REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 15, 2005:
The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, November 15, 2005, at 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Ron Justice, City Manager Dan Boroff, City Clerk Linda Little, City Attorney Steve Fanok, Assistant City Manager Jeff Mikorski, and Council Members Ron Bane, Jim Manilla, Frank Scafella, Teresa Miller, Bill Byrne, Don Spencer.
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the regular meeting on November 1, 2005, were approved as printed.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Mayor Justice summarized letters: Adelphia adding WPXI Weather Plus, River Front Development Projects, Consumer Protection Forums about the credit card industry, thank you from Friends of Deckers Creek for the Hazardous Waste Collection Day $1,000; noted the State & Local Officials meeting to evaluate the snow storm aftermath and announced future meetings and events. City Clerk Little administered oaths for Fire Department promotions to Lt. Larry Speicher and Lt. Lawrence Dudley. Fire Chief Fetty asked their respective wives to pin their badges on them. Mayor Justice read a proclamation honoring William Trevillian who retired on October 18, 2005. Mayor Justice welcomed the WVU Political Science Class and Journalism 215 Class. Councilor Bane noted letters of thank you from the Leadership Monongalia Group.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBSECTION 2.13(b) OF ITS CHARTER AS APPLIES TO ORDINANCE ADOPTION PROCEDURES: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN PROVIDING FOR AMENDMENT TO SUBSECTION 2.13(b) OF ITS CHARTER, AS THE SAME APPLIES TO ORDINANCE ADOPTION PROCEDURES, WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE CITY'S SECTION 2.13(b) CHARTER LANGUAGE READING THE SAME AS SET FORTH IN SECTION 8-4-8 OF THE WEST VIRGINIA CODE.
Motion by Manilla, second by Byrne, to adopt the above Ordinance. Motion carried 7-0.
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
By acclamation, Helen Madia was reappointed to serve on the Beautification Commission as the 5th Ward representative and Teresa Miller was reappointed to serve on the Planning Commission as Council representative.
PUBLIC PORTION:
Alice Drummond declared she and her husband had been sanctioned for a year by Bartlett House and are now living under the bridge.
A resident of Bartlett House spoke on behalf of Alice Drummond and how residents are treated.
There being no more appearances or objections, Mayor Justice declared this public portion closed.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Mayor Justice mentioned the Solid Waste Task Force meetings.
NEW BUSINESS:
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A 350 FOOT UNNAMED ALLEY IN 4TH WARD INTO THE CITY STREET SYSTEM: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for Council's approval.
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING A 350 FOOT LONG UNNAMED ALLEY INTO THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN'S STREET SYSTEM FOR PURPOSES OF PUBLIC MAINTENANCE AND CONTROL, IN THE FOURTH WARD OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, MONONGALIA COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA.
After discussion, motion by Miller, second by Spencer, to pass the above Ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE PERSONNEL RULES FOR CIVIL SERVICE VACATION LEAVE: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for Council's approval.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION V-3 OF THE PERSONNEL RULES OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN AS THE SAME APPLIES TO VACATION LEAVE FOR REGULAR FULL-TIME CIVIL SERVICE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY.
Motion by Scafella, second by Manilla, to pass the above Ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0.
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO ADMINISTER A $5,000 GRANT FOR THE METROPOLITAN THEATRE TO PURCHASE PROMOTIONAL AND ADVERTISING EQUIPMENT AND MATERIAL: The above entitled Resolution was presented for Council's approval.
Motion by Manilla, second by Bane, to approve the above Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR A $10,000 GRANT FOR THE MOUNTAINEER BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB/MORGANTOWN TO PURCHASE A PASSENGER VAN: The above entitled Resolution was presented for Council's approval.
Motion by Spencer, second by Scafella, to approve the above Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO APPLY FOR A $40,000 GRANT FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DORSEY'S KNOB PARK AND THE WILES HILL SENIOR/COMMUNITY CENTER: The above entitled Resolution was presented for Council's approval.
After discussion, motion by Scafella, second by Bane, to approve the above Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.
CITY MANAGERS REPORT:
INFORMATION:
Item No. 1:
Recently the Office of State Emergency Services held a review of the terrible snowstorm that North Central West Virginia suffered in mid-October. A lot of practical information and lessons learned came out of that session that were shared with all the emergency service organizations in this part of the state. In summary, the importance of individual households to be prepared for situations like this; in terms of emergency food, shelter and things like that. There is no substitution for that personal responsibility and also the ability to work with families and friends and looking out for senior citizens that may be neighbors. Probably 80% of the relief effort that went into the storm was at that level of community and neighborhood. The second point is the additional need for public emergency services. It is critically important that all of that be coordinated through the local emergency services director. Fragmented requests going directly to the State, the Guard, or to the power company or other agencies, confuse and dilute the situation. It is the county office of Emergency Services that serves as the coordinator and access to all these state and, potentially federal services, that are available. It was a very bad storm with considerable damage. In that after action review, it is an important lesson shared.
Item No. 2:
What follows is information recently published by the U. S. Census Bureau reporting jobs and daytime populations in West Virginia Cities:
City Population Workers In City Daytime Population
Charleston 53,421 62,102 91,508
Huntington 51,475 39,108 69,904
Parkersburg 33,099 23,824 43,528
Wheeling 31,419 23,005 41,622
Morgantown 26,809 27,362 42,087
NEW BUSINESS:
Item No. 1:
In last year's Capital Escrow Account, Council budgeted $50,000 as a match for a State grant to install new doors at the Metropolitan Theatre. Council also pledged a $50,000 match for a State grant to install air conditioning at the Theatre. The former grant was recently disapproved and the latter was recently awarded (total grant budget with match is $200,000). Based upon these actions, I recommend that the match for the first grant be used to fund the requirement for the second and the project be started as soon as possible.
Motion by Scafella, second by Miller, to use the match from the first grant to fund the requirement or the second. Motion carried 7-0.
Item No. 2:
Attached is a memo from the Assistant City Manager reporting the plan forwarded by the Middle High Street Business Improvement District Planning Committee for the third phase of the Downtown BID project. Based upon the merits of the proposal, I recommend that it be approved; a public hearing scheduled to create the third Downtown BID; and an application be prepared to seek $500,000 in 2006 Transportation Enhancement funding to construct the project.
After discussion, motion by Byrne, second by Scafella, to approve the recommended plan. Motion carried 7-0.
Item No. 3:
The second attachment is another memo from the Assistant City Manager reporting a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant opportunity that can be used to further develop Dorsey's Knob. I agree with the Assistant Manager's comments and recommend that the pre-application seeking $100,000 be authorized and submitted to the West Virginia Development Office by the December 3, 2005 deadline. Special Note: If awarded, the $100,000 grant will require a $100,000 match. This match is not currently available but can be budgeted in March, 2006, as part of the Capital Escrow Account.
After discussion, motion by Miller, second by Bane, to authorize the pre-application for the $100,000 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant. Motion carried 7-0.
CITY CLERK'S REPORT:
No Report.
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT:
No Report.
REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS (reverse order):
Councilor Spencer: Councilor Spencer gave an update on the tree ordinance; urged that utility lines be underground and support of consolidation of communities, etc. be on the legislative discussion list.
Councilor Byrne: Councilor Byrne gave a status report on the Sabraton welcome sign.
Councilor Miller: Councilor Miller requested an update on the Patteson Drive light and crosswalk.
Councilor Scafella: Councilor Scafella gave a Wiles Hill Center update and suggested a tour; noted John Martys' affordable housing project meeting and advised that the Wiles Hill and Highland Park community historical study is beginning.
Councilor Manilla: Councilor Manilla announced the Mountain Lion Transit Authority facility grand opening and discussed the Boat Tour.
Councilor Bane: Councilor Bane requested an update on the Sabraton welcome sign; gave reminder of Ruby Memorial ceremony; and commended MHS Concert Band and Chorale for Met Theatre fund-raising in honor of veterans.
Mayor Justice: Mayor Justice said the DOH report has not been received for Patteson Drive; commended Edith Levy for the Holocaust presentation; urged classroom participation in schools; advised of future meetings and events; spoke of the Boat Tour and Veterans' Day celebration; summarized some Bartlett House problems; noted UHS and MHS in football playoffs; and remarked on Kim Allen's traffic accident.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:35 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.