WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 4719
By Delegate Maynor
[Introduced January 15, 2024; Referred
to the Committee on Political Subdivisions then Government Organization ]
A BILL to amend and reenact §7-12-3 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, relating to changing the manner of appointing members to county authorities; and allowing appointments of members from contiguous counties.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
The management and control of a county authority, its property, operations, business and affairs shall be lodged in a board of not fewer than 12 nor more than 21 persons who shall be appointed by the county commission and be known as members of the authority. The county commission shall appoint one member to represent the county commission on the board. and, for each municipality located within the county, the county commission shall appoint one member to represent the municipality. The city and town council of each municipality located within the county shall submit to the county commission the names of three persons, one of whom the county commission shall appoint to be the municipality's representative on the board. Other members Members of the board shall be appointed by the county commission and shall may include representatives of business, industry and labor the county and contiguous counties. The members of the authority first appointed shall serve respectively for terms of one year, two years and three years, divided equally or as nearly equal as possible between these terms. Thereafter, members shall be appointed for terms of three years each. A member may be reappointed for such additional term or terms as the county commission may deem proper. If a member resigns, is removed or for any other reason his or her membership terminates during his or her term of office, a successor shall be appointed by the county commission to fill out the remainder of his or her term. Members in office at the expiration of their respective terms shall continue to serve until their successors have been appointed and have qualified. The county commission may at any time remove any member of the board by an order duly entered of record and may appoint a successor member for any member so removed.
Other persons, firms, unincorporated associations, and corporations, who reside, maintain offices, or have economic interests, as the case may be, in the county, shall be are eligible to participate in and request the county commission to appoint members to the development authority as the said authority shall by its bylaws provide.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to change the manner of appointing members to county authorities and allowing appointments of members from contiguous counties.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.