City Council

September 24, 2013 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 24th day of September, 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 Seventh District Robert Garcia Eighth District Robin W. Smith Ninth District Ronald J. (Ron) Straight, Sr. Also present were: City Manager Jay Rogers City Clerk Janet L. Keller City Attorney Kevin V. Sansalone Finance Director Eileen Layman Utility Manager David Sago IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. Hal Hevener of Central United Methodist Church gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Gribben. IN RE: PROCLAMATION PRESENTED Mayor Straight presented a proclamation to Brandon Akers, an Eagle Scout who made improvements to the Morgantown Avenue Mini Park for his Eagle Scout project. Councilmember Blosser then presented two plaques to Brandon to affix to the pavilion and the garden in memory of his sister. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Straight noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the regular meeting held on September 10, 2013. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, 1 or amendments. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved to approve the minutes as submitted. Councilmember Warner seconded the motion. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARINGS IN RE: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF FAIRMONT TO LEASE 0.03 ACRES OF LAND FROM CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC., FOR PURPOSES OF ACCESSING STEPS, SIDEWALKS, AND PARKING SPACES AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF SECURITY FENCING AT THE CITY’S EXISTING RAW WATER PUMP STATION, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A LAND LEASE BETWEEN CSX AND THE CITY FOR SAID PURPOSES Pursuant to a notice duly published in the Times-West Virginian on September 16, 2013, a public hearing was convened to obtain citizen input on an ordinance to lease property from CSX at the raw water pump station. The Mayor asked if anyone present desired to speak to the proposed ordinance. DAVID SAGO, Utility Manager, spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. He explained that this project is basically part of the AMR/Generator Project and they had to change the fencing configuration of the raw pump station at Millersville and with that CSX wanted us to offer the permit to show the reconstruction of the fencing which shows that the raw water pump station is really close to their property. He then asked Council to approve the passing of this ordinance. There being no one else to speak, the public hearing was called to a close at 7:08 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: COLBURN CENTER Councilmember Gribben mentioned that it was good to hear that Hope, Inc. will be taking over the Colburn Center soon. IN RE: PARKING AT MORRIS PARK Councilmember Gribben reported that he was Morris Park and during a school event at the park, cars were parked on both sides of the road going into Morris Park and it made it extremely hard 2 to get in and out of the park. He then said something needs to be done and suggested putting up signs. IN RE: MORGANTOWN AVENUE MINI PARK Councilmember Blosser told Brandon Akers how appreciative he is for all the work that he did at that park. He noted that it was a great example to show the young people in this community their willingness to do some things and get support. He also commended Mark Miller of the Planning Department for helping Brandon through this process. Mayor Straight also commended Brandon for all of his hard work at the Park. He said it is not every day that you see youth, like Brandon, to step up and run a program like he did. He thanked Brandon for taking on this project. IN RE: SEPTEMBER FALL FESTIVAL Councilmember Burdick reminded everyone of the Fall Fest scheduled for Saturday, September 28th in downtown Fairmont. IN RE: FAIRMONT GENERAL HOSPITAL Councilmember Burdick noted that he had concerns for the employees at Fairmont General Hospital. He said hopefully they will figure out what they need to do financially. CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no citizen’s petitions for this meeting. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT IN RE: PAVING PROGRAM Mr. Rogers updated Council on the paving program. He said they are moving rapidly through the last of the paving area which is the Watson area. He noted that Mary Lou Retton Drive will be shut down to vehicular traffic on Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. while they pave from Fox Hill Lane to Old Monongah Road. The City Manager commended Ron Miller and the Public Works Department for their efforts in working with the Marion County Bus Garage, the 911 Center, and the residents in that area. 3 IN RE: WATER PROJECT UPDATE DAVID SAGO, Utility Manager, provided Council with an update on the Generator and AMR projects as a continuing effort to improve the Water Filtration Plant. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: ADOPTION, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF FAIRMONT TO LEASE 0.03 ACRES OF LAND FROM CSX TRANSPORTATION, INC., FOR PURPOSES OF ACCESSING STEPS, SIDEWALKS, AND PARKING SPACES AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF SECURITY FENCING AT THE CITY’S EXISTING RAW WATER PUMP STATION, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF A LAND LEASE BETWEEN CSX AND THE CITY FOR SAID PURPOSES Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of an ordinance leasing property from CSX at the raw water pump station. Motion: Councilmember Blosser moved for the adoption of the proposed ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Seifrit. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the ordinance adopted by unanimous vote of Council and the ordinance designated as Ordinance No. 1602 was duly adopted. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ENDORSING THE EIGHTH ANNUAL FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES FESTIVAL SPONSORED BY MAIN STREET FAIRMONT, INC., TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT’S DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2013 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution endorsing the Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival to be held on Saturday, December 14, 2013. 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 Smith. The Clerk read the proposed resolution by synopsis for the first time. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. 4 The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, RESOLUTION (SEVENTEENTH) OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT APPROVING INVOICES RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER SERVICES FOR THE PROPOSED WATER PROJECT AND AUTHORIZING PAYMENT THEREOF Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution approving the final invoices relating to the Mannington Water Project. 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 Council. IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END JUNE 30, 2016 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for one appointment to the Arts and Humanities Commission for a three-year term to end June 30, 2016. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved to appoint Peggy Edwards to the Arts and Humanities Commission for a three-year term to end June 30, 2016. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Seifrit. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Peggy Edwards appointed to the Arts and Humanities Commission for a three-year term to end June 30, 2016 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: FIVE RE-APPOINTMENTS, FAIRMONT AIRPORT AUTHORITY, THREE-YEAR TERMS TO END OCTOBER 1, 2016 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for five re-appointments to the Fairmont Airport Authority for three-year terms to end October 1, 2016. Motion: 5 Councilmember Warner moved to re-appoint Gene Board, J.T. Hodges, Barry Parks, Jack Oliver, and Tom Mainella to the Fairmont Airport Authority for three-year terms to end October 1, 2016. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Weber. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Gene Board, J.T. Hodges, Barry Parks, Jack Oliver, and Tom Mainella re- appointed to the Fairmont Airport Authority for three-year terms to end October 1, 2016 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT AIRPORT AUTHORITY, THREE- YEAR TERM TO END OCTOBER 1, 2016 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for one appointment to the Fairmont Airport Authority for a three-year term to end October 1, 2016. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved to appoint David Floyd to the Fairmont Airport Authority for a three-year term to end October 1, 2016. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Blosser. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared David Floyd appointed to the Fairmont Airport Authority for a three-year term to end October 1, 2016 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Straight moved that Council adjourn to Executive Session under WV Code Section §6- 9A-4 under Item #2 under 2.11 of the City Charter. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Warner. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned to Executive Session by voice vote of Council at 7:43 p.m. IN RE: MEETING RECONVENED Mayor Straight declared the meeting reconvened at 8:36 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: 6 Councilmember Smith moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Blosser. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 8:37 p.m. 7