City Council

March 14, 2023 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 14th day of March, 2023, at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street in Fairmont, West Virginia. Mayor Bolyard called the meeting to order. Councilmembers present were: First District Joshua D. (Josh) Rice Second District Anne E. Bolyard Third District Rebecca Moran Fourth District Richard (Rick) Garcia Fifth District Charles (Chuck) Warner Sixth District Gia Deasy Seventh District Nicholas (Nicky) Cinalli Eighth District Bruce McDaniel Ninth District Kandice (Kandi) Nuzum Also present were: City Manager Valerie A. Means City Attorney Kevin S. Sansalone City Clerk Janet L. Keller Fire Chief Ed Simmons Finance Director Priscilla Hamilton Director of Marketing Hanna Turner Director of Planning Shae Strait IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Councilmember Nuzum gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Garcia. IN RE: FSHS STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONS Mayor Bolyard recognized the Fairmont Senior High School wrestling team for winning this season’s state championship. The head wrestling coach, Mike Fortier, introduced members of the team and said a few words about the wrestlers. IN RE: PROCLAMATION PRESENTED – NATIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR DAY Mayor Bolyard presented a proclamation to Retired Army Sgt. David Tucker in honor of March 25, 2023 being recognized a National Medal of Honor Day. Mr. Tucker said a 1 few words and thanked Council for the proclamation. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Bolyard noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on February 28, 2023. She asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Councilmember Rice moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McDaniel. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. PUBLIC HEARINGS IN RE: FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 GENERAL FUND BUDGET Pursuant to a notice duly published in the Times-West Virginian on March 1, 2023 and March 8, 2023, a public hearing was convened to obtain citizen input on the FY 2023- 2024 City Budgets: General Fund and Coal Severance. The Mayor asked if anyone present desired to speak to the proposed ordinance. PRISCILLA HAMILTON , Finance Director, spoke in favor of the proposed budget. She said that she, the Department Heads, and the City Manager have been working since December to meet all the deadlines set by the State to create the balanced budget for FY 2023-2024. Passage of the budget is critical to keep us in compliance with the State deadlines so that the City can Lay the Levy on April 18th. The reason we Lay the Levy on April 18th is to meet the deadline so that we can collect the Ad Valorem Tax and the Tax Incremental Financing and for next year it is estimated to be $3 million dollars. She then thanked Council for attending the work session in February and working with the City staff to finalize the budget. Ms. Means also spoke in favor of the proposed resolution. She asked Council to approve the budget. We have been working hard and we had good discussion at the work session, however, she wanted Council to understand the importance of the deadline and to remember that this is a working document and as the year goes on, we can bring budget revisions to Council if there is anything that we want to revisit after July 1st. Mayor Bolyard thanked the City Manager for the budget work session and the hard work that everyone in the City, as well as the City Council, has put into reviewing that budget. There being no one else to speak, the public hearing was called to a close at 7:20 p.m. ANNOUNCEMENTS 2 IN RE: STOP SIGN REQUESTED Councilmember Rice thanked the Public Works Department for installing a stop sign. He reported that he received a call from a young lady, a 15-year-old, who just has her driving permit. She was driving and saw another car go in front of her and thought she ran a stop sign; however, it happened that a stop sign was not there. She then decided to call her Councilmember to request that a stop sign be installed at that intersection. IN RE: ARTS AND HUMANITIES COMMISSION AWARDS EVENT Councilmember Moran reported that the Arts and Humanities Commission is having their annual awards event on April 23rd, at 2:00 p.m., at Central Christian Church on Big Tree Drive. She encouraged everyone to attend. IN RE: MORGANTOWN AVENUE MINI PARK CLEAN UP Councilmember Moran announced that April 29th, at 9:00 a.m., she, the Mayor, and Councilmember Rice are hosting a little clean-up at the Morgantown Avenue Mini Park. She said that if anyone would like to help, they are more than welcome. IN RE: CONGRATULATIONS TO NORTH MARION GIRL BASKETBALL TEAM Councilmember Garcia extended congratulations to the North Marion girls basketball team for winning the state tournament. Councilmember Garcia also mentioned that on Thursday, North Marion and Fairmont Senior will be playing. IN RE: FAIRMONT SENIOR WRESTLERS COMMENDED Councilmember Cinalli extended congratulations to Fairmont Senior High School wrestlers. He then wished good luck to Fairmont Senior and North Marion. IN RE: CITY MANAGER COMMENDED Councilmember McDaniel thanked the City Manager and City staff for the annual report that was present to Council. IN RE: UNION MISSION EASTER MEALS Councilmember Nuzum mentioned that the Union Mission is preparing 450 meals for Easter and they very much would appreciate volunteers. Councilmember Nuzum stated that George Batton said that the Church SCI Faith Church International should be recognized for their men’s group replacing new tile in the 3 mission that had been ruined by water. She added that the Mission appreciates the help that comes from the community. IN RE: LT. SAM MURRY – FAIRMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT Mayor Bolyard expressed her appreciation and recognition of Lt. Sam Murray for his 20 years of service in the Fairmont Police Department. IN RE: EAST FAIRMONT BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA The Mayor extended congratulations to two East Fairmont High School students for their success at the West Virginia Future Business Leaders of America. She added that they now qualify to go to the National Future Business Leaders Conference in Atlanta, GA. CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no citizens petitions for this meeting. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT IN RE: PAVING BID Ms. Means reported that the paving bid will be opened this Thursday and once the bid is finalized, the street listing will be posted. IN RE: COMMUNITY CLEAN-UP The City Manager stated that the City is starting to plan the community-wide spring clean-up which will be held the week of April 24th. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: INTRODUCTION, FIRST READING, SET PUBLIC HEARING, AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLIC AUCTION OF SURPLUS PERSONAL PROPERTY OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT; RESERVATION OF RIGHTS Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the introduction of an ordinance providing for the public auction of surplus personal property of the City of Fairmont. Motion: Councilmember McDaniel moved for the introduction of the proposed ordinance. Councilmember Warner seconded the motion. The Clerk read the proposed ordinance by synopsis for the first time. The Mayor declared the public hearing set for March 28, 2023. 4 IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY OF FAIRMONT ’S FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 CITY BUDGETS : GENERAL FUND AND COAL SEVERANCE Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution approving the FY 2023-2024 City Budgets. Motion: Councilmember Rice moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember McDaniel 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 Council. IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN CAPITAL PROJECTS AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE APPROPRIATION OF ARPA FUNDS DEDICATED TO REPLACING LOST PUBLIC SECTOR REVENUE FOR SAID CAPITAL PROJECTS Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution authorizing certain capital projects and authorizing the appropriation of ARPA Funds dedicated to replacing lost public sector revenue for the capital projects. Motion: Councilmember Rice moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Warner 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 Council. ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Rice moved at 7:31 p.m. to adjourn this meeting to Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. in order to approve the Levy Rates. The motion was seconded by 5 Councilmember Warner. The Mayor declared this meeting adjourned until 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 18, 2023 by unanimous vote of Council. 6