Journal Five

At the Piedmont, WV council meeting held on May 9, 2012, the council discussed topics such as the property letters being sent out, the sidewalk grant, and the other points of the city. When compared to past meetings, the turn-out of citizens had greatly reduced.

The first citizen to speak to the council asked about the property letters being sent out to fellow townspeople. “I don’t like to be here to raise hell with you,” he stated after giving a speech on the town water meters and how he believed the streets were falling apart.

“It would be helpful to the people involved to send them a letter to tell them to be at the council meetings.” He went on to say that he felt that if everyone could attend the meetings, more action could be taken in rebuilding a better town. He believed many properties in town “couldn’t be cleaned up in six months, let alone ten days.”

This citizen wants the city to take action on properties where owners refuse to clean up.

According to Councilwoman Freda Fisher, many of the properties in need attendance are owned by unknown people and therefore leans can not be placed on these properties.

The citizen said, “There has to be a way for these places to be condemned. These are places where kids could get hurt and are potentially fire hazards.”

This citizen also believes that the community strongly needs to get involved in the cleaning up process of these properties.

New Councilman Robert Patenaude agreed with the citizen and also wants Piedmont to be the prominent and beautiful town it once was. He also feels that property owners should be held responsible for their run down properties, but was very adamant that most property owners are not easy to locate.

Patenaude also wanted to let citizens know that he tries to stay as pleasant and as cooperative as he can be.

The last citizen to speak to the council was distraught over a purchase of five hundred dollars worth of cement he bought to fix his sidewalk when a grant had been given to the city to do such.

His main topic was that when the new sidewalk was put in, the workers did not place a pipe from his down spouts to the road. He wanted the council to put in a new pipe or refund his money.

Another citizen spoke up on his behalf, “Now we are suffering for this, for the work that wasn’t done.”

Later in the meeting, Councilman Ray Hall discusses placing a pipe beneath the citizen’s down spouts, but it was overruled by the other councilmen.

Also discussed during the meeting was that Hall felt that his job was being taken from him. Mayor Lestor (Skip) Clifford assured Hall that he didn’t take his job but had stepped in when needed.

Hall replied, “I welcome your participation and your advice.” Hall also discussed getting donations for the building of the Piedmont park, which many commented was “far from the finished design.”

The meeting was adjourned quickly, with the Mayor asking Hall to stay after. He agreed and the meeting ended.

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