REGULAR MEETING JANUARY 2, 2007:

            The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, January 2, 2007, 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 December 19, 2006, were approved as printed.

CORRESPONDENCE: 

            Mayor Justice mentioned the Autism Awareness Month proclamation; presented a certificate to Ron Bane; read a DOH letter to Chet Parsons of the MPO about the Beechurst traffic ideas meeting; and spoke of the future WV Public Theater presentation.

PUBLIC HEARING - AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2006-2007 ANNUAL BUDGET:

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

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

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

            AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2006-2007 ANNUAL BUDGET: The below entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading:

            AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2006-2007 ANNUAL BUDGET OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN AS SHOWN IN THE REVISED BUDGET ATTACHED HERETO AND MADE A PART OF THIS ORDINANCE AS THE SAME APPLIES TO THE GENERAL FUND.

            Motion by Byrne, second by Miller, to adopt the above entitled Ordinance. Motion carried 7-0.

BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:

            No Business.

PUBLIC PORTION:

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

SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:

            Mayor Justice announced a Neighborhood Coordinating Council meeting and a meeting in D. C. for transportation issues; requested the Planner report on Sunnyside area projects; and gave a River Center update. Councilor Byrne advised of the Square at Falling Run project groundbreaking and delivered a Sister City update.

NEW BUSINESS:

No Business.

CITY MANAGERS REPORT:

INFORMATION:

Item No. 1:

The Administrative Report for 2006 was presented describing City operations. Copies of the report are available at City Hall, the Library, and on the Web Page

Item No. 2:

In the near future, Comcast will notify area customers of rate increases for cable television services. As you know, such rates are not subject to regulation by local governments. There is a provision to review the basic rate to make certain that is does not exceed a Federal ceiling established by the FCC, and in West Virginia, this is monitored by the Public Service Commission. A copy of all the rate increases is attached and it will be forwarded to the Public Service Commission for review.

            Councilor Byrne asked about the different service levels.

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 and as per your direction, I recommend the following schedule be adopted:

January 30, 2007:     Council reviews the current year’s goals; establishes City goals and objectives for the new fiscal year; and delivers budget guidance to the City Manager.

February 20, 2007:    During the regular Council meeting, the City Manager presents the proposed budgets for 2007-2008.

March 6, 2007:    First Reading of the Budget Ordinance

March 20, 2007:   Public Hearing and Second Reading of the Budget Ordinance

March 21, 2007:  The Budget is forwarded to the State Tax Office.

Special Note: Budget Conference Meetings may be scheduled after the proposed Budget is presented.

            After discussion, motion by Scafella, second by Miller, to adopt the schedule as proposed. Motion carried 7-0.

CITY CLERK'S REPORT:

            No Report.

CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT:

            No Report.

REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS:

Councilor Bane:                                             Councilor Bane spoke of missing bolts on S. High bridge and Dr. Shamberger’s article on Home Rule from the 1940's.

Councilor Manilla:                                         Councilor Manilla commented on the appearance of High Street.                                                 

Councilor Scafella:                                         Councilor Scafella agreed about High Street, but noted MUB was digging it up today.

Councilor Miller:                                            Councilor Miller observed that WVU is portrayed in the “We Are Marshall” movie.

Councilor Byrne:                                            Councilor Byrne congratulated the WVU football and basketball teams and endorsed the Main Street cameras program against vandalism.

Councilor Spencer:                                         Councilor Spencer commented on the Inclusive Cities Program and litter on bridges; addressed bus transportation availability for students after school; and received cds on NLC Conference special events.

Mayor Justice:                                                Mayor Justice mentioned registering for the WVML Conference; announced Dr. Martin Luther King events; and advised that the same transit option was offered to the Board of Education as to WVU.

ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:10 p.m.

_____________________________                          __________________________________

City Clerk                                                                   Mayor

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