This bill proposes amendments to the Code of West Virginia, specifically sections 8-3-2 and 8-5-7, to reduce the minimum number of council members for Class IV towns or villages with a population of 2,000 or fewer. The bill lowers the minimum requirement from five to three council members for these municipalities when they are not divided into wards or election districts. Additionally, it allows for flexibility in local governance by permitting Class IV towns or villages to adopt a council structure that better suits their needs. The bill also maintains the requirement of at least five council members for Class I, Class II, and Class III cities.

In terms of specific legal language changes, the bill inserts provisions that specify the minimum number of council members for Class IV towns or villages, stating that there shall be "not less than three for a Class IV town or village with a population of 2,000 or fewer," while retaining the requirement of "not less than five nor more than eleven members for all other municipalities." Furthermore, the bill modifies existing language to ensure that the council members must be residents of the municipality, while also clarifying that a city manager in a manager form of government only needs to be a resident at the time of appointment. Overall, the bill aims to streamline governance for smaller municipalities by allowing them to operate with fewer elected officials.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 8-3-2, 8-5-7