City Council

March 24, 2020 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 24th day of March, 2020, 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 Third District Karl (David) Kennedy Fourth District Kenneth (Brad) Merrifield Fifth District Barry H. Bledsoe Sixth District Dora Kay Grubb Seventh District Philip R. (Phil) Mason Eighth District Thomas (Tom) Mainella Ninth District Donna M. Blood Also present were: City Manager Valerie Means City Attorney Kevin Sansalone City Clerk Janet L. Keller IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. William Bradley gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Grubb. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Merrifield noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on March 10, 2020. Councilmember Blood moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bledsoe. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. IN RE: PROCLAMATION PRESENTED Mayor Merrifield read a proclamation to proclaim the month of April as Child 1 Abuse Prevention Month. He presented the proclamation to Councilmember Blood after the meeting. Councilmember Blood stated that she will accept the proclamation for all of the people that work with children. PUBLIC HEARINGS IN RE: FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 CITY BUDGETS: GENERAL FUND, PARKING FUND, AND COAL SEVERANCE Pursuant to a notice duly published in the Times-West Virginian on March 9 and March 16, 2020, a public hearing was convened to obtain citizen input on the FY 2020-2021 City Budgets: General Fund, Parking Fund, and Coal Severance. The Mayor asked if anyone present desired to speak to the proposed ordinance. Ms. Means spoke in favor of this proposed ordinance. She then asked for Council’s support for the resolution for the new budget for the upcoming fiscal year. There being no one else to speak, the public hearing was called to a close at 7:07 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS Councilmember Mainella moved that Council dispense with the “Announcement” portion of this meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Yann. The Mayor declared the motion adopted by unanimous vote of Council. CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no citizen’s petitions for this meeting. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT IN RE: COMMUNITY AND OTHERS COMMENDED The City Manager thanked all of the community, Public Works, Police, Fire and other employees for working hard and taking risks to keep the community going and safe. 2 IN RE: SUSPENSION OF WATER TERMINATIONS Councilmember Bledsoe asked the City Manager, for the record, to speak about the current policy on not shutting off the utilities. Ms. Means stated that starting today we are going to suspend water terminations during this health epidemic. We are going to re-evaluate it every two weeks but as of now, we have suspended the terminations. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: READ AGENDA ITEMS BY TITLE ONLY Councilmember Bledsoe moved that in the interest of keeping the meeting as short as possible that any resolutions be read by title only. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Yann. The Mayor declared the motion adopted by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUITON APPROVING THE CITY OF FAIRMONT’S FISCAL YEAR 2020-2021 CITY BUDGETS: GENERAL FUND, PARKING FUND, AND COAL SERVERANCE Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution approving the City of Fairmont’s 2020-2021 City Budgets. Councilmember Mainella moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Blood seconded the motion. The Clerk read the item by title only. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION TO RESCHEDULE THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING OF TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2020 TO WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020 Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution to reschedule the Council meeting of Tuesday, May 12, 2020 to Wednesday, May 13, 2020 due to May 12th being a legal holiday. 3 Councilmember Kennedy moved for the adoption of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Blood seconded the motion. The Clerk read the item by title only. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING APRIL 2020 AS FAIR HOUSING MONTH IN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution proclaiming April 2020 as Fair Housing Month in the City of Fairmont. Councilmember Mason moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Yann seconded the motion. The Clerk read the item by title only. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUITON OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE MAYOR TO CANCEL ANY REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNCIL MEETING ON AN AD HOC BASIS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF OR LESSEN THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution authorizing the Mayor to cancel any regularly scheduled Council Meeting to prevent the spread of or lessen the impact of the Covid-19. Councilmember Yann moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Kennedy seconded the motion. The Clerk read the item by title only. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AUTHORIZING THE 4 SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE AARP COMMUNITY CHALLENGE QUICK-ACTION GRANT PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $27,000.00 TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL SIGNS, MARKERS, SHARROWS, AND OTHER WAYFARING LOCATORS TO IDENTIFY A PORTION OF THE RAIL TRAIL THROUGH THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, NAMELY SECTION A-2 FROM INDUSTRIAL CONTRACTING ROAD TO THE MONONGAHELA RIVER CROSSING, AS DEPICTED ON THE ATTACHED MAP, FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, AND PROVIDING THE CITY MANAGER WITH AUTHORITY TO DO ALL THINGS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution authorizing the submission of grant to the AARP Community Challenge Program to purchase and install signs, markers, etc. to identify a portion of the rail trail through the City of Fairmont. Councilmember Yann moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Rice seconded the motion. The Clerk read the item by title only. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO MCPARC FOR A COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $5,000.00 TO FUND, IN PART, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A RETAINING WALL ADJACENT TO THE BASKETBALL COURT AT THE MORGANTOWN AVENUE MINI PARK, FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, AND PROVIDING THE CITY MANAGER WITH AUTHORITY TO DO ALL THINGS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to MCPARC for the construction of a retaining wall at the Morgantown Avenue Mini Park. Councilmember Rice moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Yann seconded the motion. The Clerk read the item by title only. 5 Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, APPROVING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THAT CERTAIN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT/FAIRMONT PARKS COMMISSION AND RANDY HINES, INDIVIDUALLY AND DOING BUSINESS AS HINES CONFECTIONARY RELATIVE TO THE OPERATION OF CERTAIN FACILITIES AT WINDMILL PARK FOR THE 2020 SEASON AND EMPOWERING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution approving the terms of the agreement between the City of Fairmont and Hines Confectionary for the operation of facilities at Windmill Park. Councilmember Rice moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Blood seconded the motion. The Clerk read the item by title only. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT IN SUPPORT OF THE MOUNTAINEER TRAIL NETWORK AUTHORITY – IMPLEMENTATION GRANT Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution in support of the Mountaineer Trail Network Authority Implementation Grant. Councilmember Mason moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Yann seconded the motion. The Clerk read the item by title only. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of Council. ADJOURNMENT 6 The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Mason moved at 7:19 p.m. to adjourn this meeting to Tuesday, April 21, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. in order to approve the Levy Rates. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bledsoe. The Mayor declared this meeting adjourned until 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, 2020 by unanimous vote of Council. 7