H. B. 2691
(By Delegates Flanigan, Wills and Frederick)
[Introduced February 9, 1999; referred to the
Committee on Political Subdivisions.]
A BILL to amend and reenact sections two, three, four and six,
chapter two hundred twenty-eight, acts of the Legislature,
regular session, one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven; and
to further amend said chapter by adding thereto a new
section, designated section seven, all relating to the
Mercer County Governmental Council; expanding its authority;
and changing its composition.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That sections two, three, four and six, chapter two hundred
twenty-eight, acts of the Legislature, regular session, one
thousand nine hundred ninety-seven, be amended and reenacted; and
that said chapter be further amended by adding thereto a new
section, designated section seven, all to read as follows:
MERCER COUNTY GOVERNMENTAL COUNCIL.
§2. Purposes.
The purpose purposes of the council created herein is are
to:
(1) Foster and promote cooperation and understanding among the various governing bodies and officials of Mercer County, West
Virginia and including the Mercer County legislative delegation.
The A desired effect of this organization is for Mercer County to
present a unified voice and vision to the state and federal
governments for the betterment of Mercer County and to ensure
that the citizens of Mercer County are heard by their state and
federal representatives and receive a fair and equitable
proportion of resources available from these levels of
government; and
(2) Develop strategies and plans for supporting solutions to
problems and meeting needs of the county.
§3. Membership.
(a) The Mercer County Governmental Council shall be is
composed of three distinct groups of members: full members
affiliate members; and associate members.
(b) The full members shall be are the elected members of the
governing bodies of the municipalities located within Mercer
County, the members of the Mercer County Commission, and those
members of the state Senate and the House of Delegates elected to
represent Mercer County, or a portion thereof, in the
Legislature. The terms of office for these members shall be are
coextensive with the terms of their respective elected offices.
(c) The affiliate associate members shall be are:
(1) Those individuals elected to the following Mercer County
public offices: Sheriff, county clerk, circuit clerk, assessor
and prosecuting attorney. circuit judge, and magistrate The terms of office of these members shall be are coextensive with
the terms of their respective elected offices; and
(2) The associate members shall be Those individuals who
are elected or appointed to the following offices or positions:
Mercer County Economic Development Authority; Bluefield city
manager; Princeton city manager; Region I Planning and
Development Council; West Virginia Division of Highways district
office; Chambers of Commerce; Mercer County Board of Education;
Mercer County Health Board; Bluestone Convention and Tourism
Board; Mercer County Emergency Services; and hospital
administrators of hospitals located in Mercer County and others
who may be appointed from time to time, at the council's
discretion. The terms of office of these members shall be
coextensive with the terms of their elected or appointed offices
or positions.
§4. Officers.
The Mercer County Governmental Council shall, at its first
meeting in July, one thousand nine hundred ninety-seven
ninety-nine, elect from among its membership a president, and
vice president, treasurer and secretary, who shall serve in their
respective capacities for terms of two years. The president
shall appoint an individual to serve as secretary/treasurer, who
shall serve until a successor is appointed.
§6. Voting.
The council as a whole may take up for consideration any
matter brought before it by any member but only full members of the council are entitled to vote on a matter. A simple majority
of the full members present voting in the affirmative shall be is
sufficient for the measure to carry. However, no vote of the
council may have a binding effect upon any member in the
performance of his or her duties as an elected or appointed
official. and such The votes of the council shall be are
advisory only, except when authorizing the expenditure of funds.
§7. Powers of the council.
(a) The council is authorized to receive appropriations,
gifts and grants from any source, including but not limited to,
any municipality within the county and the county commission. It
may establish an account with a local bank for deposit of funds
received. The council may expend funds received in furtherance
of the purposes stated in this act.
(b) The council may prepare and distribute informational
materials to assist it in its activities.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.
§7 is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have
been omitted.