reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
WV Code § 8-20A-1 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 20A. Neighborhood Rehabilitation|§8-20A-1. Legislative Findings and Purpose

(a) The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the lack of safe, decent, sanitary and affordable owner-occupied and rental dwellings is one of the most serious problems facing this state and that a major contributing factor to this problem is the deterioration of the state's existing housing stock; that these deteriorating dwellings exist in both the urban and rural areas of the state; that a disproportionate number of owners of these deteriorating dwellings are older, less affluent and otherwise less able to afford the expense of the remodeling, repairing and rehabilitating of their residences necessary to maintain such residences in a sanitary, safe and decent condition; that because of the lack of acceptable loan collateral, the age of their residences and the location and age of the neighborhoods in which their residences are located, many of such owners have not been able to borrow funds necessary to effect such remodeling, repair and rehabilitation; and that some of such homeowners who have been able to obtain funds for such purposes have been able to do so only upon rates of interest and upon other terms and conditions which are particularly onerous and disadvantageous to such owners.(b) The Legislature further finds and declares that the assistance authorized in this article will provide, and will encourage private lenders to provide, to such owners, more readily and at rates of interest and upon other terms and conditions significantly more favorable to such owners, the loans necessary to finance the cost of such remodeling, repair and rehabilitation.(c) The Legislature further finds and declares that the powers granted to municipalities and counties in this article will enable them to maximize the use of federal programs for housing rehabilitation.(d) The Legislature further finds and declares that it is manifestly in the public interest to foster the pride, self-respect and esteem incident to home ownership and to encourage and assist in the maintenance of residences, both owner occupied and rental, in a safe, decent and sanitary condition; that without the assistance authorized in this article, there will be continued deterioration of housing with the resultant proliferation of slums, higher crime rates and general decline in civic pride, public spirit and the quality of life, with all of the public cost, direct and indirect, attendant thereon; and that accordingly by providing such assistance, any municipality or county will be acting in all respects for the benefit of the people of the State of West Virginia and shall thereby serve a public purpose in improving and otherwise promoting their health, welfare and prosperity. In order to carry out the general purposes stated herein, the Legislature further declares that the governing body of any county or municipality shall, insofar as it may deem reasonable and proper, give preference to the rehabilitation of owner-occupied dwellings when making grants or loans under this article.
WV Code § 8-20A-2 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 20A. Neighborhood Rehabilitation|§8-20A-2. Definitions

As used in this article, unless the context otherwise requires:(1) "Eligible dwelling" means real estate upon which there is located a structure designed primarily for residential housing and consisting of dwelling units for not more than thirty families: Provided, That all ownership thereof shall be limited to persons who would qualify as eligible owners.(2) "Eligible owner" means a person or persons residing within the boundaries of a municipality or county, and owning an eligible dwelling within the boundaries of that municipality or county, irrespective of race, creed, national origin or sex, with respect to whom it is determined by the governing body of such municipality or county that (a) such person or persons, because of financial condition, age, infirmity, family size or other reasons, is unable to obtain, on suitable terms and conditions, loans or other credit necessary for the rehabilitation of such eligible dwelling, and hence requires the assistance as provided in this article, (b) such rehabilitation is necessary to place such eligible dwelling in a safe, sanitary and decent condition, and (c) the assistance as authorized in this article shall make financing available to such person or persons, or enable such person or persons, to obtain such financing on terms and conditions substantially more favorable to such person or persons than would otherwise be available.(3) "Rehabilitation" means a specific work of improvement within a municipality or county undertaken primarily to remodel, repair or rehabilitate an eligible dwelling.
WV Code § 8-20A-4 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 20A. Neighborhood Rehabilitation|§8-20A-4. Inspection and Technical Assistance

In addition to all other powers and rights of a municipality or county, any municipality or county shall have plenary power and authority, at the request of eligible owners, to inspect the residences of such eligible owners, to make recommendations concerning rehabilitation and to provide all manner of technical services and assistance in the planning, processing and design of needed rehabilitation.
WV Code § 8-20A-5 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 20A. Neighborhood Rehabilitation|§8-20A-5. Deferral of Repayment

The governing body of a municipality or county may, at its discretion, establish criteria for extreme hardship (by reason of age, low income, disability or other factors) applicable to an eligible owner, and which criteria will permit deferral of repayment of a portion or of all the loan until a definite future date, the death of the eligible owner or the sale of the "eligible dwelling" to another owner, whichever occurs first. The eligible owner for the purposes of this section shall be interpreted as the person in whom title of the property is vested or the spouse of said eligible owner at the time the rehabilitation loan or grant, or both, is provided.
WV Code § 8-21-1 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-1. Cities May Establish Board

§8-21-1. Cities may establish board.Every city is hereby empowered and authorized to provide for by charter provision, or to create by ordinance, a board of park and recreation commissioners, for the purpose of establishing, constructing, improving, extending, developing, maintaining and operating a city public park and recreation system.
WV Code § 8-21-2 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-2. Board a Public Corporate Body; Perpetual Existence; Seal; Name; Powers

The board of park and recreation commissioners provided for by charter provision, or created by ordinance, pursuant to the authority of this article, shall be a public corporate body, with perpetual existence and a common seal. It shall be known as the board of park and recreation commissioners of such city. It shall have the power to purchase, hold, sell and convey real or personal property; receive any gift, grant, donation, bequest or devise; sue and be sued; contract and be contracted with; and do any and all things and acts which may be necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this article. For convenience of reference herein, the board of park and recreation commissioners will be hereinafter referred to as the "board."
WV Code § 8-21-3 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-3. Members; Quorum; Qualifications; Election or Appointment; Terms; Disqualification

The board shall consist of not less than three nor more than seven members as may be provided by charter provision or ordinance, a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except as hereinafter in this article provided. Each member of the board must be a resident and freeholder of the city. It may be provided either by charter provision or by ordinance for the appointment of the members thereof by the governing body, but unless and until such provision is made, the members of the board shall be elected by the qualified voters of the city at appropriate regular municipal elections. Membership on the governing body may not disqualify any member for election to the board. If provision is made for the appointment of members as aforesaid and the board consists of three or four members, one member of the governing body, if otherwise qualified, may be appointed by the governing body; if the board consists of five members not more than two members of the governing body so qualified may be so appointed and if the board consists of six or seven members not more than three members of the governing body so qualified may be so appointed. The term of the board membership of any member of the governing body so appointed shall continue during his or her term as a member of the governing body and until his or her successor is appointed or elected and qualified. The terms of other appointed or of elected members shall be for six years, and until their successors have been duly appointed or elected and qualified: Provided, That notwithstanding the fact that there be no charter provision or ordinance for appointment of the members of the board, the governing body of the city shall appoint the members of the first board, such appointees to serve, one for a term of six years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of two years. The date upon which the terms of the board members shall begin shall be specified by ordinance. When any member of the board, during his or her term of office, shall cease to be a resident and freeholder of the city, he or she shall thereby be disqualified as a member of the board and his or her office shall thereupon become vacant.
WV Code § 8-21-4 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-4. Filling Vacancies

When a vacancy occurs on said board by reason of death, resignation, change of residence from the city, failure to remain a freeholder of the city, or due to any other cause, the remaining member or members of said board shall appoint a successor or successors, or if there should be no members left on said board, the governing body of the city shall appoint successors, and in either event, the appointments shall be for the unexpired term or terms.
WV Code § 8-21-5 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-5. Oath of Members; Organization of Board; Secretary; Treasurer

After appointment or election, the members of the board shall qualify by taking and filing with the recorder of the city the oath prescribed by law for public officials, and they shall not be permitted to serve upon said board until they have so qualified. If any member of said board shall fail to so qualify on or before the date upon which he should assume the duties of his office, a vacancy shall exist which shall be filled as provided in section four of this article.At the first meeting held after the first board has been appointed, as hereinbefore provided, and thereafter on a date to be fixed by ordinance, the members of the board shall organize by electing one of their number president, and another vice president, and by electing a secretary who need not be a member of the board. The secretary shall keep an accurate record of all the fiscal affairs of the board, and shall keep a minute book in which he shall record the proceedings and transactions of each meeting of the board. The secretary shall be paid such compensation for his services as the board shall fix from year to year. The city treasurer shall be ex officio treasurer of said board, and he shall take the oath prescribed by law and shall furnish such bond as may be required by said board.
WV Code § 8-21-6 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-6. Members to Be Paid Expenses; Members Not to Be Personally Interested in Contracts or Property Controlled by Board

The members of said board shall receive no compensation for their services but they shall be entitled to reimbursement for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their duties as members of said board. They shall not be personally interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract entered into by said board, or hold any remunerative position in connection with the establishment, construction, improvement, extension, development, maintenance or operation of any of the property under their control as members of said board.
WV Code § 8-21-7 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-7. Office; Powers

§8-21-7. Office; powers.The governing body shall furnish said board an office in the city building where it may hold its meetings and keep its records. Any board operating under the provisions of this article shall have complete and exclusive control and management of all of the properties which shall be operated in connection with the public park and recreation system for the city, and shall have power to employ such persons as, in its opinion, may be necessary for the establishment, construction, improvement, extension, development, maintenance or operation of the property under its control, at such wages or salaries as it shall deem proper, and shall have full control of all employees.
WV Code § 8-21-8 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-8. Purchase, Lease or Condemnation of Real Property

The board is hereby granted the power and authority to acquire in its name or in the name of the city by purchase, lease, or by exercise of the power of eminent domain, or otherwise, such land or lands as it shall determine to be necessary, appropriate, convenient or incidental to the establishment, construction, improvement, extension, development, maintenance or operation of a system of public parks, parkways, playgrounds, athletic fields, stadiums, swimming pools, skating rinks or arenas and other public park and recreational facilities for the city, whether of a like or different nature: Provided, That any such acquisition by the board made by exercise of the power of eminent domain must be approved by a majority vote of the governing body of that municipality. Approval by the governing body must be granted as to each specific parcel or tract of land to be acquired by power of eminent domain.
WV Code § 8-21-9 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-9. Authority to Take Title to Real and Personal Property; Conveyances of Real Property to Board by Public Bodies; Sales and Conveyances of Real Property by Board; Execution of Deeds

The board is hereby empowered and authorized to take title in its name or in the name of the city to all real and personal property acquired by it for the use of the public or useful to the public in the establishment, construction, improvement, extension, development, maintenance or operation of all public parks, parkways, playgrounds, athletic fields, stadiums, swimming pools, skating rinks or arenas and all other public park and recreational facilities for the city, whether of a like or different nature, and shall manage and dispose of the same as, in its opinion, will best serve the interests of the public in carrying out the purposes of this article. The city and all other public bodies owning real property intended to be used for public parks and recreation are hereby authorized to convey the same to said board to be held by it for such purposes, and said board is hereby authorized to receive the same. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as limiting said board from going beyond the corporate limits of the city, anywhere within the state, to lease, purchase or otherwise acquire any real property for the purposes herein set forth. The board shall have the right to sell and convey only such part of the real property that it may acquire by gift, devise, purchase or otherwise, as it may determine to be of no advantage in the establishment, construction, improvement, extension, development, maintenance or operation of said public parks, parkways, playgrounds, athletic fields, stadiums, swimming pools, skating rinks or arenas and other public park and recreational facilities, whether of a like or different nature; except that the board shall have the power and authority to make such sales and conveyances of its real property as may be necessary, appropriate or convenient to enable the city to obtain the benefits of article sixteen of this chapter or any other similar act or legislative authorization. Under no circumstances shall any of such real property of the board be sold or conveyed except by unanimous vote of all of the members of said board. All deeds conveying the real property of said board shall be executed in its official name by its president or vice president, shall have its seal affixed and shall be duly attested by its secretary.
WV Code § 8-21-11 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-11. Charges for Use of Recreational Facilities; Use of Funds

§8-21-11. Charges for use of recreational facilities; use of funds.The board may make reasonable charges to the public for the privilege of using any of the recreational facilities provided in said park and recreation system and may use the funds so received for the purpose of establishing, constructing, improving, extending, developing, maintaining or operating said park and recreation system.
WV Code § 8-21-12 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-12. Use of City Appropriations and Other Funds

In carrying out the purposes of this article, the board is hereby empowered and authorized to receive and disburse for such purposes, any moneys appropriated to it by the governing body of the city, together with any other funds which may come into its hands by gift, grant, donation, bequest, devise, or from its own operation, or otherwise.
WV Code § 8-21-13 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-13. Public Park and Recreation Bonds

Every city is hereby empowered and authorized to issue, in the manner prescribed by law, bonds for the purpose of raising funds to establish, construct, improve, extend, develop, maintain or operate, or any combination of the foregoing, a system of public parks and recreational facilities for such city, or to refund any bonds of the city, the proceeds of which were expended in the establishing, constructing, improving, extending, developing, maintaining or operating of such public park and recreation system, or any part thereof. Any bonds issued for any of the purposes stated in this section shall contain in the title or subtitle thereto the words "public park and recreation bonds," in order to identify the same, and shall be of such form, denomination and maturity and shall bear such rate of interest as shall be fixed by ordinance of the governing body of the city. The governing body may provide for the issuance of bonds for other lawful purposes of the city in the same ordinance in which provision shall be made for the issuance of bonds under the provisions of this section. The board shall pay all of the costs and expenses of any election which shall be held to authorize the issuance of public park and recreation bonds only. The costs and expenses of holding an election to authorize the issuance of public park and recreation bonds and bonds for other city purposes shall be paid by the board and the city respectively, in the proportion that the public park and recreation bonds bear to the total amount of bonds authorized.Whenever the governing body of the city and the requisite majority of the legal votes cast at the election thereon shall authorize, in the manner prescribed by law, the issuance of bonds for the purpose of establishing, constructing, improving, extending, developing, maintaining or operating, or any combination of the foregoing, a system of public parks and recreational facilities for the city, or for refunding any outstanding bonds, the proceeds of which were applied to any of said purposes, said bonds shall be issued and delivered to the board to be by it sold in the manner prescribed by law, and the proceeds thereof shall be paid into the treasury of the board, and the same shall be applied and utilized by the board for the purposes prescribed by the ordinance authorizing the issuance of such bonds. In any ordinance for the issuance of bonds for such purposes, it shall be a sufficient statement of the purposes for creating the debt to specify that the same is for the purpose of establishing, constructing, improving, extending, developing, maintaining or operating, or any combination of the foregoing, a public park and recreation system for the city, without specifying the particular establishment, construction, improvement, extension, development, maintenance or operation contemplated; but an ordinance for refunding bonds shall designate the issue and the number of bonds which it is proposed to refund.
WV Code § 8-21-14 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 21. Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners|§8-21-14. Construction of Article

§8-21-14. Construction of article.The provisions of this article shall be construed as conferring additional power and authority upon cities acting hereunder, and shall not be construed as affecting any power or authority heretofore conferred upon any city by the Legislature by general, special or local law or municipal charter, or parts thereof.
WV Code § 8-22-1 (2021)
2021 West Virginia Code|Chapter 8. Municipal Corporations|Article 22. Retirement Benefits Generally; Policemen's Pension and Relief Fund; Firemen's Pension and Relief Fund; Pension Plans for Employees of Waterworks System, Sewerage System or Combined Waterworks and Sewerage System|§8-22-1. Membership in Public Employees Retirement System

RETIREMENT SYSTEM.§8-22-1. Membership in Public Employees Retirement System.Any municipality may elect to become a participating public employer under the West Virginia Public Employees Retirement System created and established by, and administered pursuant to, the provisions of article ten, chapter five of this code, for the coverage of all employees eligible under the provisions of said article ten, except policemen and firemen covered by a policemen's pension and relief fund or firemen's pension and relief fund.