Mayor: Zero in on Main Street

New board would focus on improving downtown

WEIRTON -- City officials may soon form a new committee with a focus on redeveloping areas of Weirton's downtown.

As part of discussions during a work session with Weirton Council, Wednesday, Mayor Harold Miller announced he and Ward 4 Councilman George Ash were proposing the creation of a downtown redevelopment committee.

"We need to start addressing the downtown," Miller said.

The mayor noted there has been a great deal of attention to the Three Springs Drive area of the city and similar work should be done along Main Street.

Miller, without providing details, referred to one downtown property which recently was purchased and has a new tenant. He said he would like the committee to help spur similar investment in other vacant buildings.

Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone asked about the membership and potential activities of the proposed committee.

Miller and Ash said they would both serve as members, with the possibility of one more member of council, as well as business owners, a representative of the city's Inspections Department and a city fire marshal.

"We haven't sat down and developed the whole program," Ash said.

Miller said he had requested City Clerk DeeAnn Pulliam to research legislation enacted in Wheeling to address abandoned properties, and would have City Attorney Vince Gurrera research what city council could do to set up a similar program.

Along the same thoughts, Miller said he wants to make sure there is a focus on commercial properties from the city's Inspections Department and Building Enforcement Agency.

"I don't see many reports on commercial properties," Miller said.

Public Works Director Rod Rosnick, who previously was the city's chief code official, said Inspections already is empowered to address issues with commercial properties.

Both Miller and Ash serve on the Building Enforcement Agency.

Also during the workshop, council convened into an executive session for more than an hour to discuss personnel issues as well as ongoing negotiations for a new contract with the International Fire Fighters Association Local 948, which represents members of the Weirton Fire Department.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)