City Council

October 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 October, 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 Fifth District Barry H. Bledsoe Sixth District Gia Deasy Seventh District Nicholas (Nicky) Cinalli Eighth District Thomas (Tom) Mainella Ninth District Donna M. Blood Absent: Fourth District Richard (Rick) Garcia Also present were: City Manager Valerie A. Means City Attorney Kevin V. Sansalone City Clerk Janet L. Keller Director of Marketing Hanna Turner IN RE: COUNCILMEMBER GARCIA EXCUSED Mayor Mainella noted that Councilmember Garcia had a work conflict and asked to be excused. Motion: Councilmember Bledsoe moved to excuse Councilmember Garcia from tonight’s meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Cinalli. The Mayor declared Councilmember Garcia excused from this meeting by voice vote of Council. IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES 1 Councilmember Bledsoe gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Cinalli. IN RE: PROCLAMATION PRESENTED TO HOPE, INC. The Mayor presented a proclamation to Kimberly Winnings of Hope, Inc. in recognition of October being designated as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Mainella noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on October 11, 2022. He asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Mayor Mainella stated that on the last page, the Deputy Mayor adjourned the meeting in his absence since he had to leave before the meeting was adjourned. Councilmember Rice moved to approve the minutes as corrected. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Bolyard. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as corrected by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARINGS There were no public hearings for this meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: WVU MEDICINE ANNUAL TOY DRIVE Councilmember Bolyard announced that WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center is starting another toy drive for the pediatric patients that are seen at their facility. They are asking for new stuffed toys to be dropped off at the Fairmont Medical Center at 1325 Locust Avenue. IN RE: VERBAL ARGUMENT AT LAST COUNCIL MEETING Councilmember Bledsoe stated for those that remember the last meeting, he and Mayor Mainella have been friends for years and the Mayor is hot-headed and passionate to a fault and he is hot-headed and passionate to a fault and they have clashed before but never publicly like that. He said they have spoken and they are okay and he apologized for the fiasco at the last meeting. He said, again, that they are fine and always will be. The Mayor also apologized for his actions at the last Council meeting and said that he was sorry that happened. 2 IN RE: TRICK-OR-TREAT AT EAST WEST STADIUM Councilmember Deasy reminded everyone that on Sunday, October 30th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Fairmont Senior High School is putting on a trick-or-treat opportunity for children at East-West Stadium. She said that children can do a lap around the stadium and meet high school students that will be giving out candy. IN RE: CAREER COLLEGE INDUSTRY FAIR FOR STUDENTS Councilmember Deasy announced that on November 1st, Marion County Schools will be holding a Career College Industry Fair from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Field House on Mary Lou Retton Drive. She encouraged families of students in 5th grade through 12th grade to attend and explore careers for post-secondary opportunities. CITIZENS PETITIONS IN RE: USW CONTRACT NEGOTIATED J.D. WILSON , Union Representative for the USW, spoke to Council and thanked them for recently passing a premium pay package for city workers as thanks for their resiliency through the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr. Wilson said they had an opportunity to sit down and negotiate a contract for these same city workers. He said that they concentrated on trying to make sure that we stay competitive and looking at the economy, we wanted to make sure we kept the pace with everyone else. He said this is the first negotiation that he has had the opportunity to do where they have had a very good working relationship with the City where there is clear communication about what is possible and what is not. He then thanked the City Manager for a great negotiation. Mayor Mainella stated that he was sure that he can speak on behalf of everybody here when he says that we treasure and respect and thank all our employees and appreciate them very much. IN RE: FUNDING REQUESTED FOR MAPLE GROVE CEMETERY MARCELLA YAREMCHUK , a city resident, made a presentation to Council on her project to revitalize Maple Gove Cemetery. She said that the “Friends of Maple Grove Cemetery” have been meeting weekly to try to figure out how they can improve Maple Grove. She said that Maple Grove Cemetery was established in 1808 at 819 Morgantown Avenue. It is the largest cemetery in Union District with approximately 20 acres of land. She said the list of names buried in the cemetery include 3 from the Revolutionary War; 3 veterans from the War of 1812; 107 veterans from the Civil War; 10 from the Spanish American War; 41 veterans of World War I; 136 from World War II; 8 veterans of Korea; and 2 Vietnam veterans, totaling 310 service men and women. She said that Maple Grove has been accepted into the Wreaths Across America Program and is the only one in Marion County that has been accepted. They have been fundraising to buy wreaths for the veterans that are buried there and the placement of the wreaths will take place on December 17th at 1:00 p.m. at the cemetery. Ms. 3 Yaremchuk went on to say that they need help and funding to clean up the cemetery before the December 17th ceremony. She said they need trees and branches cut, grass is piled up around the grave markers and any kind of help to get it ready before December would be greatly appreciated. She then asked City Council for a $3,000 contribution to help offset the cost of cleaning up the cemetery. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: TRICK-OR-TREAT IN FAIRMONT Ms. Means reminded everyone that trick-or-teat will be Monday, October 31st, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, APPROVING THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THAT CERTAIN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE UNITED STEEL, PAPER AND FORESTRY, RUBBER, MANUFACTURING, ENERGY, ALLIED INDUSTRIAL AND SERVICE WORKERS INTERNATIONAL UNION, LOCAL NO. 1-02, AND THE CITY OF FAIRMONT TO BE EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 12, 2022, AND ENDING DECEMBER 12, 2025, AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AND DELIVER SAID AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT. Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for the introduction of an ordinance approving the terms and conditions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the United Steelworkers and the City of Fairmont. Motion: Councilmember Rice moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Blood seconded the motion. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for November 9, 2022. IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING ORDINANCE NO. 1936 DULY ADOPTED APRIL 12, 2022, WHICH ORDINANCE PROVIDES FOR THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ’S CURRENT PAY PLAN AND LIST OF OCCUPATIONAL CLASSES FOR ALL CLASS TITLES AND EMPLOYEES, TO PROVIDE FOR INCREASES IN SHIFT DIFFERENTIAL AND CERTIFICATION PAY FOR CERTAIN POSITIONS COVERED BY THE STEELWORKERS ’ PAY PLAN AND AN INCREASE IN THE MONETARY 4 INCENTIVE FOR NEWLY HIRED PROBATIONARY POLICE OFFICERS WITH A VALID WEST VIRGINIA LAW ENFORCEMENT CERTIFICATION UNDER THE FOP PAY PLAN. Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for the introduction of an ordinance amending the current Pay Plan to provide for increases in shift differential and certification pay for certain positions covered by the United Steelworkers Pay Plan and to provide for an increase in the monetary incentive for newly hired probationary Police Officers with a valid WV Law Enforcement Certification. Motion: Councilmember Blood moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Deasy seconded the motion. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for November 9, 2022. IN RE: TWO RE-APPOINTMENTS, FAIRMONT WATER BOARD, THREE- YEAR TERMS TO END NOVEMBER 9, 2025. Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for two re-appointments to the Fairmont Water Board for three-year terms ending November 9, 2025. Mayor Mainella moved to re-appoint Thomas DeVito and James Decker to the Fairmont Water Board for three-year terms ending November 9, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Deasy. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared Thomas DeVito and James Decker re-appointed to the Fairmont Water Board for three-year terms ending November 9, 2025 by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RE: ONE JOINT APPOINTMENT, FAIRMONT-MARION COUNTY TRANSIT AUTHORITY, THREE-YEAR TERM TO END DECEMBER 31, 2025. Mayor Mainella entertained a motion for one joint re-appointment to the Fairmont- Marion County Transit Authority for a three-year term ending December 31, 2025. Mayor Mainella moved to re-appoint Jesse Corley to the Fairmont-Marion County Transit Authority for a three-year term ending December 31, 2025. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Rice. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. 5 The Mayor declared Jesse Corley re-appointed to the Fairmont-Marion County Transit Authority for a three-year term ending December 31, 2025 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 Rice. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:31 p.m. 6