Prior to the January 2nd, 2024 meeting, The Grantsville City Council had met on the previous Saturday in a meeting of questionable standing when it was held without notice to the public as required by law. At that meeting the Council voted between two applicants to appoint Emily Robinson to the position of City Councilwoman, replacing William Villers who had resigned mid term.
According to the Guide to the West Virginia Open Governmental Proceedings Act(Code §§ 6-9A-1 through 12) the law reads as follows in the blue highlighted Section.
The Agenda for the January 2nd meeting (below) included the swearing in of a new, unnamed councilmember. ln an attempt to fix the voting in error, Mayor Robert Petrovsky made an agenda addition during the January 2, 2024 meeting allowing the the remaining four council members to vote again on the appointment of Ms. Robinson.
With regard to an agenda being changed, In accordance with the WV State code, it states that this can only occur if a “true emergency arises.”
The council was advised of the aforementioned issues, and chose to take no action.
Over the weekend it was reported to the Ridgeview News that there was further issues with the appointment of the new council member. The newly appointed Council member was not listed as an eligible voter in District 6 of the Calhoun County Clerk but rather was listed with an address in Arnoldsburg, WV making her completely ineligible to even be considered.
The Town Council should meet again on February 5th, 2024 and in accordance with the law the this matter should be addressed.
