WEIRTON CITY COUNCIL

December 2, 2002

SPECIAL SESSION

A special session of the Common Council of the City of Weirton, Brooke and Hancock Counties, was held on Monday, December 2, 2002, at 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of the Weirton City Building, with Mayor Dean Harris presiding.

Councilmembers present were D.J. Minella, John Moore, George Ash, George Kondik, David Cline, and Chris Fletcher. City officials in attendance were Joseph Cicchirillo, Valerie Means, and Karen Orler.

Mayor Harris led the Pledge of Allegiance.

It was moved by Councilman Fletcher and seconded by Councilman Ash to allow comments from citizens; this passed unanimously. There were no comments.

Councilman Moore brought up cutting the number of councilmembers by two. He advised that the City has lost approximately 10,000 people, and he felt this would save the City money, approximately $20,000. Councilman Minella questioned the figure of $20,000. Ms. Means advised that councilmembers earn $2,700 per year, with councilmembers receiving $50 for attendance at special meetings. There are no fringe benefits, and the City pays 9.5 percent for retirement. Councilman Cline advised that the Charter changes being considered tonight are only those recommended by the Secretary of State's office for the election.

Second Reading-Ordinance No. 1355 providing for proposed charter amendments for City elections: It was moved by Councilman Minella and seconded by Councilman Moore to approve the second reading of this Ordinance to amend the City Charter Article VIII: Nominations and Elections to change the City's municipal general election to the second Tuesday in June and to change the City's municipal election procedures to conform and comply with the municipal election procedures established by the State of West Virginia. The Mayor advised that the first reading of this Ordinance took place on October 7, 2002; the publication dates were October 10 and 17, 2002; the public hearing was held on November 13, 2002; and the second reading is this date, December 2, 2002. This complies with the State code. Councilman Cline asked if there were any comments at the public hearing; Mr. Cicchirillo advised there were no comments. This ordinance passed unanimously at second reading.

First Reading-Ordinance establishing date of City's primary election: It was moved by Councilman Kondik and seconded by Councilman Cline to approve at first reading an ordinance setting the date for the City of Weirton's primary election on the first Tuesday in April commencing in 2003, and on the first Tuesday in April in each succeeding fourth year thereafter; this passed unanimously.

First Reading-Ordinance establishing candidate filing fees for municipal elections: It was moved by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Cline to approve at first reading an ordinance establishing the filing fee for mayor at $100 and the filing fee for council at $50. Councilman Cline asked if this was a change in amount; Mayor Harris advised it was not. This passed unanimously.

First Reading-Ordinance establishing dates for the City's lottery for ballot position in municipal elections: It was moved by Councilman Ash and seconded by Councilman Moore to approve at first reading an ordinance establishing the date of the lottery for ballot positions for the municipal primary election on the first Thursday immediately following the close of the candidate filing period, and for the municipal general election on the first Thursday immediately following the certification of the election results from the municipal primary election. This passed unanimously.

First Reading-Ordinance establishing date a candidate may withdraw from municipal elections: It was moved by Councilman Ash and seconded by Councilman Moore to approve at first reading an ordinance establishing the date for any candidate who wishes to withdraw from the municipal primary election as noon of the first Friday immediately following the close of the candidate filing period, and for the municipal general election as noon of the first Friday immediately following the certification of the election results from the municipal primary election. This passed unanimously.

First Reading-Ordinance establishing compensation for election officials for municipal elections: It was moved by Councilman Kondik and seconded by Councilman Minella to approve at first reading an ordinance establishing compensation for the ballot commission at $125 per election, for poll clerk/commissioner at $100 per election and $15 per training, for #1 poll commissioner (supply commissioner) at $120 per election and $15 per training, for alternates at $15 per training, and for the return clerk at $10 per election. Councilman Ash talked about a past dispute over compensation by the counties. This passed unanimously.

First Reading-Ordinance establishing method of voting in municipal elections: It was moved by Councilman Cline and seconded by Councilman Fletcher to approve at first reading an ordinance establishing the method of voting in municipal primary and general elections whether by paper ballot, lever machine, punch card, optical scanner, touch screen, or any other method, shall be one approved by the West Virginia Secretary of State's office, and until changed by future ordinance, the City of Weirton shall at its discretion use either lever voting machines, punch cards, and/or paper ballots for all its municipal primary and general elections; this passed unanimously.

Resolution-to enter into contract for health insurance coverage for City of Weirton employees: Ms. Means advised that a Benefits Committee was formed consisting of approximately 14 employees from all departments and from the unions; she and Miki Marino were also part of this process. An RFP was sent to vendors; the Committee reviewed the responses, threw out those that were too costly, and came up with two plans; presentations were then made to the Committee by representatives of these plans, which were a 90/70 plan from Mountain State Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and an HMO from Carelink. After reviewing the presentations, the Committee's recommendation was Carelink. It was moved by Councilman Fletcher and seconded by Councilman Minella to approve the resolution authorizing the City Manager to enter into contract with Carelink of Charleston, WV, administered by Accordia of West Virginia of Wheeling, WV, for health insurance coverage for City of Weirton employees, effective 12:00 a.m. on January 1, 2003. Mayor Harris advised that the present contract with Mountain State will end at 11:59 p.m. on December 31, 2002. Councilman Fletcher asked Ms. Means how much of a budget increase Council had made in this line item. Ms. Means advised that a $92,000 had been put in, and Carelink came in at a $71,000 increase, or 13 percent. Ms. Means also gave Council a spreadsheet comparing the different plans. Staying with the present Mountain State plan would have been a 30 percent increase. She had asked to have Council consider this at this special meeting to allow more time for the enrollment period. Mr. Cicchirillo also advised that he had to give notice to Mountain State that the City is leaving their plan; he will send this letter tomorrow if this is passed. Councilman Minella congratulated staff who worked on the issue.

Councilman Cline asked if there were any changes for retirees. Ms. Means advised that they will have to go with Carelink also. He also asked about prescriptions. Ms. Means advised that under Carelink the plan has a formulary, and prices are $10 for generic, $20 for brand names, and $50 for non-formulary drugs. Nathan Mazur from Accordia brought up that the Carelink plan offers a mail order benefit for maintenance type drugs. Councilman Cline also asked about emergency room visits. Mr. Mazur advised that emergency room visits are $50, and the fee is waived if the individual is admitted. Mayor Harris asked about referrals from primary care physicians; Mr. Mazur advised that under this plan primary care physicians do not have to be contacted, and Carelink adheres to the "prudent layperson" definition in visits to the emergency room.

Mayor Harris also congratulated staff on their work for this issue, and the Council on budgeting an increase for this line item.

This resolution passed unanimously.

With no further business before this special session of the Common Council of the City of Weirton, the meeting was adjourned after the closing prayer.