City Council

January 25, 2022 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 25th 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 Fifth District Barry H. Bledsoe Sixth District Gia Deasy Eighth District Thomas (Tom) Mainella Ninth District Donna M. Blood Absent: Seventh District Nicholas (Nicky) Cinalli Also present were: City Clerk Janet L. Keller City Attorney Kevin Sansalone Fire Chief Ed Simmons Marketing Director Hanna Turner Director of Planning Shae Strait Absent: City Manager Valerie A. Means IN RE: EXCUSE COUNCILMEMBER CINALLI The Mayor stated that Councilmember Cinalli was absent due to a work obligation. Motion: Councilmember Rice moved to excuse Councilmember Cinalli from this meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Garcia. The Mayor declared Councilmember Cinalli excused from this meeting by voice vote of Council. 1 IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Councilmember Bledsoe gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag also led by Councilmember Bledsoe. IN RE: PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL DAVID TUCKER , Retired Sergeant, presented the Council with a plaque from the VFW Post 629. He said the members of VFW Post 629 wished to thank and commend the members of City Council for their honesty and diligence in serving their constituents and for all they have done in honoring individuals who have served in the military and for issuing proclamations of veteran events. The Mayor asked Councilmember Kennedy to accept the plaque on behalf of the Council. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Mainella noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on January 11, 2022. 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 No public hearings were held at this meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: MAIN STREET FAIRMONT Councilmember Blood stated that the Main Street Board of Directors are so appreciative of the support and partnership of the City of Fairmont. She noted that it has been a catalyst over the last two years for them really being accepted in Fairmont and they have grown and aside from the fact that they had to cancel the one day of the Feast, that Friday was such a success that most of the vendors are signed up to come back again. She went on to say that without the support of the City, none of this would have happened. Mayor Mainella said that on behalf of Council, we can convey our appreciation back to Main Street for what they do. He noted that the Hometown Markets were very well attended and it is a shame about what happened with the Feast of Seven Fishes but there is nothing that can be done about bad weather. IN RE: CITY AND CITY STAFF COMMENDED 2 Councilmember Blood said that she was told that the owners of Uncle Ronnie’s Sandwich Shop are completely appreciative and in support of the City as well especially Shae Strait who while the owner was opening his business, he had lots of questions and the City and Shae was there to help him with his concerns and know what to do. He wanted to pass on his appreciation to the City for that. IN RE: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT COMMENDED Councilmember Blood stated that the streets in her district have been cleared every day of the snow fall and the crews have taken such good care of our streets with the plowing, however, she did get a couple of complaints about the parking downtown not being cleared. She said that the crews are doing everything they can but she wanted to pass along the concerns about the parking in downtown not being cleared. Councilmember Bolyard shared her appreciation of Ron Miller and the personnel in our Public Works Department for working around the clock for the last week of plowing the streets as well as our Utility Department that is out there making repairs. She noted that they are doing a great job and she appreciates everything they do. IN RE: TWO NEW BUSINESSES OPENED Councilmember Bledsoe reported that it was good to see two new businesses opened, Uncle Ronnie’s Sandwich Shop and Inspired Vision, who is right beside Uncle Ronnie’s and they make eye glasses. Councilmember Kennedy stated that from time-to-time he frequents our businesses and this week he had lunch at Mama Di Roma. He said their business has incredibly increased and the quality of their food is outstanding and they are here to stay. He said that he is very impressed with their food. IN RE: CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTOR OF PLANNING COMMENDED Councilmember Bledsoe commended the City Manager, Valerie Means, and the Director of Planning, Shae Strait, for everything they are doing for the City of Fairmont. He noted that they are the best that we have ever had and has seen so many positive changes that they are making for Fairmont. He said that Fairmont is a better place because of them. He then said congratulations and thank you to those that make everything happen in Fairmont. IN RE: ACQUIRE PROPERTY FOR RAIL TRAIL The Mayor announced that we are finally getting off the ground acquiring property for the Rail Trails. He thanked whoever is involved from the City and for making some headway on getting that part of the puzzle solved to where we can at least have the property to start the connections. 3  CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no citizens petitions for this meeting. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: PLANNING DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT SHAE STRAIT , Director of Planning, presented Council with an Annual Report from the City of Fairmont Planning Department. He said his department cannot accomplish what they do without their fantastic staff and support of Council and all of the volunteers serving on the Boards and Commissions. Mr. Strait reported that Planning and Development has been hard at work on trying to secure land necessary for the development of a completely independent rail trail network that will not be on-street. They are underway on getting their on-street route implemented with way finding signage and will be bringing forward the acquisitions of additional land to building a dedicated route. He went over the following Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):  Conditional Use Permits  Variance Requests  Zoning Code Text Amendments  Zoning Verification Letters  Grants Applied For  Grants Received  Facebook Posts  Instagram Posts  Podcast Episodes Mr. Strait went over the following list of projects that his department has been working on:  Sharrow Installation  AML Grant  Feast Mural  Windmill Park Basketball Court  Sharon Steel RFP  Podcast Launched  Marion Remote  Norwood Park  Rail Trail Connector Project Progress  Submission of EPA Assessment Grant  Expansion of Public GIS/Mapping  Locust Avenue Sidewalk Project 4 Mr. Strait closed by saying that three Public Surveys were put out and they received over 700 responses to the public surveys, primarily those were for the ARPA funding and the opinion of the public for the use of those funds. He stated that they intend to continue this practice of public surveys because they have found it to be good engagement. He said that his annual report summary will be made available on the City’s website under the Planning Department page. 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 THE FOLLOWING PARCEL OF REAL ESTATE TO PAULETTE DOBBS PURSUANT TO THE CITY OF FAIRMONT'S APPROVED HOME RULE PLAN AND THE ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED THEREUNDER; AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER A DEED OF CONVEYANCE AND ANY OTHER NECESSARY TRANSACTIONAL DOCUMENTS ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT: Description Map / Parcel Address LT 7 HAMILTON STREET 03-28 / 0022 216 Hamilton Street Mayor Mainella entertained a motion and second for the introduction of an ordinance providing for the transfer and conveyance of 216 Hamilton Street to Paulette Dobbs. 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 February 8, 2022. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR AN AMENDMENT TO THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ’S 2021-2022 ANNUAL BUDGET: GENERAL FUND Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution providing for a General Fund Budget Revision. Motion: 5 Councilmember Blood moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Rice 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. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Blood moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bledsoe. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:35 p.m. 6