MORGANTOWN — With a unanimous vote from city council on Tuesday, Morgantown became the first city in West Virginia to adopt nondiscrimination language regarding hair style or texture.
The change is in reference to the CROWN Act, an acronym for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair.
More than a dozen speakers came out in support of the vote, including Delegate Danielle Walker, D-Monongalia, who led the push for statewide adoption of the act. Walker admitted she was still emotional as she addressed council following Tuesday afternoon’s verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial.
“I should not be forced to straighten my hair in order to receive a job. My braids should be as they choose to be because it is part of my heritage – my marital status, what tribe I belong to, if I am a warrior,” Walker said, adding “The burden of a black woman and her natural hair has been here for centuries.”
The Crown Act has been adopted in 10 states, including Virginia and Maryland.
Also on Tuesday, council approved a resolution setting the parameters of a bond issuance not to exceed $3.25 million for capital improvement projects tied to the Morgantown Parking Authority.
The funds will be used to upgrade and address structural issues in the parking garage between University Avenue and Chestnut Street. It will also fund work on a retaining wall along the authority’s Spruce Street parking lot.
Rob Steptoe of Crews & Associates said the request for proposals was put out to 12 local banks, seven of which provided bids.
Clear Mountain Bank was selected based on the offering of a 1.79% fixed interest rate on a 15-year term or 1.94% fixed on a 20-year term.
Morgantown Parking Authority Executive Director Dana McKenzie said the authority plans on going the 15-year route, requiring about $15,000 monthly to be paid on the bonds, just as 2012 bonds tied to the Wharf District garage are retired. McKenzie said the authority is paying about $38,600 monthly on those 2012 bonds.
Also on Tuesday, council laid, or adopted, the city’s levy rate, which will remain unchanged for the coming fiscal year.
Morgantown’s levy rate is already the maximum allowable by the state, at 25 cents on every $100 of Class II (residential) property and 50 cents on every $100 of Class IV (commercial) property.
Lastly, council approved on first reading a three-year lease with Wanderlust Travel LLC for office space in the Morgantown Municipal Airport Terminal.
The lease, which includes two, one-year options, will pay the airport $3,600 annually.
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