WEIRTON - Although not a part of Monday's Weirton Council agenda, City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo continued the debate over whether the city should create its own convention and visitors bureau, using funds currently allotted for the Top of West Virginia CVB.
DiBartolomeo initially raised the idea during a council workshop held in early October. It was discussed again during a workshop last week, where several representatives of the Top of WV attended. At that time, multiple members of council suggested waiting on a decision until discussions could be held with the CVB and more information was made available. The CVB legislation was removed from the agenda the following morning, an issue DiBartolomeo took issue with Monday night, saying such action should only have been done at his request.
DiBartolomeo noted his plans for the proposed municipal CVB were the result of six months of research, explaining the City of Weirton provides more than $200,000, derived from the city's hotel/motel tax, claiming it accounts for approximately 60 percent of the Top of WV's budget.
"I've spent six months researching this stuff," he said. "That's where your money is going."
The Top of WV also receives money through the Hancock County Commission, as a result of hotel/motel taxes derived from Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, an amount DiBartolomeo claims is decreasing, while he believes the city will see an increase in its tax revenue. Brooke County contributes no funds, he said, as it does not have a hotel/motel tax.
DiBartolomeo said the board structure of his proposed municipal CVB would have included himself, Finance Director Diana Smoljanovich, Assistant City Manager DeeAnn Pulliam, City Clerk Kimberly Long, members of council and representatives of the community.
Pulliam currently serves as a city representative on the Top of WV board of directors, but DiBartolomeo said there is no representation on its finance committee or executive committee.
"I had a director in mind," he said, noting there also were plans to hire a public relations official.
DiBartolomeo stated there is a requirement for the CVB to report its finances to the city by Aug. 15 each year, but he, nor other city officials, have seen it. He noted the property where the Weirton Event Center is located is owned by the city.
The city manager also took issue with the residency of the Top of WV CVB's current executive director, Terri Phillips.
"I've met her a few times. She's very nice, but she's from Wheeling," DiBartolomeo said, adding the city had no say on the hiring and he feels someone from Weirton would have been more appropriate, explaining several city residents, including a family member of his, had applied.
Some on council asked why the information hadn't been provided to them previously.
"You've been researching this six months. Why wasn't it brought up?" Ward 5 Councilwoman Flora Perrone asked. "If I don't have the information, I can't vote on anything."
Ward 7 Councilman Terry Weigel also noted requests from council for information from both DiBartolomeo and the CVB during last week's workshop, noting none has been provided to council.
"That's all we asked for that night," Weigel said. "Give us what you have so we can ask intelligent questions."
After several minutes of arguing, during which time DiBartolomeo criticized council for what he calls a lack of leadership, said he doesn't intend to hold another workshop and informed department heads requests for information from council were to go through him, Ward 4 Councilman George Ash, who participated by telephone, called for an end of discussion, saying it was "getting embarrassing."