MORGANTOWN — The crowd was overwhelming, and the proceedings were, at times, a bit raucous by public meeting standards.
Even so, Morgantown City Council walked away from Tuesday’s committee of the whole session with a 4-3 vote in favor of considering Article 1157, which, if ultimately adopted, would ban camping or using “camp paraphernalia” on any public property in the city.
The publicly accessible areas of Morgantown City Hall were packed long before the meeting began.
Once underway, some 30 speakers took the podium for what ended up resembling a two-hour tongue lashing featuring liberal use of words like “cruel, inhumane and ineffective” to describe what critics call the simple criminalization of homelessness.
“If you’re surprised by the turnout you’ve gotten today and how long you’ve sat here and listened to people tell you how much they don’t want this; if you’re surprised by that, you shouldn’t be,” Sid McGinnis said.
“When you attack such a large part of a community unjustifiably, you should never be surprised when the rest of the community is ready to show up and call you on it.”
The tone cooled only slightly as council debated the issue, ultimately splitting 4-3 in favor of moving the camping prohibition forward to be taken up during a future regular business meeting.
Councilors Bill Kawecki, Louise “Weez” Michael, Jenny Selin and Dave Harshbarger voted in favor of moving the matter to an agenda. Joe Abu-Ghannam, Danielle Trumble and Brian Butcher voted in the minority.
Members also stated they would like to hold a work session to discuss the issue further prior to its arrival for first reading, which could come no earlier than the body’s Aug. 20 meeting.
It’s unclear when the body will hold the work session or when the ordinance will appear on a council agenda.
Tricia DiCenso was one of only a few speakers to voice support for the encampment ban.
“I have been in front of you many times to complain. This is the first time that I want to say thank you for finally listening to your constituents. Business owners, property owners and residents of downtown have just had so much criminal activity down here, we just can’t take it anymore.”
If passed as currently written, the law would define camp/camping to mean “pitch, erect or occupy camp facilities, or to use camp paraphernalia or both for the purpose of habitation, as evidenced by the use of camp paraphernalia.”
“Camp facilities” include tents, huts and temporary shelters. “Camp paraphernalia” includes, but is not limited to, tarps, cots, beds, sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, hammocks, portable cooking facilities and similar equipment.
The ban would apply to any street, any park or trail and any public property, improved or unimproved. It would also outlaw storage of personal property on any public property.
A first violation of the law comes with a fine of no more than $500. A second violation within one year is a fine up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.
