REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 19, 2002:

The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, February 19, 2002, at 7:30 P.M.

PRESENT: Mayor Frank Scafella, City Manager Dan Boroff, City Clerk Linda L. Little, Assistant to the City Manager Jeff Mikorski, City Attorney Steve Fanok and Councilmembers Ron Bane, Jim Manilla, Teresa Miller, Ron Justice, Bill Byrne, Florence Merow.

The meeting was called to order by the Mayor.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: After clarification, minutes from the regular meeting on February 5, 2002, were approved as printed.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Councilor Bane introduced Jonathan Lynch, Eric and Brian Pilon as members of Boy Scout Troop 49 working on their Citizenship and Community Badge.

Councilor Bane requested a link from the City's Web page to Rob Gatian's Web page for the COMM/PACT minutes.

Councilor Merow thanked the people who sent her e-mails concerning widening Beechurst and apologized for not presenting them at the last meeting.

Councilor Justice presented a letter from the Morgantown Baseball Association requesting $5,000 that was omitted from the BOPARC budget.

Mayor Scafella presented proclamations of Exemplary Accreditation to five local schools and noted the City just received an "A" grade in economic development and part of the grade is based on education.

Mayor Scafella submitted agency budget request letters from the West Virginia Center for Dispute Resolutions and the Connecting Link and read the Main Street Morgantown letter for the West Virginia Birthday Party.

PUBLIC HEARING-LEASE AGREEMENT AIRPORT & BRANT MOTORSPORTS, INC.:

Pursuant to a legal notice appearing in the Dominion Post, Mayor Scafella called for a public hearing on the above referenced Ordinance.

There being no appearances or objections, Mayor Scafella declared this hearing closed.

PUBLIC HEARING-LEASE OFFICE SPACE AIRPORT & FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION :

Pursuant to a legal notice appearing in the Dominion Post, Mayor Scafella called for a public hearing on the above referenced Ordinance.

There being no appearances or objections, Mayor Scafella declared this hearing closed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AIRPORT TO LEASE SPACE TO BRANT MOTORSPORTS, INC.: The following entitled ordinance was presented for second reading:

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, LESSOR, AND BRANT MOTORSPORTS, INC., LESSEE, REGARDING OFFICE SPACE AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.

Motion by Justice, second by Merow, to adopt the above entitled ordinance. Motion carried 7-0.

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AIRPORT TO LEASE SPACE TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION: The following entitled ordinance was presented for second reading:

AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE LEASE OF OFFICE SPACE AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT TO THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION.

Motion by Bane, second by Miller, to adopt the above entitled ordinance. Motion carried 7-0.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:

By acclamation, Jennifer Selin was appointed to the Planning Commission 4^th Ward position.

By acclamation, Kathy Kern, Becky Rodd, and Debbie Hall were appointed to the Human Rights Commission.

PUBLIC PORTION:

Sylvia Medley, President of Morning Glory Ministries International, Inc., read and presented a letter of information with a budget request.

Bill Warnick, 817 Willowdale Road, thanked Council for their work on Willowdale Road speeding and requested an occasional police presence as a reminder.

Cindy Frich, 1248 Baker's Ridge Road, presented copies and read from page 4-6 of the 2020 Transportation Study.

Don Spencer, First Things First, congratulated Council on the Beechurst widening resolution and asked for a focus on fixing the inside of town first.

Marlene Frich, 1248 Baker's Ridge Road, asked to not send a mixed message to the DOH.

Ro Brooks, MAC Director, spoke on the budget request for the Monongalia Arts Center.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Mayor Scafella asked Councilor Justice to set up a committee with Main Street for a flag plaza along the Rail/Trail.

Mayor Scafella announced the next COMM/PACT meeting will be March 14.

CITY MANAGER'S REPORT:

INFORMATION:

ITEM NO. 1:

As per the schedule set by Council the proposed budget for FY 2002-2003 was presented.

Budget work sessions may be scheduled as needed from February 20 through March 4.

City Manager, Dan Boroff, briefly went over the budget with Council and reminded them that they can have as many work sessions as needed, but by State Law, the reading of Budget Ordinance will be at the first meeting in March and the Public Hearing and Adoption will be the second meeting in March and then be forwarded to Charleston.

After discussion, by unanimous consent, Council will discuss the budget proposal on February 26, 2002, at the COW.

CITY CLERK'S REPORT:

No Report.

STAFF ATTORNEY'S REPORT:

No Report.

REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS (Reverse Order):

Councilor Merow: Councilor Merow noted the County Commission did not adopt the 2020 Transportation Plan and apologized to the City Manager re the BZA and the denied rezoning issue. Councilor Merow clarified that the West Run Expressway would have reduced Beechurst traffic by only 7% and the Morgantown Communication Network will start meeting in April. Councilor Merow suggested a park for historical Dorsey's Knob and that Steve Fanok, City Attorney, has issued a letter that Council should comply with the Ethics Commission opinions on open meetings.

Councilor Byrne: Councilor Byrne commended the City Manager for the budget document presentation and Council should stay focused with transportation goals. Councilor Byrne said Downtown has changed but needs to be more student friendly in marketing and noted the Thursday meeting with Sabraton merchants.

Councilor Justice: Councilor Justice stated the Sabraton meeting will be from 12 noon to 1 and he received a phone call from Texas about the "A grade" article in the newspaper.

Councilor Miller: Councilor Miller echoed Mr. Warnick's statements on Willowdale Road and commented on the Beechurst resolution.

Councilor Manilla: Councilor Manilla requested land use management with the County be on the COW agenda and called for future discussion on short term Beechurst traffic management and on garbage/litter issues. Councilor Manilla asked for a budget increase for the MAC , complimented the City Manager on the budget preparation and noted the City of Huntington is laying off employees

Councilor Bane: Councilor Bane expressed condolences to Kenneth Vance for being hit at High and Pleasant Streets and that 2 councilors are taking action in Sabraton is great. Councilor Bane requested the Fire Chief appear at the COW for information on hard wired smoke detectors and that Willowdale be monitored. Councilor Bane thanked Police for Hite Street speed enforcement, Engineering for the Dorsey Avenue guardrail, and asked for reflectors on Greenbag Road guardrail by the City garage.

Mayor Scafella: Mayor Scafella clarified that the proposed budget will be on the City's Web site and in the library Wednesday. The Biz Journal article will be on the Web in the future. Mayor Scafella noted that garbage was an issue in the 70's.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:52 p.m.

_____________________________ __________________________________

City Clerk Mayor

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