Ward & Boundary Commission

WARD & BOUNDARY COMMISSION MEETING Thursday, February 6, 2014 10:00 a.m. City Hall – Council Chambers PRESENT: Chairman Alan Donaldson, Commission members: Don West, David Huffman, William Ryan, Roger Banks and Guy Panrell. City of Morgantown Administration: City Clerk Linda Little, Deputy City Clerk Bethany Sypolt, City Clerk’s Office Assistant Devon Milam, and Assistant City Engineer Damien Davis. Commissioner Steve Carpenter was absent. City Councilman Bill Kawecki was present in the audience. The meeting was called to order by Chairman Donaldson at 10:01 a.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion by Mr. West, second by Mr. Huffman to approve the minutes from the September 11, 2013 and January 9, 2014 meetings of the Ward and Boundary Commission. The minutes were approved as presented by unanimous consent. PUBLIC PORTION: There being no appearances, Chairman Donaldson declared the Public Portion closed. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Mr. Davis presented a replacement map to the Commissioners, as the map drawn on at the last meeting could not be produced. The Commission reviewed changes they had approved at their last meeting. Chairman Donaldson reviewed the voter registration numbers by ward, and Ms. Little reminded the Commission where they left off at the last meeting in their task of equalizing the wards by number of registered voters. Discussion continued on how to reconcile between the third and second wards, followed by a motion from Mr. Panrell, second by Mr. Huffman to leave second and third wards as they are. The motion carried by unanimous consent. Ms. Little then referenced back to the minutes of the last meeting, for the benefit of the Council person in attendance who had just arrived, and to remind everyone present what actions were last taken by the Commission.  Mr. Panrell then suggested that the number of voters affected in the last meeting’s boundary adjustments be tallied and compared to the original totals in order to double check the previous changes made. Mr. Davis and Mrs. Sypolt then assisted the Commissioners by referencing voter registration records to collect the data requested in order for calculations to be made. The Commission then discussed and considered changes to the fourth and seventh ward boundaries. After discussion, motion by Mr. Ryan, second by Mr. West to adjust the fourth and seventh ward boundary, adding four hundred fourteen voters to the seventh ward in order to balance the total number of voters in both wards. This includes the streets Jacobs, Mulberry, Kenmore, and Rotary from University to Parkview; all of Laurel, Fairlawns, Cambridge, Oxford and the odd side of Elmhurst as drawn by the Commissioners and shown on the map provided to them. Motion carried by unanimous consent. Discussion then returned to the second and third wards, and the commission re-examined whether reconciliation between the wards is actually necessary by double checking the previous calculations. Meanwhile, the Commissioners discussed the potential for a change in the Commission leadership. Mr. Panrell agreed to begin training with Chairman Donaldson and assume the role of Co-Chair. The commission agreed by consensus. The rules were then suspended and Councilor Kawecki addressed the Commission, reminding them of upcoming construction projects in the adjustment area being considered in second and third wards. The Commissioners considered a boundary adjustment in the downtown area. Motion by Mr. Ryan, second by Mr. Banks, to adjust the second and third ward boundary, adding one hundred twenty nine voters to the second ward from the third ward by amending the boundary to include Pleasant Street and all streets south to Deckers Creek. Motion carried by unanimous consent. The Commissioners then asked that a new map be provided for the next meeting to assist in the preparation of the Ordinance. The new map should illustrate all the boundary adjustments made in the last two meetings of the Commission, including precinct boundaries and annexations. The Chair was requested to provide final numbers and percentages illustrating the changes made at the next meeting, as he has done in the past. ADJOURNMENT: There being no further business, motion by Mr. Ryan, second by Mr. Banks to adjourn. The meeting adjourned by unanimous consent at 11:44 a.m. Prepared by: _________________________ Chair Bethany Sypolt Date Approved: _________________