REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
OCT. 12, 2021
The Salem City Council held a Regular Meeting on Tuesday, October 12, 2021 at Salem City Hall, 229 West Main Street Salem, WV.
Mayor James Robert Samples called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm. Council Member Crystal Ross lead; and all in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America. Mayor Samples asked for a volunteer to give the blessing. The blessing was given by citizen Timothy Jameson.
Mayor Samples called for roll call.
PRESENT: Council Members Linda Stuart, Nancy Siders, John Golden, Shawnette Stout, John Sinnett, Crystal Ross, and City Manager Ronnie Davis
ABSENT: City Attorney Sam Harrold
Approval of Meeting Minutes:
A motion was made by Council Member Nancy Siders to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes for September 14, 2021. The motion was seconded by Council Member John Golden. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Sinnett – aye, Mayor Samples – aye, Council Member Stuart – aye, Council Member Siders – aye, Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Ross – aye.
Scheduling Halloween Trick-or-Treat Time
Trick-or-Treating was set for Saturday, October 30, 2021 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm.
Proclamation for Domestic Violence
Mayor Samples read the Domestic Violence Proclamation aloud to everyone in attendance. Council Member Nancy Siders made a motion to proclaim the month of October as Domestic Violence Awareness month in the City of Salem. The motion was seconded by Council Member John Sinnett. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Sinnett – aye, Mayor Samples – aye, Council Member Stuart – aye, Council Member Siders – aye, Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Ross – aye.
Proclamation for Breast Cancer Awareness
Mayor Samples read the Breast Cancer Awareness Proclamation
aloud to everyone in attendance. Council Member John Sinnett made a motion to proclaim the month of October as Breast Cancer Awareness month in the City of Salem. The motion was seconded by Council Member Nancy Siders. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Sinnett – aye, Mayor Samples – aye, Council Member Stuart – aye, Council Member Siders – aye, Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Ross – aye.
Phase II – Wastewater System Project
E.L. Robinson representative Jeff Petry and Region VI representative Sheena Hunt were absent so there was nothing new to report at this time.
Phase III – Water System Improvement Project
The Thrasher Group representative Steve Haynes and Region VI representative Sheena Hunt were absent so there was nothing new to report at this time.
Sidewalk Project: The Thrasher Group representative Steve Haynes and Region VI representative Sheena Hunt were absent so there was nothing new to report at this time.
City Attorney’s Report: City Attorney Sam Harrold was absent.
City Clerk’s Report: City Clerk Kayla Nicholas was absent, she will give her monthly report at the next meeting.
City Manager’s Report: City Manager Ronnie Davis presented Council with the Public Works Report for the month of September. Mr. Davis stated that the water loss was down to 40% at this time.
Mr. Davis informed Council Members that we now have Burnt House at 83 Water Street as listed on the Tabled Items of the Agenda deeded over to the City.
Mr. Davis, also, informed Council that he has spoken with Rail Trail Representative, Paul Elliot and he states that the Drainage on Rail Trail, from the City Agenda’s Tabled Item List, will be fine the way it is and does not require any type of work before the paving of the Rail Trail from the Minor League Baseball Field to the Welcome to Salem Sign at the east end of the City begins.
Mr. Davis presented Council with the September EMS Report, which included 36 – 911 calls, 62 transports and 13 sign offs for a total of 111 calls. A total of $50,217.42 in payments and current pending payment amounts in the total of $49,723.36.
Police Report: Chief of Police, Adam B. Zahradnik presented Council with the Police Report for the month of September 2021 which included the three officers writing two Citations for No Operators and one Citation for Possession of Meth. There was one Citation put on a Payment Plan and three Citations Paid in Full. The Department had ninety-eight Calls for Service and three arrests along with three hundred-thirty hours of patrol. Chief Zahradnik stated that he spent three weeks with the State Police Academy where he was recertified. Chief Zahradnik, also, informed Council that he has located a K-9, but he is looking into raising funds to actually purchase the officer. Council Member Linda Stuart discussed a Neighborhood Watch Meeting this month with Chief Zahradnik and it was set for the just before the next Council Meeting on October 26, 2021 from 5:00pm to 5:45pm and this time it will be Candy with a Cop.
Council Member Stuart:
1. Council Member Linda Stuart stated that when she talks with people throughout the City there biggest concern is the roads. Mrs. Stuart asked City Manager Ronnie Davis if he has a list or schedule on when and what roads would be repaired. Mr. Davis stated that the biggest issue with patching the roads is that it takes five workers to actually get it done. We do not have a list at this time, we usually just try to get the worst roads completed first. Mr. Davis stated that in the past he presented Council with passing a Street Fee Ordinance which at the time did not pass but he could look into again.
2. Mrs. Stuart asked if there was any update on the partnership with Salem University on the Randolph House. Mr. Davis informed Mrs. Stuart that with everyone being out of the office over the past several weeks they have not scheduled a meeting, but he would get with Code Enforcement Officer, Vincent Smith and get a meeting set up to discuss this partnership.
3. Mrs. Stuart wanted to know if we have any active committees at this time. Mr. Davis informed Mrs. Stuart that we have several active committees and he has a list of all of them including their members, but meetings have not been held due to COVID.
Mayor Samples:
1. Mayor James Robert Samples informed Council that he attended a meeting in which a person from the Southern part of the State explained the Teen Court also involving youth in the community. A $5.00 fee on all fines finances the Teen Court and this is an Ordinance that he would like for Salem Council to pass. Mr. Samples did not have a lot of information on exactly how this court system would work. Council Member John Golden asked for more information on how the actual court would work if said ordinance was passed. Mayor Samples stated that he would try to get a representative to present to Council exactly how Teen Court works and he would like for this Agenda Item to be moved to Table Items.
2. Mayor Samples stated that there will be a North Central West Virginia Business Summit One Day Class called Bridges Without Boundaries held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 8:00am to 3:00pm with a cost of $100.00 which he would like a motion for the City to cover the cost for any Council Member or Employee that would like to go.
A motion was made by Council Member John Golden for the City to pay the fee of $100.00 for the NCWV Business Summit Class-Bridges without Boundaries on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. The motion was seconded by Council Member Nancy Siders. The motion passed by unanimous voice vote. Council Member Sinnett – aye, Mayor Samples – aye, Council Member Stuart – aye, Council Member Siders – aye, Council Member Golden – aye, Council Member Stout – aye, Council Member Ross – aye.
Mayor Samples asked for Leadership Harrison, Burnt Houses a. 83 Water Street and Drainage on Rail Trail to be removed from the Agenda’s Tabled Item List.
Christy Howell expressed that her first Band Together activity at the Salem Depot was a success and she would like to proceed with doing these once a month from April through October with the exception of turning down the months of July and October if there will be a Fourth of July Celebration and the Apple Butter Festival.
Mayor Samples made a motion to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 6:52pm.