REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 1, 2002:
The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, October 1, 2002, at 7:30 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 Councilmembers Ron Bane, Teresa Miller, Bill Byrne, Florence Merow. (Jim Manilla, Frank Scafella ABSENT).
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the special meeting and regular meeting on September 17, 2002, were approved as printed.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Terri Cutright introduced a new business person from downtown, Rusty Davis of the Davis Agency, insurance and financial services.
Mayor Justice read proclamations for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Arts and Humanities Month, and Breast Cancer Awareness and presented them to Dr. Ranjit Majumder and Ann Pahl.
Mayor Justice welcomed a Political Science class and presented a plaque to Lt. Joe Lewis on his retirement from the Fire Department.
PUBLIC HEARING-AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE UPPER HIGH STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT:
Pursuant to a legal notice appearing in the Dominion Post, Mayor Justice called for a public hearing on the above referenced Ordinance.
Robert Flowers, asked questions about financing the business district.
Phil Shuman, 250 Kingwood Street, spoke about costs to private property owners.
Milton Cohen, 1060 Ross Street, spoke in opposition to the ordinance.
Terri Cutright, Main Street Director, spoke in support of the ordinance.
Melanie Thompson, BB&T, spoke in support of the ordinance.
There being no more appearances or objections, Mayor Justice declared this hearing closed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE UPPER HIGH STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading:
AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE UPPER HIGH STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT, WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN; BETWEEN WILLEY AND FAYETTE STREETS ALONG HIGH STREET, AND CREATING THE UPPER HIGH STREET BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BOARD, AND ESTABLISHING PROCEDURES FOR CONTRACTING AND CONTROL OF FUNDS.
After discussion, motion by Byrne, second by Miller, to adopt the above entitled ordinance. Motion carried 5-0. (Manilla and Scafella Absent).
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
By acclamation, Helen Madia was reappointed to Beautification and Rodney Pyles was re-appointed to Historic Landmarks.
PUBLIC PORTION:
Cindy Frich, Baker's Ridge Road, thanked people for Mason-Dixon Festival help; as a legislative candidate requested an invitation to the COW meeting with legislators; spoke against the I-68 extension; suggested attendance at MPO meetings; and Beechurst Avenue funding.
Helen Quarrick, 1288 Colonial Drive, spoke against the I-68 extension resolution and councilors serving on boards and commissions.
Don Spencer, First Things First, asked Council not to vote on the I-68 resolution tonight and announced the open house at the Dorsey Knob Park.
John Gever, 505 Linden Street, spoke to delay the I-68 extension resolution.
Milton Cohen, 1060 Ross Street, spoke against the business improvement district ordinance.
Latelle Hall, 1053 Ross Street, commented on a September 13, 2002, Dominion Post article and dealing with current traffic problems rather than an I-68 extension.
Betty Wiley, Westover, spoke against the I-68 extension resolution.
Holly Rieke, 161 Poplar Drive, spoke against the I-68 extension resolution.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilor Byrne reported on the formation of the Campus Neighborhood Revitalization Corp. for the Sunnyside area.
NEW BUSINESS:
AN ORDINANCE CONVEYING A PARCEL OF REAL ESTATE IN THE FOURTH WARD TO TONY T. GHIARDI: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading:
AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CONVEYANCE OF A PARCEL OF REAL ESTATE IN THE FOURTH WARD OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN FROM THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN TO TONY T. GHIARDI FOR A PRICE OF TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($2,900).
After discussion, motion by Merow, second by Byrne, to pass the above entitled ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 5-0. (Manilla and Scafella Absent).
AN ORDINANCE ANNULLING A 10' RIGHT-OF-WAY IN THE THIRD WARD:
AN ORDINANCE VACATING, ABANDONING AND ANNULLING A 10' RIGHT-OF-WAY RUNNING A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO FEET, FROM HIGH STREET TO A DEAD END, IN THE THIRD WARD OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, MONONGALIA COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, NOT USED NOR USEFUL FOR STREET PURPOSES.
Motion by Byrne, second by Bane, to pass the above entitled ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 5-0. (Manilla and Scafella Absent).
A RESOLUTION TO ESTABLISH THE GREATER MORGANTOWN TRANSPORTATION PLANNING COMMISSION: The above entitled Resolution was presented for Council's approval:
After discussion, motion by Byrne, second by Miller, to pass the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 5-0. (Manilla and Scafella Absent).
A RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT GOVERNOR WISE AND HIS DIRECTIVE TO EXTEND INTERSTATE 68 FROM MORGANTOWN TO MOUNDSVILLE: The above entitled Resolution was presented for Council's approval:
After discussion, motion by Miller, second by Bane, to pass the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 4-1. (Manilla and Scafella Absent, Merow voted NO).
CITY MANAGERS REPORT:
INFORMATION:
Item No. 1:
Halloween will be observed this year on Thursday, October 31st, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm. The City encourages participants, parents, motorist, and all others to exercise good judgement that evening and make it a safe holiday.
NEW BUSINESS:
Item No 1:
Attached you will find a memo from the Public Works Director reporting salt bids for this year. I agree with her findings and recommend that the contract be awarded to Morton Salt for a cost of $36.91 per ton.
Motion by Merow, second by Bane, to award the salt contract to Morton Salt for $36.91 per ton. Motion carried 5-0. (Manilla and Scafella Absent).
Item No 2:
As part of the continuing program to improve the appearance of the City, the Public Works Department has identified 18 sites in neighborhoods adjacent to the WVU main campus where attractive, public trash receptacles can be placed (some of them on private property that owners have agreed to make available)-the second attachment shows locations. BFI has agreed to service these containers on a daily basis. To implement this program, I recommend that $10,000 be made available from the Capital Escrow Account to acquire the receptacles and put them in place.
After discussion, motion by Byrne, second by Merow, to acquire 18 public trash receptacles for $10,000. Motion carried 5-0. (Manilla and Scafella Absent).
CITY CLERK'S REPORT:
No Report.
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT:
The business improvement district ordinance is in compliance with State Code 8-13-A and the use of ATV's on city streets is prohibited in Morgantown by City Code Section 351.12.
REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS :
Councilor Bane: Councilor Bane mentioned the weapons of mass destruction exercise, police on Willowdale; road lines in place by the ice rink; and BOPARC Rec Center is needed.
Councilor Manilla: ABSENT.
Councilor Scafella: ABSENT.
Councilor Miller: Councilor Miller noted parked cars on McCullough Street. Councilor Miller commented on the closing of JoAnn Fabrics, informing the public of City meetings, and a meeting time change.
Councilor Byrne: Councilor Byrne welcomed Rusty Davis and his business to Morgantown.
Councilor Merow: Councilor Merow commented on fireworks on the river and the Star City Trailfest. Councilor Merow was guest speaker for F.C.I. and CCCV and noted that part of the bank across from McQuain Park is private land. Councilor Merow mentioned speeding on Van Voorhis, the vacant Suncrest gas station could be a park and welcome sign, and suggested BOPARC have a levy.
Mayor Justice: Mayor Justice commented on getting McQuain Park ready for winter festivals, upcoming events and meetings, the Ambassador program, and a May trip to sister city, Bamburg, Germany.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:55 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
*A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE ON CD AT THE MORGANTOWN CITY LIBRARY.