Andrew P. Blake

The agenda for the City Council meeting included administrative actions such as administering Oaths of Office to a new Firefighter/EMT and a City Magistrate. Key discussion points involved presenting updates on the Martinsburg Initiative regarding the cold weather shelter, reports from the Mayor concerning reappointment considerations for the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Historic Preservation Review Committee, and new appointments to the Martinsburg-Berkeley Co. Parks and Rec and Martinsburg Planning Commission. A Special City Council Meeting was scheduled for April 21, 2026, to lay the 2026-2027 levy. The primary New Business involved the approval or denial of the proposed General Fund Budget for FY 2026-2027, amounting to $27,586,273.00, alongside several other departmental budgets for the same fiscal year, and the approval/denial of Resolution 2026-02 concerning Employee Wage Scale Adjustments (3.5% COLA). Furthermore, committee discussions referenced the previous Council as a Whole Committee Meeting from March 4, 2026, which focused on recommending these FY 2026/2027 budgets. Separately, minutes from the Martinsburg-Berkeley County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Board Meeting on January 21, 2026, were noted for receive and file.

The agenda included several new business items and public hearings requiring board action. Project #2026-8-SE involves a request for a Special Exception to permit a multi-family dwelling at 301 N High St, contingent upon parking requirements and inspection compliance. Project #2026-9-V requests a Variance to exceed maximum impervious coverage to allow for a rear deck at 424 Husky Trail. The meeting also included the election of officers for 2026, resulting in the confirmation of Mary Dulyea as Chair and Monique Boots as Vice-Chair following the noted resignations of Shari Persad and Jamie Lopez.

The City Council meeting agenda included several key actions. Discussions centered on approving the operational and financial reports, and the administration of an Oath of Office to a new City Magistrate. The agenda featured a Resolution of Appreciation for retiring Firefighter EMT-Paramedic Gregory Currence and a Proclamation designating February 2026 as Black History Month. Presentations were given regarding the Boys & Girls Club of the Eastern Panhandle project. Key new business items included action on an agreement for Police & Fire actuarial and consulting services for OPEB liability, renewal of a landscaping project, approval of the final payment for City Hall Renovations, approval of a Cooperative Services Agreement for vulture control, and approval/denial of a 2025 CDBG Cooperative Agreement with the Boys & Girls Club. The council also planned several future meetings, including budget workshops and a special meeting regarding the FY 2026-2027 budget, and addressed appointments and vacancies on Boards & Commissions, including the Board of Zoning Appeals.

The meeting agenda included the approval of minutes from the previous regular meeting and addressed new business requiring Certificates of Appropriateness. Specific requests involved installing a black chain-link fence at 119 S Water St and installing window signs at 116 W Martin St. The commission also reviewed a request for replacing steel gutters with white aluminum gutters and placing dark green shutters at 407 W Burke St, which was approved. Additionally, the commission heard an introduction from a representative of the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. Discussion items included awareness regarding the WVDOH Race / Raleigh Street Project, which might involve roadway improvements and the installation of a stoplight, and the election of officers for 2026, resulting in the selection of Gary Gimbel as Chairman and Steve Knipe as Vice Chairman.

The meeting agenda covered several items including the approval of administrative and financial reports, and administering the Oath of Office to two new Patrolmen. Key discussion points included receiving appointment letters for the Firemen's and Policemen's Civil Service Commissions, considering the appointment of Kimberly Foore to the Police Civil Service Commission, and addressing several new business items. New business involved considering letters of endorsement for the Toughman Contest and a Saint Joseph's School benefit dinner, commenting on the ABCA Zoning Form for The Historical McFarland House, and deciding on the issuance of an RFP for third-party rental inspection services. Other action items included approving a contract renewal for City Hall preventive maintenance with Borlie Mechanical Contracting LLC, approving the donation of surplus police vehicles to Berkeley County Schools, and approving an agreement with Fire & Police Selection, Inc. (FPSI) for civil service examinations. Finally, a decision was slated regarding the CCTV Inspection and Asset Management Solution (ITpipes) and the approval/denial of Task Order #038 with CEC for construction and bid documents related to the Apple Harvest/Route 9 pedestrian rail bridge. The meeting concluded with an Executive Session.