* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [1. Call to Order] [00:00:03] TURN ON YOUR MIC. YOU GONNA CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER? DECEPT CATCH UP. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCILWOMAN CRAWFORD. HERE. COUNCILMAN KNIGHT? HERE. COUNCILMAN ETHERINGTON. HERE. COUNCILMAN HARBURG. HERE. ACKNOWLEDGING CITY ATTORNEY KINSER AND THE MAYOR . AND THE CITY MANAGER. ANDY BLAKE. COUNCILMAN COLLINSON. HERE. COUNCILMAN NELSON HERE. AND COUNCILMAN BAKER. PRESENT. ANYBODY STAND AND, UH, COUNCILMAN HARBURG? I ANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC WHICH STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER POWER, INDIVIDUAL WITH LIBERTY, ROUTINE OF JUSTICE, ALL PLEASE REMAIN STANDING. AND, UH, REVEREND CARTWRIGHT VERNON CARTWRIGHT, COULD YOU PLEASE LEAD US TO THAT? DEAR FATHER AND HEAVEN, WE'RE GRATEFUL THIS EVENING FOR THE PRIVILEGE, REALIZING THAT YOU, AS OUR GOD IS ABLE TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE. AND SO TONIGHT, AS THIS COMMITTEE COME TOGETHER, WE ASK FOR YOUR HOLY SPIRIT. GIVE US WISDOM, KNOWLEDGE, AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WHATEVER, UH, DUTIES OR PROGRAM THAT WE INITIATE, MAY IT BE A SUCCESS. I PRAY FOR EACH MEMBER OF THIS, UH, COUNCIL. FILL EACH ONE WITH YOUR HOLY SPIRIT. BLESS THEM WITH WISDOM THAT WHATEVER IS DONE TONIGHT WILL BE TO YOUR HONOR AND GLORY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE. IN JESUS' NAME, AMEN. AMEN. THANK YOU. APPROVE [5. Approval of Minutes] FEBRUARY 12TH, 2026. REGULAR MEETING MINUTES. SO MOVED. SECOND. HAVE A MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. OPPOSED? OPPOSED. APPROVE. DENY. MARCH 4TH, 2026. COUNCIL AS A WHOLE COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES. MOVE TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. APPROVE [6. Approve Administrative and Financial Report] THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL REPORT. MOVE TO APPROVE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL REPORT. I HAVE A MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND. SECOND. I HAVE A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED PRESENTATIONS? [7. Presentations] ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. UH, FIRST ONE'S GONNA BE, I'M GONNA ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE TO FIREFIGHTER, EMT, ORGE ORTEGA LOPEZ. IS THAT CORRECT? ORGE. JORGE. JORGE ORGE. HE'S NOT THERE BY HIMSELF. IT'S GUY'S NAME. RIGHT? I DON'T HAVE TO SAY HIS NAME. HE'S GOT HIS OWN NAME, RIGHT. WHERE, OKAY. CAN YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND, UH, REPEAT AFTER ME? YES, SIR. I STATE YOUR NAME. I JORGE TEGA. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. AND I'LL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. I WILL SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. I POSSESS THE QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY LAW THAT ASSESS THE QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY LAW TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF FIREFIGHTER EMT TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF FIREFIGHTER EMT IN THE CITY OF MARBURG IN THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG. I'M NOT SUBJECT TO ANY DISQUALIFICATIONS THAT I'M NOT SUBJECT TO ANY DISQUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY LAW, PRESCRIBED BY LAW THAT ALLOWS THE DISCHARGE, THE DUTIES OF THE SET OFFICE THAT ALLOW US SEE THE DISCHARGE OF SET OFFICE TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT. SO HELP ME GOD. SO HELP ME GOD. OBJECTION. ONE, TWO, DO YOU GUYS GOOD? [00:05:25] VERY GOOD, SIR. UH, REGISTER. KATHY THOMAS HERE. YES. I HEARD THIS IS LONG AWAITED, HUH? OKAY. DO SO. WE DO. AND RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME. I STATE YOUR NAME. I HAPPY THOMAS. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR. DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. THAT I SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA AND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA. AND I POSSESS THE QU QUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY LAW, AND I POSSESS THE QUALIFICATIONS TO PRESCRIBE BY LAW TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF CITY MAGISTRATE TO HOLD THE OFFICE OF CITY MAGISTRATE, THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG IN THE CITY OF MARBURG. I'M NOT SUBJECT TO ANY DISQUALIFICATIONS. I'M NOT SUBJECT TO ANY DISQUALIFICATIONS PRESCRIBED BY LAW, PRESCRIBED BY LAW. I'LL HONESTLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE SET OFFICE AND I'LL HONESTLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE SET OFFICE TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT TO THE BEST OF MY SKILL AND JUDGMENT. SO HELP ME, GO AHEAD. YES, BUT NOT LEAST, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM THE MARTINSBURG INITIATIVE TO PROVIDE US UP WITH A, THE COLD WATER SHELTER. UH, WHO'S GONNA START THAT OFF? IS THAT GONNA BE CAROLINE, PLEASE COME ON UP AND STATE YOUR NAME AND POSITION AND ADDRESS IF YOU COULD. HEY, MY NAME IS CAROLINE WILSON. I AM THE PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THE MARTINSBURG COLD WEATHER SHELTER. UM, AND YOU SAID ADDRESS. THAT'S OKAY. YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY. , I'M JUST USED TO SAYING THAT. SO, , UM, UH, SO AS YOU ALL KNOW, WE STARTED THE COLD WEATHER SHELTER ON JANUARY 3RD, UM, MOSTLY DUE TO THE FUNDING FROM THE MARTINSBURG CITY COUNCIL, WHICH WE JUST WANT TO THANK YOU ALL AGAIN FOR, UM, WE ARE SUPER GRATEFUL FOR IT AND NONE OF IT COULD BE DONE WITHOUT Y'ALL. UM, THIS SHELTER HAS HAD A HUGE IMPACT SO FAR. UM, I PULLED SOME OF THE NUMBERS A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO AND I WAS HOPING TO SHARE A FEW OF THOSE WITH YOU. AND WE ALSO BROUGHT A STAFF MEMBER, UM, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT. WE HAVE A SECOND STAFF MEMBER, BUT SHE IS NOT HERE JUST YET. UM, SO WE ARE ON WEEK 10 AND A HALF OF THE MARTINSBURG COLD WEATHER SHELTER. UM, WE FEEL THAT THIS SHELTER PROBABLY HAS SAVED LIVES THIS WINTER. WE HAVE SERVED A TOTAL OF 58 INDIVIDUALS. UM, SOME OF THEM HAVE STAYED JUST ONE NIGHT. SOME OF THEM HAVE STAYED ALMOST THE ENTIRE SHELTER SEASON. UM, BUT OVERALL WE HAVE PROVIDED 1,136 SAFE NIGHTS OF SLEEP FOR MARTINSBURG RESIDENTS. UM, WE'VE HAD A LOT OF COLLABORATION FROM THE COMMUNITY. WE'VE HAD, UH, VOLUNTEERS THAT HAVE BROUGHT MEALS, WE'VE HAD DONATIONS. WE HAVE, UM, HAD A CHILD OF HELP WITH MOVING THE SHELTER FROM CHURCH TO CHURCH EACH WEEK. AND MOST OF ALL, WE HAVE HAD, UH, BEEN HOSTED BY SIX DIFFERENT CHURCHES IN THE COMMUNITY. CHRIST REFORMED ST. JOHN'S, TRINITY OTTERBINE, AND ST. LUKE'S, UNITED METHODIST CHURCHES AND DESTINY BAPTIST. UM, BUT WHAT I REALLY WANNA SAY IS THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE PROVIDING A SAFE SPACE FOR PEOPLE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO, WELL, THE STAFF HAS BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT THEM WITH ALL KINDS OF SERVICES. WE'VE HAD SEVEN PEOPLE BECOME EMPLOYED SINCE THEY'VE STARTED STAYING AT THE SHELTER. WE'VE HAD FIVE PEOPLE GET HOUSED SINCE THEY CAME TO THE SHELTER. UM, AND WE HAVE ALSO BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT ABOUT HALF OF THE PEOPLE WITH PERMANENT HOUSING SERVICES. WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO CONNECT A QUARTER OF THEM WITH CASE MANAGEMENT AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT. [00:10:01] WE HAVE HELPED, UH, ANOTHER 17% WITH HOW OTHER HOUSING SERVICES. UM, ALMOST EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN THERE HAS BEEN CONNECTED WITH SOMETHING, WHETHER IT'S FOOD, CLOTHES, CRISIS COUNSELING, MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT, UM, OFFERED SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT, UH, MEDICAL CARE AND MORE. UM, AND ONE THING THAT WE DID FIND OUT IS THAT, UM, WE ASKED PEOPLE THE REASONS WHY THEY CAME TO THE COLD WEATHER SHELTER. AND WE FOUND OUT THAT A LOT OF THEM CAME BECAUSE, UH, THEY WERE NOT MAYBE ABLE TO STAY AT ANOTHER SHELTER OR THEY CAME DIRECTLY FROM OUTSIDE. AND I REALLY THINK THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE NEED FOR WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE. UM, TO HAVE A LOW BARRIER SHELTER AND SOMEWHERE THAT CAN BE EASILY ACCESSED FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIFE DIFFICULTIES. UM, I WISH THE WHOLE TEAM WAS HERE. WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM. WE HAVE SAYED HICKS, ALEX GONZALEZ, HANNAH COOPER, WHO'S THE COORDINATOR, UM, ERICA JOHNSON AND ALSO NANETTE. AND SHE JUST WANTS TO SAY A FEW WORDS ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WORKING AT THE SHELTER. GOOD EVENING. I AM, UH, NANETTE REDMOND. UM, I JUST HAVE A LITTLE THING I WANNA READ TO YOU. I JUST WANNA SAY I'M GOOD EVENING MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR KEVIN KNOWLES. MY NAME IS NETTE AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SHARE VOICES OF THOSE WHO OFTEN GO UNHEARD. THE RESIDENTS OF THE MARTINSBURG WEATHER, COLD WEATHER SHELTER. WHEN PEOPLE WALK THROUGH OUR DOORS, THEY WERE OFTEN AT THEIR LOWEST POINT. BUT LATELY, THE FEEDBACK WE'VE RECEIVED ISN'T ABOUT THE STRUGGLE, IT'S ABOUT THE RESTORATION OF THEIR DIGNITY. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS TELL US POINT BLANK, THEY HAVEN'T EATEN A MEAL IN MONTHS. OUR ONE RESIDENT EVEN SHARED, THEY NEVER EXPECTED TO BE TREATED WITH SUCH KINDNESS AT A SHELTER. THEY EXPECTED A BED, BUT THEY FOUND A COMMUNITY. THE KINDNESS IN THIS FOUNDATION THAT ALLOWS THEM TO DREAM AGAIN BECAUSE THEY FEEL THEY ARE SEEN AND SUPPORTED WITH THEIR, WITH DOING HARD WORK. I'M PROUD TO SHARE. WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY HELPED FIVE RESIDENTS TRANSITION INTO PERMANENT HOUSING AND SEVEN INDIVIDUALS SECURE EMPLOYMENT IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS. THESE AREN'T STATISTICS. THEY ARE NEIGHBORS WHO NOW HAVE A FRONT DOOR KEY AND A PAYCHECK. WE WANT TO THANK THE COUNCIL FOR CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP IN MAKING THESE SUCCESS STORIES POSSIBLE. YOU AREN'T JUST FUNDING A BUILDING, YOU'RE FUNDING A SECOND CHANCE. AND I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, BECAUSE YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. WHEN I WAS TOLD THAT THAT MAN HAD NOT EATEN THIS MUCH FOOD IN THREE MONTHS, I JUST CRIED BECAUSE IT'S A SHAME, YOU KNOW? SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE TIME. MY ANNETTE, PLEASE STAY UP THERE FOR A SECOND. I HAVE SOMETHING I WANNA SAY. AND THIS IS DIRECTED TO YOU AND YOUR TEAM. UH, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AT ONE NIGHT FOR THE COLD SHE SHELTER. AND I EXPERIENCED, I'VE, I'VE HAD A LOT OF EXPERIENCE IN, IN THE SUBSTANCE ABUSE ARENA AND, AND MENTAL HEALTH ARENA. AND, UM, I CAN'T TELL YOU THE IMPACT THAT YOU MADE ON ME THAT EVENING. I STOOD BACK AND I WATCHED YOU WORK WITH AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS TOTALLY IN CRISIS MENTALLY. AND YOU, WITH YOUR LOVING AND CARING HAND AND LISTENING EAR WAS, WERE ABLE TO TURN THAT INDIVIDUAL AROUND, CALM HER DOWN, AND, AND MOVE HER INTO A, A BETTER POSITION FOR HER, UH, TO, TO MOVE ON TO, TO SOME SERVICES. SO I WANNA THANK YOU PERSONALLY FOR ME, FROM ALL THE PEOPLE THAT I'VE KNOWN OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN HOMELESS, INCLUDING MYSELF, UH, FOR BEING THERE AND HAVING THAT LOVING AND CARING, UH, HAND. 'CAUSE WE'RE TALKING 12 OUT OF THOSE 58 BEDS ARE PEOPLE NOW THEY'RE EMPLOYED OR HOUSED. AND THAT'S JUST PHENOMENAL. THAT'S PHENOMENAL. AND WHAT I NOTICED WAS, AND THE, THE PRE THE MISCONCEPTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT OUR HOMELESS PEOPLE IS THAT IT'S ALL SUBSTANCE BASED, SUBSTANCE ABUSE BASED. IT IS NOT. NO, IT IS NOT. THIS WAS A MENTAL HEALTH IS WHAT I SAW THERE. IT WAS ALL MENTAL HEALTH. I BELIEVE THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ONE, POSSIBLY TWO PEOPLE THERE AT THAT TIME THAT HAD ANY TYPE OF BACKGROUND FROM ANY TYPE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE. SO I COMMEND YOU ARE ALL, IS EVERYBODY HERE ALL I WANT YOU ALL TO STAND UP. NO, NOELLE, STAND UP. THANKS. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK. THANK YOU. AND IF ANYBODY DOESN'T KNOW, SHE'S WITH THE MARTINSBURG INITIATIVE AND SHE, SHE WORKS WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT NOW. SHE'S A SOCIAL WORKER FOR OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, SOCIAL WORKERS AND OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT SOCIAL WORKERS ARE WORKING VERY, VERY CLOSE TO THESE SELTZERS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [00:15:02] ERICA IS ALSO HERE. SHE CAN SAY, SORRY ERICA, I DIDN'T MEAN TO TAKE IT AWAY. OKAY. I JUST WANNA APOLOGIZE FOR MY TARDINESS. I'M SO SORRY. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS ERICA JOHNSON AND I WORK SIX NIGHTS A WEEK AS THE OVERNIGHT SHELTER MANAGER AT THE COLD WEATHER SHELTER HERE IN MARTINSBURG EVERY NIGHT. OUR GOAL IS SIMPLE TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE A SAFE PLACE AND A WARM PLACE TO SLEEP WHEN THE TEMPERATURES DROP AND CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS. DURING MY OVERNIGHT SHIFTS, I SEE FIRSTHAND HOW IMPORTANT THE SHELTER IS FOR MANY OF OUR GUESTS, IT'S THE ONLY PLACE THAT THEY CAN COME TO GET OUT OF THE COLD, REST AND FEEL SAFE. ONE OF THE MOST POSITIVE THINGS ABOUT THE SHELTER IS THE SENSE OF STABILITY. IT PROVIDES. WHEN SOMEONE HAS A WARM PLACE TO SLEEP, THEY ARE BETTER ABLE TO FOCUS ON TAKING THE NEXT STEPS TOWARDS IMPROVING THEIR SITUATION. I'VE SEEN GUESTS CONNECT WITH LOCAL RESOURCES, FIND EMPLOYMENT, AND ACQUIRE HOUSING SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY HAD A SAFE PLACE TO START. ANOTHER THING THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS THE COMPASSION OF OUR COMMUNITY. LOCAL CHURCHES, VOLUNTEERS, AND STAFF COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THE SHELTER POSSIBLE. IT TRULY SHOWS WHAT THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG CAN DO WHEN PEOPLE WORK TOGETHER TO CARE FOR THEIR NEIGHBORS. WORKING OVERNIGHT, I GET TO SEE THE HUMAN SIDE OF THE WORK. MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME THROUGH OUR DOORS ARE SIMPLY GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT CHAPTER IN THEIR LIVES. HAVING A WARM BED, A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, AND PEOPLE WHO TREAT THEM WITH DIGNITY CAN MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE. I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT HELPS KEEP MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY SAFE DURING THE OLDEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR. AND THANK YOU ALL FOR SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS, SET, PROTECT AND UPLIFT OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU AGAIN. THANK YOU [8. Petitions from Citizens] PETITIONS THROUGH CITIZENS. WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO SPEAK. PLEASE, UH, LINE UP. AND I NEED YOUR, I'LL NEED YOUR NAME, YOUR ADDRESS, AND EVERYBODY WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES. OKAY. THANK YOU. SURE. MY NAME IS HELEN HENDERSON AND I LIVE AT TWO 11 WEST BURKE STREET. I'M HERE REPRESENTING THE BERKELEY COUNTY BRANCH OF THE NAACP AND HAVE BEEN HERE FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS ON THE SAME DATE, MAKING A SIMILAR STATEMENT. ON MARCH 13TH, 2013, ALMOST EXACTLY 13 YEARS AGO, A MAN NAMED WAYNE AL JONES WAS KILLED NEAR THE TOWN SQUARE BY FIVE POLICEMEN, ERIC NEELY, DANIEL NORTH PAUL LEHMAN, WILLIAM STAUB, AND ERIC HERB. HE WAS TASED TWICE. HIS ARM WAS BROKEN AND HE WAS SHOT 23 TIMES, EIGHT OF THEM IN HIS BACK. HIS CRIME JAYWALKING BEING MENTALLY ILL AND BEING BLACK. YOU COULD WATCH THE VIDEO OF JONES'S MURDER HEAVILY DOCTORED BY THE AUTHORITIES ON THE JUSTICE FOR WAYNE JONES FACEBOOK PAGE AND CAN HEAR THE FIVE POLICEMEN CALLOUSLY DISCUSSING CHEWING TOBACCO OVER JONES'S DEAD BODY. TO AVOID GOING TO TRIAL, THE CITY PAID THE JONES FAMILY $3.5 MILLION. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID IN A STATEMENT THAT THE SETTLEMENT WAS NOT AN ADMISSION OF GUILT. THE RULING FROM THE FOURTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS READ. ALTHOUGH WE RECOGNIZE THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS ARE OFTEN ASKED TO MAKE SPLIT SECOND DECISIONS, WE EXPECT THEM TO DO SO WITH RESPECT FOR THE DIGNITY AND WORTH OF BLACK LIVES. THIS HAS TO STOP ON THE SECOND SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM 12 TO ONE. A VIGIL IS HELD FOR WAYNE JONES AND FOR OTHER VICTIMS OF THE POLICE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. IT HAS BEEN HELD FOR THE PAST 10 YEARS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE HELD UNTIL THERE IS JUSTICE. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS GLORIA CARTER. I'M PRESIDENT OF THE N-A-H-C-P. I LIVE AT FIVE 19 WEST JOHN STREET HERE IN MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA. ON MARCH THE 13TH, 20 13, 13 YEARS, WAYNE JONES, A BLACK MAN, WAS SHOT 23 TIMES BY FIVE OFFICERS OF THE MARTINSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR WALKING ALONG THE CURB. HE WAS TASED, KNOCKED TO THE GROUND, ARM, BROKE LYING DEFENSES AS FIVE MURDERERS STEPPED BACK AND UNLOADED THEIR GUNS, MUTILATING HIS BODY. IF THIS WASN'T A MODERN DAY LYNCHING, WHAT WAS IT? STILL NO APOLOGY FROM THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG AND OFFICERS SERVED, NO TIME RETIRED WITH FULL BENEFIT MODERN DAY LYNCHING. DON'T LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN. THANK YOU. [00:20:01] CHRISTINA LUNDBERG, 1 0 0 4 CANDY COURT. MARTINSBURG WAYNE JONES DID NOT DESERVE TO DIE. UM, MY NAME IS ANN EDEN. UM, MY ADDRESS FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS HAS BEEN 1 2 9 EAST LIBERTY STREET IN MARTINSBURG. I'M HERE ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF WAYNE JONES'S DEATH. UM, I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT, FIRST OF ALL, I GREATLY APPRECIATE THAT UH, POLICE CHIEF GIBBONS HAS HIRED SOCIAL WORKERS AND PUT AN EMPHASIS ON COMMUNITY POLICING. AND I REALLY HOPE THAT FUNDING WILL BE FOUND FOR HIM TO CONTINUE TO HIRE SOCIAL WORKERS TO HELP WITH THOSE CITIZENS THAT ARE MENTALLY ILL. AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT IN NOT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD DO YOU FIND ARMED POLICE OFFICERS. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THEY DO NOT CARRY ARMS. SO NATURALLY THERE ARE FAR FEWER CITIZENS OR ALLEGED SUSPECTS SHOT BY POLICE OFFICERS. HOWEVER, MY FINAL POINT IS THAT IF THIS STATE CONTINUES TO ALLOW CONCEALED CARRY AND OTHER, UH, YOU KNOW, LAWS THAT I PERSONALLY DISAGREE WITH, THEN THAT IS A DISINCENTIVE FOR ANY POLICE OFFICER TO FEEL SAFE WITHOUT CARRYING A GUN. SO I THINK IF THERE'S ANY WAY THAT THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG COULD, UM, YOU KNOW, TRY TO TREND IN THE DIRECTION OF, UH, YOU KNOW, NOT SUPPORTING ALL THE VARIOUS THINGS THAT THE GUN OWNERS AND THE GUN LOBBY WOULD LIKE THERE TO BE, THAT, THAT WOULD BE APPRECIATED BY ME. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. PETITIONS FROM CITIZENS. PETITION FROM CITIZENS FINAL CALL. PETITIONS FROM CITIZENS. MOVING ON, RECEIVE [9. Receive and File Reports––Minutes––Correspondence of The Following] AND FILE REPORTS MINUTES, CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FOLLOWING. NINE. A MARTINSBURG, BERKELEY COUNTY CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU. APPROVED JANUARY, MINUTES FEBRUARY, 2026. AGENDA, PROFIT LOSS, FEBRUARY, 2027, BALANCE SHEET. NEED A MOTION MOVE TO FILE THE REPORT. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED REPORTS OF COUNCIL AS A WHOLE COMMITTEE. THERE ARE NONE. COUNSEL, [15. New Business (Part 1 of 2)] I'D ASK IF, UH, WE DO HAVE SOME PEOPLE HERE THAT IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, UH, 15 Q, I'D LIKE TO MOVE THAT UP. MOTION TO MOVE 15 Q UP THE, UH, AGENDA. THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE HERE FOR I HAVE A MOTION TO MOVE IT UP. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE THOSE OPPOSED? 15 Q. APPROVE AND DENY FUNDING. REQUEST FOR COMMUNITY CUP COFFEE AND MORE INC. 5 0 1 C3 FOR $16,000 FROM THE MORROW FUND. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. FIRST. I HAVE A SECOND. I, I'M JUST GONNA MAKE A COMMENT THAT THE, THE WOMEN THAT WE HEARD FROM HERE TONIGHT FROM THE COLD SHELTER, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM, UH, DO WORK OUT OF THAT, UM, COMMUNITY CUP AND THE WORK THAT I SEE THEM DO, NOT ONLY IN THE COAL SHELTER. I SEE THEM DOING THE SAME THING EVERY DAY IN THAT COMMUNITY CUP. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OF ANYBODY? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? ALL RIGHT LADIES, THANK YOU. YOU DON'T HAVE TO STATE FOR THE WHOLE MEETING. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, REPORTER, THE [11. Report of Mayor] MAYOR APPROVE. DENY APPOINTMENT OF ANDREA. IT'S ANDREA . I THINK HE'S ON YOU TOO. IT'S ANDREA LANSDOWN AS A REGULAR NON ALTERNATE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS. MOVE TO APPROVE. I HAVE A MOTION. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? APPROVE AND DENY REAPPOINTMENT OF CHRIS COX, THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION REVIEW COMMITTEE. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? OPPOSED. APPROVE DENY APPOINTMENT OF CHRIS PALMER TO THE MARTINSBURG BERKELEY COUNTY PARKS AND REC. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. I HAVE A MOTION. I HAVE A SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? [00:25:01] ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? APPROVE AND DENY APPOINTMENT OF BENJAMIN COOK TO THE MARTINSBURG PLANNING COMMISSION. MOVE TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF BENJAMIN COOK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? IT'S NOT ON HERE, BUT THERE ARE OPENINGS FOR COMMISSIONS AND, UH, APPOINTMENTS TO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES THAT WE HAVE. UH, SO IF ANYBODY HAS ANYBODY THAT THEY WANT TO TALK TO ME ABOUT BEING PART OF THOSE, UH, I KNOW THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS A, HAS A FEW OPENINGS AND, AND I'M NOT PLANNING COMMISSION. AND THE PLAN PLANT. WE DID APPOINT ONE. DO WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE? OH YEAH, I THINK THERE'S TWO MORE. TWO, WERE WE, SO THE PLANNING COMMISSION. SO PLEASE TALK TO YOUR INDIVIDUALS WITHIN YOUR WARDS AND WITHIN THE CITY AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING. WE WOULD APPRECIATE IT. COURT OF CITY ATTORNEY. NOTHING TO REPORT, YOUR HONOR. MAYOR, WHAT ABOUT 11 E UNDER YOUR SCHEDULE? A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING ON APRIL 21ST, 2026 AT 4:30 PM TO OFFICIALLY LAY THE 20 26 20 27 LEVY AS REQUIRED BY THE WEST VIRGINIA CODE 11 8 14 A AND OTHER BUSINESS AS NEEDED. OKAY. AND, UM, STILL NOTHING TO REPORT, YOUR HONOR. DENNIS, UM, I I WON'T BE HERE. YOU'LL TAKE THAT MEETING FOR ME. THIS IS, YEP. THANK YOU. 2112. UH, SO STILL NOTHING FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY. I KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN WITH THE CITY MANAGER. REPORT TO CITY [13. Report of City Manager] MANAGER. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. GOOD EVENING. SO, AT THE RISK OF REPEATING MYSELF, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BUDGET SEASON AND I'VE ALWAYS, THROUGHOUT MY CAREER, TRIED TO TAKE THIS EXERCISE SERIOUSLY. AND I THANK THE STAFF AND THE COUNCIL FOR LISTENING AND THEIR INPUT. BUT WHILE IT'S EASY TO JUST MOVE NUMBERS AROUND, THE REALITY IS EACH NUMBER REPRESENTS A PERSON, A FAMILY, A PROGRAM, AN INITIATIVE, A SERVICE, AN INVESTMENT, AND AN OPPORTUNITY COST. AND I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN A FIDUCIARY DUTY RESPONSIBLY TO TRY TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY TO PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SERVICES. IT'S A GOOD TIME. THIS IS A GOOD TIME OF YEAR TO TRY TO REFLECT ON WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT, WHAT WE CAN IMPROVE UPON, AND IT REALLY SETS THE FOUNDATION AND VISION FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S WORK PLAN. SO I JUST WANT TO THANK THE STAFF. I WANNA THANK STEPHANIE, I WANNA THANK THE COUNCIL. I WANNA THANK THE MAYOR FOR LISTENING OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CONCERNS, OPPORTUNITIES. UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE MAYOR AND I HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE RADIO EVERY, EVERY MONTH. AND SOMETIMES I, I TEND TO WORRY ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE NOT PARTICULARLY RIGHT OR THINGS THAT WE CAN DO BETTER. BUT WHEN I STEP BACK, I THINK THERE ARE SOME GOOD THINGS HAPPENING HERE AND I THINK THAT'S A RESULT OF A GOOD TEAM AND A COUNCIL. I MEAN, THE, THE REALITY IS THAT NONE OF US CAN DO ANYTHING UNLESS YOU SUPPORT US AND APPROVE IT. SO I JUST WANNA THANK EVERYBODY AND AS WE GO THROUGH THE NEW BUSINESS TONIGHT AND APPROVE THE BUDGET FOR PHYSICAL YEAR 2027, I JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT EACH OF THOSE NUMBERS MEAN SOMETHING AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO SOMEBODY. AND I THINK THAT YOU HEARD THAT THIS EVENING. AND WHETHER IT'S OUR OWN EMPLOYEES OR THE CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE JUST MOVE NUMBERS AROUND, IT IMPACTS SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY OR PROJECT OR AN INITIATIVE. SO WITH THAT, HAVING, HAVING SAID THAT, I JUST THANK EVERYONE TONIGHT AND YOU KNOW, I GET CORRECTED AND YOU DON'T FISCAL YEAR NOT FISCAL . I'M JUST GONNA START SAYING BUDGET YEAR FROM NOW ON. I APOLOGIZE. I DIDN'T HEAR THAT. SO MAYOR, THANK YOU RANDY. EMILY DID. SHE WAS JUST BEING MEDICAL. HE'S NOT FEELING WELL. IT'S ALSO EVERY TIME WE MEET, I DON'T FEEL WELL. . WELL YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. ALL RIGHT, NEW, UH, [15. New Business (Part 2 of 2)] NEW BUSINESS PROVEN DENY TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EIGHTY SIX THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE DOLLARS. GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR FOR BUDGET FUND. BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026 TO 2027. SECOND. FIRST, I HAVE A SECOND. I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED PROVEN DENIED. 51,000 COLE SEVERANCE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND QUESTIONS. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED APPROVE AND DENIED. $2,014,294. [00:30:01] POLICE LEVY FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? A. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED RUBEN AND AYE. $1,550,000 FIRE EMS BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED PROVE OF DENIED $10,560,000 SALES TAX FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR OF 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED, PROVEN AND DENIED. $3,300,000 SANITATION FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED APPROVE TONIGHT. $274,500 PARKING FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE THE PARKING FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. PROVEN TONIGHT. $2,775,000 STORMWATER BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED. PROVEN TO A APPROVE AND DENY MORAL HOPE FUND BUDGET REVISION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. THAT'S ON YOUR DESK. UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, LET ME KNOW. BUT YOU HAVE A, UH, BALANCE, UH, UNRESTRICTED BALANCE OF THAT WAS, THAT'S BEFORE YOUR APPROVALS TONIGHT OF $576,910 AND 9 CENTS. I NEED A MOTION. DO I HAVE THE MOTION? MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? APPROVE AND DENY. $156,628 TRAIN STATION. BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBER IN HERE. NONE. APPROVE AND DENY $11,938,536 WATER SEWER FUND BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026. 2027. MOVE TO APPROVE WATER SEWER BUDGET. FISCAL YEAR 26. 2026. 2027. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? APPROVE. DENY RESOLUTION 2026 DASH OH TWO. EMPLOYEE WAGE SCALE ADJUSTMENTS. 3.5% COLA EFFECTIVE FISCAL YEAR 26 27. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE. AYE. THOSE ARE OPPOSED. APPROVE AND DENY ACCOUNTING SERVICE AGREEMENT. COX HOLIDAY YOUNG PLLC FOR POLICE AND FIRE PENSION BENEFITS CALCULATION. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED MOVEN DENY LAND SALES CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG. YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN . PRE KERR PURCHASE OF 0.58 ACRES. LOT A AND P-L-P-C-L-S 3 99 DASH 400 DASH 4 0 1 DASH 4 0 2 DASH 4 0 3 COMMERCE STREET FOR FOUR $4,800. UH, YES. THIS IS THE PROPERTY THAT WAS SOLD PARKING LOT. THE BACK TAXES THAT WERE IMPROPERLY LISTED. MM-HMM . NEED A MOTION MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? APPROVE AND DENY OR DENY FIRE POLICE STATION, INC. FPSI AGREEMENT FOR CUSTOM PROMOTIONAL WRITTEN TEST MATERIALS MOVE TO APPROVE THE FIRE AND POLICE SELECTION. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED PROVEN DENIED DONATION TO TWO SURPLUS VEHICLES. ONE. THE SHEPHERDSTOWN POLICE DEPARTMENT, ONE OF BERKELEY COUNTY SCHOOL SAFETY OFFICER PROGRAM MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. TOOK CARE OF 15 Q 15 R. APPROVE AND DENY FUNDING. REQUEST FOR FRIENDS OF RECOVERY. 5 0 1 C3 TO BENEFIT PARTICIPANTS IN BERKELEY COUNTY COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS AND RECOVERY SERVICES PROGRAM. $10,000 FROM THE MORROW FUND. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR, [00:35:01] AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? APPROVE AND DENY RESOLUTION 2026 DASH OH THREE FOR AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF MARTINSBURG AND MAIN STREET MARTINSBURG FOR THE USE OF CITY OWNED PROPERTY ON WEST KING STREET FOR A FARMER'S MARKET. MOVE TO APPROVE. SECOND. ANY QUESTIONS? ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. THOSE OPPOSED? I DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYTHING FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION. I DON'T MOTION TO ADJOURN. SO MOVED. SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. WE'RE DONE. THANK YOU STEPHANIE. THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.