Tag: City Ordinance

Bill Broadens Allowed Volunteer Work in Lieu of Fines, Jail

A West Virginia city council has passed a bill allowing people to perform community service at nonprofit organizations and public entities in lieu of incarceration or paying fines to municipal court.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that the bill passed by the Charleston City Council on Monday broadens the scope of permissible volunteer work, which was previously restricted by an ordinance requiring community service to be done for the city. City Attorney Paul Ellis says that those who chose the community service option have been working at the Civic Center.

Ellis says his office will speak with area nonprofits about how community service work could benefit their missions.

The municipal court will have to approve both the organization and community service work.

Group Opposing Anti-Discrimination Ordinance Files Petition

An organization opposing a West Virginia city’s newly reinstated human rights commission ordinance has obtained enough signatures on a petition to place the issue back on the city council’s agenda.

News outlets report that Keep Fairmont Safe filed a petition with the needed 333 signatures Wednesday, after an earlier petition was rejected when only 1,675 of the needed 1,979 signatures could be verified.

Keep Fairmont Safe opposed the ordinance’s addition of sexual orientation and gender identity as protected classes. Fairmont City Manager Robin Gomez says it was implemented to make Fairmont more welcoming.

The Human Rights Commission Ordinance will go back on the Fairmont City Council agenda within the next 30 days. If the council stands by its decision, the issue will appear on a 2018 ballot.

City Council Moves Forward with Nuisance Cat Ordinance

A city council in West Virginia has approved the second reading of an ordinance that would stop people within its limits from keeping cats that create a nuisance.

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports the Princeton City Council unanimously approved the second reading of the amended ordinance Monday.

Under the revised ordinance, nobody within the city limits can keep or own a cat that creates a nuisance or disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood.

The amendment also prohibits residents from keeping an excessive number of cats. According to the ordinance, cat rescue owners must possess an animal rescue permit and will have to apply for the permit within seven days before taking on additional cats.

The ordinance also requires cat owners have their pets vaccinated against rabies.

Martinsburg Joins Shepherdstown in Sunday Morning Alcohol Sales

Restaurants in Martinsburg are now able to sell alcohol before 1 p.m. on Sundays.

The Martinsburg City Council approved a home rule law Thursday night to allow the sale of alcohol at restaurants, wineries, distilleries and private clubs beginning at 10 a.m. on Sundays.

Martinsburg was one of six municipalities in West Virginia that the Municipal Home Rule Board approved this month to change city law to sell alcohol before 1 p.m. on Sundays.

Lawmakers passed a bill commonly referred to as the ‘brunch bill’ during the 2016 state Legislative session. The bill allows county commissions to put the alcohol time change on the November ballot for a referendum if they choose to do so.

The Berkeley County Commission had already voted to put the referendum on the fall ballot.

Proposed Non-Discrimination Ordinance Causes Controversy in Martinsburg

The Martinsburg City Council is considering an ordinance that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in both housing and employment. The state of West Virginia does not provide these protections to the LGBT community although lawmakers have introduced bills for several years that would do so.

Because of the lack of support at the state level, members of Fairness West Virginia, an LGBT rights group, have spent the past year or so calling on cities to pass these protections. At the Martinsburg meeting Wednesday night, members of the community were heavily divided.

The Martinsburg City Council Chamber was packed Wednesday night. Martinsburg and other Eastern Panhandle citizens came out to either listen or speak regarding the chamber’s proposed non-discrimination draft ordinance.

If approved, the ordinance would prohibit any business or landlord in the city from discriminating against someone because they are gay, bi-sexual, or transgender.

Petitions lasted for two hours. The speakers were almost evenly divided with 21 in support and 24 against.

Republican Delegates John Overington and Michael Folk also spoke against the ordinance.

After deliberation, council members voted in favor of drafting the non-discrimination ordinance, but say they will take both sides’ concerns into account.

The draft ordinance will be made public in 30-60 days.

Charleston's Big Question: Gun Laws or Home Rule?

A gun rights group has gone to court in an attempt to stop enforcement of Charleston’s gun ordinances.
 
     The West Virginia Citizens Defense League asked Kanawha Circuit Court on Tuesday to issue an injunction against the ordinances.
 

The group says Charleston isn’t complying with a new state law that removed the authority to regulate guns from cities participating in West Virginia’s home rule program.
 
     Charleston officials haven’t decided whether to opt out of the program or modify the city’s gun ordinances.
 
     The ordinances limit handgun purchases and prohibit handguns and other deadly weapons on public property.
 
     City Attorney Paul Ellis says the city will review the complaint and respond in court.

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