TOWN OF BATH COUNCILMEETING December 3, 2024 1. Call to ORDER: @ 5:30pm by Mayor. 2. ROLL CALL: Scott Merki (X) Susan Webster (X) Elizabeth Skinner (X) Greg Schene (X) Rebecca MacLeod (X) Mary Lynn Hickey (X) Dave O'Connell (X) Quorum present. 3. REVIEW OF MINUTES: Minutes of the Regular Meeting ofNovember 19, 2024 4. PERSONS BEFORE COUNCIL: Clerk Corrick presented the 2024 Bath Christmas Angel awards for Bath Christmas Project President Hunter Clark. The business and organization awards went to the American Legion Post 60, Moose Lodge 1483 and Sunny Smiles. Individuals awarded were Brenda Cain, Phil Creek, Breauna Farris, Alison Howard, JK Hunter, Donnie Mason, Jody Mason, Jen and Mike Shecter and Travel Berkeley Springs President Stephanie Rebant and Executive Director Laura Smith were in attendance to present the group's Annual Report on its work, expectations and financial accounting (attached). Discussion ensued around the Town ofBath Hotel/Motel tax collection amount and whether the Town was benefiting to the degree of its contribution. Components of concern included the opening oft the bypass around Bath, effective signage, emphasis on Bath history and the customer 5. COMMUNICATIONS FROM MAYOR: Mayor Merki announced several upcoming Christmas holiday events occurring in Bath including Deck the Meters, the Cocoa Crawl, the Winterfest Parade, the Bath Christmas Market and Merry and Bright at the were approved by Common Consent. Barbara Spielman. base most likely to be attracted to Bath. Ice House. COMMITTEE AND BOARD REPORTS 1.1 BATH DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (BDA): The next meeting is December 4, at the Courthouse. This meeting will focus on the reforming of the BDA for the betterment of the Bath economic development. BDA is the Board ofDirectors oft the On Trac program with Assistant Town Clerk Breaunna as the Executive Director. On 2. PARKS & REC: The next meeting is December 18, at the County Courthouse. 3. PLANNING COMMISSION (PC): The next meeting is December 11 with unfit, vacant buildings being the subject ofinterest. The January meeting will be with the 4. RAIL/TRAIL (NBRT): Attached is the written report submitted by. Co-Chair Pete Brown. This report also includes information on the status of the BSSP issue with the WVDEP. The Congressionally Directed Spending award of $720,000.00 for the Depot lot will be administered by the WV DoH. It was concurred that a meeting must be convened with the Morgan County Commission and staff on structuring the move 5. STREETSCAPE: Co-Chair Pete Brown has submitted a detailed progress report. The Trac will meet on December 5, at 4:30. Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Department. forward with design and engineering. Phase V Streetscape project construction is underway on Wilkes and Independence 6. TRAINDEPOT: Chairwoman Webster reported that next steps with the Depot Street's. improvement plan will be lighting and interpretive signage. 7. LANDMARK COMMISSION (HLC): No report at this time. 8. CLERK/RECORDER REPORT: No report at this time. 9. FINANCE: Chairwoman Webster delivered the following bills for approval: (a) Town of Bath $9,883.30- Motion to approve: Webster/0'Connel. - Carried (b)BSWW $48,054.85-Motion to approve: Webster/Skinner- Carried (c) Tree Board $38.60- Motion to approve: Webster/MacLeod- Carried (d)BSPD CACE Fund $9,436.45- Motion to approve: Webster/Schene- Carried (e) Depot $41.75- Motion to approve: Webster/Schene- Carried (f) Hotel/Motel Distribution- Motion to approve: Webster/5ehene-Cared 10.TREE BOARD: The next meeting is December 18. Member Kate Lehman told Council that the Tree City USA application will be submitted for Bath. Receiving 11.GRANT: The next meeting is December 9. Chairwoman Hickey informed Council that the Town of Bath received six applicants for the website rebuild funded by the recently awarded Appalachian Forestry grant. The committee will move forward with The Federal Cops Grant has been formally accepted. The BSPD can begin the Chairwoman Hickey reported that the BSWW plant upgrades will take priority in efforts to obtain funding. She is attending the Region 9 Planning & Development Council meeting as the Bath representative on December 9 in hopes ofadvancing this 12.PUBLIC SAFETY: The next meeting is December 12. No further report. 13.CEMETERY: The next meeting is December 10. Chairwoman Skinner informed all that the Committee invites the public to their January meeting for input and ideas for cemetery maintenance and improvement. The date will be announced. The Committee is also 14.PUBLIC WORKS: The next meeting is December 10. Chairwoman MacLeod reported that the committee is interested in: nature-based drainage grant possibilities for the Depot lot. The Labor Crew is working on handicap parking signage and curb painting. 15.ORDINANCE: The next meeting is December 19. Chairman Schene and committee will be finalizing an ordinance addressing better management and regulation ofbusiness parking and permitting. The new 1% municipal sales tax will be going into effect on January 1,2 2025. Letters will be sent to. Bath businesses as reminders of this change. 16.BSWW: The next meeting is November 20. Chairman O'Connell advised all that the BSWW plant upgrade is ofl highest importance with the committee. A preliminary engineering report is required to move forward with the upgrade The committee is concentrating on the work necessary to accomplish this as soon as possible. Chairman O'Connell explained the request to accept 34 mile of the US Silica water line from the Warm Springs Public Service District plant to the Sand Mine Road area and this designation is an important requirement for grant eligibility. selections. process ofrecruitment of officers. project funding possibilities. working on record keeping, mapping and revenue and expenses. Morgan County Senior Life Services building. This line must have a pressure test and 17.PUBLIC COMMENT: Scott Collinash inquired about recent social media posts which cast doubt on the quality of the BSWW distributed water. Water Chairman O'Connell explained the misunderstanding ofthe WV Bureau ofPublic Health standards for public water purveyors and that the BSWW: is in good standing. The BSWW publishes its Consumer Confidence Report annually as required. The public was asked to maintain confidence in the BSWW and to seek answers from the company rather than social plans are being made to carry out this test. media. Attest: 18.MOTION TO ADJOURN: By Common Consent. Wa Myphtmk Recorder Sn July1,2023 - June 30, 2024 Financial Summary Notes: Income Due to new state laws Market Place sites must now collect and turn into the counties and municipalities hotel/motel tax. Web Advertising was the Washington Post County increase 100% over this time last year and town 60% Print included Washington Post, Northern Virginia, Recreation News, Morgan Messenger, Sports programs for Penguins, Pirates and Nationals TV Advertising was Washington DC channel 7 and Hagerstown every month. Video and Design is photo shoots and commercials. Office includes cleaning, supplies and copier. Community Outreach is fireworks, brochure rack at Cacapon State Park, Christmas meters, supporting tri county Washington Heritage Trail, mowing Media contract is Imagine DC. Now doing weekly message, Facebook Accounting expense includes a monthly fee for reconciling books, switching financial records to Quickbooks, updating 501C3. Board voted to hire firm due to increased income and expenses and state certification welcome signs, free yoga, apple butter sponsorship. Rent and Utilities we are now paying half. page, marketing plan, and new website. requirements. July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024 Financial Summary Income County Hotel/ Motel Town Hotel/Motel Paw Paw Hotel/Motel Water Tasting Membership Dues Fireworks 85% 10% .03% 2% .08% 1% 100% 32% 5% 4% 5% 5% 9% 5% 1% 2% 1% 1% 1% 1% 12% 1% 11% 1% 3% 2% 100% $395,804 $ 48,230 $ 1,525 $ 10,371 $ 3,730 $ 5,000 $464,660 Total July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 Expenses Print Advertising/web TVA Advertising Billboards Social Media/Google Ad Grant Payroll Water Tasting Brochures Telephone/internet Videos & Design Office Dues/Membershps Insurance Community Outreach Rent & Utilities Media Contract Accounting Expenses Fireworks Events $126,314 $19,733 $15,738 $18,000 $19,516 $33,751 $21,261 $5 5,736 $6,410 $1 1,327 $2 2,919 $3,255 $1 1,851 $47,324 $5,102 $45,475 $2,280 $11,486 $8,314 $395,792 Total July 1, 2023-June 30, 2024 Streetscape, State Park and NBRT Projects Status Report for Town Council December 3, 2024 STREETSCAPE Next Committee Meeting: Tentative: 9 am Thursday 12/19, Town Conference Room Phase V Construction: Week of Nov 25th: First Fruits expected to complete all the work by the end of December. Current cold weather may impact that plan. They do not plan to shut down work and then re-start at a later date. Completed forming and pouring of curb and "step" on Wilkes St (about 101 ft still short) Installed junction box before pouring sidewalk on Wilkes St Began removal of existing sidewalk on the south side of Independence St o Grading for sidewalk and trenching for lighting conduit (south side and alley) Grade & stake out sidewalk on Wilkes; complete sidewalk foundation work Possibly pour sidewalk on Wilkes (Union to Independence) Complete removal of south side sidewalk on Independence & grade & install the 4 inch Resolve question of adding Water Company conduit under new sidewalks on Independence St DOH was asked (11-18 am) to prepare the required Funding Agreement for Town and DOH signature. Total will be $70K ($56K Grant & $14K Town). Draft Task Order #2 is for $65K. That Agreement is being created and we will see the draft prior to DOH mailing it to Town Streetscape Committee (ati its 11/21 Meeting) agreed to research alternatives and prepare a cost estimate (with potential funding sources) for the Phase V construction and lighting system components - outside of any DOH requirements or influence. Thrasher drawings can be used for a DOH project (if Awarded in FY25 Grant) or a non-DOH project if costs can be reduced. If DOHI is involved, Grant Application would be after Jan 2025 and this will be called "Phase VII" Beyond Phase V needs, the Committee will review all remaining lighting requirements within the Six- Block Core Area and consider alternative paths to complete this lighting. Basic data is available for Week of Dec 2nd: Weather/Temperature permitting) aggregate foundation Phase VI Design Task Order: Follow-up for Separate Contract to Install Phase VI Lighting: this review and costing effort. Current Status of DEP Consent Order: BERKELEY SPRINGS STATE PARK PROJECT Town was called by DEP representative who wants to discuss some matters in the Corrective Action Final inspection for CBT G3 grant was completed and a final report was sent to CBT last week. "T keep you updated but we are, probably going to have an UNOFFICIAL meeting in the coming weeks with the District with the project. I'm not sure who or when exactly but we're trying to work these bridges out some way. So next week Imay have some better "'ve talked to Melanie over at Morgan County on the Trail Head CDS project. Ihave it programmed. as 100% but wasn'treally sure. Now la am pretty sure it is 80/20%. At first some oft those are fully 100% federal but this one looks not to be. /will change andi finish up their Plan submitted by the Town in September - plan to discuss with DEP. NBRT Received thet following from Mark Scoular on Nov 27h; information." agreement next week." Pete Brown Streetscape Committee 1 $A $A $ $A AA A $A 3A $A $ A $A $ $ 4 $A