MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – A joint vote of “no confidence” has been issued by the unions representing firefighters and police officers in Morgantown.
The vote taken by the International Association of Firefighters Local 313 and Mon-Preston Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 87 includes all seven members of city council, City Manager Kim Haws, Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli and Human Resources Director John Bihun. It asserts the organizations have “no belief that the City of Morgantown can competently administer public safety.”
Wheeling-based attorney Teresa Toriseva, who represents both organizations, released the statement Monday night that cites years of litigation, changes to personnel policies and a lack of support for the departments.
The vote is the latest chapter in what have become strained relationships with members of both departments, who have publicly expressed frustration with the city’s recently implemented personnel policy changes. The new policies have impacted leave time and how overtime pay is calculated. The Mon-Preston FOP filed a lawsuit against the city for the public release of a wage and compensation study that was cited by the city manager in the FY23 budget as the basis for the policy changes.
The FOP also filed a lawsuit challenging the creation of the city’s Civilian Police Review Board. The board was significantly scaled back after Judge Susan Tucker agreed with the FOP that the original ordinance violated state code.
“The city’s conduct toward its police officers is negatively affecting our ability to retain and recruit police officers,” said Mon-Preston FOP President Brandon Viola in the release. “Retention and recruitment are the ways our police department is able to meet the staffing requirements to protect and serve a city of this size.”
The city’s firefighters have also been involved in drawn-out litigation with the city, most notably pay disputes involving improper holiday compensation.
“A city’s failure to support its firefighters puts public safety at risk. Because of the City’s efforts to reduce our pay and benefits and its refusal to follow minimum fire safety standards, we have major retention and recruiting issues,” stated IAFF Local 313 President Mitchell Beall.
Both departments have been faced with staff shortages. Police Chief Eric Powell recently told the city council that 55 of the departments authorized 76 positions are filled.