MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — City council members heard input from the public on the recent ruling against the Civilian Police Review and Advisory Board, passed a reimbursement resolution and made changes to code concerning bicycles during its Tuesday night meeting.
Following a judge’s decision last week to strike down the review board ordinance, representatives of the Morgantown/Kingwood NAACP Morgantown council members to appeal the decision.
“The review board is needed. We know that in todays culture, not just in Morgantown but nationally, there is distrust in the methods and procedures of policing many are proven to be justified,” NAACP chapter president Anitra Hamilton said.
Hamilton said the board would improve the relationship between the community and police by allowing more transparency. She said increased transparency would help police be more productive by sharing data and policies to improve the working relationship with police.
“Complaints in Morgantown have happened without officially being filed,” Hamilton said. “An independent review board would help people feel more confident in coming forward which is essential to a safe city.”
NAACP member Bob Cohen suggested the city rebuttal should be narrowed to keep the non investigation-related portions of the ordinance as law.
“The reasons articulated by the FOP’s attorney would at most call into question board actions in responding to complaints of individual officers,” Cohen said. “They do not call into question the other powers and duties of the board.”
Monongalia County Circuit Judge Susan Tucker struck down the review board ordinance last week saying the board would interfere with the established police civil service commission.
Reimbursement resolution
The reimbursement resolution would allow the city to use general fund money to complete capital repairs prior the issuance of a bond, according to city attorney Ryan Simonton.
The resolution would be used to make repairs at Morgantown City Hall, the Public Safety Building, the Norwood Fire Station and the City Public Works Garage. The city plans to issue $7 million in bonds for the improvements in March of 2022.
“This just allows the use of bond proceeds to reimburse any project expenditures that would be made before all the documents are executed,” Simonton said.
However, the elevator in the Public Safety Building must be replaced at a cost of $336,750 and requires a nine month lead time due to supply chain issues.
“That elevator would be out of operation for over a year,” Muzzarelli said. ” Part of that work includes improvements to the shaft to put a new elevator in.”
Councilors also moved to end the helmet requirement for bicyclists. The city plans to continue awareness campaigns and programs to provide helmets at special events.