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FAIRMONT — A dialog on the sidewalk on the nook of 4th Avenue and Fairmont Avenue in 1994 led to a spur-of-the-moment determination for Tom Mainella.
“I keep in mind listening to WAJR that day, and so they had the [Fairmont] Metropolis Clerk Janet Keller on as a visitor,” Mainella stated. “She stated she was dissatisfied by the variety of candidates that filed to run and that at the moment was the final day to file.
“I believed, ‘What the hell, I’ll run.’ I went right down to there, paid $15 and signed as much as run for metropolis council.”
That call began what would grow to be two eight-year stints on the Fairmont Metropolis Council, and a complete of 26 years of service to the town on varied boards and committees, together with appearing as mayor for a complete of 4 years.
Tuesday night, Mainella was bid farewell by his fellow council members. After serving for his second eight-year time period from 2014 to 2022, Mainella was time period restricted this election cycle and determined this was the time to retire from Fairmont politics.
Reflecting on his accomplishments over that interval, he was content material together with his time in public service and happy with the issues he and the councils he served with had been capable of convey to the Metropolis of Fairmont.
Demolitions
On the high of Mainella’s listing is the town’s aggressive demolition challenge that made Fairmont one of many first municipalities within the state to designate a big chunk of the funds towards demolishing dilapidated and blighted buildings.
Previous to 2017, the mindset of the town was that demolition would take a backseat until the town may recuperate the prices of tearing down the constructing. Mainella threw that out, and he and the council put aside $300,000 that yr for use particularly for demolition initiatives.
“I keep in mind telling council that eliminating these soiled, deserted buildings is as a lot a quality-of-life enchancment as filling a pothole,” Mainella stated. “All of us purchased into it and we empowered the town supervisor to begin a extra vigorous demolition program.”
Since 2017, the town been concerned in over 175 demolitions in accordance with its webpage on the topic.
Amending the city-county advanced deed
Earlier this yr, it was introduced up that the town didn’t have a bodily deed displaying its possession of the third ground of the J. Harper Meredith Constructing simply behind the courthouse.
Whereas the town has no plans to vacate its house on the third ground, this offered an issue the place the necessity ever to come up. Mainella takes credit score for main the best way towards amending the deed and giving the town its rightful possession of that part of the constructing.
The investigation by the town and county attorneys dug out assembly minutes, and paperwork relationship again to the constructing’s building in 1983. The proof confirmed that it was at all times meant that the town ought to personal a portion of the constructing, however the deed by no means mirrored that.
“I’m not going to say I did it, however I definitely pushed for it,” Mainella stated. “Folks discovered that it was apparent the town owned that third ground, and the county fee granted us a title reflecting that.”
Human Rights Fee
One of the vital contentious votes in latest reminiscence was over the installment of a Human Rights Fee in 2018. The ordinance confronted harsh backlash from non secular and conservative teams within the metropolis and though it handed the town council, it was petitioned out and despatched to a vote by the general public.
When that measure handed, Mainella method the mayor.
“That was a really controversial problem and I used to be criticized and informed I’d delight in hell due to my stance on non-discrimination,” Mainella stated. “Though the mayor is simply one other councilperson, I really feel I did steer that problem and performed a gathering with 80-some individuals making an attempt to talk.”
Criticism and controversy
In his tenure, Mainella has garnered a popularity for being hot-headed and passionate. At occasions, that has spilled over outdoors the council chambers and into his public life.
In 2021, he was closely criticized for yelling at one other driver throughout a bout of street rage that was caught on digital camera. The incident was shared on-line, as was Mainella’s private cellphone quantity, which was flooded with offended callers.
Mainella apologized for the incident and was censured by council for his actions.
Regardless of all that, he prides himself with the best way he votes and he speaks for the issues he believes in, no matter what others may assume. Whereas that could be a harmful high quality for a politician to have, he doesn’t care.
“I’ve by no means taken a place as a result of it was the ‘political’ factor to do, I vote with my coronary heart,” Mainella stated. “I don’t care what number of are for it or towards it, if I feel it’s the suitable factor for the Metropolis of Fairmont, I’m all in.”
Town workers who’ve labored with Mainella are likely to agree. Whereas he has his moments, he’s been an incredible chief and civil servant.
“He get’s concerned with what he must be concerned with and is aware of what he must do within the function of mayor,” Fairmont Metropolis Supervisor Valerie Means stated. “He at all times asks good questions and that helps transfer issues alongside.”
Janet Keller, Fairmont’s metropolis clerk, agreed.
“[Mainella has] been wonderful as a councilmember and because the mayor and has connections all through the state that assist Fairmont,” Keller stated. “He is aware of the individuals to speak to and the best way to get help for initiatives we’re engaged on.”
Parting recommendation
In January, 4 new councilmembers can be sworn in. Taking Tom’s chair can be Bruce McDaniel.
On his method out, Tom hopes the brand new councilmembers will perceive simply how a lot energy native authorities holds.
“They should notice metropolis councilmembers have extra say within the high quality of lifetime of the citizen of a metropolis than some other legislative physique. The issues councils vote on straight results the folks that reside within the metropolis,” Mainella stated. “How lucky are we to reside in a metropolis the place all people appears to get alongside and that is only a lovely metropolis.
“I really feel sure that this incoming metropolis council and councils to return won’t squander the chance to make this a greater place to reside. It’s been a spotlight of my life to do my half.”
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