City Council

January 12, 2021 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 12th day of January, 2021, 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 Joshua D. (Josh) Rice (by phone) Second District Anne E. Bolyard Third District Karl (David) Kennedy (by phone) Fourth District Richard “Rick” Garcia Fifth District Barry H. Bledsoe Sixth District Gia Deasy Seventh District Blair Montgomery 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 Bob Pirner gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Rice. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Mainella noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on December 15, 2020. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. 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. PUBLIC HEARINGS No public hearings were scheduled for this meeting. 1  ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DAY Councilmember Blood reported that January 9th was National Law Enforcement Day. She commended the Fairmont Police Department and reiterated again how much we appreciate them. IN RE: UNITED WAY OF MARION COUNTY Councilmember Blood congratulated the United Way of Marion County for making their goal this year. She said actually they went over their goad which is amazing given the circumstances this year. IN RE: WELCOME NEW COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember Bledsoe welcomed the new Councilmembers. IN RE: PASSING OF PHIL MASON Councilmember Bledsoe expressed his sadness at the passing of Phil Mason who was still a Councilmember when he passed away on Christmas Eve. The Mayor also mentioned that he was sad about the passing of Phil Mason. IN RE: PRAYERS FOR PEOPLE WITH COVID Councilmember Bledsoe said in the City ranks, there have been a number of personnel who have passed away recently and it has really been a sad time. Councilmember Bledsoe asked for a prayer for the Mannington Fire Chief, Jimmy Moran, who is in the hospital in intensive care with severe Covid and heard that he may not make it through the night. He then asked for prayers for him, his family, and his department. IN RE: THANK YOU FOR SUPPORT Mayor Mainella thanked everyone for their support and confidence that they voted for him for Mayor. He said he will do his best to be a good spokesman for the City and carry out his ceremonial duties as Mayor. IN RE: VIRTUAL COUNCIL MEETINGS The Mayor noted that Council needs to decide about having virtual meetings going forward. He said the City Manager will orchestrate that but he thought it was wise with this surge of Covid that we go 100% virtual until it starts going the other way. 2 IN RE: LIGHTS ON THE HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE Mayor Mainella mentioned that the lights on the High Level Bridge are back on. He then thanked the City Manager for her efforts in getting the lights back on. CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no citizen’s petitions for this meeting. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: FY 22 BUDGET Ms. Means stated that she is required by the City Charter to prepare and give Council a balanced budget. The budget has to be finalized and sent to the State by the end of March. She said that she and staff have been working on internally building the FY 22 Budget and once she knows she has a balanced budget, she will schedule a budget work session. IN RE: NATIONAL LAW ENFORCMENT APPRECIATE DAY The City Manager thanked our police officers and recognized that January 9th was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. She then commended our Police Department and thanked them for their service. IN RE: NEW DIRECTOR OF PLANNING HIRED The Manager reported that the new Director of Planning, Shae Strait, started on Monday. She noted that he came to us from the City of Huntington. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ADOPTED PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF WEST VIRGINIA CODE §8-1-5a AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF FAIRMONT TO SUBMIT TO THE WEST VIRGINIA MUNICIPAL HOME RULE BOARD AN AMENDMENT TO ITS APPROVED HOME RULE PLAN, A COPY OF WHICH AMENDMENT IS ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART HEREOF Mayor Mainella entertained a motion and second for the introduction of an ordinance authorizing the submission an amended Home Rule Plan to the WV Municipal Home Rule Board. Motion: 3 Councilmember Blood moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for February 23, 2021. IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT PROVIDING FOR THE GRANTING OF A QUITCLAIM EASEMENT TO PROVIDE FOR A CERTAIN EASEMENT OVER AND ALONG A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE RIGHT OF WAY OF MORSE STREET, BELLVIEW ADDITION IN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, FAIRMONT DISTRICT, MARION COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, TO PROVIDE FOR AN EXISTING ENCROACHMENT RELATING TO A STRUCTURE ON PARCEL 263.1 OF MARION COUNTY TAX MAP 03-40, OWNED BY MICHAEL ELLIS AND RACHEL ELLIS; RESERVING UTILITY RIGHTS Mayor Mainella entertained a motion and second for the introduction of an ordinance granting a quitclaim easement to Michael and Rachel Ellis on Morse Street to correct an existing encroachment. Motion: Councilmember Bledsoe 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 January 26, 2021. IN RE: ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Mainella moved that Council adjourn to Executive Session as per WV Code §6- 9A-4(b)(2)(A) and City Charter 2.11 (a)(1)A – to consider matters arising from the appointment, employment, retirement, promotion, transfer, demotion, disciplining, resignation, discharge, dismissal or compensation of a City Officer. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned to Executive Session by voice vote of Council at 7:32 p.m. IN RE: MEETING RECONVENED The Mayor declared the meeting reconvened at 7:36 p.m. 4 IN RE: ONE COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTMENT, MARION COUNTY RESCUE SQUAD, TERM TO END JANUARY 24, 20 23 Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for a Councilmember appointment to the Marion County Rescue Squad. Motion: Councilmember Bledsoe moved to appoint Tom Mainella to the Marion County Rescue Squad for a term ending January 24, 2023. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Tom Mainella appointed to the Marion County Rescue Squad for a term ending January 24, 2023 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE COUNCIL MEMBER APPOINTMENT, CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU OF MARION COUNTY, TERM TO END WHEN COUNCIL TERM EXPIRES Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for a Councilmember appointment to the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Marion County for a term to end when their Council term expires. Motion: Councilmember Deasy moved to appoint Donna Blood to the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Marion County for a term to end when her Council term expires. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Garcia. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Donna Blood appointed to the Convention and Visitors Bureau of Marion County for a term to end when her Council term expires by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTMENT, PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, TERM TO END WHEN COUNCIL TERM EXPIRES Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for a Councilmember appointment to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Motion: 5 Mayor Mainella moved to appoint Barry Bledsoe to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term ending when his Council term expires. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Blood. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Barry Bledsoe appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a term ending when his Council term ends by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE COUNCILMEMBER APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT PARKS COMMISSION, TERM TO END WHEN COUNCIL TERM EXPIRES Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for a Councilmember appointment to the Fairmont Parks Commission. Motion: Councilmember Blood moved to appoint Blair Montgomery to the Fairmont Parks Commission for a term ending when his Council term expires. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bledsoe. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Blair Montgomery appointed to the Fairmont Parks Commission for a term ending when his Council term expires by unanimous vote of Council. 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 7:45 p.m. 6