Craig Howell CHANGES COMING? - Brooke County Commissioners Christina White, left, and Stacey Wise opted to table a request to amend the bylaws of the county's 911 Advisory Board Tuesday, in order to provide time for more research.

WELLSBURG – Brooke County commissioners are considering adjustments to the bylaws of the county’s 911 Advisory Board.

Commissioners were presented Tuesday with a request to amend the bylaws of the board, revived last year to oversee operations of the county’s 911 center. The proposal was tabled, though, with officials wishing to gather more information on the matter.

County Clerk Kimberly Barbetta noted she had not sent the topic out to other county department heads for their input, as she was unsure how changes to an advisory board’s bylaws would be handled.

Commissioner Stacey Wise also expressed uncertainty and asked Brooke County Prosecuting Attorney Allison Cowden for her thoughts.

“I would have to research it,” Cowden said.

Part of the proposed bylaws changes focus on membership requirements and processes for removing members.

The change was spurred, in part, by one of the board’s appointed members – Micah Knisely, who had been selected as one of the law enforcement representatives to the board.

“He’s not actually served,” explained Sheriff’s Department Capt. Kyler Ferguson, who noted Knisely had relocated from the area earlier this year.

The proposed amendment would include stipulations that members of the advisory board live in Brooke County and cannot miss more than three consecutive meetings.

Two other items on the agenda, to remove and then replace Knisely on the board, also were tabled until a more thorough review can be conducted on the bylaw amendment.

“Then you can move forward on finding someone to fill the spot,” Ferguson said.

Commissioner Christina White asked if there had been any thought to the inclusion of “at-large” members on the board. Ferguson noted the board’s creation was based entirely on state regulations.

Under Chapter 24-6-5 of West Virginia Code, “Each county or municipality shall appoint for each answering point an enhanced emergency telephone system advisory board consisting of at least six members to monitor the operation of the system.”

The boards are to include at least one member from fire service providers, law enforcement, emergency medical services providers in the system, the county or municipality, as well as the director of the 911 system, who is to serve as an ex-officio member.

In other matters Tuesday, commissioners approved the resignation of Tyler Jacobs from the county’s EMS, effective June 9, because of his plans to relocate from the area; moved Makenna Nickers from part-time to full time, pending drug and alcohol screening; and approved advertising for sealed bids for the purchase of five cardiac monitors.