Paden City Council held the first reading of several ordinance amendments during its regular September meeting, which was held on Tuesday Sept. 3 rather than Monday, Sept. 2, Labor Day.

According to Recorder Tami Billiter, these amendments are updates to existing yet outdated ordinances in preparation for the redoing of city ordinance books. Those altered ordinances were titled Municipal Voting Precincts, Cards of Instructions of Voters, Polling Places and Equipment, Election Commissioners and Clerks, Compensation of Election Officials: Expenses, Absentee Voting, Conduct of Elections, Wards, Libraries, Overtime, Costs, Collections of Fines, Costs and Fees, Truck Routes, Two Hour Parking Zone, No Parking, Parking Place for Doctors, and Parades and Assemblages.

Under building and grounds, Mayor John Hopkins reported that Tanya Smith engaged an attorney concerning the house and property destroyed by fire on South Third Avenue. He said he will keep council informed on any updates. In related news, Councilmen Dan Probst, Tom Trader, and John Staggers relayed three complaints they received from citizens about streets that need to be repaired. Those streets were North Seventh Avenue, West Robinson, and South Sixth Avenue.

Councilman Larry Potts determined to look into a request for a handicap parking space on North First Avenue.

In police department news, council unanimously approved Chief Mike Kelly to work full time.

Because $10,000 had been budgeted to the police capital outlay, they decided to accept bids for a new or used police cruiser. Councilmen Staggers and Richmond expressed that new cruisers should be purchased rather than old ones. Councilman Richmond furthermore cited how Paden City Officers respond to mutual aid calls from Sistersville and New Martinsville, and he felt reliable equipment was necessary in these situations.

A motion to purchase tires for PCPD’s Dodge Durango was also unanimously approved.

Under park and pool, Councilman Probst reported that the pool has been shut down for the season and is in very poor condition. He said he has written letters seeking grants and any funds to help with major repairs, without which the pool may not be able to open next year.

Following a three to two vote, Bill Fox was appointed to the Paden City Development Authority. Councilmen in favor of his appointing were Larry Potts, Dan Probst, and Tom Trader; those against his appointing were Jim Richmond and John Staggers.

In public forum, Kevin Goddard addressed a water leak on Sixth Avenue. He said the city has continued to patch the leak for several years and wanted to know when the water line would be replaced.

Mayor Hopkins informed him that the city now had most of the materials to complete the job, and he expected the city crew to install the replacement by the end of the week. The council voted in favor of replacing the water line on Sixth Avenue, although the crew is still waiting on a valve.

Goddard also listed grievances, including: the city leaving property owners with repair and grass-planting work after they make fixes to water and sewer problems; parked cars are blocking the alleys near where he and another business owner run their businesses, creating issues for their clients; a large pot hole at the intersection of Broadway Street and Fourth Avenue; hearing a police cruiser enter and leave town at excessive speeds; and the possibility of a “Jake brake” law in the city’s ordinances.

Mayor Hopkins said the city would look into these issues.

Fox asked about limits the city may have for people being trained for a job. After Recorder Billiter informed him there were no limits to trainees or the number of hours worked by them, Fox questioned how Tom Yaron had been appointed to the board of PCDA. A discussion followed; nothing was resolved.

Mayor Hopkins read a letter from Donna Edgell, who fears the foundation of her house on Broadway Street is in danger due to an expanding ravine running beside it. He stated that his prior attempts to apply for grant money to fix this problem were stopped when he discovered the grant money could not be used for private property repairs. He said he made Edgell aware of these limits as soon as he became aware of them. He also said he is unwilling to commit to any action until he knows the amount of money they can receive and how it can be used.

In other news: Trick or Treat was set for Oct. 31; Boo in the Park will be held the Monday before Trick or Treat, Oct. 28; burning season will be Oct. 15 through Nov. 30; Neighborhood Watch signs will remain where they currently are in town; and Recorder Billiter will publish the city’s financial reports for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.

The council also approved to allow city employees to meet with the Baltimore Life Insurance Company, the renewal of an extermination contract with Pestech for another year, the paying of bills, and the minutes of their Aug. 5 regular meeting and Aug. 15 special meeting.