City Council

November 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 November, 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 (by phone) Third District Karl (David) Kennedy (by phone) Fourth District Kenneth (Brad) Merrifield Fifth District Barry H. Bledsoe Sixth District Dora Kay Grubb Seventh District Philip R. (Phil) Mason (by phone) Eighth District Thomas (Tom) Mainella Ninth District Donna M. Blood Also present were: City Manager Valerie A. Means City Attorney Kevin Sansalone City Clerk Janet L. Keller IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Pastor Leo Riley 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 November 10, 2020. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Councilmember Blood moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings scheduled for this meeting. 1  ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: HAPPY THANKSGIVING Council extended a safe and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in attendance and to the public. IN RE: NEW EAST SIDE FIRE STATION Councilmember Rice reported that the new East Side Fire Station is looking better every day. He noted that the construction is really coming along. IN RE: RASHOD KENT COMMENDED Councilmember Grubb commended Rashod Kent, former Polar Bear athlete, for setting up a foundation and giving back to his community. She noted that he had given out 150 coats and 100 turkeys last weekend at Windmill Park. She said that she should be recognized for his generosity. IN RE: MAIN STREET FAIRMONT EVENT Councilmember Blood reminded everyone that Main Street Fairmont is doing a modified Street Fair this year on December 11th and 12th. She said that the community will be able to purchase all of the wonderful foods and drinks that they have. She also mentioned that WDTV is putting on the cooking show with Bob and Shannon Tinnell. Mayor Merrifield said that hopefully the mural on the side of the Deveny Building will be up in time for the festival. IN RE: 612 MAC BUILDING The Mayor mentioned again that work continues at the 612 MAC building. He said, however, that they are running out of good weather to paint it this year. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: UNION MISSION COLD SHELTER GEORGE BATTON , from the Union Mission, thanked City Council for the new cold shelter located at the Union Mission. He presented pictures of the shelter to each Councilmember. He said that the shelter opened on November 16th and the purpose is to provide a warm shelter to the homeless. He then extended a thank you to City Council for making this project happen and said it will certainly make a difference in the community. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT 2 IN RE: NORWOOD PARK PROJECT Ms. Means reported that the City issued the Expression of Interest for the Norwood Park Project. She noted that the submission deadline is December 11th. IN RE: RAIL TRAIL PROJECT The City Manager noted that work is continuing on the Rail Trail Project. She mentioned that we won’t know whether or not we got the grant until possibly spring or summer for the larger portion of the trail. She said that what we are going to do is to take a section of the trail, the A2 Section, and tie that into the older section of the trail that is already in place and then change the signage and add the road sharrows so it will still have a cross town connection until we can get to the larger section of the trail. IN RE: PAVING PROJECT COMPLETED The Manager announced that the paving project is completed. She noted that the City improved 27 streets and alleys in this year’s work. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ’S 2020-2021 ANNUAL BUDGET: GENERAL FUND Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion and second for the introduction of an ordinance providing for a General Fund Budget Revision. Motion: Councilmember Rice moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Blood. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for December 8, 2020. IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT AIRPORT AUTHORITY, UNEXPIRED TERM TO END OCTOBER 1, 2022 Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for one appointment to the Fairmont Airport Authority for an unexpired term to end October 1, 2022. The Mayor moved to appoint David Knapp to the Fairmont Airport Authority for an unexpired term ending October 1, 2022. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mainella. 3 Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared David Knapp appointed to the Fairmont Airport Authority for an unexpired term ending October 1, 2022 by unanimous vote of those Councilmember present (and by phone). IN RE: ONE RE-APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT-MARION COUNTY TRANSIT AUTHORITY, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END DECEMBER 31, 2023 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, 2023. The Mayor moved to re-appoint Jeff Carpenter to the Fairmont-Marion County Transit Authority for a three-year term ending December 31, 2023. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Jeff Carpenter re-appointed to the Fairmont-Marion County Transit Authority for a three-year term ending December 31, 2023 by unanimous vote of those Councilmember present (and by phone). IN RE: ONE RE-APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT SANITARY SEWER BOARD, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END JANUARY 1, 2024 Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for one re-appointment to the Fairmont Sanitary Sewer Board for a three-year term to end January 1, 2024. Mayor Merrifield moved to re-appoint William “David” Roberts to the Fairmont Sanitary Sewer Board for a three-year term ending January 1, 2024. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared William “David” Roberts re-appointed to the Fairmont Sanitary Sewer Board for a three-year term ending January 1, 2024 by unanimous vote of those Councilmember present (and by phone). IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT BUILDING COMMISSION, UNEXPIR ED TERM TO END OCTOBER 31, 2023 Mayor Merrifield entertained a motion for one appointment to the Fairmont Building Commission for an unexpired term ending October 31, 2023. The Mayor moved to appoint Kim Wade to the Fairmont Building Commission for an unexpired term ending October 31, 2023. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. 4 Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Kim Wade appointed to the Fairmont Building Commission for an unexpired term ending October 31, 2023 by unanimous vote of those Councilmember present (and by phone). IN RE: ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Merrifield moved that Council adjourn to Executive Session pursuant to WV Code 6-9A-4(2)(9) and City Charter Section 2.11(a)(3) – To consider matters involving or affecting the purchase, sale or lease of property, or advance construction planning of real property. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bledsoe. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned to Executive Session by voice vote of Council at 7:31 p.m. He noted that no business will be conducted after the Executive Session. IN RE: MEETING RECONVENED The Mayor declared the meeting reconvened at 7:58 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Mainella moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bledsoe. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:59 p.m. 5