WESTOVER — The city is preparing for an audit and wants to alter an ordinance to make it clear motorists are not permitted to be on cell phones while driving.
Sandie Weis, Westover’s city clerk, reminded council that six request for proposals were sent out this week at meeting of City Council on Monday.
These proposals go to CPA firms because the city will soon have to have its annual audit. The deadline for return is Oct 31.
West Side Communications also updated the phone systems for the city last week. The city’s lease was up so Weis said the city had two choices, and the city opted to update the lease.
“We could either purchase the phone system and pay maintenance on it all the time or do a new updated lease,” she said.
City Neon will install a digital display out front of City Hall on Wednesday. Council approved the sign six months ago. The senior center will also have a sign.
“We can control them from our computers, so that will be nice. It can be updated all the time,” Weis said.
Westover officials will meet with the Department of Highways on Oct. 30 to discuss the next phase of the Dunkard Avenue sidewalk project.
“Hopefully we can start that in the spring. Of course, that was approved in 2018,” she said.
In new business, council voted on amending the replacement pages to codified ordinances. Weis said these are ordinances that have been adopted all year by council.
“There’s also some in there that were legislative changes. They’re mostly law enforcement. They have to go in there, too,” she said.
Council also went through the first reading to amend Article 356.01, which prohibits the use of electronic communication devices while driving. Mayor Dave Johnson said the city is changing this because it puts Westover’s law in line with the state. Johnson said a couple offenders were caught talking on the phone and got out of it because of the current ordinance.
Councilman Steve Andryzcik asked about the city’s security in regards to the computer system the city uses. He mentioned ransomware and hacking that has plagued other cities where computer systems are locked and then demands are made to pay hackers to unlock it.
“It has become an epidemic for small cities. It’s something to think about,” he said.
Weis said the city does have protections and backs information up on the cloud. Andryzcik said it is something to look into and Weis said she would speak to the city’s information technology staff.
A proclamation was made Monday to observe Christian Heritage Week Nov. 24-30. This proclamation comes from Gov. Jim Justice and says Thanksgiving week marks
28 years of Christian Heritage Week, which started in 1992 in West Virginia by Gov. Gaston Caperton.
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