MORGANTOWN — Less than a month into the term, Morgantown City Council is facing its first major decision — one that will alter the makeup of the city’s policy-making body for the next two years.
Council is expected to select a 1st Ward representative when it convenes in special session at 6:45 p.m. Tuesday in Morgantown City Hall’s council chamber.
Prior to last week’s regular session, council interviewed five applicants — Seth Collins, Jenny Thoma, Michael Bradley, G. Darren Taylor and M. Joe Abu-Ghannam — interested in filling the 1st Ward vacancy created when Patrick Hathaway won the seat in April’s municipal election but ended up unable to serve due to an impending move.
The body opted to appoint the new member instead of conducting a special election. Per the city’s charter, that appointment must be made within 30 days of the vacancy. In this case, by July 31.
Given the time crunch, the city only accepted applications for about a week, from July 8-16.
Even so, Mayor Jenny Selin said she was pleased the city received interest from five “very excellent” candidates.
“It was nice to see so many different people who came out to apply,” Selin said. “I’m hoping we can find a spot on a board or commission or some other opportunity through the city for each and every one of them, because I thought they all did a good job.”
Selin said a lot of the conversation leading to council’s ultimate selection was held in executive session at the end of last week’s meeting.
“We have had some conversation, but obviously to take a vote requires doing so in public, so that’s what will happen next,” she said.
Morgantown Communications Manager Andrew Stacy said the special meeting will be televised on Channel 15.
Following the special meeting, council will hear from Morgantown Utility Board General Manager Mike McNulty during its regular committee of the whole meeting.
McNulty will be on hand to make the case for rate increases for MUB’s water, sewer and stormwater customers.
During its June meeting, the MUB Board of Directors approved increases of 13% for water customers, 12% for sewer customers and 18% for stormwater utility customers as part of the public utility’s 2022 budget.
For customers facing all three increases, they represent a jump of $13.13 for the average bimonthly bill, based on 6,400 gallons of consumption.
The increases require the approval of Morgantown City Council.
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