REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 3, 2004:

            The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday, November 3, 2004, at 7:55 P.M.

PRESENT: Mayor Ron Justice, City Manager Dan Boroff, City Clerk Secretary Donna Roberts, Assistant City Manager Jeff Mikorski, City Attorney Steve Fanok, and Council Members Ron Bane, Jim Manilla, Frank Scafella, Teresa Miller, Bill Byrne, Don Spencer. (City Clerk Linda L. Little - Absent).

            The meeting was called to order by the Mayor.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes of the regular meeting on October 19, 2004, were approved as printed.

CORRESPONDENCE: 

            Mayor Justice mentioned Senator Byrd’s letter about the EPA’s reply and announced the next meeting of the Substance Abuse Task Force.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:

            By acclamation, John Byam was appointed to the MUB Board and James Russell will be appointed in January. By acclamation, Carolyn Hampson for 1^st Ward and Marilyn Bowers for 2^nd Ward were appointed to the Beautification Commission.  

PUBLIC PORTION:

            Linda Rinehart, 672 Easton Avenue, commented on raising the employee health insurance deductible.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:

            Councilor Byrne reported on Sunnyside Up, Councilor Bane reminded of the mock Council meeting for Leadership Monongalia, and Councilor Spencer spoke of the Community Education project.

NEW BUSINESS:

            AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 17.1 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE AS APPLIES TO ACREAGE AND OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading.

            AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 17.1 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, AS THE SAME APPLIES TO ACREAGE AND OPEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS FOR PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENTS.

            After discussion, motion by Byrne, second by Miller, to pass the above Ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0.

            AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO PURCHASE REALTY FROM MCCOY 6 REALTY OF PARCELS CONSISTING IN THE 4^TH WARD AND 5^TH WARD : The following entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading.

            AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN TO PURCHASE REALTY FROM MCCOY 6 APARTMENTS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY; SAID REALTY CONSISTING OF PARCELS 394, 395, 396, 397, 403, 404, 404.1, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 411, 412, 413, 414, 416, 417, and 419 ON MONONGALIA COUNTY TAX MAP 20 IN THE FOURTH WARD OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, AND 520, 521, 526, 527, 528, 531, 543, 544, AND 545.1 ON MONONGALIA COUNTY TAX MAP 20 IN THE FIFTH WARD OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN.

            Motion by Miller, second by Manilla, to pass the above Ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0.

            A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY AGREES TO APPLY FOR AND ADMINISTER THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROJECT NUMBER 05LEDA0212, FUNDS FOR USE BY MYLAN PARK: The above entitled Resolution was presented to Council for their approval:

            After discussion, motion by Scafella, second by Spencer, to approve the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.

            A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY AGREES TO APPLY FOR AND ADMINISTER THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROJECT NUMBER 05LEDA0213, FUNDS FOR USE BY MYLAN PARK-HORSE PARK: The above entitled Resolution was presented to Council for their approval:

            Motion by Miller, second by Bane, to approve the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.

            A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY AGREES TO APPLY FOR AND ADMINISTER THE GOVERNOR’S COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROJECT NUMBER 05CPGPO102, FUNDS FOR USE BY THE MORGANTOWN FUN FACTORY: The above entitled Resolution was presented to Council for their approval:

            Motion by Scafella, second by Miller, to approve the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.

   A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF A LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT CONTRACT OF $20,000 FOR THE WEST VIRGINIA RAPTOR REHABILITATION CENTER: The above entitled Resolution was presented to Council for their approval: 

            Motion by Miller, second by Manilla, to approve the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.

CITY MANAGERS REPORT:

INFORMATION:

Item No. 1:

Attached you will find a memo from the Public Works Director reporting bid results for salt. As you will read, the City has made an emergency purchase of 1,000 tons of salt at a price of $46 per ton because traditional salt vendors did not forward bids. As the winter progresses, I will keep you informed of this situation.

NEW BUSINESS:

Item No. 1:

The second attachment reports suggested changes in the City’s Health Insurance Program increasing the deductibles by $250 and $500 for Plans A and B respectively and maximum out of pocket expenses by the current factor. New benefits to be added are access to personal reviews of prescriptive care; access to the best physician program; and free physicals for participants. Given the rapidly escalating cost of this program (claims averaging $150,000 per month), I recommend that these changes be authorized for the new program year that starts January 1, 2005.

            After discussion, motion by Byrne, second by Scafella, to authorize the changes in the City’s Health Insurance Program, Motion carried 7-0.

Item No. 2:

For the past year the City has worked closely with the neighborhood association in South Park studying period lighting for the area. At this time, it does not appear that this project will be pursued in the near future. To productively employ the funds budgeted for this project, I recommend that $50,000 be used as a match to capture an additional $150,000 for the Met Theatre for renovation work.

            Motion by Scafella, second by Miller, to apply $50,000 as a grant match for the Met Theatre.

Item No. 3:

This week the City learned of another extraordinary grant opportunity that could generate $165,000 for the Metropolitan Theatre. It is a State Historic Preservation Grant that would provide $82,500 with a local match of $82,500 to fund the air conditioning unit. The application has been forwarded to the State to meet deadline requirements. Based upon the merits of the program, I recommend that City Council authorize this action (match will come from next year’s Capital Escrow Account Program).

            After discussion, motion by Miller, second by Spencer, to authorize the State Historic Preservation grant application for air conditioning the Met Theatre. Motion carried 7-0.

Item No. 4:

Currently the City of Morgantown receives 100% Federal funding for the operation of the control tower at the Airport (based upon 50,000 air operations per year). Over the past several years, the number of operations has diminished but now is growing again. With this fluctuation, there is a risk that the City could be required to pay part of the operating costs of the tower (could be as much as $25,000 per year). To mitigate this risk, the Airport Director suggests that the City give 625 gallons of fuel worth $1,800 to the Civil Air Patrol to increase pilot training and generate 1,000 new air operations at the Airport. In this way, the City, the Civil Air Patrol, and the community at large all benefit. I agree with the Director’s reasoning and recommend that the City authorize this arrangement for a one-year period.

            After discussion, motion by Scafella, second by Miller, to donate 625 gallons of fuel to the Civil Air Patrol. 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 commented on the lack of issues raised in election campaigns and complimented Councilor Manilla and all candidates for running.

Councilor Byrne:                                            Councilor Byrne spoke of more police enforcement after a South Hills community meeting and noted trees overhanging Buckhannon.

Councilor Miller:                                            No Report.

Councilor Scafella:                                         No Report.

Councilor Manilla:                                         Councilor Manilla addressed parking in front yards on Morris Street and South Walnut Street.

Councilor Bane:                                             Councilor Bane mentioned the great Mon County Big Band concert at the Met Theatre.

Mayor Justice:                                                Mayor Justice noted the Met Theatre is fully booked for December, Governor-elect Manchin’s victory celebration and first press conference held in Morgantown, and announced future meetings and events.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at

9:07 p.m.

_____________________________                          __________________________________

City Clerk                                                                   Mayor

*A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE ON CD AT THE MORGANTOWN CITY LIBRARY.