City Council

August 28, 2018 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 28th day of August, 2018, at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street in Fairmont, West Virginia. Mayor Mainella called the meeting to order. Councilmembers present were: First District Marianne Moran Second District Frank G. Yann Third District Warren G. Harger, Jr. Fourth District Kenneth (Brad) Merrifield Fifth District Fran Warner Sixth District Dora Kay Grubb 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 Attorney Kevin Sansalone City Clerk Janet L. Keller Police Chief Steve Shine Fire Chief Edward Simmons IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Pastor Brad Bennett from Trinity/Central United Methodist Church gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Grubb. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Mainella noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on August 14, 2018. Councilmember Straight 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 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 August 20, 2018, a public hearing was convened to obtain citizen input on a proposed ordinance to approve and adopt replacement pages to the Fairmont City Code. The Mayor asked if anyone present desired to speak to the proposed ordinance. Mr. Gomez explained the purpose of this proposed ordinance. He said it was a fairly routine ordinance adoption. It takes place twice a year to modify all the ordinances Council adopts throughout the year. There being no one else to speak, the public hearing was called to a close at 7:05 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: CANDIDATE FORUM Councilmember Moran reported that a public candidate forum will be held on September 4th and 5th beginning at 5:15 p.m. She noted that DD Meighen and Channel 19 will be broadcasting live on Facebook. Councilmember Grubb encourage people to attend the candidate forum to hear the candidates speak in person. IN RE: CONDOLENCES EXTENDED TO TWO FAMILIES Councilmember Yann stated that we lost two gentlemen that contributed greatly to this community this weekend, businessman Dallas Boyers and educator Roger Perdue. He noted that they will be greatly missed in this area. Councilmember Straight noted that everything both men did was for the community. He extended condolences to their families. IN RE: ROTARY CLUB COMMENDED 2 Councilmember Grubb thanked the Rotary Club for the flags that have been placed around the city to celebrate Labor Day. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: RISING STARS PROGRAM SHERRY KINDER, Director of the Rising Stars Program, addressed Council to explain about the program. She said that Rising Stars is a learning enrichment center for children ages 5-15. The center provides academic enrichment activities that promote literacy, mathematics comprehension skills, social skills, civic awareness, and the prevention of substance abuse. The center operates a summer day camp and an after school skills development session during the fall and spring. These sessions are designed to help students eliminate reading and math comprehensive skills deficiencies. Their goal is to help every child become a productive and self- sufficient member of society by providing them with skills development and meaningful learning enrichment opportunities. REGINA BRUCE stated that she was the Program Coordinator for Rising Stars. She said that their purpose is to expose them to more than what they are getting at school. Councilmember Merrifield extended congratulations to them on their program and on what they are trying to do for the children. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT IN RE: WELCOME STUDENTS Mr. Gomez welcomed back the FSU and Pierpont students. He noted that there is a 10% increase in enrollment this year at FSU. He also welcomed back all public school students. IN RE: PAVING PROJECT UNDERWAY The City Manager reported that Stone Paving, the paving contractor, began the 2018 project on Monday, beginning on Morgantown Avenue. He asked everyone to keep in mind that it is a construction zone and to slow down and exercise caution. The businesses are open along Morgantown Avenue so folks will have to navigate and maybe take a slight detour to get to the businesses. He mentioned that one contractor will be paving streets and another contractor will be milling. 3 IN RE: SOLID WASTE INCREASE Mr. Gomez announced that regarding the garbage/trash/recycling fees, we are beginning the third year of the five-year agreement with Republic Services and with that agreement we will all see a 3% increase. He noted this was for residential trash/garbage/recycling only. He said the monthly rate will increase from $17.25 to $17.75 and in addition to that Republic is allowed to bill a fuel surcharge, as required by the Public Service Commission, which is 5.72% of that amount or $1.02 of the new rate. Therefore, the total monthly trash/garbage/recycling amount will be, as of September 1st, $18.77 per month. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: ADOPTION, AN ORDINANCE TO APPROVE AND ADOPT CURRENT REPLACEMENT PAGES TO THE FAIRMONT CITY CODE Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for the adoption of an ordinance to approve and adopt replacement pages to the Fairmont City Code. Motion: Councilmember Straight moved for the adoption of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Yann seconded the motion. 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. 1784 was duly adopted. IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING THE PROVISIONS OF PART ONE-ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, CHAPTER SEVEN-BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND AUTHORITIES, ARTICLE 171 PARKING AUTHORITY, SECTION .08 RATES, THEREOF, TO PROVIDE FOR AND ESTABLISH A TWENTY-FIVE DOLLAR DEPOSIT TO SECURE THE RETURN OF EQUIPMENT Mayor Mainella entertained a motion and second for the introduction of an ordinance to provide for and establish a $25.00 deposit to secure the return of equipment when citizens are assigned a parking tag hanger. 4 Motion: Councilmember Yann moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Moran. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for September 11, 2018 by voice vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ENDORSING THE 13 TH ANNUAL FEAST OF THE SEVEN FISHES FESTIVAL SPONSORED BY MAIN STREET FAIRMONT, INC., TO BE HELD IN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT’S DOWNTOWN HISTORIC DISTRICT ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 8, 2018 Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution endorsing the 13th Annual Feast Of The Seven Fishes Festival to be held on Saturday, December 8, 2018. 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 Yann. 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, RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ENDORSING THE HOLIDAY MARKET SPONSORED BY THE ROTARY CLUB OF SOUTH FAIRMONT AND THE UNITED WAY OF MARION COUNTY TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2018, AT MORRIS PARK IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution endorsing the Holiday Market on Saturday, November 17, 2018 at Morris Park in conjunction with the Celebration of Lights. 5 Motion: Councilmember Yann 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 Harger. 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: ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Mainella 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 Mason. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned to Executive Session by voice vote of Council at 7:29 p.m. He noted that no further business will be taken when the meeting is reconvened. IN RE: MEETING RECONVENED Mayor Mainella declared the meeting reconvened at 7:49 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Mason moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Straight. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:50 p.m. 6