LORI CUNARD
October 27, 2023
Meeting Minutes (10-02-23)
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield
October 2, 2023
The Council of the Village of Woodsfield met in Regular Session on October 2, 2023.
I. Roll Call:
Present: Council Members; Dale English, Tom Kirkland, Anthony McDaniel, Leann Harper, Tiffany Ramsay, Matt Schaber, Mayor Carol Hehr, Fiscal Officer Lori Cunard, and Village Administrator Kevin Brooks.
Absent: Solicitor Ryan Regel.
II. Pending Meeting Minutes Approval:
Leann Harper made the motion to accept the September 18, 2023 meeting minutes. Tiffany Ramsay second. Motion passed 6-0.
III. Registered Visitors/Guest:
Joenath Broemsen – Mr. Broemsen attended the meeting due to basement flooding because he had a pipe bust and ground rod in his sewer line. He said he had contacted the Village; they came out, dug up the line and found a stake in it. The stake was dug out, and the line was covered back up, but Mr. Broemsen said his basement was still flooding. He said he contacted the Village again but was told the problem was at his end of the line, he then paid a contractor to come out from Morgantown to fix the sewer line. The contractor said there was a grounding rod in the line that was causing the issues. Mayor Hehr asked if this Is the same situation that she had talked to him about a few months ago and Mr. Broemsen replied that it is. She asked if he was still having issues and he said that he is not since he paid a contractor to come do the repairs, but he wants to know if he can be paid for any damage because he has a finished basement. Leann Harper asked Village Administrator, Kevin Brooks to explain what a grounding rod is, and Mr. Brooks said that this is a service line to the house, and we are only responsible at the main. We have no culpability in this, he talked to the guys and the utility was not on the sewer line and the guide wire was not an issue with the line. He has talked to both Lewis Hill, Light Superintendent and Brian Harrigan, Water/Sewer Superintendent and it was a homeowner issue. Mr. Broemsen has pictures from the contractor showing the ground wire on the sewer line. Mr. Brooks said that the information would be sent to PERSO, and they would handle it on our behalf. PERSO will collect information needed to evaluate the situation and make a decision.
IV. Old Business:
DORA – Anthony McDaniel asked where we are with DORA and Council stated that the application was sent in, and it would probably be 6-8 weeks before we hear if it has been approved or not.
V. Administrator Report:
Village Administrator Kevin Brooks wanted Council to know that Mr. Broemsen had turned a claim in to his insurance company for damages to his basement and was denied. We can file a claim with PERSO but Mr. Broemsen is claiming things happened that are absolutely not accurate.
Kevin Brooks stated that Eric Preston, Cemetery, has met his probationary period. He is eligible for a 3% increase in wages. Andy Hughes has met his one-year and is also eligible for a 3% increase in wages. Tom Kirkland made a motion to approve a 3% wage increase for Eric Preston and Andy Hughes effective immediately. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0.
Kevin Brooks reported that UHC Health Insurance went up 12% for the plan year 2024 and the GAP with Amerifirst stayed the same. Kevin Brooks asked if we had the ability to lock this rate in for 2 years, the Fiscal Office will check on it. This will amount to an increase of around $36,000.00 more per year and we have until October 17th to lock in this rate. Tom Kirkland made a motion to approve the Village stay with UHC and Amerifirst Medical Insurance, no plan changes, with a 12% increase for UHC, Amerifirst staying the same, for plan year 2024. Dale English second. Motion passed 6-0.
Kevin Brooks asked for Executive Session regarding sale of property at the end of the meeting.
VI. Fiscal Officer Report:
Nothing to report.
VII. Committee Chair/Council Reports:
Dale English – Nothing to report.
Tom Kirkland – Nothing to report.
Anthony McDaniel – Nothing to report.
Leann Harper – Nothing to report.
Tiffany Ramsay – Nothing to report.
Matt Schaber – Nothing to report.
VIII: Solicitor’s Report:
Absent
IX: Mayor’s Report:
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the payment of bills. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Mayor’s Court report, September 2023. Dale English made the motion. Tiffany Ramsay second. Motion passed 6-0.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to approve the Income Tax Report, September 2023. Leann Harper made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0.
X. Un-registered Visitors:
Charles Hoff – Mr. Hoff attended the meeting because he has an alley vacation request. Kevin Brooks said he has spoken to a couple of the adjoining property owners. There are still a couple more property owners to be contacted and some more information to be gathered up. Mr. Hoff would like the alley considered when the next group of alleys to be vacated comes up.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go into Executive Session regarding the sale of property. Matt Schaber made the motion. Anthony McDaniel second. Motion passed 6-0. Executive Session entered at 5:50 p.m.
Mayor Hehr asked for a motion to go back into Regular Session. Dale English made the motion. Tom Kirkland second. Motion passed 6-0.
XII. Adjourn:
The Mayor asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Anthony McDaniel made the motion. Matt Schaber second. Motion passed 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
ATTEST:
___________________________ ____________________________
Carol Hehr, Mayor Lori Cunard, Fiscal Officer