ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS EXPRESSED — Frank Rocchio, a local resident and environmental consultant, told Follansbee Council on Monday to ensure the developers of a planned slag recycling plant use modern technology to address emissions from the facility. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — A heated exchange between City Manager Joe DiBartolomeo and Fire Chief Larry Rea and concerns from an environmental consultant about the planned development of a plant that would recycle slag and other materials into pig iron were heard at Monday’s Follansbee Council meeting.

DiBartolomeo said under state code, the city’s volunteer fire department falls under the authority of Follansbee Council and the city hasn’t been provided records for the department, raising concerns about its compliance with state code and issues of legal liability.

He asked council if they have seen the fire department’s bylaws, later saying bylaws approved by department leaders in 1990 state in the event council should attempt to control the department, it would be disbanded and its funds disbursed.

“Your police chief and fire chief can’t be the same person. You can’t do the job and do it right,” added DiBartolomeo, alluding to Rea’s dual role as a police chief elected by voters and fire chief elected by the fire department’s members.

DiBartolomeo said as council’s representative, “When I ask for something, I expect in your name (council’s) to get it.”

Rea said when DiBartolomeo approached him for information, he e-mailed him, asking him to list all of the documents he sought. He added if DiBartolomeo wanted anything from him, he could have approached him in his office at the City Building.

He said the bylaws and other documents required by the state fire marshal’s office for the department’s certification have been shared with city officials.

“I’m not going to let you belittle me. This is all personal,” Rea told DiBartolomeo.

DiBartolomeo said he’d asked for a roster of the department’s members, including their names and classifications, and not received it.

“You haven’t responded to any of my questions,” he told Rea.

“They have it,” said Rea, referring to council.

“Give me the documents that the state code requires,” DiBartolomeo told Rea.

The city manager said mutual aid agreements with neighboring departments haven’t been renewed every two years, as required by the state.

Rea said such agreements haven’t been signed every two years but do exist, and other cities don’t formally renew them.

Voices were raised during the exchange and at one point, Rea and DiBartolomeo stood face to face and Mayor David Velegol Jr. called for a 10 minute recess.

After returning and more discussion, Velegol told Rea he heard him tell DiBartolomeo he would provide him certification information for the firefighters.

“The fire marshal’s office has all of these things,” replied Rea, who later added, ‘The fire marshal certifies this department and we were just certified. I can go back to 2004 and tell you who was on calls.”

The discussion ended with Rea saying he would provide the information to council but not to DiBartolomeo.

The position of police chief was raised later, with council members noting there had been talk about whether it should be an appointed one, an issue that could be put before voters in the city’s June 13 general election.

Fourth Ward Councilwoman Alexis Russell said she would like to see a public meeting “with an intelligent debate on the pros and cons, a discussion we could have where we could say, this is why we’re thinking about it.”

Third Ward Councilman Nick Cekinovich said he’d like to receive input from both sides.

Council is expected to consider the matter further at its next regular meeting at 6 p.m. next Monday.

Council also heard from Frank Rocchio, a local resident and founder of the newly formed Ohio Valley Environmental Advocates, who noted Jefferson Metals Recovery LLC is expected to receive $300,000 through the West Virginia Economic Development Authority for the establishment of a blast furnace and sinter plant to produce pig iron from slag and other material.

According to the state EDA, its operations will involve about 37 acres near state Route 2 and Veterans Drive and about 187 acres east of Route 2 between Mahan Lane and Archer Hill Road.

Rocchio noted Rockdale Metals Recovery was formed in December by leaders of Empire Diversified Energy, which was behind the controversial medical waste treatment plant city officials recently announced has been dropped.

He said council should ensure the new enterprise uses the most modern technology for emissions to protect the public’s health.

Rocchio asked how many jobs will be created by the plant and how many will be filled by local residents.

Velegol said he’s been told the plant will use modern technology but added, “Nothing’s been submitted yet. As soon as something’s submitted, we will let everyone know.”

Farley Wood, an engineer with Empire Diversified Energy, said the plant’s “emission package will be state of the art,” adding the business is expected to employ more than 400 people.

DiBartolomeo said of the new business, “There’s no question it’s going to be the future. The thing is, we’re going to hold them accountable.”

Wood was on hand to discuss plans by Empire to operate two warehouses on former Follansbee Steel property at the city’s south end. He said the business has been authorized by Wheeling-Nippon Steel to use a portion of the alley along the steel mill.

The move would eliminate the need for trucks to take narrow side streets extending to the site from Route 2 in response to concerns by business owners and residents there.

But Velegol said Empire officials will need to discuss a narrow section of the alley that extends over utility lines belonging to the city.

In other business:

— Russell said council needs to discuss an access way created through the sidewalk from the future site of the Dunkin store near Mark Avenue.

Councilman at large John Casinelli said council has discussed posting a No Turn sign into the site to prevent hazards created by drivers turning into the drive-through restaurant from the intersection of Route 2 and Mark Avenue.

— City Clerk David Kurcina said council will need to meet after next week’s meeting to canvass ballots from today’s primary election. He said provided no recounts are requested by candidates, the ballots may be certified on April 12 at a time to be announced.

Plans also were made for council’s newly formed park improvement committee to meet following a special meeting at 6 p.m. April 18 for council to lay the levy rate.

— Velegol told council members he will ask them next week to consider providing $20,000 for Follansbee Community Days, with the volunteer committee aiming to raise about $50,000 for the three-day festival.

— Tom Ludewig, supervisor for Follansbee Park, said he’s received applications for seven lifeguards and three park maintenance positions but still more summer help is needed. Applications can be picked up at the City Building.