City Council

December 17, 2013 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 17th day of December, 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 Planner Kathy Wyrosdick IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. Sabrina Haught gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Burdick. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Straight noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the regular meeting held on December 10, 2013. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Councilmember Seifrit clarified what she said about Nelson Mandela during the December 10th meeting. The minutes will reflect her clarification. Motion: Councilmember Garcia moved to approve the minutes as amended. Councilmember Smith seconded the motion. 1 The Mayor declared the minutes approved as amended by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARINGS No public hearings were scheduled for this meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: MERRY CHRISTMAS All Councilmembers wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. IN RE: BEST WISHES TO KAYLYN CHRISTOPHER The Mayor and Councilmembers extended best wishes to Times-West Virginian reporter, Kaylyn Christopher, who is moving on. This meeting will be her last meeting covering the City Council’s meetings. Everyone wished her the best of luck in the future. IN RE: MAIN STREET FAIRMONT Councilmember Burdick extended thanks to the Fairmont-Marion Transit Authority for providing buses during the Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival. Councilmember Burdick reported that Main Street Fairmont was awarded a $20,000 grant for initiatives into walkways and bike ways within the City. Councilmember Gribben also commended Kate Green and Main Street Fairmont and reported that Main Street Fairmont is heading in the right direction with Kate Green. Mayor Straight reported that he attended the Feast of the Seven Fishes. He said that even though it poured down the rain, it did not deter anybody from attending. IN RE: COMMITTEE FOR THE HOMELESS Councilmember Gribben reported that there is a committee here in Fairmont, 2 not sure of the exact name, but they focus on the homeless people in Fairmont. He said that they seem to be doing a good job and getting a lot of engagement from a lot of different people and are getting involved with those who are truly homeless. He went on to say that we are seeing signs that there are a lot of resources available for people in this community, like the Soup Opera, the Union Mission, or other places as well. He said that we are fortunate in Fairmont that we have as many resources as what we have to help people who are homeless or in other ways that they are in need. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: HOMELAND SECURITY FILE OF LIFE SABRINA HAUGHT, with the Marion County Department of Homeland Security, spoke to Council regarding the File of Life. She gave each Councilmember a “file” and asked them to fill out the medical information and emergency contacts to help the EMS Department if they were ever called to their house for an emergency. She then asked them to keep this file on their refrigerator in case emergency personnel would ever come to their house. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT IN RE: HOUSES ON CLEVELAND AVENUE Mr. Rogers reported that tomorrow in City Court, the City expects to receive the right of entry for the last home on Cleveland Avenue and once that is received, we will proceed with the demolition of those three structures. IN RE: BAD BUILDINGS COMMITTEE MEETING The City Manager announced that the Bad Buildings Committee meeting was held today. He noted that they had a conference call with staff from the City of Wheeling regarding their program. He said that they shared a lot of good information that he will share with Council in the Weekly Report. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: REMOVE VARIANCE PETITION FROM THE TABLE 3 Mayor Straight entertained a motion and second to remove this item from the table. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved to remove this item from the table. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Warner. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared this item removed from the table by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT GRANTING THE REQUEST OF H & R PROPERTIES, FOR A VARIANCE FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 1359.06(a) and (f), ARTICLE 1359 DESIGN AND PLANNING STANDARDS, CHAPTER FIVE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS, PART 13 PLANNING AND ZONING CODE, OF THE FAIRMONT CITY CODE, SITUATE IN FAIRMONT CITY DISTRICT, MARION COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WHICH LOTS ARE PART OF PARCEL 173, SITUATE IN FAIRMONT CITY DISTRICT, MARION COUNTY TAX MAP 01-01 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution granting the request of H & R Properties for a variance on Adams Street. Motion: Councilmember Seifrit 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 Garcia. 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: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION TO RESCHEDULE THE REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 14, 2014 TO JANUARY 16, 2014 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution to reschedule the meeting of January 14, 2014 to January 16, 2014. Motion: 4 Councilmember Weber moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Garcia. The Clerk read the proposed resolution in its entirety for the first time. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. Mayor Straight clarified that the reason the January 14, 2014 meeting is being changed to January 16, 2014 is because some of the Councilmembers will be out of town attending the West Virginia Municipal League Conference and to get the majority for the meeting, the date of the meeting had to be changed. Mr. Rogers also mentioned that the WV Clerk and Recorders Association will be conducting an election seminar on January 14th which is mandatory if municipalities are having an election that year. He then stated that he appreciated Council’s consideration in moving the meeting date. IN RE: ONE JOINT RE-APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT-MARION TRANSIT AUTHORITY, THREE-YEAR TERMS TO END DECEMBER 31, 2016 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for one joint re-appointment to the Fairmont-Marion Transit Authority for a three-year term to end December 31, 2016. Motion: Councilmember Warner moved to re-appoint Jesse Corley to the Fairmont- Marion Transit Authority for a three-year term to end December 31, 2016. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Burdick. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Jesse Corley re-appointed to the Fairmont-Marion Transit Authority for a three-year term to end December 31, 2016 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE RE-APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT SANITARY SEWER BOARD, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END JANUARY 1, 2017 5 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for one re-appointment to the Fairmont Sanitary Sewer Board for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017. Motion: Councilmember Garcia moved to re-appoint J. Peale Davidson to the Fairmont Sanitary Sewer Board for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Smith. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared J. Peale Davidson re-appointed to the Fairmont Sanitary Sewer Board for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE RE-APPOINTMENT, HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW COMMISSION, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END JANUARY 1, 2017 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for one re-appointment to the Historic Preservation Review Commission for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017. Motion: Councilmember Warner moved to re-appoint George Sprowls to the Historic Preservation Review Commission for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Seifrit. Roll call was taken by the Clerk and the following votes were recorded: Councilmember Burdick Yes Councilmember Gribben Yes Councilmember Blosser Yes Councilmember Warner Yes Councilmember Weber Abstain Councilmember Seifrit Yes Councilmember Smith Yes Councilmember Garcia Yes Mayor Straight Yes The Mayor declared George Sprowls re-appointed to the Historic Preservation Review Commission for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017 by majority vote of Council. IN RE: TWO APPOINTMENTS, BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS, THREE- YEAR TERMS TO END JANUARY 1, 2017 6 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for two re-appointments to the Board of Zoning Appeals for three-year terms to end January 1, 2017. Motion: Councilmember Garcia moved to re-appoint Ray Friend to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017 as a regular member and to re-appoint Mike Burkovich as an alternate to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Smith. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Ray Friend re-appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals as a regular member for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017 and Mike Burkovich reappointed as an alternate for a three-year term to end January 1, 2017 by unanimous vote of Council. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Smith moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Garcia. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:30 p.m. 7