Mersh Sends Letter Requesting Council to Take Action

A letter (as seen below) was issued by Crystal Mersh, to the Town of Grantsville on January 24th, 2024 regarding the newly discovered issues with the Council’s January appointment of a council member.

Mrs. Mersh has been accused of manipulating and controlling people in Calhoun County since the 1982 Foundation came on the scene two years ago. Ridgeview News has been one of those of whom some of those people have said she controls. Which I can assure you is the furthest thing from the truth. Have I promoted the 1982 venture, you bet! Just as I do any positive movement in the community. And if you can show me anything that has made such a positive impact on the County as what Crystal Mersh and her teams have done, I’ll promote it all! What the powers that be are upset about is the fact that Crystal can get things done. She forces nobody to do anything. She asks, and the citizens of Calhoun step up, because that’s who most of the citizens in Calhoun County are. It’s just that they’ve never had anyone believe in them like Crystal does.

I have set in meeting after meeting that the 1982 Foundation stood absolutely nothing to gain from, but were there in support of those organizations. The Town of Grantsville meetings are included in those. Her letter below is shared with you for no other purpose than to provide you more insight into what has driven this issue.

January 24, 2024

Town of Grantsville

– P.O. Box 146, Grantsville, WV 26147

Dear Mayor, Recorder and Council Members:

I am writing to express in words my extreme disappointment with the way the Council “appointed” the new Council member, Emily Robinson. I also seek to see this illegal appointment revoked by the Council.

On December 14, 2023, an advertisement was placed in the Calhoun Chronicle requesting individuals interested in joining the Town Council, to apply by December 29, 2023. Two people applied: Teresa Overton and Emily Robinson.

On Saturday, December 30, 2023, Town Council members met in a private working session. This session was held without the Mayor’s presence or providing him prior notification of the meeting, to select a new Council member. However, there was no public notice provided for this meeting. This is a violation of the West Virginia Open Governmental Proceedings Act (W. Va Code 6-9A-1 through 12). Therefore, making this meeting and vote invalid.

On Tuesday, January 2, 2024, Ms. Overton spoke to Mayor Petrovsky in the afternoon. He informed her that the Town Council members had met on Saturday, without his knowledge until the meeting was nearly over. The Town Recorder called him after they had voted on the next Town Council member, and they selected Emily Robinson. Grantsville Town Council held their regular monthly meeting that evening (January 2, 2024) at 6:00 pm. At this meeting, the Mayor prompted the Town Council to revote, because he was informed by the Ridgeview News that the town council’s private “working session” was illegal. However, voting at this meeting was also illegal, due to the fact the vote was not on the agenda. Amendments to an agenda must be done two days before the meeting and posted for public observation.

I have also learned that Emily Robinson was ineligible to run for Town Council or even vote in any town election. Per our County Clerk, Jean Simers, Emily Robinson is registered in district 7. Only people registered in district 6 are eligible to vote or run for office in the Town of Grantsville’s election. On January 19, 2024, Ms. Overton asked the Town Recorder for a copy of the minutes of the last Town Council’s meeting. The Recorder informed her that she did not have the meeting minutes typed. Furthermore, she was not permitted to make copies of the any approved meeting minutes; she could only read them. Per WV Code 6-9A-5 these are public records and are to be typed and available to the public within a reasonable time after the meeting.

I just want the Town’s government to do what is right. Any person who is a member of a public or governmental body required to conduct open meetings in compliance with the provisions of this article and who willfully and knowingly violates the provisions of this article is guilty of a misdemeanor .

As part of their duty and oath, sworn in by each of the members of the Town’s government, elected officials should be very familiar with The Municipal Handbook for Elected Officials. If they had been, these egregious errors would not have happened. This handbook should have been provided to the newest council members immediately upon taking office, my understand is that they were not. Those who have been part of the Town’s government for some time, have no excuse to not know and follow this handbook. I insist that this matter be put on the agenda and addressed at the February 5, 2024, Town Council meeting. Ms. Overton is the only eligible person that applied for this Town Council seat. Therefore, I expect to see the Town Council rescind their illegal votes and appoint her to the council.I strongly recommend that this illegal appointment of the ineligible council member be revoked and Ms. Overton, who is the only eligible canidate, be appointed at the Febuary 5th Town Council Meeting.Furthermore, be advised that if this matter is not handled in accordance to WV State Code, I will file a complaint in Circut Court and have this matter reviewed.Sincerely,

Sincerely, Crystal Mersh