REGULAR MEETING APRIL 20, 2004:
The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, April 20, 2004, at 7:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Ron Justice, City Manager Dan Boroff, City Clerk Linda L. Little, Assistant City Manager Jeff Mikorski, City Attorney Steve Fanok and Council Members Jim Manilla, Frank Scafella, Teresa Miller, Bill Byrne, Don Spencer. (Ron Bane Absent).
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the regular meeting on April 6, 2004, were approved as printed.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Mayor Justice read a proclamation for Mental Health Month; summarized letters about A dance-a-thon for CASA for Kids, KeyLogic Systems, Inc. Earth Day art contest at Riverside Elementary, a workshop for homeland security grant funding; announced the WVML Annual Conference in Morgantown in August; and welcomed Boy Scout Troop 49.
PUBLIC HEARING-AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AIRPORT AND MONONGALIA COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:
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 hearing closed.
PUBLIC HEARING -AN ORDINANCE ANNULLING A 12 FT UNNAMED ALLEY IN THE 7TH WARD:
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 hearing closed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN AIRPORT AND MONONGALIA COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN ('LESSOR') AND THE MONONGALIA COUNTY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ('LESSEE') REGARDING THE RENTAL OF OFFICE SPACE AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT.
Motion by Scafella, second by Miller, to adopt the above entitled Ordinance. Motion carried 6-0 (Bane Absent).
AN ORDINANCE ANNULLING A 12 FT UNNAMED ALLEY IN THE 7TH WARD: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading:
AN ORDINANCE VACATING, ABANDONING AND ANNULLING A TWELVE-FOOT WIDE UNNAMED ALLEY RUNNING A DISTANCE OF APPROXIMATELY ONE HUNDRED FEET FROM HARDING AVENUE TO AN UNNAMED ALLEY IN THE SEVENTH WARD OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, MONONGALIA COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA, NOT USED NOR USEFUL FOR STREET PURPOSES.
After discussion, motion by Byrne, second by Spencer, to adopt the above entitled Ordinance. Motion carried 6-0 (Bane Absent).
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
There was no business.
PUBLIC PORTION:
There being no appearances, Mayor Justice declared this public portion closed.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilor Byrne noted the next Sunnyside Up meeting and Councilor Spencer mentioned the Met Theatre is a jewel and the BOPARC Banff Film Festival.
NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVAL OF THE RATES OF THE LEVY FOR FY 2004-2005:
APPROVAL OF THE RATES OF LEVY LAID BY THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN AND APPROVED BY THE STATE AUDITOR FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2004, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 11 ARTICLE 8 OF THE WEST VIRGINIA CODE.
After discussion, motion by Miller, second by Scafella, to approve the above levy rates. Motion carried 6-0 (Bane Absent).
A RESOLUTION TO OBTAIN $5,000.00 FROM THE LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT FOR IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FOR MOUNTAINEER KENNEL CLUB FACILITY: The above entitled Resolution was presented to Council for their approval:
Motion by Byrne, second by Miller, to approve the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 6-0 (Bane Absent).
A RESOLUTION THAT MAINSTREET MORGANTOWN REQUESTS THAT A CHANGE OF SCOPE BE REQUESTED TO INCLUDE THE COST OF IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR NEW OFFICE AND WINDOW-FRONT LOCATION ON MAIN STREET BE INCLUDED IN THE GRANT: The above entitled Resolution was presented to Council for their approval:
Motion by Spencer, second by Miller, to approve the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 6-0 (Bane Absent).
CITY MANAGERS REPORT:
NEW BUSINESS:
Item No. 1:
Attached you will find a memo from the Public Works Director reporting bid results for this year's Street Paving Project. I agree with her comments and recommend that the contract be awarded to the low bidder Dodd General Contractors Corp., for a cost of $107,173.53.
After discussion, motion by Scafella, second by Miller, to award the street paving project to Dodd General Contractors Corp. Motion carried 6-0 (Bane Absent).
Item No. 2:
At the last meeting I reported a 25% increase in the City's property and general liability insurances raising premiums from $342,036 to $426,592 per year. To mitigate this increase, I recommend that the City make changes in its policies as described in the attached memo from the City Finance Director (increase deductibles on property; decrease business income protection; and drop collision and comprehensive on most vehicles older than model year 2000). These changes could generate a savings of $32,000. Special Note: As in the past, the City will forego terrorism insurance at the Airport given its cost of $25,000 per year.
Motion by Spencer, second by Miller, to approve the insurance policy changes. Motion carried 6-0 (Bane Absent).
CITY CLERK'S REPORT:
City Clerk Little gave a reminder of the Pepperoni Roll sale for the United Way.
CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT:
No Report.
REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS :
Councilor Bane: Councilor Bane ABSENT.
Councilor Manilla: Councilor Manilla asked about the Morgantown Area Youth Services funding qualifications and pointed out crosswalk problems.
Councilor Scafella: Councilor Scafella spoke about trash problems including storage and pickup and requested the City Manager for a rough list equipment, people, etc., provided to each department over the last 7-8 years..
Councilor Miller: Councilor Miller complimented Jeff Mikorski and Public Works on the new chairs in Council Chambers and noted the Human Rights Commission discussed non-legislated hate crimes.
Councilor Byrne: Councilor Byrne asked about the Morgantown Area Youth Services funding qualifications; commented on Millard Fuller's speech; and spoke about trash problems in Sunnyside - either stricter enforcement or limiting number of certificates of occupancy in select areas.
Councilor Spencer: Councilor Spencer addressed alternative trash systems and parking, the Arbor Day celebration, leadership against river trash, Millard Fuller's visit, street cleaning, tolerance, new developments making demands on public services, and the death of Dr. Tony DiBartolemeo.
Mayor Justice: Mayor Justice clarified that "Jambie"is limited to the outside of municipalities; thanked the Tree Board, Beautification Commission, BOPARC, and volunteers for the Arbor Day celebration; and listed future meetings and events.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at
8:34 p.m.
_____________________________ __________________________________
City Clerk Mayor
*A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE ON CD AT THE MORGANTOWN CITY LIBRARY.