MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Due to the COVID-19 crisis members of Morgantown city council has agreed to table the nuisance ordinance issue.
Several community members spoke in favor of tabling the measure due to the crisis and constitutional concerns.
Council members reported that many food pantries need volunteers because people who run the facilities are considered medically at risk during the COVID-19 outbreak. Residents are urged to weigh their risks and consider donating either time or money. As the crisis continues, council members fear food supplies will begin to suffer.
Third Ward Councilman Zack Cruze raised immediate concerns about large gatherings and asked for the emergency declaration to be enacted.
“We’re essentially having large parties within the Third Ward. There’s a house I can see out my window currently that’s basically operating as a nightclub now,”Cruze said,”Last night, they had strobe lights and a large party.”
Morgantown Chief of Police Ed Preston explained they have responded to serveral reports and they have either dispersed or the report was exaggerated.
“We had one report of 30 people on a porch, it was four when we got there,”Preston said,”More of the things we’re dealing with are loud noise complaints, with more people being at home they’re seeing and hearing things they would have heard because normally they would be at work.”
Preston added that violations of the governor’s order could be punished by up to one year in jail, while city emergency declaration carries a $500 fine and no jail time.
Members of council expressed concerns about the homeless population through the crisis and wanted to take action, Councilor Cruze suggested temporary camps with hygiene facilities.
“Establishing, like other cities have done a temporary tent camp for individuals who are unsheltered and who may be experiencing mental health or other conditions that limit their ability to be sheltered,”Cruze said.
Preston said maintaining social distance in that environment would be nearly impossible and keeping the hygiene facilities sanitized would require constant maintenance.