On September 23, 2024, New Martinsville City Council met in the Large Conference Room at the City Municipal Building to discuss and approve the agenda. Mayor Keith Nelsen called the meeting to order and introduced Sandy Hunt and Sharon Campbell of the HubCap committee, which was previously the Blueprint committee. Hunt said, we changed in 2019 from the Blueprint to the HubCap which is a two-year term to promote our community. We planned and completed one project headed by City Recorder Kim Whiteman in finishing the Library Project and now we are working with the Energy Companies through the Colleges and Universities to help with their needs for the future workforce, said Hunt. The city’s handles $2,500 of the fee and Hunt applies for the grants to fund the rest of the program.
The request to approve the rental of the Grinch for the November 30, 2024, Christmas parade was approved unanimously by the council for a cost of $2,415.
A request to approve incremental pay for all city employees to be paid November 22, 2024, was motioned by Councilwoman Iris Isaacs and given a unanimous approval by the council. Full time employees will receive $600 and part time employees will receive $300. All elected city officials will receive a $600 cell phone reimbursement.
The discussion and approval of retiree insurance was approved unanimously by the council after Isaacs made the motion.
The request to approve the set rate for cruisers and police officers’ side jobs using city assets was tabled till further discussion can be held.
The council approved CDL pay for Brian Wilson moving from Water Department to the Street Department by a unanimous vote.
A request to approve the City of New Martinsville AAA Mobile Home Park Water and Sewer Improvement Project Ordinance was approved for the first of three readings before it can go ahead to being a new ordinance. Mayor Nelsen read the first reading as follows:
ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONS, BETTERMENTS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SEWERAGE PORTION OF THE EXISTING PUBLIC COMBINED WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM OF THE CITY OF NEW MARTINSVILLE AND THE FINANCING OF THE COST THEREOF, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED, THROUGH THE ISSUANCE BY THE CITY OF NOT MORE THAN $1,000,000 IN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF COMBINED WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2024 A (WEST VIRGINIA SRF PROGRAM); AND NOT MORE THAN $1,500,000 IN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF COMBINED WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM REVENUE BONDS, SERIES 2024 B (WEST VIRGINIA SRF PROGRAM/FORGIVABLE) PROVIDING FOR THE RIGHTS AND REMEDIES OF AND SECURITY FOR THE REGISTERED OWNERS OF SUCH BONDS; AUTHORIZING EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF ALL DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE ISSUANCE OF SUCH BONDS; APPROVING, RATIFYING AND CONFIRMING A BOND PURCHASE AGREEMENT RELATING TO SUCH BONDS; AUTHORIZING THE SALE AND PROVIDING FOR THE TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF SUCH BONDS AND ADOPTING OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING THERETO.
After a brief discussion, the council approved the new wording of the hiring policy that qualifications must be met, or the job will go out to the public for a qualified candidate to fill.
A motion that hourly employees not be compensated for attending council meetings unless asked to attend, was approved by the council.
Mayor Nelsen then entertained the motion to adjourn, and it was approved by the council.