WEIRTON CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING - REGULAR
MONDAY, MARCH 8, 2010 7:00 P.M.
A regular meeting of the Common Council of the City of Weirton, Hancock and Brooke Counties, West Virginia was held on Monday, March 8, 2010 at 7:00 P.M. in Council Chambers of the Weirton City Building.
Councilmembers in Attendance: George Ash Councilmember Ward 4 Ronnie Jones Councilmember Ward 1 Fred Marsh Councilmember Ward 3 Harold Miller Councilmember Ward 2 David Dalrymple Councilmember Ward 6 Max Fijewski Councilmember Ward 7 George Kondik Councilmember Ward 5
City Officials in Attendance: John Brown Public Works Director Gary DuFour City Manager Vincent Gurrera City Attorney Dave Lashhorn Fire Chief Nicole Davis City Clerk A.D. Mastrantoni Sanitary/Water Bruce Marshall Police Chief Thomas Maher, Jr. Finance Director Terry Weigel Parks and Recreation Director John Serafini Inspections Rik Rekowski Library
Mayor Harris led everyone in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A motion was made by Councilman Ash and second by Councilman Kondik to approve the minutes of the: February 8, 2010 –Regular Council MeetingThe motion carried by majority, 7/0.
CITIZEN’S REMARKS
Joe Stankowitz: Arterial Highway Mr. Stankowitz stated, “I read an article in the paper. There’s a thing called an arterial highway. Those are roads in town which let traffic get around. Over the years they have developed higher usage of the thing. We built a one lane bridge, and that’s what we’re calling a highway. Why are true highways important? I can go from my shop to one of my customers in Tonidale in about 20 minutes. I can go from my shop to the high school in about 20 minutes. Think about that. We’re competing in a world wide market. Our businesses need as much help as they can get. If Jim Ward had started an arterial highway system, so little tings like that add up and before we realize it we forgot to do something back then and we’re paying the price today.”
Carroll Harris: Mr. Harris stated, “A couple of problems we have with parking. We have handicapped and I’m handicapped as well. I live on Marland Heights and I have to park my pick-up on the street because my wife parks in the drive-way, and the car lives three doors down and they park all the way up the street. I would like to get a handicapped or something right there at 3311. Also at Feed the Need we need a handicapped spot right there. It could be a small sign put on the pole.” Councilman Ash stated that the city could not put up a handicapped parking space at Feed the Need because it was on a state street. Karen Harris: Ms. Harris stated, “I want to thank the council for their support for our Feed the Need project. It has been a success. Mr. Ron Jones and his wife have been very supportive, and I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate what you have done. I do want to ask is there any more general funding that we can get while we were waiting for more money coming in. I called down and asked for a list. I wanted to know if we could get together as soon as possible about the sidewalks. I had a lady down here today. I want to know if you have to have parking permits on West Street. I want to know if it is just that street. Is this an ordinance or something for that area?”
COMMUNICATIONS
Councilman Fijewski stated, “I just wanted to advise council that the ribbon cutting ceremony for the lobby is taking place over at the Weirton Community Center on April 6th at 6:00. Also the hall of fame is having a banquet to induct this year’s group in to the hall of fame on April 25th at 2:00 PM. That will be at the Serbian American Cultural Center. We do have a table for council so everyone who is planning to attend could get back to me so that we can make the appropriate reservations for council.”
Councilman Kondik stated, “Last month the Follansbee Chamber was going to honor the …family for his work on the memorial. I would more than happy to take anyone who would like to go.”
OLD BUSINESSOrdinance No. 1671 updating and amending the building for the City of Weirton. Motion was made by Councilman Ash, second by Councilman Jones. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
NEW BUSINESSOrdinance rescinding Ordinance No. 1526, which authorized the City Manager to convey school property to the Weirton Redevelopment Authority. Motion was made by Councilman Ash, second by Councilman Jones. Councilman Marsh stated, I have a legal question. Are we rescinding with one reading or two?” The city attorney stated it would be two. Councilman Miller stated, “I would just like to say that the newspaper explained what we’re doing with this transfer. I think the public knows what we’re doing with this transfer. It was transferred years ago and now we are trying to transfer it back. It was explained very properly in the paper.” The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
Resolution authorizing application and acceptance for West Virginia Legislative Digest Funds. (Thomas E. Millsop Community Center) Motion was made by Councilman Fijewski, second by Councilman Ash. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
Resolution authorizing application and acceptance for West Virginia Legislative Digest Funds. (Weirton United Way) Motion was made by Councilman Ash, second by Councilman Jones. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
Ordinance prohibiting the feeding of deer within the city limits. Motion was made by Councilman Kondik, second by Councilman Dalrymple. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
Ordinance establishing a residential disability parking space at 565 North 10th Street. Motion was made by Councilman Jones, second by Councilman Ash. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
Resolution to authorize the purchase of computer accident recreation software equipment for the Weirton Police Department utilizing cops grant funding. Motion was made by Councilman Ash, second by Councilman Marsh. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
Resolution to rescind resolution entering into agreement with Change, Inc. to lease three lots adjacent to 3136 West Street in the city of Weirton, West Virginia. Motion was made by Councilman Ash, second by Councilman Fijewski. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
Resolution to enter into contract for the purchase of a vehicle for the City of Weirton’s electrical department. Motion was made by Councilman Ash, second by Councilman Dalrymple. Councilman Kondik stated, “Did we or did we not approve? Did we say we were going to do this for the electrical department or not at the work shop.” Councilman Ash stated, “We were not going to do it, but he’s using next year’s funding not this year’s.” Councilman Marsh stated, “He already has a paver, but we’re saving for another one. I think it comes out to $15,000 out of the line item and we gave up that, but he does have a paver.” The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
Resolution to authorize 2010-2011 Fiscal Year General Fund and Coal Severance Fund Budgets Motion was made by Councilman Marsh, second by Councilman Ash. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
APPOINTMENTS TO VARIOUS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS:
INSPECTIONS-
Mr. Serafini stated, “I have nothing further to report.”
FIRE-
Chief Lashhorn stated, “I have nothing additional to report.”
LIBRARY-
Mr. Rekowski stated that, “Just to make a final summary report for the Library Imagination Kick-Off we had in Hancock county on February 25. We had over 50 families, registered a couple of children. With this project you receive a free book in the mail every month for that child. Just on that one day we had 22 new library cards registered. That program for the kick-off, we do have people signing up for this program so it was a success. We would like to get the word out that that program is on going.”
PARKS –
Mr. Weigel stated that, “We hope to have construction completed by the end of next week. We are meeting with the architect next Wednesday for some punch list items, but we anticipate finishing it all up by the end of next week. Another event that will be coming is the Starvaggi Civic Association is working with the park board to plan a luau event like we had last year. It is tentatively scheduled for May.”
PUBLIC WORKS-
Mr. Brown stated that, “The Greenbrier Bridge project is moving forward. They’re pouring the concrete. They’re doing an excellent job. They have worked from January 26 through both mini blizzards. I have a street schedule in your packet. I have the spring clean-up schedule but I don’t want to announce it now. There are rules and regulations for tree pick-up. They need to be 1 inch thick and bundled or tied. We don’t want big tree limbs.” Councilman Dalrymple inquired of the street crews were still on 24 hour shifts. Mr. Brown stated, “Yes. I’m hoping to get them back on day light next week.”
POLICE-
Chief Marshall stated that, “I have nothing to report.” Councilman Ash stated, “Chief I see on your report that you had one officer ticket someone for a BOCA violation. I’d like to meet that officer.”
SANITARY/WATER-
Mr. Mastrantoni stated that he had nothing further to add.
FINANCE DEPARTMENT-
Mr. Maher stated: General Fund cash report for February, 2010:
Beginning Cash Balance: $455,863.84 Interest on Checking: $192.79 Deposits: $787,221.45 Draw-downs on Investment: $200,000 Disbursements: $(1,201,524.42) Cash Balance: $241,753.66
Beginning Investment $2,383,789.09 Balance: Interest on Investments: N/A Withdraws: $200,000 Ending Investment $2,583,789.09 Balance: Petty Cash: $800.00
Total Cash and Investments $2,826,342.75 Available:
There was one check for council to approve totaling $3,807.85
Councilman Fijewski stated, “Our cash, because we took some money we had in cash and put it in investments, it’s probably showing our cash being less than what it has traditionally shown. Is that accurate?” Mr. Maher responded that that was correct.
The Mayor called for a motion to pay any bills and accept administrative reports from all of the departments.
Motion was made by Councilman Marsh, second by Councilman Dalrymple. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
ADJOURNMENT
The mayor called for a motion to adjourn.
Motion was made by Councilman Marsh, second by Councilman Dalrymple. The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
With no further business before this March 8, 2010 regular session of the Weirton City Council the meeting was adjourned after the closing prayer.
|