City Council

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING January 13, 2015 Pursuant to Section 1.2 of the Rules of Order and Procedure, adopted by the Council of the City of Fairmont on February 6, 1978, and amended at the regular meeting of Council held February 6, 1979, the Bi-Ennial Organizational Meeting of Council of the City of Fairmont was convened this 13th day of January, 2015, at 7:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, at the Public Safety Building, 500 Quincy Street, Fairmont, West Virginia. As per West Virginia Code §8-9-1 and Rule 2.2 of Council’s Rules of Order and Procedure, Mayor Straight presided over the meeting for the purpose of administering the oath of office to the Councilmembers elected at the Municipal General Election held November 4, 2014 and for the purpose of conducting the election of Mayor. Mayor Straight called the meeting to order. IN RE: OATH OF OFFICE – COUNCILMEMBERS MORAN, LINGER, MAINELLA AND STRAIGHT The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office of Councilmember to Marianne Moran, Robert Linger, Thomas Mainella, and Ronald J. Straight, Sr., the members elected to serve on Council for the City of Fairmont at the Municipal Non-Partisan General Election held November 4, 2014. Marianne Moran, a resident of 516 Race Street, representing the First District, elected for a term of four years, commencing January 1, 2015 and expiring December 31, 2018. Robert Linger, a resident of 624 Columbia Street, representing the Third District, elected for a term of four years, commencing January 1, 2015 and expiring December 31, 2018. Thomas Mainella, a resident of 8 Hollen Circle, representing the Eighth District, elected for a term of four years, commencing January 1, 2015 and expiring December 31, 2018. Ronald J. Straight, Sr., a resident of 101 Shirlane Avenue, representing the Ninth District, elected for a term of four years, commencing January 1, 2015 and expiring December 31, 2018. 1 The Clerk administered the Oath of Office, to-wit: “Do you, and each of you, having been duly elected to serve as a Councilmember of the City of Fairmont, solemnly swear, that you will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, and the Charter of the City of Fairmont, and that you will faithfully and impartially perform the duties of a Councilmember of the City of Fairmont, so long as you shall continue therein, to the best of your skill and judgment, so help you God?” Councilmember-Elect Moran, Linger, Mainella, and Straight replied “I will”. Thereupon, the City Clerk declared Marianne Moran, Robert Linger, Thomas Mainella, and Ronald J. Straight, Sr. duly sworn in as members of the Council of the City of Fairmont and extended congratulations to them. The City Clerk called the roll of Councilmembers present to determine the representation of the Council Districts: First District Marianne Moran Second District Frank G. Yann Third District Robert Linger Fourth District William H. Burdick Sixth District Daniel K. Weber Seventh District Philip R. Mason Eighth District Thomas Mainella Ninth District Ronald J. Straight, Sr. Absent: Fifth District Fran Warner Also present were: City Manager Jay Rogers City Clerk Janet L. Keller City Attorney Kevin V. Sansalone Finance Director Eileen Layman City Planner Kathy Wyrosdick IN RE: EXCUSE COUNCILEMBER WARNER The Mayor stated that Councilmember Warner asked to be excused from this meeting due to illness. Motion: 2 Councilmember Moran moved to excuse Councilmember Warner from tonight’s meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Weber. The Mayor declared Councilmember Warner excused from tonight’s meeting by voice vote of Council. IN RE: ELECTION OF MAYOR Mayor Straight called for nominations for the Office of Mayor. Councilmember Weber nominated Ron Straight to serve as Mayor. Councilmember Burdick nominated William Burdick. Councilmember Mason nominated Rob Linger. Councilmember Weber moved that nominations be closed. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mason. Mayor Straight stated that we have a motion and a second to close nominations. Roll call was taken by the Clerk to close the nominations. The Mayor declared the nominations closed by unanimous vote of Council. Mayor Straight asked the Clerk to call the roll on the first person nominated for Mayor. Roll call was taken on the nomination of Ron Straight as Mayor and the following votes were recorded: Councilmember Mason No Councilmember Moran Yes Councilmember Weber Yes Councilmember Burdick No Councilmember Yann Yes Councilmember Linger No Councilmember Mainella Yes Mayor Straight Yes Thereupon, Mayor Straight declared himself elected as Mayor by majority vote of Council. 3 IN RE: OATH OF OFFICE – MAYOR STRAIGHT The Clerk administered the Oath of Office of Mayor, to-wit: “Do you, Ronald J. Straight, Sr., having been duly elected to serve as Mayor of the City of Fairmont, solemnly swear, that you will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, and the Charter of the City of Fairmont, and that you will faithfully and impartially perform the duties of the office of Mayor of the City of Fairmont, to the best of your skill and judgment, so help you God?” Mayor Straight replied “I do”. Thereupon, Mayor Straight formally took the presiding Chair. IN RE: ELECTION OF DEPUTY MAYOR Mayor Straight entertained nominations for the Office of Deputy Mayor. Councilmember Mason nominated Rob Linger to serve as Deputy Mayor. Councilmember Moran nominated Thomas Mainella. Councilmember Weber nominated Dan Weber. Councilmember Burdick moved that nominations be closed. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mason. Roll call was taken by the Clerk to close the nomination. Mayor Straight declared the nominations closed by unanimous vote of Council. Roll call was taken on the nomination of Rob Linger as Deputy Mayor and the following votes were recorded: Councilmember Yann No Councilmember Burdick Yes Councilmember Moran No Councilmember Weber Abstain Councilmember Mainella No Councilmember Mason Yes Mayor Straight No Councilmember Linger Yes Mayor Straight stated that Rob Linger did not receive the majority of votes to be elected Deputy Mayor. 4 Roll call was taken on the nomination of Thomas Mainella as Deputy Mayor and the following votes were recorded: Councilmember Weber Abstain Councilmember Yann Yes Councilmember Moran Yes Councilmember Burdick Yes Councilmember Linger No Councilmember Mason Yes Councilmember Mainella Yes Mayor Straight Yes The Mayor declared Thomas Mainella duly elected as Deputy Mayor for the City of Fairmont by majority vote of Council. He then asked the City Clerk to administer the Oath of Office to Deputy Mayor Mainella. IN RE: OATH OF OFFICE – DEPUTY MAYOR MAINELLA The Clerk administered the Oath of Office of Deputy Mayor, to-wit: “Do you, Thomas Mainella, having been duly elected to serve as Deputy Mayor of the City of Fairmont, solemnly swear, that you will support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the State of West Virginia, and the Charter of the City of Fairmont, and that you will faithfully and impartially perform the duties of the office of Deputy Mayor of the City of Fairmont, to the best of your skill and judgment, so help you God?” Deputy Mayor Mainella replied “I will”. IN RE: ADOPT COUNCIL’S RULES OF ORDER AND PROCEDURE Mayor Straight stated that the Council’s Rules of Order and Procedure need to be adopted as mandated by both the Charter and Council’s current Rules of Order and Procedure. Mayor Straight then entertained a motion to adopt the Council’s Rules of Order and Procedure. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved to adopt the current Council’s Rules of Order and Procedure. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Yann. Discussion: Councilmember Mason asked if there was going to be any discussion on this item. He stated that he did not understand what this is. 5 Mayor Straight said that the motion was for the adoption of Council’s Rules of Order and Procedures that are adopted at each Organizational Meeting. Councilmember Mason said again that he did not understand what that is. Kevin Sansalone, City Attorney, explained that there are Rules of Order and Procedure that Council follows and they are required to be adopted by the Charter at the Organizational Meeting. He went on to say that they should have been provided as part of the Orientation process. He noted that there are approximately 16 pages of Order that provides for the place of the meeting, the time of the meeting, the manner and method of debate, what motions are allowable under Robert’s Rules, the procedure and mechanism by which the agenda is set and the items that are placed on the agenda, the operational rules for the presiding officer, the Deputy Mayor. He said that they are the Rules of Procedure that keep order within the Council. He asked Councilmember Mason if he had the opportunity to review them. Councilmember Mason replied that he appreciated the explanation and he thought it was terrific. He noted that he was all for having order and having proper procedures but he did not recall seeing that. Mayor Straight mentioned that it was on the tablet and was part of the agenda items. Councilmember Mason stated that it was not part of his orientation so he can’t comment on that. Mayor Straight asked Councilmember Mason to look on his tablet, it was on there. Councilmember Mason said he would if he could figure out his tablet. He noted that he was not familiar with all of the details of that. Mr. Sansalone then presented Councilmember Mason with his copy of Council’s Rules of Order and Procedure. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor asked for a voice vote of Council. Councilmember Mason was the only Councilmember opposed to the adoption of the Rules of Order and Procedure since he did not have a chance to review them. The Mayor declared the City Council’s Rules of Order and Procedure officially re-adopted by majority vote of Council. 6  ADJOURNMENT Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adjournment of the Organizational Meeting. Motion: Councilmember Mainella moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilmember Linger seconded the motion. Mayor Straight declared the Organizational Meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:12 p.m. 7