City Council

February 23, 2016 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 23rd day of February, 2016, 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 (Rob) 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 Robin I. Gomez City Clerk Janet L. Keller City Attorney Kevin V. Sansalone IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. Larry Collins of Miles Chapel Church gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Mason. 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 9, 2016. Councilmember Mainella moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Warner. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. 1  PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings scheduled for this meeting. COMMUNICATIONS WITH CITY MANAGER IN RE: GARBAGE EVERYWHERE Councilmember Burdick said that it must be spring in the air, the flowers are starting to bloom and there’s garbage everywhere. Councilmember Yann stated that he was walking the area in his district the other day and he saw the garbage too. Councilmember Weber also voiced his concern about the garbage and the lack of garbage service. He then mentioned that complaints about Republic Services are also piling up in Morgantown. IN RE: PATCHING OF POTHOLES Councilmember Yann said that he received concerns from citizens asking when the potholes are going to be patched. IN RE: SWEEPING OF STREETS Councilmember Yann said that he has also received concerns about when the streets are going to be swept. He said that one citizen said that they called in and was told there was a problem with the truck and then they were told that they were rescheduling the sweeping on the next schedule and that they don’t go back. He then asked if something could be straightened out. Councilmember Weber noted that we really don’t get our streets swept and we need to purchase a new street sweeper. IN RE: BUSINESS NETWORK INTERNATIONAL Councilmember Mason said that a few weeks ago in a conversation about the efficient use of coping, ink, copier machines, fax machines, etc. he wanted to bring it to Council’s attention of an individual and company in our area that will asset organizations with a cost breakdown as to their needs. He said that he will give the City Manager the name of this company in case the City is interested in this type of a business. Councilmember Mason 2 mentioned that he does not know this individual personally. IN RE: PAVING OF WOODLAWN CEMETERY ROAD Councilmember Weber suggested that the City take some of the paving money and pave the roads around Woodlawn Cemetery. He noted that this could be an in-kind donation that the City could help with the Woman’s Club in the efforts to clean up the cemetery. CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no citizen’s petitions at this meeting. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT IN RE: GARBAGE ISSUES The City Manager informed Council that we do have an issue with garbage and we have begun to address that issue. He told Council that he has a daily communication with Republic Services to address their process and their collection and not just the trash and the recycling that hasn’t been collected in probably, two weeks. He said that we have an issue and we have begun to address it with everything to cleanups that are held in the spring. He said that there are some areas of Fairmont that were completely covered with trash and we are pursuing through our code process, however, we really need to educate, inform, notify, everyone out there about all of our responsibility to keep our community clean. Mr. Gomez urged anyone who may have had their garbage service missed to call Republic Services or visit the website to file a complaint. He added that with Republic Services, there are some provisions in our agreement that we are looking at for them to take the collection more seriously. IN RE: CITY STAFF/BOARD MEMBERS COMMENDED Mr. Gomez commended all city staff for the hard work and dedication to the City of Fairmont. He also thanked those that serve on our City boards and commissions and the folks who volunteer their time. IN RE: WORK SESSION SCHEDULED The City Manager reported that a work session has been scheduled with the Parking Authority for April 12th. 3  CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Straight entertained a motion to adjourn to Executive Session as per WV Code §6-9A-4(b)(2)(A) and City Charter 2.11 (a)(1)A – to consider matters arising from the appointment, employment, retirement, promotion, transfer, demotion, disciplining, resignation, discharge, dismissal or compensation of a City Officer. Motion: Mayor Straight moved to adjourn to Executive Session as per WV Code §6- 9A-4(b)(2)(A) and City Charter 2.11 (a)(1)A. Councilmember Mason seconded the motion. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned to Executive Session at 7:19 p.m. by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: MEETING RECONVENED The Mayor declared the meeting reconvened at 8:35 p.m. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: FOUR APPOINTMENT, BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS  TWO APPOINTMENTS FOR THREE-YEAR TERMS TO END JANUARY 1, 2019  ONE ALTERNATE APPOINTMENT TO END JANUARY 1, 2017  ONE ALTERNATE APPOINTMENT TO END JANUARY 1, 2018 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for four appointments to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Motion: Councilmember Weber moved for the following appointments to be made:  Aron Majic and Gia Deasy for three-year terms ending January 1, 2019  Michael Ragen for an alternate appointment to end January 1, 2017  Madelaine Shultz for an alternate appointment to end January 1, 2018 Councilmember Warner seconded the motion. 4 Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Aron Majic, Gia Deasy, Michael Ragen and Madelaine Shultz appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals for the terms listed above by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: FOUR APPOINTMENTS TO HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW COMMISSION:  ONE APPOINTMENT TO END JANUARY 1, 2018 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for appointments to the Historic Preservation Review Commission. Councilmember Yann moved to appoint Tracy Evans for a term ending January 1, 2018. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Weber. Roll call was taken by the Clerk and the following votes were recorded: Councilmember Mason Yes Councilmember Warner Yes Councilmember Linger Yes Councilmember Moran Yes Councilmember Burdick No Councilmember Mainella Yes Councilmember Weber Yes Mayor Straight Yes Councilmember Yann Yes The Mayor declared Tracy Evans appointed to the Historic Preservation Review Commission for a term to end January 1, 2018 by majority vote of Council.  THREE APPOINTMENTS TO END JANUARY 1, 2019 Mayor Straight entertained a motion for appointments to the Historic Preservation Review Commission. Councilmember Yann moved to appoint Sandra Scaffidi, Anne Bolyard, and Pam Foster for terms ending January 1, 2019. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Warner. Roll call was taken by the Clerk and the following votes were recorded: Councilmember Linger Yes Councilmember Burdick Abstain Councilmember Moran Yes Councilmember Weber Yes Councilmember Yann Yes Councilmember Warner Yes 5 Councilmember Mason Yes Councilmember Mainella Yes Mayor Straight Yes The Mayor declared Sandra Scaffidi, Anne Bolyard, and Pam Foster appointed to the Historic Preservation Review Commission for terms ending January 1, 2019 by majority 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 Moran. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 8:42 p.m. 6