City of Fairmont

The City Council meeting included recognition of the East Fairmont Girls Soccer team for winning the State's Class AAA Championship. Public hearings were held regarding ordinances amending the Parks Commission Code. Announcements covered food pantries, Christmas decorations, a toy give-a-way, CASA helping families in need, and Union Mission offering meals. A citizen addressed Council regarding a complaint against a police officer. The City Manager provided updates on street paving and the Route 250/Beverly Road project, and discussed potential work session items, including business licensing consolidation and parking regulations. Council also considered ordinances amending the Parks Commission Code and resolutions authorizing the establishment of interest-bearing operating accounts for the Policemen's Pension or Relief Fund and the Firemen's Pension & Relief Fund.

The committee meeting focused on several key agenda items, including the call to order, roll call of members, and the election of a chair. New business involved the establishment of rules for application consideration, specifically addressing minimum scores, partial funding allowances, and applicant standing. The committee planned to adjourn to an executive session to adjudicate submitted applications from entities such as Tygart Valley United Way, Union Rescue Mission, Compassion Central, Inc., MVA Health Centers, Inc., and the City of Fairmont Police and Fire Departments, as well as Marshall University Research Corporation. Following the executive session, the agenda included a discussion of scores and findings, culminating in a recommendation of eligible applications to the city council for funding consideration.

The meeting commenced with an opening ceremony including an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Key announcements included the deadline for the Arts and Humanities Commission awards nomination and a community conversation scheduled to gather input for the draft of the new sign code. Congratulations were extended to the City Clerk for 48 years of service. A report highlighted that MRDC received $75,000 in Site First Grant funding for engineering and development at the Sharon Steel site. City Manager updates covered prioritized asphalt resurfacing for East Side DOH routes, which requires prior ADA ramp upgrades, and the ongoing budget process with scheduled work sessions for Capital Budget Plan review and a Utility overview. The water storage tank project is concluding, and staff successfully managed a significant water production issue without service interruption. Business considered included the introduction of an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of real estate on Adams Street for the abatement of a collapsed structure, setting a public hearing for January 27, 2026. A resolution authorizing the City Manager to submit the Fire Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) Agreement to the Municipal Pensions Oversight Board was adopted. Council adjourned to executive session to discuss real property matters before reconvening and adjourning the meeting.

The Planning Commission meeting involved several public hearings regarding zoning petitions. Key discussions included PC 25-09, a petition to rezone a parcel from General Residential to Main Corridor Commercial for potential townhouse development, with staff recommending Neighborhood Residential instead due to potential negative impacts. PC 25-10 concerned rezoning approximately 41 acres from General Residential to Neighborhood Residential to encourage diverse housing options, which staff recommended coordinating with PC 25-09. PC 26-01 involved the City of Fairmont petitioning to rezone portions of the Sharon Steel site from Highway Commercial to Industrial, and adjacent residential areas to General Residential and Neighborhood Residential to support adaptive reuse of the Superfund site and protect existing housing. The commission also addressed PC 26-06, a major subdivision petition that remains pending utility extension updates, and reviewed other business including a Proposed Capital Plan Review, the 2025 Annual Report, and the Comprehensive Plan RFP.

The meeting included a public hearing regarding an ordinance to amend contractor business license fees from $90.00 to $10.00, which was subsequently adopted. The City Manager reported on infrastructure projects involving asphalt resurfacing and ADA curb ramp upgrades, meetings with legislators concerning utility infrastructure, and recent recognitions at the United Way Campaign Luncheon. Additionally, the Council discussed upcoming technology upgrades in the council chambers, announced community resources such as food pantry distribution and tax preparation services, and introduced ordinances regarding city code replacement pages and the purchase of specific real estate parcels.