REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 5, 2000:
The regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Morgantown was held in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, September 5, 2000, at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Mayor Frank Scafella, City Manager Dan Boroff, Assistant to the City Manager Jeff Mikorski, City Clerk Linda L. Little, Staff Attorney Steve Fanok and Council members Frank Salucci, Tom Bloom, Teresa Miller, Ronald Justice, Bill Byrne and Betty McClain.
The meeting was called to order by the Mayor.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Minutes from the regular meeting on August 15, 2000, were approved as corrected.
CORRESPONDENCE:
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS:
Motion by Justice, second by McClain to appoint Thomas R. Shamberger to serve on the Board of Zoning Appeals for a three-year term. Motion carried by acclamation.
PUBLIC PORTION:
Chris Haddix, Habitat for Humanity, thanked City Council for their support and invited them to join the members of the faith community to help build homes during "Building on Faith Week" September 10-17, 2000. Mr. Haddix informed Council that there will be a Potluck Dinner at 6:00 p.m. at the Wesley Methodist Church, and the work-site is 1252 Richwood Avenue.
SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilor Justice informed Council that the Solid Waste Task Force met last week, the subcommittees will be meeting and then the task force should have a report back to Council by October.
Councilor Miller asked for Council's suggestions and input on new members for the Human Rights Commission, and commented how important this commission is in overseeing the protection and rights of our community.
NEW BUSINESS:
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH AIR MIDWEST AT THE AIRPORT: The following entitled ordinance was presented for first reading:
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING A LEASE AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN
THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN, LESSOR, AND AIR MIDWEST, INC., LESSEE,
REGARDING THE USE OF SPACE AT THE MORGANTOWN MUNICIPAL
AIRPORT.
After discussion, motion by Bloom, second by Salucci to pass the above entitled ordinance to second reading. Motion carried 7-0.
CONSIDERATION OF APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION STATING THE REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF THE CITY OF MORGANTOWN TO REIMBURSE THE CITY FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PLANNING, DESIGN, ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPPING OF WATER SYSTEM ADDITIONS, BETTERMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS MADE PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF TAX-EXEMPT REVENUE BONDS: The above entitled Resolution was presented for Councils approval:
After discussion, motion by Miller, second by McClain to approve the above entitled Resolution. Motion carried 7-0.
CITY MANAGER'S REPORT:
INFORMATION:
ITEM NO. 1:
I am pleased to inform Council that the new City Planer will start work September 11, 2000. His name is James Wood. Mr. Wood is currently the senior planner for the City of Gastonia North Carolina (population 63,000) and has previously served the City of Georgetown, South Carolina; and Horry County, North Carolina; and Wake County, North Carolina. He has also served as a planning intern for the City of Morgantown in 1986, while earning his BA in Geography at WVU (he also has a Masters in Public Administration from the University of South Carolina). The City is very fortunate that Mr. Wood has accepted the position here and will very ably serve the City of Morgantown.
CITY CLERK'S REPORT:
City Clerk Linda Little reminded everyone about the United Way Hot Dog Sale at the Courthouse Square on September 13, 2000. The City Clerk also informed Council that the City received the All Star Community award for Enrichment for the development of the Rails-Trails, Hazel Ruby McQuain Park and Riverfront Development at the West Virginia Municipal League meeting in August.
STAFF ATTORNEY'S REPORT:
No report.
REPORT FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Councilor Salucci: Councilor Salucci mentioned that there has been a lot of speed-
ing on Allison Street, and asked the City Manager to check with the Police Department to monitor that area a little closer before someone gets hurt.
Councilor Salucci also requested
that the Councilman's Request Form be placed on the Cities Home Page so that Council and the public would have access to the form, and be able to get complaints on line.
Councilor Salucci also mentioned
that there has been 2 more people starting fires and then in one incident one of our employees was pushed, we need to be really leaning hard on these kids to let the public know that the City will not stand for this type of violence.
Councilor Bloom: Councilor Bloom informed Council that the Chancery Row parking petition will be addressed at the next Parking Authority
meeting, and will update Council at the next regular meeting.
Councilor Bloom commented it is nice to see the paving done
and yellow lines down, but on the other hand the traffic downtown is impossible with the work being done, is there any way this could be done before the students get back in town?
City Manager Dan Boroff commented that the work in the downtown has to be done it is crucial and the utility company will try to get it done as soon as possible.
Councilor Miller: Councilor Miller commented that she was talking with a WVU
Professor and he was having his students do an essay on the
Couch Burnings, and was amazed that the students thought it was ok to burn couches.
Councilor Miller commented that this is awful and the City must stand strong with the laws so that we can protect not only our employees from harm but the citizens.
Councilor Justice: Councilor Justice commented that the City Manager Dan Boroff is already taking care of the
garbage on Willey Street.
Councilor Justice also mentioned that the City Manager will
have the Animal Control Officer check out the 5 pit bulls in one house on College Avenue.
Councilor Justice informed Council that the dedication of the new WWII Veterans Memorial will be at the Norwood Fire Station on September 30, 2000, at 12:00 p.m., and a covered dish dinner will follow.
Councilor Byrne: Councilor Byrne reminded every- one about the Building on Faith Week, September 10-17, and urged everyone to join with Habitat for Humanity members to help build homes with area families. The week opens up with a Potluck Dinner, Sunday, September 10, 6:00 p.m. at Wesley Methodist Church and ends up with the Closing Dinner at Wesley Methodist Church on Sunday, September 17, also at 6:00 p.m. Councilor Byrne also mentioned the fact of the arson issue and students burning couches, and commented he has read that in other University communities they make people do community service for various types of crimes. Is that something we can do, have these students do community work for burning couches or even other crimes?
City Attorney Steve Fanok commented that our State Law will not let us do that.
Councilor Byrne also wanted everyone to be aware that the Breaking of Access of 705 and the West Run Express Way are two separate issues, and we need to support the West Run Express Way it is vital to the growth potential and future of our community.
Councilor McClain: Councilor McClain commented she supports Councilor Byrnes
comments on the West Run Express Way.
Mayor Scafella: Mayor Scafella requested a motion by Council on the
request in their mail this evening from WVU Center on Aging requesting Council provide $1000 for T-shirts for walkers on October 1st for celebration of United Nations International Day of Older Persons. There was no motion, so therefore, no action was taken.
Mayor Scafella asked the City Manager when the lights will be placed on the railroad bridge at Deckers Creek.
City Manager Dan Boroff responded that we are moving along on that and will report back at a later date.
Mayor Scafella mentioned that under the South High Street Bridge there is wooden utility duct and Bill Rumble is going to have it preserved for the Museum.
Mayor Scafella also informed Council that the West Run By Pass committee will be meeting to clarify some of the issues and will report back to Council at the next Regular Meeting.
ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
_____________________________ ___________________________
City Clerk Mayor