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WELLSBURG -- Wellsburg Council made plans Tuesday to replace the deteriorating front steps of City Hall with new ones and a handicap-accessible ramp while considering a handful of summer events.
City Manager Steve Maguschak presented two preliminary designs to council, one created by Thrasher Engineering and another drawn by 4th Ward Councilman Charlie Harris.
Thrasher's design included a set of 8-foot-wide steps leading to a landing at the front entrance, with a 5-foot-wide ramp extending from the town square, turning right onto a 5-foot-by-10-foot landing and turning right again onto another ramp leading to the front entrance.
Harris' concept was similar, except the ramp extended to a handicapped parking spot on the adjacent Charles Street.
"I'm trying to make this as simple as possible for somebody who needs to use the ramp," he said.
Third Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher suggested some may approach City Hall from Main Street on the other side of the town square.
He was joined by 4th Ward Councilwoman Della Serevicz, 3rd Ward Councilman Tom Gaudio, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Mary Rosso and 1st Ward Councilman Danny Dudley in supporting the Thrasher concept.
Harris voted against that design, preferring his own, while 1st Ward Councilman Jack Kins also voted against because he didn't like either.
Fletcher noted council earlier discussed replacing the building's front doors with electronic ones that would automatically turn inward.
In other business, Mayor Sue Simonetti said the volunteer committee behind the city's Independence Day celebration has asked for council's opinion about whether to hold fireworks and other events during the pandemic.
She suggested fireworks could be launched and viewed from residents' homes, an idea supported by Kins.
But Fletcher noted the occasion usually draws hundreds of visitors to the city's 18th Street Park.
Simonetti suggested the park could be closed and police or security guards posted there. But Fletcher questioned the feasibility of closing the park, which isn't enclosed.
"You're going to have a conglomerate of people no matter what you do. To me, it's a bad idea," said Fletcher, who said for public safety, the fireworks should be canceled this year.
A few council members expressed concern the event could help spread the coronavirus.
City Solicitor Ryan Weld said he will consult Dr. Clay Marsh, the state's COVID-19 czar, and other state officials for input.
In related business, council authorized organizers of the Brooke-Hancock American Cancer Society Relay for Life to organize a procession of vehicles through the city on June 6 in lieu of the annual walking event, which has been canceled because of the pandemic.
In a letter to council, Tammy Hornick, the event's chair, said plans call for the lighting of luminaria in memory or honor of loved ones with cancer, a Relay tradition, along city streets instead of an athletic track.
Serevicz, a regular Relay participant, said donations of any amount will be accepted for the luminaria.
Hornick said plans call for the procession to end at Central Park, where they may listen to a guest speaker from their vehicles.
Council also approved use of Fourth Ward Park for two programs: A series of summer activities for youth to be held by the New Day Christian Center from June 1 through July 3; and the West Virginia Junior Police Academy, which teaches youth about law enforcement and other emergency responders and other skills and will be held June 15-19.
The Rev. Angel Adams said the summer activities will coincide with free food distributions at the park for any youth by C.H.A.N.G.E. Inc.
Brooke County Chief Sheriff's Deputy Scott Adams, her husband and coordinator of the Junior Police Academy, said about 90 boys and girls will participate in that program but they will be divided into groups of nine for various activities, allaying concerns about social distancing.
In related business, Maguschak said since the stay-at-home order and temporary shuttering of businesses, he's seen a slight increase in revenue from water and sewer use but a $60,000 drop in revenue, such as business tax, for the city's general fund.
He said he will know in mid-July the total impact of the shut-down on revenue for the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year.
Also on Tuesday, City Police Chief Richard Ferguson was asked the status of two officers who recently joined the department.
Ferguson said the State Police Academy has been closed because of the pandemic but is expected to reopen in July.
He said until then the officers have been involved in investigative work under the supervision of other officers and himself.
Maguschak noted council will need to extend the probationary periods for the two when it meets in June.