City Council

December 10, 2019 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 10th day of December, 2019, at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street in Fairmont, West Virginia. Mayor Merrifield called the meeting to order. Councilmembers present were: First District Joshua D. (Josh) Rice Second District Frank G. Yann Fourth District Kenneth (Brad) Merrifield Fifth District Barry H. Bledsoe Seventh District Philip R. (Phil) Mason Eighth District Thomas (Tom) Mainella Ninth District Donna M. Blood Absent: Third District Karl (David) Kennedy Sixth District Dora Kay Grubb Also present were: City Manager Valerie Means City Attorney Kevin Sansalone City Clerk Janet L. Keller Fire Chief Ed Simmons IN RE: COUNCILMEMBER S KENNEDY AND GRUBB EXCUSED The Mayor entertained a motion to excuse Councilmembers Kennedy and Grubb from this meeting. Motion: Councilmember Mason moved to excuse Councilmembers Kennedy and Mason. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bledsoe. The Mayor declared Councilmembers Kennedy and Grubb excused from tonight’s meeting by voice vote of Council. IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. Frank Jarman gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag 1 led by Councilmember Bledsoe. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Merrifield noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on November 26, 2019. Councilmember Bledsoe moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Blood. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. IN RE: PROCLAMATION PRESENTED TO DR. JOHN MANCHIN, II Mayor Merrifield presented a proclamation to Dr. John Manchin, II, on behalf of the City Council, the Fairmont Fire Department and the citizens of the City of Fairmont for his 19 years of service as the City of Fairmont Fire Department’s Medical Director and proclaimed a debt of public gratitude owed to such a distinguished gentleman. PUBLIC HEARINGS No public hearings were scheduled for this meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS Councilmember Yann mentioned that the Celebration of Lights is going great again this year and many people have commented on the paving of the road around the park. He noted that the walk night is Thursday night, December 12th and parking will be available at the Water Filtration Plant. IN RE: CITY OF FAIRMONT EMPLOYEE CHRISTMAS DINNER Councilmember Yann reported that the City of Fairmont employee Christmas dinner last night was really nice. Councilmember Yann asked the City Manager to let the employees know that Council appreciated the dinner. Councilmember Mainella added that the dinner was beautiful and the room was decorated very nicely. He mentioned that Santa was there to see the little kids and it was a good time. He then commended Erin Parker and other staff members who worked on the event. Councilmember Blood noted that she was very sorry that she missed the employee dinner. Councilmember Bledsoe also mentioned that he was sorry that he missed the dinner as 2 well. IN RE: FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL COMMENDED Councilmember Bledsoe stated that he knew the proclamation tonight was for Dr. Manchin and well deserved but he wanted to back up the City of Fairmont Fire Department. He said working as a paramedic on the ambulance side of things, he sees these guys on a daily basis and these firefighters have literally saved lives, often because they can get there before the rescue squad, often because they are doing things that need to be done before they can get there to get it done and he did not think the people in the City of Fairmont have any clue how much of value they get for the fire fee that they pay for this Fire Department. He went on to say that they have absolutely excellent leadership under Chief Simmons and between the training and their efforts, we have a Fire Department in this town that is absolutely worth bragging about. The Mayor said he agreed. He then said that the problem they have is that you hear about if something doesn’t go exactly like you want it to but we are blessed to have people that truly care. They do their jobs because they want to do them right and we are very fortunate. Councilmember Mainella said a few years ago when he was president of the Rescue Squad, the Fairmont Fire Department announced that they were going to start responding to EMS calls and there was a little bit of wrath at the Squad because they thought the guys were going to take over. He noted that it has been a wonderful accommodation and service that they provide and a lot of the times the firefighters show up first because they are closer and they help get things done before the Squad can get there. He then thanked the Fire Department on behalf of the Rescue Squad. CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no citizens petitions for this meeting. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: PUBLIC WORKS COMMENDED The City Manager commended Public Works for the job that they are doing in cleaning up the property at the City Cemetery. IN RE: DATES OF UPCOMING EVENTS The City Manager announced the following events:  December 17th – next regular meeting of Council next week  December 13th – Festival Cucina Cooking School held at the First Presbyterian Church 3   December 14th – Miners Appreciation Day Swap Meeting at the Arts and Antiques Marketplace  December 14th – Feast of Seven Fishes in downtown  December 14th – Fairmont Christmas Parade starting at 5:00 p.m.  December 15th – Feast of Seven Fishes Film will be shown at the Tygart Valley Theater at 11:00 a.m. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: ADOPTION , A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT IN SUPPORT OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE UMWA PENSION FUND Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution in support of the preservation of the UMWA Pension Fund. Motion: Councilmember Bledsoe moved for the adoption of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Rice seconded the motion. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the ordinance adopted by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RE: RE-APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT SANITARY SEWER, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END JANUARY 1, 2023 Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for one re-appointment to the Fairmont Sanitary Sewer Board for a three-year term to end January 1, 2023. Councilmember Mainella moved to re-appointment J. Peale Davidson to the Fairmont Sanitary Sewer Board for a term to end January 1, 2023. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Yann. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared J. Peale Davidson re-appointed to the Fairmont Sanitary Sewer Board for a three-year term to end January 1, 2023 by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RE: ONE-JOINT RE-APPOIONTMENT, FAIRMONT-MARION COUNTY TRANSIT AUTHORITY, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END DECEMBER 31, 2022 Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for one re-appointment to the Fairmont-Marion County Transit Authority for a three-year term to end December 31, 2022. 4 Councilmember Yann moved to recommend to the Marion County Commission that Jesse Corley be re-appointed to the Fairmont-Marion County Transit Authority for a three-year term to end December 31, 2022. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Jesse Corley to be recommended to the Marion County Commission for re-appointment to the Fairmont-Marion County Transit Authority for another three year term ending December 31, 2022 by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RE: ONE-RE-APPOINTMENT, MARION COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION (MCPARC), THREE-YEAR TERM TO END DECEMBER 31, 2022 Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for one re-appointment to the Marion County Parks and Recreation Commission for a three-year term to end December 31, 2022. Councilmember Mainella moved to recommend to the Marion County Commission that Tracy Evans be re-appointed to MCPARC for a three-year term to end December 31, 2022. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Tracy Evans to be recommended to the Marion County Commission for re-appointment to MCPARC for another three year term ending December 31, 2022 by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Bledsoe moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mason. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:18 p.m. 5