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 City Hall, 400 Viand Street at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, July 9, 2007.

Marilyn L. McDaniel led Council in prayer. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Marilyn L. McDaniel who led Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.

OUTSIDE DELEGATION

Gregory L. Herrick – (Burgess & Niple) spoke to council on projects that his company is working on or have finished with the city.  Mr. Herrick along with Tim Utt presented a list of the projects and a brief up date. 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Herbert Harmon – Shared with council that the city ordinances should be enforced or remove them if we are not going to enforce. He also advised of a problem he has with a neighbor’s tree that is pulling away from the ground and leaning towards the back of his home.  Mr. Harmon stated he has talked with the city inspector.

MONTHLY BUSINESS

Gary Cotton made the motion to approve the minutes of the regular council meeting on Monday, June 11, 2007 a second was given by Marshall Bonecutter and the motion passed.  A motion by Robert C. Doeffinger and seconded by Sam Juniper to approve the financial statements of the General, Coal Severance, Water and Sewer Funds for the month of June 2007, was approved by council. Robert C. Doeffinger made a motion to approve the outstanding obligations for the month of June 2007, and Marshall Bonecutter gave the second (M. Leota Sang abstained) and the motion was approved.

CITY CLERK

Richard E. Rowe an attorney representing Hartley, Hartley & Hartley, Inc, presented to council the information on the Quitclaim Deed for the property on Viand Street.  This parcel containing 0.18 acres, more or less, excepting and reserving for the City of Point Pleasant the right to use the 10 foot easement, designated by the City as an abandoned portion of Viand Street.  This being the first reading, a motion to accept was given by Robert C. Doeffinger and seconded by Joe Supple and the motion unanimously passed. Billings presented to council the BrickStreet premium invoice of $71,199.00 to be paid for  07/01/2007 – 07/01/2008.  A motion by Sam Juniper to pay the total payment was seconded by M. Leota Sang and the motion passed.  Council was advised of the Travelers Insurance premium ($127,517.08) and it will be paid quarterly ($31,879.27).  The Fort Randolph invoices of ($564.57) were presented to city council for payment.  Robert C. Doeffinger made the motion for approval to pay with a second by Gary Cotton and the motion passed.  The City of Point Pleasant Sewer Fund annual operating budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 was presented to council for approval and to be submitted to West Virginia Water Development Authority.  Robert C. Doeffinger made a motion for approval with Sam Juniper giving the second and the motion passed.  Robert C. Doeffinger made a motion to give all city employees a 2.6% cost of living raise retroactive to July 1, 2007 and Marshall Bonecutter added the seconded and the motion unanimously passed (Gary Cotton abstained). Council also asked Mayor McDaniel to form a committee and go over each employee’s salary and meet with their supervisor of each for possible merit raises based on their job performance.  Mayor McDaniel is to do this within 90 days.          

MAYOR

Prior to the approval of appointed and new employee’s councilman Dr. William Park said he was approached by two employees who wanted to know why council approved some employee firings.  He said he knew nothing about it and that the council had not met for any such approval.  He also stated that he was distancing himself from the letters that were given to those employees.

Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion for the appointment of R.F. Stein as city attorney.  Sam Juniper made the motion to accept the motion of Stein and Marshall Bonecutter added the second and the motion passed.  Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion that Brian L. Billings be approved to serve as treasurer for the city.  Linda W. Smith made the motion and Dr. William Park secured the second and the motion passed.  Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion for the appointment of Paul “Ernie” Watterson as chief of police.  Robert C. Doeffinger made the motion to accept and Gary Cotton added the second and the motion passed.  Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion for the appointment of Ernest “Willie” Call to serve as street commissioner.  M. Leota Sang made the motion to accept and Sam Juniper added the second and the motion passed. The mayor then gave all (4) appointments their oath.

Mayor McDaniel then asked for a motion to eliminate the position of finance/human resource director and to hire Shannon Johnson as an accountant for the city.  Gary Cotton made the motion to accept and Linda W. Smith added the second and the motion passed.  Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to eliminate the executive secretary position and approve Louise Hudson as administrative assistant who she had hired but had to resign due to health issues. Mayor McDaniel then asked that Teka McCauley be hired for that position and she can begin her duties on July 23, 2007.  Sam Juniper made the motion to accept and Marshall Bonecutter added the second and the motion passed.  Mayor McDaniel then asked for the elimination of the water office manager position and to hire Elva Cotton as a water office employee.  Sam Juniper made the motion to accept and Linda W. Smith added the second and the motion passed. Mayor McDaniel then asked for a motion to accept the elimination of the street department coordinator job but allowing the individual who held that position to stay on as a street department employee.  Marshall Bonecutter made the motion to accept and M. Leota Sang added the second and the motion passed.  Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to eliminate the municipal judge/assistant city attorney position.  M. Leota Sang made the motion to accept and Sam Juniper added the second and the motion passed.  Mayor McDaniel asked for a motion to eliminate the park/recreation supervisor’s position.  Sam Juniper made the motion to accept and Gary Cotton added the second and the motion passed.  Chief of Police Watterson shared with council the he is continuing the Neighborhood Watch program and would like to meet with those who make up the police committee and other members of council at a later date.  Mayor McDaniel advised council of an emergency concern facing the city.  McDaniel asked Ernie Watterson to share with council about the slip in the road that leads to the city’s water tank and communications towers for a radio station and emergency services.  Watterson said there is a 40 foot cut into road and underneath it lie’s a 16 inch water line.  Should the slip continue and break the water line, it could cause a major disaster by flooding the neighborhood that is below it.  Watterson along with Steve Gardner of the water department inspected the area on Monday, July 11.  The mayor will make the proper contacts on how to correct the problem.    

COUNCIL CONCERNS

M. Leota Sang shared with council yard of the month information and how it is handled with the garden club, yard sale signs hanging on poles, and swimming pools throughout the city without having a fence to keep them secure according to the ordinance that the city has.  She also would like the city inspector to write an article for the paper along with the code being printed to help educate area citizens.  Sam Juniper told council that he had several questions that he needed an understanding of – water system (loss of 98 million gallons of water), recreation expenses, over spending of some budget line items, revenues with the police department and the rental income dollars.

ADJOURNMENT