SPIRIT OF GIVING — At Monday’s Follansbee Council meeting, volunteers behind the Follansbee Christmas in the Park presented proceeds from the festival to the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program, a local food pantry; and to the families of two local youths with special medical needs. On hand for the presentation were, from left, front: Sierra Haught and her son, Scott; Robert Groch and his mother, Tracy; and Bill Kocher of the food pantry; middle: committee members Betty Ann Shaffer and Suzanne Davidson, Travis Haught, Scott’s father; and Bill Secrist, the festival’s co-chair; and committee member Tom DiBattista; and back: committee member Donna Taibi-Sullivan, Ed Wilkerson and Karen Hager of the food pantry; and Stacey Williams, festival co-chair. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — On Monday, Follansbee Council was asked to approve a building permit for a structure involved in a proposed plastic recycling plant and observed the presentation of $8,000 raised by Follansbee Christmas to a local food pantry and two youths with special medical needs.

City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo advised Empire Diversified Energy has applied for a building permit for a bladder building to serve the proposed plant at the city’s north end.

Farley Wood, an engineer with Empire, told council the building will be used for the temporary storage of gas produced by the plant, for which the company has sought a state air quality permit.

The cost for the bladder building has been estimated at $450,000, requiring Empire to pay a $2,200 permit feet to the city.

Councilman at large John Casinelli asked, “If we approve the bladder building, it doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve approved the plastics?”

“That’s correct,” said Mayor David Velegol Jr., who added Empire would be “taking a chance” by proceeding with that facility before receiving the state’s approval for the plastics recycling plant.

The plant is expected to use equipment and facilities Empire had built for a medical waste recycling plant last year but had dropped following negative response from residents and city officials’ pledge to halt it through legal action.

Wood told council the company is “moving away from medical waste to straight plastics,” and that most emissions will be captured by equipment on-site while others will be monitored and reported.

Opposition to the medical waste plant stemmed in part from concerns about transportation and storage of the potentially infectious material.

But there also were concerns about air pollution generated by pyrolysis, the process used to dispose of the waste which also is to be used by the plastics recycling plant.

Velegol said he’s stressed Empire officials will need to deliver a presentation to council on the plant’s operations before it will receive its support.

“I’ve promised people a million times we’re going to have this presentation,” he said.

Third Ward Councilman Nick Cekinovich said, “I’m going to be uncomfortable approving anything until we know this process from A to Z.”

He noted council had given initial approval to the medical waste recycling plant under the impression it wouldn’t produce emissions.

Fifth Ward Councilwoman Wendy DeAngelis said, “I think the people of Follansbee want to know about this, too.”

Velegol said the plastic recycling proposal shouldn’t be confused with plans for the Port of West Virginia operated by Empire to become part of a network of hydrogen hubs, one where food waste may be converted into hydrogen fuel.

Wood said the hub will be a very positive development for the city and Empire, with more details to come.

He also agreed to the informational presentation requested by the mayor.

“We want to be a good member of the community. We will come in and talk about plastics recycling and make everybody comfortable,” said Wood.

Following the meeting, Velegol said he’s not determined what format that meeting may take, including whether it will be part of a council meeting or other gathering.

He said the state’s decision on the air permit sought by Empire could come in a couple of months.

Wood indicated a public notice of the permit’s application is expected in the near future.

Empire’s application for the medical waste facility led to a public hearing being held by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection late last year.

Council also heard from the Follansbee Christmas in the Park Committee, which presented $2,000 to volunteers behind the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program and $3,000 each to the families of Robert Groch, a teen who has undergone regular treatment for epilepsy since he was 8; and Scott Haught, a boy who has undergone surgery and other treatment for cancer in his abdomen and other areas of his body.

Bill Secrist noted since he co-founded the festival with former councilwoman Kathy Santoro 21 years ago, proceeds from vendors’ fees and various drawings held during the weekend event have been distributed to local charities and local youth with special medical needs.

For this year’s event, he acknowledged the support of many, including Trinity Health System, which sponsored its advertising; the Nelson family, which loaned some of its life-size nutcrackers; council for the use of Follansbee Park and the Follansbee Community House and city crews involved in preparations and cleanup.

Secrist also thanked the volunteers on its committee for their hard work through the years.

In related business, council was asked to consider extending its liability insurance to include the festival.

In other business:

• Velegol advised he will be reviving the city’s inactive police board, a panel charged with responding to complaints of misconduct by city police officers.

He said the board is required, under the city’s charter, to perform that function as needed.

Earlier in Monday’s meeting, a woman told council she had been mistreated by a city officer.

• Council agreed to request from Ewusiak Development an illustration indicating its traffic plan for vehicles entering and exiting the Dunkin franchise slated to be built beside the Bluewave Center.

City Police Chief Larry Rea noted former councilwoman Alexis Russell had requested a sketch as a condition of a curb cut made to the adjacent Mark Avenue but it’s not been received and hence, the cut was not formally approved by council.

• Velegol praised volunteers behind the Christmas lightup festivities held Saturday, which included a short parade, visit by Santa and Mrs. Claus and activities for children.

Denise Arthurs, who headed the group, expressed thanks to all involved, including council members DeAngelis, Tammy Johnson and Charles McCoy.

Arthurs said some had questioned why the Brooke High School Band didn’t participate and explained it had been committed to another event. She said the Brooke Middle School Band, however, was honored to participate and offered to play additional songs after the parade.

• Plans were made to consider applicants for seats on the city’s water board representing the 1st Ward. The applicants may be present members or other residents.