City Council

February 24, 2015 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 24th day of February, 2015, 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 Marianne Moran Second District Frank G. Yann Third District Robert Linger Fourth District William H. (Bill) Burdick Fifth District Fran Warner Sixth District Daniel K. (Dan) Weber Seventh District Philip R. (Phil) Mason Eighth District Thomas (Tom) Mainella Ninth District Ronald J. (Ron) Straight, Sr. Also present were: City Manager Jay Rogers City Attorney Kevin V. Sansalone Finance Director Eileen Layman City Planner Kathy Wyrosdick Absent: City Clerk Janet L. Keller IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. Valerie Gittings of the First Baptist Church gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Linger. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Straight noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on February 10, 2015. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. 1 Councilmember Weber moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Linger. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARINGS IN RE: AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE AND ADOPT CURRENT REPLACEMENT PAGES TO THE FAIRMONT CITY CODE Pursuant to a notice duly published in the Times-West Virginian on February 16, 2015, a public hearing was convened to obtain citizen input on an ordinance to approve current replacement pages to the Fairmont City Code. The Mayor asked if anyone present desired to speak to the proposed ordinance. There being no one to speak, the public hearing was called to a close. IN RE: AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF FAIRMONT’S 2014-2015 ANNUAL BUDGET: GENERAL FUND Pursuant to a notice duly published in the Times-West Virginian on February 16, 2015, a public hearing was convened to obtain citizen input on an ordinance providing for a General Fund Budget Revision. The Mayor asked if anyone present desired to speak to the proposed ordinance. EILEEN LAYMAN, Finance Director, spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. She went over the highlights of the budget revision. There being no one else to speak, the public hearing was called to a close. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: TOWN MEETING Councilmember Mason mentioned that he will be hosting his first town meeting on Tuesday, March 31st, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the 2 Woman’s Club. He invited all citizens to attend and wants this to develop into something that is positive in order to bring about change. IN RE: RESIDENTS COMMENDED Councilmember Moran relayed a positive story. She said that an elderly person on Potomac Avenue contacted her about getting her sidewalk cleared. Councilmember Moran said that she used social media and on Facebook she received a response from two people, Beau Gibson and Monica Delbrook, saying they would clear her sidewalk. She said that Beau Gibson and his son, Cameron, cleaned the sidewalk and she wanted to thank them publicly for responding. IN RE: MARDI GRAS Councilmember Yann stated that he enjoyed attending the Mardi Gras at Fairmont Regional Medical Center. He also wanted it known that Fairmont Regional Medical Center has made a commitment to Meals on Wheels by donating new carriers which are lighter and will make it easier to carry the meals. IN RE: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT COMMENDED Councilmember Linger thanked the road crews and said that the roads he traveled during the bad weather have been fairly well treated. He noted that he has talked to some upset folks but they have to understand that they have to be patient. IN RE: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME Councilmember Burdick noted that daylight savings time will begin on March 8th so we are getting closer to spring. IN RE: FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMENDED Mayor Straight commended the Fire Department for assisting calls regarding frozen pipes. IN RE: KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS The Mayor noted that he made a presentation to the Knights of Columbus 3 and talked about the City’s budget. He noted that he handed out information regarding the Fairmont 101 class. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: LETTER OF SUPPORT MIKE SCHROERING, 1 Pinnacle Peak, asked the City Council to write a letter of support to the West Virginia Division of Culture and History and the WV Commission of the Arts supporting the Fairmont Chamber Music Society. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT IN RE: AUDIT REPORT Mr. Rogers passed out a copy of the Audit Report ending June 30, 2014. He noted that there were no negative findings. He then thanked Finance Director, Eileen Layman, the support staff, and Kathy Wyrosdick for overseeing the grants. IN RE: CONDOLENCES TO THE PARKER FAMILY The City Manager expressed condolences to the family of Diane Parker who recently passed. He noted that she was a special lady and served on numerous boards and commissions and she will be missed. IN RE: UTILITY EMPLOYEES COMMENDED Mr. Rogers thanked the employees in Utility Department for working at in the bad weather thawing out meters and repairing the lines. IN RE: REPUBLIC SERVICES The City Manager noted that we are still struggling with Republic Services. IN RE: SALT AND CINDERS Mr. Rogers reported that the City’s supply of salt and cinders are in good shape to take us through the rest of the winter. 4  CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: ADOPTION, AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE AND ADOPT CURRENT REPLACEMENT PAGES TO THE FAIRMONT CITY CODE Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of an ordinance to approve current replacement pages to the Fairmont City Code. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved for the adoption of the proposed ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Burdick. 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. 1635 was duly adopted. IN RE: ADOPTION, AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF FAIRMONT’S 2014-2015 ANNUAL BUDGET: GENERAL FUND Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of an ordinance providing for a General Fund Budget Revision. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved for the adoption of the proposed ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Yann. 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. 1636 was duly adopted. IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AMENDING THE 2005 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, MARION COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, TO INCLUDE THE CONNECTIVITY PLAN PREPARED JUNE, 2014, THE COMPANION STUDY “FAIRMONT CONNECTIVITY PLAN RAPID HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT” PREPARED BY WVU SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SUPPLEMENTED WITH ACTION AND IMPLEMENTATION RECOMMENDATIONS PREPARED BY THE FAIRMONT PLANNING COMMISSION 5 ALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA CODE §8A-3-1 ET SEQ. Mayor Straight entertained a motion and a second for the introduction of this ordinance and to set the public hearing for March 24, 2015 to amend the 2005 Comprehensive Plan to include the Connectivity Plan. Councilmember Weber moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance and the reading of a synopsis in lieu of the entire ordinance. Councilmember Linger seconded the motion. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for March 24, 2015 by voice vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO FILE AN APPLICTION AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS PROGRAM (HOPE, INC) Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution providing for authorization to file a grant application on behalf of Hope, Inc. Motion: Councilmember Mason 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 Burdick. 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 PROVIDING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO FILE AN APPLICTION AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA EMERGENCY SOLUTIONS GRANTS PROGRAM (SCOTT PLACE SHELTER) Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution providing for authorization to file a grant application on behalf of Scott Place Shelter. 6 Motion: Councilmember Mainella 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 Mason. 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 SUPPORTING INDUSTRIAL HEARTLAND TRAILS Mayor Straight entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution supporting the Industrial Heartland Trails. Motion: Councilmember Linger 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. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Mason moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Weber. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:35 p.m. 7