These individuals should be required to fill out a form as detailed and comprehensive as those filed by executives in the federal government. It is no secret that a consultant to one of the panels is also a major contractor to developers both for infrastructure and in assisting them obtaining approval before various county agencies. Yet this is not on the official record, nor is he barred from advising county officials on policies and decisions directly affecting his private clients. Jefferson County is growing and is growing up. The basic steps outlined in this letter would go a long way towards improving our public decision and administrative processes.
Every step is legal, commonly practiced by neighboring counties, and available for immediate action.
It only requires willingness by our county officials to realize that the West Virginia State Code doesn't give them detailed instructions on everything they can do, it just gives them broad guidelines. The law allows our leaders to lead. The law allows our leaders to do the right thing. The law allows our leaders to adopt successful best practices to make our county work better. It is time to get creative and bold to serve the interests of everyone in the general public.