Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OFTHE COMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT6:30PMONNOVEMBER 26, 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, KipBuchanan, Janine Bullock, Sherrie Hunter andCody Reedy. The following City employees were present: ITTech Anthony Martin, Acting Chief ofBFD Chief EdThompson, Supervisor ofBoard ofPublic Works (BPW) Mike Bolen, Beckley Events Coordinator JillMoorefield, Chief Dean Bailey ofBPD, andChief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan. ABSENT: Leslie Baker (P&R)andPam Frey (BPW). The Mayor called themeeting toorder at 6:30p.m. The public hadtheoption to jointhemeeting inperson, listen by WEB-Xfrom their computer, orlisten by phone, using theweblink orphone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage atBeckley.orgor theCity’sFacebook page. Pastor Monte Mitchell ofBeckley Presbyterian Church lead prayer. Council dispensed with the reading oftheminutes from the November 12, 2024, regular council meeting copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed toeach member. Council unanimously approved theminutes as written onamotion byCouncilman Williams seconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. Next was the receipt offour bidsforthe DLAP grant demolition of322Neville St. and324Neville Street. The first bidwas from Aster Oilfield Services inthe amount of $98,700.00. Thesecond bid was from Empire Salvage & Recycling, Inc. inthe amount of $87,717.97. The third bidwas from Reclaim Company in theamount of $205,280.00. Thelastbid wasfromTom’sTear Down andTake Away LLPintheamount of $85,000.00. The bidswillbereviewed byChief Code Enforcement Officer Captain Morgan, Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler, andthe twoCouncilpersons at large forpossible award atafuture meeting. The bids arehereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Mr.File summarized anOrdinance authorizing CityofBeckley toaccept the donation ofaparcel ofrealestate located offAntonio Avenue InBeckley, Raleigh County, West Virgina. This isreal estate located intheCity identified as “SurLot 1,BLK 20, Beckley Ct.Add”. Mr.File summarized theordinance bysaying that thelotislocated adjacent tothebasketball court onAntonio Avenue andisbeing donated byJennifer Stump Dilley. He read theordinance bytitle, Ordinance Authorizing The CityOfBeckley To Accept The Donation OfAParcel Of Real Estate Located OffAntonio Avenue InBeckley, Raleigh County West Virginia. Mr. Filesaid thisisthesecond reading andpublic hearing onthis ordinance. Heopened thepublic hearing. There werenopublic comments or questions. Mr.Fileclosed thepublic hearing. Council unanimously passed the ordinance onamotion byCouncilman Williams seconded byCouncilman Buchanan. The ordinance ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next Mr. Filepresented anOrdinance authorizing theCity toenter intoan Agreement with theRaleigh County Commission inwhich theCity will transfer Pinecrest property totheCounty andtheCounty willfinance the infrastructure development. Mr.Filesaid thattonight isthesecond reading ofthis ordinance. Mr.File explained thatthis ordinance setsforth theterms theCounty andthe Cityagreed toregarding the transfer. Hereadtheordinance bytitle, Ordinance Authorizing City OfBeckley ToEnter Into Agreement With Raleigh County Commission Regarding Terms Of Transfer ofPinecrest Property. Mr. File opened thepublic hearing. Christina Baisden said theCity needs more transparency. Sherequested acopy ofthe agreement andsaid itshould bemade available tothepublic ontheCity’s website perhaps. Mr.Fileclosed the public hearing. (Acopy ofthe agreement was previously provided toCouncil and made available tothepublic.) The ordinance was passed. Councilman Reedy made amotion toapprove the ordinance seconded byCouncilman Williams. SixCouncil members were infavor ofthe ordinance with oneCouncilperson opposing the ordinance which was Councilwoman Hunter. Theordinance is hereby incorporated intothese minutes. Next Mr.Filesaidthattheonlyreading of thenext resolution istonight and apublic hearing willbeheld prior toavoteby Council. Hesummarized theresolution authorizing the City ofBeckley toenter intoalease astheLessor, with Piney Creek Watershed Association, Inc. asthe Lesee. The Lesee willlease thesecond floor ofproperty identified as213S. Kanawha Street fortheterm ofoneyear atthemonthly rent ofonedollar ($1.00). Mr.File opened thepublic hearing. Councilman Buchanan asked ifthe City willbepaying theutilities forthisspace. Mr.Filesaid yes. Nate Snyder isthe Executive Director ofthePineycreek Watershed. Heemphasized how convenient having thisspace willbeand thanked theCity andCouncil forthis opportunity. Christinia Baisden asked for acopy ofthelease. There were noother comments orquestions. Mr.Fileclosed thepublic hearing. The resolution was unanimously approved byCouncil ona motion byCouncilman Williams seconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. The resolution ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next wastheResolution For AOne Time PaySupplement ForAllFull-Time Employees. Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler explained that allfull- time employees (asofDecember 1,2024) willbeawarded asalary enhancement paysupplement) inthe amount of 850.00. TheMayor asked ifparttime employees receive thissupplement. She said inthepast ithasonly been awarded tofull-timeemployees. Shesaid there are twohundred fifty-four fulltime employees which amounts totwo hundred fifteen thousand dollars forthispay supplement. Shesaid thatthisincludes taxes. Council unanimously approved the resolution onamotion byCouncilwoman Hunter seconded byCouncilman Reedy. Theresolution ishereby incorporated into these minutes. Next, Council unanimously approved the reappointment ofDr.Kurt Reiber tothe Beckley Building Commission ona motion byCouncilwoman Hunter seconded byCouncilwoman Bullock. Mr. Reiber’sterm onthecommission expires 12-31-28. Next, Council unanimously approved the reappointment ofSandy Sheatsley tothe Board ofZoning Appeals onamotion by Councilman Reedy seconded by Councilwoman Hunter. Ms. Sheatsley’s term ontheboard expires 6-30-28. Next, Council unanimously approved the appointment oftheBeckley City Manager totheFayette-Raleigh Metropolitan Planning Organization’ s (MPO) Board of Directors onamotion byCouncilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess seconded by Councilman Reedy. Next, Council approved the appointment ofAnnHaley Donegan totheBeckley Housing Authority Board of Commissioners onamotion made by Councilman Buchanan seconded by Councilwoman Bullock. Ms. Donegan’s term ontheboard expires 6-30-29. Next, Council unanimously approved the appointment ofMattMorris tothe Beckley Planning Commission ona motion byCouncilman Reedy seconded byCouncilwoman Hunter. Mr.Morriss’s termonthe commission expires 6-30-28. OLD BUSINESS: Aninvitation was given toeveryone toattend the Nutcracker atWoodrow Wilson’s auditorium December 6thth – 8. NEW BUSINESS: Councilwoman Hunter thanked BPW forthefallleaf pickup. Shecongratulated theBPD for thehiring ofnew officers. Councilman Reedy invited everyone toattend thetree lighting atWord Park December 3rd at 5:30. Hesaid helikedhaving prayer before Council meetings andheislooking forward tothecitymanager starting soon. The Mayor cancelled theDecember 24th Council Meeting. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Mary West complained about speeding drivers on Larew Avenue. Gary Bolen saidthat he, Mary West, andother veterans arestillin need ofindoor space toassemble bicycles forkids forChristmas andinneed of storage space. Hesaid they arecurrently working outofSt.Stevens Episcopal Church. Debbie Carter thanked theCity forpaving “G” Street. Danielle Stewart expressed appreciation fortheresolution passing tonight regarding office space for thePineycreek Watershed Association. Shesaid that Glenn Avenue needs repair andaninfrastructure development committee isneeded. Shesaidthere isno outline inthenew transfer agreement with theCounty regarding thePinecrest property astowhocomposes the Pinecrest anticultural review committee. Tom Moseley requested asafety committee beformed. Aretha VanHorn asked ifanew petition isneeded toturn into theCity from residents onLarew Avenue regarding theproblem there with drivers speeding. Mary West said a petition hasalready been given toMr. Fileregarding this. Aretha asked if someone would letherknow ifan additional petition isneeded inorder for Larew togetrumble strips, speed bumps, flashing sign(s),etc. Councilwoman Coots asked ifspeed bumps arealiability issue. Mr.Filesaid speed bumps area safety issue. Council unanimously approved the motion made byCouncilman Reedy at 7:26p.m.seconded byCouncilwoman Coots toenter into Executive Session.  Council unanimously approved entering back into theregular Council Meeting on amotion byCouncilman Buchanan at 7:37p.m.seconded byCouncilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess. With there being no further business, the Mayor adjourned the meeting at7:37p.m.onamotion by Councilman Reedy seconded by Councilman Williams. Mayor Interim City Manager