PROPOSED MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF OCTOBER 19, 2006
Elkins City Council met for a public hearing and a regular session in the council chamber of city hall at 7:01 p.m. Thursday, October 19, 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., City Treasurer L. L. Crosston, City Attorney R. T. Busch, Police Lieutenant H. R. White, III and Fire Chief T. W. Meader. Police Captain J. E. Batdorf was absent.
PUBLIC HEARING – SEWER RATE TARIFF
The mayor commenced a public hearing during which council members could receive and consider comments on Proposed Ordinance No. 057, amending the Sewer Rate Tariff. No person came forth to speak. The mayor closed the public hearing at 7:01 p.m.
AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS
1. Employee travel – three water fund employees to Morgantown for safety seminar training.
2. Building Permit Application No. 3124.
PUBLIC COMMENT
There was none.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Cm Metheny, seconded by Cm Bibey, MOVED THAT COUNCIL ACCEPT THE MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF OCTOBER 3 AS PRESENTED; however, the motion did not carry. [Councilmen Broughton and Beckwith contended that the minutes of the October 3 meeting should have reflected Cm Broughton’s disagreement with a pronouncement of the presiding officer as to the conduct of the Public Comment portion of the meeting agenda. The presiding officer restricted interaction by individual council members with speakers making public comment to the full council. The clerk was instructed to insert a synopsis and submit the amended October 3 minutes for consideration at the meeting of November 2.]
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Cm Elbon, seconded by Cm Malcolm, MOVED PROPOSED ORDINANCE 057, AMENDING AND REENACTING PHASE TWO OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION-APPROVED RATES FOR FURNISHING SEWAGE AND SEWAGE DISPOSAL SERVICE AT ELKINS AND VICINITY, BE BROUGHT FORTH, READ BY TITLE ONLY, AND PASSED ON SECOND AND FINAL READING. The motion carried.
The attorney had made available copies of the most current revision of the microwave tower lease agreement. The ad hoc committee was to meet after the council meeting to agree upon a final document the mayor could then execute.
NEW BUSINESS
Cw Wilmoth, seconded by Cm Hensil, MOVED COUNCIL APPROVE EMPLOYEE TRAVEL, AS REFLECTED ON
THE AGENDA. The motion carried. [Mike Barkley will travel to Morgantown for communications training; the municipal judges to Charleston for municipal court training and certification; two building officials to Sutton for WV Code officials training; and Patrolman Hebb to Flatwoods for Homeland Security Grant Program training.]
Cm Ditty, seconded by Cw Wilmoth, MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE CREATION OF THE NEW EMPLOYMENT POSITION OF WATER WORKER I. The motion carried.
Cm Ditty, seconded by Cm Hensil, MOVED THAT COUNCIL APPROVE CREATION AND FUNDING OF ONE ADDITIONAL PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT POSITION IN THE WATER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENT. The motion carried. [The initial full-time hourly rate for the position will be $8.85. Assuming the position was filled for one-half of FY2007, the fully fringed six-month cost would exceed $15,000.]
Cw Wilmoth, seconded by Cm Hensil, MOVED COUNCIL APPROVE THE REQUEST OF THE CHURCH OF GOD AND FAMILY WORSHIP CENTER TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE A PORTION OF 14TH STREET DURING ITS HALLELUJAH HARVEST CELEBRATION. The motion carried.
Cm Beckwith, seconded by Cm Metheny, MOVED COUNCIL APPROVE THE REQUEST OF THE ELKINS HIGH SCHOOL 9TH GRADE FOR A POLICE ESCORT DURING THE HOMECOMING PARADE. The motion carried.
Cm Metheny, seconded by Cm Broughton, MOVED COUNCIL APPROVE THE REQUEST OF THE DOWNTOWN MERCHANT’S ASSOCIATION TO TEMPORARILY CLOSE A PORTION OF 3RD STREET DURING HALLOWEEN-RELATED ACTIVITIES. The motion carried.
Cm Elbon, seconded by Cm Metheny, MOVED COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTATION RELEVANT TO THE PLANNING, DESIGN, ACQUISITION, INSTALLATION, BETTERMENT, IMPROVEMENT AND/OR FINANCING OF CLIENT-SERVER BASED FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, UTILITY BILLING AND OTHER SOFTWARE OF AFFILIATED COMPUTER SERVICES, INC. (ACS) AS INITIALLY QUOTED JUNE 12, 2006. The motion carried.
Cm Elbon, seconded by Cm Hensil, MOVED COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, UPON FINAL APPROVAL OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE, TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTATION RELEVANT TO THE ACQUISITION, INSTALLATION, BETTERMENT, IMPROVEMENT AND/OR FINANCING OF PERSONAL COMPUTERS AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED FORTY THOUSAND ($40,000.00) DOLLARS. The motion carried.
Cm Hensil, seconded by Cm Metheny, MOVED PROPOSED ORDINANCE 058, VACATING AND ABANDONING A PARTIAL ALLEY RIGHT-OF-WAY ON 6TH STREET, BE BROUGHT FORTH, READ BY TITLE ONLY AND PASSED ON FIRST READING. The motion carried.
Cm Woolwine, seconded by Cm Hensil, MOVED COUNCIL ADOPT PROPOSED RESOLUTION 072, DEALING WITH THE CONTROL OF CATS AND DOGS. The motion carried.
Cm Beckwith, seconded by Cm Woolwine, MOVED COUNCIL AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENT WITH WEST VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO OBTAIN ADDITIONAL LOCAL-MATCH FUNDING FOR THE LOWER GLENDALE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE PROJECT. The motion carried. [The State Project Number is U342-Elk/in-2.00, and the Federal Project Number is TEA-OH22(001)E, Randolph County. Terms of the supplemental agreement provide for additional Department of Transportation funding of $176,000 and obligates the city to provide an additional $35,200 of local match. The Parks and Recreation Commission will be responsible for the local match requirement of the grant. As a result of the action, total project cost was increased to $428,200 and local match requirement to $50,440. Contractor bids in excess of the engineer’s estimate of cost and costs related to handicapped access were responsible for the increased funding requirements.]
COMMITTEE REPORTS
BUILDING
The Committee received 3 building permit applications since the last meeting of council, 3122 thru 3124. Acting upon recommendation of the building inspector, the Committee approved all applications.
Cm Malcolm, seconded by Cm Beckwith, MOVED THAT COUNCIL GRANT THE 3 PERMIT APPLICATIONS APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE. The motion carried.
PARKS
Cm Beckwith said new playground equipment will be installed by the end of October.
Pedestrian bridge pillars should be set in place before winter. The bridge itself should be completed and in operation by the spring of 2007.
The police department was commended for its efforts to make officers more visible in the various parks. The initiative has resulted in enhanced security. The same comments were expressed about visible police presence during the Forest Festival.
Cm Broughton commented on efforts of a recently formed group of teenagers and adults seeking to obtain a site for the use of skateboarders.
Cm Beckwith opined that vendors in the city park during the Forest Festival should offer goods complimentary to the theme of the event.
In response to an inquiry from Cm Ditty, Cm Beckwith said utilization priorities have not yet been finalized to allow for the allocation of available space in Lower Glendale Bottom.
PERSONNEL
Cw Wilmoth said interviews had been scheduled for the week of October 30 for operations manager applicants.
STREETS
Cm Hensil reported that the 10th Street Storm Water Separation Project was underway.
WATER
Cm Ditty announced that the ‘listeners’ (devices to indicate leakage in water transmission and distribution lines) had been installed and were in operation.
The mayor reported on a visit that she and some council members made of the site of the Upper Tygart Valley Watershed Partnership’s impoundment project on Elkwater.
OTHER BUSINESS
Cm Beckwith discussed actions of the Enforcement Agency relevant to the structure at 107 Graham Street.
Mayor Guye said she had attended an initial meeting with the mayors of Buckhannon and Weston in an effort to identify areas where cooperation could be promoted between the jurisdictions.
The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.
