SPECIAL MEETING ~CITY COUNCIL
PRINCETON, MERCER COUNTY, WEST VIRGINIA
February 16, 2022
A Special Meeting of the Common Council for the City of Princeton, Mercer County, West Virginia was held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building on Wednesday, February 16, 2022, at 9:08 a.m. In attendance were Mayor David Graham;
Vice Mayor Marshall Lytton; Council Members Dewey Russell, James Hill, Joseph Allen and James Hawkins; City Manager Michael Webb and City Clerk Kenneth Clay. Absent were Council Member Jacqueline Rucker and City Attorney Paul Cassell. A quorum was constituted thereby.
Also present were Economic Development Specialist Samuel Lusk, Code Enforcement Director Ty Smith and Brenton Pannell of Region I Planning and Development Council.
- INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Mayor Graham prayed for the health care workers, first responders and City employees who confront the Covid-19 virus on a daily basis; for the healing of those suffering under the effects of the pandemic, including former Mayor Tim Ealy who remains hospitalized; and, lastly, invoked divine guidance for the conduct of the special meeting.
Council Member Dewey Russell led in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
- CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David Graham called the meeting to order.
III. SECOND PUBLIC HEARING ON THE CITY OF
PRINCETON’S APPLICATION FOR COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT DEMOLITION FUNDS
Mayor Graham explained that the purpose of the meeting was to obtain citizen input, comments, or opinions relative to activities the City should include in an application seeking PY2021 State/HUD Community Development Block Grant demolition funding.
At 9:09 a.m. Mayor Graham moved City Council from its regular session into the second public hearing on the City’s CDBG grant application and called for public comments or questions regarding the purpose of the application.
Code Enforcement Director Ty Smith, addressing Mr. Pannell of Region I, advised that he had compiled a complete list of structures for demolition, as well as taken photos of the same, and asked if that was everything Region I required for the grant application
Mr. Pannell replied that he did not believe Region I required anything else at this time
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and neither did he have any questions for City officials.
Mayor Graham asked how many structures were on the list for demolition.
Ty Smith replied that 45 structures are on the list together with two pictures of each building identified for demolition.
Council Member James Hill asked if any structures were ready for demolition now.
Ty Smith replied that four structures are ready for demolition at this time.
Council Member Joseph Allen asked if the City had set aside money for demolitions and, if so, could we start now or should we wait until the grant funds are available.
City Manager Mike Webb replied that the City will wait for approval of the grant funds.
Mr. Smith explained that the City would not be refunded for any structures demolished before approval of the grant and the authorization to proceed with the project.
Mayor Graham confirmed that the City would receive notice of the ruling on the grant application by July or August.
Mr. Hill asked if there were any other options available for funding the demolitions.
City Manager Mike Webb replied this is the only source out there for demolition funding.
Ty Smith commented that neither does the City have to pay money back on the demolitions.
Mr. Hill inquired as to the number of potential demolition contractors that could bid on the project.
Mr. Smith replied there are five or six such contractors in the state, all of which probably will enter bids on the demolition project.
Mr. Hill asked if all the property owners had given their consent.
Mr. Smith replied that 99% of the responsible parties had given their consent to the demolitions with just two property owners withholding consent.
Mr. Hill asked if Code Enforcement had any more structures targeted for demolition.
Mr. Smith replied in the negative and added it would be a couple of years before more
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would be identified.
Council Member Dewey Russell commented that going forward this demolition project will take a lot off the Code Enforcement Department. Mr. Russell added that the citizens
appreciate what Code Enforcement is doing and are glad to see Mr. Smith and his charges
out in the community.
Mr. Hill remarked that Princeton is not like it was in the 70’s and 80’s with decaying and dilapidated buildings on Mercer Street. Code Enforcement has done much since the first demolition grant was awarded which launched Code Enforcement’s demolition program.
Ty Smith noted that 663 demolitions have been completed since Code Enforcement began the program.
With no further comments forthcoming, Mayor Graham closed the public hearing at 9:24 a.m. and called for a motion on the Resolution regarding the City of Princeton’s CDBG grant application.
RESOLUTION
Whereas, the City of Princeton wishes to submit an application to the State of West Virginia HUD Community Development Block Grant Program to request funding for the Princeton Demolition Project;
Whereas, the City of Princeton must give assurances that the Community Development Block Grant and Program Regulations related to grant administration, civil rights and other applicable State and Federal Laws will be followed, and;
Whereas, the City of Princeton must designate an official representative to act in connection with the application and execute all necessary program documents:
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved That:
- The City of Princeton authorizes the submission of an application with the State
of West Virginia HUD Community Development Block Grant Program for the
Princeton Demolition Project.
- The City of Princeton will comply with all laws and regulations pertaining to
the program.
- Michael Webb, City Manager, is designated as the authorized official to act in
connection with the application.
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David E. Graham, Mayor
MOTION: James Hill moved City Council approve and authorize an application for a Community Development Block Grant for demolitions and authorize City Manager Mike
Webb to act on behalf of City Council on all matters related to the administration of the
grant.
Marshall Lytton duly seconded the motion.
The motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION
Whereas, the City of Princeton, an applicant for a HUD-CDBG Community Development Block Grant, is an equal opportunity employer and takes steps to affirmatively further fair housing in all public notices, ads and publications.
Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved That:
The City of Princeton is an equal opportunity employer and will take steps to affirmatively further fair housing in all public notices, ads and publications.
David E. Graham, Mayor
Marshall V. Lytton, Vice Mayor
MOTION: Dewey Russell moved City Council adopt the “equal opportunity employer” resolution.
James Hawkins duly seconded the motion.
The motion carried unanimously.
- RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF ESTABLISHING A
SUDDENLINK CALL CENTER IN PRINCETON
Mayor Graham presented and read the following resolution into the record:
R E S O L U T I O N
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED ON THIS 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2022, BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PRINCETON AS FOLLOWS:
WHEREAS, The City of Princeton has an active 10-year franchise agreement with
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Suddenlink Communications that was signed on March 11, 2019;
WHEREAS, it has been reported that the West Virginia Public Service Commission (WVPSC) received more that 1,900 complaints from West Virginia
residents regarding Suddenlink service, including delays in service restoration, billing
errors and inability to contact customer support;
WHEREAS, it has been reported that the WV PSC originally planned to respond to these complaints with public hearings in Charleston and Beckley, however later the PSC added Princeton to these locations due to a high volume of customers in the Princeton area that also experienced hardship;
WHEREAS, on February 9, 2022, the WV PSC published its investigation and
issued penalties in the amount of $2,242,000 for Altice to pay. The findings also dictate
that Altice must open a call enter in West Virginia;
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Princeton supports the findings of WVPSC and believes that the call center should be located within the city limits of Princeton;
WHEREAS, there are locations in Princeton for Suddenlink/Altice to either occupy or build a space for a call center; and
WHEREAS, the Common Council of the City of Princeton believes that the placement of a call Center in Princeton will satisfy the need at the epicenter of the crisis while also providing direct assistance to West Virginian Suddenlink/Altice customers throughout the State.
BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Common Council of the City of Princeton
requests the Suddenlink/Altice call Center be located in the City of Princeton, West Virginia.
NOW, THEREFORE, I DAVID E. GRAHAM DO SET MY HAND AND CAUSE THE GREAT SEAL OF THE CITY OF PRINCETON TO BE AFFIXED THIS 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2022.
David E. Graham, Mayor
This resolution is to be mailed to the WVPSC Commissioners Charlotte Lane, Renee Larrick, and William Raney as well as Altice’s Chief Executive Office, Dexter Goei and Vice President of Government Affairs, Jim Campbell.
MOTION: Dewey Russell moved City Council adopt the foregoing resolution.
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James Hawkins duly seconded the motion.
The motion carried unanimously.
- FY2023 BUDGET WORKSHOP
At 9:30 p.m. Princeton City Council Members, City Manager and Finance Director conducted the FY2023 Budget Workshop with the City’s Department Directors according to the following schedule:
Fire Dept. – 9:30 a.m.
Police Dept. – 10:15 a.m.
Public Works – 11:00 a.m.
Parks & Rec – l:00 p.m.
Railroad Museum. – 1:45 p.m.
Princeton Library – 2:30 p.m.
Code Enforcement – 3:30 p.m.
- ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Mayor Graham adjourned the February 16, 2022, Special Council Meeting at 3:45 p.m.