Terra Alta resident questions legitimacy of council meetings

However, a quorum did exist since there were three councilmen and the mayor in attendance. Councilman Georgia Harvey also served as recorder.

“Dodge resigned,” Mayor James “Monk” Tasker said. “The others, I don’t know where they are, and we never hear from them. If we wait for them, we would never have a quorum, have meetings or be able to conduct town business.”

Delores Pomeroy also questioned if the mayor could vote in the meetings.

“I have not voted in the past, but I can vote if there is a tie,” Mayor James “Monk” Tasker said.

After the meeting, Tasker said previous mayors have voted during meetings, “so, I can’t see what I can’t,” he said.

In most municipalities, the authority of a mayor to vote in meetings, except in the event of a tie, is set forth in a municipal charter. Tasker said the town cannot find their charter which would dictate what the mayor can and cannot do.

Tasker said he would contact their town attorney and discuss the matter.

Meanwhile, the council spoke with Preston County Clerk Linda Huggins regarding costs of the municipal election if the town readjusted their ballot with Preston County primary election.

“The approximate cost would be $2,085.88,” Huggins said. “That would include half the cost of training poll workers, election day poll workers, supply/return commission, polling place rental, publication of the town ballot along with programming of the election machines for the town ballot, and other minor costs.”

Terra Alta residents would decide if their town elections should be realigned to coincide with county elections to save money by aligning with county elections. If the voters would agree to a realignment, the town charter would have to be amended.

Except for a realignment of the election date, the process would remain the same for candidates filing for office. Candidates would file in town hall. The town would still be responsible for drawing the names for arrangement on the ballot.

The town clerk would assure the names are given to the county, and the county’s election programmer will program the candidates’ names into the voting machine.

When the Preston County Commission canvassed votes, as required by law after an election, the town would receive a certification verifying the vote count.

Council members said the next council would need to explore the possibility.

On the June 13 municipal ballot is for mayor incumbent James “Monk” Tasker, Jamie Collins and Daniel Hauger.

In the election for recorder, Dodge who resigned after the town’s April meeting was the only candidate on the ballot for that position.

According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Election Division, if no write-in candidates file for the vacancies in a town, unless the town’s charter or ordinance says otherwise, council must wait until the new terms begin July 1 and appoint people to fill the open spots. The deadline for write-in candidates was April 25.

In Ward One, incumbent Michael Fazenbaker is running unopposed. In Ward Two, incumbent Georgia Harvey is being challenged by Maurice Riggleman. Ward Three councilman Justin Feather remains unopposed.

Ward Four incumbent Jason Nice is being challenged by Ralph Hauger; and Ward Five councilman Jerod Boyce is being opposed by Freddie Harrison.

Voter registration is also underway; the last day to register to vote and be eligible to vote in a municipal election this year is May 23. Voters can register at the Preston County Clerk’s Office or on the Secretary of State’s website.

Early voting will be May 31-June 10 for in town hall.

Also having elections this year are Masontown and Newburg.

Brandonville, Kingwood, Rowlesburg and Tunnelton will hold city elections in 2024. Reedsville’s next town election will be in 2025. The next election for Bruceton Mills will be in 2026.