REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 7, 2003:
The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, January 7, 2003, at 7:32 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Ron Justice, City Manager Dan Boroff, City Clerk Linda L. Little, Assistant City Manager Jeff Mikorski, City Attorney Steve Fanok and Council Members Ron Bane, Jim Manilla, Frank Scafella, Teresa Miller, Bill Byrne, Florence Merow.
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the regular meeting on December 17, 2002, were approved as amended.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Mayor Justice read a proclamation for Exemplary Accreditation for 4 local schools.
Councilor Miller presented a proclamation to Alexandra Martin.
Mayor Justice commented on letters from Mountain Line for service reduction, Martin Christ regarding the Brownfields Assessment Proposal, Kaleidoscope for community meetings, Judge Russell Clawges regarding the Substance Abuse Task Force, and thank you letters from Woodburn Elementary students.
Councilor Manilla noted a letter from Frank Ferrell about garbage and showed Mr. Ferrell’s pictures.
PUBLIC HEARING - AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH TAILWINDS, INC. TO LEASE SPACE TO OPERATE A RESTAURANT AT THE AIRPORT:
Pursuant to a legal notice appearing in the Dominion Post, Mayor Justice called for a public hearing on the above referenced Ordinance.
There being no appearances or objections, Mayor Justice declared this hearing closed.
PUBLIC HEARING - AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH MORGANTOWN AREA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP TO LEASE SPACE AT THE AIRPORT:
Pursuant to a legal notice appearing in the Dominion Post, Mayor Justice called for a public hearing on the above referenced Ordinance.
There being no appearances or objections, Mayor Justice declared this hearing closed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH TAILWINDS, INC. TO LEASE SPACE TO OPERATE A RESTAURANT AT THE AIRPORT: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN (LESSOR) AND TAILWINDS, INC. (LESSEE) AS IT PERTAINS TO TAILWINDS, INC. LEASING SPACE TO OPERATE A RESTAURANT AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
Motion by Merow, second by Scafella, to adopt the above entitled ordinance. Motion carried 7-0.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH MORGANTOWN AREA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP TO LEASE SPACE AT THE AIRPORT: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN (LESSOR) AND MORGANTOWN AREA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP (LESSEE), AS IT PERTAINS TO THE LEASING OF OFFICE SPACE FROM THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
Motion by Merow, second by Byrne, to adopt the above entitled ordinance. Motion carried 7-0.
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
By acclamation, J. T. Straface was appointed to the Morgantown Utility Board.
PUBLIC PORTION:
There being no appearances, Mayor Justice declared this public portion closed.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilor Byrne reported that the Sunnyside project is putting together an RFP.
NEW BUSINESS:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FOR OFFICE SPACE AT THE AIRPORT: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN (LESSOR) AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (LESSEE) REGARDING THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LEASING OFFICE SPACE FROM THE CITY AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
After discussion, motion by Miller, second by Byrne, to pass the above entitled ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT FOR OFFICE SPACE AT THE AIRPORT: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, AND THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, LESSEE REGARDING OFFICE SPACE AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
After discussion, motion by Scafella, second by Byrne, to pass the above entitled ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0.
A RESOLUTION FOR A PROJECT AMENDMENT SCOPE CHANGE REQUEST FOR THE ROSENBAUM FAMILY HOUSE. The above entitled Resolution was presented for Council’s approval:
Motion by Scafella, second by Manilla, to pass the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.
A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR A TEA-21 GRANT OF $400,000 TO PROVIDE STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS ON UPPER HIGH STREET. The above entitled Resolution was presented for Council’s approval:
Motion by Byrne, second by Miller, to pass the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.
CITY MANAGERS REPORT:
NEW BUSINESS:
Item No. 1:
The City has received the new health insurance rates for its self insured program for calendar year 2003. The good news is that the percentage increase is relatively very good given national trends (increase is approximately 8%). The additional good news is that this number is within the City budget for the balance of this fiscal year. The bad news is despite all this relativity, the City still expects to spend over $2,000,000 this coming year on this important fringe benefit.
As discussed in the past, Morgantown has been very fortunate to offer this program to City employees with very attractive benefits ($250 deductible, 80/20 co-payments, maximum expense of $1,000 in a year for an individual–the City pays for everything beyond this). For this protection, employees pay no more than $44 per month. Regrettably though, the City cannot continue to buck the national trends mentioned above which include evolving changes in benefits.
Over the next 18 months, I anticipate recommending a series of modest changes in the health insurance program to City Council. In this way, the City can avoid an ever accumulating amount of liability that will call for drastic, emergency actions given no modifications to the current program. Changes being studied include modification of the prescription drug benefit (summer 2003), additional deterrents for using services outside of the PPO (early 2004), and modest increases in deductibles and caps (summer 2004). As with past changes, City employees will be fully involved in the process as options are defined. Clearly though, the costs of health insurance are driving the entire country away from maintenance programs that pay for nearly everything to a more catastrophic program that protects employees from major expenses.
With these comments made, the new monthly rates for 2003 are as follow:
ACCOUNTS CURRENT NEW
Basic Life $ .42 $ .42
Basic AD&D .05 .05
Dependent Life 1.80 1.80
Supplemental Life Step rates Step Rates
Supplemental AD&D .05 .05
Aggregate Risk 7,000.00* 7,500.00*
Expected Medical Claims 448.80 (561.00) 473.91 (592.39)
Expected Dental Claims 30.60 30.60
Employee Excess Risk 29.79 32.77
Dependent Excess Risk 55.79 61.37
*per year
NEW BUSINESS:
Item No. 1:
Attached you will find a memo from the Public Works Director summarizing bid results for 2 one ton dump trucks. I agree with her comments and recommend that the contract be awarded to the low bidder Matheny Motor Truck Co. for a total of $58,840.
Motion by Byrne, second by Miller, to award the dump trucks contract to Matheny Motor Truck Co. for $58,840.
CITY CLERK'S REPORT:
No Report.
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT:
No Report.
REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS :
Councilor Bane: Councilor Bane commented on Mountain Line service, the local deer population, home maintenance issues, and the rental and homeowners insurance rates.
Councilor Bane asked about applications for non-profit funding and deadlines.
Councilor Manilla: Councilor Manilla asked for repairs on South Point, noted vandalism on Grandview, and voiced EPA concerns about building over the Sterling Faucet property.
City Manager Boroff noted that the area is in full compliance.
Councilor Scafella: Councilor Scafella commented on transit service to Grafton and Hundred.
Councilor Miller: Councilor Miller mentioned the future Municipal League meeting and legislative issues.
Councilor Byrne: Councilor Byrne commented on South Point streets, sympathized with Jim Lattanzi’s family, asked for clarification of the City Manager’s insurance figures, and voiced concerns with tort reform, medical insurance premium rates, and the civil justice system.
Councilor Merow: Councilor Merow is impressed with MUB’s stormwater work to date and commented on Jim Lattanzi and his death.
Mayor Justice: Mayor Justice noted issues on Richwood and Union/Snider area. Mayor Justice mentioned future meetings, the M. L. King celebration, and that Jim Lattanzi worked up to his last on the Planning Commission.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:35 p.m.
_____________________________ __________________________________
City Clerk Mayor
*A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE ON CD AT THE MORGANTOWN CITY LIBRARY.