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Weirton Council changing meeting times

WEIRTON — City Council temporarily will change its meeting times following a vote Monday.

As part of Monday’s council meeting, Mayor Harold Miller proposed holding regular council meetings at 11 a.m. through March, citing potential winter weather. The meetings still would be held the Monday following the first Tuesday of each month.

Ward 4 Councilman George Ash, however, stated a resolution needs to be drawn up before any vote is taken.

“We don’t have it in front of us,” Ash said.

As the item originally was not scheduled for consideration during the agenda, a resolution was crafted by the city clerk while council was in a 20-minute executive session. Council then agreed, 4-0, to amend the agenda to include discussion and a vote.

Council’s Nov. 12 meeting and Monday’s meeting were held at earlier times, at the request of the mayor, without any formal vote from council.

City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo said he had spoken to Ward 3 Councilman Fred Marsh, who was not in attendance, and said Marsh was not in favor of the move.

Ward 7 Councilman Terry Weigel also spoke against the proposal, saying it would limit access to the public, even if the change is only temporary.

“We have good attendance today, but I don’t know that will continue,” Weigel said.

Miller noted he had spoken to Ward 6 Councilman Enzo Fracasso, who also was not in attendance, and Fracasso was in favor of the idea.

Ward 1 Councilman Tim Connell said whatever changes are made, council needs to make certain it follows the city’s charter.

The resolution was passed 3-1, with Weigel voting against. In addition to Marsh and Fracasso, Ward 5 Councilman Douglas Jackson also was not in attendance.

Council passed, 4-0, a resolution to revise the city’s 2018-19 fiscal budget. Initial discussions by council had included a payment of $600,000 to go toward pension programs. On Monday, council also agreed to amend the budget by $12,558.09 for the city clerk position.

“Someone was promoted by the former city manager, without proper authorization from council,” Miller explained, noting the amount includes back pay and other costs. “We’re trying to fix it.”

Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich noted council also would have to amend a city ordinance to reflect a higher salary range.

In other business, council approved:

¯ The second reading of an ordinance to establish no parking signs for the grassy area of the island on Valley Way.

¯ The first reading of an ordinance to change Delaware Avenue from a one-way street to a two-way street.

¯ A resolution to lease voting machines and related services from Casto & Harris for the 2019 municipal election. The equipment would cost $8,418 and programming, to be provided by ES&S, will cot $7,600.

¯ Resolutions for health, dental and life insurance coverage for eligible city employees. After discussion, council agreed to provide $50,000 in term life insurance for each eligible employee.

¯ A resolution to assign a lien to property at 4129 Freedom Way to Orion Development. The property had gone through the city’s demolition process, and Ash explained Orion Development would be paying off the lien. Weigel noted the city doesn’t often collect on liens placed on demolished properties.

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