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WEIRTON -- Weirton voters heading to the ballot June 11 will be asked to decide on a series of proposed changes to the city’s charter.
Eleven proposals will appear on the ballot, with voters asked to choose either “For the Amendment” or “Against the Amendment” for each proposal.
The charter changes first were discussed publicly during a work session Feb. 20, with ordinances going before council for their first readings March 11.
A public hearing was held March 20, at which time objections from residents were filed against three of the proposals. During a special council meeting March 25, a resident submitted opposition to all of the changes, with city officials declaring they would all then be placed on the ballot.
The proposed charter changes are as follows:
• Issue 1: Amending the position of treasurer and auditor throughout the City of Weirton Charter to read city financial director a permanent and full-time position.
Article III, Section 2(a) and Article VII, Section 5 state that the City of Weirton employs a treasurer and auditor. However, no positions currently exist. Under the proposal, references to city treasurer and auditor will be replaced with city financial director.
• Issue 2: Eliminating the position of city physician.
References to a city physician or health officer can be found in Article III, Section 7 and Article III, Section 2(g); however, the position has been vacant and council has determined it is no longer necessary.
• Issue 3: Eliminating the position of recreation director.
Article III, Section 2(A)(j) references a city recreation director. Council has determined these references are not needed in the charter as the recreation director falls under the authority of the Weirton Board of Parks and Recreation, which is an autonomous entity.
• Issue 4: Amending Article III, Section 2(c) relating to the removal of appointed officers.
Current language states “All appointed officers may be removed from office by the Mayor, but in the event of such removal, the discharged officer may appeal to the Council, and, if such an appeal is taken, Council shall hold a public hearing and the removal shall not be effective unless approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Council after such public hearing. Council after such public hearing shall also have the power to remove an appointed officer by a two-thirds majority vote affording him/her a public hearing.”
Under the proposal, “All appointed officers may be removed from office by the Mayor, but in the event of such removal, the discharged officer may appeal to the Council, and, if such an appeal is taken, Council shall hold a public hearing and the removal shall not be effective unless approved by a majority vote of the Council present at the council meeting, after such public hearing. Council after such public hearing shall also have the power to remove an appointed officer by a majority vote of the Council present at the council meeting after affording him/her a public hearing.”
• Issue 5: Eliminating Article III, Section 3(a), Qualifications and requirements for mayor and councilman being a resident of Weirton for at least five years prior to an election.
The charter currently states that Weirton “has required each candidate for Mayor or Councilman be a resident of the City of Weirton for at least five years prior to the election.” Council has determined that this section is in violation of West Virginia state code and should be deleted.
• Issue 6: Eliminating Article III, Section 3(d) requiring mayor and counclmen to have paid taxes on at least $500 worth of real or personal property for the year preceeding election.
The charter currently requires “each candidate for mayor or councilman to be assessed and to have paid taxes on at least $500 worth of real or personal property for the year preceeding his election to office.” Council has determined this section is in violation of West Virginia state code and should be eliminated from the charter.
• Issue 7: Amending Article III, Section 3(f) to include appointed or elected office in the state of West Virginia.
Currently, the charter stipulates candidates for mayor or council “not hold any other appointed or elected office in the city or county” except for specific stipulations set forth in the charter. Council has proposed an amendment to read “each candidate for mayor or councilman shall not hold any other appointed or elected office in the city, county or the state of West Virginia except as if hereafter set forth in this charter.
• Issue 8: Amending Article III, Section 3(g) qualifications and requirements from missing council meetings.
Currently, a member of council can be removed if that individual “fails to attend council meetings for a period of six months, or whose residence is changed to a point outside the ward for which he has been elected.”
The proposal would read an individual can “not hold office as councilman or mayor if he fails to attend the regular monthly council meetings six times within the city’s fiscal year or whose residents is changed to a point outside the ward for which he has been elected or, if mayor, outside the city limits.”
• Issue 9: Amending Article VII, Officers and employees Section 1(f) City Manager relating to contracts.
The current charter states the city manager “shall act as purchasing agent and purchase supplies and materials, etc., but, however, he shall not make any contract or purchase involving as expenditure in excess of $3,500 without first obtaining the consent of council to do so. All supplies and materials purchased by the city in excess of $5,000 shall be purchased on competitive bids. All proposals for each shall be upon precise specifications and notice of the requirements of the city shall be given to dealers in supplies and materials of the kind required, who, by reason of location, are best able to furnish the same at the lowest price. All purchases shall be ordered by the city manager and only on approval of the council shall payment be made.”
The proposed charter change would add language stating “All contracts shall be reviewed by the city attorney prior to signing.”
• Issue 10: Article VII Officers and Employees Section 1(d) stipulating the work hours of the city clerk
Currently the charter sets the office hours of the City Clerk as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday, unless otherwise provided by council. The proposed change would set the City Clerk’s office “hours of duty determined by the city manager.”
• Issue 11: Amending Article VIII relating to the conduct of municipal elections.
Under the proposal, council “has determined that the City of Weirton electinos will commence every four years during the general national elections beginning November 2024; that whomever wins the election by majority vote will be named the winner pursuant to all other West Virginia Election Laws. Whoever wins the election for council and mayor in the 2019 election shall take office from July 1, 2019 through January 1, 2025, and whoever wins the election for council and mayor in 2024 shall take office on January 1, 2025 and the election shall be held every four years thereafter as set forth.”