St. Albans City Council has taken several steps toward becoming a home-rule city.
On Monday evening council conducted a public hearing on its plan to participate in the state Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program.
There was one question during the hearing. A citizen asked if the plan addresses the boats, trailers and campers that some residents park around their homes.
John Stump, the city's attorney for home rule matters, said the plan does not address that issue although it's possible it could be added at a later date.
During its regular meeting, council gave preliminary approval to an ordinance authorizing it to apply to the Municipal Home Rule Board to participate in the home rule pilot program.
There will be a public hearing on the proposed ordinance at 7:15 p.m. Sept. 8 on the second floor of the municipal building at 51 Sixth Ave. Stump said if it is approved, the city's application would be submitted on Sept. 9.
It would then be up to the Home Rule Board to accept or reject it.
This is St. Albans' second effort to participate in home rule, which expands the power of participating cities to govern locally.
The city's first application was rejected last year after it failed to hold a public hearing or give its application final approval before a June 1 deadline.
Mayor Dick Callaway has said the city will seek the same powers it sought in last year's application. He said the city will not seek permission to impose a city sales tax and that the city's proposals will be revenue-neutral.
Callaway has said the new application will seek:
* More flexibility to enter into agreements with other governments;
* The power to sell buildings and land without auction and for less than fair-market value to nonprofits that provide public services;
* The authority to transfer, for fair market value, real and personal property with a value in excess of $1,000, without auction, for economic development purposes;
* The ability to purchase personal property through cooperative arrangements with other governments without a separate bidding process; and
* The authority to place a lien on real property for costs incurred by the city to eliminate a public nuisance, without obtaining a court order.
Twenty municipalities currently are participating in home rule. Locally, Charleston, South Charleston, Dunbar and Nitro are home rule cities.
Fourteen more cities will be able to receive home rule status under legislation passed by the Legislature on March 14.
In other action, Mayor Callaway honored Capt. Eric Mitchell, who retired in June after 26 years of service to the fire department. He remains available to the department as a paid-on-call firefighter and continues to serve as the department's photographer.
Callaway also presided as the city promoted:
* Kenny Romine to captain in the fire department. He has 25 years of service.
* Matt Poff and Brian Sharp to lieutenant in the fire department. Poff has been an employee of the department for 16 years; Sharp has been an employee for 15 years.
Also at the meeting, council recognized members of the girls 9- and 10-year-old fast-pitch Little League All-Star team. Callaway issued a proclamation honoring the team and Ward 8 Councilman Kevin Pennington, who is the voice of the Red Dragons, recounted the team's 2015 victories.
In other action, council gave preliminary approval to ordinances that would amend the city code to prohibit keeping livestock and repeal language in the code that refers to pens and coops.
Also at the meeting, council:
* Agreed to pay current invoices, which total $5,498.
* Tabled a proposed ordinance that would restrict parking on a portion of Harrison Avenue until more input can be received on the matter.
Councilman-at-large Jerry Cogar asked council members to report cul-de-sacs in their wards. During an Ordinance Committee meeting prior to the council session, Police Chief Mike Matthews said the Public Works Department is having trouble getting garbage and salt trucks turned around in some of the cul-de-sacs because of parked vehicles. He said the city currently has no authority to prohibit parking in those areas.
During announcements, Mayor Callaway noted that city and Municipal Utility Commission offices will be closed Sept. 7 in observance of Labor Day.
Council's next meeting has been moved from Sept. 7 to Sept. 8 because of the holiday. It will be at 7:30 p.m. on the second floor of the municipal building, 51 Sixth Ave.
Ward 6 Councilwoman Loretta Griffith and Councilman-at-large John Boles Jr. did not attend Monday's meeting.