Morgantown Council rejects ward changes

Nov. 6—MORGANTOWN — In a contentious 4-3 vote Tuesday evening, Morgantown City Council rejected the ward boundary changes recommended by the city's volunteer ward and boundary commission.

The changes, presented by Commission Chairman John Trumble during September's committee of the whole session, drew immediate pushback as the significant realignment effort would have, among other things, moved 3rd Ward Councilor Louise Michael's home address into the 4th Ward.

Council initially postponed a vote on the new boundary map during its Oct. 2 meeting.

Mayor Joe Abu-Ghannam, Deputy Mayor Jenny Selin, Councilor Bill Kawecki and Michael voted to reject the changes. Councilors Danielle Trumble, Dave Harshbarger and Brian Butcher voted in the minority.

The body didn't make clear how it intends to move forward in terms of equalizing the wards.

Also on Tuesday, council adopted charter changes that will: allow any three members of council to call a special meeting ; change the withdraw deadline for city council candidates to 30 days before the election ; and regulate the reporting requirements for the city's volunteer boards and commissions.

Council also adopted a charter change allowing the body to waive residency requirements for the city manager, but a written objection was presented during the meeting.

Currently, the charter says the city manager doesn't have to be a city resident at the time of appointment, but "must reside in the city while in office."

Under the proposed change, the manager "may reside outside the City while in office only with the approval of Council."

If the objection is not withdrawn in the next 10 days, council must either abandon the change or put it before the city's voters in April.

Council took no action on a charter change requiring the city clerk to perform her duties in a non-partisan manner.