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ELKINS -- Mayor Van Broughton cast the deciding vote after Elkins City Council was deadlocked in a tie vote on whether to have an attorney prepare a proposed ordinance making city charter changes for council to vote on.
Broughton voted in favor of the motion, and attorney Tim Stranko will prepare the ordinance -- with charter changes including changing Elkins to a city-manager-style form of government -- for a vote at the next council meeting on Oct. 15.
During a lengthy discussion at Thursday evening's council meeting, several proposed charter changes were tossed aside. For example, there will be no change to city council's makeup or to how the council members are elected.
However, if the charter ordinance is approved, city elections will take place the second Tuesday in June every odd-numbered year, a change from city election tradition.
The most spirited discussion Thursday night involved the proposed change to city-manager-style of government.
Second Ward Councilman Charlie Friddle said he would like to move forward with a city-manager-style of government to be included in the ordinance to be considered by council. He said if there are objections raised during that meeting the matter would have to be decided by the public in an election.
Third Ward Councilman Carman Metheny said he disagreed with changing the form of government.
City Clerk Jessica Sutton said this was still a discussion, but noted she wanted to present an ordinance at the next council meeting.
"This is the final decision that needs to made," she said.
Friddle recommended including a change to city-manager-style of government with three standing committees to be included in the proposed ordinance.
Fourth Ward Councilwoman Karen Wilmoth recommended staying with the current style of government with five standing committees.
First Ward Councilman Rob Chenoweth recommended keeping the current government and committees.
"I am trying to get the city manger in front of the people to vote on," Friddle said.
Friddle then made a motion to include the city-manager-style of government. Metheny asked if the motion required a second, Sutton said it did not.
Friddle requested a roll call vote.
Metheny then made a motion to postpone the decision to the next meeting because two council members -- First Ward Councilwoman Judy Guye and Third Ward Councilman Chris Lowther -- were not present.
A roll call vote was taken on Metheny's motion to delay the decision. He, Chenoweth and Fifth Ward Councilwoman Linda Vest voted yes. Friddle, Wilmoth, Fifth Ward Councilman David Parker, Fourth Councilwoman Marilynn Counzo and Second Ward Councilman Michael Hinchman voted against the motion, with it failing by a 5-3 vote.
Then a roll call vote was taken to include the city-manager-style of government change in the proposed ordinance.
Friddle, Parker, Cuonzo and Hinchman voted yes. Metheny, Wilmoth, Chenoweth and Vest voted no.
Following the rules of city government, Broughton broke the tie and voted in favor of the motion.
Broughton submitted the following comments to The Inter-Mountain for inclusion in this article:
"Last evening, Council discussed the proposed Charter Changes and the effects they could have on our governing body. In making the tie-breaking vote during this meeting, I wanted to express my support for moving forward with the discussions and potentially see it put to a public vote.
"Discussions around changing the form of government have been happening with council for at least sixteen years, and have been included in the City's strategic plans adopted in 2004, 2010 and 2018. I do understand that the council and many residents are divided on this topic. Big concerns have been raised about the financial implications and what benefits our city could see from investing in this change. I am trying to remain impartial, yet open-minded, to the information that has been provided to us. I feel that to embrace progress we must first recognize the opportunity for growth and how to appropriately implement it. For example, the completion of Corridor-H could improve accessibility to our area and prompt a surge in our economy. We are making great strides in expanding our medical facilities, professional services, and opportunities for tourism. I would like to see our community continue to improve, and sometimes change can prove most beneficial to this process.
"In order to keep this a consideration for the future, we must take some action now to maintain the momentum we have. With the passage of this motion there will now be an ordinance drafted and presented to Council. I encourage all citizens to reach out to their ward representatives to ask questions, voice your opinions, or simply share your insight so that we may make the most informed decision possible as a body. This is a big decision for us, and we are all in this together."