City Council

July 13, 2021 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 13th of July, 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 Second District Anne E. Bolyard Third District Karl (David) Kennedy Fourth District Richard (Rick) Garcia Sixth District Gia Deasy Seventh District Blair Montgomery Eighth District Thomas (Tom) Mainella Ninth District Donna M. Blood Absent: Fifth District Barry H. Bledsoe Also present were: City Manager Valerie A. Means City Attorney Kevin Sansalone City Clerk Janet L. Keller Fire Chief Ed Simmons IN RE: EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER BLEDSOE The Mayor noted that Councilmember Bledsoe was absent from this meeting due to vacation. He then moved to excuse him from this meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. The Mayor declared Councilmember Bledsoe excused from this meeting by voice vote of Council. IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rabbi Joseph Hample gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Montgomery. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Mainella noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes 1 from the Regular Meeting held on June 22, 2021. 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 Montgomery. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARINGS No public hearings were scheduled for this meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: EVENTS AT PALATINE PARK Councilmember Rice reported that great events are still happening at Palatine Park. He noted that they get better and better every weekend. The Mayor also mentioned the events at Palatine Park. He said that over the 4th of July, the music was great and the weather was wonderful and it was a nice event. He mentioned that Kris Cinalli works really hard at making the events happen. IN RE: PICTURE OF HIGH LEVEL BRIDGE Councilmember Kennedy reported that there is a beautiful picture of the High Level Bridge posted on Facebook with the bridge lights on. He announced that the City Manager is the one responsible for having those lights working. IN RE: SCHOOL BUS DRIVER WINS NEW TRUCK Councilmember Deasy said that the Governor and Babydog was at the Marion County Board of Education Office last week and presented school bus driver James Sanson with a brand-new pickup truck for receiving his Covid vaccination. IN RE: DANCING WITH THE STARS Councilmember Deasy reported that United Way is underway for their Dancing with the Stars fundraiser. She mentioned that she will be participating in this year’s event. She said that her dancing partner is the new Interim President of Pierpont, Dr. Anthony Hancock. IN RE: RECOGNIZING THE FIRST RESPONDERS Councilmember Montgomery asked that the City consider some way of recognizing our First Responders and nurses and people who have helped us through this Covid epidemic. He suggested doing some kind of celebration on Labor Day to recognize 2 them for all they have done for us and have gotten us through this horrible situation of Covid. IN RE: HOME TOWN MARKET AND CAR SHOW Councilmember Blood reported that the Home Town Market and Car Show was really a nice event this past weekend. She noted that there were over 100 cars in the car show. IN RE: BUILDING BRIDGES OF RESPECT Councilmember Blood announced that Communities of Shalom and the Human Rights Commission are having an event, Building Bridges of Respect, that is free to everyone. She said the events will take place on July 24th at East Marion Park (Wave Tek) from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and then on July 25th at Life UMC on the NASA Campus from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. She encouraged everyone to attend. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: PICKLEBALL COURTS REQUESTED RODNEY ANSELENE , a resident of 8 Hutchinson Drive, addressed Council regarding the need of pickleball courts in the City of Fairmont. He presented Council with a signed petition to establish a pickleball facility at the Morgantown Avenue Mini-Park. He said they propose to fund and organize the reconstruction of the unused tennis court into a first-class outdoor facility. He said that pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world and is drawing people into physical activity who had previously left such activity. He said he is asking the City to give his group permission to refurbish the courts, at their own expense, at a do-it-yourself approach. He added that the cost will be approximately $4,000 to $5,000 and they already have approximately $25,000 in pledges from people willing to put into that park. He said that his group will also teach clinics on how to play and possibly provide small tournament play. He went on to say that with Council’s permission, they would start the clean-up on Thursday morning. He then asked Council to make this happen. The Mayor said that there is no action that Council can take tonight because the item is not on the agenda. Ms. Means asked Mr. Anselene to put a presentation together in writing and either give it to her or to the Parks Commission. She said that the Parks Commission can make recommendations to Council. The Mayor said that it sounds doable but they just can’t do it right away. The City Manager noted that there are things to consider and we cannot give any public park to just one group to use exclusively and that is why we need a better understanding of what the group wants to do. 3 Mr. Anselene said they just want to build pickleball courts and let the community play. He said they don’t want to own anything. They just want a place to play. The City Manager asked him again to put something together for her to review. Councilmember Rice said that he definitely thinks there will be something the City can do in the future with this. He said that the kids from East Park School go to the Morgantown Avenue Mini Park and maybe it is something that we can incorporate lining the gym floor at East Park to maybe teach them that in gym class and then in the summer they can go to the Mini Park and play it outdoors. Mr. Anselene said that the parks are for everybody, for every community member in Fairmont, not just kids. Councilmember Rice stated that the Mini Park is used by all kids. He said he has not seen an adult on any of the park there. He said that he is trying to relate with him and trying to make it happen. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT Ms. Means reported the following:  She echoed the comments that everyone else had made about the events at Palatine Park over the 4th of July weekend and about the car show held this past weekend in downtown.  She reminded everyone of the importance about vaccinations.  She said that regarding the Norwood Park Project, a design input meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 20th at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at the Public Safety Building. This will be a way for the community members to provide input and give us some of their ideas for that park.  The City received a letter from ISO (Insurance Services Office) which gives communities ratings anywhere from 1 to 10 with 1 being the best. The City of Fairmont’s classification remained at 2. She noted that this was a public protection classification score and helps with insurance rates for city residents.  The City received our award letter from our submittal to the State for the American Rescue Plan funding. Our submittal was approved on June 29th; however, we have not seen any funds yet, but watching the account closely. A work session will be held in August with staff and Council and the public to go over ideas for spending of those funds. She noted that our first deposit will be $4.1 million and then the same deposit a year from now. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ’S 2021-2022 ANNUAL BUDGET: GENERAL FUND Mayor Mainella entertained a motion and second for the introduction of an ordinance 4 providing for a General Fund Budget Revision. Motion: Councilmember Rice moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Garcia. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for July 27, 2021. IN RE: INTRODUCTION FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT PROVIDING FOR THE REZONING OF THOSE CERTAIN PARCELS OF REAL ESTATE SITUATE IN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, UNION DISTRICT, MARION COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, BEING LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF HAYMOND STREET AND CLAY STREET AND BEING PARCELS 44, 45, 46, 46.1, 58, 59, & 60 OF MARION COUNTY TAX MAP 05-08, SAID REAL ESTATE BEING REZONED FROM “GENERAL RESIDENTIAL ” TO “NEIGHBORHOOD MIXED USE” AND PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT Mayor Mainella entertained a motion and second for the introduction of an ordinance providing for the rezoning of certain parcels of real estate located at the corner of Haymond Street and Clay Street from General Residential to Neighborhood Mixed Use. Motion: 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 July 27, 2021. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, SUPPORTING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ABANDONED MINE LANDS AND RECLAMATION (AML) PILOT PROGRAM FOR A GRANT IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,408,441.00 TO FUND THE CROSS TOWN CONNECTOR SECTION A-1 AS OUTLINED IN THE CROSS TOWN TRAIL CONNECTOR MASTER PLAN DATED FEBRUARY 2020, AND IF SUCH GRANT IS AWARDED, FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, AND PROVIDING THE CITY MANAGER WITH AUTHORITY TO DO ALL THINGS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution supporting the submission of a grant application to fund the Cross-Town Trail Connector Master Plan. 5 Motion: Councilmember Rice moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Bolyard seconded the motion. The Clerk read the proposed resolution by synopsis. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RE: ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Mainella moved that Council adjourn to Executive Session as per WV Code §6- 9A-4(b)(2)(9) and City Charter 2.11 (a)(3) – to consider matters involving or affecting the purchase, sale, conveyance or lease of real property. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Montgomery. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned to Executive Session by voice vote of Council at 7:31 p.m. The Mayor noted that no further business will be conducted after coming out of Executive Session. IN RE: MEETING RECONVENED The Mayor declared the meeting reconvened at 8:13 p.m. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Blood moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 8:14 p.m. 6