City Council

August 24, 2021 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 24th of August, 2021, at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street in Fairmont, West Virginia. Mayor Mainella called the meeting to order. IN RE: OATH OF OFFICE – NICHOLAS “NICKY” CINALLI The City Clerk administered the Oath of Office of Councilmember to Nicholas “Nicky” Cinalli, the Councilmember appointed to serve the unexpired term of the 7th District until the canvass is completed after the November 8, 2022 Municipal Election. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Blair Montgomery on August 10, 2021. After administering the Oath of Office, the City Clerk declared Councilmember Cinalli duly sworn in as a member of Council of the City of Fairmont and extended congratulations to him. Councilmembers present were: First District Joshua D. (Josh) Rice Second District Anne E. Bolyard Third District Karl (David) Kennedy Fourth District Richard (Rick) Garcia Fifth District Barry H. Bledsoe Sixth District Gia Deasy Seventh District Nicholas (Nicky) Cinalli Eighth District Thomas (Tom) Mainella Ninth District Donna M. Blood Also present were: City Manager Valerie A. Means City Clerk Janet L. Keller City Attorney Kevin Sansalone Fire Chief Ed Simmons IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Rev. Joseph Konikattil gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Blood. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Mainella noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on August 10, 2021. He asked if there were any 1 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 No public hearings were scheduled for this meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: CONGRATULATIONS TO COUNCILMEMBER CINALLI Councilmember Rice extended congratulations to Councilmember Cinalli. Councilmember Kennedy stated that the selection process for the 7th District seat was extremely difficult. He said that there were a lot of qualified candidates and it took a lot of deliberation to make the decision that Council did this evening. He said that Council did that with the betterment of our City. He said that this Council is looking towards the future and putting together a plan that we will need to work out in the next 20-25 years and we need to bring in people like Nick Cinalli to help this Council move forward. Councilmember Bledsoe also welcomed Councilmember Cinalli. He mentioned that he was going to be a great addition to the Council that we already have which is a really good Council. He added that Fairmont is changing for the better and is moving forward. Councilmember Deasy also welcomed Councilmember Cinalli. Councilmember Blood noted that Council was really happy to have Councilmember Cinalli here. Councilmember Cinalli thanked everyone for their kind words and for this wonderful opportunity that has been granted to him. He said that he looked forward to learning everything and jumping right into it tonight. IN RE: NEW EAST SIDE FIRE STATION Councilmember Rice noted that everything is looking good at the new East Side Fire Station. IN RE: PALATINE PARK EVENTS Councilmember Rice reported that wonderful events are taking place at Palatine Park. He noted that this weekend will be the movie night. He said that Kris Cinalli has done an amazing job this year at the park. 2 Councilmember Blood reported that she attended the event at Palatine Park last weekend and it was packed and the bands were wonderful. She added that Kris Cinalli and his team did a great job. IN RE: VACCINE CLINICS Councilmember Deasy reported that there are a lot of vaccine clinics going on in the area so there are a lot of opportunities for folks that are looking for vaccinations. IN RE: MAIN STREET FAIRMONT EVENT Councilmember Blood reported that Main Street Fairmont will have their next Downtown Market on September 18th. She said this may be the last one this year and encouraged everyone to attend. IN RE: CEREMONY AT WOODLAWN CEMETERY Mayor Mainella report that on Friday, September 3rd at noon, a ceremony will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery that is going to honor some victims of a mine disaster that occurred back in the 1920’s. IN RE: BOOK SIGNING AT CVB The Mayor announced that on Friday, September 3rd at 1:00 p.m., at the CVB, there is a book signing event of articles from Ned Smith about the history of Fairmont. He said that Mr. Smith’s three grandchildren will be there to sign a book that Raymond Alverez put together from Mr. Smith’s articles. He noted that it will be a wonderful event and encouraged everyone to attend. IN RE: WHITEHALL FESTIVAL The Mayor reported that the Town of Whitehall will be hosting a festival on Saturday, August 28th, from 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at their City Hall Building. He mentioned that they will have a car show, kid games, food vendors, hot dog chili cookoff and other things going on. He encouraged everyone to attend the event. IN RE: 10 TH STREET FIRE The Mayor reported that on Saturday, August 14th, the Fairmont Fire Department was called to a fire on 10th Street that was fully engulfed. He noted that this was probably the biggest fire in Fairmont for a very long time. He said that the Marion County Rescue Squad had a rehabilitation station set up at the scene to take care of the firefighters as they battled the blaze and to assist the firefighters with drinks and food. He said that he was impressed with the Fire Department and the Marion County Rescue Squad. CITIZENS PETITIONS 3 IN RE: CVB ANNUAL REPORT LEISHA ELLIOTT , Executive Director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, presented her annual report to Council. She explained several programs and campaigns that the CVB has been working on. She mentioned the following campaigns:  Marketing in Marion County  Out of Market Campaigns  Culinary Campaign  WV Department of Tourism Co-Op Advertising  Geocaching  Information from the Gadgets of Marion County Geocaching Trail IN RE: FAIRMONT-MORGANTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY CHRISTAL CROUSO , Executive Director of the Fairmont-Morgantown Housing Authority, addressed Council regarding three new programs that they are operating at this time. She discussed the following programs:  Mountaineer Rental Assistance Program (MRAP) which provides rental assistance to eligible citizens who have been impacted by COVID.  Fostering Youth to Independence (FYI) which provides housing vouchers to area youth exiting the state’s foster care program.  Emergency Housing Vouchers (EHV) which provides emergency housing vouchers to people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of being homeless, or who are fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking, or those who are recently homeless. Ms. Crouso asked Council to spread the word among their constituents about these programs. She said they are always looking for new landlords and the EHV program provides some incentives for landlord participation. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: WELCOME COUNCILMEMBER CINALLI Ms. Means also welcomed Councilmember Cinalli to Council. She said that she will schedule an orientation for him in the very near future. IN RE: POLICE AND FIRE ANNUAL PENSION REPORTS PRESENTED The City Manager mentioned that each Councilmember had received a copy of the Annual Report of the Police and Fire Pension Funds as required by State Code. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT PROVIDING FOR AND AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER AND CONVEYANCE OF A CERTAIN 4 PARCEL OF REAL ESTATE SITUATE IN THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, FAIRMONT DISTRICT, MARION COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, TO-WIT: BLK 26 ½ LT 18 GASTON AVE FAIRMONT CITY FAIRMONT DISTRICT MAP 3 PARCEL 252 FROM JEREMIAH D. JOHNSON AND THERESA L. JOHNSON TO THE CITY OF FAIRMONT; PROVIDING FOR AND AUTHORIZING THE CONVEYANCE AND TRANSFER OF SAID PARCEL OF REAL ESTATE FROM THE CITY OF FAIRMONT TO A SUBSEQUENT PURCHASER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CITY OF FAIRMONT'S APPROVED HOME RULE PLAN AND THE ORDINANCES ADOPTED THEREUNDER; APPROVING THE FORM OF THE TRANSACTIONAL DOCUMENTS; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER THEM ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT; RATIFICATION Mayor Mainella entertained a motion and second for the introduction of an ordinance providing for the transfer of 608 Gaston Avenue to the City of Fairmont from Jeremiah and Theresa Johnson. 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 September 14, 2021. IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AND REVISING ARTICLE V, FINANCIAL PROCEDURES , OF THE FAIRMONT CITY CHARTER, AND MORE PARTICULARLY SECTION 5.09 AMENDMENTS AFTER ADOPTION THEREOF, TO ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT REVISIONS TO THE ADOPTED ANNUAL CITY BUDGET MUST BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL BY ORDINANCE AND TO PERMIT THAT SUCH REVISIONS TO THE ADOPTED ANNUAL CITY BUDGET BE APPROVED BY COUNCIL BY RESOLUTION Mayor Mainella entertained a motion and second for the introduction of an ordinance amending and revising Section 5.09 of the City Charter to eliminate the requirement that revisions to the adopted annual City Budget must be approved by Council by ordinance and to permit that such revisions be approved by Council by resolution. Motion: Councilmember Bledsoe moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Blood. 5 The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for October 12, 2021. IN RE: ONE RE-APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT PLANNING COMMISSION, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END SEPTEMBER 17, 2024 Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for one re-appointment to the Fairmont Planning Commission for a three-year term to end September 17, 2024. Councilmember Rice moved to re-appoint Mike Jura to the Fairmont Planning Commission for a three-year term ending September 17, 2024. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bolyard. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Mike Jura re-appointed to the Fairmont Planning Commission for a three-year term ending September 17, 2024 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, ICC BOARD OF APPEALS, FIVE-YEAR TERM TO END AUGUST 24, 2026 Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for one appointment to the ICC Board of Appeals for a five-year term to end August 24, 2026. Councilmember Deasy moved to appoint Adam Rohaly to the ICC Board of Appeals for a five-year term ending August 24, 2026. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Cinalli. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Adam Rohaly appointed to the ICC Board of Appeals for a five-year term ending August 24, 2026 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, ICC BOARD OF APPEALS, FOUR-YEAR TERM TO END AUGUST 24, 2025 Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for one appointment to the ICC Board of Appeals for a four-year term to end August 24, 2025. Councilmember Blood moved to appoint Richard Hovatter to the ICC Board of Appeals for a four-year term ending August 24, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bolyard. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Richard Hovatter appointed to the ICC Board of Appeals for a four- year term ending August 24, 2025 by unanimous vote of Council. 6 IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, ICC BOARD OF APPEALS, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END AUGUST 24, 2024 Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for one appointment to the ICC Board of Appeals for a three-year term to end August 24, 2024. Councilmember Garcia moved to appoint James Sonnenberg to the ICC Board of Appeals for a three-year term ending August 24, 2024. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared James Sonnenberg appointed to the ICC Board of Appeals for a three-year term ending August 24, 2024 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, ICC BOARD OF APPEALS, TWO-YEAR TERM TO END AUGUST 24, 2023 Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for one appointment to the ICC Board of Appeals for a two-year term to end August 24, 2023. Councilmember Rice moved to appoint Ronald Nichols to the ICC Board of Appeals for a two-year term ending August 24, 2023. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Garcia. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Ronald Nichols appointed to the ICC Board of Appeals for a two- year term ending August 24, 2023 by unanimous vote of Council. IN RE: ONE APPOINTMENT, ICC BOARD OF APPEALS, ONE-YEAR TERM TO END AUGUST 24, 2022 Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for one appointment to the ICC Board of Appeals for a one-year term to end August 24, 2022. Councilmember Blood moved to appoint Jerry Bland to the ICC Board of Appeals for a one-year term ending August 24, 2022. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bledsoe. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Jerry Bland appointed to the ICC Board of Appeals for a one-year term ending August 24, 2022 by unanimous vote of Council. ADJOURNMENT 7 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 7:52 p.m. 8