Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT6:30PMONJUNE 25, 2024, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIAWEB-X. PRESENT: Mayor Robert R.Rappold, Interim City Manager Billie Trump, Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler, Mayor’sAssistant Susan Miller, and City Attorney BillFile. Council Members: Janine Bullock, Kevin Price, Robert Dunlap, Tom Sopher, Sherrie Hunter, Bob Canter, andCody Reedy. The following City employees were present: Director ofIT BillKelly, Assistant Director ofIT,Amy Evans, Anthony Martin IT,Chief Coughlin ofBFD, Board of Public Works (BPW) Director Pam Frey, Captain of BPD Cheri Mullens, Director ofBeckley Events Jill Moorefield, Outdoor Economic Development Director Mitch Lehman, Director ofParks & Recreation Leslie Baker, andChief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan. ABSENT: Chief Bailey. The Mayor called themeeting toorder at 6:30p.m.The public hadtheoption to jointhemeeting inperson orlisten by WEB-Xfrom their computer, orlisten by phone, using theweblink orphone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage atBeckley.orgor theCity’sFacebook page. Council dispensed with thereading ofthe minutes from theWorkshop dated June 10, 2024, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes as written onamotion byCouncilman Sopher seconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. Council dispensed with the reading oftheminutes from theregular Council meeting dated June 11, 2024, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten ona motion byCouncilman Price seconded byCouncilman Sopher. Next was the receipt ofrequests for qualifications from engineering firms. TheMayor saidthatthisrequest for professional services does notrequire the price submitted tobeannounced asonly thename ofeach company thatmade a submission willbeannounced. The Mayor said that theInterim City Manager Billie Trump, the twoCouncil persons at large, andDirector ofBoard ofPublic Works Pam Frey willmake alistfor interviews andfrom that, price negotiations willbegin. Once a recommendation hasbeen made itwillbe brought before Council atafuture meeting. Requests for qualifications were submitted from CTL Engineering, Inc., TheThrasher Group, Inc. Potesta, and Alpha Associates, Inc. Next was thereappointment ofGail Garcia totheBeckley Beautification Commission. Councilman Sopher recused himself from voting asitpertains totheBeautification Commission ashis wife, Teresa wishes tojointhe commission. Council unanimously approved the reappointment ofGail Garcia, the appointment ofTeresa Sopher, Kitty Mooney, andGail McCray totheBeckley Beautification Commission. Theterm is three years. Themotion wasmade by Councilman Dunlap seconded by Councilman Price. Next ontheagenda wastheResolution forlongevity raises for City ofBeckley employees. Mr.Fileread sections #3a – 3e, #4,and #5oftheresolution explaining thehourly raises. City Council hasthe option togrant longevity raises inJune each year, butonly iftheCity isin financial position todoso. Mr.Trump said theCity canwell afford thelongevity increases. Itisapproximately $220-240K spread outover atwelve month period because everyone’sanniversary date of employment isdifferent. The resolution was unanimously approved onamotion byCouncilman-at-Large Reedy seconded byCouncilman Price. Theresolution is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next ontheagenda was theadoption of theBeckley Outdoors Economic Action Plan andBasecamp Beckley Branding Strategy. TheMayor said thatMitch Lehman andCorey Lilly arehere to answer anyquestions. Heasked members ofCouncil ifthey hadanyquestions. There were noquestions. Councilman Sopher said heappreciates allthe work Mitch andCorey have done andwill continue todoandthanked thepublic for their attendance tothemeeting tonight showing support for theBeckley Outdoors andBasecamp Beckley. Council unanimously approved the adoption oftheBeckley Outdoors Economic Action PlanandBasecamp Beckley Branding Strategy onamotion made byCouncilwoman-at-Large Hunter seconded byCouncilman-at-Large Reedy. Next ontheagenda wasthesalary adjustment fortheInterim City Manager. The Mayor appointed Billie Trump asthe Interim City Manager at10a.m.this morning inCouncil Chambers. The Mayor said theInterim City Manager’s position willbepaidatannual rateof 130,000. Councilman Dunlap questioned when thesalary was decided upon ashewaspart oftheCity Manager Hiring Committee anddoes notrecall the salary being decided on. Mr.File explained thatitisoutlined intheCity Manager Form ofGovernment Ordinance. Mr.Filesaid thatheandMr.Trump have hadseveral conversations regarding Mr. Trump accepting this position, asMr. Trump recently announced hisretirement. However, Mr.Filesaidthat Mr.Trump is qualified forthisposition andthinks 130K annually forhissalary (fortwo to three months) iscertainly warranted. Council unanimously approved thesalary adjustment increasing Mr.Trump’ssalary to $130K annually onamotion made by Councilman Sopher seconded by Councilman Price. Next wastheapproval oftheCity of Beckley entering into acontract with Frederick Hightower, Sr.tocreate a bronze sculpture ofBillWithers. The Mayor asked theDirector ofBeckley Events JillMoorefield ifshehadany comments. She said thatthis hasbeen a collective effort andthanked everyone for helping anditisnow time toproceed with thesculpture. Council unanimously approved theCityentering intothe contract onamotion byCouncilman Price seconded byCouncilman-at-Large Reedy. Thecontract ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next ontheAgenda wasthe request from theBeckley Area Foundation requesting financial support oftheHousehold Hazardous Waste Collection scheduled forSeptember 28,2024. The amount requested from the City isupto $20K. TheMayor explained thatthe County and City contribute tothisregularly andit typically takes place approximately every sixorseven years. He explained thatitincludes the collection andremoval of hazardous wastes such asliquids butdoes notinclude tires. Mr.File explained thatthe County, theCity, theCarter Family Foundation, and theBeckley Area Foundation are being asked tocommit upto $20K. Thetotal cost ofthehazardous waste collection is $77K. Mr. Trump said thelast waste collection didnotcost theCity 20K, itwasapproximately $17K. Council unanimously approved the City contributing upto $20Kfor thefinancial support oftheBeckley Area Foundation Household Hazardous Waste Collection ona motion byCouncilman Sopher seconded byCouncilwoman-at- Large Hunter. OLD BUSINESS: The Mayor announced heappointed Jessica Chandler astheInterim Recorder- Treasurer at10a.m.inCouncil Chambers today. Hesaidthatshe willstillbetheCity Controller. Councilman Dunlap gave apacket ofinformation from Just ForKids toMr.Trump asking himtoseeif Just ForKids qualify for consideration ofanyoftheopioid money theCity received. Ifso, he asked thatthisitembeplaced on theagenda foranupcoming Council meeting. Councilman Sopher thanked everyone for allowing himtoserve onCity Council andsaid thathewants to remain apart oftheBeckley Outdoors, theCranberry Creek Overlook, andother projects. Councilman-at-Large Reedy asked Mr.File ifhewould explain why thelease forFruits ofLabor was removed from theAgenda. Mr. Filesaid there areafewsmall items thatare stillbeing worked on andthis should beanitem onthe Agenda forthe second meeting in July. Mr.Filesaidthatafinal draft ofthelease willbemade available tothepublic andtoCouncil prior tothemeeting. NEW BUSINESS: There were no comments. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mary West complained about speeding drivers onLarew Avenue and problems with overgrown alleyways. Natalie Coots saidshe attended WV Collectives Diary of aWimpy Kidrecently and the theme wasdrug prevention. She waspleased toseethatitsold out thefirst night. Sheasked thatthe new Council andnew administration begiven the opportunity tohave input regarding selecting theCity Manager. Kimberly Milam said sheis grateful New River Pool isopen and there arealotofpositive aspects ofhaving thepool open. Shesaid thestaffatthepoolhave a lotofgreat ideas andhopes Council has heard their ideas. She does notwant thistoappear tobea negative time ofcomplaining because she isgrateful thatitis open andgreat people work there. Shesaid kids are being dropped off there without money tobuyfood andlifejackets areneeded. Shesaid hot foodsuch asasliceof pizza, hotdogs, andornachos need tobemade available forpurchase. Shesaid more security isneeded every time the pool isopen. She said the staff andlifeguards want to help these kids thatcome tothe pool andarewilling todoadrive to raise money forlifejackets. She said her sixteen year olddaughter works there andwasattached Saturday byanadult guest. She said thestaff are asked todiffuse situations andcheck coolers for alcohol andthey should notbeput inthat situation andthistakes time away from supervising swimmers. Councilman-at-Large Reedy asked ifCouncil could authorize an emergency hiring ofsecurity officers, such asCramer Security. Parks & Recreation Director Leslie Baker said that security will be available inJuly. Cramer Security isshort two officers. Shesaidthe District Manager ofCramer Security saidthathewould see what hecould do. Ms. Baker said sheistrying togetacouple of retired police officers toprovide security. Councilman Reedy said thatbefore thepool opens next year asecurity team needs tobeputin place. Ms. Baker saidthatthey tried having lifejackets inthepast andallofthem disappeared within twoweeks. Shesaidtheslide is closed and kidswant lifejackets to jump intothedeep water. Shesaid every lifeguard hassaved atleast onelifeandsome lifeguards have saved multiple lives. ShesaidNew River Poolhasmore lifeguards this year than ithasever had. Ms. Baker said theconcession stand has notbeen upgraded andfryers need tobereplaced. Shesaid there is more toitthan justgetting food handlers cards towork inthe concession stand. Ms. Baker said every parent there isasked iftheir child canparticipate inactivities. Shesaidwhen thepool reaches capacity, thedoors areclosed and nooneelseisallowed inand alot ofharassment happens during these times. Shesaid parents willletthe lifeguards know thatthey arenot happy about thedoors being closed. Shesaidalcohol has become anenormous problem there inthelasttendays. Shesaid many issues make theCity liable and she hasdiscussed herconcerns with Mr.Trump andtheMayor andthey areworking onresolving them. Shesaid Chief andDeputy Chief areoutoftown thisweek. Ms. Baker said thetraining the lifeguards received included instructing them tocall thepolice rather than stepping intosituations andthey arenottobebabysitters. Councilman Dunlap said parents should notbedropping their children offandleaving them unattended. Councilwoman-at- Large Hunter asked how juveniles coming inwithout adults arebeing supervised anddoes theCity assume theliability when juveniles arethere without anadult. Ms. Baker said parents usethe pool asababysitter. Councilwoman-at-Large Hunter asked ifadeposit could be accepted inorder forswimmers to obtain lifejackets. Ms. Baker said noone carries cash there, they all usecards. Councilman Dunlap said theNew River Pool isinhis ward andhehasheard from people inthecommunity who have identified problems there such asit being allconcrete without chairs forpeople touse. Hethanked Ms. Baker fortaking hiscalljustasshe was leaving forvacation. Christina Baisden made thecomment that City employees should notsettle forcrumbs offered tothem with the longevity increase resolution that waspresented tonight. Shesaid other departments were recently granted raises andtherest ofthe departments intheCity should also begiven raises. ShesaidtheCity employees need toorganize and unionize. Shesaid thatalease for Fruits ofLabor should have already been presented. Shesaidthata specific salary wasnotlisted onthe  copy oftheCity Manager Form of Government Ordinance shepicked upfrom City Hall. Kandy Kozar said nothaving alease forFruits of Labor bynow isnotright. She asked ifthepool atBlack Knight is open. ShesaidNew River Pool closes toosoon intheseason and thepeople paying tocome tothe pool need tohave the option toeat hotfood. Shesuggested serving microwavable food. Shesaid that there isn’tanything forkids todo inthisarea andthatthehiring process forthenewCity Manager istaking toolong. Council unanimously approved adjourning themeeting onamotion made byCouncilman-at-Large Reedy seconded byCouncilman Sopher. TheMayor adjourned the meeting at7:24p.m. Mayor Recorder-Treasurer