City Council

January 11, 2022 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 11th day of January, 2022, 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 Nicholas (Nicky) Cinalli 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 Clerk Janet L. Keller City Attorney Kevin Sansalone Police Chief Steve Shine Fire Chief Ed Simmons Marketing Director Hanna Turner Director of Planning Shae Strait Utility Manager David Sago City Engineer John Carson Utility Controller Mark Moore IN RE: COUNCILMEMBER BLEDSOE EXCUSED The Mayor stated that Councilmember Bledsoe was absent due to a conflict. Councilmember Rice moved to excuse Councilmember Bledsoe from this meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Blood. The Mayor declared Councilmember Bledsoe excused by voice vote of Council. IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES 1 Rev. Bob Roberts gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Cinalli. 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 21, 2021. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Councilmember Deasy 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. IN RE: PROCLAMATION PRESENTED TO POLICE CHIEF STEVE SHINE Councilmember Blood read and presented a proclamation to Police Chief Steve Shine in honor of Sunday, January 9, 2022 being proclaimed as National Law Enforcement Day. PUBLIC HEARINGS IN RE: AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AUTHORIZING, APPROVING AND PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION, ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A CERTAIN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, NAMELY THE RIVER RUN ROAD WATERLINE EXTENSION PROJECT, TO BE LOCATED IN GRANT DISTRICT, MARION COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE WEST VIRGINIA INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR A CRITICAL NEEDS AND CRISES SITUATION GRANT TO FULLY FUND THE PROJECT, AND IF SUCH GRANT IS AWARDED, FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, AND PROVIDING THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE WITH AUTHORITY TO DO ALL THINGS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH Pursuant to a notice duly published in the Times-West Virginian on December 17, 2021, a public hearing was convened to obtain citizen input on a proposed ordinance authorizing the construction of a waterline extension project on River Run Road. The Mayor asked if anyone present desired to speak to the proposed ordinance. DAVID SAGO, Utility Manager, spoke in favor of the proposed ordinance. He said this ordinance is a very beneficial project that they have been looking at for many years. The folks that are affected by this project was very small compared to a lot of the other projects he has brought before Council. In this case, we have five homeowners who are not covered by Fairmont Utilities, doing the financial math over the years, we discussed it that it was just not something financially at the top of the list. Through the graces of the legislative process at the state level, there was a critical needs funding source that is 2 now included in the Water Development Office and Jobs and Infrastructure Council to be able to do these critical need projects in a way of grant funding. Tonight’s authorization will be totally grant funding for us to extend a water line to five homeowners so they can have the wonderful opportunity to have the pristine water that we produce at the water filtration plant every day. He then asked Council to approve this ordinance so they can continue with the project, get the waterline in the ground and get these folks served with water that is in our system which is in the Whitehall area. There being no one else to speak, the public hearing was called to a close at 7:10 p.m. IN RE: DAVID SAGO, UTILITY MANAGER, RECOGNIZED Mayor Mainella presented a plaque to David Sago, Utility Manager, who will be retiring on January 21, 2022. Mr. Sago began working for the City of Fairmont on November 7, 1994 and was appointed the Utility Manager on May 12, 2002. The Mayor said that Mr. Sago runs a very, very efficient operation as utility manager and he has seen him at work and what he has accomplished over the years. He’s done a wonderful job and he’s very happy he’s able to retire. Each Councilmember thanked him for his service as well. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT COMMENDED Councilmember Rice commended the Public Works Department after the recent snow removal. IN RE: PASSING OF JIM MOON Councilmember Rice announced the passing of his dear friend and fellow Mason and Shriner, Jim Moon, on December 26, 2021. He said that he will be truly missed. IN RE: CITY SURVEYS ONLINE Councilmember Bolyard mentioned the two surveys online that is being offered by the City of Fairmont. She encouraged the public to participate in the surveys. IN RE: BUILDING INSPECTOR KEN FLETCHER COMMENDED Councilmember Garcia commended the Building Inspector, Ken Fletcher, for helping him with an electrical inspection. He said that he was very professional and thanked him for his assistance. IN RE: DAVID SAGO COMMENDED FOR LEADERSHIP MARION Councilmember Deasy also commended David Sago on what a wonderful job he does with Leadership Marion. He always represented his department very well when 3 Leadership Marion comes to his department. IN RE: POLICE CHIEF STEVE SHINE COMMENDED Councilmember Deasy commended Chief Shine. She said that every week she reads every item in his Weekly Report and it is overwhelming what they all get called out to do. She said that she did not think his department got appreciated for as much as they have to do. She said it’s a busy job and certainly, at times, has to be an unrewarding job. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY BRENDA GIANNIS , 1095 Charles Street, addressed Council regarding the upcoming events of the Chamber Music Society. She thanked Council for the continual funding for the Chamber Music. She said they are all very appreciative of all of the organizations for their funding. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVID SAGO Ms. Means extended congratulations to David Sago for his upcoming retirement on January 21, 2022. She said that he will be missed. IN RE: ARPA FUNDS The City Manager said that she received the final rule for the ARPA funds. She said that she was looking through the document and making sure that when Council makes their final decisions on spending that we will be doing everything correctly. She noted that there will be a future Council work session to review the options. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: ADOPTION, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AUTHORIZING, APPROVING AND PROVIDING FOR THE ACQUISITION, ESTABLISHMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF A CERTAIN PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, NAMELY THE RIVER RUN ROAD WATERLINE EXTENSION PROJECT, TO BE LOCATED IN GRANT DISTRICT, MARION COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION TO THE WEST VIRGINIA INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR A CRITICAL NEEDS AND CRISES SITUATION GRANT TO FULLY FUND THE PROJECT, AND IF SUCH GRANT IS AWARDED, FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, AND PROVIDING THE MAYOR OR HIS DESIGNEE WITH AUTHORITY TO DO ALL THINGS REASONABLE AND NECESSARY IN CONNECTION THEREWITH 4 Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for the adoption of an ordinance authorizing the construction of a waterline extension project on River Run Road. Motion: Councilmember Rice moved for the adoption of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Blood seconded the motion. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the ordinance adopted by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present and the ordinance designated as Ordinance No. 1928 was duly adopted. 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 7:25 p.m. 5