Finance Committee reviews items
Discussion includes Ward 4 inspectionsBy ANGELINA DICKSON, Staff writer
Weirton Finance Committee members met on Thursday where recommendations for approval for the items going to city council were given.
Items discussed included a resolution to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Weirton Housing Authority for inspection services of registered rental units in Ward 4; a resolution endorsing and providing funding for Project Main Street; a resolution to authorize the city manager to enter into contract to enhance the City of Weirton's Web site; and a resolution to enter into contract for emergency repairs to a City of Weirton sanitation truck.
In reference to the resolution concerning the intergovernmental agreement with the Weirton Housing Authority for inspections in Ward 4, Finance Committee member George Ash stated the ordinance proposing the inspections of rental properties in Ward 4, Ordinance 1569 which established a rental property inspection program in the city's downtown area, passed at a 7-0 vote after amendments were made to the ordinance. He said he hopes this resolution passes at council and moves forward.
Ash stated there will be an educational seminar for property owners to learn what is expected. He said it will be a meeting of the minds.
"I believe this will be beneficial to everyone and if there are no discrepancies, there's nothing to worry about," he stated.
Ash said there would be an initial inspection completed and if anything needed to be repaired or improved, chances would be given and a follow up inspection would come soon after. He went on to say that if more than a third inspection was necessary, other avenues would have to be taken although he was not specific.
According to Ash, there are 381 units in the downtown in need of inspection. He said the total cost comes to less than $20 per unit for the inspection.
Another project happening in the downtown area, Project Main Street, has received approval for the endorsement and funding for the project from the Finance Committee as well.
Mayor Mark Harris communicated with the Finance Committee via speakerphone during the meeting on Thursday. Harris stated the $15,000 he is asking for will only be used to purchase paint for the project. He said if the $10,000 approved from the Weirton Redevelopment Authority pending the approval of HUD comes through, he would only need $10,000 from city council and would not take the remaining $5,000.
Harris said the way the project is going to work is the city of Weirton is going to pay for the paint and the building and business owners would have to pay for the labor. He is asking for volunteers but some labor is required for the upper part of the buildings.
"Business and building owners can hire their own contractor or utilize the services of the contractor already working for the city on this project," said Harris, noting the city would determine the amount of paint needed for the buildings.
Finance Committee member George Kondik stated he supported the mayor 100 percent on this project and thanked him for his work. He said he hopes other businesses jump on board to take advantage of cleaning up the town and giving the area a fresh look.
George Ash also thanked Harris for his work.
"You are doing what you said you were going to do when you ran for office and I'm glad to see it happening," he said.
In other business, Finance Director Tom Maher Jr. discussed the resolution addressing improving the City of Weirton's Web site. He said $8,000 is being requested for the hiring of an individual to create and maintain the Web site. He said it can be done for that price, but it would depend on what the city is looking for as far as improvements go.
Maher said he has spoken with several local people as well as companies as far as Manhattan, Kan. He said the city is trying to go with a basic site and will continue to work at getting a new and improved Web site up and running as quickly as they can.
Finance Committee also discussed a resolution addressing the repair of a sanitation truck.
City Manager Gary DuFour stated the problem with the truck, which he noted was a faulty cylinder, is not new. He said this would be the second time the part has failed and just four months outside the two-year warranty from the first time it was repaired.
DuFour said it was a Caterpillar engine, noting the engines were no longer being made by the company. He said this issue was beyond routine maintenance but necessary.
City Council will address these items on Tuesday at 7 p.m.
(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)
