City Council

December 1 7, 2024 The regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Fairmont was held at 7:00 p.m. on the 17th day of December, 2024, at the Public Safety Building located at 500 Quincy Street in Fairmont, West Virginia. Mayor Bolyard called the meeting to order. Roll call of members was taken by the City Clerk. 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 Julia (Julie) Sole Eighth District Bruce McDaniel Absent: Ninth District Kandice (Kandi) Nuzum Also present were: City Manager Travis L. Blosser City Attorney Kevin V. Sansalone City Clerk Janet L. Keller Communications Manager David Kirk IN RE: OPENING CEREMONIES Councilmember Sole gave the invocation followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag led by Councilmember Warner. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Mayor Bolyard noted that each member of Council had received a copy of the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on December 10, 2024. She asked if there were any corrections, deletions, or amendments. Councilmember Warner moved to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was seconded by Councilmember Garcia. The Mayor declared the minutes approved as submitted by voice vote of Council. 1  PUBLIC HEARING S No public hearings were scheduled for this meeting ANNOUNCEMENTS IN RE: COUNCILMEMBERS GARCIA AND DEASY COMMENDED Councilmember Rice thanked Councilmembers Garcia and Deasy for serving on City Council. He said that it was a pleasure to serve with both of them. Councilmember Garcia thanked all of the Councilmembers and City Manager. He said that over the years, it felt like a team and a family and he appreciated it. Councilmember Sole thanked Councilmembers Deasy and Garcia and said that both have been huge supporters of her professionally and both are very involved at the Disability Action Center and she would not be sitting here today if it were not for both of them encouraging her to get more involved with her city. Councilmember McDaniel thanked Councilmember Deasy and Councilmember Garcia for their service to the City and stated that they will certainly be missed. IN RE: ORGANIZATIONS THANKED Councilmember Moran thanked all of the organizations and volunteers who worked hard to bring joy to families this holiday season by providing meals and gifts. IN RE: DOWNTOWN FAIRMONT Councilmember Moran also thanked all of the volunteers who helped to make our town look festive. She noted that downtown looks amazing. The Feast was great and the Celebration of Lights was great. Councilmember Warner also mentioned that the Feast of the Seven Fishes Festival was great. IN RE: COUNCILMEMBER DEASY READ PREPARED STATEMENT Councilmember Deasy read a prepared statement since this was her last City Council meeting of her term representing the 6th District. She thanked the citizens of Fairmont for the privilege of serving on this Council and then expressed her sincerely gratitude to each of the Councilmembers. She said that each Councilmember represents a district in Fairmont, however, she truly believed that they worked cooperatively during the last four years caring about all of Fairmont. She gave special accolades Mayor Bolyard for being a strong and respectful model of a leader to this Council. The energy, respect, and diligence she brought to the role of Mayor of Fairmont has certainly elevated this Council 2 and served the City well. She then thanked City Clerk Janet Keller for all that she does to ensure that Council can focus on projects brought to their attention. She jokingly said that Council is the nine children that she never asked for. Councilmember Deasy also thanked City Attorney Kevin Sansalone for his legal advisement and he has always been certainly well respected and he always remains a good sport even when we tease him mercilessly. She then mentioned David Kirk and said that sometimes it probably feels like he is herding cats getting Council all together and organized for public events and communication engagements. She said that he has done so much in his short time to expand communications efforts. She went on to say that it has been a true joy, although too brief, to have Travis Blosser as our City Manager. She thanked him for all of his energy and his constant “Team Fairmont” spirit and the transparency he has had with Council. She went on to thank all of the City departments and employees and said that she was honored to work with them. She closed by saying that she leaves this position reluctantly, however, she knows that she leaves this position in great hands with her fellow Councilmembers and those that are newly-elected. Although disappointed, she recently found great consolation from a state-level seasoned politician who shared these words with her “although disappointing, in the end, the important thing is you offered yourself and service to your neighbors and gave them a viable choice.” With that advisement, she reminds herself that she believes in hope over despair and she welcomes her next opportunity to be of service. She leaves Council with her heartfelt gratitude of her time and service to Fairmont City Council and she wished everyone a Merry Christmas. IN RE: CELEBRATION OF LIGHTS Councilmember Sole reminded everyone that there are only three nights through the rest of the year that the Celebration of Lights will not be in operation. She said those dates are December 17th, 24th, and 25th. Other than those dates, she encouraged everyone to get out to Morris Park and support the Rotary Club of South Fairmont and the Tygart Valley United Way that benefits from the Celebration of Lights. IN RE: CITY CLERK JANET KELLER RECOGNIZED FOR HER SERVICE Mayor Bolyard stated that on December 26th, City Clerk Janet Keller will start her 47th year of service to the City of Fairmont. She has served as the City Clerk for 34 of those years and has been a friend, a counselor, and is a valuable resource in her dedication to the City and it is a debt that we can never repay. The Mayor also mentioned that in times of transition and leadership, she has also served as our City Manager not once but twice with distinction. CITIZENS PETITIONS There were no petitions for this meeting. CITY MANAGER ’S REPORT City Manager Travis Blosser reported the following: 3   The Feast and Hometown Market was wonderful last weekend.  He extended congratulations to Councilmember Garcia on his election to the State Legislature and we look forward to working with him in Charleston.  He thanked Councilmember Deasy for her service on City Council and stated it was too short with both of them, having only been here going into nine months now, but looked forward to seeing what both of them will accomplish in the future.  Mr. Blosser wished everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. CONSIDERATION OF COUNCIL BUSINESS IN RE: ADOPTION, A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAIRMONT, WEST VIRGINIA COMMENDING CITY MANAGER TRAVIS BLOSSER FOR HIS PERFORMANCE AND LEADERSHIP AS CITY MANAGER The City Clerk read the proposed resolution by synopsis for the first time. Mayor Bolyard entertained a motion for the adoption of a resolution commending City Manager Travis Blosser for his performance and leadership as City Manager. Motion: Councilmember McDaniel moved for the adoption of the proposed resolution. Councilmember Garcia seconded the motion. Roll call was taken by the Clerk. The Mayor declared the resolution adopted by unanimous vote of those Councilmembers present. IN RE: OUTGOING COUNCILMEMBERS RECOGNIZED Mayor Bolyard presented outgoing Councilmembers Rick Garcia and Gia Deasy with a plaque in recognition of their years of service for serving as a Councilmember. The Mayor stated that Councilember Garcia was elected on November 3, 2020 and we were all sworn-in together. He has not only served on Council but has served this community as a County Commissioner, been a friend to everybody, and he is a neighbor what anyone can call upon and has been a great friend to everyone here. She wished him the absolute best as he moves on to the State Legislature. Mayor Bolyard said that Councilmember Deasy has not only served on City Council but has been on the Human Rights Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, and the Planning Commission. She has been her inspiration, friend, colleague, and mentor. She said that her example of service on Council is something. 4  ADJOURNMENT The Mayor entertained a motion for adjournment. Motion: Councilmember Deasy moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Councilmember McDaniel. The Mayor declared the meeting adjourned by voice vote of Council at 7:16 p.m. 5