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CHESTER -- Neither Mayor Ed Wedgewood nor members of Chester Council kept quiet Monday when City Clerk Tara Ayers approached them about a vendor's request for the city to pay an outstanding service call bill regarding panic buttons within the municipal building.
Last month, council considered payment of a Biztec invoice dated from August for a total of $690.23 for a service call that required the replacement of a panel fried as a result of a power surge.
City employees had discovered last summer that a panic button within the city water department was not functional after an employee tried to use it while dealing with a disgruntled visitor.
Over the past two years, the City of Chester had spent $100,000 for upgrades throughout the building and officials believe the service call should have been covered by warranty.
The service call invoice from Biztec, which is based in Washington, W.Va., detailed how a serviceman tested the door readers, access control panels, found the fried panel, returned and installed a new one.
Council declined to move the Biztec bill for possible payment, welcoming a chance to have a small claims court hear the case if necessary.
Later in the meeting, council did elect to have the panic buttons fixed by another company. Members voted that Chester-based Advanced Security Technologies will install two wireless panic hub receivers within the clerk's office and water office, as well as seven wireless panic buttons, and program them to call police dispatch upon activation for a cost of $5,945. This includes a three-year basic alarm license for $1,800.
According to Councilman Mike Dotson, who oversees the municipal building, the work can be started and completed within a few days.
In other action, Melissa Coble from the Bless This Child Food Ministries asked to use the municipal building's gymnasium and attached multi-purpose room once a month through May to host a community night, which includes different sports, a hot meal and either a devotional Bible lesson or moral lesson for attendees ages 8 to 17 on a weekend night like Newell hosts at their community building every Friday night.
Council unanimously approved her request as long as the space was not already committed to another event.
In other action, council deposited $214,938.65 into the general fund and $15,620 into the building fund for January and paid bills totaling $45,838.30.
Members also agreed to spend $9,825 on a new salt spreader from Myers Equipment in Canfield and give $1,000 to the Chester Parks to fund grass trimming around the creek area.
A lien was placed on 500 Virginia Ave., as a result of a $966.75 bill for unpaid municipal fees and penalties from the past five years. Raymond Barry and his wife, who are the owners of record, are both deceased and the property's title is tied up in court.
With no public comments during the public hearing prior to Monday's meeting, council unanimously approved the second reading on two pieces of legislation regarding the city's water project.
However, both supporters and opponents of the water bond issue will have another opportunity to vocalize their thoughts during a second public hearing at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 21. A special council meeting will follow to give the legislation final readings for possible passage.
Chester council's next regular meeting will be held at 5 p.m., March 4.