A Special Session of the Common Council of the City of Weirton, Hancock and Brooke Counties, was held on June 18, 2001 at 5:30 p.m. in Council's Chamber of the Municipal Building.

Councilmembers in attendance: Charlie Mitchell, D.J. Minella, John Moore, George Ash, George Kondik, David Cline, Christopher Fletcher.

City officials in attendance: Joe Cicchirillo, Joe DiBartolomeo, Chief Cole, Gene DelGreco, Melissa Farley, Valerie Means and Dan Mastrantoni.

A motion was made by Councilmember Ash, second by Councilmember Moore to allow for citizens comments. This passed 7-0, so ordered. There were no remarks.

Harris said it would have to be removed from the June 11^th tabling and voted on unanimously to be removed from the table. A motion was made by Councilmember Moore, second by Councilmember Ash to remove from the table an ordinance establishing zoning change from residential to commercial (for Mercy Baptist Church, Pennsylvania Avenue.)

Joe DiBartolomeo corrected it would have to be voted by majority and not unanimous. Harris concurred. A roll call vote was taken to remove from the table with a yes is in favor, a no is opposed: Councilmember Fletcher Yes

Councilmember Mitchell Yes

Councilmember Minella Yes

Councilmember Moore Yes

Councilmember Ash Yes

Councilmember Kondik Yes

Councilmember Cline Yes

The motions to remove from the table was passed by a 7-0 vote, so ordered.

A motion was made by Councilmember Moore, second by Councilmember Kondik for an ordinance for a zoning change from residential to commercial. Councilmember Cline explained speaking with an adjacent property owner since the tabling, saying the owner thought the property would be residential. Councilmember Ash said he was contacted by (John) Greco. Ash asked Harris if Greco could comment. Harris asked Greco to address council.

Greco said he purchased property in April and thought the property would be residential. He explained the front part (of his property) was supposed to be commercial and the back part residential to help pay for the commercial.

Ash said he got snookered into signing for the meeting, saying Moore told him that Kondik, Minella and Moore had signed. Ash felt this should be on the agenda because its not fair to Mr. Greco to put it on hold. He didn't feel it appropriate to change this from residential to commercial and council should wait for the consultant report.

Moore apologized to Ash saying Kondik wanted him to sign for the special meeting and he himself wanted this item removed from the table. He said Minella was at the airport and unavailable so he asked Ash to sign. Minella said Moore was correct, he was not available.

Greco explained his property is on the west side. Council referred to a map of the area. Gene DelGreco pointed out a paper street.

Moore said the property is on 200 feet of commercial and not developing 19 acres would be worthless unless changed to commercial. Councilmember Mitchell asked to see the area of Greco's property and then commented he too wouldn't want a recreational area placed there either.

Harris explained to the public how a special council meeting can be called by himself or three Councilmembers signatures. Kondik said he started the special meeting last week with the intent of putting the heating and cooling system in on Marland Heights, saying he asked Moore and Minella to sign; Moore contacted him and wanted to include the zoning change to which he had agreed. Kondik said he didn't know who be the third person to sign.

Councilmember Mitchell discussed council receives items on Friday and have to vote on it on Monday. He explained refusing to sign as the third person because he didn't feel tax payers money should be wasted with just a two day notice. Kondik asked Joe Cicchirillo to explain to Mitchell where the money was coming from for the cooling system but Harris requested discussing the agenda item at hand.

Councilmember Fletcher said he struggled with this, saying he ran for office as a young person and hoped it was why he was elected and the proposed development is geared toward young people who got him elected. He commented speaking with DelGreco and Rod Rosnick; he spoke with the consultant today. He said concerns are traffic, the slope of the area, general noise, lighting and the impact on the property next to it which was purchased under current rules that it is residential. He discussed at Oakland and the cul-de-sac, if there were resources to acquire the lot behind the funeral home and connect the two. He said he hoped this would've remained tabled but as presented, anything C-1 can go back there. He said a philosophy of the comprehensive land use plan is to curb the commercial sprawl to focus on underdeveloped areas for redevelopment. He wanted to see it voted down and revisited.

Moore said Oakland is a dead end, the ball field is city property and Denise Drive is blocked off; there's only Warsaw street; access would be with the paper street if developed. He didn't understand why the recreational facility couldn't be developed. A roll call vote was taken with a yes is in favor of the ordinance, a no is opposed:

Councilmember Mitchell No

Councilmember Minella No

Councilmember Moore Yes

Councilmember Ash No

Councilmember Kondik Yes

Councilmember Cline No

Councilmember Fletcher No

The ordinance failed by a 2 in favor and 5 opposed vote.

A motion was made by Councilmember Kondik, second by Councilmember Cline to adopt a resolution to authorize purchase from Robinson & Son Construction, Weirton a heating and cooling system for Marland Heights Company #2 Fire Station in the amount of $5,200. Kondik asked for the city manager to explain where the money is coming from. Cicchirillo explained the capital expenditure was from this years budget; bids were taken in June 12^th. Councilmember Mitchell said he understood but couldn't find where it was budgeted, asking if it was using money from something else. Cline said it's a long term plan from fire dept. that was three or four months old and came with the packet a long time ago. Mitchell apologized. Cline said he didn't ask for it specifically.

Councilmember Fletcher discussed a memo from Valerie Means which asked to know about the bid openings so it could be finalized. Fletcher asked why they waited. Cicchirillo said it was scheduled for the 12^th and its for this years budget. Fletcher again asked why since the dept administrators know to expedite it. Chief Cole explained it was submitted early, legally advertised, responses were returned but Cicchirillo's secretary had informed it just missed the regular council meeting. Cole said there was also a pre-bid meeting. Fletcher said more attention should be given because these two items have costed and additional $350 that could've been avoided. The resolution passed 7-0, so ordered.

A motion was made by Councilmember Kondik, second by Councilmember Minella to adopt a resolution to enter into contract with Fireap, Wellsburg, WV in the amount of $4,075 for purchase of hydraulic hose expander for Weirton Fire Dept. Councilmember Cline asked for a description. Chief Cole explained it automatically puts brass rings into the hoses. This passed 7-0, so ordered.

With no further business before this, the Special Session of the Common Council of the City of Weirton, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

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