PROPOSED MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF MAY 4, 2006
Elkins City Council met in regular session in the council chamber of city hall at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 4, 2006. Present were: Mayor Judith Ann Guye; Councilpersons: R. N. Beckwith, J. S. Bibey, V. T. Broughton, T. P. Ditty, 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., Police Captain J. E. Batdorf and Elkins Fireman S. D. Himes. City Treasurer L. L. Crosston, City Attorney R. T. Busch and Fire Chief T. W. Meader were absent.
AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS
There were none.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was none.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Cm Metheny, seconded by Cm Beckwith, MOVED THAT COUNCIL ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF APRIL 18, 2006 AS PRESENTED. The motion carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Cm Woolwine MOVED PROPOSED ORDINANCE 041, ADOPTING THE INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODES AND THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA BUILDING CODE, BE BROUGHT FORTH, READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASSED ON SECOND READING; however, Cm Metheny, seconded by Cm Woolwine, MOVED THE MOTION BE TABLED. The motion to table carried. [More than one council member said they had been in receipt of constituent concerns about the impact of the measure proposed for adoption. The consensus of opinion was that additional time was needed to arrive at a more completely informed understanding of the consequences of adopting the International Building Codes.]
Cm Woolwine, seconded by Cm Broughton, MOVED PROPOSED ORDINANCE 044, PROVIDING FOR REIMBURSEMENT BY OFFENDERS OF THE COST OF INCARCERATION AT THE REGIONAL JAIL, BE BROUGHT FORTH, READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASSED ON SECOND READING. The motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Cm Elbon, seconded by Cm Malcolm, MOVED COUNCIL ADOPT PROPOSED RESOLUTION 066, AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH THE WEST VIRGINIA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE TO OBTAIN GOVERNOR’S COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP GRANT PROGRAM FUNDS FOR THE USE OF THE BAND AUXILIARY. The motion carried. [Cm Beckwith abstained from voting, due to his employment with the Randolph County Board of Education.]
Cw Wilmoth, seconded by Cm Broughton, MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE THE EMPLOYEE TRAVEL REFLECTED ON THE AGENDA. The motion carried.
Cm Beckwith, seconded by Cm Bibey, MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPOINT ROBERT GRANT NESTOR TO THE BOARD OF THE ELKINS PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION FOR A SIX-YEAR TERM TO COMMENCE MARCH 1, 2006. The motion carried.
Cm Ditty, seconded by Cw Wilmoth, MOVED THAT COUNCIL OFFICIALLY ADOPT THE PROPOSED CITY ORGANIZATIONAL CHART. The motion carried.
[Insert organizational chart here.]
Cw Wilmoth, seconded by Cm Woolwine, MOVED THAT COUNCIL OFFICIALLY ADOPT THE PROPOSED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR THE POSITION OF OPERATIONS MANAGER. The motion carried.
A Notice of Application to Operate: A Private Club, Private Wine Restaurant or Tavern was filed by Ryan L. Summerfield on behalf of Rhino’s 11th Street Lounge. [The clerk informed Mr. Summerfield that the location would not be eligible for an Limited Video Lottery machines.]
Cm Metheny, seconded by Cm Bibey, MOVED COUNCIL GRANT THE REQUEST FOR A POLICE ESCORT FOR THE 11TH ANNUAL READ CARNEY MEMORIAL WALK/RUN; HOWEVER, THE ORGANIZATION MUST SUPPLY ITS OWN INTERSECTION MONITORS. The motion carried.
Cm Hensil, seconded by Cm Metheny, MOVED COUNCIL APPROVE THE CREATION OF THE UNPAID POSITION OF INTERN AT THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT. The motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BUILDING
The Committee received 1 demolition, 1 asbestos abatement, and 20 building permit applications since the last meeting of council, 2944 thru 2965.
Application 2954 was not considered for approval, because the owner needed to resolve problems with the sewer service line and other issues with an adjacent land owner.
Acting upon recommendation of the building inspector, the Committee disapproved Application 2946 for violation of setback provisions of zoning regulations. All other applications were approved.
Cm Malcolm, seconded by Cm Beckwith, MOVED THAT COUNCIL GRANT THE 20 PERMIT APPLICATIONS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE. The motion carried.
PUBLIC SAFETY
Cm Bibey announced that most operational employees would soon undergo safe driving instruction. Personnel of the police and fire departments are scheduled to attend a more comprehensive driving instruction course in August.
PERSONNEL
The Committee, Cw Wilmoth said, would soon recommend adoption of a resolution directing that an annual check be made of the status of motor vehicle operator’s licenses of employees who operate city owned vehicles.
WATER
Cm Ditty reported that the river cleanup project was a success. Approximately 30 volunteers participated, primarily from the Mountain and Oak Ridge Schools.
FINANCE
Cm Elbon announced a May 16 meeting to consider a proposal for a final budget adjustment for the current fiscal year.
MUNICIPAL PROPERTY
Work to repair the fire department roof has begun, Cm Metheny said.
PARKS
Cm Beckwith complimented organizers of the Ramp Festival, saying the event was a great success. Saturday’s weather was perfect for attendees, and he said he was impressed by the number of out of state attendees.
Finalized engineering plans for the pedestrian footbridge to connect Riverbend Park with Glendale Bottom were forwarded to regulators at the Department of Environmental Protection. Upon their final approval, contractor bids will be formally requested.
New grant funds have been approved for a walking trail in Glendale Bottom; however, first priority will be given to creation of a parking area and landscaping.
Consideration has been given to the establishment of a special purpose escrow account to accumulate funds that would underwrite the cost of tennis courts.
RULES AND ORDINANCES
The Committee has legislation under consideration that would regulate yard sales and cats, Cm Woolwine reported.
SANITATION AND LANDFILL
Cm Metheny said he was pleased to be able to report that the annual landfill inspection by state regulators went well. The most significant deficiency noted was the need to aerate the leachate pond, to better control the BOD level. [Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) refers to the amount of oxygen that would be consumed if all the organics in one liter of water were oxidized by bacteria and protozoa.]
STREETS
Cm Hensil and the membership continue preparations to separate storm water runoff from sanitary sewer in a portion of the former railroad yard.
Concerns expressed about the excess speed of vehicles using Church Lane were being studied.
The mayor and Committee members were accompanied by Governor Manchin’s representative Lynn Phillips to a meeting with Department of Highway’s personnel Tom Staud and Raymond Yeager to discuss the respective roles to be assumed to accomplish a citywide cleanup.
Engineer Mike Green and Jeff Cooper met with the mayor to discuss problems with the Sylvester Drive Initial Improvement project. The contractor agreed to remedy the complaints.
OTHER BUSINESS
Cm Malcolm expressed his belief that the time had come for Elkins to have a full-time fire chief, saying that if the city could afford the services of an operations manager then it ought to be able to afford a fire chief. The chief could help assure compliance with the International Building Codes to be adopted. The core downtown area is old and subject to fire, he said.
Cw Wilmoth said the treasurer’s office would hire a part-time person to complete data entry necessary to generate additional Fire Fee revenue.
Cm Metheny recommended acquisition of a trained drug enforcement dog by the police department.
Cm Beckwith complemented J. C. Hamer Pellet Company for mitigating the noise level of its ventilation equipment. He asked that a letter so stating be sent to the company.
Cm Ditty mentioned that property owners were responsible for seeing to their own property during the Citywide Spring Cleanup.
Mayor Guye complimented those selected by the public as best police officers: Jack Batdorf, Rocky Hebb and Rob White and as best firefighters: Ron Corcoran, Bill Grindle and Tom Meader. The Inter-Mountain Newspaper organized and reported on the selection process.
Council members were invited to the next meeting of the Elkins-Randolph County Airport Authority, to develop a better understanding of the Authority’s operation.
In response to the mayor’s request for suggestions, Cm Beckwith mentioned Margaret Beckwith for consideration as the city’s appointee to the Randolph County Emergency Squad.
Mayor Guye said she had issued proclamations dealing with homeless shelters, nurses, convalescent centers and the sale of American Legion Poppies.
Council member participation in the Coalton Days parade was briefly mentioned.
May 13 has been designated as National Keep Your Cat Indoors Day.
The meeting adjourned at 7:51 p.m.
