City Council

July 22, 2014 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 22nd day of July, 2014, at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street in Fairmont, West Virginia. Mayor Straight called the meeting to order. IN RE: OATH OF OFFICE – ROGER D. CURRY – 7TH DISTRICT COUNCILMEMBER The City Clerk issued the Oath of Office to the newly appointed Councilmember, Roger D. Curry, to serve the unexpired term of Councilmember of the 7th District until the canvass is completed after the November 4, 2014 Municipal Election. Congratulations were extended to Councilmember Curry. Councilmembers present were: First District Robert D. (Bob) Gribben 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 Roger D. Curry Eighth District Robin W. Smith Ninth District Ronald J. (Ron) Straight, Sr. Absent: Second District Frank G. Yann Also present were: City Manager Jay Rogers City Clerk Janet L. Keller IN RE: EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER YANN Councilmember Seifrit moved to excuse Councilmember Yann from this meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Warner. 1 The Mayor declared Councilmember Yann excused from this meeting by voice vote of Council. IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. D. D. Meighen gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Seifrit. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Straight noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on July 8, 2014. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Councilmember Warner moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Seifrit. 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: WELCOME TO COUNCILMEMBER CURRY All Councilmembers extended congratulations to Councilmember Curry. IN RE: CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILMEMBER GRIBBEN Councilmember Seifrit extended congratulations to Councilmember Gribben on behalf of the Fairmont Community Development Partnership receiving another grant to help improve the City of Fairmont. IN RE: ATTENDED GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY Mayor Straight stated that he and the City Manager attended the ground breaking ceremony for the new Credit Union to be located along the Connector. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: BACKPACK GIVEAWAY 2 TERESA WRIGHT, Mt. Harmony Road, spoke to Council on behalf of Marion County’s Start Smart Backpack and School Supplies Program. She said this is a new project being started this year and they are trying to combine all of the backpack giveaways into one location. She noted that they expect to give away more than 1,500 backpacks. She then stated that, at some point, she would like to speak to the City Manager about the City making a donation to their program. IN RE: HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW COMMISSION SANDRA SCAFFIDI, a resident of 1 Avalon Road, Chair of the Historic Preservation Review Commission, updated Council on what the Commission has done in the past year. IN RE: MAIN STREET UPDATE KATE GREENE, Main Street Director, presented Council with her Program Manager’s Report from Main Street Fairmont. She noted that she will be giving Council an update each month. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT IN RE: CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER Mr. Rogers reported that the Customer Service Center opened on July 14 th on Merchant Street. He said that in one week they saw 410 customers with a 35% use of the drive-thru facility. He said that means 185 people were not looking for a parking space at the J. Harper Meredith Building. He also mentioned that we are actually seeing the highest number of usage in the drive-thru and the drop off payment box. IN RE: CITY’S FACEBOOK PAGE The City Manager mentioned that the City now has a Facebook page which is a very positive thing for the City and been very well received over the past week. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION TO RESCHEDULE THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF AUGUST 26, 2014 TO AUGUST 27, 2014 3 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution to reschedule the meeting of August 26th to August 27th. Motion: Councilmember Warner moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Burdick. The Clerk read the proposed resolution for the first time. Discussion: Mr. Rogers announced that the West Virginia Legislature will be in Fairmont on August 26th for Interim Committee meetings and they have invited City Council to participate in some activities with the members of the Legislature on August 26th which is our regularly scheduled meeting. He noted that we will be moving this meeting so the members of Council can participate in those meetings. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE WEST VIRGINIA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION’S COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION GRANT PROGRAM ON BEHALF OF FAIRMONT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, INC. FOR THE REBUILDING OF DISTRESSED PROPERTY PROJECT Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution to submit a grant application on behalf of the Fairmont Community Development Partnership. 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 Weber. The Clerk read the proposed resolution by synopsis for the first time. Discussion: 4 Councilmember Curry asked two questions: where does the money come from and has the property been identified to which this applies. Mr. Rogers replied yes. He said the money does come from the State and is a pass through grant so the grant is actually awarded to the City of Fairmont on behalf of the Fairmont Community Development Partnership. He added that non-profit entities are only able to receive those funds through governing body of the City. Councilmember Curry asked if the Fairmont Community Development Partnership has already taken title to this property. Councilmember Gribben replied no. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RE: ONE RE-APPOINTMENT, ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END JUNE 30, 2017 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for one re-appointment to the Arts and Humanities Commission for a three-year term to end June 30, 2017. Motion: Councilmember Warner moved to appoint Mary Reed to the Arts and Humanities Commission for a three-year term to end June 30, 2017. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Weber. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Mary Reed appointed to the Arts and Humanities Commission for a three-year term to end June 30, 2017 by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. 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 Weber. 5 The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned to Executive Session by voice vote of Council at 7:25 p.m. IN RE: MEETING RECONVENED Mayor Straight declared the meeting reconvened at 8:15 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Smith moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Seifrit. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 8:16 p.m. 6