By Ronda Wertman
tribune correspondent

RIDGELEY — Changes to Ridgeley’s town charter took effect Wednesday following the passage of the final readings of the charter rules ordinance.
With the new rules, the town has a strong mayor/council form of government operating by the West Virginia State Code.
The mayor and five commissioners will each serve two year terms and be elected the second Tuesday in June of each odd numbered year.
There are no term limits as to how long an elected official can stay in office as long as the official remains a legal resident of the town, is a registered town voter, and has not violated the West Virginia Ethics Act.
The mayor now serves as the chief executive officer for the town, overseeing the daily operations, presiding over council meetings, and serving as police commissioner and municipal judge. The town clerk will also serve as the recorder.
Council members will each serve as a commissioner representing finance, water and sewer, streets and sidewalks, housing and ordinances, and community and economic development.
The council is set to meet once or twice each month and all meetings are open to the public except for those meetings, which may go into executive session to discuss issues of personnel and matters of finance.
Meetings will be conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order and will be recorded and placed in the permanent record.
All minutes, motions, resolutions, and ordinances will be dated and signed by the mayor and clerk.
With the passage of the
charter changes, the council held the first readings of two ordinances. The first one restates that elections are held every two years on odd numbered years and verifies that the election process follows West Virginia State Code.
The second ordinance further outlines the responsibilities of the commissioners and provides that the town is to employ a town clerk, police chief and public works director. It also explains that special meetings can be called by the mayor or three council members.
Along with its new ordinances, the council also repealed three ordinances that no longer apply to town operations including having a town assessor and having the town police collect taxes. Both these functions are now handled by the county. The final ordinance repealed dealt with outhouses, which are no longer permitted in town.
Holding bid openings earlier this month on its community building, the council is unable to award bids at this time.
Bids for the project came in over budget and Mayor Dr. Richard Lechliter said the town is looking “to see what the architects can cut to bring the bids in line.”
The council hopes to proceed on the project at its Dec. 9 meeting.
In final business, the council passed the resolution needed for the sidewalk grant project.
Passing the resolution allows the state to proceed with the paperwork. In a few months, the town will be in place to seek an architect. Bids will follow for the project, which will address handicapped accessibility and needed sidewalk repairs. The work is planned for late summer to early fall.