PROPOSED MINUTES REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 5, 2005
Elkins City Council met in regular session in the council chamber of city hall at7:05 p.m. Thursday, May 5, 2005. Present were: Mayor Judith Ann Guye; Councilpersons: R. N. Beckwith, J. S. Bibey, H. R. Elbon, T. Z. Hensil, R. J. Malcolm, C. L. Metheny, K. L. Wilmoth, and R. A. Woolwine; City Clerk P. J. Graziani, Jr.; City Treasurer L. L. Crosston; City Attorney R. T. Busch; Police Captain J. E. Batdorf and Fire Chief T. W. Meader. Councilmen V. T. Broughton and T. P. Ditty and City Attorney J. E. Busch were absent.
AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS
1. Proposed resolution 044, supporting improvements toElkins City Park and Bluegrass Park.
PUBLIC COMMENT
David Rao,909? S. Henry Avenue, congratulated Councilman Malcolm for his reelection. He then commented upon the 2003 municipal general election, saying that his understanding of West Virginia Code convinced him that the second candidate filing period for that election should have been created by ordinance. He said he had filed a complaint to that effect with [Randolph County Prosecuting Attorney] Earl Maxwell, but Maxwell failed to act upon the complaint.
Reverend Douglas Lewis,River Street, complained about the state of disrepair of two houses on his street. One house sustained fire, smoke and water damage over a year ago, but no effort has been made to rehabilitate it. The other house, a yellow one, constitutes a nuisance because it is unsightly and unsafe. He asked that something be done to remedy his complaints.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Cw Wilmoth, seconded by Cm Elbon, MOVED THAT COUNCIL ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OFAPRIL 19, 2005AS PRESENTED. The motion carried.
Cm Beckwith, seconded by Cm Bibey, MOVED THAT COUNCIL ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OFAPRIL 27, 2005AS PRESENTED. The motion carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was none.
NEW BUSINESS
Cw Wilmoth, seconded by Cm Hensil, MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE EMPLOYEE TRAVEL, AS REFLECTED ON THE AGENDA. The motion carried.
Cm Hensil, seconded by Cm Elbon, MOVED COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN ENGINEERING SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH CHAPMAN TECHNICAL GROUP, LTD. FOR A WATER SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT. The motion carried. [Cm Elbon reported the finance committee had recommended approval of the agreement, and that application would be made to the Water Development Authority to obtain intermediate financing for the contract.]
Being in receipt of a petition of abutting property owners for the initial improvement ofSylvester Drive, City Attorney Busch explained the legal process to be followed, as required by West Virginia Code. No action on the subject matter was necessary. In response to questioning, various council members were assured that the petition represented in excess of 51%
of the owners of property abuttingSylvester Drive; that abutting property owners would be served with written notice of a public hearing scheduled for7 p.m.on May 26 in the council chamber; and that a completion date for the project, while currently undetermined, would eventually be specified.
Proposed ordinance 029, Enhanced-911 Addressing and Mapping, was drafted and the mayor referred it to the Rules and Ordinance Committee for consideration and recommendation. The ordinance would provide for the cooperation of the City with the Randolph County Commission for the implementation of 911 addressing and mapping within the city limit, in connection with theWest Virginia statewide addressing and mapping project.
Cm Beckwith, seconded by Cm Hensil,MOVED COUNCIL ADOPT PROPOSED RESOLUTION 044, AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR $60,000 OF LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT MONEY. The motion carried. [The funds, if approved, would make possible the acquisition of new playground equipment for theCityParkand installation of chain link fencing atBluegrassPark.]
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BUILDING
The Committee received 26 building permit applications since the last meeting of council, 2670 to 2695. Acting on recommendation of the building inspector, the Committee:
· Disapproved application 2684, for violation of setback requirements of zoning law.
· Declined to act on application 2686; however, the application will be considered and acted upon at a future meeting.
· Approved all other applications.
Cm Malcolm, seconded by Cm Bibey, MOVED THAT COUNCIL GRANT THE 24 PERMIT APPLICATIONS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE. The motion carried.
FINANCE
The Committee met May 4 and recommended approval of the engineering contract for the water treatment plant. Regular monthly meetings have been scheduled for the 2nd Wednesday of each month at7 p.m.
PARKS
Cm Beckwith said theElkinsParksand Recreation Commission would meet May 17 at6:30 p.m.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Cm Bibey said the Committee would meet regularly on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at6 p.m.
STREETS
Cm Hensil said the list of streets to be paved has been completed. To avoid price increases in the cost of asphalt, the Committee may try to complete the annual street paving projects before June 30.
A cost estimate for the annual Spring Cleanup project was presented. One hundred thirty-four loads of collected solid waste, totaling in excess of 118 ton, were delivered to the landfill for permanent disposal. The landfill tipping fees totaled $7,407.45. Additional costs incurred were: gasoline - $1,094; diesel fuel - $376; and 676 man-hours of fully fringed labor - $8,042.
Cm Hensil reported that on April 25 Shane Scott began a 90-day probationary period of employment as the Street Sweeper Operator.
SANITATION/LANDFILL
The Elkins Sanitary Board retained the services of Steptoe and Johnson Attorney Richard L. Lewis to consult on NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permitting issues for the wastewater treatment plant.
Elkins Sanitary Board employee Howard Miller completed a probationary period of employment on April 30 as Operator-in-Training at the wastewater treatment plant.
OTHER BUSINESS
A cleanup project involving city personnel, community and student organizations will be undertaken on May 23. In regards to the cleanup project, Cm Beckwith learned that the WV Department of Highways had maintenance responsibility forGeorgetown Roadbetween Scott Hill and C. C. Conaway.
The schedule of regular and recurring monthly council committee meetings will be prepared.
The meeting adjourned at7:53 p.m.
