MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The effort to repeal the Morgantown camping ban passed in September has been ruled insufficient by the city administration.
Director of Communications Brad Riffie issued a statement Thursday morning that said the effort fell short by 392 valid signatures. The statement said,” The petitioners needed 1,310 signatures. Over 2,000 signatures were submitted. 956 signatures were considered valid. Please refer to article 8 in Morgantown’s city charter for procedure after filing information.”
“In the Morgantown City Charter it says they have 10 days after they receive the certification through certified mail, so does that mean they have 10 days after they receive it in the mail, or would an email suffice?” Seventh Ward Councilor Brian Butcher asked
Butcher said the Morgantown Coalition for Housing Action averaged 60 to 70 signatures during the initial drive and he expects them to restart that effort.
“If they have ten days and the petition is short by anything less than 600, it will be right back to what they were doing before,” Butcher said.
Butcher was not a part of the efforts of the coalition, and while he opposes any ban on camping the voters are the best group to make the decision.
“I voted against it, so I would like to see it repealed or at least brought to the voters,” Butcher said. “I think that would be the best outcome, let’s see how the voters feel about it.”
Butcher is concerned about unintended consequences in terms of costs to public safety, community court, and potential municipal liability. In Clarksburg, councilors have passed the first reading of a camping ban and in Fairmont voluntary options have been given to property owners to police enforcement of their trespassing ordinance 24-hours a day.
“These issues are not going to be made better by passing these bans and it’s caused other communities to follow suit,” Butcher said. “By their own stated purpose and the way they want to enforce this ordinance is going to further burden our systems.”
Third Ward Councilor Weez Michael provided the following statement to WAJR:
I would like to express my gratitude to the City Clerk for her invaluable assistance. We are fortunate to have dedicated professionals like her serving the City of Morgantown, and we truly appreciate her commitment to our community.
In recent years, it has become clear that our city needed to address the challenges faced by the unsheltered community. It is essential for the safety and well-being of all residents in our city and county that we take action. I view the camping ban as an important first step in guiding unhoused individuals toward the right resources, whether that involves shelter or drug rehabilitation and recovery services.
It is crucial that we ensure people are not forced to live outdoors in the harsh conditions often found in encampments. Our goal is to help them find safer living environments. I envision Morgantown leading the way in West Virginia by approaching this issue with care and compassion, while connecting individuals to appropriate resources. Together with organizations like Catholic Charities, our other local shelter, and rehabilitation centers, we are committed to carrying out this mission effectively, with a focus on helping those in need.
Additionally, we are dedicated to making affordable housing more accessible and expanding shelter beds for residents in Morgantown and Monongalia County. – Louise “Weez” Michael