WEIRTON CITY COUNCIL
COUNCIL MEETING - REGULAR
June 12, 2006 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 June 12, 2006 at
7:05 P.M. in Council Chambers of the City of Weirton Municipal Building.
Mayor Miller called the meeting to order.
Councilmembers in Attendance:
Henry DeMasis Councilmember
Ward 4
Harold Miller Councilmember
Ward 2
Dale Moore Councilmember
Ward 3
Jerry Miller Councilmember
Ward 1
David Dalrymple Councilmember
Ward 6
Frank Veltri Councilmember
Ward 7
George Kondik Councilmember
Ward 5
City Officials in Attendance:
John Brown Public
Works Superintendent
Kessler Cole Fire
Chief
Gary DuFour City
Manager
Beth Gaughan CDBG
Administrator
Thomas J. Maher, Jr. City
Clerk
Valerie Means Finance
Director
Rick Ohalek Sanitary
Board
Rik Rekowski Mary
H. Weir Public Library
Rod Rosnick Chief
Code Official
Lance Scott Police
Chief
Terry Weigel Parks
and Recreation Director
John Yeager City
Attorney
Others in Attendance:
Craig Howell Weirton Daily Times
Dan Greathouse Hancock
County CVB
Citizens
Mayor Miller led the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF
MINUTES
A motion was made by Councilmember J. Miller and
second by Councilmember Kondik to approve the minutes of the:
May 08, 2006 – Regular Council Meeting
The motion carried, 7/0.
MAYOR’S AWARDS AND PROCLAMATIONS
NONE
COMMUNICATIONS
Mayor Miller commented, “I just have one item. The City is trying to…uh…clean up and beautify
the area…uh…surrounding the City. Penco Road…we have
hanging baskets…uh…Main Street…we
have hanging baskets. We’ve got
volunteer groups…uh…planting flowers…uh…Post 10, Carol Kennedy, the Chamber,
and as well as Mittal Steel now are…are in the fold, and are trying to get Main
Street taken care of. I had a
conversation with…uh…Danny Greathouse…uh…CVB.
We want to start from Wellsburg and go all the way up to Chester…Route
2…each of the cities and communities…take a look at that area and get it
cleaned up…spruced up…and…uh…just kind of…uh…make it pleasurable for visitors
coming into the area to…uh…see how nice it really is. So, we will have banners up in the city…uh…50
of them along the poles on Main
Street. And,
we will have the city street sweeper and/or sidewalk sweeper out. Main
Street’s going to get hit within the next two
weeks. We want to take a…take a look at
our city and be part of the expose that says…you know…we are here…we want to
tidy up and we certainly…Councilman Kondik had said…you know…they cleaned
up…the Rotary Club. Did they not? All the way up Marland Heights,
but…uh…then again…uh…as Pogo said, ‘I have found the problem, and he is us, the
humans.’ You’ve got 90 percent of the
people that want to go ahead and take care and take pride in their city, but
you’ve got certain other people that don’t.
But, we’re going to…we’re going to do all we can to clean up the area,
and…uh…I thank those that are jumping in and helping us. So…”
Councilmember Kondik commented, “You know Mayor.
On that…uh…on that note I would like to say about the…uh…Mark Cummings’
article…letter to the editor…um…about feeling…um…taking offense to the comments
that were made…made in the paper.
Actually, I’m going to applaud the guy and thank him for making me aware
of some of the things that I obviously didn’t realize. So, I…I…I wish more people would
take…um…offense and…uh…write letters like this.
I applaud him. I really do.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Well it’s taking
an interest in the community.
Constructive criticism never hurts anybody, and we do what we can to
make sure. Certainly we want to join
with the other cities as well as the Hancock County Commissioners and Brooke
County Commissioners to give Route 2 a seriously take a look at from city to
city all the way up, so. Any more
comments on communications gentlemen?”
Councilmember
Harold Miller commented, “I would
just like to say…uh…as a representative of the…uh…Renaissance Weirton Committee
that…last week at our meeting we voted to…um…donate $2,000.00 towards the flag
program that the chairman…the Chamber of Commerce is…uh…is…uh…going forward
with. And, that’s to have entrances of Weirton to say, ‘Welcome
To Weirton,’ and center business district will have multicolored flags that
will be placed. I just wanted to say
that the Renaissance Committee did that.
Also, of course, we have our big holiday weekend
coming up, and I think it’s a great of weekend for the City of Weirton.
July 1st is certainly the Fourth of July Parade, and then the
Renaissance Festival. We’ve got the
Wheeling Symphony on the 3rd, I believe. And, then on the 4th…uh…the
fireworks with…uh…the City of…uh…Steubenville
and Weirton off
the bridge again this year. Right
Mayor?”
Mayor
Miller commented, “That is
correct.”
Councilmember
Harold Miller commented,
“So…uh…it’s a…it’s a great weekend for the City of Weirton.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “I want to
clarify one point…uh…with the…with the Chamber.
They…they are in partnership with the City. The City is putting up the funding between
Renaissance and Mayor’s Beautification concept.”
Councilmember
Harold Miller commented, “I
thought…I thought that you were lending the electricians to do the pole…”
(LAUGHTER)
(CROSSTALK)
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “Hey…uh…Bubba, I
thought that’s a good idea. I’d seen
that the paper, you know. But, you know,
I have the downtown area. That’s a good
idea. Don’t get me wrong. I think the American flag should be up there
always. But, the thing that I’m…I’m a
little…uh…concerned about is…I guess you’re trying to make one street
beautiful…beautified in the downtown area, and that’s it. Right?
That’s it.
Mayor
Miller commented, “No.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “No where else?”
Councilmember
Harold Miller commented, “No.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Not necessarily…”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “The Catholic
priest told me please and this and that.
Here I go again, but I can’t help it.
I get tons of phone calls. You
know, people are right. We’ve gotta take
care of our city. If it’s gonna be done
(unintelligible), then let’s do it. This
is fine, here. It’s a nice day, a
holiday for people to come out, go out and cheer and loosen up a little. I don’t think that’s great. But we’ve gotta take care of the back streets
also. People live back there also. And, I’ll tell you. They’re mostly older people, and they don’t
deserve it. They can’t go out there and
do some of the work. They can’t go out
there to be able to cut grass. So, it’s
our turn to take care of ‘em.
That’s…what…how this country was built.
I think that’s the only way we’ve gotta do it Mayor. Believe me.
I’m…I’m getting tired of coming in, getting the phone calls, but I still
accept the phone calls. You know people,
I’m telling you, I feel sorry for you.
Americans! You’ve gotta go out
there and beg for something in this town.
This town could be beautiful. It
can. It shows that. It could, it could widen out, get large and
everything. And, I’ll tell you what, it
could be a beautiful town.”
Councilmember
Moore commented, “Exactly what is
it that… Are we not running the street sweeper on those streets John?”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “Never seen it
yet.”
Councilmember
Moore commented, “John?”
John Brown
commented, “Sir?”
Councilmember
Moore commented, “Are those…I
mean…I’m sure those streets are on schedule for the sweeper.”
John Brown
commented, “Both sweepers are broke
down Councilman.”
Unknown
commented, “Both are broken.”
Councilmember
Kondik commented, “The brand new on
is broke down already!”
Councilmember
Veltri commented, “They’ve been
broke down. I’ve been asking for a
street sweeping and we were going to get them…”
Councilmember
Kondik commented, “We just bought
the new one!”
Councilmember
Veltri commented, “And, that’s a
Layman, too.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “I…I agree with
him, very much so. I don’t…this is my
first council meeting, and I hope to be the first of many. I very much agree with you on
(unintelligible).
Unknown
commented, “That’s right.”
Councilmember
Moore commented, “Are you pleased…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “I live in an
area where it is not taken care of, no concern.
I’ve made numerous calls about the streets, no…no stop signs, no speed
limit signs, street lights.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “Amen.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “That’s why I’m
here this evening.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “Amen.”
Councilmember
Veltri commented, “You know what
Mayor. I brought that up on the Finance
Committee on Thursday about the street sweeper that was broke down, and it
seems no one was aware of it.
And…and you guys said that they
were out there sweeping, and I called Mr. Brown the same day to tell him that
both sweepers were broke down. I’ve been
asking for some of the streets in my ward to get swept up, but they haven’t
been swept up for over a month.”
Councilmember
Kondik commented, “John…”
Councilmember
Veltri commented, “So, it’s time
for somebody here to get…get it together here.
Let’s get the sweeper fixed, the lemon here that we got. I think we should file a complaint or
whatever we got here and I think there is a lemon law here, cause I think that
it is broke down every time we turn around.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “How many times
has the new one been broken down John?”
John Brown
commented, “I think about three
times Mayor.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “And what’s been
the major problem?”
John Brown
commented, “I’m not quite sure…”
Mayor
Miller commented, “I think…I’ll put
it to you this way. You get a hold of
Brae Bryant, and have him give a directive to City Council of what the problems
are. And, I want it tomorrow so that
they can have it. Find out what is the
problem, and then get back to the manufacturer.
We should have at least a year’s guarantee on that.”
Councilmember
Kondik commented, “We just bought
it!”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “Yea…we
just…we just…”
Councilmember
Kondik commented, “We just bought
it!”
(CROSSTALK)
Councilmember
Veltri commented, “Like I say. There’s a lemon law on the thing. We would have filed a claim.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Well. Find out what the conditions are. Do we got transmission problems? Do we have actually brushing problems? Are they cleaning problems? Get back, because, what was that, $85,000? You know…if we’re not using it, because the
last I heard 10 days ago, it was in the shop and out of the shop, and we were
back on schedule.”
John Brown
commented, “It went back in the
shop.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “Can I say
something? Well, what bothers me is this
is the first time I heard that both of them are down. You just sent us a revised schedule, that
was, I think, covered for August or something.
It was in our packet on Friday.
So, how can we get a revised schedule if it’s not working?”
Mayor
Miller commented, “I…I just got a
further…further comment for Mr. Bryant.
You tell him to please, any time there’s a breakdown with the street
sweeper, that he get back and notify the City Manager, cause I want to know, so
that we can pass it along to Council. If
we’re having that much problem with a new piece of equipment, I agree with the
Councilman, we may have to go into the lemon laws, I think, to get either one
(unintelligible) what we can do to fix this so that it operates and fits the
schedule. OK.”
Councilmember
Harold Miller commented, “I’d like
to state. (Unintelligible) Henry, I appreciate your comments. Don’t get the Renaissance weekend and the
flags that are put out on Main
Street with street sweeping confused. The other thing that people better realize in
this community is we’ve paved more streets in the last two years and we are
paving again this year than they did for the last ten years. So, the streets are looking better, but the
patching needs to be brought up to date.
They’re falling a little behind in the street sweeping. But, I’ll tell you what. I think this Council and this Administration
has paved more streets and worked with the State of West Virginia to get Culler Road and Pennsylvania Avenue looking in good
shape, and Main Street. And, uh…but, there’s…there’s still a lot of
work to be done. So, it’s…it’s not…it is
bad…I’ve got ‘em in my neighborhood Henry.
I’ve got one, Marshall, that’s been 50 years, and this is the first year
they have ever been on the list to be…to be paved. But, that’s…that’s not the particular issue I
was addressing when you questioned me on that.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “But, you said
you were… (unintelligible).”
Councilmember
Harold Miller commented, “They are
doing 50-some, 40-some, 40 streets this year.
You received a copy of the list.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “I got a copy
though. I don’t see anything downtown.”
Councilmember
Harold Miller commented, “You
submitted your streets you wanted paved.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “I wasn’t even
asked! I went up. He…Brae Bryant told me he was going that one
street I wanted done downtown. He said
he was going to do it. He showed it to
me on a piece of paper. He never did
it. He never did it. I went up and talked to him again. He never did it.”
Councilmember
Harold Miller commented, “I think
that you have to address that with…uh…John and Brae and Public Works. But, every Councilman’s request…requested to
submit by (unintelligible) streets.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “I know
that! I’m not getting it! Why don’t you understand? I’m not getting it done!”
Mayor
Miller commented, “OK. Gentlemen.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “You need…you
need some done up in your area too. I’ve
seen those.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “We’re not
go…we’re not going to settle it here.”
Councilmember
Dalrymple commented, “Don’t start
picking on my area Henry.”
(LAUGHTER)
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “No. I’m just telling you. I was up there.”
Councilmember
Dalrymple commented, “You worry
about your ward. I’ll worry about my
ward. Thank you.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “I see. That’s right.
You worry about yours.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “John. John.
Tomorrow, have Brae call the City Manager. We’ll have a separate meeting with the
Councilmen in relationship to the number of streets that we got…that we have on
the list. As Councilman Miller said,
we’ve had well over…well I would say we’ll be up in the 50s. Streets for the last two years we’ll have
paved 35 one year and I think we’ll have about 20 this year coming on board
somewhere.”
Councilmember
Kondik commented, “John…”
Mayor
Miller commented,
“Essentially…where we’re at, and I know Councilman Veltri has some in his area
to. So, gentlemen, we can stay here all
night and argue the streets. It’s better
that Public Works and the Councilmen either separately or singly get together
and find out what streets they got a problem with and where we can go. The bid’s already been let out. It’s been made. We got app…1.2 million dollars set aside for
funds for the streets. And you guys can
get up and have your intramurals onto what particular streets have to be done
and why. I’m more concerned with the
street sweeper and keeping our streets clean.
So, tomorrow Brae will call the City Manager. The City Manager will get in touch with the
Councilmen, and you can all come in and have your sessions. OK.
Councilmember
Veltri commented, “I see…I see the
wrong picture in here Mayor. I see Mr.
Bryant, Brae’s not here right now. Well,
I s…think we should do. The Manager,
tomorrow morning, first thing in the morning, should call Brae and tell him of
this, we have a problem here with the sweeper or the streets or whatever, and
we should get this cleared up once for all.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “I agree with
you.”
Councilmember
Veltri commented, “I don’t think…I
don’t think that Mr. Brown should be the run guy between us guys here and Brae
Bryant. I think the Manager should call
him tomorrow morning. Let’s get it
straightened out.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Well. They will communicate tomorrow.”
Councilmember
Veltri commented, “And, I
appreciate that.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “OK. OK.
Moving right along. We’re having
fun.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “I am.”
(LAUGHTER)
CITIZEN COMMENTS
Donna Rosohac 304
Liberty Avenue, Weirton, WV 26062:
Ms. Rosohac commented, “I don’t know if you have enough time for all our
remarks.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Well. That’s all right. We’d love to hear some of them.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Mayor, I think
you are doing a wonderful job.”
Thomas
Maher commented, “Will you step up
to the podium please?”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Yes. Just step up.
State your name and address. I
want to make sure that Craig…this is probably his last session with us. Sorry to see you go Craig, but I hope you
have fun out at, I’ll call it the Burgettstown ballroom, or Brawl room,
however. Go ahead Donna. State your name and address.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Um…yes. Donna Rosohac and I live at 304 Liberty. OK.
Um…Mayor, I do recall. Do you
remember me coming in a few times to talk to you in person on certain issues? Um…every time I do report a problem to any
street department, anything…um…. Nothing
ever seems to get done…um….
I have moved back into Weirton.
I’ve been gone for 30 years. I
put up a…a house that’s nearly completed and…um…the area where it’s at, I left
30 years ago, came back, and the streets have not…they’re…they…they look worse
now than they did when I left 30 years ago.
Uh…it’s the North End. I went out
there and found out a little bit, cause I never lived in the city. So, you have to find out who your councilman
is.
Just…just numerous problems in every
department. The Inspections Department. I came down one day after lunch. I had a problem. I was out in the little hallway in the
waiting area…um…sat there and heard…uh…very much sexual harassment going
on…uh…didn’t feel very comfortable to go up to the window…uh…uh…did sit and
wait…uh…didn’t say anything…finally got back.
But, I did have a problem with the Inspections Department…uh…on two or
three different occasions.
Um…can you answer one question for me?”
Mayor
Miller commented, “I’ll try.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “If you have…if
you have…if you believe you have a building code violation, and you bring it to
the code official’s attention, is it not their job to take care of that for
you?”
Mayor
Miller commented, “I would think
so. Where’s…uh…where’s Rod at? Right there.
I’ll let him…uh…answer your question then.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Well. He…he did answer my question. Um…I had…uh…brought it to their attention
that I thought the wrong nail was used to put up some siding. They said they would gladly look at the nail,
but that I would have to pull the siding off to show them the nail. Now is that what I pay for my inspection?”
Councilmember
Moore commented, “We can’t handle
private property. Isn’t that correct
John? I mean…if there were damages, if
she were unhappy with the way that it was removed or stored then we’d be
liable.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “Well, I don’t know what
the context is. Are you talking about
someone did a repair on your home, and you don’t like the nails they used?”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “No. It was brought to my attention after the
siding was put on that the wrong nail may have been used.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “It was put on…put on
where?”
Mr.
Rosnick commented, “On her home
John.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Put on the
house.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “On your house?”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Yes.”
Mr.
Rosnick commented, “She brought a
sample. John Serefini went out and
looked at the nail. She showed him the
sample. It looked like a proper nail. It wouldn’t be nail we would use, but it met
code. We refused to strip the siding
off, and look at the nails on the house.
Uh…we don’t have the tools or the equipment to strip siding and I don’t
want the liability of pulling the siding off someone’s house and our
responsibility to put it back on.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “Is…is that the type of
nail that was used for the whole job?”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Uh…it…it’s a
roofing nail is what came to my attention.
That’s what it looked like, a T-headed roofing nail.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “And, if Mr.…Mr. Rosnick
said that that fits the description of what was required to use then what would
be the complaint though?”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Well, also I
had a…um…made an appointment with him…with Mr. Rosnick, but he never showed
up.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “Well, that’s a
different issue though. That’s a
different issue. But…uh…what type of
nails would you have thought they would have used there?”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Uh…it should
have been a different type of nail.
(Unintelligible) A roofing nail
is a roofing nail. But, I’m just…for my
concern, I…I…I…I don’t feel that, uh…to pull a small piece of siding, I don’t
believe is…um…you know (unintelligible) to me.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “Well…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “I mean, you pay
for inspections. Do you not?”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “Yea, but…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “…to protect the
builder and to go by the building codes.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “If…if he’s taking…if
he’s taking…uh…siding off, you want him to put it back like it looked when you…before
you took it off.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Oh no. I wouldn’t…I wouldn’t expect him to put it
back.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “Oh.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “I’d just expect
him to maybe take it off with me.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “OK. But if it’s…if it’s a…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “But, I did that
myself.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “If it’s a galvanized…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “I’m a girl, but
I can handle that.”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “If it’s a galvanized
nail and it meets the code, then, I don’t know, it wouldn’t be up to us to do
anything different. I mean, if…if…if…so
long as it’s long enough, I would think would be more of a problem.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Did you…”
Mr. Yeager
commented, “If they were real short
ones, they wouldn’t go into the wood.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “…talk with a
contractor? Did you talk with a
contractor? I mean…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Yea, I did.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “And?”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “And, of course,
he…he…he said there…there…he was not aware of any code (unintelligible) what
type of nails we could use.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “What…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “He’s a
reputable contractor, so then I brought it back to…you know…the Inspections
Department. But, just numerous…I mean, I
could go on and on…”
Mayor
Miller commented, “I’ll tell you
what you can do for me, if you would.
Just, go ahead and make up a list of them. You and I can sit down and chat and…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “I’d like to
come in and see you maybe Monday. And, when
I call, you do return my calls, and I…I appreciate it. I…I wouldn’t have got my…um…building permit
if it wasn’t for you, because the Inspections Department told me after nine
weeks that they lost my blueprints. So,
just…I mean, this is the kind stuff I’m here to talk about...”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Well, we…we talk
about our street sweeper and the lemon law, and this may…you may be one of
those that I call Mr. Mincik (sp) like Lil’ Abner, got the cloud hanging over
you. Whatever you’ve got a problem with,
you come in, you come to see me or the City Manager. We’ll see what we can do.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Uh huh. I’ve been to Gary’s office also.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Well, we aim to
please. We want to be business friendly
and citizen friendly, and we do miss the boat sometimes.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Well, I…I
just…um…one of the few things I brought to…um…uh…you know, mention, I…I was
told that wasn’t in the City’s budget.
Um…I would like to see if I could get a guard rail next to where my
house is. It’s a…it’s a straight down
street…straight down. There was never a
house there before, but, you know, there are now. But, I just wish that I wouldn’t have to
worry about one day sleeping in the bedroom and a…and a car coming through…”
Mayor
Miller commented, “And, that does
happen, all over.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “So…um…and, I
don’t know who to go through…uh…Councilman for that possibly…”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “Mrs.
Rosohac.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Yes.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “First of
all, I’m Councilman Jerry Miller. You
spoke to me earlier today.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Yes.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “OK. I’ve also been out to your house about the
light situation that you talked about.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Yes.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “And, Mr.
Brown out there, I believe, him and Brae…uh…was out there about the water
problem.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Well, that took
about one year before anybody came out to take care of that.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “OK. Well, I’ve only been in office a year, so…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Yea, but…I mean
they know me.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “OK.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “They don’t like
me.”
Mr. Brown
commented, “That’s not true Mrs.
Rosohac. That is not true.”
(CROSSTALK)
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “At this
point here, I’d like the Mayor…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “When I
call…when I call the Street Department, when they tell me that there is no Mr.
Brown working for the City!”
Mr. Brown
commented, “We have a work order to
do the guard rail before winter. We have
put a curb behind her house in the alley.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “OK.”
Mr. Brown
commented, “We have built a
retaining wall where the water is coming off her mother’s property…”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “OK.”
Mr. Brown
commented, “…and, I believe that
she built on a hillside that has springs…”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “Well, her
and I have had this conversation on the springs.”
Mr. Brown
commented, “…and on Front Street I
put in a drainage system and got an easement from her mother, through Mayor
Miller, to take it over through their property.
And, that catch basin was to assist her when she built her home last
winter, in the wintertime.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “OK.”
Mr. Brown
commented, “So, we have done plenty
down there.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “We have tried to
help, but it…this…this is kind of like a public forum where we air it out, and
I…”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Yea. Well, I’m not talking about the front of my
house.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Well, what
I…what I would prefer is if you got some legitimate complaints, just kind of
write them up, and we’ll…we’ll address them one by one.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “Yea. Cause the only two you’ve talked to me about
was the water and the lights, and both of those I have addressed. And, the light situation that we talked about
earlier today, the City Manager will check out first thing tomorrow
morning. We do not get the work
orders. They do. But, he will follow up with Kathy, his
secretary, who made the order a week and a half or so ago, after I went back
and took another look with Gary, and you are to get a light there on that one
pole and also a skirt on the other light that was up the hill. And, those are the only two issues that
you’ve spoke with me on. But, if there’s
anything else we can be of assistance, you know, we’re here to represent you
and try to help you.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “Well, I
appreciate that.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Thank you.”
Councilmember
Jerry Miller commented, “Thanks.”
Ms.
Rosohac commented, “You’re
welcome.”
OLD BUSINESS
Ordinance: Second Reading
No. 1485:
AMENDING ARTICLE 331.01 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF WEIRTON (ADOPTION OF STATE
LAW)
Motion was made by Councilmember J. Miller, second
by Councilmember Veltri.
The motion passed by majority, 7/0.
ORDINANCE NO. 1485
ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE 331.01
OF THE
CODE OF THE CITY OF WEIRTON
Article 331.01
of the Code of the City of Weirton,
as amended, is hereby amended as follows:
331.01
ADOPTION OF
STATE LAW
All of the
provisions and requirements of West Virginia Code Chapter 17A, 17B, 17C, and
17D, in regard to traffic regulations and laws of the road, or amendments or
additions thereto, as well as any future amendments or additions thereto,
insofar as such provisions and requirements can have application within the
City, are hereby adopted and made a part hereof, provided that local
regulations shall not be affected by the adoption of the State Law under this
section. No person shall fail, neglect,
or refuse to comply with the provisions and requirements adopted herein.
The Ordinance shall become effective
thirty (30) days after passage.
First Reading: May
8, 2006
Publication Date: May 15, 2006
Second Reading: June
12, 2006
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Ordinance: Second Reading
No. 1486:
AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 1334 AND SECTION 797-02 OF
THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF WEIRTON,
RAISING THE HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FROM THREE PERCENT TO SIX PERCENT.
Motion was made by Councilmember Veltri, second by
Councilmember Kondik.
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “Can I say a couple
of words? Mayor, I know you like
me. So, I just thought I’d tell you, you
know, I’m going to vote against this?”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Against what?”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “What we were
just talking about.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “Oh. I’m sorry.”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “I’m going to
vote against it. I don’t know why you
would want to…try to get someone closed…try to close somebody up with
taxes…with taxes. I…I can’t see
that. I…I don’t…you know, times are
tough anyhow. You know we don’t have
jobs here. You’re…you’re gonna go along
with something like this. You know,
that’s fine. I’m sure you have something
in mind be…to use this. I understand
that. But, I’m sorry. I just want to let you know.”
The motion passed by majority, 6/1 with
Councilmember DeMasis voting against.
Mayor
Miller commented, “For your
information Council, this…Councilman, this will help increase the funding in
the parks and recreation area, and you have been one of the Councilmen citing
the lack of facilities in your particular ward.
And, part of the money we’re trying to ascertain in here would be to do
something in your ward or in the bigger.
So, you voted against it, and that’s your prerogative. I’m just saying this is essentially what we
have going, and…uh…it has nothing to do with a tax against the people that’s in
the City of Weirton. This will tax…”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “I understand
that.”
Mayor
Miller commented, “This will tax
those…those coming in using hotel/motel. OK.
Everywhere you travel in this great nation of ours, you will pay
anywhere from 6 to 13 percent anytime you rent a hotel/motel room. I spent 30 years traveling, and every…even in
Venezuela,
they had a tax down there. So, believe
me Councilman, it’s not nothing that we’re doing to harm the City of Weirton. What we’re going to try to do is use the
funds for recreation in parks, as well as the CVB. So, be that as it may…”
Councilmember
DeMasis commented, “Where did you
pull that out of, you socks or what?”
Mayor
Miller commented, “No.”
(LAUGHTER)
Councilmember
Moore commented, “According to the
National League of Cities in the news weekly we got from them two weeks ago in
our packet, the average hotel/motel tax in the U.S. is 6.2 percent. So, we are now average.”
ORDINANCE
NO. 1486
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NUMBER 1334 AND SECTION
797.02 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF WEIRTON, RAISING THE HOTEL
OCCUPANCY TAX FROM THREE PERCENT TO SIX PERCENT
WHEREAS the legislature of
the State of West Virginia has given municipalities the authority to raise
their hotel occupancy taxes to a maximum of six percent (6%) by provisions
appearing at West Virginia Code section 7-18-2; and
WHEREAS the Common Council
of the City of Weirton, Hancock and Brooke Counties West Virginia has the
authority to impose taxes under the general provisions of West Virginia Code
section 8-11-3 (1) et seq; and
WHEREAS the City currently
imposes an excise tax on the occupancy of hotel rooms which is assessed at
three per centum (3%) of the cost of each hotel room rented in the City,
excepting only rooms which are rented in hotels having less than three (3)
rooms or where any person is paying rent for the occupancy of a hotel room for
more than thirty (30) days; and
WHEREAS Council has
determined that it is in the best interest of the citizens of the City to
increase the hotel tax for the purpose of supporting tourism development and
increasing certain revenues;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it
ordained and enacted by the Common Council of the City of Weirton, Hancock and
Brooke Counties, West Virginia that:
1. A public hearing shall
be held to hear the comments of persons affected by this measure, as well as
all other citizens desiring to be heard, at 7:00 p.m. on June 12, 2006, as
required by West Virginia Code section 7-18-2;
2. Notice of said hearing
shall be published as a Class I notice in a newspaper of general circulation in
the City;
3. Ordinance Number 1334,
passed on January 7, 2002 and the version thereof codified in the City of
Weirton, West Virginia Code of Ordinances as Article 797, section 2 (797.2)
“Hotel Occupancy Tax,” shall be modified to provide as follows:
Ҥ 797.02 IMPOSITION AND
LEVY OF TAX; EXCEPTIONS; RATE.
“There is hereby imposed
and levied an excise tax upon the occupancy, on or after July 1, 2006, of all
hotel rooms within the corporate limits of the city equal to Six Per centum
(6%) of the cost of each hotel room;
provided that each tax
shall not be levied on the occupancy of hotel rooms in hotels having less than
three rooms or on the occupancy of any hotel room where any person is paying
the consideration for the occupancy of such hotel room for 30 or more
consecutive days.
“(Ord. 1334, passed
1-7-02); (Ord. _____, passed June 12, 2006);”
This ordinance shall become
effective immediately upon passage.
FIRST READING: May
08, 2006
PUBLICATION DATE: May 15, 2006
PUBLIC HEARING: June 12, 2006
SECOND READING: June
12, 2006
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