MORGANTOWN,W.Va. – Morgantown city council has passed an emergency ordinance that will penalize landlords for initiating eviction proceedings during the pandemic. The order identifies the eviction as a public nuisance, a misdemeanor punishable by a $500 per day that the violation continues.
Tenants would be required to show proof of pandemic-related financial hardships within 30 days after rent is due. Those causes could be substantial loss of income, reduction in business or closure, layoff, inability to work due to a COVID-19 infection, taking care of a family member who has COVID-19, medical costs related to COVID-19 or having to stay home to care for minor children.
Third Ward councilor Zack Cruze said as the pandemic wears on more and more people are experiencing financial hardships.
“One-in-three people are struggling to pay their July mortgage right now,” Cruze said,”We’re about to be overwhelmed with individuals who are suffering, West Virginia already sees incredibly high rates of poverty.”
The emergency order does not relieve the tenant of paying rent and does not restrict the landlord’s ability to collect rent due.
“This authority for evictions is just targeted at property owners which the city does regualte be virtue of them being within the city,” Legal counsel for the city of Morgantown, Ryan Simonton said,”It doesn’t keep the courts from processing evictions because the courts here are state courts and not under city control.”
While the emergency ordinance passed, Fourth Ward councilor Jenny Selin wants to pursue state or federal COVID-19 relief money to stave off proceedings in the future.
“Help get CARES funds into our area so there are funds to support families that need this,” Selin said,”I believe that’s the route to go because the landlords would be made whole and the tenants would remain in the property.”
Council members also approved language to the emergency mask order saying when employees are the only person in a place of employment, or in a defined separate place/area no mask is required. Council also agreed to allow the city manager to limit crowd size, consistent with orders from the governor and whenever possible, and in cases the employee may request, gatherings should be minimized by electronic participation.
Approval was given to the city manager to pursue the $1.8 million grant for the design and environmental work for the Morgantown Municipal Airport Runway 1836 extension.
By a unanimous vote council approved a Black Lives Matter crosswalk in the Greenmont neighborhood at the intersection of Arch and Green Streets. The work will be done with city forces.
While debating the final colors and layout of the crosswalk Democrat Delegate Danielle Walker scolded council for not doing the homework to determine what the proper colors should be. The initial proposal included white edge lines with a yellow and white ladder. Walker reminded the traditional colors for the black culture are red, yellow, green and black.
“I just feel like it’s colorism at this moment and it’s a modern day slave auction block,” Walker said,”You’re playing with my culture, my children are listening to this meeting.”
Council members will carefully review the design and colors before the project moves forward.
City manager Emily Muzzarelli told council members the plans to fix the White Avenue slide are under review by the administration. The cost of the project is expected to be $163,000 plus a $15,000 grant for utility relocation. As soon as the review is complete the project will go out for bid. White Avenue has been cloased since the spring of 2019 due to the slide.
Council members also heard testimony from more than 20 people and at least eight emails regarding the homeless encampment in the lower Greenmont area. Most comments asked council members to allow the camp to stay or find another location where homeless people can can live and move to permanent housing options are located. The encampment issue has been moved to the committee of the whole meeting for Tuesday, July 28 at 7 p.m.