City delays change to Home Rule plan

MORGANTOWN — Morgantown City Council put the brakes on a proposed amendment to the city’s Home Rule plan that would, among other initiatives, allow the city some regulatory control over state routes within its boundaries.
During the monthly committee of the whole meeting May 29, City Manager Paul Brake said that instead of trying to get the items before the Municipal Home Rule Oversight Board for passage in July, city administration shifted its focus to the board’s October meeting.
Brake explained that given two previous failed attempts by the city to restrict truck access to state routes downtown, the topic “put certain individuals or entities on the defensive” when it was raised during the May 16 council meeting.
During that meeting, Brake offered as an example the implementation of weight restrictions on state routes as the kind of regulatory reach the city would gain if passed.
In the meantime, he said, city administration is focusing on working directly with the West Virginia Division of Highways (DOH) officials and hopes to meet with Secretary of Transportation Tom Smith on the issue.
“The whole intent was to engage in that dialogue and look for those common solutions — not so much control, but it’s kind of taken on a life of its own based on thinking that we were repeating the past,” Brake said. “Well, here’s the lack of commonality, I was not here.”
It was explained that the West Virginia Municipal League took an interest in the initiative, as well, because it could have implications for cities statewide.
While Brake downplayed the specific truck angle to some degree, Deputy Mayor Mark Brazaitis said council should have an avenue to carry out the will of the people.
“Our persistence on this issue is a factor in creating this dialogue. We have been vigilant about putting this issue in conversation because we hear about it every day, or every week anyway — trucks downtown, trucks downtown,” Brazaitis said, adding, “The whole community knows what the problem is … It’s an obvious problem. Our community wants it solved any way we can solve it.”
Brake said the city may have more success in meeting privately with transportation officials. Either way, he said, the issue still has wheels.
“This is not withdrawing,” Brake said. “This is still very much a concern.”
Also as part of the proposed Home Rule amendment, the city seeks the authority to add its own layer of campaign finance reporting for municipal elections.
A third initiative would allow the city to use its existing Morgantown Board of Zoning Appeals to manage appeals and interpret issues for enforcement of the subdivision and land development law.
In other city news, council gave Brake a green light to enter into agreements with Thrasher Engineering and Strada,
a Pittsburgh-based design firm, for upcoming renovations to the Hazel Ruby McQuain Amphitheater and Riverfront Park.
Thrasher and Strada were among four proposals submitted, along with Mills Group and Alpha Architects.
Councilor Ron Dulaney was part of the selection process. He said it’s not uncommon to select more than one firm for a project, particularly if the their respective strengths complement one another.
“Even though they were all strong overall, there were some strengths within those proposals that we wanted to be able to capitalize on to help ensure we give ourselves the best chance to get the best park that we can,” Dulaney said.
Because the city selected aspects of two proposals, Brake explained that the fee proposals for each will have to be recalculated.
The firms will work with March-Westin, which will serve as the city’s “construction manager at risk for the project.” Council approved a $209,700 contract to that end in March.
The riverside improvements are the result of a $4.1 million award from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Charitable Trust.
The issue passed 5-0 during a brief special session prior to Tuesday’s meeting. Mayor Bill Kawecki and Councilor Rachel Fetty were not in attendance.