City Council

March 26, 2013 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 26th day of March, 2013, at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street in Fairmont, West Virginia. Mayor Straight called the meeting to order. Councilmembers present were: First District Robert D. (Bob) Gribben Second District Travis L. Blosser Third District Deborah D. (Debbie) Seifrit Fourth District William H. (Bill) Burdick Fifth District Charles E. (Chuck) Warner Sixth District Daniel K. (Dan) Weber Ninth District Ronald J. (Ron) Straight, Sr. Absent: Seventh District Robert Garcia Eighth District Robin W. Smith Also present were: City Manager Jay Rogers City Clerk Janet L. Keller City Attorney Kevin V. Sansalone City Planner Kathy Wyrosdick IN RE: EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA AND SMITH Councilmember Weber moved to excuse Councilmember Garcia and Councilmember Smith from tonight’s meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Warner. The Mayor declared Councilmembers Garcia and Smith excused from this meeting by voice vote of Council. IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. Aslam Barkat of Faith United Methodist Church gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Seifrit. 1  APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Straight noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the regular meeting held on March 12, 2013. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Motion: Councilmember Warner moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Councilmember Blosser seconded the motion. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings scheduled for this meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA Councilmember Burdick mentioned Councilmember Garcia’s article in the newspaper about clean up from previous bad storms and today we had another bad storm. He noted that he hopes he works safe. Councilmember Gribben recognized Rob Garcia for the excellent presentation made by the Times-West Virginian in the article. He noted that it points out his fine citizenship and what a valuable employee he is to Mon Power and to this community. IN RE: CREMATORY HILL Councilmember Burdick mentioned that Crematory Hill had been cleaned up and looks really good. IN RE: GARBAGE PICK UP Councilmember Seifrit asked if they changed the garbage route because garbage is all backed up. Mr. Rogers responded by saying that Republic canceled garbage service on Monday as a result of the snow so all services will be running one day behind. He said that it was due to the hour that the snow began and due to problems and too many accidents; they just moved everything back one day. 2 IN RE: TRUCKS ON GATEWAY CONNECTOR AND HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE Councilmember Seifrit mentioned that trucks need to be re-routed rather than allowing them to use the Connector and High Level Bridge. She noted that jake breaks are still a problem on the Connector and it was easier to fix Main Street than to replace the problems with the bridge. Mr. Rogers said that he would send that request to the Department of Highways again. Mayor Straight mentioned that he received calls about some trucks and the routes that they are taking. He then asked the City Manager to explain the road bond for one project that is going on. Mr. Rogers said the road bond dealt with the project on Washington Street where some of the vehicles are coming across the High Level Bridge and going down Washington Street and Madison Street to the CSX property. He reported that a $40,000 road bond was put in place and does not only protect the roadway but also the sidewalks. He said that we are able to control the streets that we own and maintain but the High Level Bridge and the Gateway Connector would be up to the Department of Highways to place weight limits on. Councilmember Weber stated that he comes out of Hillcrest daily and counted nine large trucks going toward Mannington and they were going at a high rate of speed. He thought they were getting to be a public safety issue. CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no citizen’s petitions for this meeting. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT IN RE: FAIRMONT 101 PROGRAM Mr. Rogers reported that registration for the Fairmont 101 Program is at 50% and he has received a lot of good feedback about the program. IN RE: LEGISLATIVE ISSUES The Manager stated that things are slow with the Legislature right now. He said that April 3rd is cross-over day which is the last day for bills to come out of their house of origin. He said that Home Rule passed unanimously in the Senate but is now in the House. 3 IN RE: SPRING CLEAN UP Mr. Rogers reported that spring clean up will be held the week of April 8-12 on normal trash days. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT REPEALING SECTION NO. 1763, AS AMENDED, WHICH ORDINANCE IS CODIFIED AS ARTICLE 1342 “SIGNS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES” OF THE FAIRMONT CITY CODE AND RE-ENACTING SAID ARTICLE 1342 “SIGNS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES” TO PROVIDE FOR UPDATED RULES, REGULATIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS FOR PLACEMENT AND LOCATION OF SIGNS AND SIMILAR STRUCTURES WITHIN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, AND TO PROVIDE A PENALTY FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF Mayor Straight entertained a motion and a second for the introduction of this ordinance and to set the public hearing for April 9, 2013 regarding an ordinance to provide updated rules and regulations for the placement and location of signs and similar structures. Motion: Councilmember Warner moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance and the reading of a synopsis in lieu of the entire ordinance. Councilmember Burdick seconded the motion. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for April 9, 2013 by voice vote of Council. IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE AND ADOPT CURRENT REPLACEMENT PAGES TO THE FAIRMONT CITY CODE Mayor Straight entertained a motion and a second for the introduction of this ordinance and to set the public hearing for April 9, 2013 regarding an ordinance to approve and adopt replacement pages to the City Code. Motion: Councilmember Warner moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance and the reading of a synopsis in lieu of the entire ordinance. Councilmember Seifrit seconded the motion. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. 4 The Mayor declared the public hearing set for April 9, 2013 by voice vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF FAIRMONT TO FILE A JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT APPLICATION ON BEHALF OF THE MARION COUNTY FAMILY RESOURCE NETWORK WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution on behalf of Marion County Family Resource Network. Motion: Councilmember Blosser moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution and the reading of a synopsis in lieu of the entire resolution. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Warner. The Clerk read the proposed resolution by synopsis for the first time. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RRE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 2013 AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH IN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution proclaiming April 2013 as Fair Housing Month. Motion: Councilmember Warner moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution and the reading of a synopsis in lieu of the entire resolution. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Seifrit. The Clerk read the proposed resolution by synopsis for the first time. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: 5 Councilmember Weber moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Warner. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:23 p.m. 6