City Manager’s Report

for

Council Meeting of January 4, 2005

Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council:

INFORMATION:

Item No. 1:

This week the City received a letter from Congressman Mollohan concerning Intermodal Project Funds. In the letter, the Congressman states that he was pleased to have obtained $7,700,000 in such funds for a proposed Intermodal Facility at the Courthouse. He further states that he respects the decision of the County Commission not to pursue this project and that he will to the extent possible be responsive to a new intermodal initiative in Morgantown. He also wrote that it may be possible that part or all of the $7,700,000 originally proposed for the Courthouse project could be transferred to another, eligible project. He points out though that such a transfer process cannot begin until the community brings forward a single project on which there is full and final agreement. As recently reported, it appears that there may be such a qualifying project in the form of a new Intermodal Facility proposed for the WVU Medical Campus. Clearly Congressman Mollohan has contributed much to the Morgantown community and his continuing interest and effective support is very much appreciated.

Item No. 2:

This week the City also received a letter from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (DHUD) reporting that its FY 2005 budget has been signed into law by President Bush. The letter goes on to state that part of that budget is a $629,568 Community Development Block Grant for the City of Morgantown (will fund next year’s program). The City is very appreciative of its partnership with DHUD and looks forward to continuing to work with the Block Grant Program.

Item No. 3:

A third letter received by the City from Adelphia reports that the company is adding 4 channels to its digital and high definition TV service. They are:

Channel Channel Position Level of Service

WQED HDTV Channel 713 HDTV

Discovery HDTV Channel 776 HDTV Plus

NFL HDTV Channel 777 HDTV Plus

NFL Network Channel 177 Digital Basic

Page 2

NEW BUSINESS:

Item No.1:

Attached you will find a Police Department memo reporting bid results for 55 gas masks to be acquired with Homeland Security funds. I agree with the findings presented and recommend that the contract be awarded to the low bidder, PA Police Supply, for $14,734.50.

Item No. 2:

The second attachment is a memo from the Finance Department reporting a proposal received to purchase an equipped, Police Department Evidence Collection Vehicle to be also acquired with Homeland Security funds. Given the specialized character of this vehicle and equipment, I recommend that the proposal be accepted and the vehicle be acquired from Sirchie Finger Print Labs, Inc. for a cost of $68,950.

This concludes the City Manager’s Report.

_____________________________

Dan Boroff, City Manager