved since 2016. Councilman Dunlap told Mr.Smith thathecanlearn more about City Council’spast meetings andaccomplishments ontheCity’swebsite andTheRegister Herald. He said theRotary Club also receives annual updates from theMayor. Danielle Stewart voiced herconcerns about theCity Manager Form ofGovernment bysaying the people arenotbeing given achoice regarding adopting aCity Manager Form ofGovernment andshe thinks theCity Manager should berequired toliveinthe Citylimits. Tony Martin voiced hisconcerns regarding theCity Manager Form ofGovernment andfeels asthough the citizens ofBeckley arenotbeing given avoice. Christina Baisden spoke regarding her support forLarew Avenue andtheneedfortransparency within theCity. Dustin Potter spoke infavor ofBack Roads ofAppalachia. Ron Booker joined themeeting virtually. Heasked for clarification onthefour Council members voting infavor ofthe CMFG because hedidnot see Councilman Canter. TheMayor explained that Councilman Canter joined the meeting virtually andvoted infavor oftheordinance. With there being nofurther comments, Council unanimously approved adjourning themeeting onamotion byCouncilwoman Bullock and seconded byCouncilman Dunlap. The Mayor adjourned themeeting at7:05p.m. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer