ST. CLAIRSVILLE — More signs of normalcy appeared during Monday’s City Council meeting, with council President Jim Velas announcing a planned return to pre-COVID-19 in-person meetings.

Council also reinstated delinquent utility connection fees after suspending them during the pandemic.

“Tonight will be the last teleconference meeting,” Velas said, adding the June 21 council meeting will be open to the public. He said public attendance will begin with the police committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. this coming Monday. “The public will be permitted to attend the meeting. There will be no teleconference meetings.”

Velas said there are no plans to livestream upcoming meetings.

“We’re going to be back to normal. If you want to know what’s going on, you’re going to have to come here,” he said. “The public will be allowed in. There are going to be no social distancing required, no masks required. If people want to wear a mask because they feel more comfortable, they can.”

Councilwoman Linda Jordan was absent Monday.

Council members who were present also voted unanimously to reinstate $50 reconnect fees for residents with delinquent utility payments. The fees had been suspended since last April on a month-by-month basis, with members Beth Oprisch, Terra Butler, Perry Basile and Mike Smith continually in favor of the suspension while Frank Sabatino, Mark Bukmir and Jordan had voted several times for resuming the fees.

The fees will be in place June 15.

“I have voted against the reconnection fees the whole time of COVID, recognizing that people were struggling economically,” Oprisch said. “With the lifting of the COVID restrictions, it makes sense to put them back in motion. … It seems right to me to switch my vote at this point.”

“There’s a lot of funding out there for individuals, and I know people are hurting, but everything seems to be getting back to normal,” Sabatino said. “It’s time to get back to business as usual.”

Anita Robinson, billing clerk, said there is aid available through the Home Energy Assistance Program and the city has been referring residents with payment issues to them.

“Things are in good shape right now,” she said. “The HEAP office has lots of funding coming in right now, and so most of our customers are able to get that assistance.”

Robinson did not have exact numbers at hand but said there have been fewer delinquent payments recently. There is an average of 35-40 delinquent households monthly, with 50 at the height of the pandemic.

In other matters, Bob Beckett, maintenance employee with the street department, was named employee of the month. He has worked for the city 12 years and is working to earn a Wastewater Level 1 license.

The public is reminded that a man was reported performing indecent activities on the bike trail last week, and residents are asked to be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity to 911.

Mayor Kathryn Thalman read a statement honoring D-Day and the soldiers who fought and fell storming the Nazi-occupied beach 77 years ago. Sabatino also read a letter from his son, Major Matthew Sabatino of the U.S. Air Force.

“‘Without their bravery, American birthdays and baseball games would look a lot different than they do today,'” Sabatino quoted. “‘I’m grateful today and everyday for their sacrifice to secure our freedom.”