MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A new contract for Morgantown City Manager Kim Haws has been approved by city council.
The new contract was approved unanimously after a vote on the contract was put on hold three weeks ago. Despite concerns from members of council over details in the contract that included residency requirements and paid time off, no discussions were held during council’s regular meeting Tuesday night ahead of approval. The lack of conversation is leading to concerns from city residents.
“I am very concerned about what just happened with the contract that was approved; there was no discussion,” said resident and First Ward council candidate in the upcoming election, James Giuiliani during the public portion of council’s meeting. “So three weeks go by, we change whatever we change, we go about our business, and we approve something that I think the public isn’t really aware of, and there wasn’t any public hearing for that,” he said.
Haws is scheduled to make approximately $154,500 per year, according to the new contract. Haws will also receive 9.25 hours of paid time off per pay period, as well as a $600 monthly vehicle allowance. This is a change from the $150,000-a-year contract with an increase in vacation time and a $500-per-month vehicle allowance. Official documents reflecting a Morgantown residency will also be required from Haws in the new contract. Despite some changes, resident concerns about contract negotiations remain difficult to dismiss.
“I understand that it might not be because of an ordinance, but the fact of the matter is, there should’ve been able to be public input in the decision here on the contract that was being made,” said Giuliani.
Guiliani also expressed the need for the city to address concerns regarding the Morgantown Fire and Police Departments. As litigation continues for firefighters over personnel policies and the City of Morgantown continues to struggle with vacancies in the police department, the timing of negotiations to settle the city manager’s contract is being considered a sticking point. Especially with firefighters entering almost half a decade of litigation with the city personnel policies regarding pay.
“If indeed we were able to, in three weeks, manipulate, negotiate, or whatever we did to get to the manager’s contract, why can’t we figure out how to get the pay increases to where we need them to be so that the firemen, the fire and police departments, could possibly come to the table?” he said.
Haws’ original contract consisted of a base salary of $150,000 per year with a $500 per month vehicle allowance and a paid time off accrual that would be similar to other city employees who have entry-level tenure. According to Giuliani, firefighter should expect the same sense of urgency from the city to firefighter and policeman policy issues.
“The firemen and police departments, could possibly come to the table, and that we could possibly get the no confidence taken off that we have on this whole city council and this administration,” said Giuliani.