City of Point Pleasant, WV

The Common Council of the City of Point Pleasant, a Municipal Corporation in Mason County, West Virginia, met in Regular Session at the City Building, 400 Viand Street at 7:00 p.m. on Monday September 13, 2004. J. Glenn Long led Council in the Prayer. The meeting was called to order by Mayor James H. Wilson who led Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. Being no outside delegations wishing to speak, Mayor Wilson asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the Regular Council meeting of August 9, 2004. Ronald R. Kapp made a motion to approve and J. Glenn Long added the second. The motion to approve passed unanimously. The Mayor then asked for a motion to approve the Consolidated Income (Financial) Statement of the General, Water and Sewer and Coal Severance Funds for the month of August 2004. Brian L. Billings made a motion to approve and Ronald R. Kapp added the second. Being no discussion, the motion passed unanimously. The Mayor then asked for a motion to approve the Outstanding Obligations for the month of August. Ronald R. Kapp made the motion and Kevin R. Nott added the second. Being no discussion, the motion passed unanimously. Finance Director Ronald Siders informed Council that it was time to start making payments on the fire truck. He stated that there was money budgeted for this payment. Elaine G. Hunt made a motion to pay the fire department a total of $4,338.00 in quarterly payments. J. Glenn Long added the second and the motion passed unanimously. Mr. Siders added that the fire department would have to present an invoice to receive the payment. Next on the agenda was City Attorney James M. Casey. Mr. Casey presented the first draft of an ordinance regulating adult entertainment within the City. He stated that the draft was similar to the ordinance enacted in Beckley, WV and that it was court tested. He added that video lottery establishments could be added to the ordinance. An in-depth discussion followed as to how the ordinance would regulate the establishments. Mr. Casey stated that an ordinance could not legally ban such establishments. He added however, that the criteria that had to be met to satisfy the ordinance could be such that the establishment would probably want to locate elsewhere. After discussions, Kevin R. Nott made a motion to adopt the 1^ST reading of the Ordinance with right to amend. Ronald R. Kapp added the Second. The motion to adopt passed 6-1 with Elaine G. Hunt voting in opposition. Mr. Casey updated Council on the continuing mediation with respect to one of the contractors who worked on the riverfront park. He stated that the City, WOOLPERT LLP., and the contractor were still gathering and sharing information. Mr. Casey then spoke about the new Wireless Tower Siting Ordinance. The Mayor informed Council that they would have to decide upon the actual locations that the towers would be permitted to be located in before the final reading. After discussion, Ronald R. Kapp made a motion to adopt the 2^ND reading of the Ordinance with the right to amend. J. Glenn Long added the second and the motion passed unanimously. Next on the agenda was City Clerk Stanton D. Burdette. Mr. Burdette presented the 3^RD reading of the amendments to the Codified Ordinances with respect to Article 1309.01(b) (48), Home Occupation. Ronald R. Kapp made the motion to adopt the 3^RD and final reading and Kevin R. Nott added the second. The motion was approved unanimously. Clerk Burdette reported that the City had made a contribution to the Police Pension Fund for FY 2001 and the State had processed that contribution. Additionally, he reported that the State had contributed $44,304.30 to the fund. Further, Mr. Burdette reported that the Police Pension Board had decided to invest their funds with the Merrill Lynch Agency from Charleston. Clerk Burdette reported that three bid proposals were received for the FYE 6.30.04 Audit and that the Audit Selection Committee had met and recommended that Imre Pentek, CPA be awarded the contract in the amount of $4,795.00. J. Glenn Long made the motion to award the contract to Mr. Pentek and Kevin R. Nott added the second. The motion was approved unanimously. Next, Clerk Burdette presented three resolutions allowing the Mayor to sign the necessary paperwork for the City to receive Budget Digest Funds. First, Mr. Burdette presented a resolution supporting $12,000.00 in funding for a “Transporter” to be used during events at the City. Kevin R. Nott made a motion to adopt the resolution and M. Leota Sang added the second. The motion was approved unanimously. Secondly, Clerk Burdette presented a resolution supporting $15,000.00 in funding for improvements at Krodel Park. Ronald R. Kapp made the motion to adopt the resolution and J. Glenn Long added the second. The motion passed with unanimous approval. The last resolution supported funding of $8,000.00 to be used for equipment purchases. J. Glenn Long made the motion to adopt the resolution and Kevin R. Nott added the second. This resolution was also adopted unanimously.     In closing, Mr. Burdette stated that invoices had been received and funding applied for with regards to the Wildlife Mitigation Area and Architectural-Engineering work done the riverfront park. Next on the agenda was Mayor Wilson. The Mayor reported that three architectural/engineering firms had expressed interest in working on the North Point Pleasant Drainage Project. WOOLPERT, LLP, Burgess & Niple, Inc., and Environmental Design Group responded to the advertised request for expression of interest. The Mayor stated that the sewer committee had not met to evaluate the firms. He stated that the committee would meet soon.     The Mayor reported that he had been in contact with Zambelli Fireworks Co. to resolve the issue of payment for the sub-par fireworks display during Regatta. Previously, the general consensus of Council was that the Mayor should negotiate to get a full fireworks display during Battle Days Celebration before paying the balance of the invoice ($5,000.00). The Mayor stated that Zambelli Inc. agreed to put on another full fireworks display during the Battle Days Celebration in exchange for the remainder of the fee owed them. Kevin R. Nott made a motion to enter into a contract with Zambelli Inc. for a fireworks display during   Battle Days and Brian L. Billings added the second. The motion met with unanimous approval. The Mayor announced that the Medal of Honor Park dedication ceremony held on Saturday August 28^Th was a great success. The Mayor added that photographs of the park taken by Ed Lowe were available should any members of Council want one. The Mayor stated that the River Museum had made a formal request for $480.00 per month in additional funding to help pay the salary of the employee. The Mayor stated that the City could probably find the funding but it would require cutting the budget in another area. It was decided by Council to refer the request to the finance committee.  The Mayor informed Council that in the past, the City had donated “I Love Pt. Pleasant” lapel pins to be given to tourist getting off of the excursion boats stopping at the riverfront park. He stated that several boat tours were stopping during the month of October and more pins were needed should Council wish to continue the practice. The Mayor suggested that it would be a good way to continue to promote tourism. J. Glenn Long made a motion to purchase and distribute the pins and Ronald R. Kapp added the second. The motion was approved unanimously. Next, Mayor Wilson asked for a motion to appoint Jane Martin to the Point Pleasant Housing Authority. William H. Wallace made the motion and Brian L. Billings added the second. The appointment was approved unanimously. In closing, Mayor Wilson asked for a motion to officially set Trick-or-Treat Night in the City. After discussion, Kevin R. Nott made a motion to set Trick-or-Treat for Thursday October 28^Th from 5:30-6:30. J. Glenn Long added the second and the motion was unanimously approved. The Mayor added that Denise Scarberry of the Main Street Merchants had made a request for funding to help with expenses associated with the Halloween Block Party held on downtown. It was noted that the party was a huge success last year. The funding request was turned over to the finance committee. In Council concerns, J. Glenn Long asked that the street sweeper be run on 22^ND Street. Elaine G. Hunt stated that a resident had concerns about the hiring of retired police officers. The City Attorney addressed the concern and stated that the law had changed with regards to hiring practices and that municipalities were now allowed to utilize retirees to staff the police departments. Ronald R. Kapp extended a thank-you to the Tu-Endie-Wei Garden Club for weeding and cleaning the flower beds (in the rain) prior to the Medal of Honor Park Dedication. He added that the park looked very nice thanks to clubs hard work. M. Leota Sang commented on how nice the Medal of Honor Park Dedication was. She also stated that Council had not received a police report for several months. She also asked about the status of the old bowling alley on 22^ND Street. Brian L. Billings asked that the storm drains be cleaned on 26^TH and 27^TH Streets. The Mayor added that the catch basins should be checked regularly and cleaned as necessary. The Mayor added that a firm had come into the City to look at grant possibilities to assist property owners in clean up of the old Malleable Iron Property. He stated that the firm had done some work in Parkersburg to help clean up contaminated properties.  There being no other business, Kevin R. Nott moved to adjourn the meeting and J. Glenn Long added the second. The meeting was adjourned at 8:26 by a unanimous vote.   

_______________________________ James H. Wilson, Mayor______________________________Stanton D. Burdette, City Clerk