Select Committee on the Size and Election of Council — Charleston, WV
Date: 2024-01-11
Time: 17:30

CITY OF CHARLESTON
 West Virginia
 Council Member – AT-LARGE
 Jennifer Pharr Planning, Streets and Traffic Committee, Vice Chair
 209 52nd St. SE Environment and Recycling Committee
 Charleston, West Virginia 25304
 304-615-7574
 jennifer.pharr@cityofcharleston.org


 AGENDA
 SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SIZE AND ELECTION OF COUNCIL
 January 11, 2024 5:30 PM
 AV ROOM #308, CITY HALL
 501 VIRGINA ST. E.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

1. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

 11-9-2023

2. DISCUSSION

 Location/Dates/Times for Public Listening Sessions regarding the size of Council.

 Topics of discussion for the listening sessions.

 Comments from committee members.

3. ADJOURN



JP/ns


 *Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com




 City Council | 501 Virginia Street, East | Post Office Box 2749 | Charleston, West Virginia 25330
 www.charlestonwv.gov | 304.348.8179 | 304.348.8038 fax

CITY OF CHARLESTON
 West Virginia
 Council Member – AT-LARGE
 Jennifer Pharr Planning, Streets and Traffic Committee, Vice Chair
 209 52nd St. SE Environment and Recycling Committee
 Charleston, West Virginia 25304
 304-615-7574
 jennifer.pharr@cityofcharleston.org


 AGENDA
 SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE SIZE AND ELECTION OF COUNCIL
 January 11, 2024 5:30 PM
 AV ROOM #308, CITY HALL
 501 VIRGINA ST. E.
_________________________________________________________________________________________

1. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

 11-9-2023

2. DISCUSSION

 Location/Dates/Times for Public Listening Sessions regarding the size of Council.

 Topics of discussion for the listening sessions.

 Comments from committee members.

3. ADJOURN



JP/ns


 *Meetings may be recorded and broadcast via internet https://charlestonwv.civicclerk.com




 City Council | 501 Virginia Street, East | Post Office Box 2749 | Charleston, West Virginia 25330
 www.charlestonwv.gov | 304.348.8179 | 304.348.8038 fax

 Page | 1 of
 MINUTES
 SELECT COMMITTEE ON SIZE AND ELECTION OF COUNCIL

 THE MEETING WAS HELD IN THE AV ROOM #308 IN CITY HALL.

 5:30 P. M., NOVEMBER 9, 2023

Jennifer Pharr, Chair, called the meeting of the Select Committee on Size and Election
of Council to order at 5:30p.m., November 9, 2023.

Committee Members Present:
Mary Beth Hoover (over Zoom)
Sam Minardi
Emmett Pepper
Jennifer Pharr
Chad Robinson
Jonathan Frazier


Members Absent:
Chuck Overstreet
Karen Williams
Mark Davis


Other Councilmember Present:
Joe Solomon
Beth Kerns



A roll call was taken, and it was determined that a quorum was present.




 November 9, 2023

 Page | 2 of
 1. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

Councilmember Robinson motioned to approve the previous minutes from 10-25-2023.
Councilmember Minardi seconded the motion. With those being present having voted
unanimously in the affirmative, the Chair declared the minutes as approved.



 2. UPDATES/DISCUSSION

 • Update from City Attorney Kevin Baker regarding data from the Municipal League
 concerning the size of other municipalities
Baker shared the information gathered by the Municipal League that listed cities in West
Virginia, their population, Council size and population per Councilmember. There are
about 8 cities that have a higher population per Councilmember than Charleston.


 •  Memo presentation from Councilmember Pepper concerning the size of other
 municipalities
Councilmember Pepper added that Charleston has a larger than average City Council,
regardless of population size (being the 7th or 13th in the country). Of interest are the
“Neighborhood Advisory Commissions” that cities like DC have. These groups do not
have voting power, but do have some amount of power and formal recognition. He
added that Charleston has the highest population per Councilmember in the County.
Councilmember Pepper added that most Councils are either all At-Large or all Ward-
based.

From the audience, Councilmember Kerns asked if he had done any research on full-
time versus part-time Councilmembers and pay. Councilmember Pepper replied that he
didn’t specifically focus on that.

Councilmember Pharr added that she found the Super Districts to be interesting, as well
as the data from Massachusetts and Connecticut.


 • Discussion regarding cost of Charleston City Council
Baker shared a memo from the Finance Director, Andy Wood, showing the various
costs of City Council. He noted that insurance was the highest contribution the City
made.

Chief of Staff, Matt Sutton, added that the budget assumes that every Councilmember
will take the City’s insurance. Presently 18/26 currently have City insurance.
Councilmember Pepper confirmed that Councilmembers who did not take City
insurance would therefore cost less than those that did. Baker added that the cost
would also depend on which insurance plan was chosen. Councilmember Pharr
confirmed that the current budgeted cost for each Councilmember was $16,856.


 November 9, 2023

 Page | 3 of
Councilmeber Pharr asked if other cities in West Virginia provided health insurance to
Councilmembers. Baker did not know, and Sutton replied that they probably did not.

Councilmeber Pepper confirmed that changing the insurance provided to
Councilmembers could be done with it going on a ballot. Frazier asked how funds
allocated in the budget for insurance that were not used worked. Baker replied that
unused funds would go in the Unassigned Fund Balance (surplus). Frazier confirmed
that Councilmembers have been given the opportunity to take City insurance for a very
long time.

Councilmember Pepper added that Councilmembers felt different than employees in
that they received what was basically a stipend for their service. Councilmember
Minardi added that Councilmembers weren’t doing this to make money, but the City
would want to attract quality people to run for office, insurance being an enticing perk.
Councilmember Robinson pointed out that Councilmembers with insurance do pay
premiums just like every other employee. Councilmember Hoover added that the
previous City insurance was more expensive, and that most of her paycheck went to the
premium. She doubted that anyone was running for City Council for the insurance/pay.
However, she thought it was a great perk that they should not get rid of. It doesn’t
bother her if Councilmembers take the insurance or not. Councilmember Pharr agreed
that she liked that insurance was an option. Councilmember Pepper confirmed that
approximately 84% of insurance costs are covered by the City for all employees,
including Councilmembers.

Councilmember Pharr agreed that it would be helpful to look into full-time versus part-
time pay as well as any other benefits with other municipalities.


 • Discussion regarding bipartisan elections
Baker added that the cost of the last election was approximately $70,000 for the
Primary Election and $77,000 for the General Election. Councilmember Robinson
pointed out that there would only be savings with a bi-partisan election if every elected
position was changed to be non-partisan, including the Mayor, City Treasurer, etc.
Councilmember Minardi added that cost savings was only one part of the consideration.
Mayor Goodwin added that it is widely agreed that Party politics does not usually play a
role in this level of government.

From the audience, Councilmember Solomon added that one of the benefits of parties
is that that can offer accountability of voting within that Party’s platform.

Councilmember Pepper added that Detroit had an open Primary Elections. Baker
replied that would require a West Virginia State Law change, but might be possible
through Home Rule.




 November 9, 2023

 Page | 4 of
 • Updates from Committee Members
Councilmember Minardi added that term limits was brought up at the last meeting.
Councilmember Pharr agreed that it would be a good topic to discuss. Councilmember
Pharr confirmed that the Legislature did not have term limits. Baker added that the only
term limits in West Virginia are the Governor and Sherrif, which is 2 terms. Baker added
that adding term limits would require a change of the Charter. Councilmember Robinson
added that term limits are usually set for Congress etc., not lower-level elected officials.
Councilmember Pepper agreed that he wasn’t a big fan of term limits for Council
positions. Frazier added that he was in favor of some type of term limits, and it would
prevent a stagnant city.

Councilmember Solomon added it would be good to have resources on the City’s web
page that explained how to run for office.

Councilmember Phar added that they needed to hear from the public. Councilmember
Minardi added that they should also accept written comment or polls as well.
Councilmembers Pharr and Pepper agreed that there should be specific topics when
gathering public opinion. The Committee decided to have at least one more meeting
before any public hearings. Councilmember Robinson added that he would prefer
written forms over public ones. Councilmember Pharr added that there needed to be a
way to ensure actual residents were filling out the forms.

Councilmember Pepper motioned that the Chair give Council a report on the Committee
by the last Council meeting of the year. Councilmember Minardi seconded the motion.
With those being present having voted unanimously in the affirmative, the Chair
declared the motion approved.



 • Next date to meet and potential topics for next meeting

The Committee decided that the next meeting would be January 11, 2024, at 5:30.




Councilmember Minardi motioned to adjourn the meeting.
Meeting adjourned.




 November 9, 2023

 Page | 5 of
 Council Reps

Board of Zoning Appeals None
Central WV Regional Airport Authority None
Charleston Building Commission None
Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center 2 Hoover/Robinson
Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau 2 Ceperley/Pharr
Charleston Green Team None
Charleston Land Reuse Agency 2 Pepper/Gianola
Charleston Sanitary Board None
Charleston Urban Renewal Authority 2 Ceperley/Rubio
Charleston-Kanawha Housing Authority None
City Center Business Improvement District None
Charleston Victims Assistance Commission 2
Fireman's Civil Service None
Historic Landmarks Commission None (either Council or MPC member)
Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority None
Kanawha -Charleston Board of Health None
Municipal Beautification Commission None
Municipal Planning Commission 1 Hoover
Police Civil Service Commission None
Public Art Commission 1 Cook
Regional Development Authority None
Spring Hill Cemetery Park Commission 2 Pepper/Taylor




 Page | 6 of