Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHE COMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT 6:30PMONDECEMBER 12, 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, Bob Canter, Tom Sopher, Sherrie Hunter, andCody Reedy. The following City employees were present: Director ofITBill Kelly, Anthony Martin (IT),Chief Coughlin ofBFD, Director ofBoard ofPublic Works (BPW) Pam Frey, Chief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan, Chief ofBPD Dean Bailey, 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. Council dispensed withthe reading oftheminutes from theWorkshop dated November 27, 2023, copies ofwhich had beendistributed toeachmember. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten onamotion byCouncilman Price andseconded byCouncilman Dunlap. Council dispensed withthereading oftheminutes from theregular Common Council meeting dated November 28, 2023, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten onamotion byCouncilwoman Bullock and seconded byCouncilman Sopher. Next, theMayor congratulated Chief JoeCoughlin oftheBeckley Fire Department onhis recent promotion. The Mayor thanked Chief Coughlin for hisdedication andforhishelp working onthenew Ward Map. The Mayor asked Recorder-Treasurer Billie Trump ofhewould liketospeak onthesubject of theCity possibly purchasing property adjacent totheRail Trail toprovide theCity access to thenorthern part ofthe trail. Mr.Trump said because ofthe new intersection atRural Acres Drive, theCity lostaccess tothenorthern part oftheRail Trail. Hecontacted theowner ofthe property adjacent toit. Theowner offered allthree parcels for theprice of $20,500.00. Director ofParks andRecreation Leslie Baker saidshe ishopeful Council willapprove this purchase because itisagreat access point fortheCity. TheBoard ofPublic Works andthe City could put aparking lotfor thistrail behind theMountaineer Mitsubishi dealership. Council unanimously passed amotion made byCouncilman Dunlap andseconded by Councilman Reedy toapprove thepurchase ofthethree parcels described byMr.Trump for thestated consideration. City Attorney, Mr.File, said asecond reading andpublic hearing willtake place atthenext Council meeting which isJanuary 9,2024. Next, theMayor asked Mr.Trump tospeak regarding thenew map heandChief Coughlin worked onoutlining theWards intheCity. Mr.Trump said that heandChief Coughlin started working onthisseveral months agousing theCensus data. They compiled theinformation andsubmitted ittothecounty. Thecounty istasked with balancing each precinct with a balanced number ofresidents. Mr.Trump said thatwiththehelp ofaconsulting firm, the county produced thenew Ward Map thatwas previously provided toCouncil members. Mr. Trump said Wards One through Three areessentially unchanged. Hesaid intrying tobalance thepopulation inWard 5,approximately halfoftheWoodcrest subdivision wasrelocated in Ward 5. Hesaid thisisthemost substantial change made totheWard Map thathas been used forthe lasttenyears. Councilman Sopher said hethinks each Ward hasabout 2,700residents. Chief Coughlin saidWard 4hasmigrated upward since the1990’s. Councilwoman Bullock said thatitseems asthough some ofthevoting precincts have changed andasked iftheCounty Clerk’soffice willnotify those who have beenassigned anew precinct. Mr.Trump saidhe thinks theCounty Clerk’soffice willnotify residents. The new Ward Map was unanimously approved byCouncil onamotion made byCouncilman Price andseconded byCouncilman Sopher. The new Ward Mapishereby incorporated into these minutes. Mr.Fileread bytitle, “AnOrdinance ToProvide ForThe Amendment ToThe Traffic Control Map-Other Than Parking-And Traffic Control FileAmending TheSpeed Limit OnHull Street ToFifteen (15) Miles PerHour.” Headvised Council thefirst reading ofthisordinance occurred onNovember 28, 2023. Heopened thepublic hearing. Christina Baisden said ifthe ordinance ispassed the reduction inthe speed limit needs tobeenforced. Shesaid speeding drivers areacommon problem intheCity. Tom Mosley saidherealizes thatthis ordinance may not fixtheproblem, but hethinks itwillbring awareness todrivers onHull Street. Michael Smith suggested theCity usemachines that flash thespeed ofdrivers. Heasked ifthe City owns these types ofmachines. Mr.Filesaid, inthepast, theCity hasowned several of those machines butisn’tsureifitcurrently owns anythat areoperational. TheMayor asked Anthony Martin intheITDepartment ifthere areanycomments thepublic joining themeeting online wishes tomake. There were noadditional comments. Mr.Fileclosed thepublic hearing. The Mayor said thatthisisthesecond reading andpublic hearing ofthisordinance. Theordinance wasunanimously passed byCouncil onamotion made byCouncilman Sopher andseconded byCouncilwoman atLarge Hunter. The ordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr.Filesaid tonight isthefirst reading ofanordinance thatrezones 13.603acres along Withrow Loop from “M” Manufacturing District to “B-1” Neighborhood Highway Business District. This ordinance rezones property fromthe “M” Manufacturing District tothe “B-1” Neighborhood Highway Business District. Hesaid the “M” District does notprovide for long termcare facilities. The “B-1” District does provide forlong term care facilities. The Mayor said thiswillallow theVeterans Administration’ snursing home facility tobelocated onthis property. Mr.Filesaid thesecond reading andpublic hearing willbeduring the January 9, 2024, Council meeting. Mr.Fileread theordinance bytitle, “AnOrdinance Amending The City OfBeckley Zoning Ordinance Of1971 And The Comprehensive Plan OfThe City Of Beckley AndThe Zone MapOfThe City OfBeckley, AsFrom Time ToTime Has Been Amended, ToProvide ForThe Re-Zoning Of13.603Acres Located Along Withrow Loop In The City OfBeckley, AsShown OnTax Map 49,Parcel 12, Beckley Corporation, Within The City OfBeckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia, From “M” Manufacturing District, To “B-1 Neighborhood-Highway Business District.” This ordinance codifies what was approved by theCity ofBeckley Planning Commission during itsmeeting October 3,2023. Theordinance was unanimously approved onamotion byCouncilman Dunlap andseconded byCouncilman Price. The ordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes. OLD BUSINESS: The Mayor said thenext Council meeting isscheduled forDecember 26.th Attheprevious Council meeting heasked forCouncil’sinput regarding cancelling the December 26th meeting since itisthedayafter Christmas. Hesaid hehasn’theard from any Council member onthissubject. The Mayor cancelled theDecember 26, 2023, Council meeting. The Mayor congratulated KamJohnson who isthesonoftheGeneral Manager of theBeckley Sanitary Board Jeremiah Johnson. Cam raised over $3,600.00lastnight atthe Spirit ofBeckley dinner. Thismoney willbeused topurchase gifts forstudents atMabscott Elementary School. The Mayor said theordinance pertaining totheCity Manager Form ofGovernment will beon January 9,2024, Agenda fortheregular Council meeting. AttheJanuary 9,2024, meeting the ordinance canbevoted upordown, ortabled, allowing Council tomove forward andplace the issue ofthe City going tothe City Manager Form ofGovernment ontheMay 14,2024, election ballot. Councilwoman atLarge Hunter asked ifthespeed limit onLarew Avenue could belowered to15mph. Shesaid apetition was signed byresidents ofLarew Avenue requesting thischange. The Mayor said heisopposed tolowering thespeed limitonLarew based onprevious studies. HesaidHull Street andLarew Avenue aretotally different. Chief Bailey said theWVDepartment ofHighways traffic study recently conducted onLarew Avenue speaks volumes indicating decreasing the speed limit there isunnecessary. NEW BUSINESS: Councilwoman Bullock said theCity’sten-year Comprehensive Plan expired andasked when itwillbediscussed. The Mayor said theCityisworking withits CDBG consultant which isguiding theCity onthenew Comprehensive Plan. Councilwoman atLarge Hunter asked when theCity willhireanew Director ofOutdoor Economic Development. The Mayor said theCity isconducting interviews forthisposition tomorrow andWednesday. The Mayor said Corey Lilly willbeinvolved andavailable forthenext six months after areplacement ishired. The CityofBeckley will bepart ofCorey Lilly’sterritory inhisnew role asanemployee ofWVU’sOutdoor Economic Development Department. Councilman Dunlap thanked numerous people involved fortheir help inworking together to become aware ofnew homeless encampments around businesses intheCity. Themost recent was discovered behind Jim Sheatsley’soffice building. Hethanked theorganizations who offer help tothese individuals. Hethanked Councilwoman atLarge Hunter forher involvement with theWarming Center andasked forvolunteers towork four-hour shifts to help. Hesaidanother training forvolunteers isupcoming. PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Mayor announced ifcalling inbyphone dial *3toraise your hand. Ifconnected bycomputer: Click the “hand icon” onyour participant’spanel. Mary West voiced herconcerns regarding drivers speeding onLarew Avenue. Shevoiced concerns regarding animal control issues intheCity. Tina Pannell invited everyone totheadvanced screening atMarquee Cinemas Saturday, December 16th at2:00p.m.formovie, The Color Purple. Thecost ofadmission is $10.25plus tax. Gina Cernuto thanked theCityforthepurchase ofanew truck fortheBoard ofPublic Works. Shesaid itisbeing utilized byCommunity Pride. Michael Smith suggested having a speed limit fordaytime hours andadifferent speed limitfornighttime hours onLarew Avenue. Hesuggested aportable restroom beplaced along McManus Trail. Hesuggested thatlocal churches house thehomeless during theday. Danielle Stewart thanked theCity for itsattention tothematter regarding theCity Manager Form ofGovernment (CMFG). She thinks placing thisontheballot andletting thepeople decide istheright thing todo. She thinks thepayforCouncil members andfortheMayor needs tobeadjusted. Shesuggested a contingency ordinance beconsidered iftheCMFG ispassed. Shereferenced onespeed bump intheCity andthepossibility ofconsidering rumble strips tocombat speeding inother areas ofconcern intheCity. Tom Mosley thanked theCity andCouncil members forpassing the ordinance lowering thespeed limit onHull Street tofifteen miles perhour. With there being nofurther comments, Council unanimously approved adjourning themeeting onamotion by Councilwoman atLarge Hunter andseconded byCouncilman Price. TheMayor adjourned the meeting at7:07p.m. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer