2026-09-01 - City Council

11:56the municipal municipality as an

11:58employer, municipal services, law

12:01enforcement and leadership on LGBTQ plus

12:03equality.

12:05CCCCC

12:06program specialist Julia Meyers and

12:08assistant director Ty Beduna will speak

12:11on the work of the center and its

12:13programs to support LGBTQ plus

12:15community. and Andrew Schneider, the

12:18executive director of Fairness West

12:20Virginia, will speak on Don't Stop

12:22Believing. Dr. Kim Scott, director of

12:25WVU Choirs, will conduct a choir of

12:28Morgantown Folk, as well as a few folks

12:30from the Pittsburgh Pride Choir, which

12:32she also conducts. The program will be

12:35live streamed through WVU. We'd like to

12:38thank the city for partial funding of

12:40this program. Thank you.

12:43>> Thank you.

12:43>> Thank you so much. Our

12:51next item of correspondence this evening

12:53is the fiscal year 25 audit report. Uh

12:57yes, thank you mayor. As you are aware,

12:59our um annually we are required to

13:02complete an audit of our financials. We

13:04have our interim finance director,

13:06Jennifer Straight, here who will present

13:08to you the results of the fiscal year 25

13:10audit report which is in your packet.

13:13>> Thank you. Uh this year, I'm sorry, the

13:1525 audit report was completed by uh BHM

13:19CPA Group. I believe that's also who

13:21completed our 24s. The audit was

13:23conducted in accordance with generally

13:25accepted auditing standards and

13:28government auditing standards, ensure

13:30ensuring a comprehensive and independent

13:32review of the city's financial

13:33statements and uh compliance

13:35obligations.

13:37Um the audit sends an opinion letter. Um

13:40their opinion was unmodified. It states

13:44in their opinion based on the audit and

13:46the reports of other auditors, the

13:48financial statements present fairly and

13:50all material respects in accordance with

13:52accepting I'm sorry with accounting

13:55principles generally accepted in the

13:57United States of America. Uh, this

13:59report represents the highest level of

14:01assurance an independent auditor can

14:03provide. It indicates the city's

14:05financial statements are free from

14:07material misstatement and conform to

14:10generally accepting

14:13accepted auditing standards.

14:16The next section of the

14:20massive auditing book you guys were

14:23provided with is uh the report on

14:26internal controls over financial

14:27reporting and compliance. Again, uh

14:30reportable instances of non-compliance

14:33and material weakness and significant

14:35deficiencies were not identified. We did

14:37not have any

14:39um reporting on compliance with major

14:41major federal programs. Uh, in the

14:45auditor's opinion, the city of

14:46Morgantown complied with all material

14:48respects with the compliance

14:50requirements referred to above and could

14:53have direct and material effect on each

14:56of the major federal programs of the

14:57year ended in uh, June of 25.

15:02Um, the

15:06one instance of non-compliance

15:08um, we did have is the timeliness of the

15:11single audit. The city is required to

15:13submit the data collection form and

15:15reporting package within uh 30 calendar

15:18days of the receipt of the auditor's

15:21report or 9 months after the end of the

15:23audit period. This finding did not

15:26modify the auditor's opinion of the

15:28city's major federal programs.

15:31Uh the city does agree uh that the

15:34non-compliance finding related to

15:36non-submitting I'm sorry not submitting

15:38the audit report

15:40package to the federal audit clearing

15:42house within the time frame required uh

15:45that was our issue. The delay was due to

15:48unanticipated turnover of key financial

15:51department personnel in the spring of

15:5225. The staffing turnover was unrelated

15:55to any fraud or misconduct, but resulted

15:58in delays to year-end fiscal processes.

16:01The city's corrective action included

16:03appointing a new finance director and

16:05promoting the compliance manager to

16:07assistance finance director to restore

16:09operational continuity and leverage

16:12institutional knowledge within the

16:14finance department. Internal controls

16:15and audit timelines were reviewed and

16:18reinforced to ensure future compliance.

16:20With these measures in place, city

16:22leadership expects full compliance with

16:24single audit submissions requiring full

16:26requiring going forward

16:29for the airport PFC. Uh no reportable

16:33instances of non-compliance, significant

16:35deficiencies or material weaknesses were

16:38identified.

16:40Uh, in the auditor's opinion, the city

16:42of Morgantown complied with all material

16:45respects with the requirements referred

16:46to the above that are applicable to its

16:49PFC program for the year ending June

16:5230th of 25.

16:55So, in all, the city uh received an

16:58unmodified clean audit opinions. No

17:01material weaknesses or significant

17:03deficiencies were identified and the

17:05only minor compliance issue was the time

17:09timeliness doing due to staff turnover.

17:12Uh preparing the city's books and

17:14records for annual audit was

17:16collaborative effort and I want to

17:18extend my appreciation to everyone in

17:21the finance department who contributed

17:22to this process. The staff continues to

17:24strive

17:28to improve the timeliness uh completion

17:30of the audit for um these coming years.

17:34Last the 25 audit was completed slightly

17:37faster than the 24. Uh a special note of

17:41thanks goes out to John Ferguson, Denise

17:43Stephanie, Courtney Losa, and Brandon

17:46Oliver for their outstanding

17:47contributions and dedication to getting

17:50the 25 audit completed. City leadership

17:53remains committed to maintaining high

17:55standards and financial management and

17:56compliance. The result of this audit

17:58reflects the resilience and

18:00professionalism of the finance

18:02department for the city's dedication to

18:04sound fiscal governance. We appreciate

18:06and continue the continued support of

18:08city council and look forward to

18:09building a strong foundation in this

18:11fiscal year.

18:15>> Thank you. Are there any questions for

18:18Jamie or Jennifer on the audit report?

18:24>> Just appreciation that you all deal with

18:27this and that you provide this report

18:30that um helps us to satisfy the

18:33requirements that are needed to be

18:34satisfied

18:36and keep our fiscal house in order.

18:39>> Thank you so much.

18:40>> Thank you.

18:41>> Appreciate you.

18:45Um, next item on the agenda is report of

18:48proclamations. First, West Virginia

18:50Council of International Programs Day

18:532026 proclamation had been submitted. I

18:56attended a reception on Sunday afternoon

19:01and presented that proclamation. We

19:03welcomed two German social work

19:06participants, Kim and Andre Andrea. Um,

19:11and two other participants will be

19:13arriving this week from other areas of

19:16the world. Um, I also attended Young

19:20Eagles Day at the Morgantown Municipal

19:22Airport on Saturday and presented a

19:25proclamation. The weather was fantastic

19:28and many youth had the opportunity to

19:32take what I'm sure for most of them is

19:35their first flight. And that was uh I

19:38think that's some of the best weather

19:39we've had. And it was um fun all around.

19:42They were allowed to do some exploration

19:45of aircraft and the airport and there

19:48were a couple of other organizations set

19:50up with activities. So fun day.

19:52>> Okay, cool.

19:53>> Um we have no public hearings this

19:56evening. The only item of unfinished

19:58business is boards and commissions. I do

20:00not believe we have any action to take

20:02on that. So, we will just move into our

20:05public portion. Subject to rules

20:07established by council adopted by

20:09resolution. Generally, approach the

20:11podium, state your name and some form of

20:13address. You're given four minutes to

20:15speak. Uh, we do have a signup sheet.

20:18You do not have to be signed up to

20:20speak, but we will start here. The first

20:22person, sorry, the only person on the

20:24sheet is Annie Cronin York.

20:37Good evening friends and others. It's

20:39been a while since I've been here. Um,

20:43so I have a lot of stuff to talk about.

20:46I am no longer affiliated with City of

20:48Morgantown. I make that clear to anybody

20:50who asks, especially when I'm speaking

20:51in public. I know there's complaint

20:54about me explaining the MEI to a Rotary

20:56Club.

20:58So, thanks. Um, [snorts] there's no

21:01announcement that I left the Human

21:03Rights Commission. I did that in June

21:06and

21:08now in the hands of Stephanie Hunt and I

21:10doing my best to help her out and I wish

21:12her the best of luck. There's a lot to

21:14do.

21:17Um,

21:18so some dumb administrative maybe talk

21:22to Damian about these items. The power

21:26switch for the handicap accessible door

21:28downstairs does not work outside.

21:31Usually works inside, but outside not so

21:33much. Today it did not work. Secondly,

21:37Damian had gotten a white stripe painted

21:40down the side of Pocanas for a

21:42pedestrian lane because the school buses

21:44dump off students there every day.

21:46morning, you know, they picked them up

21:48and they took them off to walk home at

21:50night at the bottom of university at top

21:53from Collins Ferry. So to put that white

21:56line there with the pedestrian lane was

21:57very important and a lot of people use

22:00it, but the line has been run over and

22:02is gone now. And we never did get any

22:04signs up or pavement markings that

22:05that's what it's there for. So people

22:07drive over it anyway. Not sure why it's

22:09even there. Is that a bike lane? No,

22:11it's on the wrong side of the road to be

22:12a bike lane.

22:14But it is meant for pedestrians. for the

22:16safety of school children and I'm very

22:18glad he did it and hope he'll do it

22:19again and put some signs up. Um

22:25several of my doctors at the eye center

22:28since it became a little twinkle of in

22:30somebody's eye that there was going to

22:31be a new eye center asked me to ask

22:34council to please have the city build a

22:36bridge from the new eye center to the

22:38hospital building.

22:42I don't really think that's even an

22:43engineering feasibility. It's a long

22:46distance, but there will be a lot of

22:48techs and nurses [clears throat] and the

22:50like who have to walk back and forth

22:51between the eye clinic and the hospital

22:54facility. So, the sidewalk from the

22:58bottom of Elmer Prince Drive up to the

23:01roundabout is not great. So, if we could

23:04improve that, that may be helpful. Then

23:07again, that may be WPU's problem. Up to

23:09you.

23:13But I tell my eye doctor I did the right

23:14thing for her.

23:17Um

23:22uh somebody recently sent me a copy of a

23:24letter written by the ACLU

23:27to a city council in West Virginia. So

23:29it's West Virginia's ACLU citing about

23:3210 to 12 cases saying you can't tell

23:36people they can't make personal attacks

23:38during public comment session. And I I

23:41was 100% on board with that rule when it

23:43was made. No more personal taxes is

23:46ridiculous. We're wasting time,

23:48but the Supreme Court says otherwise.

23:50And apparently they have done for quite

23:51a while. So

23:54I'll let Ryan look into that and I'll

23:55try and get him a letter if I can.

24:03If you're doing changes to the wars of

24:04boundary maps, I know that the people in

24:07the area of Rotary and Poconus, the

24:10parts of west of Kenser Road would

24:13prefer to be in fourth road, fourth ward

24:15because we have been sold their houses

24:17as being in Sunrest and part of one of

24:20the rules was to keep the communities

24:22together and the neighborhoods together

24:24and being in seventh ward feels like

24:27we're kind of broken away from the rest

24:29of Sunrest and not a part of things. So,

24:32I prefer that you don't redraw the maps

24:34every two years. Every 10 is great by

24:36me, but if you're going to do it, please

24:39put us in the fourth award. Thank you.

24:42Um,

24:47probably best.

24:51Is there anyone else wishing to speak

24:53this evening?

24:59Seeing none, we will close the public

25:02portion.

25:03We have no special committee reports. Uh

25:07move on to the consent agenda. There's

25:09only one item on the consent agenda. So

25:13unless anyone wants to remove this from

25:16the consent agenda, we would vote with

25:18no deliberation on the item. Item A,

25:21consideration of approval of a

25:22resolution amending the fiscal year 2026

25:252027 budget revision for the Morgantown

25:27general fund, which is revision number

25:29two.

25:35>> We move to approve. Thank you.

25:37>> Second.

25:38>> Thank you, Cler. Wait.

25:41>> Yes. Joe Bugan.

25:43>> Yes.

25:45>> Jenny Hollings Head.

25:46>> Yes.

25:47>> Weezy Michael.

25:48>> Yes. Jenny Seline,

25:51>> yes. [clears throat]

25:52>> Deputy Mayor DS,

25:53>> yes.

25:54>> Mayor Trouble,

25:55>> yes. Passes 6.

25:58Moving on to new business. We also have

26:00one item of new business this evening,

26:02the city council 2027 meeting calendar.

26:07>> Yes. Thank you, mayor. Each year, uh,

26:09council deliberates on the upcoming

26:11year's calendar for city council

26:12meetings. Clerk Wade is going to walk

26:14you through uh the item in your packet

26:17tonight that looks at different options

26:18for dates that specifically related to

26:21the workshops may conflict with our

26:23standard schedules um based on travel

26:26and other items. Quick way.

26:29Um so before you um is the 2027 council

26:34calendar. Uh we do have two options for

26:36you in four separate sections on the

26:39calendar and those options are because

26:42we have two West Virginia Municipal

26:44League conferences and two National

26:46League of Cities conferences. Uh those

26:48dates are on the bottom of your

26:50calendar. So uh before you options one

26:55um on those particular months

27:01uh February, March, August and November,

27:05you have two options. Option one is

27:08including the uh 1st and third meetings

27:11as council is uh set their meetings.

27:14Option two is moving down that um to the

27:19second and fourth Tuesday so that

27:23council if council chooses to travel

27:25they can go to those to those

27:27conferences and then likewise with the

27:30workshop uh to the right you'll see that

27:33the workshops the first option is the

27:36last Tuesday of the month the option two

27:38is moving uh to no workshop so that you

27:42can accommodate the the drop down uh to

27:46the second and fourth Tuesday for um

27:50option two

27:59discussion. Um

28:05I generally attend conferences. I would

28:08opt for option two on these dates. But

28:13>> same.

28:15>> Yeah,

28:16>> I agree.

28:23>> Is there a motion before additional

28:25discussion?

28:26>> I make a motion to approve.

28:29>> Option two.

28:30>> Yeah, option two.

28:30>> Thank you. Additional discussion. When

28:33we say option two, we're also talking

28:35about the regular meeting and the

28:37workshop meetings, right?

28:39>> Option two moves the regular meetings so

28:42that there is no workshop meeting.

28:45So everything in yellow on here reflects

28:48option one. Everything in red reflects

28:51[clears throat] option two.

28:52>> But in February, it goes from the 2nd to

28:55the 9th if we go to option two. And from

28:58the 16th to the 23rd.

29:02So the 23rd would normally be our

29:04workshop, but we wouldn't have a

29:06workshop. That would now be a regular

29:07meeting.

29:16Option one is essentially keep the

29:19first, third, last Tuesdays as it stands

29:23and half of us in these months would not

29:26be attending. Option two is have no

29:30committee of the whole those months and

29:32shift everything by a week to the second

29:34and fourth Tuesday.

29:39>> Did I explain that correctly?

29:40>> That's correct.

29:41>> Yeah. I mean, I I the thing I don't love

29:44about option two is it, you know, it

29:46cuts our I mean, the schedule cuts not

29:49just option two, but the whole schedule

29:51cuts our opportunities to have

29:54work workshop time in half.

29:59>> I think we could certainly do like we

30:01did in August and schedule an hour

30:04before the meeting to use as workshop

30:07time.

30:07>> Okay.

30:08I Yeah.

30:10>> Usually we do a combined version because

30:12>> That sounds That sounds good. That

30:14sounds good. You know, as we need to.

30:17>> Yeah.

30:17>> Yeah.

30:20>> I do want to point out that that is also

30:23um around the budget time. So likely we

30:25would bring forward and ask potentially

30:27a special meeting that may be off cycle

30:29from a Tuesday on a different day. So we

30:31do anticipate that there could be

30:33additional meetings scheduled during

30:34those months to specifically focus on

30:36budget as well.

30:38Sounds good.

30:41>> We are used to that.

30:43>> Yes.

30:46>> Any additional discussion?

30:50>> Clark White.

30:53>> Yes. Joe Bugon.

30:54>> Yes.

30:56>> Jody Hollingsstead.

30:58>> Yes.

31:00>> We Michael,

31:01>> yes.

31:02>> Jenny Seline,

31:03>> yes.

31:05>> Deputy Mayor DS,

31:06>> yes.

31:07Mayor Trouble.

31:08>> Yes. Passes seven. No, 6. It's going to

31:12take a B by the time I'm used to that,

31:14we'll hopefully have a seventh. Um, city

31:17manager report.

31:19>> Uh, yes, Mayor. Just a couple of things.

31:20I do want to briefly comment on a couple

31:23of items that were on the agenda

31:25tonight. I do want to reiterate, and

31:27Jennifer's left, but appreciation for

31:30our finance team and the work that goes

31:31into preparing that audit. I know that

31:33that's a a large list every year. So

31:35certainly pleased uh with the results of

31:38an unmodified opinion on that and as uh

31:41Miss Street commented, we continue to

31:44improve those processes and build that

31:45foundation. So shout out to staff on

31:48that. One of the items that remain a

31:50focus for us when it comes to our fiscal

31:52sustainability is related to our health

31:55insurance costs as those continue to

31:57escalate and we're making sure that

31:58we're appropriately uh budging those and

32:01having additional items. So, uh, we did

32:04have an additional subcommittee meeting

32:06where we have a working group that

32:07continues to work through options

32:09related to health insurance. So, as we

32:10head into our new plan year that would

32:13begin January 1, we are actively having

32:16conversations. I believe that there will

32:17be changes this year as well as future

32:20discussions will continue on that topic.

32:22So, that is something that remains a

32:24priority for us. Um, [snorts] we did

32:26have some fantastic events this last

32:29weekend. Mayor, you mentioned the Young

32:31Eagles event. And I believe we had over

32:33150 participants in that. Um, and kudos

32:37to the airport because it really our

32:38airport is a community asset as a whole.

32:41And so being able to invite people from

32:43the community into the airport to enjoy

32:45that uh is a really special opportunity.

32:48So was glad to see staff put that on.

32:51Um, [snorts] and then we also had our

32:53final Ruby summer concert series. So I

32:56know we will hear from Vincent in an

32:57upcoming meeting to talk about that like

32:59we normally do. Um, as we head into this

33:02weekend, it is a first home football

33:04game for WVU. I certainly want to

33:07recognize the coordination and effort

33:09that that takes from a staff

33:10perspective, working uh jointly with a

33:13lot of entities to make sure that goes

33:15off um as smoothly as possible. Last

33:18thing that I have for you all tonight is

33:20just a reminder that offices are closed

33:22on Monday, September 7th, in observance

33:24of Labor Day.

33:27>> Thank you. Thank you. report from the

33:30city clerk.

33:30>> Yes, mayor. Uh I would like to take a

33:32few minutes to um recognize an

33:35individual who has been a part of our

33:38public service and our volunteer for a

33:40long time and that's Jenny Dinsmore. She

33:43served as a member of the transit

33:45authority board of director board of

33:47directors since December 19th, 1995.

33:50That means she's dedicated more than 30

33:52years of volunteer service to our

33:53community and currently she serves as

33:56the president of the board. Um, the

33:58Mountain Line Transit Authority is

34:00responsible for providing public

34:02transportation throughout Montgelia

34:04County. At the heart of this board's

34:07mission is a simple but incredibly

34:09important responsibility. Making sure

34:12people throughout our city in Montgeli

34:14County have access to public

34:15transportation.

34:17Serving uh as a volunteer board member

34:19for more than 30 years and is an

34:21extraordinary accomplishment. It

34:23represents thousands of hours of

34:25meetings, discussions, decision making,

34:28decision making, and community service.

34:30It also represents an incredible level

34:32of dedication and commitment to the

34:35people of Morgantown.

34:37And to have served in that capacity

34:39since 1995 through more than three

34:41decades of changes and growth in our

34:44community, and to serve as president of

34:46the board is something that deserves to

34:48be recognized. So, congratulations to

34:50Jenny Dinsmore. Um, I would also like to

34:53recognize a member of our Morgantown

34:54Fire Department for an important

34:56milestone in his career. Yesterday, many

34:58of us had the opportunity to uh present

35:01firefighter first class Robert Wolf with

35:04a letter of re recommendate recognition

35:06in honor of his 20 years of service. The

35:09letter was presented on behalf of the

35:10Morgantown Fire Civil Service

35:12Commission.

35:1320 years of service in the fire service

35:16represents an incredible commitment to

35:18public safety, teamwork, and service to

35:20others. Firefighters are often called

35:22upon to serve our community during some

35:25of its most difficult and challenging

35:26moments, and their dedication does not

35:28go unnoticed. On behalf of the fire

35:31civil service commission and the city of

35:32Morgantown, we congratulate firefighter

35:34First Class Wolf on 20 years of service

35:37and thank him for his continued

35:39dedication to protecting and serving our

35:40community.

35:42Lastly, I would like to remind our

35:44residents that we're now accepting

35:46applications for poll workers for the

35:48April 27th, 2027 municipal election. If

35:52you're interested in serving as a poll

35:53worker on election day or during early

35:55voting, please visit the city of

35:57Morgantown website and search city

35:59council election information and then

36:02volunteer to find a link to apply.

36:05Residents may also contact city clerk's

36:07office for additional information or

36:08assistance when completing an

36:10application. Serving as a pole worker is

36:13an important way to support our local

36:15elections and contribute to the

36:16democratic process in our community. We

36:18encourage anyone interested in serving

36:20to consider applying.

36:22That concludes my report.

36:24>> Report from the city attorney.

36:26>> Thank you, mayor. We are scheduled to

36:28finalize the transfer of the city's

36:30property to DO for the Green Bag Road

36:32improvement project on Thursday of this

36:34week. Um subject to prior approval of

36:38council. um development services and

36:41their consultant Wendy Mhler, Compass

36:43Point Planning have uh some working

36:45draft materials of the forthcoming sign

36:47code. We'll be assisting them with uh

36:50legal review of that as they move

36:52forward with preparing those materials

36:54and I I think introducing them to the

36:56planning commission in the near future.

36:59>> [clears throat]

36:59>> Um, also you're you I believe scheduled

37:03the fall meeting with the local

37:05legislators in advance of next year's

37:07legislative session. Uh, staff has met

37:10to begin planning to support those

37:12efforts. If you have questions as you

37:15approach that meeting or have questions

37:17about legislation in general, feel free

37:19to reach out. I'm happy to assist with

37:20any research materials or background

37:23documents and also to uh coordinate

37:25efforts with the municipal leaders. I

37:27know you do also through your

37:29representation. That is all I have to

37:31report.

37:32>> Thank you. Report from council members.

37:36Would you like to start today?

37:38>> Yeah, sure. I don't mind. Um, yeah,

37:42absolutely. So, uh, I just wanted to,

37:45uh, recognize ongoing, uh, progress, uh,

37:49towards paving around the city. Um, I've

37:54gotten a lot of compliments lately, uh,

37:58about how that's how that's going and,

38:01you know, how good the roads are looking

38:03and it's just, you know, very much

38:05appreciated. I think, you know, it

38:08didn't get done last year. Uh, so I

38:11think, uh, people are just extra

38:13appreciative of seeing uh, seeing seeing

38:16folks out there, the crews out there

38:18working. Um, in terms of and then some

38:23updates uh for fellow council people and

38:27uh and the public. uh uh in terms of

38:30fiscal sustainability,

38:33um had a had the occasion to have a good

38:36meeting with uh the Secretary of State's

38:38office uh with uh Manager Miller and and

38:42and staff uh regarding a potential for a

38:47compliance system and kind of a an an

38:50automated audit system for uh for

38:54validating our uh city business

38:58licensing system. So, um I think it has

39:02a lot of potential as and so we're

39:06working on uh a proof of concept of of

39:10uh the approach.

39:12Um

39:15the uh uh the police department uh I

39:19want to give kudos to the police

39:21department for uh progress towards

39:24meeting civilian police review and

39:26advisory board requirement or ask

39:29request for for data. Um they've uh

39:34provided a preliminary report based on

39:37the based on the board's uh request and

39:41uh and you know it it it's

39:46uh goes a long way towards um you know

39:51uh solving uh solving uh that kind of

39:54gap that's existed in terms of what the

39:57board's been asking for from a data

39:59standpoint and uh what the police

40:02department's uh able to provide uh

40:05without without a whole lot of uh labor.

40:09So, um uh Jody and I are sitting down

40:13with uh sitting down with one of the

40:15board members to uh to review that kind

40:19of preliminary report and get some

40:20initial feedback.

40:22Um but uh you know that that's it's just

40:27really really appreciated because uh I

40:29think having that data starts to give

40:32the board more opportunity to you know

40:36report uh report proactively and and in

40:40a more timely fashion on on you know the

40:43state of the state of uh how the police

40:45department's doing, how the how our

40:47community is doing and um yeah so it's a

40:51very very good thing. Um the parking

40:55authority, we've got a uh it the board

40:59uh agreed that uh a parking study should

41:03be commissioned. Uh the last parking

41:06study that the parking authority did was

41:091985, believe it or not. And um you

41:13know, they they it's a very very good or

41:16very good organization, very well-run

41:18organization. But um but you know I

41:22don't think uh I don't think uh 41 years

41:26is is soon enough to or it's too long to

41:30wait. Uh so uh so we're going to we're

41:34going to we're going to uh we're going

41:36to refresh that and and see what comes

41:39out of that. And I'm looking forward to

41:41how that may influence you know

41:43decisioning around around parking

41:46operations.

41:48Um

41:49land and reuse uh land reuse uh had uh

41:53had a good meeting um last week uh

41:58discussion around uh over the prospectus

42:02for the lower Greenmont development uh

42:05and uh and you know I think there's

42:08there's good progress being made uh in

42:12in that in that uh in that endeavor and

42:15uh I'm optimist istic that uh that you

42:20know that's going to uh that's going to

42:22be coming to council soon to have a look

42:24see and and u see the good work that's

42:27being done there as well as publicly. Um

42:32uh the last thing that I'll I guess the

42:34second to last thing I'll mention is

42:36that the uh the Norwood uh neighborhood

42:41association's been stood down for a

42:44little while and um and I've been trying

42:47to get in touch with the past chair uh

42:50and uh and finally successfully did so

42:54uh over the weekend. uh had the

42:56opportunity to sit down with uh with uh

42:59Fay and um and she handed me off the

43:04folders and you know the contacts and uh

43:08you know the minutes of of uh that she

43:11was holding on to and um so um looking

43:16around for for folks in Norwood that

43:18might be interested in in spinning up

43:21the neighborhood association again uh

43:24because you

43:25Uh that's really foundational to uh

43:28community building.

43:31Uh the last thing I'll mention is um is

43:35the [snorts] South Hills Block Party is

43:37on September 13th uh from 4 to 7. I know

43:42all of council and several staff were

43:43invited, but uh keep that on your

43:46calendar. You can attend. Thank you.

43:55I just want to comment at um lots of

43:59really great activity um with Bo Park

44:03this year and lots of projects wrapping

44:05up in almost every park and to thank um

44:10Greg Travinsky and all of his staff for

44:14um

44:17just working through all the different

44:19projects that are being completed. So,

44:22it's um playgrounds. Um Kreps Park, it's

44:27a bathroom. Um also um some pavilions,

44:32um Wilds Hill and um Creps and um

44:38playground at Jack Roberts Park. That's

44:41probably not I'm looking at Joe.

44:44Probably not done yet.

44:46>> It I mean, if you like playing in a big

44:48pile of dirt

44:50>> Yeah. [laughter] it's then it's ready to

44:52go. But

44:53>> equipment wise, there's still a little

44:55bit more time.

44:55>> Yeah. Yeah, that's my understanding. Um,

44:58a week ago when I looked at it, it was

45:00not up. Um, but anyway, it's not

45:03scheduled to be up yet either. Um, so I

45:06just have appreciated also when the pool

45:09shut down, then there's further um

45:12improvements

45:14uh at the new pool. Um, also I imagine

45:17there'll be some more improvements this

45:18year at the Kreps pool, but it's um

45:23it's been a a lot of projects in a um

45:27pretty short period of time and I'm sure

45:29that over the next couple years it may

45:32slow down a bit um just because uh we

45:36had a bond and so then we had funds um

45:42to make a large number of improvements

45:44this

45:45Um anyway, the lower Merura is fun to

45:49look at as they're um taking everything

45:51out and just starting the basis of

45:53putting things putting all the

45:54improvements back in. Um and also uh

45:59wonderful collaboration with the city

46:01with um for instance at Creps the um

46:06path coming into the larger pavilion um

46:09was paid by the city um to help come

46:13within costs. Things are all much more

46:16expensive um to complete uh the last

46:20couple years just due to materials costs

46:22but also labor and other costs. So, it

46:25really helps when the city and the um B

46:28park can work together on they're all

46:31working on city property. So, it only

46:33makes sense that they're um

46:35collaborating. Also,

46:38um

46:40right before the right below the mayor's

46:41ward, there's um a new um action park.

46:47What do they call it?

46:49>> Pump track. Anyway, there's a pump track

46:52and uh my son um rode on it the other

46:57day when we were going by. I'm not

46:58certain if it's officially open yet. It

47:00is not.

47:01>> Probably not. Um [laughter]

47:03sorry.

47:04It looked very open and there was

47:06nothing closing off. Uh but I was

47:08thinking it had had an opening yet. Uh

47:10but it just pretty much every area of

47:12the city's been touched by something

47:14from Bow Park and it um really makes a

47:17difference. Uh parks hold um community

47:20together. It gives um all different

47:25people of all ages a place to sit,

47:30recreate, um bring their pets,

47:35relatives, neighbors, um and just um

47:39enjoy the wonderful weather because

47:42winter's coming. I like winter, but it's

47:45just not as quite as conducive for

47:47outside for many people. So, enjoy while

47:50we can.

47:51>> That's me. I'm people. I hate the

47:53[laughter] winter.

47:54>> You know that degrees. I don't go

47:57outside.

47:57>> No problem.

47:58>> I love the winter. But, but in general,

48:01enjoy your parks now when you get a

48:03chance. And if you see a a parks worker

48:05or city worker, lend a kind word because

48:08they have been um really putting

48:10themselves out this year.

48:13I'm going to jump on that train and just

48:15thank um particularly in Merilla um all

48:18the staff involved in keeping the splash

48:20pad open um free of charge to October um

48:24as long as weather permits. Um that's a

48:27big deal to have something so fun and so

48:31free um for the community. And we

48:33actually went on Sunday for a couple

48:35hours and it was just a nice it was a

48:37nice time and I saw some new faces that

48:39I didn't see at the pool sometimes. So,

48:42I'm just really thankful to staff for um

48:44facilitating that. Um okay, bear with

48:47me. I have a few events.

48:49Um first, uh SPAN met just last night

48:54and um everything is a go for our block

48:57party. Um it's always a good time. All

49:00are welcome. It's September 18th, 5:30

49:04to 8:00 p.m. at Eton Park [laughter]

49:08on Park Street in South Park. Um, the

49:12marching band will be there. That's

49:13always fun. The fire truck comes and the

49:16kids love that. Um, so, uh, that is all

49:21ready to go. I wanted to briefly mention

49:23an event that already happened on

49:25Sunday, the um, West Virginia Vintage

49:27Fest that Gallery 304 hosts. Um, I

49:30believe the next one is downtown. Um, so

49:33definitely check out their socials. Um,

49:36because those are always fun, too. I got

49:38this shirt there. [laughter]

49:40Um, the Historic Landmarks Commission

49:43had their first meeting with our two new

49:45members. And, um, I just wanted to give

49:48a shout out to that commission. They,

49:50um, they do a lot with a little, and,

49:53um, the two new members, uh, are going

49:56to be great assets. I'm really excited

49:57about about the new folks. Um so that's

50:00encouraging.

50:02Um let's see. Danielle, you'll probably

50:05talk about fall cleanup, right?

50:07>> Go [laughter] for it.

50:08>> Um the citywide fall cleanup is

50:12September 18th.

50:14>> 19th. Thank you.

50:16>> So why don't you [laughter]

50:21>> take another meeting before then? Just

50:23take the date for the afternoon of

50:24September 19th. We're doing a city

50:26cleanup. Perfect.

50:27>> There you go. Thank you, mayor. Um,

50:30another event, um, two sort of public

50:34forums that are coming up, cocktails and

50:36conversations. The West Virginia Women's

50:38Alliance is hosting, um, sort of a

50:40public forum with Delegate John Williams

50:42and Senator Alvario at Mountain State

50:45Brewing Wednesday, September 9th at 6:00

50:48p.m. Please attend. We've got important

50:51elections coming. Um, and then, um,

50:54county commission candidate Julie Knight

50:56is hosting a public forum on the topic

50:58of flot cameras on September 16th, 6 to

51:018:00 p.m. at 198 Foundry. And I believe

51:06that concludes my report. Thank you.

51:09>> I just let you guys do all the events.

51:11[laughter]

51:12I did see something at the uh, 123, the

51:16Hispanic Latino Heritage Festival. Mhm.

51:20>> The evening of September 15th

51:22>> when we'll be in council.

51:24>> Taco Tuesday fundraiser kickoff.

51:25>> Taco Tuesday. Um I don't really have a

51:28lot. I do have a PSA, I guess, in some

51:31sorts. We're having a lot of uh breakins

51:35in our third ward. Uh in the past 30

51:38days, we've had 12 car breakins. We've

51:41had um

51:44uh some vandalism. Um I just want to

51:48assure my ward that we are on this. Um

51:51we have been from day one cuz this has

51:53been going for several months. The

51:55target I'll talk to you over here so you

51:58could get this message back to the kids.

52:00Um that a lot of the breakins are

52:03student cars. Um although we have had

52:07some uh res uh long-term long-term

52:10residents uh broken into as well. So um

52:14just want to warn everybody. Please keep

52:15your eyes open, report anything that

52:17looks unusual. Um, we're always want our

52:21neighborhoods to be safe. So, but we

52:24will get who this is. You can assure

52:27we're after this. [laughter] So, um,

52:30anyway, uh, I think that's all. And I

52:33just want to, uh, last note, the game's

52:36coming up this week. So, of course, my

52:39my uh OCD here of making sure our city

52:44looks really good um and and great for

52:47all our visitors coming into Morgantown.

52:50So, we'll be doing a few litter pickups

52:52on the boulevard starting tomorrow. Just

52:55some light weed eating around some of

52:57the the main entrances.

53:00And I think that's all I have for

53:02tonight. So,

53:03>> thank you.

53:04Uh, I will, um, say thank you to Caitlyn

53:09Lewis for organizing the citywide

53:10cleanup. Uh, she reached out to me, so

53:12I'm putting together a group of high

53:14school students that are looking to get

53:15their community service hours. Come

53:16participate from 1 to 3 September 19th.

53:20>> Uh, I've had to say that eight eight

53:22times already. Eight period class

53:24period. Yeah. So, it's been ingrained in

53:26my uh, head. And then, yes, Taco Tuesday

53:29is a month-long kickoff for the Sister

53:31Cities Commission. Uh, as well as

53:34October 4th, they're going to have the

53:36fiesta at the Farmers Market Pavilion.

53:39Both are free and open to the public and

53:41always looking for donations,

53:42particularly with the Taco Tuesday

53:44fundraiser. Hopefully, we can find

53:46someone to bring us some tacos.

53:49And our neighborhood meeting is

53:52September 28th where we will talk about

53:54Halloween. Also, thank you to the city

53:57for approving our permit to shut down

53:59Madigan Avenue for our neighborhood to

54:03be able to trickor treat. Uh, it's been

54:05really helpful the past few years,

54:07especially with those with uh strollers

54:11and wheelchairs and the elderly not

54:13having to go up and down the different

54:15curbs. So, it is much appreciated. And I

54:19will stop there.

54:22>> Are we assuming that Halloween is on

54:23Halloween? We voted last year to make it

54:26so

54:27>> forever.

54:28>> We don't have to do that

54:29>> unless Jamie says otherwise. [laughter]

54:32>> Please don't put it on.

54:34>> She likely wouldn't

54:35>> in case of emergency on Halloween.

54:38>> She has the ability if we have another

54:41polar vortex or something crazy.

54:43>> Okay.

54:43>> Um but

54:44>> just layer up and trick.

54:45>> We have made it from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

54:48on Halloween standing. And now Star City

54:52and Granville have followed us in that

54:54um in that endeavor. They have both set

54:56theirs at least semi-permanmanently as

54:59well. So

55:00>> we're all on the same page.

55:01>> Perfect. Um, in addition to Young Eagles

55:06Day and the Council for International

55:08Programs, I also attended the Morgantown

55:10Area Partnership Business After

55:12Hours/Merchantmixer,

55:14which they partner with Main Street and

55:17host an event specifically for some of

55:19the downtown merchants. That's always a

55:22fun event. I was happy to attend that

55:24last week. Um, I also attended the

55:27community health coalition meeting at

55:30the Mon County Health Department. Uh,

55:33this is a group of community leaders and

55:36stakeholders who are meeting

55:38semi-regularly to look at ways that the

55:42health department can implement some of

55:44the findings from their community health

55:46improvement plan. So, we came up with a

55:48few action items that they are going to

55:51work on and I believe we plan to meet

55:55again in late November or early

55:58December, we decided. So, I'll certainly

56:00let you know when that is.

56:01>> Thank you.

56:03>> Um,

56:06this Friday is first Friday for the arts

56:08in downtown, but I specifically want to

56:12mention an event at Tanner's Alley

56:15Studio.

56:16Charlie Mcuan, who is the proprietor of

56:19that establishment, is celebrating 50

56:21years in downtown Morgantown with his uh

56:25shop. So, that is certainly a huge um

56:30accomplishment. Um real perseverance and

56:34tenacity on his part. Um I can also

56:37mention a week or two ago, the grime

56:39celebrated 30 years. So, we have a lot

56:41of um long-term

56:43>> wild to think about,

56:45>> right? [laughter]

56:46Thanks to Judy that long ago and

56:48everyone else who's continued it.

56:50>> We will be doing a

56:54celebration for Charlie. I think Main

56:57Street is hosting a ribbon cutting

56:59reception for him Thursday at 2:00 pm,

57:03but he is also having a special event

57:05during that first Friday from the arts

57:07or first Friday for the arts on Friday

57:12from 6:00 to 900 p.m. Um, I'm told that

57:15he's going to have alligator bites to

57:17celebrate some of his most popular

57:19items.

57:20>> Alligator what?

57:21>> Alligator bites. Like alligator nuggets.

57:23That's what he told me he's going to

57:24have because alligator leather is one of

57:27his most popular things. So, he's

57:30>> he's tying it all together.

57:32>> Good for him.

57:34>> Um the Woodburn Association of Neighbors

57:37Tis the season. Woodburn Association of

57:39Neighbors is having their neighborhood

57:41picnic uh Friday, November Friday,

57:44September 11th, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

57:46[laughter] at [clears throat] the

57:48Woodburn Park below the community

57:51complex there.

57:53And

57:55oh, Bow Park is hosting a neighborhood

57:58night the evening of September 15th also

58:03um at the Wilds Hill Community Center.

58:06There will be live music with Chris

58:07Hadex and some samples available from

58:11Eureka. I think some other activities

58:13going on. So, I'll be here, but other

58:16people should stop in here.

58:20I think that's all I had.

58:24I believe the only other item we have is

58:27an executive session. Correct me if I'm

58:30wrong, but we're not in need of item A.

58:34So, is there someone willing to read us

58:36into executive session?

58:38>> Executive.

58:39>> Do you want to do it?

58:41>> I could do it.

58:42>> Do it.

58:42>> Oh, wait a minute. Yeah.

58:44>> This B.

58:46>> Oh, wait.

58:47>> Yes.

58:47>> Yes. That's right.

58:48>> Okay. Interviews with candidates for

58:50vacant seventh ward council seat. It is

58:54anticipated this matter may be discussed

58:56in executive session as permitted by

58:58West Virginia State Code section 6-9A-4B

59:042A.

59:05>> Second.

59:06>> Thank you. All in favor? Yes. All right.

59:10We will take a short recess and enter

59:12executive session.