Diane Wells, a representative of Family Care Ministries, appeared before New Cumberland City Council Monday to request the City donate their portion of the opioid settlement to the faith-based drug treatment programs. Wells said that Family Care has a residential care facility, Freedom Home, near National Church off of Route 30 that provides women dealing with substance abuse, six months of residential care without any cost to the patient. She said the program receives no State or Federal funding and relies on donations. She said that representatives are approaching city and county governments who have received opioid funding to request donations.
City Clerk Tammy Jenkins said that the portion of the settlement the cities received is based upon population and New Cumberland received only $3,000. She said the City of Weirton probably received ten times that amount.
Council voted to donate $500 to Family Care if the program meets the eligibility requirements.
Robert Cato, a resident of 1001 N. Chestnut Street, appeared before Council to resolve an issue with a retaining wall he is afraid will slip onto the road. Cato, who lives behind Sparkle Market. said the retaining wall had concrete on top of it and is slipping. He is attempting to determine who has responsibility for the repair of the wall, himself or the City. The City believes the retaining wall is on Cato’s property making him responsible. Police Chief Lester (Chickie) Skinner will take pictures of the wall and provide City Attorney Kevin Pearl with them.
In other business, Council:
***Voted to pay the monthly invoices of $48,621.15;
***Learned that most of renovation of the floor in the old city building is done;
***Learned that Spring Clean-up will be held April 18, 19 and 20th;
***Decided to make its own float for the Memorial Day parade rather than spend $1,000.00 to rent one;
***Agreed to use part-time workers instead of hiring a full-time street worker;
***Heard from Jenkins that while the City had allocated the FEMA money to tear down dilapidated housing, she is now hesitant to move forward and she has a deadline of February. Given the freeze on such funds by the Federal Government there are mixed messages about whether the funding is only temporarily on hold, or if the freeze is permanent. Jenkins had received a bid of $400 to survey the 8 houses to be demolished, but she is now hearing the FEMA funds may not cover anything beyond the survey and not the cost of tearing down the houses. Council advised Jenkins to move forward with the project.
