Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT6:30PMONSEPTEMBER 24, 2024, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIAWEB-X. PRESENT: Mayor Ryan Neal, Interim CityManager Ann Worley, Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler, City Attorney BillFile, andthe Mayor’sand CM’sAssistant Susan Miller, Council Members: Natalie Coots, Nancy Shoemaker-Dingess, Frank Williams, Kip Buchanan, Janine Bullock, andCouncil persons atLarge Sherrie Hunter andCody Reedy. The following City employees were present: Assistant Director ofITAmy Evans, Anthony Martin IT,Chief Coughlin ofBFD, Director ofBoard ofPublic Works (BPW) Pam Frey, Chief Bailey ofBPD, Director ofParks & Recreation Leslie Baker, andChief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan. The public hadtheoption tojointhe meeting inperson orlisten byWEB-X from their computer, orlisten byphone, using theweblink orphone number provided theday ofthemeeting onthe City’swebpage atBeckley.orgorthe City’sFacebook page. The Mayor called themeeting toorder at 6:30p.m.Boy Scouts Troop #3,Scout Master JonFernald, andAssistant Scout Master Skeets Loving ledThePledge of Allegiance. Council dispensed with thereading ofthe minutes from theWorkshop dated August 29, 2024, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes as written onamotion byCouncilman Williams seconded byCouncilwoman Coots. Council dispensed with the reading oftheminutes from theSpecial Council meeting dated September 4, 2024, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes as written onamotion byCouncilwoman Hunter seconded byCouncilman Williams. Council dispensed with the reading oftheminutes from theRegular Council Meeting dated September 10, 2024, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes as written onamotion byCouncilman Frank seconded byCouncilwoman Coots. Council dispensed with thereading ofthe minutes from theSpecial Council Meeting dated September 14, 2024, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten ona motion byCouncilman Reedy seconded byCouncilman Williams. Next ontheAgenda wastheappointment ofKevin Price totheBeckley Fire Department Civil Service Commission. Council unanimously approved the appointment onamotion by Councilwoman Hunter seconded by Councilman Williams. Councilwoman Bullock asked about the length ofMr.Price’sterm. Interim City Manager Ann Worley said four years. Next ontheAgenda wastheapproval of thebidfortheDLAP grant forgroups 2, 3,and4. Group 2consisted of110Grant St.,216Mills Ave., 367Mool Ave., 201 Hartley Ave., and 301Westmoreland St. Empire Salvage andRecycling, Inc’s,bid of $32,000. wasunanimously approved byCouncil onamotion byCouncilman Williams seconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. Councilwoman Coots asked if thisincluded fivestructures. Councilman Reedy said yes. The bidishereby incorporated into these minutes. Group 3consisted of twostreets which were 107 Elco Lane and104 Hunter Street. The bidofEmpire Salvage and Recycling intheamount of $11,000 was unanimously approved byCouncil ona motion byCouncilman Williams seconded byCouncilman Reedy. The bid ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Group 4consisted oftwostreets which were 313Maplewood Ln.,and938S. Fayette St.The bidbyTom’sTear Down andTake Away intheamount of $13,000 was unanimously approved byCouncil on amotion byCouncilman Reedy seconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. The bidis hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr.Fileread bytitletheOrdinance Authorizing City OfBeckley ToGrant And Convey ToBeckley Sanitary Board AnEasement And Right OfWayOver, Across And Through Certain Real Estate OfCity OfBeckley Between S. Eisenhower Dr.And Clarence W. Meadows Memorial Blvd. Heexplained that thisisthesecond reading ofthe ordinance, thefirst reading having occurred during theSeptember 10th Regular Council Meeting. He summarized theordinance explaining that theBeckley Sanitary Board (BSB) is requesting theCity ofBeckley (COB) to grant andconvey bySpecial Warranty an easement andright-of-way over, across andthrough certain realestate ofGrantor located between S.Eisenhower Dr.and Clarence W.Meadows Memorial Blvd. forthe purpose ofinstalling, maintaining andoperating astorm and/orsanitary sewer, including stormwater management pound. Mr.FilesaidthattheGeneral Manager oftheBeckley Sanitary Board, Jeremiah Johnson, ishere ifanyone has questions forhim. Mr. Fileopened the public meeting. There were no questions/comments. Mr.File closed thepublic meeting. The Mayor asked ifanyone hadanyquestions. There were noquestions. Council unanimously passed theordinance ona motion byCouncilman Buchanan seconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. The ordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr. Fileexplained thenext ordinance isupforsecond reading. The first reading was during theSeptember 10, 2024, Regular Council Meeting. Mr. Fileexplained thatthisordinance concerns property inthePinecrest Industrial Park andwillallow the City of Beckley toconvey thisproperty commonly referred toasthePinecrest Industrial Park tothe Raleigh County Commission which hasagreed tofund the infrastructure onthisproperty making it ready fordevelopment with pad ready sites. Mr.File saidthatthere are covenants andrestrictions thatcontrol what can bedone onthisproperty. Mr. Fileread itbytitle: Ordinance Authorizing City ofBeckly ToConvey 131.417Acres OfReal Estate, More Or Less, Located InThePinecrest Industrial Park InBeckley, Raleigh County, West Virgina, ToTheCounty Commission For ThePurpose OfEconomic Development OfThis RealEstate. Mr.Fileopened the public hearing andasked thatcomments bekept brief. The following people spoke inopposition oftheordinance: Danielle Stewart, Leah White, ZiMeng, Maya Panta, Lillian Bostwick, Tim Murdock, EllaGwen, Lisa Shrewsbury, George Barbara, Paul Corbit Brown, JCWellman, Tony Martin, Angela Mazella, andChristinia Baisden. Charles Houck spoke infavor ofthe County and Cityworking together onthis ordinance while keeping thecross country track inmind. Mr.Fileasked ifthere were anyother comments infavor oforin opposition totheordinance. There being none, Mr.File closed the public hearing. The Mayor asked fora motion. Amotion was not made. The ordinance under consideration ishereby incorporated into these minutes. The Mayor moved tothenext item onthe Agenda. OLD BUSINESS: There wasnoold business. NEW BUSINESS: Interim CityManager Ann Worley provided Council awritten update andasked department heads if they hadanyupdates they wanted to share. Beckley Events Director, Jill Moorefield reminded everyone thatChili Night isOctober 5th at4p.m. Woodrow Wilson High School’sHomecoming Parade isOctober 2nd at6:30p.m.andthe Scarecrow Contest iscoming soon. Parks andRecreation Director Leslie Baker said thatShane Pierce hasbeen working hard preparing fortheupcoming premier of Ambrosia. She said “How People Make Things” isonloan to,andfeatured, atthe Youth Museum. AnnWorley thanked all thedepartment heads fortheir hard work. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mary West said theCity needs tochange itsordinance to include themaintenance oftrees. She requested speed bumps andcameras be installed onLarew Avenue. Christinia Baisden thanked Council fornotmaking a motion toapprove thesecond reading of theconveyance oftheproperty regarding thePinecrest Ordinance. Shesaid town hallmeetings areneeded andthree minutes tospeak atCouncil meetings is notlong enough. Shealso thanked Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess forherhelp. Charlie Houck spoke commending thekids on their courage tospeak upregarding keeping their track course. Next onthe Agenda wasthe discussion of theCityManager position. Mr.Filesaid that four final applicants have been interviewed. Councilwoman Coots said thatthisCouncil isaunited Council. Councilwoman Hunter thanked Council forsupporting thechildren andhelping them keep their cross country track field. Councilman Williams said thisCouncil is coming together inbecoming more unified and explained thatitwill take time. Councilwoman Hunter said there is aHazardous Waste Collection this Saturday attheConvention Center from 8 a.m. –2p.m. Councilwoman Bullock thanked thestudents fortheir courage to speak up. Mr.Filesaid before entering into Executive Session theParking Commission willhave abrief meeting. TheMayor called theParking Commission Meeting toorder at7:35 p.m. Mr.Filesaid thiscommission is comprised ofthe seven members of Council, theMayor, andtheRecorder- Treasurer. Councilwoman Coots made a motion forCouncilman Reedy tochair the Parking Commission meetings. Councilman Buchanan seconded the motion anditpassed. Councilman Reedy asked ifanyone would volunteer toco- chair themeetings. Councilman Buchanan volunteered toco-chair the meetings. Councilwoman Coots made a motion forCouncilman Buchanan toco- chair themeetings seconded by Councilman Reedy anditpassed. The City’sParking Attendant Stephon Lawson was inattendance. Councilman Reedy asked himifhehadany updates. Mr. Lawson provided copies ofhiswritten proposals toChairman Reedy andto Chief Bailey. The proposals regarded improving parking intheCity, aswell as information about replacing theseventy plus year oldmeters. Councilman Reedy said theCity needs tooffer more up-to- date options forpeople paying topark. He mentioned using aparking app, aQR Code, and theability forcustomers topay bycardand bycash. Councilwoman Hunter asked ifPassport Parking is working. Stephon said that itisstillnot fully operational. Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler said thattherevenue from parking violations was $14K andthe rental formonthly parking andmetered parking revenue is $151K. She said those needing tocomplete anapplication to park intheCity candosoatCity Hall or onthebeckley.orgwebsite. Stephon said thegravel lotinfront oftheformer Fruits ofLabor building needs signage and signage isneeded throughout theCity letting people know thatthere isfree parking from 11:30a.m. –1:30p.m. Councilwoman Coots said theparking situation intheCity needs tobe simplified. Stephon saidthatitdoesneed simplified assome parking spaces allow only fifteen minute parking, some allow onehour andsome are formonthly rent. Itisconfusing forpeople. Councilwoman Coots asked Stephon ifheistheonly Parking Attendant. Hesaidyes. He issues parking citations intheCity for people parking infirelanes, handicap spaces, andforparking violations in downtown. Chief ofPD ishissupervisor. Councilman Williams said aWorkshop forparking issues isneeded. Mr.File said thatiswhat theparking commission meetings arefor. Several comments were made from thepublic regarding designating parking spaces in thelotonS.Kanawha Street beside City Hall forhandicap parking sothose with handicaps attending City Council meetings don’thavefartowalk. Another public comment included the request tomake parking free in downtown. Interim Recorder-Treasurer said thattherevenue from parking helps payfortheBeckley Intermodal Gateway BIG). Business owners along Main Street said they need onehour free parking fortheir customers asfifteen minute parking isnotenough. Councilman Reedy said thatthese commission meetings donotallow for public comments. Heasked foramotion toadjourn at8:00p.m.which wasmade byCouncilwoman Bullock, seconded by Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess. Next, theMayor asked foramotion at 8:01toenter into Executive Session ofthe regular City Council Meeting todiscuss City Manager candidates andemployment terms. Council unanimously approved themotion byCouncilwoman Hunter seconded byCouncilman Williams. Mr.File said nodecisions willbemade andnovotes willbetaken during Executive Session. Council unanimously approved entering back intotheRegular Council meeting at8:49p.m. onamotion byCouncilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess seconded byCouncilman Reedy. TheMayor adjourned themeeting at8:50 onamotion byCouncilman Reedy seconded byCouncilman Buchanan. Mayor Interim City Manager