REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 18, 2005:

The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, January 18, 2005, at 7:30 P.M.

PRESENT: Mayor Ron Justice, City Manager Dan Boroff, City Clerk Linda Little, Assistant City Manager Jeff Mikorski, City Attorney Steve Fanok, 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 of the special meeting & regular meeting on January 4, 2005, were approved as printed.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Mayor Justice commented on various e-mails that were forwarded to the City Manager, urged the community to help Caritas House with the Mon Valley Homeless Initiative and complimented City employees on the Wellness Program and the Open House for the Fitness Room.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:

By acclamation, Ted Vehse was appointed to serve on the Human Rights Commission as the Labor Union Representative.

PUBLIC PORTION:

There being no appearances or objections, Mayor Justice declared this public portion closed.

SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Councilor Spencer discussed the County Commissions reasons for not sending a reply letter to Allegheny Energy and Mayor Justice thanked the Center for Black Culture and the United Way for the Martin Luther King Day celebration and noted that Senators Prezioso and Hunter had been omitted from the legislative meeting. Councilor Miller seconded the Mayor's comments on the celebration.

CITY MANAGERS REPORT:

INFORMATION:

Item No 1:

The Martin Luther King Celebration was a big success this past week in Morgantown. We were quite fortunate with the quality of the speakers. When you think that here is a man who stood up to Bull Connor and did not back down, even when they came in the middle of the night and bombed his house when he was asleep in bed, and still carried on and realized the success that he did, it is a strong testimony to the character, fortitude and courage of the people involved in that. He was able to be here in Morgantown to share that experience. I would like to encourage everyone to take advantage of this celebration in the years to come.

Item No 2:

Summary of the City of Morgantown Administrative Report for 2004.

NEW BUSINESS:

Item No. 1:

Attached you will find a memo from the Public Works Director listing the proposed streets for this year's Street Resurfacing Program. I agree with her comments and recommend that the list be adopted for the $200,000 project.

After discussion, motion by Miller, second by Scafella that the Public Works Street Resurfacing Program be approved for $200,000. Motion carried 7-0.

Item No. 2:

As reported, Congressman Mollohan has written that $7,700,000 in Intermodal Transportation Funds may be available for a qualified project in Morgantown given community consensus. Based upon this extraordinary opportunity, I recommend that Council express the City's appreciation to the Congressman and support the proposed Intermodal Facility at the West Virginia University Medical Campus.

After discussion, motion by Byrne, second by Bane, to have the City Manager send a letter to Congressman Mollohan to express the City's appreciation and support of the proposed Intermodal Facility. Motion carried 7-0.

CITY CLERK'S REPORT:

No Report.

CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT:

No Report.

REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS :

Councilor Bane: Councilor Bane thanked everyone for their support during his father's death and noted the Parking Authority is discussing retail and office space for the proposed garage.

Councilor Manilla: Councilor Manilla urged the option of retail and office space in the proposed University and Willey parking garage and asked if BOPARC paving projects do not come out of the BOPARC budget.

Councilor Scafella: Councilor Scafella commended the Administrative Report; asked where the air quality monitors are located; and discussed the growth of City information services.

Councilor Miller: Councilor Miller commented on a friend's complaints after moving to another university city and announced an Evansdale community meeting and the rescheduled Planning Commission meeting.

Councilor Byrne: Councilor Byrne thanked Frank McGreevy and Dennis Bidwell for the South Hills newsletter and noted that he will have a public housing report at the next meeting.

Councilor Spencer: Councilor Spencer noted the only air quality monitor is at the airport; spoke of new leadership and changes; and discussed the legislative list, the Administrative Report, garbage problems and parking on sidewalks; and asked about the next meeting with neighborhoods.

Mayor Justice: Mayor Justice advised that half of the money allocated for the block grant program has been spent; announced future meetings and new businesses opening downtown; noted the Riverfront Museum collection donated to the City has been received and mentioned neighborhood newsletters.

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

8:45 p.m.

_____________________________ __________________________________

City Clerk Mayor

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