[1. Call to Order]
[00:00:03]
CALLACKNOWLEDGING CITY ATTORNEY KINSEY.
THAT GIVES US A FULL HOUSE HERE.
COULD YOU LEAD US IN THE SLEW OF THE FLAG, PLEASE? I PLEDGE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHERE SHE STANDS, NATION, NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
RUFUSS BURTON, LADIES, US TO PRAYER.
LORD OF OUR LIFE AND GOD OF OUR SALVATION.
WE ASK YOUR BLESSING AND ALL THAT IS BEST ABOUT US AND YOUR FORGIVENESS FOR ANYTHING THAT HAS FALLEN SHORT.
WE THANK YOU FOR THE GREATNESS OF THE PAST, THE HOPES OF THE PRESENT AND THE CALL OF HIGHER THINGS IN THE FUTURE.
GUIDE THOSE WHO DIRECT THE AFFAIRS OF THE CITY, SUSTAIN THEM IN THEIR WORK, SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR ANXIETIES, AND STRENGTHEN THEM IN THEIR RESULT TO SEE CAN PURSUE THE WELLBEING OF ALL THE PEOPLE.
GIVE THEM JOY IN THEIR SERVICE.
DO PRIDE IN THEIR SUCCESSES AND THE APPROVAL OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE IN ALL OF THEIR ENDEAVORS.
AND SO WORK AMONG US BY YOUR GOOD AND KINDLY SPIRIT, THAT OUR CITY MAY BE RENEWED IN BEAUTY AND ORDER AND HAPPINESS AND PEACE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
[5. Approval of Minutes]
APPROVED DECEMBER 11TH, 2025.UH, UH, ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
REGULAR MEETING MINUTES, MOVE TO PROOF.
OPPOSED? BEFORE I MOVE ON, I NEED, I NEED TO ADDRESS SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
UH, WE NEED TO REMOVE, UH, SEVEN B, THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR THE CITY, MAGISTRATE STREET, AND, UH, SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT TONIGHT.
[6. Approve Administrative and Financial Report]
PROOF ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL REPORT MOVE TO APPROVE THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL REPORT.ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
[7. Presentations]
RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR RETIRING FIREFIGHTER EMT PARAMEDIC GREG RECURRENCE FOR HIS 20 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG.CAN YOU COME ON UP HERE AND I'M HAVE SOMETHING FOR YOU.
I KNOW I'M GETTING OLD NOW WHEN I DO RETIRED.
SO WE RETIRED HERE, I SHOULD SAY.
BEFORE I, I, I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT, UH, WHAT DO YOU GUYS DO? YOU GUYS A FAMILY, YOU SIT BACK THERE.
FAMILY, YOU EAT TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.
YOU FIGHT TOGETHER ALL THE TIME.
I, I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THE 20 YEARS, BUT THE GUYS THAT ARE STILL HERE AND BEING A ROLE MODEL FOR THAT, SO THANK YOU.
ANYBODY WANTS TO TAKE PICTURES OR ANYTHING? ALL RIGHT.
RESOLUTION, APPRECIATION, FIREFIGHTER, EMT PARAMEDIC, GREGORY CURRENTS, MARTINSBURG, FIRE DEPARTMENT, CITY OF MARTINSBURG.
CURRENT STATED STARTED HIS CAREER WITH THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT ON AUGUST 29TH, 2020, 2005, AND HAS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT EFFECTIVE JANUARY 17TH, 2026, CULMINATING OVER TWO DECADES OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY.
AND WHEREAS THROUGH, THROUGH HIS TENURE, GREG HAS CONSISTENTLY DEMONSTRATED UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG, ITS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS, LOCAL MEDICAL AUTHORITIES, AND STATE FIRE AND HEALTH OFFICIALS HAS ENSURED
[00:05:01]
THE DELIVERY OF EXCEPTIONAL FIRE AND EMS SERVICES, EARNING THE TRUST AND GRATITUDE OF THE MARTINSBURG COMMUNITY AND THE BROADER BERKELEY COUNTY REGION.AND WHEREAS GREGORY HAS BEEN INDISPENSABLE ASSET TO BOTH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, THE SELFLESS COMMITMENT, LEADERSHIP AND MANAGING DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMS AND UNWAVERING PROFESSIONALISM SERVE AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF A OUTSTANDING SERVICE.
AND WHEREAS GREG HAS DISCHARGED HIS DUTIES WITH THE UTMOST INTEGRITY, COMPETENT AND DEDICATION, EMBODYING THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF ETHICAL CONDUCT, HIS ROLE AS FIREFIGHTER E-M-S-E-E-M-T PARAMEDIC WITHIN OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE UNDERSCORED HIS STEADFAST SERVICE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS, ENSURING THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY.
HIS EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE AND TIRELESS DUE DILIGENCE HAVE LEFT AN ENDURING MARK ON THE DEPARTMENT AND THE LIVES HE HAS TOUCHED.
AND WHEREAS ACROSS HIS DISTINGUISHED SERVICE EXCEEDING 20 YEARS, GREG POSITIVELY IMPACTED COUNTLESS LIVES WITHIN THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG AND THE BROADER REGION.
AND NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE OFFICE OF MAYOR AND THE ESTEEMED CITY COUNCIL PROUDLY ACKNOWLEDGE FIREFIGHTER EMT PARAMEDIC GREGORY RECURRENCE FOR HIS NUMEROUS YEARS OF DEDICATION, DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND ITS ESTEEMED CITIZENS AND ENTERPRISES WE HAD FINALLY RESOLVED.
WE EX WE EXTEND OUR WARMEST WISHES FOR FULFILLING AND REWARDING RETIREMENT, COUPLED WITH HEARTFELT GRATITUDE FOR GREG'S SUBSTANTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG SINCE 2005 AND WITNESS THEREOF, I, KEVIN KNOWLES, MAYOR OF MARTINSBURG HAVE HERE UNTO MY HAND AND CAUSED THE SEAL OF THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA TO BE AFFIXED 12TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026.
WELL, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT.
APPRECIATE CITY MARK FOR LAST 20 SOMETHING YEARS.
LISTEN, GREG AND I HAVE BEEN TOGETHER SINCE WE WERE LITTLE KIDS RUNNING AROUND SCHOOLS, SO I'VE KNOWN HIM FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, I'VE WATCHED HIM GROW INTO A GREAT FIREMAN HUSBAND AND FATHER GREG, I WANNA PRESENT YOU YOUR HELMET FOR ALL YOUR DEDICATION AND HARD WORK TO SYSTEMS IN MARTINSBURG AND THE MARTINSBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT.
DO I HAVE THE OTHER ONE? THE NEXT ONE.
I HAVE A PROCLAMATION FOR BLACK HISTORY LAW 2026 PROCLAMATION, BLACK HISTORY MONTH, FEBRUARY, 2026.
WHEREAS WEST VIRGINIA AND MARTINSBURG HAVE BEEN HOME TO MANY INFLUENTIAL AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOLARS, LEADERS, AND INSTITUTIONS.
AND WHEREAS DR. CARTER G WOODSON TAUGHT IN WINONA AND HUNTINGTON SERVED AS ACADEMIC DEAN TO THE WEST VIRGINIA COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE, NOW THE WEST VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY AND FOUNDED THE PRECURSOR TO WHAT IS TODAY BLACK HISTORY MONTH.
AND WHEREAS DR. LEON SULLIVAN OF CHARLESTON WAS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MEMBER OF THE GENERAL MOTORS BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND HIS SULLIVAN PRINCIPLES WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE GLOBAL MOVEMENT AGAINST HY.
AND WHEREAS BOOKER T WASHER WASHINGTON RAISED IN MALDEN, WEST VIRGINIA, FOUNDED THE TUSKEGEE NORMAL AND INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE IN 1881 AND BECAME ONE OF THE NATION'S FOREMOST EDUCATORS.
AND WHEREAS HENRY LEWIS GATES BORN IN PIEDMONT, WEST VIRGINIA
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IS A RENOWNED EDUCATOR, SCOTLAND CRITIC AND WRITER.AND WHEREAS MARTINSBURG IS HOME TO THE SUMNER SUMNER NER KRAMER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM LOCATED AT THE FORMER SUMNER SCHOOL, LATER THE RAYMER MEMORIAL SCHOOL, A SEGREGATED PUBLIC SCHOOL FOR BLACK STUDENTS UNTIL 1965.
AND WHEREAS NOTABLE PRINCIPALS, INCLUDING PROFESSOR FREDERICK RAYMER AND JOHN ROBERT JR.
WEST VIRGINIA'S FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN LAWYER, WHOSE LEGAL EFFORTS HELPED PAVE THE WAY FOR BROWN VERSUS BOARD OF EDUCATION AND WHO CO-FOUNDED THE NIAGARA MOVEMENT PRECURSOR TO THE NAACP.
AND WHEREAS MARTINSBURG HAS LONG SERVED AS A REGIONAL CENTER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIC LIFE WITH CHURCHES, FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS ADVANCING EDUCATION AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG RECOGNIZES THE CONTINUING CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATORS, CLERGY VETERANS, AND PUBLIC SERVANTS WHOSE WORK STRENGTHENS THE COMMUNITY.
AND WHEREAS THE CITY REMAINS COMMITTED TO PRESERVING AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE SITES, INCLUDING THE SUMNER RAYMER AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM, AND PROMOTING PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE MARTINSBURG ROLE IN BLACK HISTORY.
AND WHEREAS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS A TIME TO REFLECT ON THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS.
NOW THEREFORE BE RESOLVED THAT I, KEVIN KNOWLES, MAYOR OF MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, TO HEREBY PROCLAIM FEBRUARY, 2026 AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG AND ENCOURAGE ALL CITIZENS TO RECOGNIZE THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY AFRICAN AMERICANS TO OUR CITY, STATE, AND NATION.
SIGNED THIS 12TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026.
NICOLE, COME ON UP FOR A PICTURE.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE, OH, I'M GONNA PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
THIS IS MY SPIRITUAL ADVISOR ON THE SPOT.
TAKES A LOT OF PRAYER FOR THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF I COULD READ ANYMORE
ALL RIGHT, WE'RE GONNA SKIP THIS NEXT ONE.
I GUESS IT WAS, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A PRESENTA.
STACY'S HERE BOY, IS THE GIRLS CLUB OF PAN STACEY, CAN YOU CRY, PLEASE? YOU'RE FUNNY
CAN I HAVE THREE COPIES THAT I CAN SEND THEM ELECTRONICALLY? THAT'D BE GREAT.
HOW'S EVERYONE DOING? HOW ARE YOU? GREAT.
I AM JOINED BY OUR CO-CHAIR, MARGIE BARTLES.
YOU KNOW, I'M SURE EVERYBODY KNOWS HER
UM, AND CAN I JUST START BY THANKING COREY? UM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING, UM, ON THE ELEVATOR PHASE OF THE PROJECT NOW FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE YEARS, BUT IT'S PROBABLY NOT BEEN QUITE YEARS.
UM, BUT COREY HAS KIND OF SHEPHERDED THIS PROJECT THROUGH AND, UM, I'VE BEEN CALLING ON HIM A LOT, SO I JUST WANTED TO PUBLICLY THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU DO.
UH, AND THEN ALSO, UM, WANTED TO LET KEN KNOW THAT KELSEY, UH, KELSEY WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH YOU ON THE DEED TRANSFER.
SO THAT THAT PIECE IS, IT'S, IT'S ON OUR RADAR.
WE JUST NEED A MEETING WITH YOU.
SO WE FELT THAT IT WAS TIME FOR US TO GIVE YOU A VISUAL OF THE PROJECT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN A, A DISCUSSION POINT FOR QUITE A WHILE.
UM, IT BECOMES A LITTLE MORE REAL EVERY DAY TO ME.
BUT I WANTED YOU TO SEE WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE UPDATE.
UM, SO THE ELEVATOR, WE HAVE FINALLY, UM, WORKED THROUGH THE HURDLES WITH THE STATE, UM, STATE, UM, HISTORIC REVIEW BOARD,
[00:15:01]
SO IT'S APPROVED THERE.AND THEN FINALLY LAST WEEK THROUGH HUD.
SO OUR ELEVATOR WILL BEGIN CONSTRUCTION IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.
AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL BE FINISHED, UM, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
UM, HAR W HARLEY MILLER HAS THE CONTRACT FOR THE ELEVATOR, UM, THAT WAS PUT OUT FOR BID, AND THEY, THEY, ALL OF THE, ALL OF THE BIDS WERE WITHIN A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS OF ONE ANOTHER.
SO, UM, I THINK THAT SPEAKS TO, UM, THE WORK THAT OUR ARCHITECT DID TO PUT THE PLANS TOGETHER.
UM, BUSHY FIGHT MORIN IS THE ARCHITECT ON RECORD THAT WE HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH SINCE THE BEGINNING.
UM, THEY ALSO DESIGNED THE HAGERSTOWN, THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OVER IN HAGERSTOWN.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
UM, AND IT'S, IT'S MUCH LIKE WHAT I HOPE OUR BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB HERE WILL BE LIKE ONCE IT'S COMPLETE.
UM, SO THINGS THAT WE HAVE, UM, BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST, UM, LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, UM, WE, OUR, UM, CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED.
UM, MARGIE AND KELSEY MILLER ARE THE CO-CHAIRS, AND WE HAVE A VERY ROBUST GROUP OF VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE, THAT ARE SHEPHERDING THIS THROUGH.
UM, WE HAVE GOVERNMENT MEETINGS OVER THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS, UM, BOTH IN CHARLESTON AND IN DC.
SO WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE TO KEEP OUR, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THERE KNOW, KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PROJECT TOO.
UM, BUT MARK, DO YOU WANNA TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK OF THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE? SURE.
UM, THANKS FOR, FOR LETTING US BE HERE THIS EVENING.
UM, THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, AS DAISY SAID, HAS MET I THINK TWO TIMES.
WE HAVE A THIRD MEETING ON THE BOOKS PRETTY QUICKLY.
UM, WE'RE APPROACHING THE PROJECT KIND OF AS A THREEFOLD IN TERMS OF THE BUILDING AND IN THE, IN THE CAMPAIGN FUNDS.
UH, IN THE BUILDING ITSELF, OBVIOUSLY THE, THE CENTRAL PART IS THE ELEVATOR, WHICH IS NUMBER ONE.
AND THEN AS WE PROCEED TO, UH, NUMBER TWO, THAT'S THE NEW PORTION OF THE BUILDING.
AND THEN THAT'S ALL OF THAT WITHOUT DISPLACING ANY CHILDREN THAT ARE SERVED THERE RIGHT NOW, THEY'LL ACTUALLY STAY IN THE PART OF THE BUILDING THAT THEY CURRENTLY USE.
WHEN THIS PIECE IS FINISHED, THE KIDS WILL MOVE OVER TO THE NEW PIECE, AND THEN WE WILL REHAB THE OTHER SIDE.
UM, WHAT I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE IS WE DO HAVE A GREAT CONSULTANT, UM, REALITY IN ALMOST ALL CAMPAIGNS OF THIS SIZE.
WE START OUT WITH DATA ABOUT THE CITY AND THE COUNTY, AND BASICALLY IT KIND OF GUIDES US IN, IN THE AREA OF, HERE ARE SOME AREAS WHERE WE FEEL LIKE YOU MAY, YOU KNOW, YOU MAY HAVE GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION, YOU MAY HAVE FOUNDATION PARTICIPATION, SOME AREAS WHERE YOU CAN CERTAINLY, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE LOOKING FOR DOLLARS.
UM, WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROJECT THAT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN ON THE BOOKS A LONG TIME.
UM, WE, WE, THE, THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE ITSELF IS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR HELP.
IF ANY OF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU.
MAYOR NALLS IS ALREADY ON OUR CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE.
UM, AND WHAT I WILL TELL YOU IS THAT THIS IS JUST EXCITING FOR THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG, FOR BERKELEY COUNTY, FOR THE EASTERN PANHANDLE.
UM, THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE IS MADE UP OF A REAL GOOD CROSS SECTION OF FOLKS IN BERKELEY COUNTY, DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES, UM, DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS.
THE IDEA BEHIND THAT IS TRYING TO REACH OUT TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE IN THE EASTERN PANHANDLE, BERKELEY COUNTY IN PARTICULAR, CITY IN PARTICULAR, TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN HELPING US MAKE THIS A REALITY.
QUESTIONS FOR STACEY AND I, STACEY AND I, THEY MIGHT WANT TO HEAR, DO YOU, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS FOR PARKING FOR AROUND THERE? OH, WE DO.
SO WE HAVE FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH A CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL.
UM, THE SCHOOL WILL BE UTILIZING OUR GYMNASIUM AND THEY WILL PROVIDE US PARKING, UM, STAFF PARKING IN THE EVENINGS.
AND, UM, DURING THE SUMMER PROGRAM WILL BE ACROSS THE STREET, ACROSS JOHN STREET IN THEIR LOT.
AND THEN, UM, WHEN WE HAVE LARGER EVENTS, THERE'LL BE ADDITIONAL PARKING AT THE SCHOOL, UM, WHEN THE SCHOOL'S NOT IN SESSION.
QUESTION, HOW MANY, HOW MANY BUSES DO YOU HAVE SHOW UP DAILY WITH KIDS? UM, CURRENTLY, SO CURRENTLY WE HAVE TWO BUSES THAT COME IN THE AFTER SCHOOL, IMMEDIATELY AFTER SCHOOL, UM, THAT BRING CHILDREN FROM BERK STREET AND, UM, EAGLE SCHOOL INTERMEDIATE.
AND THEN WE HAVE FIVE AFTER SCHOOL SITES IN THE EASTERN PANHANDLE, OR I MEAN, IN BERKELEY COUNTY, UM, HEDGES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
[00:20:01]
AND THE AFTERSCHOOL SITES, THE KIDS WILL STAY AT THEIR SCHOOL.THEY'LL HAVE HOMEWORK HELP AND TUTORING ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES.
AND THEN THAT, THAT GIVES THE BUSES ENOUGH TIME TO MAKE THAT LOOP.
AND THEN AFTER THEY FINISHED, UM, THEIR HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF AT THE SCHOOL, THEN THEY ARE BUSED OVER TO THE CLUB.
AND I THINK THERE ARE TWO MORE OF THOSE.
WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE, ARE BANDED TOGETHER.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO PROVIDE VAN TRANSPORTATION TO NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND ROSEMONT ELEMENTARY, AND HAVE A LOT OF INTERESTS FROM OPEC AND ALSO, UM, BERKELEY HEIGHTS.
SO, AND WE ARE WORKING ON THAT.
I'M GOING TO SEE LEGISLATORS ON, UH, MONDAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
SO WE, AND WE DO HAVE SOME PARTNERS WHO'VE ALREADY CONTRIBUTED TO, UM, SUPPORTING THE VAN, THE ROTARY IN MARTINSBURG, AND, UM, ALSO TRUIST BANK.
SO THE BUSES DELIVER KIDS HOME AND THEN THEY CIRCLE BACK TO THE SCHOOL, PICK UP THE KIDS THERE, AND THEN TAKE THEM TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.
AND I'M SORRY, I, I JUST HAD A, AT, AT, AT THE FIVE SCHOOLS WHERE WE HAVE A, IT'S A 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTER GRANT THAT HELPS TO FUND THAT.
SO IT'S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION MONIES.
AND THEN IMMEDIATELY IN THE AFTER SCHOOL, WE DO HAVE A BUS THAT COMES FROM ONE FROM BERK STREET AND ONE FROM EAGLE SCHOOL.
SO, SO CURRENTLY, UM, WE, SO WE PROVIDE DINNER AND SNACK EVERY DAY FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE CLUB.
AND WE HAVE, THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM THAT WE HAVE TO DO IT IN, IN ROUNDS.
SO IN THE NEW, IN THE NEW BUILDING, UM, THE DINING ROOM WILL SEAT ABOUT 120 550 CHILDREN AT ONE SETTING.
SO THAT WILL ALLOW US TO SERVE IN ONE GROUP INSTEAD OF HAVING TO DO THINGS IN WAVES IN THE BASEMENT PART.
LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE DESIGN FOR A MINUTE.
SO, IN THE CURRENT BUILDING, WHICH IS RIGHT HERE, UM, THE BASEMENT NOW CURRENTLY HAS OUR DINING ROOM AND A VERY SMALL TEEN CENTER THAT WILL BECOME A DEDICATED TEEN SPACE.
SO YOUNG PEOPLE WILL NOT HAVE TO SHARE WITH THEIR YOUNGER SIBLINGS THAT THE TEENS WILL HAVE THEIR OWN DEDICATED SPACE.
AND THEN IN THE MIDDLE, MIDDLE SECTION, THAT'LL BE THE YOUTH CENTER.
SO STEM LAB, LIBRARY, EDUCATION CENTER, UM, GAMES ROOM, THAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN SIX TO SIX TO 12.
AND THEN, UM, THE UPSTAIRS CURRENTLY ARE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES ARE UNDER, UH, OR OVER COX HOLIDAY YOUNG IN THE, IN THE LOWER BASEMENT PART.
UM, SO WE WILL WON'T, WE WON'T NEED TO RENT BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA MOVE OUR ADMIN OFFICES BACK TO THE MAIN CAMPUS.
AND THEN THE REST, THE UPSTAIRS GYMNASIUM WILL CONVERT TO AN AUDITORIUM.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO SEAT ABOUT A HUNDRED TO 125 PEOPLE UP THERE FOR PROGRAMS. IF THE KIDS WANNA DO CREATIVE ARTS PROGRAMS, SINGING MU MUSIC, UM, THEATER, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO DO THAT.
WE'LL ALSO BE ABLE TO BRING IN SPEAKERS, UM, TO COME IN AND TALK WITH THE CHILDREN OR TO PUT, UM, TO MAKE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.
AND THEN ON THE GYMNASIUM SIDE, UM, AS I MENTIONED, THE, THE BASEMENT WILL BECOME DINING ROOM AND A COUPLE, UM, CLASSROOMS. AND WE'LL HAVE SOME MOVABLE WALLS SO WE CAN CREATE LARGER OR SMALLER SPACES.
UM, AND THEN A COMMERCIAL KITCHEN.
WE PROVIDE MEALS, UM, OUT OF OUR COMMERCIAL KITCHEN CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT 120 550 YOUNG PEOPLE COMING EVERY DAY.
UM, SO WE'RE MAKING ALL OF THOSE MEALS EVERY, EVERY DAY,
UM, AND THEN, UM, SO WITH THE KITCHEN, WE'LL ALSO IT WILL BE SEGMENTED OFF.
SO THERE'LL BE A RENTAL KITCHEN SO WE CAN RENT THE BASEMENT OUT.
SO IF THERE IS A, IS A GROUP OR AN ORGANIZATION THAT WANTS TO HOST SPAGHETTI DINNER OR HAVE AN EVENT, THERE'LL BE ABLE TO USE THE, USE THE CLUB THERE AS WELL.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT, AT WAYS THAT WE CAN RECOUP OR GENERATE SOME REVENUE.
UM, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THAT SPACE.
UM, THE CAMPAIGN ITSELF, WE HAVE A $12 MILLION PHILANTHROPIC GOAL, AND THAT IS, UM, THAT'S IN THREE PARTS.
UM, THERE'S 8 MILLION THAT'S GONNA GO TOWARDS THE BUILDING.
ANOTHER, UM, ANOTHER 2 MILLION THAT WILL GO TOWARDS PROGRAMMATIC, UM, EXPANSION BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN WE DOUBLE THE SPACE, WE'RE GONNA DOUBLE OUR UTILITIES.
WE'RE GONNA, OR WE'RE GONNA INCREASE UTILITIES.
HOPEFULLY WE'LL MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT.
BUT, UM, WE'LL INCREASE UTILITIES AND WE'LL, WE'LL NEED MORE STAFFING BECAUSE THE GOAL IS, UM, BY THE END OF THIS PROJECT THAT WE ARE, UM, THAT WE'RE SERVING ABOUT 1600 YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE EASTERN OR HERE IN, IN BERKELEY COUNTY.
BUT WE'LL ALSO SERVE OUR OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL.
UM, WE DO HAVE A CLUB IN MORGAN COUNTY AND ONE IN JEFFERSON COUNTY,
[00:25:01]
AND WE DO A LOT OF COLLABORATIVE WORK TOGETHER, ESPECIALLY DURING THE SUMMER.SO IT'LL BE REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO BRING THEM ALL UNDER ONE ROOF.
AND, AND THEN THE THIRD PART, THE THIRD BUCKET IS ENDOWMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY, BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WHEN YOU BUILD SOMETHING, YOU, YOU WANNA MAKE SURE THAT IT, IT'S SUSTAINABLE.
SO, UM, SO THE THIRD PART OF THE CAMPAIGN IS THE ENDOWMENT.
UM, WE, AGAIN, WE ARE SEEKING ANY GOVERNMENT DOLLARS THAT WE SEEK ARE DEDICATED PRI OR SOLELY DEDICATED TO, UM, THE, THE RENOVATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION WORK.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANKS FOR HAVING US TODAY.
PETITIONS FROM CITIZENS, PETITIONS FROM CITIZENS.
LAST CALL, PETITIONS FROM CITIZENS.
[9. Receive and File Reports––Minutes––Correspondence of The Following:]
NUMBER NINE, RECEIVE AND FILE REPORTS AND MINUTES CORRESPONDING WITH THE FILING.ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
OPPOSED? OPPOSED? REPORTS OF COUNCIL AS A WHOLE COMMITTEE.
[11. Report of Mayor]
OF MAYOR, BUT YOU GET YOUR CALENDARS OUT.YOU MAY ALREADY HAVE THESE DATES, BUT SCHEDULE A COUNCIL AS A WHOLE MEETING FOR WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4TH, 2026 AT 5:00 PM FOR BUDGET WORKSHOP AND OTHER ISSUES AS NECESSARY.
I'D LIKE TO ALSO SCHEDULE A COUNCIL AS A WHOLE COMMITTEE MEETING FOR THURSDAY, MARCH 12TH AT 5:00 PM FOR A BUDGET WORKSHOP AND OTHER ISSUES AS NEEDED.
AND THAT'S ONLY IF YOU NEED IT.
IF WE DON'T FINISH ON THE FOURTH.
SCHEDULE A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING FOR TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH, 2026 AT 5:00 PM FOR PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE FISCAL YEAR OF 20 26, 20 27, BUDGET AND OTHER BUSINESSES NECESSARY.
PROVE AND DENY APPOINTMENT FOR ALTERNATE TO REGULAR MEMBER STATUS FOR CHRISTINA BRINER TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS.
MOVE TO APPROVE CHRISTINA NER TO REGULAR MEETING STATUS.
I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
OF CURRENT OPENINGS THAT I HAVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS AND I WAS JUST INFORMED OF A POSSIBLE ANOTHER ONE, UH, TONIGHT AS WE SEE, AS WE'RE SITTING HERE, UH, I CURRENTLY, UH, WE'RE GONNA HAVE TWO OPENINGS ON THE ZONING APPEALS.
SO START GETTING SOME NAMES IN.
WE'VE, WE DID GET SOME, UH, INTEREST ALREADY SHOWN TO IT.
WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES, THE SHADE TREE COMMISSION, UH, ON OUR RECORD, IT SHOWS ONE VACANCY, BUT I BELIEVE WE HAVE TWO VACANCIES FOR THAT.
THAT'S NOT ON YOUR, THAT'S NOT ON YOUR AGENDA.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS BROUGHT TO ME AFTER THE AGENDA WENT OUT.
SO THERE WAS A WHILE THERE THAT WE HAD ALL OF OUR BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS FULL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG, LONG TIME.
AND I'D LIKE TO GET THOSE FILLED UP AGAIN, THE RIGHT PEOPLE FOR THE CITY ATTORNEY.
NOTHING TO REPORT, YOUR HONOR.
[13. Report of City Manager]
TO CITY MANAGER.UM, I JUST WANNA SAY A FEW THINGS.
THE LAST FEW WEEKS HAVE BEEN ROUGH.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE RECEIVED SOME OF MY ALERTS.
WE'VE BEEN FIGHTING WATER BREAKS AND SNOWSTORMS AND ICE STORMS. AND I JUST WANT TO GIVE PUBLICLY, UM, SOME PROPS AND THANKS TO OUR STAFF THAT HAVE LITERALLY BEEN IN FREEZING WEATHER AND WATER HOLES AND PLOWING AND DEICING AND RESPONDING TO FIRE CALLS AND POLICE CALLS.
UH, I'M VERY PROUD TO CALL THEM MY COLLEAGUES AND I'M VERY HAPPY.
WE MAY NOT DO EVERYTHING PERFECT, BUT THEY CERTAINLY, UH, WERE WORKING HARD THROUGH THE MATTERS.
AND, UH, GIVEN THE CONDITIONS, I THINK THE INTERRUPTIONS HAVE BEEN LIMITED COMPARED TO WHAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN IT'S BUDGET SEASON.
WE'RE IN FULL FLEDGED BUDGET SEASON.
I WANT TO THANK THE DEPARTMENT HEADS.
[00:30:01]
THEM FOR WITHSTANDING THE STRONG INTERROGATION THAT THEY'VE GOTTEN FROM STEPHANIE IN HER FIRST YEAR AS FINANCE DIRECTOR.SHE'S BEING REALLY HARSH ON ALL OF THEM, QUESTIONING EVERY PENNY THAT THEY'RE SPENT.
UM, WE, WE HAVE A PRETTY GOOD FRAMEWORK WE THINK THAT WE'RE, UM, EXCITED TO COME TO YOU WITH AND DISCUSS, UH, FIRST ON THE, ON THE FOURTH, YOU KNOW, OUR BUDGET'S DUE TO THE STATE BY THE 28TH.
UM, I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT MORE ON THE, ON THE FOURTH.
UM, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, WE'VE BEEN MEETING WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, REQUESTS FROM THE OUTSIDE.
I CAN TELL YOU THERE ARE MANY, MANY ASK.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF LEGITIMATE NEEDS.
THERE'S A LOT OF WANTS AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S FINITE RESOURCES.
SO THERE'S GONNA BE SOME TOUGH DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS.
OUR PLANNING DIRECTOR STARTS ON FEBRUARY 23RD.
UM, I DON'T WANT TO NE NECESSARILY PUBLICLY SAY WHO THAT IS, BUT THE STAFF KNOWS WHO IT IS JUST 'CAUSE SHE CURRENTLY HAS A JOB.
I'M NOT SURE WHETHER OR NOT, UM, THIS HAPPENED BEFORE OUR LAST MEETING OR NOT.
BUT, UM, THE PODA IS ACTUALLY AN OPERATION.
WE HAVE SOME, UH, ESTABLISHMENTS THAT ARE TAKING PART OF THAT.
AND THEN FINALLY, I THINK I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES A BROKEN RECORD ON THIS, BUT, UM, MYSELF, COREY, UM, CC AND I CONTINUE TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS AND WE'RE WORKING ON FINALIZING REVISIONS TO THE, BOTH THE MARTINSBURG GREENWAY TRAIL AND THE SAFE STREETS FOR ALL COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, IN ORDER TO TRY TO GET THAT, UH, GOING ON, NEPA IS STILL IN PROGRESS, AS YOU KNOW.
AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HOPEFUL THAT IF ALL GOES WELL, WE CAN AT LEAST TRY TO GET SOME SORT OF CONSTRUCTION GOING ON IN THE LATE FALL.
UM, EARLY 2027, THEN I LIED THE SOUTH STREET PROJECT, UH, ABOUT BEING DONE.
THE SOUTH STREET PROJECT BID DOCUMENTS ARE GONNA BE GOING OUT SOON.
THAT'S THE PROJECT THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.
AND, UM, THE NORTH STREET, THE NORTH QUEEN STREET PROJECT IS SUPPOSED TO, I GOT AN EMAIL THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO, UH, WEATHER DEPENDENT START BACK UP IN MARCH.
SO LOTS OF EXCITING STUFF GOING ON.
AND AGAIN, JUST THANK TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR DOING THE REAL WORK.
[15. New Business]
TO NEW BUSINESS.PROVE AND DENY POLICE AND FIRE ACTUARIAL AND CONSULTING SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR POST-RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
PLUS WITH USI CONSULTING GROUP $11,600.
I HAVE A MOTION, I HAVE A SECOND.
DO I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED MAKE COMMENT ON A, B, C, A ZONING FORM FOR NIKKI VISIONS VOLUME ONE.
NIKKI, WOULD YOU LIKE TO COME UP AND SPEAK? I'LL ASK FOR YOU TO SPEAK
UH, TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO AT THE SALON, OF COURSE, I'M GOING TO TRY TO CONJOIN BOTH OF MY WORLDS OF RESTAURANT AND SALON AND A LOT OF PLACES IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND OTHER SURROUNDING AREAS DO THIS.
WE HAVE LADIES THAT ARE PROCESSING FOR TWO HOURS, SO IT'D BE NICE TO HAVE A LITTLE BEVERAGE.
AND ALSO WE'RE GONNA DO SOME LITTLE HEALTHY SNACKS AND THINGS AND MAKE IT A FUN ENVIRONMENT.
SO I WANTED TO GET, THEY HAVE A SPA, WINE AND BEER LICENSE THAT I CAN GET FOR THAT, JUST TO MAKE IT NICE.
AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, MAYBE HAVE SOME LITTLE EVENTS, DO SOME CHAMPAGNE, SOCIALS, THINGS LIKE THAT JUST TO ADD TO THE CITY.
JAMIE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANYTHING TO THAT? NO, I TOLD NICK, NICKI WHEN WE CAME IN HERE, I SAID YOU'D PROBABLY BE UPSET.
I'M NOT GONNA TALK TONIGHT BECAUSE I KNOW YOU LOVE YOU, YOU TALK.
THEY ARE VERY VOCAL, THAT'S FOR SURE.
DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO, IT SOUNDS LOVELY.
YEAH, I MOVED TO, UH, SEND IT ON WITHOUT COMMENT.
SECOND, TYPICALLY WE ASK THE CHIEF, BUT HE'S NOT HERE.
ALL RIGHT, WELL WE'LL MOVE THAT ON WITHOUT, WITHOUT COMMENT.
AND THEN, UH, HOW, WHAT'S THE NEXT PROCESS FOR THEM? THAT'LL GO TO A, B, C, A A C WILL DO THEIR INSPECTION.
ALL OTHER HELP, PERMIT AND WE'LL,
UH, REALLY INVESTING INTO OUR DOWNTOWN.
I TRYING TO GET A TECHNICALITY FOR YOU.
[00:35:01]
YOU'RE GOOD TO GO.ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
PROVEN AND DENY RENEWAL OF LANDSCAPING PROJECT WITH R AND L LANDSCAPES FOR LANDSCAPING WORK IN THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG.
ANY QUESTIONS? I DO, DO THEY HAVE THE, THE, UH, PEOPLE TO WORK FOR THEM? AS FAR AS I KNOW, I KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM.
THOSE OPPOSED PROVEN DENY PAY APP NUMBER 27 FOR WAYNESBORO CONSTRUCTION FOR CITY HALL RENOVATIONS.
FINAL PAYMENT, MOVE TO APPROVE PAY, PAY APP.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED PROVEN DENY COOPERATIVE SERVICE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG AND THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE, WILDLIFE SERVICE FOR CONTROL OF TURKEY VULTURES AND BLACK VULTURES.
THOSE OPPOSED? I GET A QUESTION.
DID THERE WAS ANOTHER AREA THAT THEY WERE SAID THAT THEY STARTED TO GO TO.
HAVE WE LOOKED INTO THAT? I THINK BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT LAPSE, UM, THE, THE, UM, CLOSE DOWN THERE WAS A LAPSE IN THE, IN THE CONTRACT AND GETTING IT TO US.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S WHY THEY MOVED THERE.
SO I THINK THAT ONCE THEY'RE CONTROLLED, THAT'S GOING TO BE CONTROLLED.
2025 CDBG COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF THE EASTERN PANHANDLE FOR $201,644 FOR THE ELEVATOR PROJECT.
MOVE TO APPROVE SECOND VERSUS SECOND.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED PROVEN DENY QUOTE TO PURCHASE NEW GARBAGE TRUCK FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT $233,619 FROM THE SANITATION CAPITAL FORM.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED PROVEN DENY RESOLUTION 2026 DASH OH ONE GRANTING STORMWATER EASEMENT TO THE EASTERN PANEL OF TRANSIT AUTHORITY.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED? WE WOULD DENY LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR BLUE RIDGE COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE'S GRANT APPLICATION TO PROVIDE CHESAPEAKE BAY LANDSCAPE PROFESSIONAL LEVEL ONE FOR STORMWATER EMPLOYEES.
ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE.
DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION TO AMEND THE HOUSING CODE TO COMPLY WITH THE RECENT COURT ORDER AND TO ALLOW THIRD PARTY RENTAL INSPECTIONS MOVE TO.
SO MR. SARAH AND I ARE GONNA TAG TEAM ON THIS ONE.
SO WE HAD A LOAN DISCUSSION THE LAST MEETING AND THEN THE NEXT DAY IT IMPLODED.
SO JUST IGNORE EVERYTHING WE SAID THE LAST MEETING AND WE'LL PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MEETING MAYBE.
SO THERE'S TWO PRONGS TO THIS.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO MAKE IF YOU WANT TO, WE'RE GONNA GONNA DO AMENDMENTS.
THERE'S A COURT ORDER ON THE NEXT DAY THAT MR. SAYER WILL EXPLAIN TO YOU.
AND THEN, UM, IN TALKING WITH COUNCILMAN UH, BAKER AND ACTUALLY RESEARCHING THIS AROUND THE COUNTRY, UM, HE MENTIONED AN IDEA AT THE LAST MEETING, WHICH PROBABLY IN TALKING WITH UH, STAFF DOWNSTAIRS, THERE PROBABLY IS A VERY, UM, GOOD, UM, SUGGESTION OF ALLOWING CERTAIN, UM, LANDLORDS TO PROVIDE INSPECTION REPORTS FROM LICENSED INSPECTORS THAT WE APPROVE THE PANEL.
BUT IF WE'RE GONNA DO THESE TWO THINGS, THEN WE NEED TO MAKE THE ORDINANCE.
SO WE ALLOW THAT AND IT'S A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT GIVEN WHAT HAPPENED ON THE FRIDAY AFTER OUR LAST MEETING.
SO HAVING SET KEN UP FOR, UH, DISCUSSION, I'LL, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO HIM TO EXPLAIN WHY WE WERE IN COURT, WHAT HAPPENED IN COURT AND WHY WE, WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO RESOLVE IT IF THE COUNCIL, IF IT'S THE COUNCIL'S WILL.
SO THIS IS A, THIS WAS A, A MATTER THAT WENT, WE HAD A RENTAL HOUSING INSPECTION THAT WAS PERFORMED.
UH, THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING OR THE PROPERTY MANAGER, I'M STILL NOT QUITE SURE WHAT HIS ROLE WAS.
OBJECTED TO THE, UH, INSPECTION.
HE, HE OBJECTED ON TWO GROUNDS.
[00:40:01]
THAT THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG SHOULD NOT BE INSPECTING RENTAL PROPERTY.AND THAT TWO, HE FELT THAT OUR INSPECTOR WHO WAS ENFORCING THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE IN THE STATE BUILDING CODE DID NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THOSE CODES.
WE HAVE A HOUSING CODE 1781 THAT TALKS ABOUT OTHER CODES, BUT IT ALSO HAS SOME SPECIFIC STUFF ABOUT WHAT THESE UNITS HAD TO COMPLY WITH.
UH, THAT WENT TO, IT SAT AROUND FOR A WHILE BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THE HOUSING RENTAL BOARD AND NEVER HAD A HOUSING RENTAL BOARD.
UH, WE THEN AMENDED THE ORDINANCE TO ALLOW OUR CODE APPEALS BOARD, WHICH IS A BOARD WE HAVE TO UH, HEAR THIS.
AND THEY HEARD IT AND THEY DENIED THE APPEAL AND SAID THAT UH, THIS HOUSE NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE BUILDING CODE, SPECIFICALLY THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.
IT WAS APPEALED TO JUDGE REDDING.
WE HAD ORAL ARGUMENTS WITH JUDGE REDDING.
UH, THOSE OF YOU ALL KNOW JUDGE REDDING.
HE HAS A BACKGROUND IN IN FIRE SERVICE.
UH, HE WAS VERY ATTUNED TO MAKING PEOPLE COMPLY WITH THE, UH, STATE BUILDING CODE AND THE FIRE CODE.
UNFORTUNATELY, JUDGE REDDING WENT OFF THE BENCH.
JUDGE WILKES SAID THAT 1781 DID NOT ALLOW FOR OUR HOUSING INSPECTOR TO, UH, ENFORCE THE STATE BUILDING CODE AND THE INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT I SEE THERE IS A, THIS WEST VIRGINIA CODE SAYS THAT THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG CAN ADOPT ANY BUILDING CODE IT WANTS AS LONG AS IT'S THE STATE BUILDING CODE.
IF WE DON'T, UH, WE DON'T WANNA APPROVE THE STATE BUILDING CODE.
WE CAN'T HAVE A BUILDING CODE.
SO OUR ORDINANCE IS SORT OF, UH, NOT IN, IT'S NOT COMPLIANT WITH THAT.
AND SO I BELIEVE WHAT WE SHOULD DO IS WE SHOULD AMEND THE ORDINANCE AND SPECIFICALLY SAY IN OUR HOUSING CODE THAT THE RENTAL HOUSING UNITS NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE, THE, UH, FIRE SAFETY CODES AND THE STATE BUILDING CODE.
AND TO DO THAT BASED UPON JUDGE WILKES'S DECISION, WE WOULD HAVE TO AMEND THE CODE.
ANDY AND I HAVE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT APPEALING JUDGE WILKES'S DECISION.
I DON'T THINK, TO ME, I DON'T THINK IT'S WORTH OUR, WHILE APPEALING IT WHEN WE CAN FIX IT WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE A CHANCE OF EITHER THEM AFFIRMING IT OR, UM, YOU KNOW, REMANDING IT, WHAT WE'VE ALWAYS HAD, WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH US AT THE SUPREME COURT, EVERY TIME WE GO UP, THEY REMAND IT BACK.
AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN.
SO IT'S MY RECOMMENDATION THAT ALONG WITH AMENDING THE CODE TO ALLOW FOR THIRD PARTY INSPECTIONS TO MAKE THESE FOLKS COMPLY WITH THE STATE BUILDING CODE.
ANY QUESTIONS? NO, THERE'S NO ORDINANCE TONIGHT.
THE QUESTION WAS DID YOU WANNA PROCEED TO LOOKING AT THIS AND COME BACK TO YOU NEXT MONTH? UH, WITH A RECOMMENDATION FOR WHAT TO DO THERE, THERE'S NO ACTION OTHER THAN ARE YOU INTERESTED IN US AMENDING SENDING IT, BRINGING IT TO YOU FOR DISCUSSION? IF THERE'S TWEAKS, WE CAN TWEAK IT.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO, THE REASON WHY THE RFP DIDN'T GO OUT THAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PUT THE RFP OUT WITHOUT AMENDING THE ORDINANCE.
'CAUSE OTHERWISE, UM, IT WOULD'VE BEEN POINTLESS.
SO, SO I HAVE, I HAVE A QUESTION, KEN.
SO IF WE AMEND THIS FOR ALLOWING FOR THE BUILDING CODE EXISTING PROPERTIES, OBVIOUSLY THE, A LOT OF THE RENTALS ARE GONNA BE EXISTING PROPERTIES.
THOSE CODES ARE, ARE ALWAYS CHANGING.
YOU KNOW, WE LAST ONE INSULATION R FACTOR HAD TO GO OFF WITH THAT.
IF IT, IF IT'S PART THAT THEY, THAT THEY HAVE HAVE A A RIGHT TO TAKE THAT TO THE CURRENT BUILDING CODE.
IT, IT WOULD ALWAYS BE A WOULDN'T IT ALWAYS? OR COULD BE ALWAYS CHASING THEIR TAIL.
LIKE, 'CAUSE IT, IT WOULDN'T ALLOW FOR IT TO BE, IT'S, IT'S, THE REASON I ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS SEPARATE IS A PROPERTY THAT WAS BUILT 20 YEARS AGO HAD IT HAD INSPECTIONS WAS APPROVED.
HERE THEY ARE NOW, THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS THAT CHANGED LIKE IN
[00:45:01]
THE LAST 10 YEARS.FIRE EXTINGUISHERS REQUIRED IN, IN ALL RENTALS, NOT JUST MULTIFAMILIES BUT LIKE INSULATION REQUIREMENTS.
UM, COULD BE GCIS, IT COULD BE REQUIRED, NEWLY REQUIRED IN THERE, BUT WITH EXISTING HOMES THAT AREN'T MAKING ANY ALTERATIONS.
IF WE ADOPT THIS, WOULDN'T THAT MEAN THAT ALL LANDLORDS WOULD ALSO BE REQUIRED TO RETROFIT BACK TO WHATEVER THE NEW CODE IS? I THINK WE, WHEN WE LOOK TO ADOPT THIS, I MEAN YOU, YOU BROUGHT OUT THE, THE GROUND FAULT OUTLETS.
I MEAN THAT WAS THE WHOLE ISSUE WITH THIS CASE WAS THAT THERE WERE NO GROUND FAULT OUTLETS IN WHERE THE CODE REQUIRED.
AND UH, THE CODE CHANGED AT ONE TIME.
THERE WASN'T GROUND FAULT OUTLETS.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO, TO LOOK AT IT AS TO HOW WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT THE PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE.
WELL THAT, THAT SORT OF DEALS WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT ITEMS THAT ARE REALLY POINTED AT EXISTING BUILDINGS.
IT, IT'S NOT THE IPMC IS NOT NECESSARILY DESIGNED FOR A NEW CONSTRUCTION AND THERE ARE PARTS OF THE BUILDING CODE THAT ARE SPECIFICALLY FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION, SPECIFICALLY FOR, UM, YOU KNOW, MULTIFAMILIES AND COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS AND, AND AND THAT STUFF.
SO WE, WE DO NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE HOUSING CODE TO APPLY WITH THE, THE FIRE SAFETY CODE.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, IF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL DECIDES THAT WE NEED TO CHANGE THE, THE, UM, UH, FIRE SAFETY FOR SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS, THEN WE PROBABLY WANT OUR LANDLORDS OR WHOMEVER TO LOOK AT COMING COMPLIANT WITH THAT.
I MEAN, UH, AS YOU'RE, AS A CONTRACTOR, YOU'RE WELL AWARE OF, OF ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE BUILDING CODE.
AND SOME OF THEM, UH, DO REQUIRE THAT IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED NOW AS OPPOSED TO WHEN YOU GO BACK AND, AND YOU'RE, UH, MAKING A, A, A SUBSTANTIAL RENOVATION.
UH, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THESE RENTAL HOUSES HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN IN 'EM.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES THAT WE HAVE.
IT, IT'S NOT AS SIMPLE AS JUST SAYING, WE'RE GOING TO ADOPT A STATE BUILDING THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AND MAKE SURE TO DEAL WITH THAT.
BECAUSE THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN.
I MEAN, AND AS YOU KNOW, WHAT I DO IN BUILDING HOUSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, THAT IT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN BECAUSE IT SOUNDS GOOD AND YOU GET A PANEL, YOU KNOW, YOU GET A GROUP THAT DOESN'T KNOW THIS AND YOU SIT HERE AND OH YEAH, O OKAY, OF COURSE WE WANT THEM TO BE COMPLIANT, BUT IT LITERALLY COULD BE A HOUSE.
I CAN GUARANTEE YOU THAT IF I GO OVER DENNIS TAKES VERY GOOD CARE OF HIS HOUSE.
I GUARANTEE IF I GO TO HIS HOUSE, I BET HE HAS OUTLETS IN HIS BASEMENT THAT AREN'T GFCI, UM, PROTECTED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T, WASN'T REQUIRED WHEN THAT HOUSE WAS BUILT.
AND HE, AND OTHER THAN IF IT WAS RECENTLY RENOVATED, BUT IN A RENTAL THAT WOULD BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A-G-F-C-I.
I DO AGREE THAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER THAT'S SIMPLE.
IT'S NOT A MAJOR CHANGE, BUT THERE'S SOME STUFF IN HERE WHERE IT MAKES ME VERY NERVOUS THAT YOU'RE GOING, IT'S ALWAYS GONNA CHANGE.
SO, YOU KNOW, EVERY THREE OR FOUR YEARS THERE'S GONNA BE A NEW, NEW CODES COME OUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE THE INSTALLATION.
AND IF WE DON'T OR, OR WE'RE NOT VERY CAREFUL WITH THAT STUFF, I'M CONCERNED THAT THAT WILL BE A PROBLEM FOR PROPERTIES THAT ARE RENTALS.
UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE INTERWOVEN MILL WON'T MEET, WILL NOT BE IN COMPLIANT OF BUILDING CODES 10 YEARS FROM NOW.
WELL THEY, THEY WON'T BE IN COMPLIANT WITH THE NEW ELECTRICAL CODE THAT WE HAVEN'T ADOPTED.
THE NEW BOOK JUST GOT RELEASED AND NO ONE THERE, THERE'S NOT ONE PERSON IN THIS BUILDING CURRENTLY THAT WILL BE IN FULL COMPLIANT OF THE NEW ELECTRICAL CODE.
WHICH YOU KNOW, IS A MAJOR CONCERN BECAUSE LITERALLY AS THAT CHANGES, THAT MEANS THAT EVERY SINGLE RENTAL IN THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG WILL BE NOT COMPLIANT IF WE'RE NOT CAREFUL TO ALLOW FOR SOMETHING IN THERE FOR.
AND IT GETS BUT GRANDFATHERING SOME OF THIS STUFF IN IF THEY'RE NOT, IF THEY'RE NOT TOUCHING IT.
WELL THERE'S A LOT OF PARTS OF THE STATE BUILDING CODE THAT EXEMPT SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING THAT, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO COMPLY WITH IN DIFFERENT PIECES OF THE, OF THE CODE.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE SPRINKLERS AND STUFF.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT SPRINKLERS IN SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS.
'CAUSE IT ONE TIME THE THE THE, THE FOLKS THAT DRAFTED THE
[00:50:01]
BUILDING CODE TO PUT IT OUT HAD IT IN ALL NEW SINGLE FAMILY DWELLINGS HAD TO HAVE SPRINKLERS AND, AND MARYLAND HAS IT.AND THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL SAID NO, WE'RE NOT DOING THAT IN WEST VIRGINIA.
SO HOW DO WE, FOR LIKE MY CONCERN, HOW DO WE PROTECT SOME OF THAT IF WE CAN FULLY ALLOW FOR, WELL WE CAN LOOK AT THE DRAFTING OF THE LANGUAGE AS THE, AS THE STATE BUILDING CODE APPLIES TO IT.
UH, BUT YOU KNOW, SOME THINGS, YOU KNOW, THE LIFE SAFETY ISSUES JUST BECAUSE IT WASN'T CONSIDERED A LIFE.
I'M, I'M, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER WE DIDN'T HAVE SEAT BELTS THERE FOR OUR KIDS TO RIDE IN.
AND NOW YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THOSE, YOU HAVE TO BE IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT.
UH, AND THOSE ARE REQUIREMENTS.
AND SO SOME OF THOSE LIFE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, YOU SOMETIMES HAVE TO COMPLY ESPECIALLY, BUT NOT IN A 1964 MUSTANG.
IF YOU OWNED IT, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAVE THE SEATBELT.
WELL NO, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE SEATBELT, BUT YOUR CHILD COULDN'T RIDE IN YOUR CAR WITHOUT THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN 19 OR 2025.
THE CHILD WITH THE, WITH THE SEAT.
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WEAR A SEATBELT 'CAUSE IT'S NOT, THE CAR WOULDN'T BE EQUIPPED WITH IT TOO.
THAT ACTUALLY MAKES MY CASE OF, THERE'S AN EXEMPTION IN THE STATUTE THAT SAYS THAT CARS THAT WEREN'T DESIGNED FOR SEAT BELTS DON'T REQUIRE TO HAVE SEAT BELTS IN 'EM NOW.
AND SO THAT WAS IN THE STATUTES, THE FEDERAL STATUTES.
AND WHEN WE DRAFT THIS, WE'LL WE WILL LOOK AND MAKE SURE, BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT AS THE STATE FARM MARSHAL DEEMS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T BE GRANDFATHERED IN IT.
BUT THERE ARE SOME THINGS, UH, YOU KNOW, PROBABLY LIKE THE, THE, UM, THE INSULATION.
I MEAN I, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ACTUAL WAY THAT THEY'VE WRITTEN IT.
IF YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND RETROFIT, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU DO.
I MEAN, I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE ONE, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE WE'RE GETTING THERE, BUT HANDRAILS ARE, ARE, ARE MAKING A MAJOR CHANGE MM-HMM
WITH THE NEW BUILDING CODE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE GOING TO SHRINK THEM TO ROUGHLY, IT WAS ALWAYS THREE STEPS OR LESS.
YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO HAVE, YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE HANDRAIL OR RAILING AROUND, AROUND A PORCH NEW BUILDING CODE WHEN IT COMES OUT.
THAT WILL NOT BE THE CASE ANYMORE.
IT'S GONNA BE, I THINK IT'S 18 INCHES.
SO THEY'RE, THEY'RE, YEAH, THEY'RE CHANGING IT DRAMATICALLY.
UM, IT, THERE'S, THERE'S A LOT OF REPERCUSSIONS TO IT.
AND I THAT, I GUESS THAT'S MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS, YOU KNOW, I CAN'T ARGUE WITH THE GG FCIS AND I UNDERSTAND THAT A RENTAL PROPERTY IS ALWAYS GONNA BE HELD TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD THAN OWNER OCCUPIED.
UM, BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME, IN MY OPINION, THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'RE BEING REASONABLE WITH, WITH SOME OF THESE REQUIREMENTS.
I MEAN, THAT'S MY, WE'LL, WE'LL WORK IN AS WE'RE DRAFTING THE ORDINANCE.
I THINK THAT'S, WELL I A LOT OF GOOD QUESTIONS, CONCERNS AND I, WE WON'T KNOW WHAT TO ASK UNTIL WE SEE WHAT THE ORDINANCE IS, RIGHT? CORRECT.
SO, UM, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE WANNA MOVE FORWARD WITH? YES.
DEFINITELY NEED MOTION FOR THAT WITH THOSE CONSIDERATIONS.
I DON'T THINK WE NEED A MOTION BROUGHT UP.
JUST A CONSENSUS IS GOOD ENOUGH.
AND I'M SURE ANYTHING THAT THEY HAVE, YOU'D BE, YOU'D BE PRIVY TO THAT AND YOUR INFORMATION WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL AND WE CAN TRY TO GET IT, UH, WE CAN TRY GET IT BEFORE THE, BY THE MARCH 4TH WORKSHOP SO THAT IF IT'S SOMETHING YOU GUYS WANNA DO OR HAVE DISCUSSIONS OR WHATEVER, WE CAN DO THE FIRST AND SECOND AND FINAL READING IN MARCH.
'CAUSE WE HAVE A COUPLE OF THOSE SPECIAL MEETINGS.
MARCH 4TH IS THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
OH, WELL AT SIX O'CLOCK WE MAY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE THEY'RE GONNA MEET.
WANT 'EM OVER THERE? ALRIGHT, WE'LL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
[16. Executive Session]
GONNA NEED A MOTION TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS REAL ESTATE.I ALSO, UH, MAYOR, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'VE ASKED STEPHANIE TO STAY AROUND FOR THIS.