Council to consider changes to Land Reuse and Preservation Agency membership, including ex‑officio seats; term‑limit language to be revised

A proposed ordinance to amend the membership and terms for the Morgantown Land Reuse and Preservation Agency was discussed Sept. 30 at the Committee of the Whole; councilors asked staff to revise the draft to address term‑limit timing and to remove mandatory term limits from the introduced version for further consideration.

City Manager and staff presented the Agency’s requested changes, which would (as drafted) designate one of the seven seats as the city manager (or a designee), add non‑voting ex‑officio slots for a council member, city attorney, development services and representatives from the housing authority and economic development authority, and simplify qualifications and category language to make membership easier to fill. The draft also proposed new staggered three‑year terms with a two‑consecutive‑term limit.

Attorney Simonton explained the proposal was intended to improve coordination between agency staff, council and the manager’s office; staff said they had surveyed similar agencies in the state on membership models.

Councilors expressed two concerns: first, that imposing two consecutive‑term limits starting immediately could produce simultaneous turnover because many current members are in their second terms; second, that council wanted the agency to have stronger coordination with council and staff without unduly limiting institutional memory. The city manager said the ordinance as drafted set a new term start date of Jan. 31, 2026, and that terms would be staggered so turnover could be managed.

After discussion councilors asked staff to prepare a revised ordinance for the next agenda that retained the membership clarifications and ex‑officio seats but removed mandatory term limits in the introduced draft so council can consider options; staff agreed to revise the introduced ordinance accordingly.

No final ordinance was adopted at the meeting; staff will return a revised draft to the next agenda per council direction.