MORGANTOWN — Cherry trees didn’t appear on Tuesday’s Morgantown City Council agenda, but discussion of how the city should handle the 45 Yoshino cherry trees placed as a living memorial along the riverfront rail-trail ran throughout the meeting.
The issue was raised last month when City Manager Paul Brake said plans for the city’s multi-million dollar riverfront overhaul included removal and one-for-one replacement of between 35-40 of the trees with younger trees of the same variety.
The announcement upset the donor and his family. Milan Roh, 87, gifted the trees following the death of his wife, in 2001. The family has made public their concerns that they weren’t properly informed of the city’s plans until decisions were already finalized.
Nearly every member of council said they have been contacted by constituents concerned about the city’s plans to remove the trees.
Councilor Ryan Wallace said he too has concerns that the city didn’t properly communicate its intentions.
“I would ask that the City of Morgantown, either through our councilors here or city staff, issue some sort of statement,” Wallace said, explaining that he would like the statement to address a lack of transparency on the city’s behalf, the city’s appreciation of the gift and the city’s desire to make the riverfront a point of pride for all residents that also honors the intent of the gift.
“If we can issue a statement or resolution or proclamation to this effect, I think it would make some small difference to the Roh family in understanding the current situation with the cherry trees,” Wallace said.
During public comments, High Street resident Michael Clifford said he and others are looking at proposing an “initiated ordinance” aimed at stopping the removal of the trees.
“If 10 percent of the registered voters of the city sign a petition for this ordinance, the city council must pass the ordinance or it goes to a public vote,” Clifford said. “I believe there really needs to be a compromise reached, but however, if a compromise cannot be reached, we will propose this ordinance.”
Wallace said he’s spoken with Roh, who acknowledged the efforts of others to intervene on behalf of the trees. Wallace said Roh indicated he’s neither instigating or resisting those efforts.
Mayor Bill Kawecki said the city is working to find a solution and has offered a compromise that includes preserving as many of the existing trees as possible, potentially as many as 19, with the rest being replaced.
Kawecki said he can empathize with the Roh family and noted there’s likely little adequate solace that can be provided given the direct connection of the trees to a lost loved one.
That said, Kawecki explained the issue has been in discussion with stakeholders for more than a year. He said the city contacted the Roh family as soon as it was aware riverfront plans may include replacement of the trees. He said there was never an intent to hide information or mislead the family.
“When we saw the plans and realized we were going to have to deal with these trees in some manner, that’s when we approached the family. It’s not an easy project,” Kawecki said of altering the memorial.
“It’s not one that I particularly like and I’m sure it’s not one that was easily dealt with by our city manager, though it fell to him. So there shouldn’t be that kind of criticism about the way it was handled. We did what we could, when we could do it and we did it with the best of intentions.”
In other city news, Brake put his name up for consideration to be appointed to the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) board of directors.
He is one of three applicants seeking the spot, including Bill Rice, who currently holds the seat — one of two representing the county. Rice’s term is expired and he wishes to be reappointed.
Addressing concerns raised that his appointment could present a conflict as MUB falls under the city’s umbrella, Brake said that would not be the case.
“This notion of a conflict of interest, it just doesn’t occur legally,” Brake said. “Saying that I couldn’t vote on anything that would benefit the city, there’s no legal basis to support that theory.”
Appointments to the MUB board fall under the discretion of city council.
