CHRISTMAS SPIRIT — At Monday’s Follansbee Council meeting, leaders of the Follansbee Christmas in the Park Committee presented money raised by the annual festival to the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program, a local food pantry; and the families of two youth with special medical needs. On hand for the presentation were, from left, front: Dalton Smith, Jackson Harbin and his father, Austin; and Bill Kocher of the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program; and back: Kassi Smith, Dalton’s mother; Bill Secrist and Stacey Williams, the committee’s co-chairs; and Ed Wilkerson and Karen Hager, who members of the committee and volunteers at the food pantry. -- Warren Scott

FOLLANSBEE — The Follansbee Christmas in the Park Committee handed out funds raised by the annual festival and the use of various funds were discussed at Monday’s Follansbee Council meeting.

Bill Secrist, co-chairman and co-founder of the volunteer committee behind the festival, presented funds raised by drawings held during it to the Follansbee R.E.A.C.H. Program, a local food pantry; and two youth with special medical needs.

A total of $3,000 was presented to the food pantry, while $4,000 each was received by Dalton Smith, a 15-year-old who has undergone multiple treatments and surgeries for spinal tumors since he was 6; and Jackson Harbin, a 3-year-old who was born with a rare disorder that affects his limbs’ ability to bend.

Jackson’s father, Austin, said his son has undergone three surgeries to straighten his legs and bend his foot and arm and because his legs aren’t strong enough for him to walk, his family is saving for a powered wheelchair.

Dalton, who is home-schooled, prefers to be treated as a normal teen and enjoys riding all-terrain vehicles when possible, said his mother, Kassi.

She also expressed thanks for “the support of the entire community,” not only from Follansbee Christmas in the Park but others behind events that have raised funds for her son’s treatment.

The Follansbee Christmas in the Park Committee also set out a water cooler bottle during the event for donations for hurricane victims in North Carolina that was filled with $780.

The money was donated to cleanup and relief efforts organized through Brookestone Baptist Church in Weaverville, N.C.

Secrist thanked council for use of Follansbee Park and the Community House, city staff for their support, former co-chair Kathy Santoro for starting the event, and current co-chair Stacey Williams and the entire committee for their efforts.

Also on Monday, Mayor David Velegol Jr. said an estimated $10,000 to $15,000 will be drawn from the remainder of federal American Rescue Plan Act funds received by the city for the replacement of a recently damaged electronic panel at the city’s water plant.

This summer, about $175,000 from the funds were used to replace the plant’s control system. It was a move city officials had hoped to include later with an estimated $3.1 million in improvements to the city’s downtown and suburban water systems.

Velegol said the Army Corps of Engineers, overseeing the project as a condition of the $2 million grant it awarded for it, is expected advertise for contractors in January or February.

He told council about $78,000 remaining from the federal funds will be used to replace malfunctioning water meters.

Velegol and City Office Manager Michael Casini said they thought the meters could only be replaced by the manufacturer of the current ones but have learned another brand also may be compatible.

They said they plan to seek bids from both companies.

In other business:

• Velegol responded to former councilman Vito “Skip” Cutrone, who asked earlier why a portion of the city’s 1 percent sales tax hasn’t been used in recent years for street paving, something Cutrone said is sorely needed.

Cutrone recalled council agreeing to allocate from revenue generated each year by the tax, $150,000 for street paving, $50,000 for the city’s fire station and $38,000 for general use.

Velegol said while council discussed such allocations, they weren’t spelled out in the ordinance for the tax.

He said in some years, more than $150,000 was allocated for paving while adding $200,000 from the tax was used to pay engineers to design the proposed expansion of the firehouse.

Velegol said because designs were completed for that project, the city was able to secure a $2.7 million federal grant for it.

Following the meeting, the mayor confirmed there has been no street paving in two seasons but said areas have been hot-patched.

Velegol has been questioned by Cutrone and others for using the tax revenue elsewhere but said that was necessary to offset the loss of $1 million in taxes with the closing of the Mountain State Carbon coke plant.

• Velegol asked council to consider leasing the former St. Anthony School gym from St. Anthony Catholic Church.

He said the church hasn’t been able to rent the gym because it can’t afford the insurance, but the city could rent it to youth sports programs and split the proceeds with the church.

“I think it’s a good deal for the facility because we don’t have an indoor facility (for youth sports),” Velegol told council.

Following the meeting, he said the city wouldn’t pay for insurance for the building, only liability insurance for people using the gym, which he said may be covered under the city’s current park coverage.

Asked the facility’s condition, Velegol said the court is in good condition while the restrooms may require some work but are usable.

Velegol, who had acknowledged he is chairman of the church’s finance committee, said he may abstain from discussion of the matter though he didn’t see it as a conflict of interest because he wouldn’t personally benefit.

Council is expected to consider the matter at next Monday’s meeting.

• Deputy Police Chief Lester Skinner asked council to consider raises for the city’s police officers, saying they are needed to retain and attract personnel.