Marlinton Town Council members addressed a busy agenda Monday night at its regular monthly meeting.

In the mayor's report, Mayor Joe Smith said there was a major sewage problem at Fran Manor a few months ago.

“It involved the lift station, which the town does not own or maintain,” said Smith. “Somehow West Virginia housing has owned it ever since Fran Manor was built. West Virginia housing has put it out on bid and they're totally replacing it and rebuilding it. At that point in time, we can expect to get a formal request that we take it into our system.”

Smith said he has not received any quotes yet on the Eighth Street paving project.

“West Virginia paving was here about two weeks ago, but they have not submitted their quote yet,” Smith told council members.

Smith said the town was named in a lawsuit regarding an accident that happened at Stillwell Park in August of last year.

He said the matter was turned over to the town's insurance company. He said he was told the town has no involvement and will likely be dismissed from the case.

“The accident happened on the Greenbrier River Trail,” explained Smith. “The town owns nothing, has no control, does no maintenance or anything down there — so we should never have been named in the lawsuit to begin with. The attorney feels confident that we will be dismissed from the lawsuit.”

Smith said he wants council members to update the town's election ordinance.

“We need to look at our election ordinance very seriously, in the next few months possibly, and try to upgrade it and adopt a better and more firm election ordinance, and follow the state guidelines the best we can,” he said.

Smith updated council members on the codification of the town's ordinances. He said several years ago funds were designated for the project that has carried over year after year. The quote he received was for $8,500 to have the ordinances computerized and made available online.

The mayor said the town plans to hire two new employees, a garbage truck helper and a maintenance worker.

According to Smith, the RoadKill Cook Off was a success, and he said the festival got international media attention. Smith said he was interviewed by a London Times newspaper reporter.

Local business owner Della Fleury approached council members for assistance with parking issues at her laundromat. Fleury presented the council with a petition signed by area residents who support her. Fleury said during this weekend's festival, attendees parked illegally in her parking lot and blocked her driveway and even parked on the grass. Fleury said she's received no help from county deputies or state police and she will approach the West Virginia Supreme Court to settle the matter if the town won't intervene.

Matt McPeak asked council members for a $2,500 donation for a scoreboard at Stillwell Park for the Little League.

Council members asked whether he would approach local civic organizations for donations first.

Marlinton resident Mark Strauss suggested a different approach to council members.

“Is it possible that the town could pick a smaller number, such as $500, and make a request for matching donations from other civic organizations to get the ball rolling on this?” asked Strauss.

Town recorder Robin Mutscheller offered to type the handwritten request herself and forward copies to various civic organizations.

“The town council is behind this project one hundred percent,” Smith told McPeak. “We will work with you, and you will hopefully have a scoreboard by next season.”

Council members discussed a donation request for the McClintic Library.

“About a year ago, they appeared before us — just to give you some background — it was mid-year and we gave them a $750 donation to them and told them to come back after the fiscal year and we made a $1,500 donation last fiscal year. They have requested the same donation this year,” Smith explained.

Council members voted unanimously to donate the $1,500.

Smith said the fire department wants to replace the carpet in their meeting room at the Marlinton Municipal Building with hardwood, laminate flooring. He said the fire department agreed to install the flooring throughout other rooms in the first floor of the building if the town will pay for the required materials.

“If we buy the flooring, they will put it down, which is about a fifty percent savings in cost. It sounds like a pretty good deal. The price for materials is about $2,100.50,” Smith said. “The reason they wanted to go with the wooden floors is because of their boots and what not when they come back from a fire call.”

Council members designated the annual Halloween Trick or Treat for 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 31.