Common Council

AREGULAR MEETING OF THECOMMON COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OFBECKLEY CONVENED AT5:30PMONOCTOBER 21, 2025, INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS AND VIAWEB-X. PRESENT: Mayor Ryan Neal, City Manager Phillip Jarrell, Mayor & CityManager’sExecutive Assistant Susan Miller, Interim Recorder-Treasurer Jessica Chandler, City Attorney Bill File. Council Members: Nancy Shoemaker-Dingess, Frank Williams, Natalie Coots, KipBuchanan, andSherrie Hunter. The following City employees were present: ITTechnician John Hopkins, ITTechnician Matt Blake, BPD Chief Bailey, Chief EdThompson ofBFD, Director ofBoard ofPublic Works (BPW) Mike Bolen, Director ofParks Recreation Leslie Baker, andBeckley Events Coordinator JillMoorefield. ABSENT: Janine Bullock, Cody Reedy, andChief Code Enforcement Officer Donald Morgan. The Mayor ledinthePledge of Allegiance followed inprayer ledby Pastor John Jordan. The public had the option tojointhemeeting inperson, listen byWEB-Xfrom their computer, orlisten byphone, using theweblink orphone number provided thedayofthemeeting ontheCity’swebpage atBeckley.orgor theCity’sFacebook page. The Mayor called the meeting toorder at 5:30p.m. The Mayor said thatthere was aquorum. Council dispensed with the reading oftheminutes from theOctober 07, 2025, Regular Council Meeting, copies ofwhich hadbeen distributed to each member. Council unanimously approved theminutes aswritten ona motion byCouncilwoman Hunter seconded byCouncilman Williams. PUBLIC COMMENTS: The Mayor announced thatifcalling byphone, dial 3toraiseyour hand. Ifconnected by computer, click the “hand icon” onyour participant’spanel. The Mayor asked ifanyone was online requesting tospeak. There were no online speakers. Mary West requested more speed humps/bumps onLarew Avenue. Yogen Panta (WVU Tech Professor) made arequest forWVU Tech andtheCity andCouncil members to work together regarding educating community leadership onAI.Christina Baisen spoke regarding concerns with the City’sPanhandle Ordinance. Shesaid thatpeople whochoose togivemoney should notbeheld tothesame consequences thatthepeople who are asking forthemoney aregoing tobeheld. Next were Brief Comments from the Mayor, Council Members, and theCity Manager. Councilman Buchanan said hehasreceived complaints about drivers speeding onN.Vance Drive. Heasked iftheLand Reuse Agency LRA) could beexpedited, andtheOpioid Funds Committee finalized. He said this Council was elected ayear agoandfeels likethings need tobemoving inamore timely manner andisready tosee progress. Councilman Williams didnot have anycomments. Councilwoman Shoemaker-Dingess did nothave any comments. Councilwoman Coots said thatdowntown Beckley hasjust asmuch potential tobecome agreat downtown area assome ofthelocations featured in anarticle thatshesent Council. She said thepanhandling ordinance needs tohave consequences outlined initthat willhold people accountable. Sheagreed with Councilman Buchanan andsaidthat projects need tobeexpedited inamore timely manner. The Mayor said thathe andCityManager Jarrell metwith Captain Lizwith theSalvation Army today andhadagreat meeting. She experiences alotofpeople panhandling close totheSalvation Army. TheMayor invited everyone tosupport and/or participate intheThanksgiving Day Run/Walk onthe morning of Thanksgiving atthesoccer complex. TheMayor read a “Keep TheLights On” Proclamation supporting theafter school programs offered atthe Salvation Army. Councilwoman Hunter thanked Tracy with theSalvation Army forallthey do forthecommunity. Shealso thanked all theparticipants ofLitter Sweeps. She said thepanhandling ordinance needs to first address thehumanitarian aspect to getthepeople themedical helpthey need foraddiction. City Manager Jarrell thanked thestaff andsaid Ewart Avenue wasrecently paved. Hesaid that theCity hasanordinance inplace thatprohibits thesolicitation ofmoney but needs updated. Hesaidthathewould liketo schedule aworkshop soon. ENACTMENT OF ORDINANCES: Mr.File said thattonight isthefirst reading oftheordinance titled Amendment totheCity ofBeckley’s Code Section 10-54Sale OrGiftOf Tobacco Products, Including Vapor Products, ToPersons Younger Than 21 Years OfAge; Penalties ForFirst And Subsequent Offenses; Provision OnNon- Criminal, Non-Monetary Penalties. If passed tonight, thesecond reading and public hearing willbeduring the November 4,2025, Regular Council Meeting. Mr.Filesaid thisordinance raises the legal age topurchase these items from eighteen totwenty-one, which isin accordance with theState law. Mr.File said themonetary amount offines isalso increased. Hethen readtheordinance by title. TheMayor asked foramotion to approve theordinance aspresented. Councilman Buchanan made themotion, seconded byCouncilwoman Coots. The Mayor asked Council members ifthey hadquestions orcomments. There being none, Council unanimously approved the ordinance aspresented. Theordinance is hereby incorporated into these minutes. Next onthe Agenda wasdiscussion ofthe City ofBeckley’sPanhandling Ordinance. City Manager Jarrell said thathewould liketoschedule aWorkshop which would include thistopic. TheMayor asked fora motion totable discussing theCity of Beckley’sPanhandling Ordinance. Councilwoman Hunter made themotion seconded byCouncilwoman Shoemaker- Dingess. The Mayor asked ifthere were anyquestions orcomments. There being none, Council unanimously approved tabeling thisitemtobediscussed atan upcoming Workshop. ADOPTION OFRESOLUTIONS: There were noresolutions. OLD BUSINESS: There wasnoold business. NEW BUSINESS: There wasnonew business. POTENTIAL EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING LITIGATION. TheMayor asked foramotion toenter intoExecutive Session. Councilman Buchanan made the motion which wasseconded by Councilman Williams. At6:00p.m. Council entered intoExecutive Session. At6:20p.m.theMayor asked fora motion toenter back intotheRegular Council Meeting. Councilman Williams made amotion seconded byCouncilwoman Coots. The Mayor said novotes were taken andno decisions were made during Executive Session. TheMayor stated thatthere willnotbea Parking Commission Meeting this evening and reminded everyone that trick- or-treat isonFriday, October 31st from 6p.m. –8p.m. With there being no further business todiscuss, theMayor adjourned themeeting at6:21p.m.ona motion byCouncilwoman Shoemaker- Dingess seconded byCouncilman Buchanan. Mayor City Manager