REGULAR MEETING JULY 16, 2002:
The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, July 16, 2002, 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 Councilmembers Ron Bane, Jim Manilla, Frank Scafella, Teresa Miller, Bill Byrne, Florence Merow.
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the regular meeting on July 2, 2002, & special meeting on July 9, 2002, were approved as printed.
CORRESPONDENCE:
Mayor Justice read a proclamation for Lt. Kevin Donnelly Day and an invitation from Pat Esposito to the opening of the Suncrest Commerce Center.
Councilor Scafella read a thank you letter for help in cleaning up the City of Mullens.
PUBLIC HEARING-ENACTING ARTICLE 929 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT RATES AND FEES:
Pursuant to a legal notice appearing in the Dominion Post, Mayor Justice called for a public hearing on the above referenced Ordinance.
Richard Panico, 453 Beechurst Avenue, spoke about notification of people affected and about City and Parking Authority charges.
There being no more appearances or objections, Mayor Justice declared this hearing closed.
PUBLIC HEARING-AMENDING AGREEMENT WITH MON. COUNTY SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY USE OF CITY REALTY FOR RECYCLING FACILITY:
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-AMENDING 177.06 (H) ADMINISTRATIVE CODE PERTAINING TO COST OF LIVING RAISES:
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 ENACTING ARTICLE 929 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT RATES AND FEES: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading:
AN ORDINANCE ENACTING ARTICLE 929 OF THE MORGANTOWN CITY CODE, AS APPLIES TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND SURFACE WATER DISCHARGE CONTROL AND APPLICABLE RATES AND FEES.
After discussion, motion by Scafella, second by Byrne, to approve the above entitled ordinance. Motion carried 7-0.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING AGREEMENT WITH MON. COUNTY SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY USE OF CITY REALTY FOR RECYCLING FACILITY : The following entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE TERM OF AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN AND THE MONONGALIA COUNTY SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY, PERTAINING TO THE SOLID WASTE AUTHORITY'S USE OF CITY REALTY FOR PURPOSES OF OPERATING A RECYCLING FACILITY.
After discussion, motion by Byrne, second by Miller, to approve the above entitled ordinance. Motion carried 7-0.
AN ORDINANCE-AMENDING 177.06 (H) ADMINISTRATIVE CODE PERTAINING TO COST OF LIVING RAISES: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for second reading:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBSECTION 177.06 (H) OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE CODE OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, SPECIFICALLY, THE EMPLOYEE'S RETIREMENT AND BENEFIT FUND SECTION, AS IT APPLIES TO COST OF LIVING INCREASES FOR RETIRED MEMBERS AND THEIR BENEFICIARIES.
Motion by Merow, second by Bane, to approve the above entitled ordinance. Motion carried 7-0.
PUBLIC PORTION:
Richard Panico, 453 Beechurst Avenue, spoke in favor of the proposed collective bargaining ordinance.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Mayor Justice noted an upcoming meeting of the Solid Waste Umbrella Group.
NEW BUSINESS:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE 2002-2003 BUDGET: The following entitled Ordinance was presented for first reading:
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FY 2002-2003 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 COAL SEVERANCE FUND.
After discussion, motion by Merow, second by Scafella, to pass the above entitled ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0.
A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY AGREES TO THE CONDITIONS TO OBTAIN $25,000.00 FOR THE RUBY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL-ROSENBAUM HOUSE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM TO REPAIR THE VENTILATION SYSTEM AND INSTALL A CANOPY OVER THE EXTERIOR DOOR AT THE HOUSE: The above entitled Resolution was presented for Council's approval:
Motion by Scafella, second by Byrne, to pass the above Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN AGREEMENT WITH THE
WV DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, DIVISION OF HIGHWAYS, WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS, INC., AND SUNCREST UNITED METHODIST, WITH REGARD TO ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF A TRAFFIC SIGNAL SYSTEM WITHIN THE MUNICIPAL LIMITS OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, MONONGALIA COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA: The above entitled Resolution was presented for Council's approval:
After discussion, motion by Miller, second by Manilla, to pass the above Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.
CITY MANAGERS REPORT:
INFORMATION:
Item No. 1:
In agreement with Mr. Panico, the city workforce is very deserving of the raises and pay they receive. The city workforce of Morgantown is among the highest paid city employees in the state of West Virginia, and to my mind, they are the best city workforce in the state. Council has done a very good job for 10 years with raises every year and all the important fringe benefits that go with it. Because of the Special Election coming up, there have been a lot of comments on both sides of the issue. There are some areas that need clarification. It was implied that police officers and fire fighters would be affected by tax increases and service fee increases just like the other tax payers of the city. Currently, there are 99 policemen and firemen and 14 live in the city and 85 do not live in the city. The implication that they would pay tax and service fee increases like the rest of us just is not true. 85 out of 99 are not paying any city taxes at all.
Another issue brought up was a comment from last Thursday's forum about the brutal way city employees are treated. In addition to the raises, the pensions, the health insurance, 25 to 35 days of paid vacation, paid holidays, and 90 days of sick leave, the brutal treatment includes: free passes to the City swimming pools all season long, special counseling for personal and family problems, discounted cost of drugs for weight-loss, smoking cessation and oral contraceptives, discounted costs for the Weight Watchers program, free flu shots, gym rentals to support basketball play for employee organizations, sponsorship of softball teams in local leagues and employees for the Relay for Life, funded multi-phasic blood screenings, established exercise rooms with all the equipment, and hepatitis B shots for qualified employees. The City also funds a special program for tri-annual physicals for all policemen and firemen and laborers over the age of 40 and CPR and First Aid training and certification for interested employees. Recently, the fire department was able to research and find a grant program that pays for membership in health clubs and the Fire Chief gives firefighters time off, with pay, to go to these health clubs and work out, if it does not interfere with their duty. We have had a very special tuition payment program for some time that pays 100% of the tuition and books and lab fees for employees wishing to pursue a university or college degree that is related to their job. Currently, in the Fire Department alone, there are 10 firefighters that have earned their degrees through this program and 5 more are participating in the program. These issues supplement the larger issues that we so throughly discussed in the past. These are the indicators of some of the employment conditions in Morgantown. As a consequence, the City has about a 95% retention rate of its workforce that is reflective of these very rich packages that the employees rightfully deserve to better support their work. It also reflects the very professional attention that City Council has invested in maintaining the training and advancement of these people as a workforce.
.
Item No. 2:
Earlier this year, Council authorized the filing of two applications with the U S Department of Transportation for grants totaling approximately $3,000,000 for new, commercial air services at the Morgantown Airport. With $20,000,000 available for a national program, the Department received 179 proposals requesting $142,500,000. It approved 40 projects and regrettably Morgantown was not one of them. The City will continue to monitor this program and if additional funding becomes available for it, Council will be advised.
NEW BUSINESS:
Item No. 1:
Attached you will find a memo from the Public Works Director reporting bid results for a ½ ton four wheel drive pickup truck. I agree with her findings and recommend that the bid be awarded to Campus Ford Lincoln Mercury, Inc. for $20,337.37.
Motion by Bane, second by Merow, to award the pickup truck bid to Campus Ford for $20,337.37. Motion carried 7-0.
CITY CLERK'S REPORT:
There is no excuse absentee voting in the City Clerk's Office from 8 to 5, Monday through Friday, also on Saturday the 20th and 8 to 1 on Monday before the election. Election results will be live on channel 15 starting at 7:45 p.m. The City Clerk will be in the office starting at 5:30 a.m. on Election Day.
STAFF ATTORNEY'S REPORT:
No Report.
REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS :
Councilor Bane: Councilor Bane reported that Delaware Avenue is too dark, commented on the special election information, requested that residents vote and a police presence at Beechurst and Walnut to help traffic flow.
Councilor Manilla: Councilor Manilla responded to Mr. Panico and asked about the time length of MUB's work at St. Theresa's, the time frame for Beechurst landscaping, and a sidewalk cost update and no construction when school starts. Councilor Manilla asserted that traffic is the #1 problem.
Councilor Scafella: Councilor Scafella asked the City Manager for an update of MUB's work at St. Theresa's and noted the DOH study of Beechurst is proceeding.
City Manager Boroff responded with an explanation of transportation planning available as an Urbanized Area.
Councilor Scafella noted that capital money for projects is a one time cost while money for raises is a long term, on-going cost that comes from the tax base and asked about the wisdom of putting pay raises in the hands of an arbitrator.
Councilor Miller: Councilor Miller passed on thanks from the Beautification Commission for hiring Marchetta Maupin full time.
Councilor Byrne: Councilor Byrne remarked on the importance of voting and property appearance issues, including a memo on Martinsburg's Red X policy and requested it be put on the COW agenda.
The City Manager commented on the differences between Martinsburg and Morgantown.
City Attorney Fanok added that known violations are corrected and there are no violations on Brockway.
Councilor Byrne commented on the Housing Study.
Councilor Merow: Councilor Merow presented a property maintenance study from Weirton, commended the Mayor on his calendar information, and asked for ramps instead of steps at Riverfront Park. Councilor Merow spoke about the collective bargaining issue, COW quorums and a Deputy Mayor resolution. Councilor Merow said that Mr. Panico's business benefits from the Beechurst sidewalks and commended media coverage of Council. Councilor Merow noted the City Attorney was correct about the COW not being mentioned in the charter.
Mayor Justice: Mayor Justice gave a point of information - $160,000 for Dorsey Knob came from Edith Witten's Fund grant. Mayor Justice noted Council's frustration with housing appearance and demolition problems, and asked that White Park Trails and Riverfront Park be on the COW agenda. Mayor Justice listed upcoming meetings and noted Bane is to chair the S. University Park group and Manilla is with the Dorsey Knob group.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, the meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:40 p.m.
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City Clerk Mayor
*A FULL TRANSCRIPT OF ALL COUNCIL MEETINGS IS AVAILABLE ON CD AT THE MORGANTOWN CITY LIBRARY.