Regular Meeting January 4, 2000:
The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, January 4, 2000 at 7:30 p.m.
Present:
Mayor Frank Scafella, City Manager Dan Boroff, City Clerk Linda Little and Council Members Frank Salucci, Tom Bloom, Teresa Miller, Ronald Justice, Betty McClain, and City Attorney Steve Fanok. (Jeff Burdoff, Assistant to the City Manager & Councilor Byrne Absent)
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor.
Approval of Minutes:
Minutes from the regular meeting on December 21, 1999 were approved as printed.
Correspondence:
Mayor Scafella announced that the City has reached a milestone tonight for we are being broadcast live tonight on Channel 15, which will be the new government Channel. Mayor Scafella informed everyone that on this system will be the Public Safety Building, City Hall, Senior Center, Morgantown High School, University High School, Court House, and the Library.
Mayor Scafella also announced that Doris Haddock known as "Granny D" who has been walking across America to show members of Congress that people do care about campaign finance reform, will arrive in Morgantown this coming Saturday at the Depot around 12:00 for a news conference, if anyone wishes to greet her and ask her questions.
Mayor Scafella mentioned a request from the Boys and Girls Club that they would adopt Elk Street as a project to clean up the area, plant shrubs, install picnic tables and benches, so that traffic can get directly to the trail.
Public Portion:
Susan Hunter, Associate Professor of Political Science at WVU, warned Council that other cities that tried to ban certain breed of dogs have had their laws struck down as unconstitutional violations of property ownership, and offered her expertise for she is an animal welfare policy analyst.
Dr. Allen Little, owner of a Pit Bull, found that my dog is a very sweet dog, and is totally under my control, and I think a vicious dog law would be more effective.
Marty Bean, Taylor County, Licensed Breed Inspector, and been involved with the American Pit Bull Terrier since 1979. Mr. Bean commented that any dog can attack if trained to do so, and suggested that possibly that an ordinance be proposed that citizens give their pet's obedience courses that are affordable, but once again a vicious dog law is more reasonable than banning just one type of breed of dog.
Kathryn Griever, Retired from WVU, Board Member Humane Society, opposes banning a specific breed of dog, and we also offer our services in helping the City with this issue.
Beth Rasmussen, Mountaineer Kennel Club, The American Kennel Club, American Medical Veterinarian Association, NY State Medical Vet Society, California Medical Vet Association and the National Animal Control Association, we support reasonable, enforceable, nondiscriminatory laws governing the ownership of dogs, and that those owning dogs are responsible for their dogs, we support laws that establish a fair process by which specific dogs are identified as dangerous based on stated and measurable actions, and propose appropriate penalties on irresponsible owners, and we strongly oppose any legislation that terms a dog to be dangerous based on specific breeds.
Sheila MacGregor, owner of a Pit Bull, and also belongs to the Kennel Club, presented to Council information on the American Pit Bull and mentioned that her particular pit bull has been in parades because he is so loving and good with people.
Valerie Biundo, mother and Pit Bull owner, commented that animals should be trained and controlled, but it would be a tragedy to pass a law banning pit bulls. Ms. Biundo, commented that their pit bull is such a loving dog, and left photos for Council to look at.
Colleen Donovan, resident, commented that she has a nine-year-old son that walks to the school bus by himself, does live in fear of dogs in her neighborhood and that the City needs to enforce the leash law.
Frank Ferrell, 26 Outlook Street, handed out a memo to Council about a recent action by Council and the City Manager on the process in which they suddenly passed an ordinance permitting the use of garbage bags to be placed by the curb for pickup by BFI by residents-and not put in containers, and feel that the actions of council to this issue are deplorable and deceitful.
Mayor Scafella commented that the Pit Bull issue will be on the Agenda at the COW meeting on February 22, and appreciate everyone that came this evening with their comments and information.
Special Committee Reports:
No report.
New Business:
Consideration of Approval Of combined waterworks and sewerage system revenue bonds: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading:
An ordinance authorizing the acquisition and construction of extensions, additions, betterments and improvements to the sewerage portion of the existing public combined waterworks and sewerage system of the city of morgantown and the financing of the cost, not otherwise provided, thereofthrough the issuance by the city of not more than $8,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of combined waterworks and sewerage system revenue bonds, series 2000 a (west Virginia srf program) and not more than $2,500,000 in aggregate principal amount of combined waterworks and sewerage system revenue bonds, series 2000 B (west Virginia infrastructure fund); providing for the rights and remedies of and security for the registered owners of such bonds; authorizing execution and delivery of all documents relating to the issuance of such bonds; approving, ratifying and confirming loan agreements relating to such bonds; authorizing the sale and providing for the terms and provisions of such bonds and adopting provisions relating thereto.
Jim Greene, General Manager, Morgantown Utility Board pointed out that the citizens on the water system in Cheat Lake will pay for the improvements. Motion by Justice, second by Miller to pass the above entitled ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 6-0. (Councilor Byrne Absent).
Consideration of approval of a resolution amending a resolution dated October 6, 1998, for the city of morgantown approving the faa funding increase for faa grant agreement #fa-ea 98-074: The above entitled resolution was presented for Councils approval.
Motion by Miller, second by Bloom to approve the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 6-0. (Councilor Byrne Absent).
Consideration of approval of a resolution to recommend the application of transportation enhancement program grant funding to improve pedestrian and bicycle transportation with four specific projects: The above entitled resolution was presented for Councils approval.
After discussion, motion by Justice, second by Salucci to approve the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 6-0. (Councilor Byrne Absent).
City Manager's Report:
Mr. Boroff presented the following items of New Business:
Item No. 1:
This time each year Council sets the schedule to adopt
the City's budget documents for the new fiscal year as per
State requirements. To meet these conditions, I recommend
the following schedules are used:
a. January 11, 2000, at 7:00 p.m. Council establishes
City goals and objectives for the new fiscal year
and delivers budget guidance to the City Manager.
the City Manager presents the proposed budget for
2000-2001.
Tax Office.
SPECIAL NOTE: Budget Conference Meetings may be scheduled
after the proposed budget is presented.
Item No 2:
Attached you will find a request to purchase a City
lot at 558 Brockway Avenue for $8,000. The city has
affirmed that this is a fair, appraised value. As
per State law, I recommend that Council authorize a
public auction of the property with a minimum bid of
$8,000.
After discussion, motion by Salucci, second by Bloom to authorize the auction of 558 Brockway Avenue with a minimum bid of $8,000. Motion carried 6-0. (Councilor Byrne Absent).
Item No. 3:
Just wanted to report that the New Year came in
and there were no glitches in any of the City's
operations, Public Safety, Public Works, Airport,
Finance, MUB, Library and Bus System with the
benefit of a lot of hard work preparing for Y2K
paid off.
City Clerk's Report:
No report.
Staff Attorney's Report:
No report.
Report from Council Members:
Councilor Salucci: Councilor Salucci thanked all the citizens that came this evening in reference to dangerous dogs, and commented that the owner should be responsible for their animals, and the City needs to enforce the leash law, for any dog could be trained to attack. Councilor Salucci informed Council that the impact WVU has on the economy is 1.3 billion dollars. We have gone from the party school to being in the top 100 in America's Best College Buys.
Councilor Bloom: Councilor Bloom not only thanked all the individuals tonight for coming and speaking out on the dangerous dog issue, and it appears that dangerous dog legislation is what we are looking at. Councilor Bloom congratulated Adelphia, and Mike Ligouri and asked if the rules could be suspended so that Mike Ligouri could give us an update on where we go from here with the Government Channel.
Mike Ligouri, Adlephia, we have reached a major milestone this evening, for I do believe that this is the first community in West Virginia to be doing this, at least on a regular basis. Mr. Ligouri said that there will be 8 sites that will be live programing sites 24 hours a day, all 8 of those channels can go back out to all of those 8 locations and will be televised on Channel 15, the new Government Channel, and we probably won't see the potential of this access channel until a couple months from now, for we still have to meet with someone from each of these sites and show them how this works, and what they can do from these sites.
Councilor Bloom mentioned that Council should probably come up with some Rules for the Rails to Trails.
Councilor Miller: Councilor Miller complimented those that worked with First Night, it was a lovely event for New Years. Councilor Miller also commented that she was glad that the hysterical fantasies of Y2K were exactly that.
Councilor Justice: Councilor Justice requested that the City Manger give Council a report from the Inspections office on all the condemned properties in the last year. Councilor Justice also requested that the City Manager check into a public nuisance issue on Ridgeway Avenue. Councilor Justice received a compliment on how fast the Fire Department responded to a person that was ill and they stabilized the individual. Councilor Justice stated that he is also interested in the Rails to Trails and markings etc., and also feels we can do some historical information about Morgantown, and also local business information.
Councilor Byrne: ABSENT
Councilor McClain: Councilor McClain commented she is resting now for she had 23 members of her family, from newly born on up, at her home for the holidays.
Mayor Scafella: Mayor Scafella commented that beside La Casa down by the trail, there is an empty lot and people are now driving through that lot onto the trail and there are car tracks on the Trail, possibly we could work with that owner to block that. Mayor Scafella mentioned that although we have the capacity to put water and electricity to the Amphitheater Stage, we have not done that yet, and that may be one of the things we want to address at budget time.
Adjournment:
There being no further business the meeting immediately adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor