MORGANTOWN — With a 5-2 vote on Tuesday, Morgantown City Council selected Jenny Selin over Danielle Trumble to serve as the city’s mayor for the next year.
In her first act as the newly sworn 3rd Ward councilor, Louise Michael nominated Trumble. Councilor Bill Kawecki nominated Selin.
In a break from tradition, first Trumble then Selin offered brief remarks in support of their respective claims to the seat prior to the vote.
Joe Abu-Ghannam, Kawecki, Selin, Dave Harshbarger and Brian Butcher voted for Selin, who is starting her 17th year on council and her third consecutive year as the city’s mayor.
Abu-Ghannam will serve as the city’s deputy mayor. Trumble, who’s been deputy mayor since joining council in 2021, declined a nomination to continue in that role and was the lone vote against Abu-Ghannam.
While Tuesday marked the start of a brand-new city council, it’s clear the city is facing some of the same old problems when it comes to trash and recycling hauler Republic Services.
City Manager Kim Haws said the city recently levied two $100 penalties against Republic for rolling into neighborhoods prior to 6 a.m.
“We’ve given ample notice regarding the issue of collecting refuse prior to 6 a.m. That’s persisted. Per our contract, we can impose a $100 fine per occurrence, and we’ve done that,” Haws explained.
Despite years of consistent problems and citizen complaints, it’s believed these may be the first penalties actually levied by the city against the hauler.
But early pickups are just one of the issues the city, members of council and Republic are hearing about.
Pocahontas Avenue resident Annie Cronan Yorick said Republic not only shows up on her street well before 6 a.m. but failed to collect her trash and recycling for weeks running despite daily calls.
She also noted those calls are not being handled locally, which was previously promised by Republic officials as part of efforts to improve responsiveness.
“We’re not getting our money’s worth,” she said. “Can we work on this, please?”
Members of council have also expressed frustration with the distribution of Republic’s new 96-gallon trash carts.
Some people have them. Some people don’t have them. Some people can’t use them but are being told by Republic they need to provide a diagnosis from a doctor supporting the need for a smaller cart.
Further, it was explained, if a truck isn’t equipped to pick up and dump the larger carts, workers simply grab bags off the top and move on.
Butcher said an inordinate amount of time is spent addressing issues pertaining to trash and trash cans.
Trumble agreed, expressing her appreciation for the city manager’s actions.
“I feel like we have been trying in good faith to resolve some of these issues with them and it has seemed ineffective,” she said.
Asked if early pickups are the only problem the city has levied penalties for, Haws responded, “For now.”
Council approved a new five-year contract with Republic earlier this year.
