Latest news with #DanielleTrumble
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Can council repeal the city's camping ban?
Jul. 4—MORGANTOWN — Now that a new lineup has been sworn in, could Morgantown City Council simply repeal the camping ban ordinance upheld by the city's voters on April 29 ? Technically, yes. Based on the city charter, there's nothing preventing it. Is it going to ? "I don't think so, " Mayor Danielle Trumble told The Dominion Post, explaining she's not been involved in any conversations regarding the law's repeal. "I respect the decision of the voters, " she added. "But this is a good time to ensure that we are being compassionate with enforcement." The Morgantown camping ban debate kicked off July 2, 2024, and basically ran hot until the end of April, when Morgantown's voters opted not to repeal the ban in a closely contested ballot referendum — 982 voted against repeal while 904 voted to strike it from the books. As part of that same ballot, Morgantown elected two new council members, shifting the apparent majority opinion on the issue based on votes cast and /or public commentary offered by Trumble, Deputy Mayor Brian Butcher, Jodi Hollingshead and Mark Downs. But even if a majority of council is aligned and the city's charter is hands-off on the matter, repealing a law immediately after it was upheld by the voters is shaky ground — not only electorally, but potentially legally. When asked about the legality of a repeal, Trumble consulted the city's attorney and said she was informed that while there's nothing preventing it, there would likewise be nothing preventing a lawsuit for negating the vote. Further, it was explained that most places build in a moratorium on action involving the subject of a referendum. As for enforcement, Morgantown Communications Director Brad Riffee said there had been six warnings issued—but no citations written—as of Wednesday morning. The law took effect June 4. Under the ordinance, a first violation results in a written warning and information about available shelter and services. A second violation may result in a fine of up to $200, and a third violation within a year may result in a fine up to $500 and /or up to 30 days in jail. Individuals cited under the law are eligible for alternative sentencing if they seek assistance with substance use, mental health, or housing-related case management. The city is working with Valley HealthCare Systems to manage the alternative sentencing program. Further, the law says no citation will be issued unless the person in violation has been offered "alternative shelter " and refused the offer. An offer of shelter means an alternate location, which may include "emergency shelter or any alternate indoor or outdoor location where the person may sleep overnight." The problem is—and has been—that there are very limited shelter beds in and around Morgantown. During the most recent council meeting, Butcher said the West Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness made him aware of multiple individuals whose offer of alternative shelter was in another city. "If this shelter was aware of the fact that we were sending people there, they would probably not be too happy about it. It was out of town. I don't know how that necessarily qualifies as an offer of shelter. Technically, I guess it does, " he said. "This is what I was worried about, and the things I was talking about when I said we're putting our first responders in a bad position—where they have to respond to these things in ways that don't necessarily meet the needs of the people they're talking to."
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Council splits 4-3, selects Trumble over Abu-Ghannam for mayor
Jul. 1—MORGANTOWN — If there were lingering questions about whether the city's April election would shift the dynamics within Morgantown City Council, they were answered in about 75 seconds Tuesday evening. As the new council's first order of business, it split 4-3 in selecting 5th Ward Councilor Danielle Trumble over 1st Ward Councilor Joe Abu-Ghannam as the city's mayor for the next year. Brian Butcher was the lone nomination for deputy mayor and was supported unanimously. While the mayor and deputy mayor roles are largely ceremonial as far as official duties, Tuesday's leadership selection is telling in that Trumble and Butcher were the vocal minority within council pushing against the hotly-debated camping ban adopted on a 4-3 vote in September and ultimately upheld by 78 votes in an April ballot question. Abu-Ghannam entered the meeting as the sitting mayor and was nominated by Jenny Selin to remain in the position for another year. Trumble was nominated by Mark Downs as his first official act representing the city's 6th Ward. Trumble received votes from new 2nd Ward Councilor Jodi Hollingshead, Downs, Butcher and herself. Abu-Ghannam supported his nomination, as did Selin and Louise Michael. Tuesday marked the third consecutive year Trumble has been nominated for mayor. On July 11, 2023, council voted 5-2 for Selin over Trumble. On July 2, 2024, the body went 4-2 for Abu-Ghannam, with Butcher choosing not to participate after the needed four votes were secured for the 1st Ward councilor. For additional insight into how the dynamics within council have changed in the past year due to clashes over the camping ban and split votes on issues like ward and boundary adjustments, consider that Michael nominated and backed Trumble for mayor in both 2023 and 2024, but lamented her selection Tuesday, saying, "I think we lost a really good mayor today." Selin, who served the past year as deputy mayor after three consecutive years as mayor, called it "the flow of democracy." "I just really have enjoyed being the deputy mayor and working with Joe Abu-Ghannam in the last year, and the effort that he's put into being even-handed and working with a council that was obviously divided on a few issues, and helped make Morgantown a better place, " she said. "And so, on to the next administration ; see how you all do, and I'm just very glad to be here." For her part, Trumble said she plans to continue her work on behalf of the city, albeit in a new role. Trumble said she'll be "working with staff and other council to hopefully move some things along and get some projects done." In addition to Downs and Hollingshead, who were sworn in as part of their first meeting, Tuesday's session also marked the first for new City Manager Jamie Miller, who began her tenure with the city June 23. "I wanted to start off just telling you all how fantastic the team has been in the last week-plus. Truly a dedicated group of professionals who I truly believe is wanting the best for Morgantown and is serving with their full heart and full service, " Miller said. "It's a pleasure to get to work alongside such a great group of people."
