POLICE MATTTER AT HAND — In an effort to attract and retain law enforcement officers, Wellsburg Council on Tuesday supported an increase in pay for current and new members of the city’s police department. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — Wellsburg Council has accepted a proposal by City Police Chief Mike Allman designed to help the city retain and attract police officers.

Allman told council earlier 13 officers have left the city’s police department since 2015, often for higher paying positions in other local law enforcement agencies.

The departures occurred under Allman and his predecessor, Richard Ferguson, but have been a recurring issue over the years, with many Brooke County sheriff’s deputies starting their careers with the Wellsburg department.

Allman suggested council could raise hourly pay for all officers by $5 without increasing his department’s budget by replacing two vacant full-time positions with two part-time ones.

He noted one of the positions was that of school resource officer Paul Pownall, who has retired from the department to serve in the same capacity as an employee of Brooke County Schools.

The raises include a new starting wage of $22 per hour, to increase to $24 per hour following a probationary period that includes state police academy training.

Allman said he hopes to fill the part-time positions with officers who are already certified to save the city a cost of $20,000 to $30,000 to train one officer.

Plans call for such officers to receive a starting wage of $24 per hour since they won’t need to undergo training.

Allman’s proposal was adopted by 1st Ward Councilmen Jack Kins and Jerry Nichols, 2nd Ward Councilmen Scott Caldwell and Geno Capp, 3rd Ward Councilmen Randy Fletcher and Tom Gaudio and 4th Ward Councilman Fred Marino.

Fourth Ward Councilman Charlie Harris didn’t attend the meeting.

Council also heard from Howard Ohler who complained of dilapidated structures and trash in residents’ yards along High Street, where he lives.

City Manager Steve Maguschak said property owners are responsible for maintaining clean yards and can be cited and brought to court if they fail to do so.

Mayor Dan Dudley said one of the properties mentioned by Ohler is among several being targeted by City Solicitor Ryan Weld for a planned second round of demolitions to be supported by a pilot program of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection.

Maguschak noted Weld has applied for a $500,000 grant through the program, which awarded $130,000 used by the city to raze 16 structures in the last several months.

The demolitions must be done in cooperation with the buildings’ owners, who transfer their deeds to the city.

Maguschak said plans for a public auction for the vacant lots remaining from the demolitions have been delayed until the proposed additional structures are removed.

Also on Tuesday:

• Council discussed a proposed ordinance limiting the number of days in which a Dumpster may remain on a city street.

Fletcher said Dumpsters have blocked some city streets for extended periods.

It’s been suggested that property owners responsible for the Dumpsters be required to pay $5 if they remain on a street for 30 days and $20 for more than 30 days.

Thomas A. Diserio, the city’s building inspector, said contractors who may use the bins can be notified of the new policy when they apply for a building permit, but residents cleaning out their homes are less likely to know about it.

He suggested notifying companies that provide the service.

Maguschak said once the ordinance is adopted, a notice should be sent to them.

He added for drivers’ safety, any Dumpster that will be left overnight should be marked with reflective material to deter people from running into them.

• Maguschak said City Clerk Mikeal Maguschak is working with city clerks to compile a list of water customers who are delinquent in their payments and certified letters will be sent to them. He said those who fail to pay by the designated deadline will be brought to court.

Fletcher, who chairs the city’s water-sewer board, said delinquent payments is a major problem, with some owing more than $40,000.

• Mikeal Maguschak said he’s also working with city clerks to produce a public records database, with ordinances and minutes from the last 30 to 40 years, for the purpose of posting them on the city’s website.

Recently appointed city clerk by Dudley, Mikeal had created the website for the city earlier.