MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -Leadership from the Morgantown Utility Board (MUB) and city officials have held their first meeting since councilors proposed a revision of the ordinance governing MUB operations and the Board of Directors. MUB Board Chairman J.T. Straface told board members the meeting occurred Tuesday and included Morgantown City Manager Kim Haws, Mayor Jenny Selin, MUB G.M. Mike McNulty and Straface.
“It was a somewhat productive meeting,” Straface said. “Trying to set some boundaries on how the next meeting may occur and what the agenda might be.”
Straface added there was free exchange between all parties that helped each side understand how the communication issue became a problem. That dialogue also resulted in a meeting between the full Morgantown City Council and administration with the MUB Board of Directors and leadership on Monday, October 17 at 5 p.m. in County Commission Chambers.
“The purpose of the meeting is to try to understand the communication deficiencies that the council has and we might resolve that,” Straface said.
Clarifying the definition of “ordinary course of business” and a better understanding the purpose of council approval for projects valued at over $1 million. Board members cited the cost of equipment and typical projects that are nearing the $1 million mark and probability that inflation would push even more projects above the proposal approval level.
Straface said additional meetings of both bodies are possible in the future. Some of those meeting include what Straface called a “facilitator.”
“It’s like team building right, and it’s not MUB and city council,” Straface said. ” It’s MUB and the city council and how can we figure out a way these become more of a “one entity” type of conversation.”
Straface expressed a desire to breakdown the communication process into deliverables for each side that could be clearly understood.
“It’s just a matter of understanding what information somebody wants and how you’re going to present that information,” Straface said. “To me solving the communication gap, or whatever you want to call it is simple.”
Board Vice Chair, Barbara Parsons suggested a more comprehensive orientation process could create a more seamless transition when new board members are confirmed. She added that incoming board members should have more clear understanding of MUB facilities and expansion over the last several years.
“This really draws it all out and brings us to this point of having to educate,” Parsons said. “So, we can stop all that on the front end if everybody agrees to a little more in depth orientation and maybe tours.”
Board Treasurer Tom Witt praised city council members for approving a diverse group of board members that serve ratepayers and MUB facilities and asset. He cited the engineering experience of Straface, the economic development experience brought to the board by Erik Carlson, public finance knowledge by Karen Kunz and human resource experience from Barbara Parsons.
There were no members of Morgantown City Council or administration present.