MORGANTOWN, W.Va. The Monongalia County Commission hopes to continue the trend of full transparency during the WV First Foundation board selection process.
After they announced six candidates that will be considered by the county as nominees for a spot on the opioid settlement fund board, Commission President Tom Bloom called for the twelve other counties as part of the Region 4 board seat to support a transparent selection process. This was supported by the other two commissioners as part of an effort to present full disclosure for the opioid settlement board that will determine over $1 billion in fund distribution.
“Mon County Commission has been on the forefront of transparency going from our budget, and other counties have picked up our process; we’re very clear that we want everything in the open,” said Bloom on what prompted the call for transparency for the WV First Foundation board selection.
The Commission will present the proposal to formally require full transparency from the WV First Foundation board to the other thirteen counties as part of the Region 4 board representative vote on July 13. The vote will not only include Monongalia County but also Preston, Marion, Braxton, Lewis, Harrison, Taylor, Tucker, Barbour, Randolph, Gilmer, Doddridge, and Upshur counties. With each county expected to bring a similar number of nominees to consider to represent Region 4 on the eleven-person board, Bloom hopes the steps towards full transparency can begin there.
“It is possible,” said Bloom on the chances that full transparency will garner support. “I would like to have the discussion because I think it is important for everyone to explain why or who they’re supporting, not just listening to the individual, and I think it’s important that everything’s open,” he said.
According to the established rules as part of the Open Meetings Act, executive sessions can be held by the WV First Foundation board as part of its incorporation as a state-implemented nonprofit settlement fund. If a Monongalia County board member is selected for the Region 4 board seat, Bloom stated that a call to formally disclose interactions with the board will be proposed to the four other regionally represented board members along with the six appointed by Governor Jim Justice. Despite the initiative, there’s an expectation that full transparency won’t be a major fight with other board members.
“I believe it’s going to be in the bylaws; I think everyone realizes that, but it’s just that we’re proactive here in Monongalia County,” Bloom said.
When Bloom and the rest of the Mon County Commission meet with the rest of the counties represented by Region 4, it’s expected that the call for transparency will be one of the first priorities ahead of the Region 4 board member vote. This follows a common theme of transparency for the county commission that will be doubled down on as part of the board member nomination process, with the expectation that the six Monongalia County candidates will be interviewed ahead of the July 13 meeting. The hope is that by setting an example, transparency will be an easy sell, despite the over sixty representatives across the Mountain State who will have a say in how the WV First Foundation board is shaped.
“We just want to make sure that there is no appearance that meetings are being held without being open to the public and the process, because it’s $1.1 billion,” said Bloom.