City Council

December 15, 2020 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 15th day of December, 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 (by phone) Fourth District Kenneth (Brad) Merrifield Fifth District Barry H. Bledsoe Sixth District Dora Kay Grubb (by phone) Eighth District Thomas (Tom) Mainella Ninth District Donna M. Blood Absent: Seventh District Philip R. (Phil) Mason Also present were: City Manager Valerie A. Means City Attorney Kevin Sansalone City Clerk Janet L. Keller IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. D. D. Meighen gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag 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 December 8, 2020. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Councilmember Rice 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. PUBLIC HEARINGS 1 No public hearings were scheduled for this meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: REMARKS FOR OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember Yann thanked the people of Fairmont that gave him the opportunity to serve on Council for two terms. He thanked all of the current and past Councilmembers and thanked City Clerk Janet Keller for always being able to rely on her. He said that he found all of the employees respectful and helpful in anything he asked. He closed by saying that he is proud of what Council has accomplished and said that it has been a joy working with the group and the things that he has learned. Councilmember Bledsoe said that he appreciated the dedication and the efforts of the Councilmembers that are outgoing. He said that he appreciated everyone one of them. He wished them a good fortune as they leave Council. Councilmember Blood mentioned that the outgoing Councilmembers will be missed and she thanked them for their service to the City of Fairmont. Councilmember Mainella thanked the outgoing Councilmembers for their dedication and service. The Mayor said that it has been a pleasure meeting and building some of the relationships over the last four years. He mentioned that he was passionate about Main Street Fairmont and 612 MAC and plans on continuing to work with those groups. IN RE: CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS Councilmember Yann announced that they had over 800 cars going through Morris Park last Saturday night for the Celebration of Lights. He noted that it was a record number. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: STATEMENT READ REGARDING REV. POLIS COMMENTS FROM THE DECEMBER 8, 2020 COUNCIL MEETING REV. LARRY BUCKLAND , Barry Street, attended the meeting to share a response from Rev. Jim Norton who could not attend the meeting due to health issues. “While I would much rather appear in person, medical vulnerabilities prevent me from gathering in public during the pandemic. Hence, I have written a statement that Rev. Larry Buckland has agreed to read for me about one concern that surfaced at the last Council meeting. 2 Last week, my brother in ministry, John Polis, expressed alarm about another world religion and its people, seeing it as a terroristic danger to our country and neighborhoods. His remarks took me back to the time when scare tactics had us looking in every house for those “commie” sympathizers. John Polis’ message, whether meant to do so or not, might have caused similar kinds of fearful foreboding by Muslim families in our region, who already encounter bullying in their daily connections. Others here this evening may say more about that, but I want to restrict my observations to Mr. Polis’ understanding about the Judaic-Christian heritage. I can readily relate to Mr. Polis’ views because I was raised on the same ideology both in Methodism and Pentecostalism. Because of my background, I am acutely aware of how indoctrination becomes embedded deep in our bones, and often when we convince ourselves that we possess the truth, we are merely repeating subjective opinions that we inherited, or that benefit us in some way, such as public acclaim in our particular circles. I love the scriptures and continue to marvel at the splendor found in them, but I also recognize that some situations addressed by biblical writers are different from today’s issues; and that’s one reason we no longer stone women to death for adultery, nor do we insist that women, as Paul commanded, keep their mouths shut in church. The point I want to stress is that there never, ever was a time when only one-single interpretation of Christian understanding existed. Throughout history, there have been many interpretations of Judaic-Christian traditions, which helps to explain the many different Jewish and Christian branches or denominations. When the City Council chamber is “used” for expressing the notion that only one right way to believe exists, not only are we advocating for something that has never been true, but it is an offense against peoples of different perspectives, not to mention the separation of church and state. Regardless of your personal belief system, as City Council members, your first obligation is to represent every member of our community. I think that Mr. Polis’ presentation at the last Council meeting, though his motivations may have been true to his faith understanding, inadvertently did more harm than good. I would hope that City Council could realize their responsibility to respect all of our citizenry and take care to ensure respect for their various differences. My specific faith understandings are due, in large part, to openness to other views and the contributions others have made to the quest for meaning. How terribly deprived I would be if I stubbornly insisted on only one right way. But being willing to listen to a wide range of perspectives and to carefully consider them in the world we live in today has opened the way to real amazing grace and wonder in how connected all life is. And it is precisely that Oneness that points to the need for mutual respect and tolerant regard for everyone.” IN RE: CRIMINAL ACTIVITY IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD JEFFERSON MOORE, 801 Glen Avenue, addressed Council regarding concerns of criminal activity in his neighborhood. He said that he and his neighbors have many concerns that are going on. He said that in the area of Glen Avenue, Center Street, 3 Carleton Street, View Avenue and Locust Avenue, residents have contended with criminal activity involving theft, trespassing, strangers going through their garbage, and littering their yards. He went on to say that theft of bikes, tools, and computers has become incredibly common. He also mentioned that many abandoned properties in the area are still used for squatters and transients in the neighborhood. When the crimes have been reported, the police officers that respond have been understanding and they also seem aware of the problems that are happening in and around this area. People can be seen going in and out of the alleyway with different property, sometimes computers, multiple bicycles and it is pretty open about what is happening. He went on to say that the people stealing have homemade trailers attached to their bicycles and their trailers are filled with things that they have taken from the abandoned properties, from people’s trash, and off the people’s porches. He said that many residents are starting to get security cameras and some are planning to move much sooner than planned. He suggested more patrol in the area, issuing citations for littering, a bicycle helmet ordinance and irresponsible dumpster diving should be cited as vandalism. IN RE: UNITY IN THE COMMUNITY KATHY ISLAM, 116 Wilson Lane, also addressed Council regarding comments made at the December 8, 2020 Council meeting by Rev. Polis. She said that everyone has the right to their opinion and she then reminded Council of their responsibility to each and every citizen in Fairmont. She said that during this time of the pandemic our community needs to be united and value religious efforts and respect one another. She went on to say that we all need to work together in the community and make Fairmont a welcoming place. She said her hope is that someday we will be working hand-in-hand helping others instead of isolating selected groups in our community. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBERS Ms. Means stated that for the outgoing Councilmembers, she appreciated the service that they have given to the community and she has enjoyed working with them for the last year and half since becoming the City Manager. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: RECOGNIZE OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBERS The Mayor presented Councilmember Frank Yann with a plaque and thanked him for his years of service to the City of Fairmont. The Mayor said that it has been a pleasure serving with him. The City Manager then presented Mayor Brad Merrifield with a plaque and thanked him for his years of service to the citizens of the City of Fairmont. Councilmembers Grubb and Mason were not in attendance to receive their plaques. 4  ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Bledsoe moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Blood. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:31 p.m. 5