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The Common Council of the City of Point Pleasant, a Municipal Corporation in Mason County, West Virginia, met in Regular Session at City Hall, 400 Viand Street at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Brian L. Billings who led Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
OUTSIDE DELEGATION
Larry Kendall/ Governor Highway Safety Program- was present to publicly acknowledge the Point Pleasant Police Department and their hard work. Mr. Kendall rewarded them with a Custom Golden Eagle Radar. Captain B.J. Veith accepted the radar on behalf of the Police Department. Mr. Kendall also presented the Police Department with two portable Breathalyzers to use while out on the job.
Barry Franz/Environmental Director for Burgess and Niple & George Carico/Environmental Manager Coordinator, WV Brownfields Center/Marshall University- Spoke on a $100,000 Community-wide Hazardous Substance & Petroleum Assessment Grant that is available. These funds would be crucial to sustain the City’s efforts and continue moving forward on the economic development of the former Naval Depot. They added that the WV Department of Transportation’s Public Port Authority is leading the effort to develop the former Naval Depot into a Multi-Modal Facility. A resolution was read that would allow the Mayor to apply for the Brownfield funding.
MONTHLY BUSINESS
Leota Sang made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular council meeting for September 8, 2009, and a second was given by Dr. William Park. Motion to approve minutes passed unanimously 8-0. A motion made by James Bowles was seconded by Barbara Ann Brown to approve the financial statements of the General, Coal Severance, Water and Sewer Funds for the month of September 2009, motion passed 8-0. Councilman Sam Juniper made a motion to approve the outstanding obligations for the month of September 2009, and James Bowles seconded the motion, which passed 7-0-1, with Leota Sang abstaining.
CITY ATTORNEY
Attorney R.F. Stein was absent from the meeting. He will address Council at the November meeting with items listed on October’s agenda.
ACCOUNTANT
CITY CLERK
City Clerk Amber Tatterson discussed the Alcohol and Drug Free Workplace Policy contract provided by Joe Boggs and Associates. After much discussion, it was decided that Tatterson would further check rates with other businesses and present council with her findings. The City Clerk then asked for a motion to approve the second reading of the Codified Ordinance replacement pages. The first motion was given by Councilman Bob Doeffinger and Linda Smith gave the second, the motion passed. Clerk Tatterson then asked Council to approve a resolution for the West Virginia Community Participation Grant Program for $50,000. The grant is to continue development of history lessons in the murals at the Riverfront Park. Leota Sang made the first motion, while Barbara Brown gave the second motion, and the motion passed 8-0. Tatterson also had a resolution to accept the State of WV .457 Supplemental Retirement Plan, also known as WV Retirement Plus. This program acts as a supplement to employee’s pension, social security, and other personal retirement savings, with no extra cost to the City. Sam Juniper made the first motion to approve, and a second motion was given by James Bowles. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor Billings then asked City Clerk Amber Tatterson to read a Proclamation to recognize Patricia Sallaz as a faithful and dedicated employee and congratulate Pat on her retirement. Leota Sang made the first motion to accept the proclamation and Linda Smith gave the second motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mayor Billings also invited Council to attend a retirement party for Pat Sallaz that the City is having on October 30, 2009. Clerk Tatterson then informed Council that a few members needed to be re-appointed to certain City Committees. Jane Martin re-appointed to the Housing Authority Board through October 2014. Charles Rhodes, Kip Hartenbach, Jack Sturgeon, and Jack Coles re-appointed to the Planning Commission through October 2012. The Board of Zoning Appeals re-appoints members Daniel Jones through August 2011, Timothy Scarberry through December 2011, and Russell Holland through October 2012. The Historic Landmark Commission re-appoints members Sylvia Casey through October 2012, Leota Sang through August 2011, and newly appoints Jack Lee through March 2011. A motion was made by Councilman Doeffinger to accept all re-appointed members in each committee. James Bowles gave the second motion, and the motion passed. Tatterson concluded with asking Council member Linda Smith to present Aflac concerns to Council. Smith informed Council she had been contacted by a few City employees asking about Aflac. She asked Council if they would revisit the idea of offering Aflac to employees and automatically have payment deducted from their pay checks. There would be no cost to the City and the employees receive a discounted rate. Smith made the first motion to offer Aflac to City employees and James Bowles added the second motion, and the motion passed 8-0.
MAYOR
Mayor Brian Billings informed Council the City Auction is set for Saturday October 24, 2009. The auction will allow the City to dispose of items not being used. City Attorney R.F. Stein will be conducting the auction at no cost to the City. A legal notice will be placed in the Point Pleasant Register once a time
has been established. Mayor Billings then told Council he has received several phone calls praising the City for the Robinson Street paving. The road was in poor condition and the repairs greatly appreciated. Billings also received a phone call from Roger Heib, who lives on Robinson Street, about concerns of water runoff due to the paving. Apparently a recent rain caused his driveway to flood. Mayor Billings responded by telling Mr. Heib that Street Commissioner Willie Call would meet with him about his concerns and come up with a way to prevent future flooding. Billings then asked Councilman Sam Juniper to address Council concerning J2Y35 Water. Juniper was contacted by J2Y35 about 3 slips in the road to the City’s water tank. J2Y35 Water also utilizes and maintains the road. They have asked if the City could purchase three 20 foot culverts for $310 to repair the areas. Councilman Bob Doeffinger made the first motion to approve purchasing the three culverts and for the Water Department to make the repairs. Linda Smith gave the second motion and the motion passed unanimously.
At 8:02 p.m. Mayor Billings asked Council for a motion to go into executive session for personnel matters. James Bowles made the motion while Dr. William Park added the second motion and the motion carried.
At 9:00 p.m. Bob Doeffinger made a motion to come out of executive session and Linda Smith made the second and the motion passed.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Parks and Recreation Committee conducted interviews for the Krodel Park Campground Manager and recommended Derrick Taylor to fulfill the position upon Council approval. James Bowles made the first motion while Elaine Hunt gave a second motion. The motion passed to hire Derrick Taylor as the campground manager.
The Finance Committee presented Council with a packet of recommended pay adjusts for the following departments: City Hall Clerical Employees, City Garage, Floodwall, Recreation, Sanitation, Street Department, Water Office, as well as, the Police Secretary, effective October 5, 2009. At that time, Mayor Billings indicated that Brian Poore had resigned his position in the Street Department and they would need to replace him. The Committee then recommended that two part-time employees be hired for the Street Department effective November 1, 2009. The Finance Committee concluded with recommending reducing annual donations for Point Pleasant Restoration, Mason County Tourism, and the River Museum effective December 1, 2009. A motion for approval for all of the above was made by Councilman Sam Juniper and a second was made by Bob Doeffinger, and the motion passed.
Council Concerns
Leota Sang asked for City Attorney R.F. Stein to review the following ordinances: Article 517- Indecency and Obscenity, Article 709- Sexually Oriented Businesses, and Article 1345- Adult Bookstores. She also asked for him to make any necessary changes to insure the articles are current and meet Council’s approval. Sang asked Mayor Billings if he has heard anything further from CSX concerning some repairs to the highway-railroad crossing located at 11th and Viand Streets in Point Pleasant. Billings indicated CSX has not responded further since receiving the letter stating his concerns have been directed to the necessary department. He also indicated he would follow-up on the matter and report back to Council once CSX provides a response. Sang also asked if progress has been made with the cleaning of property located by the Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School. Billings stated he has viewed the area and the resident has began cleaning the property. Sang concluded with presenting Mayor Billings a petition to the City of Point Pleasant, and the City Council for the replacement to the pavement on the west side of the 2100 block of Mt. Vernon Avenue. The petition states that the present blacktop be removed and replaced with concrete as originally paved.
Elaine Hunt asked approval for the Agricultural Department at the Vocational School to build birdhouses to display at Krodel Park as a student project. Mayor Billings approved the project and thought it would be a great idea. He asked that the Department contact him before placing them.
Linda Smith informed Council that she, Mayor Billings, and Clerk Tatterson attended the “Meet and Greet” for the new Superintendent, Dr. Capehart. She told Council she spoke with the Board of Education concerning the need for property for the proposed City Skate Park and mentioned the Intermediate School property would be an ideal location. Dr. Capehart told her to attend the Board of Education meeting being held October 27, 2009. Smith is on the agenda for that meeting and will present ideas for the Skate Park. Mayor Billings informed Council that he and Clerk Tatterson were very impressed with Smith’s skate park presentation and that she really received great interest from Dr. Capehart. Smith also mentioned she was contacted by Amy Leach of Pleasant Valley Hospital concerning a Community Improvement Grant available. The City would be able to apply for the $50,000 grant to aid in the cost of a skate park.
Sam Juniper voiced the need of a stop sign at the intersection of Robinson Street and Mossman Avenue. He asked if Mayor Billings could have the Street Department and/or Police Department look at the area and respond with a recommendation. Juniper then asked if City Attorney Stein could contact Attorney Johnny Brown and ask that he attend the November council meeting concerning the settlement for the City of Point Pleasant Civil Action Suit No. 08-C-489. Councilman Juniper also mentioned that per a conversation with J2Y35 Water, the City has had a water leak for years in an elevation valve. It is leaking approximately three million gallons a year. He asked if Mayor Billings could talk to the Water Department about getting it repaired. Billings indicated that he would contact the necessary people to check into this matter. Juniper concluded with a complaint he received from a resident concerning the cost of having tree-trimmings picked up by the City. He mentioned that in the past there was not a charge for limbs or yard debris. He also mentioned that he would like for Mayor Billings to check to see if leaves and yard debris are being hauled to the landfill.
Being no other business, James Bowles made a motion to adjourn. Dr. William Park added the second and being unanimously approved, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Brian L. Billings__________________Mayor
Amber Tatterson_________________City Clerk
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