HOME RULE SOUGHT — On Tuesday, Wellsburg Council took the first step to applying for inclusion in West Virginia’s Home Rule program, which would allow it to introduce a 1 percent sales tax to generate more revenue. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — On Tuesday, Wellsburg Council took the first step in seeking inclusion in the state’s Home Rule program while tabling plans to add a second monthly meeting for formal action to its calendars.

Established in 2007, the Home Rule program allows selected municipalities the ability to adopt ordinances and regulations that may veer from state code to address issues ranging from dilapidated structures to business regulations.

A board comprised of the governor or designee, executive director of the West Virginia Development Office or designee and state Senate-approved representatives of the state’s Business and Industry Council, the state’s largest labor organization and the state’s chapter of the American Institute of Certified Planners, determines a municipality’s inclusion.

Citing a shortfall in revenue needed to maintain streets and other facilities, Wellsburg officials are eyeing a 1 percent sales tax for goods and services obtained in the city, with some exceptions, that would be possible through the program.

To implement the sales tax, a municipality must reduce or eliminate the business and occupation tax paid by local businesses, the manner of which wasn’t spelled out in an ordinance presented for council’s approval on Tuesday.

Weld said a copy of the city’s Home Rule plan will be available for public review prior to a public hearing to be held at 6 p.m. before council’s Nov. 12 meeting at 7 p.m. at Wellsburg City Hall.

At that meeting, council is expected to consider a second reading for the ordinance, which would allow Weld to submit the Home Rule application on its behalf.

On Tuesday, council again discussed the possibility of adding a second monthly meeting at which members could take action.

Currently council meets at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month for matters that may require their vote and at 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month to discuss matters that may be presented for action at the other meeting.

Third Ward Councilman Tom Gaudio said previously the second meeting seems unproductive and on Tuesday, suggested a resident may seek action that is needed before the first meeting is held.

The sentiment was echoed by 4th Ward Councilman Larry Swanson.

But other council members noted a special meeting may be called under such circumstances.

Third Ward Councilman Randy Fletcher said that’s been done many times, and he doesn’t believe there’s normally enough business to warrant two voting meetings.

The question arose as to whether council members’ pay should change with the additional meeting.

Currently council members receive $250 per month. While that’s not based entirely on their attendance at meetings, each also receives an additional $50 for attending any special meeting called.

Weld said regardless of the number of regular meetings, council members may not change their pay mid-term.

In other business:

• Council and Weld discussed plans to change the number of polling places for the city’s next election to one: the Wellsburg Banquet Hall across from the city’s fire station on 12th Street.

The move was suggested by Fletcher to save costs for poll workers for each of the city’s four wards.

Weld said it now dovetails with the passage of state legislation requiring municipal elections to coincide with fall general elections.

He confirmed that action will result in the four-year terms of city officials elected in 2023 being cut short by six months at the end of 2026 and those elected this year having their terms also cut short by six months at the end of 2029.

With the change, the city will move from paper ballots to electronic voting machines used in Brooke County, and each of the city’s wards will be named a separate precinct for the purposes of the election.

Weld said the city will be expected to contribute to the election’s costs, but it’s expected to be less than the city has assumed for its own elections.

• Heard from Mike Robinson, a representative of a drug addiction treatment center, who expressed interest in establishing such a facility across from an elementary school in the city.

Because the move would require a zoning variation, he asked to meet with the city’s zoning board.

Weld advised the board meets only as needed and agreed to meet with him following the meeting.

• Council observed a moment of silence for Fred Chambers, former owner of Chambers and James Funeral Home and member of many civic groups, including the Brooke County Rotary, Wellsburg Lions and Follansbee Chamber of Commerce.

Chambers, who was 82, died on Oct. 5 in Daytona Beach, Fla., where he had been living in recent years.