[5:47] Order members will please rise while council member over street leads us and prayer this evening.

[6:46] To come together as a council, to be about the people's business, we should never take this for granted. I thank you for the diversity of this body because it is truly our strength. In the chaos that we are enduring in this country, I thank you that our city can be a shining light on a hill that we have empathy for those that are hurting and in need.

[7:10] that we have compassion for those who are broken that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

[7:17] I thank you that our council and administration are always working to lift up all of our constituents

[7:25] but help us to never get hard in hearts towards those who are homeless,

[7:30] mentally ill or have drug addiction but bless us with practical solutions.

[7:36] We just pray for the safety and health of each and every one of our employees and their

[7:42] families.

[7:43] In Jesus name we pray, amen.

[7:46] Thank you so much and appreciate the

[7:51] pause as we get our technology in order.

[7:55] Thank you.

[8:10] Councilwoman Steele-Hammer, would you please lead us in the pledge?

[9:15] You know as I was talking to one of the council members, as she was coming in the chamber,

[9:19] Remember I said last meeting, this one off without hitch.

[9:23] It was probably one of the best run meetings we've ever had, at least in the seven years

[9:28] that I've been here.

[9:30] And today we're having a little glitch.

[9:32] Technology can be our friend sometimes, and not so much.

[9:37] We might have to go old school.

[9:39] The good news I know is that our public microphones are working, just not ours.

[9:44] And that might be a good thing today too, so hang tight.

[9:48] The

[10:00] clerk will please call the roll, please, announce yourself if you're here with gusto.

[10:22] Hoover, Jenkins, Jones, Kerns, King, Moore, Overstreet, Pepper, Far, Robinson, Rubio,

[10:36] Sillango, Snotgrass, Solomon, Steelhammer, Taylor, Mayor Goodwin.

[10:44] Here, my microphone apparently seems to be working.

[10:48] I swear I had nothing to do with this.

[10:51] Thank you so much.

[10:52] The clerk will please read the journal, Madam President.

[10:58] Is the motion to request?

[11:09] There's a motion on the floor we've spent with reading of the journal.

[11:12] Here in your seeing no objections, the reading of the journal is dispensed with.

[11:15] If we have several public speakers this evening,

[11:18] Andrew contends that the microphone for the public speaker is working, which is right there.

[11:22] Our first public speaker, Rico Moore.

[11:24] Mr. Moore, please, thank you.

[11:28] The microphone.

[11:32] Good evening, councilmembers.

[11:35] My name is Rico Moore.

[11:36] I am a lifelong resident of Charleston, from grade school, middle school, high school, even college in West Virginia State.

[11:45] I'm sure all of you have received a letter that was signed by myself, Ms. Frazier, and Mr. Cullup.

[11:52] I didn't write that letter.

[11:54] I didn't send it to the new station.

[11:56] I wrote it to you all.

[11:58] And I didn't write that letter as an attorney.

[12:00] I wrote that letter as a concerned citizen.

[12:05] One thing about being an attorney here, everybody, especially in my community, the black community, they know me.

[12:12] And I've got tired of receiving phone calls, complaints about a specific police unit.

[12:22] And, you know, we see this happen over and over and these officers and these individuals get moved from place to place.

[12:31] And the problem is never really addressed.

[12:34] I'm not a politician and I don't want to be.

[12:38] But you all are, and you're standing in the gap, you stand between the citizens and the city.

[12:45] And it's your job to make sure that this is taken care of.

[12:50] Don't put a bandaid on it, it needs to be fixed.

[12:53] This is not a situation in which something has happened once or twice.

[12:59] And so I waited because I've had cases involving this specific individual in the unit.

[13:05] And these two attorneys had the same issues with these individuals.

[13:10] Other attorneys have had the same issues with these individuals, and it doesn't seem to change.

[13:20] So, I wrote a letter to all of you, because you represent those individuals.

[13:27] The individuals that keep getting beat up, and I don't have the videos, but

[13:32] I'm pretty sure there are items that come up missing.

[13:39] I want these people to be held accountable,

[13:45] and I won't hold you accountable.

[13:48] It's not a situation where, as an attorney, I'm coming to you and I'm saying, pay my client some money.

[13:55] That's not what I'm looking for.

[13:57] What I'm looking for is some real accountability from the city council and from the police department.

[14:04] I had to come to you because most of these people don't feel safe making complaints to

[14:12] the same people that abuse them.

[14:15] They just don't.

[14:17] And since this letter has gone out and since the newspaper decided to report about it,

[14:25] which wasn't my attempt, I've had additional calls, additional videos, additional people come

[14:32] forward.

[14:33] So, with that being said, I think that I'll give you guys, and we'll give you guys enough ammunition that you should be able to take care of the problem, not put a bandaid on it.

[14:46] Thank you, Mr. Moore.

[14:47] Our next public speaker, Boomi, Kassimo Frazier.

[14:53] Good evening.

[14:54] Good evening.

[14:56] My name is Olu Boomi, Kassimo Frazier.

[14:58] I too am a lifeline.

[15:00] Long resident of Charleston, proud, Charleston girl, I went away to school, I went to Florida

[15:04] Annam and Washington and Lee School of Law and then came back here and worked as a Canaw County

[15:08] prosecutor. And I am here also with Mr. Moore as a member of my community, concerned about

[15:14] what I've seen and what I have seen is extrajudicial punishment towards people in the community.

[15:20] And by extrajudicial me, I mean that they are receiving punishment without actually going

[15:25] going through the process of being prosecuted or anything like that.

[15:30] When an officer hits someone, when they're serving a warrant, that is extrajudicial punishment.

[15:35] They are being punished without being convicted.

[15:38] And that is a concern that I have ever since the article came out on Friday, we have received,

[15:43] I have received a barrage of messages and complaints from people in the community with respect to this particular officer that we have been talking about.

[15:51] And it is very disconcerting and upsetting because what I'm hearing is that people in our

[15:56] community do not feel safe and they don't feel safe from the people who are supposed to

[16:01] be keeping them safe.

[16:02] And I am concerned about how we build respect for authority when the authority is not respecting

[16:08] the people.

[16:10] And when the people who are committing offenses that if I were a prosecutor, I would prosecute

[16:15] someone for battery.

[16:16] I would prosecute someone for an allegation of theft and let it be shown, and if the people who are committing these things have a gun in a badge, it does not put us in a lawless place.

[16:27] I would call this person a scoff law and a minister's society.

[16:33] Recently, Mr. Cullup and I, we were assigned to a case in a CPD, it's not this officer, but my client was charged with kidnapping and sexual assault.

[16:41] the kidnapping is a life imprisonment crime and during the hearing, which we talked to one of the

[16:48] detectives who did the investigation, we found out that the detective lied about the victims

[16:55] identifying my client to the grand jury to on the stand during that day and also in search warrants

[17:03] and in warrants. And my concern is that it's one thing to say that there's a one-off thing, but what

[17:10] that we are seeing and what we're concerned about is a culture, a culture that may not

[17:16] be the culture that I want in my community.

[17:21] It's not the culture that makes me feel safe when I go out as a woman.

[17:26] I don't want to be attacked by a police officer.

[17:30] This should not be allowed to continue.

[17:32] We are asking for accountability and we are asking for oversight.

[17:36] Thank you.

[17:37] Thank you so much, Bimmy.

[17:38] our next public speaker, Jeffrey Cullough. Mr. Cullough?

[17:45] Thank you. Good evening. Thanks for the time and the opportunity to speak.

[17:49] My name is Jeff Cullough. I'm a local attorney.

[17:52] I'm a signatory to the letter that's been referenced a few times that I'm sure you're all aware of.

[17:57] I'm made hopeful by the initial response of the city to the letter, but I'm disappointed that by all appearances, this wasn't already on the city's radar.

[18:08] The publicly available CPD policies and procedures states at Section 22.3.4 that any officer who witnesses

[18:17] unnecessary force will intervene and report to their supervisor that unnecessary use of force.

[18:24] That same section of the manual states that any degree of force utilized as summary punishment

[18:30] or vengeance is clearly improper and unlawful.

[18:35] And I've taken a look at these videos, I've heard some testimony from a client or two.

[18:41] And this really is sort of the nature of what these interactions are,

[18:47] which is a summary punishment or a seeking of vengeance.

[18:52] Or what at times looks like just somebody looking for a sadistic good time at another's expense.

[19:00] So the policy manual at 22.2 defines a term deescalate, but that term deescalate doesn't appear, at least in the unredacted portions of the policy manual, at some of the other places where I would expect to find it.

[19:15] And so before I went out into my own and private practice, I spent a lot of time defending or helping defend or assessing or analyzing lawsuits against public entities, against government agents, and against police officers.

[19:28] And so I'm aware of and have helped conduct community policing trainings, de-escalation trainings.

[19:36] And if you look at the videos that were submitted with the letter, show me the de-escalation.

[19:41] Instead of a de-escalation, once you have as somebody showing up and immediately turning the screws,

[19:47] escalating the situation to a place where it doesn't need to be.

[19:51] So the policy and procedure, therefore, it results in officers engaging citizens

[19:56] with that intent to escalate, instead of de-escalate.

[20:00] I stand with my colleagues, I ask for a full comprehensive public investigation of unnecessary uses of force by members and

[20:07] former members of the SEU, as well as members and former members of the current warrants unit, because I have heard, and

[20:15] I don't know if it's true or not, that those two units are interrelated somehow, or perhaps that the SEU is

[20:21] this banded and moved into the warrants unit.

[20:23] In any event, you have the people that are the police officers that are going in and

[20:28] that are doing the harm are now being asked to serve warrants on people and

[20:33] that just gives a whole new opportunity for a lot of malfeasance.

[20:37] So, this, like Mr. Moore said, is an opportunity for the city to assess its risk vis-a-vis

[20:45] these specific individuals and these specific units.

[20:48] Thank you.

[20:49] Thank you, Mr. Cullup.

[20:50] Our final public speaker tonight, Tara Rayman.

[20:53] Tara,

[20:55] good evening, thank you for having me.

[20:58] The Book of Luke, chapter 15, verses 1 to 10, circa AD 60 to 63.

[21:05] Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to here again.

[21:09] And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled saying, this man receives sinners and eats with them.

[21:16] So he told them this parable.

[21:17] What man of you having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the 99 in the open country and go after the one that is lost until he finds it.

[21:30] And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

[21:35] And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors saying to them, rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.

[21:44] Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one center who repents

[21:50] than over 99 righteous persons who need no repentance.

[21:54] Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp

[22:00] and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it.

[22:04] And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors saying, rejoice with me,

[22:09] for I have found the coin that I had lost.

[22:11] just so I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who

[22:16] repents. The book of 1 Chronicles 16 verses 23 to 27,

[22:22] circa 450 to 420 BC. Sing to the Lord all the earth, tell of his salvation from

[22:28] day to day, to clear his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the

[22:35] peoples, for great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, and he is to be feared

[22:40] above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens,

[22:47] splendor, and majesty are before Him. Strength and joy are in His place.

[22:53] Laos Deo, praise be to God.

[22:57] Thank you so much, Tara. Appreciate all of our public speakers coming out tonight. Thank you so.

[23:02] Thank you so very much. Appreciate you all.

[23:08] When he has prepared the clerk,

[23:11] will please read the claims against the city.

[23:13] A

[23:17] claim of Brian Love, Charleston, West Virginia led his damage to vehicle.

[23:22] Please refer to the city solicitor, the clerk will now please read the committee report in resolution 25-112.

[23:28] Resolution number 25-112, authorizing a mayor or city manager to contract with M-Wend's group benefits, LLC,

[23:37] for medical and prescription drug coverage for the Medicare eligible retiree health plan at a set cost

[23:45] House, per member, per month, starting January 1st of 2026, and reports the same to council with the recommendation that the committee report be adopted.

[23:54] Can I smell your Jenkins?

[24:01] Okay, it looks like it says it's muted, but anyway, all right.

[24:05] I feel like Jennifer here with her little mic there forever, yes.

[24:11] So your findings can be recommended approval of this for essentially they have used

[24:17] the Am winds group benefits to shop around for the best deal.

[24:21] This will result in a premium increase and only an increase from $300 to $500 for

[24:26] the yearly out of pocket.

[24:28] This will be for one year for the calendar year of 2026.

[24:32] And finance recommends it's approval.

[24:34] Second.

[24:35] Thank you for the discussion on this resolution.

[24:38] The question is the adoption of this resolution.

[24:43] Councilwoman Kernes,

[24:45] Andrew's coming and then Councilwoman's down rest. Thank you. Thank you for your patience

[25:00] Okay, thank you Madam Mayor

[25:03] You know no one comes to the city

[25:06] Expecting to get rich working for the city

[25:09] Some of the things that they expect though other benefits

[25:13] They gave their younger years

[25:16] In service to our city with an expect an expectation for their retirement

[25:22] But after they retired, their income has been reduced, and they're now on a fixed income.

[25:30] Most average around 30,000 a year, minus taxes, and of course they have their Social Security

[25:37] minus taxes.

[25:39] But when your income is low to start with, your Social Security is based on that income.

[25:45] So they're not receiving a high amount of Social Security.

[25:48] In those years, in your elder years, you're not able to work, and it's not fair to change

[25:56] the game after they've retired.

[26:00] Many of the retirees would qualify for low income resources.

[26:07] To my knowledge, I spoke to some retirees.

[26:10] They have not been notified that this is coming up for them, and they have no way to make

[26:15] make up or money at their age, just raising it $200 may create some income or some hardship

[26:25] for them financially, and many of you all in here are not of retirement age, but the ones

[26:30] that are, you know what I'm talking about. Your retirement years are supposed to be your

[26:35] glory years, your golden years, and you're not able to work when you get to a certain age.

[26:41] And for this to be thrust upon them, I think is unfair with them not being notified, and their input put into it.

[26:50] Thank you.

[26:51] Thank you so much.

[26:52] Our next public speaker is Councilwoman Snaggrass, and then I believe that Councilwoman Fagry, you had your hand up, ma'am.

[26:59] Please, Councilwoman Snaggrass.

[27:03] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[27:04] Yes, ma'am.

[27:04] And I had a conversation, I appreciate our finance director,

[27:09] Andy Wood, calling me back today and explaining some things.

[27:14] Being in healthcare, I'm always a little more in tune

[27:19] and try to pay attention to some of our insurance type things

[27:23] and especially as it pertains to medical.

[27:27] Spending over 40 years in the healthcare field,

[27:31] some of our most vulnerable patients

[27:33] are the Medicare age, you know they're losing their ability, functional type things, mental

[27:42] things, and yes they are working for the city, one of the best things is we do have a great

[27:49] benefits plan. I mean many of us in this room also participate and receive full health care.

[27:57] So I just I think to I know it hasn't been raised in a long time, I know that that's been brought up in some of my conversations with Mr. Wood.

[28:07] However, I do feel that I would like to make an amendment that we proceed with the new contract but as I was speaking to Mr. Wood there is an option which would change

[28:24] option 5 to option 4, which would keep their out of pocket at the $300.

[28:31] $200 to many of us may not seem like a lot, but I think to do the right thing to some of our most vulnerable,

[28:39] they don't have the ability to increase their income.

[28:44] And I just have a real strong problem with that, especially for retirees and to my knowledge they weren't notified.

[28:52] Not that maybe we don't have to, obviously, or we would have.

[28:55] But I just think the right thing to do, and you and I,

[28:59] all of us in this room know what we spend money on, and $68,000 for the city of Charleston to maintain the same level benefits for our retirees who did dedicate their lives to the city, enjoyed living in the city, working for the city, many lived in the city.

[29:19] I would just like to keep at this point, especially it's only a year, and it's only going to cost an additional 68,000, and I've said here and voted for things that were far and

[29:31] exorbitant amount of that, to take care of our retirees.

[29:35] I would like to make an amendment to this existing bill that we changed line, I've got to have glasses, sorry.

[29:43] I'm going to make the amendment that we change line 4 by removing 5, changing it to 4,

[29:51] and then changing line 10 by removing 5 and changing it to 4.

[29:57] And what that's going to do is just keep...

[30:00] They're out of pocket at the 300 and not add any additional expense to our retirees or our Medicare population. So I would appreciate a support on that, and so we can move forward. Again, it's for a year. So that's my amendment to this bill.

[30:22] Thank you so much. Nikki is going to come and get that amendment. The floor is there's a motion to amend. Is there a second?

[30:34] The floor is open for discussion on the amendment and just the amendment only.

[30:39] Discussion on the amendment, the amendment only.

[30:42] Council Member Everstreet.

[30:44] Hank, hank tight.

[30:45] Yep, you betcha.

[30:47] Andrew is a very fast runner, I will say.

[30:50] He's very quick on his feet.

[30:51] Just give us a pause amendment.

[30:53] Thank you so much.

[30:53] And if I could ask Andy and Orben to come to the microphone as well, please, thank you.

[30:58] Go ahead.

[30:59] I had one question on that.

[31:01] Please.

[31:01] From what I'm reading on here, if these are the ones that are listed on here, does that

[31:07] one go on from one to the other, does that not increase the monthly premium, or is it the same?

[31:14] It would increase the cost to the city, we're not changing the retiree premiums in this case.

[31:21] Thank you.

[31:21] Is that answer your question, Council Member?

[31:24] We're straight.

[31:25] Thank you so much.

[31:26] There are still questions on the floor, Madam President.

[31:34] The city's cost would increase by $68,000 a year by maintaining the flat deductible from going from option

[31:42] five to option four to be $68,000.

[31:44] This is already going to increase the city's cost about $116,000 and so that would be an additional $68 on top of that.

[31:52] Yeah. Hang tight, everybody. And I apologize for the audio visual. If we could have Director

[31:57] Wood go ahead and repeat that. Three people have asked.

[32:00] Yes. So, under option five, the plan that we proposed, it would increase the city's cost

[32:06] by $116,000 to switch that to option four would increase that by $68,000 make the total

[32:13] increase cost to the city of $184,000.

[32:16] Thank you.

[32:17] Somebody else had their hand up?

[32:19] Thank you so much.

[32:21] Councilmember Annie, did I miss a hand over here, folks?

[32:25] No.

[32:25] Okay.

[32:26] Please.

[32:26] Councilmember Annie.

[32:27] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[32:30] So, this is functioning as secondary-based coverage, correct, from primary Medicare.

[32:34] Yeah.

[32:35] This is a secondary Medicare.

[32:36] Medicare is primary for these populations.

[32:38] I have a few questions.

[32:39] So, how many individuals is this falling on with retirees?

[32:42] 564.

[32:43] Okay.

[32:45] And then, so if the city pays additional $184,000, in one year's time with the current market rate of insurance increasing with premiums, it would probably be 80% increase in a year.

[32:59] Our consultants told us to prepare for between 8% and 10% for the renewal.

[33:03] Okay, so it's fair to say conservatively that in a year's time, it would be a 50% increase, or an additional $200,000 on top of that for the city.

[33:17] Yeah, I mean next year's cost would be another, you know, 10% higher than 184 at that point.

[33:24] Thank you.

[33:26] Thank you, Councilmember Annie.

[33:27] Did I see any other hands up?

[33:29] Any other question on the amendment?

[33:33] Questions with on the amendment.

[33:35] Councilmember Overstreet, Matthew will get you, and then Councilmember Gardner,

[33:39] Hangtite, and Andrew will get you, please.

[33:42] I may have to abstain.

[33:43] I think I'm on this.

[33:45] Thank you so much.

[33:46] We will note your abstention and Councilmember Gardner.

[33:50] Andrew will give you a microphone, sir.

[33:51] Thank you, Andrew.

[33:53] What was the budgeted amount for this, and how does this amendment potentially run up against our budgeted

[34:05] So, if you have this attachment that was in the packet, you can see this attachment, this

[34:13] is the spreadsheet that our consultants prepared for us.

[34:17] The middle section that kind of has two columns with one being shaded.

[34:21] That is the current year, what we based our budget off of, the $2 million, $10,000 number.

[34:27] So that is what we based our budget off of, then the options for plan 4 and plan 5, there's

[34:33] second columns.

[34:38] Thank you so much. Did I miss anybody else? We've

[34:43] got Councilwoman Fagry and we have Councilwoman Cook. We're going to allow

[34:49] everybody who hasn't spoken on the amendment. Thank you, Madam Mayor. I just

[34:56] want to make sure that that I'm understanding Councilwoman's not

[35:01] address amendment because unfortunately I did not attend the Finance Committee and

[35:10] I apologize to my colleagues here for that because I should have paid a bit more attention.

[35:19] But it is my understanding that we have 564 retirees and we as a body are going to

[35:29] to add about $200 more to the retiree benefit to their maximum out-of-pocket costs

[35:40] that they could achieve throughout a year if they did max out their plan benefit.

[35:45] And with Councilwoman's amendment, the city will have to pay out approximately $69,000

[35:59] Yes, $68,000 of higher premiums that we will pay guaranteed, I mean, those are hard numbers that we will pay that additional premium every month versus an out-of-pocket maximum that's only paid by the retiree if they do max out their plan.

[36:15] Well, $68,000 is an annual deductible increase or out-of-pocket max increase.

[36:22] Well,

[36:30] I'm thinking it so I had to say it.

[36:34] Truly, if I don't know how many of you here did your homework, obviously I did not.

[36:44] And with no disrespect to anyone here, I

[36:52] think this should be tabled because for one,

[36:55] one, I would like to know what my friend and former colleague, Reverend Edley, has to

[37:03] say about this, because rest assured, I'm sure he is a retiree getting this benefit.

[37:12] I may be wrong, but I would like to know his thoughts on that because I respect him

[37:21] And not that I disrespect anyone here regarding this, but, you know, he is a wonderful man

[37:31] to the community, and he was a wonderful servant to the city of Charleston.

[37:37] And I just, that's my thought, Madam Mayor.

[37:42] Thank you.

[37:45] I will say one thing with tabling and delaying the schedule is that this is a January one

[37:51] plan year and that could delay having cards in the hands of these members by the time

[37:57] the plan year starts.

[37:58] Not that they wouldn't have coverage.

[37:59] They would have coverage, but I think April was already left, but as April from HR would

[38:02] tell you, this is the population that definitely feels that they do not have insurance, that

[38:07] they do not have a card in their hand and adding another two weeks that delay likely will

[38:11] mean that they will not have cards in hand until after the plan year starts.

[38:19] Thank you so much, Councillor Womann.

[38:20] Great questions. Councilwoman Cook, you had your hand up, ma'am.

[38:35] There we go. Sorry about that. So we have 560 people right now that would qualify for this plan.

[38:43] Do we have any idea? And the, you know, next three years, how many more retirees would be eligible for this?

[38:53] I don't have that number off top of my head, but we do have annual actual op-ed reports completed

[39:00] that do show those trajectory of people, and so we, in this plan, there's people that will be moving from our pre-65 plan into this Medicare plan once they become Medicare eligible, and so that population will shift over there, but then also people will fall off over time as well.

[39:17] I don't have those exact numbers, but this has been growing over the last couple years, so the current plan year currently just, for example, has 512, and it's going to 564.

[39:27] Okay, so would it be fair to say in general terms that it is going to continue to grow?

[39:33] Oh, yeah.

[39:34] Okay.

[39:34] Thank you.

[39:39] I think Council Member General has her hand up, but I don't know.

[39:44] Did you?

[39:45] Okay.

[39:45] I'm sorry.

[39:46] I didn't really know.

[39:47] Council Member King and then Council Member General, but thank you.

[39:51] And if you could, guys, if you could just give me a bigger wave or a hand up if you do want

[39:55] to speak just so I don't miss anybody.

[39:57] I don't and I'm not intentionally missing people I just can't can't see that far Councilmember King. Thank you

[40:03] Thank you Madam Mayor. I'm I'm opposed to this amendment. I think a an increase of 300 to 500 is a

[40:11] reasonable

[40:12] Increased most Americans have

[40:15] Deductibles far higher than that so I'm opposed to this amendment. Thank you

[40:19] We're still talking about the amendment and the amendment only Councilmember Gianola

[40:23] Okay,

[40:29] I just want to make sure that I understand.

[40:32] We have about 560 people currently that this would affect currently their annual out-of-pocket maximum is $300.

[40:44] The original bill or the original resolution was to increase that out-of-pocket to 500.

[40:50] This amendment would lower it back down to 300 where it currently is, and that, doing so, would increase the cost of the city by about $68,000 a year.

[41:03] Yes.

[41:04] For one year.

[41:08] How long has the out-of-pocket maximum been $300?

[41:14] At least since 2013.

[41:17] Okay.

[41:17] That's all the questions I have.

[41:19] Thank you so much, Council Member Robinson, sir.

[41:24] Anybody has not spoken about the amendment, raise your hand high, please.

[41:27] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[41:28] I'd like to speak on the process of the amendment.

[41:32] Over half of us in this chamber, sat through finance.

[41:37] I just sat here and counted the individuals that were in finance committee.

[41:43] The committee process is set up to ask questions, to make amendments,

[41:49] and to have those amendments heard discussed and thought out to Councilwoman Fagri's point.

[42:00] The individual who offered this amendment, whether I agree with it or not, those who

[42:04] second the amendment, were all in the Finance Committee.

[42:10] We could have had this discussion there to understand what the changes were made.

[42:15] Mr. Wood was there, Mr. Mishu was there, we could have had this discussion, we left finance committee with 15 minutes left before council meeting.

[42:27] Now we're sitting here trying to make a, this is not easy decision because I don't want anybody to have to pay additional premiums.

[42:36] We're all going to make those payments going forward with the cost of insurance.

[42:41] But we could have had these discussions before in the city, sitting in this chamber and

[42:45] trying to figure out where we're going to get 68,000, who is going to affect,

[42:50] how many retirees is going to affect, and what the future is going to hold on these retirees.

[42:57] So I would respectfully request that in the future, I can't continue to hear about,

[43:06] we don't get to speak in committees, we don't bring out the issues in committees.

[43:10] We don't, we don't, you show up for committees, well over half of us set through finance.

[43:17] And there wasn't, I believe maybe the chairman asked a question.

[43:23] Other than that, there were no questions asked on this bill.

[43:27] So the future, I would please like to have a heads up to the have these discussions ahead of time.

[43:35] No, and this is a tough decision for all of us,

[43:38] so none of us want to increase calls on retirees,

[43:41] but the process is the process.

[43:43] Thank you.

[43:45] Thank you so much, council member.

[43:47] We're still talking about the amendment and the amendment only.

[43:50] If you haven't spoken on the amendment,

[43:57] councilwoman Snoggrass, you still have your hand up.

[43:59] This will be the second time you spoke on the amendment.

[44:05] Do me a favor, just one more time.

[44:07] Just give it a little click,

[44:13] one more time.

[44:14] Give it a go.

[44:14] I don't think you guys know how to touch it.

[44:17] Hello.

[44:18] Thank you.

[44:19] As far as the process, that's fine to address things in committee.

[44:23] Some of us have put forth some bills and things that never even get heard because it's

[44:28] up to the chair.

[44:29] This would have been an amendment, however, I think on something that affects our retirees.

[44:34] I think it's up to everyone that serves as a city council member to have the ability to vote

[44:39] for that.

[44:40] That's why I chose to bring this amendment up on the floor so everyone has a voice and not just a voice of five or six

[44:47] I think it's that important when you're dealing with Medicare, fixed income, retirees, and we said in here meeting after meeting and

[44:57] Literally vote for things that are

[45:00] I have far more absorbent than $68,000. I just want to clarify, I'm asking that we just keep everything the same far retirees. This contract, as Mr. Wood has attempted to report to the rest of the council, he and I discuss is only for one year. So we're not voting for things into perpetuity. This is for one year. And I think to have a little more, you know,

[45:29] So I just think it's appropriate to do for $68,000.

[45:33] These are our retirees, these are Medicare fixed income people.

[45:36] Our person don't think it's just disgusting to vote that they have to pay even $200

[45:45] when Ms. Kerns said most of them are below poverty level.

[45:50] How can we set her and do that in council meeting after council meeting?

[45:54] We vote for things that don't even affect but a tenth of some of our citizens.

[45:58] These are people that work for the city.

[46:00] I mean, I guess being around Medicare patients a lot, it's important.

[46:04] So I'm pretty passionate about that.

[46:06] I think it's a no-brainer.

[46:09] We're not, you know,

[46:10] subjecting our city to year after year, something that we're entering into a five year escalating.

[46:15] It's a one time $68,000 increase in this contract amount.

[46:21] That's it.

[46:21] So that's what the amendment is.

[46:23] I thought that was kind of a no-brainer after I talked to Andy Wood today, but thank you, thank you for your time, the second time, thank you.

[46:31] Thank you so much. I'm going to close the floor for a discussion.

[46:36] We are voting on the amendment and the amendment only, all in favor, vote aye.

[46:42] All opposed, nay.

[46:45] The nays have it.

[46:47] We're going to vote now and go back to resolution 25-112, 25-112.

[46:58] Open the floor again for discussion on that resolution.

[47:03] Discussion on the resolution?

[47:06] Yes, sir. I got three, I think I got three hands up.

[47:10] One, two, three.

[47:11] I serve the right to close out.

[47:12] Thank you so much. Okay. So one handed please. Council Member Jenns. Councilwoman Fagri, you're next. Council Member Jenns. Thank you.

[47:22] Now that we're on this are retirees allowed to go to the clinic and use the clinic.

[47:28] I'm sorry. Repeat your question again. I didn't hear it. Maybe Andy didn't.

[47:32] Are retirees allowed to use the clinic?

[47:35] I think Medicare population retirees are not because we are not an authorized Medicare provider to build Medicare for the primary coverage.

[47:44] So that will be an extra hit on the retirees too.

[47:47] They're already currently not, the Medicare retirees already cannot go to the clinic currently.

[47:51] But I'm saying like Beth said, some of them probably are strapped already.

[47:56] So this is going to go on top of, they're already paying for all their prescriptions where the other city workers aren't.

[48:03] and now we're going to flop them with $200 raise on their monthly premium is annual

[48:15] out of pocket.

[48:16] But is there any way we could amend, maybe it's the Medicare, does it?

[48:24] Amend it to where they can use the clinic? Is that a possibility?

[48:28] I mean, do we pay more, will we pay more if they go to the clinic or would it help them if they went to the clinic and got their medicines.

[48:40] And that would be a slice off of that pie that they wouldn't have to pay.

[48:46] This could even it out, say if you had 200, I mean if the medicines were supplied, you're talking about a huge hit with medicines when you get old.

[48:58] And I'm just saying, is there anything we can do to let them use the clinic?

[49:04] So two things, the prescription coverage in this proposal is staying the same with express

[49:08] scripts and the out of pockets are not changing and they're actually dictated by Medicare rules and

[49:14] what this supplement has to provide in terms of Medicare Part D coverage.

[49:18] I will also add, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act, about two years ago, the Donut

[49:22] that whole associated with these Medicare retirees,

[49:24] prescription significantly reduced their out-of-pocket cost

[49:28] from somewhere to the tune of around $6 to $8,000

[49:31] to about $2,000 today for prescriptions.

[49:34] So this population did see a significant savings

[49:37] as related to the Inflation Reduction Act

[49:40] for their prescription coverage.

[49:42] The clinic is not set up to be a Medicare provider

[49:45] for their medical and the clinic doesn't provide prescriptions

[49:48] as they're not prescribing.

[49:50] So, those are kind of two nuanced things to work together.

[49:55] So, if the clinic's not prescribed in a medicine, they don't get that bad.

[50:00] The clinic's not a pharmacy. The clinic is a medical provider that will provide prescriptions.

[50:06] They prescribe there on site. Like, you don't just go get any prescriptions you want filled at the clinic.

[50:15] Thank you.

[50:16] Thank you so much. There are a couple other hands up.

[50:22] Thank you Madam Mayor.

[50:27] I tell you I am having a hard time voting for this a real hard

[50:37] time. You know we just gave a couple weeks ago some money to food banks to feed folks

[50:49] that needed. And we all know that city workers until this administration came forward and

[51:01] gave raises were some of the most underpaid employees in the state of West Virginia.

[51:10] Therefore, even if they are at retirement age, their social security wage is very low.

[51:23] very low

[51:26] and I sit back and I think about Medicare being their primary and the retirees,

[51:35] city insurance being the secondary and we're going to have them take out and Mr. Woods

[51:45] correct me if I'm wrong or my understanding is incorrect.

[51:48] But $300 a month, number on?

[51:54] No, they're maximum out of pocket for the entire year.

[51:59] It's 300.

[52:01] For build services and getting, this is for part B services outside of hospitalizations,

[52:07] the things like labs, doctors, visits, imaging that happen throughout the year.

[52:12] Your maximum out of pocket that you would be exposed to in terms of co-insurance after Medicare

[52:17] here pays the 80%, you're paying 20% after that,

[52:19] would go from $300 across the course of the year

[52:22] to $500 across the course.

[52:24] And the premium for that secondary insurance

[52:27] for the retiree is, and I'm sorry if I'm asking you

[52:31] to repeat that, but I'm just trying to really get it,

[52:33] clear my mind.

[52:35] The premium, the actual retiree premium,

[52:41] I do not know off top of my head.

[52:42] Yeah, I'd like to know what that is.

[52:44] It's not changing, that I do know for certain,

[52:46] and it has not changed since 2013.

[52:49] The premium, the city shares in the cost with the retiree.

[52:52] The retiree's contribution towards this plan is not changing.

[52:55] I would have to look it up and get back to you.

[52:58] Okay, so in essence, a retiree may still be paying that premium, but the secondary insurance

[53:11] may not even be paying out anything on their behalf.

[53:16] Yeah,

[53:19] yeah, I know, I'm pretty sure I'm right on that.

[53:22] The Medicare for the first $300 or $500 in those two options, yes.

[53:28] Okay.

[53:31] Well, I hate to keep throwing Reverend Ely's name out there, but I'm also going to throw

[53:37] out my friend Bobby Brown's name out there.

[53:41] I will be voting no.

[53:43] Thank you so much.

[53:44] There are some other questions or other discussion.

[53:47] I see Councilwoman Snugress and I see Councilmember Overstreet, please, thank you.

[53:59] Just in case, just as a reminder, they control the microphones, so when it's handed to you, you don't need to touch a thing.

[54:05] Just take the microphone and start talking.

[54:07] Thank you.

[54:08] Okay, since we're still talking about the bill, I just still have to, you all voted down the amendment.

[54:16] I wish I'd ask for a roll call vote, so I am going to ask for a roll call vote on this bill.

[54:22] I think everybody ought to put their name behind that for these retirees that we just raise their out-of-pocket on, because I think it's pretty rich when most of us in here, because we're privately employed, take full benefits of getting full-time healthcare at a much lower than normal market rate, under $110 a month, that everybody's setting here knows it's probably a third to a tenth of what we'd be paying on our own, but yet we're real likely, and real easily add

[54:51] to our retirees that are of Medicare age.

[54:55] I just, again, pretty passionate about that, just had to say it, but I do want to roll

[55:00] call vote.

[55:00] So sorry I didn't ask for that with the amendment.

[55:03] Thank you so much, Councilmember Sinagras.

[55:06] Are there any other comments?

[55:09] Councilmember Solomon, and then, oh, I'm sorry, Councilmember Overstreet, then Councilmember

[55:13] Solomon, and then Councilwoman Far, please remember that, Andrew.

[55:19] I'm going to have to, because I'm going to be in fear for a minute.

[55:24] Thank you so much.

[55:24] Councilmember Salomon Anders, behind you with the microphone, you don't need to touch anything.

[55:28] Just start talking.

[55:30] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[55:32] I think having listened a great deal through this session, it seems worth taking the risk to

[55:39] table and try to come back with clear heads and a chance to have more of our questions answered.

[55:46] the December meeting comes fast, it's December 1st for full council.

[55:51] We could also call a special meeting sooner, and I know process might not be a ton of fun with stuff where you might know where your vote is right now.

[56:01] But I've heard a lot of really good questions and ideas and I would like to make a motion that we table and

[56:08] potentially even explore and express meeting if it helps us get cards in people's mailboxes sooner.

[56:18] There's a motion on the floor that we table, is there a second?

[56:23] There's no second.

[56:25] The motion a table doesn't pass.

[56:28] Still discussion on resolution 25-112.

[56:34] 25-112, councilwoman Far, then Gianola, then steel hammer.

[56:42] I can tell you that I've gotten a little bit confused through some of the questions, so

[56:46] So I just want to make sure that I'm understanding this correctly before I make my vote.

[56:51] And many of you know that I have been very open about having five brain tumors and not having insurance.

[56:59] So every little bit does matter.

[57:03] With this, the deductible is the only thing that is increasing, correct?

[57:09] And that's increasing by $200, is that correct?

[57:11] Right.

[57:12] It's an out-of-pocket maximum.

[57:14] The deductible is actually set by the federal government and so it's $250 some, it's an

[57:21] odd amount and it changes every year.

[57:23] And so this is the amount above that, that $250 is for everyone on Medicare.

[57:28] And this is the amount above that you'll be paying 20% until you reach either 300 max including

[57:32] that deductible or 500 max including that deductible.

[57:36] For medical part B services, so this is not hospitalization.

[57:40] This is not prescription, this is doctor's office, labs, imaging, things of that nature.

[57:47] Okay, so the other out-of-pocket expenses that you are the other premiums would not meet, I'm so sorry,

[57:54] with someone that is hospitalized, nothing is changing from the previous year to now.

[58:00] Correct.

[58:01] Okay, so the only thing that is going to change, and I'm sorry if I'm repeating,

[58:04] but I just want to make sure that I'm understanding.

[58:06] The only thing that's going to change is if a retiree goes to see Dr. Smith and at that point in time they may pay a small additional amount above what they're used to paying this year, is that correct?

[58:22] But we won't know what small is, we won't know what the amount is.

[58:26] If they're still in their deductible, they're likely to be paying the full 100% deductible.

[58:31] But once they have met their deductible, which is set by Medicare federally, in that gap between that and

[58:37] either 300 or 500, they'll be paying 20%.

[58:39] Medicare will pay the first 80, and then they'll have to pay 20% until they would reach this maximum.

[58:44] Okay, and that maximum deductible, are we talking about $500?

[58:49] Are we talking about something different that's above that amount that you're talking about?

[58:52] The proposal today is $500, so that maximum out-of-pocket, including the deductible, is $500.

[58:59] Okay, so effectively, we're going from $300 deductible to $500 deductible.

[59:06] And if we divided that out by 12 months, we're talking $16.67, is that right or no, or my math is wrong?

[59:13] It's an out-of-pocket max.

[59:15] Right, I'm aware of that.

[59:17] But I guess where I'm confused in all of this, the numbers aren't making sense to me.

[59:25] And that's where I'm confused because there's been conversation and I don't know, I don't

[59:30] know what I'm confused.

[59:33] Thank you.

[59:39] Yeah.

[59:42] So the deductible, the amount when you essentially are paying 100% up until is, that amount is

[59:48] set by Medicare, it's somewhere in the $250 some dollar range.

[59:51] That's your first handful of labs or handful of doctors visit you might have.

[59:56] You're going to be paying the negotiated Medicare rates, but 100% of those up to that.

[1:00:00] So let's say it's $250. Then after you hit that deductible, you'll have 20% co-insurance

[1:00:09] that your responsibility until you hit $500. So an additional $250, you'll be paying 20%

[1:00:16] of whatever covered services that you had. And so it's only paid if you use it. So if

[1:00:25] If you are relatively healthy and don't go to the doctor or don't have expensive imaging or labs or anything to do,

[1:00:32] but it's also not normally something you'll be paying all in one fell swoop, you'll be paying it gradually across in 20% increments until you hit that maximum.

[1:00:45] Thank you so much. Councilmember Gianola and then Councilwoman Steele-Hammer.

[1:00:50] It's

[1:00:59] our government to it.

[1:01:02] Considering that the amendment did not pass, if you were to vote no on this resolution,

[1:01:08] what would happen to the 560 retirees insurance?

[1:01:13] We technically would not have a plan in place starting January 1 and would have to come up

[1:01:19] with another solution to bring it to the next council meeting.

[1:01:28] Councilwoman Steele-Hammer.

[1:01:33] As what would happen if we vote this down, where does that go back as it go back to

[1:01:41] what exactly?

[1:01:43] We would have to go back to our brokers and secure a different alternative plan.

[1:01:49] They gave us five options.

[1:01:51] It could be that we proposed one of those other options where we go to them and get another

[1:01:55] are set of proposals from somewhere else.

[1:01:59] I don't mean to put you on the spot,

[1:02:01] but could you give it ballpark

[1:02:02] of how long that would take?

[1:02:03] And would we risk our retirees

[1:02:06] not having insurance come January?

[1:02:07] It will definitely risk the retirees

[1:02:10] not having their cards in their hand on January one.

[1:02:13] Whether they would actually have coverage

[1:02:14] or not would be depending on whether we come

[1:02:16] to the two meetings in December

[1:02:17] and are able to reach an agreement

[1:02:19] in one of those two meetings.

[1:02:20] Okay, thank you.

[1:02:22] Is there a way we split the difference, a different way, if we don't like the amendment of going to plan for,

[1:02:28] if we stagger it and make like a $400 deduct or out of pocket max, or something like, is there a way that we can do that?

[1:02:38] We would have to go back and get pricing from the underwriters, I don't have this.

[1:02:42] Thank you.

[1:02:44] Thank you so much.

[1:02:46] Council member, I don't see any other hands up.

[1:02:48] Council Member Jenkins, you had requested to speak at the end of this discussion, sir.

[1:02:54] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[1:02:55] I want to try to put this in perspective here.

[1:02:58] You know, I don't want to, you know, trash talk our retirees because they did put in their life's work,

[1:03:04] working with the city and everything, but for over a decade, we've kept their premiums the same.

[1:03:10] We've kept their out-of-pocket costs the same.

[1:03:12] Anyone on PEIA, anyone on any other private insurance, can they say that?

[1:03:16] But they cannot.

[1:03:18] Even just now, at the beginning of November 1st, people's impremiums to be on the marketplace

[1:03:24] have increased 1,000 percent fold.

[1:03:27] We're talking 10 times.

[1:03:29] We're going from $400 a month to $2,000 a month.

[1:03:32] We're talking $200 out of their pocket for an entire year.

[1:03:38] $17 a month is what that works out to.

[1:03:42] And I don't like to stand here and say, oh, this is great, let's stick it to their

[1:03:47] tirees.

[1:03:49] But this is happening to everyone.

[1:03:51] This is coming down from a national administration and a Congress, both parties that have not fixed

[1:03:58] our health care system.

[1:04:00] And this is what we're facing, everyone's premiums with PEIA are going up, PEIA is talking

[1:04:06] about even kicking off local governments because of how expensive it's gotten.

[1:04:13] And we're talking $200 for a year.

[1:04:17] Let's put that in perspective, and this is the first increase in over a decade.

[1:04:22] Our retirees should be thankful.

[1:04:24] Especially since our retirees get insurance for this plan in addition to Medicare,

[1:04:31] when most private employers do not do that.

[1:04:34] But it is not a typical retirement plan benefit.

[1:04:39] And so I think that our administration has put together a good price plan here that

[1:04:44] have gotten five options, one of which keeps this minimum increase to where it's going

[1:04:50] to have to happen.

[1:04:51] Healthcare is too expensive and it is a burden.

[1:04:55] And it needs to be a burden shared by everyone.

[1:04:58] Because honestly with this little bit of an increase to try to go back and talk to the

[1:05:02] single mom that's trying to get health care on the marketplace that's seen an increase

[1:05:07] of more than $200 just for a premium every month, and to explain that the city wants to

[1:05:13] spend more of her tax dollars for some retirees on such a minimal amount.

[1:05:21] So I hope everyone puts that in perspective, we vote this for our retirees, this is a great

[1:05:26] deal for them and I appreciate it.

[1:05:28] Thank you so much, the clerk will please call the roll.

[1:05:30] Annie, Burka, Burton, separately, Cook, Fagory, Farrell, Garner, Genoa, Haas, Hoover, Jenkins,

[1:05:46] Jones, Kerns, King, Moore, Overstreet, Pepper, Far, Robinson, Rubio, Solango,

[1:05:59] No.

[1:06:00] Snidegrass.

[1:06:01] No.

[1:06:01] Solomon.

[1:06:03] Stillhammer.

[1:06:04] Taylor.

[1:06:05] Yes.

[1:06:06] Mayor Goodwin.

[1:06:07] Yes, I was being the majority of declared resolution 25-11.

[1:06:11] Excuse me.

[1:06:15] 25-112.

[1:06:17] As passed.

[1:06:18] Clerk, please read the committee report in resolution 25-113.

[1:06:28] Resolution number 25-113.

[1:06:31] Authorizing the mayor of city manager to purchase a total of 12, 2026 Ford Interceptors from Thornhill Group Bank for the Charleston police department on a total price of $806,450.36, where the price also includes the purchase and installation of all equipment necessary to upfit the vehicles for CPD use, all pursuant to a competitive bid process and reports the same accounts with the recommendation that can make report be adopted.

[1:06:56] Councilmember Jenkins.

[1:07:14] Separately like the radios, everything is done in all inclusive turn key price.

[1:07:19] Note that the lowest bid didn't meet specs that they really reviewed the light bars and

[1:07:26] those systems and that it didn't meet and would have been a different system thus being

[1:07:31] a little bit different if an officer hopped in a different type of cruiser.

[1:07:34] And so they thought it was best to go with the second lowest bid because it was the most

[1:07:38] responsible bidder and met the specs of the bidding.

[1:07:41] and your Finance Committee recommends the approval of this because it's always necessary to rotate out cars that have excessive mileage and this was what was budgeted.

[1:07:53] Thank you so much for discussion on this resolution. Of course, the question is the adoption of this resolution, fair vote aye.

[1:08:01] Opposed, nay, declare resolution 25-113 adopted. Clerk, please read the committee report on resolution 25-114.

[1:08:08] Resolution number 2-5-114, authorizing the mayor or city manager to enter into an agreement with the Vivex in the amount of $58,766.43 for the purchase of firewall and edge routers to update outdated equipment and software for information systems pursuant to a competitively sourced contract or reports the same to council with recommendation to committee report be adopted.

[1:08:31] Councillor Mellon Jenkins.

[1:08:32] Thank you Madam Mayor, this is just to upgrade our equipment for a better cyber security and your finance committee recommends it's approval.

[1:08:40] Second.

[1:08:42] Or is that for discussion on this resolution?

[1:08:44] Question is the adoption on fair voter.

[1:08:47] Opposed nay, declare resolution 25-11 for adopted.

[1:08:50] Clerk, please read the report of office.

[1:08:52] City Treasurer's report to Council month ending October 2025.

[1:08:56] Municipal Court report to Council month ending October 2025.

[1:09:00] I received in file. Thank you, clerk. Please read the new bills.

[1:09:02] Introduced by Council Member Mary Beth Hoover in over 17, 2025, bill number 8065,

[1:09:08] a bill to amend the zoning ordinance of the city of Charleston by amending the sign regulations relating to the size of digital signs.

[1:09:15] Please refer to municipal planning, commission, and planning streets and traffic.

[1:09:20] Very quickly before we close out, council, I mentioned everybody last time after I gave a very heart-felt

[1:09:29] And honest remarks about Kevin Baker, I told everybody tonight we were going to roast

[1:09:34] him.

[1:09:34] There was nobody who submitted roast remarks.

[1:09:37] I don't know why, but sit down, Matthew.

[1:09:44] But I will invite everyone if you'd like to stop by City Hall next week especially on

[1:09:48] Monday.

[1:09:49] We're going to have a little something even though Kevin told us not to do it.

[1:09:52] We don't really care because he's leaving us and on Monday at 9.30 if you would like to

[1:09:57] to join us to roast him then, and if you can't be there,

[1:10:01] submit your remarks to me, and I will roast him for you.

[1:10:06] Let me also say thank you so much

[1:10:08] to the Martin Luther King, Park and Rec staff,

[1:10:12] for a variety of things they did last week,

[1:10:14] not only my favorite event of the year, the Bingo,

[1:10:17] and Turkey dinner, but also because of your commitment

[1:10:22] to our kids, Councilwoman Fagry talked about it as well.

[1:10:26] I joined Councilwoman Cook and we very quietly put together bags for a lot of our kiddos on their way out the door for a long weekend in Kanoah City.

[1:10:35] I know you couldn't be there, but it was nice.

[1:10:38] It was nice to connect with our kids as a reminder, there are kids all throughout this city who need our help in all zip codes.

[1:10:45] So it was nice to be able to connect with them and make a couple little bags for them.

[1:10:52] and we're doing it again this week in other Park and Rec Center.

[1:10:56] So thanks again, thanks again for that very much.

[1:10:59] So, Holiday Refuge Schedule in the Robo Calls,

[1:11:03] they're starting this week.

[1:11:04] I'm sure you all will be absolutely thrilled.

[1:11:07] Don't forget, Holly Jolly Brawley is coming up,

[1:11:10] which is on Black Friday.

[1:11:11] Don't forget the Christmas Parade is on July, July.

[1:11:16] I started to get nervous, Council Member Moore,

[1:11:19] because I'm so nervous about the Christmas Parade this year.

[1:11:21] I was asked with Capitol High School dance troupe to dance with them in the Christmas parade this year.

[1:11:37] Note to self, note to self.

[1:11:41] That's exactly.

[1:11:43] I was hoping I could get in shape and learn how to dance by then.

[1:11:46] But it's so sweet.

[1:11:48] The kids asked me to do it.

[1:11:49] And of course, I wasn't going to tell our Capitol High School folks.

[1:11:52] No, but I will also now include them and let them know that Councilmember Robinson would also like to join them.

[1:11:59] in their dance room.

[1:12:00] So thank you so much for that, sir.

[1:12:01] We will expect you and your mother

[1:12:03] because she was a major at.

[1:12:05] Let me also say I had the opportunity this weekend.

[1:12:10] Many of you saw we put our chess tables out

[1:12:12] in our hearts of our neighborhood.

[1:12:14] This weekend I stopped by on a Saturday

[1:12:17] and watched two young girl scouts

[1:12:19] who filled out the hearts of the neighborhood application

[1:12:22] on their own building the picnic table.

[1:12:27] That's what we gave them a thousand bucks to do that for the Jones Woodland Trail, and they were

[1:12:32] Learning from one of their fathers how to put together a picnic table. It's not just

[1:12:37] Giving money for these great projects. It's also engaging our youth and it was really really neat because there was no way I was going to grab that

[1:12:45] drill and start

[1:12:47] Pushing in this now. So it was really nice

[1:12:49] There's my remarks for now, any other comments before members, before we close out City Council?

[1:12:54] I see two.

[1:12:55] Councilwoman Kerns.

[1:12:56] I see, but nine.

[1:12:58] Let me just, I'll start on this side of the room.

[1:13:00] Thank you so much.

[1:13:01] Thank you Madam Mayor.

[1:13:03] I just want to say that I was at an event at the Civic Center, the Coliseum, over the

[1:13:10] weekend.

[1:13:11] I wasn't sure how I was going to like the black seating, but it is elegant.

[1:13:16] It is marvelous. There's more room in the rows. I don't know how that's possible because

[1:13:23] of the same concrete that was there. But I just want to say a job well done. It's a

[1:13:29] class act. And I attended the stick's Leverboy concert courtesy of vet ticks. If any of you

[1:13:38] wall or veterans, check in to vet ticks, and you get deep,

[1:13:44] discounts on tickets.

[1:13:45] It's a great program.

[1:13:46] Thank you so much, Councilwoman Kerns.

[1:13:47] Councilmember Annie?

[1:13:53] I'm good.

[1:13:55] Hello.

[1:13:56] I just want to thank the engineering department of the city and

[1:14:00] public works.

[1:14:02] It's been kind of a little bit of a persistent issue with the gas

[1:14:04] company cutting up streets of my ward, but they have been able

[1:14:07] to get them out there and to pave, especially in this weather.

[1:14:11] Also, I'd like to thank the police department for the patrol division.

[1:14:14] We've had a lot of speeding up in our area and it seems to be cutting down.

[1:14:19] The neighborhood is very thankful for that.

[1:14:23] And finally, just Thanksgiving be kind to each other.

[1:14:27] There are people working on Thanksgiving.

[1:14:28] If you're a City Councilor or you have a Fire Station Your Ward, give the guys something,

[1:14:34] they always appreciate it.

[1:14:36] And if you're flying, meet somebody like a TSA agent or a near traffic controller because they've had a rough 40 days.

[1:14:44] And, you know, just to try and be kind and try and do the best you can as councillors.

[1:14:49] Thank you so much. A nice reminder, always, Council Member, and you always have kind words. Councilwoman Fagry.

[1:14:55] Thank you, Madam Mayor.

[1:14:58] Couple things about...

[1:15:00] Attorney Kevin Baker that I want to say, because I doubt that I get to say it later.

[1:15:12] He's something

[1:15:13] else. I've seen him, I have had the pleasure of seeing him in a professional capacity.

[1:15:24] I have the pleasure of seeing him in a coaching capacity, and probably one that he does not want me to mention, which I will not.

[1:15:35] But believe me when I tell you, he's got it in him. He's got it in him.

[1:15:42] And he has put up with a lot, a lot.

[1:15:47] But I do want to announce to all my friends here and brag on him.

[1:15:56] He does not even live on the west side, but he was the board president of West Side Soccer.

[1:16:05] And he's really made a difference in a lot of little boys and little girls that get out

[1:16:14] there and kick that soccer ball, but I want you to know and please join me in giving

[1:16:20] him a round of applause because Attorney Kevin Baker is the 2025 West Virginia Soccer

[1:16:30] Association Administrator of the Year for

[1:16:41] his work as the board president for Westside

[1:16:45] Soccer.

[1:16:46] So, he's not just a pretty face, he's not just smart, he's got it all going on.

[1:16:53] Thank you, sir.

[1:16:55] Okay.

[1:16:55] Anybody want to roast him?

[1:16:57] Thank you.

[1:16:57] That was too kind.

[1:16:59] You are not getting cold again.

[1:17:00] Too nice.

[1:17:01] Too nice this side.

[1:17:02] Too nice.

[1:17:03] I'm kidding.

[1:17:04] I'm kidding.

[1:17:04] I joke.

[1:17:05] Sit down.

[1:17:06] Sit down.

[1:17:08] Council Member Solomon, please.

[1:17:10] And I'm getting to everybody.

[1:17:12] We're trying to do microphone.

[1:17:13] Sorry.

[1:17:14] We're trying.

[1:17:14] Thank you Madam Mayor, I wanted to, it is a bittersweet night and I've been incredibly grateful for a city attorney Kevin Baker support these last few years.

[1:17:28] I'm sorry it's hard to help and you've always been incredibly gracious so thank you for that.

[1:17:34] But I also wanted to hark back to earlier this evening when we had some ambassadors of the letter that was sent to council.

[1:17:44] about some issues that they're calling attention to within our police department and I want to highlight one of the items that that delegation brought to us and that is that the City Council review and consider establishing a citizen review board or similar civilian oversight mechanism to ensure accountability and transparency.

[1:18:13] I feel that that is something that we could have a really potent discussion around.

[1:18:21] And I wanted to extend the invitation to members of our police department, members

[1:18:27] of council, and community members and community leaders.

[1:18:30] If you'd like to have discussions around citizens review board, I would be very grateful to

[1:18:38] to continue that discussion and I'm reminded that six years ago, nearly to the day, another group of folks sent a petition to council calling.

[1:18:50] And this was via a change.org petition with issues at the time that had hundreds and hundreds of petitions.

[1:18:57] And this was directed to Charleston City Council as well or at least to City Hall.

[1:19:02] And I quote, support a citizen review board with authority to review police activities and discipline officers, including sub-Sypheena authority and firing authority.

[1:19:19] 20 years ago, the US commission on civil rights wrote a report for West Virginia about trying to build more trust and

[1:19:28] And within our police departments, for better community policing.

[1:19:33] And they wrote about the power of civilian review boards.

[1:19:37] And that's something that's also worth googling.

[1:19:40] Here's just one paragraph where they define a little bit more of what it is, because it's kind of a wonky phrase.

[1:19:47] So this is from the report from the US Commission on Civil Rights written four West Virginia about 20 years ago.

[1:19:52] And it says a civilian review board is an entity external to the police department's internal affairs and consists of citizens from outside the department appointed by the mayor or other senior government officials.

[1:20:04] A civilian review board is generally charged with the duty of reviewing complaints and making recommendations as to disciplinary action after the police department has completed its own investigation and made a disciplinary recommendation.

[1:20:18] It seems that some issues that come before council are after we are getting a chance to

[1:20:26] vote on a lawsuit.

[1:20:28] Many of the issues that we've heard about tonight, I've maybe heard a scuttle but about

[1:20:35] from folks I work with, but that there's not really a venue for discussing these issues

[1:20:40] and getting being more proactive, coming up with more ideas.

[1:20:43] And I don't think we have to look far for a model that works.

[1:20:48] Up in Worgentown, they've had a citizen police review and advisory board.

[1:20:53] I think for years, their description of their board is the Worgentown citizen police review and advisory board provides for citizen participation in reviewing police department policies, practices, and procedures and promotes the availability of data relating to police practices and procedures.

[1:21:12] And they have meetings monthly at the library up there.

[1:21:17] And one of their items on their upcoming agenda is an update on publication for revised forms for complaints and commentations.

[1:21:26] And I think that's a really interesting agenda item that they have because one thing that I do here is while folks might have worries or concerns that it's not very clear on how to raise them.

[1:21:36] And how to create discussion around them and how to find proactive solutions.

[1:21:42] So one of the things that potentially a Charleston citizen or a view board that could be tasked

[1:21:46] with is how do we improve the process for raising concerns, hearing folks out and having

[1:21:52] discussions in places and venues that feel safe and that feel unbiased.

[1:22:00] And so I don't think that we could pass such a civilian review board here in Charleston

[1:22:04] and with an advocate-dabber moment, I think we would have to have a lot of discussions,

[1:22:10] perhaps even some debates, and perhaps a bunch of coffee to get through them.

[1:22:16] So if folks would like to have some of those discussions with me,

[1:22:20] council members, members of the police department, can you members?

[1:22:23] I urge you to please get in touch.

[1:22:26] Thank you.

[1:22:27] Other council members who had their hand up on this side of the room, council woman,

[1:22:31] far snoggrass and pepper. I think that's it. Do I miss anybody? No? Okay, great.

[1:22:38] Thank you so much, Madam Mayor. Thank you. It's got a few things that I want to

[1:22:41] mention. This past week, I believe it was Friday, there was a farm to table of

[1:22:47] then at a more excellent way church and Chef Kee was the actual chef and it was

[1:22:53] locally grown food that she used for her entire recipe.

[1:23:00] It was one of the best

[1:23:01] because the conversation was, many people in the room

[1:23:04] may not have ever experienced a farm to table dinner,

[1:23:08] but to have it with food that was grown

[1:23:10] like a Daryl Miller was there

[1:23:12] and he brought some food and there was some other organization

[1:23:15] that was all from either the West Side or from West Virginia.

[1:23:19] And it was such a nice event.

[1:23:21] So next year I hope to attend that as well

[1:23:23] and I hope others in the room can go as well.

[1:23:26] Secondly, just wanted to thank the mayor,

[1:23:29] Earl Lloyd was the first African American NBA player ever, and he actually graduated from West Virginia State University, and this year marks the 75th year that he played in the NBA.

[1:23:44] His family was here, and the mayor was so gracious to give his family and remembrance of Earl Lloyd a key to the city.

[1:23:53] and his son, Kevin, walked around so proudly with that key.

[1:23:59] Like when I walked in, he was just like, I need to talk to you.

[1:24:02] And he literally all night long, the folks from West Virginia State, they would just kind of nudge me

[1:24:07] and say, look at him and how much he's coveting this award and it really meant something to him.

[1:24:12] So thank you for doing that.

[1:24:14] Thank you.

[1:24:16] Lastly, at a great aunt, and she always told me if you listen intently, you'll hear what people need.

[1:24:20] and Councilman Jenkins, I really appreciate your remarks, because the last thing that I would want to do is to have someone not have medical insurance, and that is one of the reasons that I voted yes, I hesitated, but I voted yes, because I would not ever want someone to not have something that they deserve, and the single mother comment that you made was very real.

[1:24:45] There are people that I know that their premiums are going from $100 a month to $800 a month.

[1:24:51] So I really appreciate your comments and thank you for what she said.

[1:24:54] Wonderful. Thank you so much.

[1:24:56] I have Snondgrass and then Pepper and those are the hands I see up. Thank you so much.

[1:25:10] I just have a few comments. We've heard over the last, actually the last couple of years.

[1:25:17] I hate to give Attorney Baker a to-do list when he's way out the door but I would like for you

[1:25:24] to send to all council members a total amount, you don't have to list the individual cases but

[1:25:31] a total amount of how much the city is paid out in lawsuits against CPD.

[1:25:39] I'd like to see that figure. It's hard for me to follow because there's been several.

[1:25:45] And then now we've got yet another existing female officer that has brought suit against the city.

[1:25:51] We have, everybody in this room and everyone wearing a uniform knows that I've been such

[1:25:58] a proponent of CPD and Ben and I are going to go nose to nose until he finishes that police

[1:26:05] station over there.

[1:26:07] But I am concerned with the amount of lawsuits that we've settled.

[1:26:12] I think that adds to the perception more than reality in the community.

[1:26:19] I think it puts our police officers behind the 8-ball.

[1:26:25] Sometimes I think we're going to have to stand up to some of this and make the stand regardless sometimes of the cost.

[1:26:34] I know that we have fine officers.

[1:26:36] I'm very concerned if some of you are not familiar in the room with what's called green to blue to green.

[1:26:43] It's where the state police is now offering, they already pay more than we pay our officers,

[1:26:49] but they also are now not going to make them go through their official training,

[1:26:54] which is very attractive to a lot of our uniform officers.

[1:27:00] We have a lot of young officers, we've had some ability to recruit,

[1:27:04] but at the same amount of people that we're recruiting, the same amount of retiring.

[1:27:09] Our numbers have stayed about the same as far along as overall uniform certified officers

[1:27:15] at this time.

[1:27:17] I'm very concerned with, again, the retirement and with this blue to green that's coming

[1:27:23] up.

[1:27:24] I've spoken to the chief about it, but I just think that we as council as we go through,

[1:27:31] I mean, we always out obtain outside council, but I know I hear it from the community.

[1:27:38] I mean, it's probably some of the environment, but I think we settle a lot, a large percentage

[1:27:46] of lawsuits that are brought against our CPD and forms of arrests and that sort of thing.

[1:27:54] So I feel for our uniform officers, I respect you guys.

[1:27:59] I just, you know, try to hang in there, you know, it is the environment, but I appreciate

[1:28:05] everything that you all do every day out there are things that we certainly won't do.

[1:28:11] So thank you.

[1:28:12] Thank you so much.

[1:28:13] Councillor Member Pepper and then we'll close up the meeting.

[1:28:16] Thank you Madam Mayor.

[1:28:17] I just wanted to very quickly thank you and especially Terry Allen and City Manager

[1:28:23] Michelle and others that were helped us have the West Virginia International Film Festival

[1:28:27] at Park Place.

[1:28:28] It was a great event.

[1:28:30] It had a lot of really good energy and it was just like so fun to be back in that space

[1:28:35] And we had a lot of people there really well attended, so it was just a great event.

[1:28:39] I just wanted to say, good as to making that sort of thing happen.

[1:28:43] And thank you for your leadership on it, it wouldn't happen without you, that's for gosh darn sure.

[1:28:48] I was going to say the clerical, please prepare the machine for a roll call, but I can't do that.

[1:28:56] The clerical, please call the roll.

[1:28:58] Annie.

[1:28:59] Berkut.

[1:29:00] Berkut.

[1:29:01] Berkut.

[1:29:01] Kimberly Cook,

[1:29:04] Fagry Farrow,

[1:29:07] Gardner,

[1:29:08] Jeanne Ola,

[1:29:10] Haas Hoover,

[1:29:12] Jenkins Jones,

[1:29:14] Cairns, Kings,

[1:29:17] Moore,

[1:29:18] Overstreet,

[1:29:19] Pepper,

[1:29:20] Far, Robinson,

[1:29:22] Rubio,

[1:29:23] Zalango,

[1:29:24] Sangrass,

[1:29:25] Solomon,

[1:29:26] Steele Hammer,

[1:29:28] Taylor,

[1:29:28] Mayor of Goodwin.

[1:29:30] Madame president,

[1:29:35] I moved that Charles and City Council be adjourned

[1:29:39] until December 1st at 7pm.

[1:29:43] Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

[1:29:45] Thank you so much.

City Council Meeting - 2nd Meeting

Transcript