SPEAKING AGAINST — Brenda Mull, president of the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce, addressed Weirton Council Monday, speaking against a proposal to increase the city’s Municipal Service Fee from $2 per week to $5 per week. -- Craig Howell

WEIRTON — Weirton Council took the first step, Monday, in increasing the city’s Municipal Service Fee, with an eye toward helping to fund an increase in staffing within the Weirton Fire Department.

The Municipal Service Fee originally was established in March 2004, instituting a fee of $2 per week to withdraw from the pay of anyone working within the city limits. As part of the proposed ordinance, the fee would be increased to assess a $5 per week fee on those working in Weirton.

Through a rollcall vote, the first reading of the ordinance was approved by 6-1, with Ward 6 Councilman Anthony Rocchio casting the lone dissenting vote.

Later in the meeting, though, Ward 1 Councilman Tim Connell, who was participating by telephone, claimed he had had difficulty in hearing the discussion on the measure and asked about making a change to either the ordinance or his vote.

“I agree on $4,” Connell said, indicating the increase to $5 was too much.

Mayor Dean Harris said, as the vote had already been taken and recorded, it could not be redone. He said, though, since ordinances require two readings and approvals to go into effect, there would be another opportunity.

“We’ve already voted on it, but you’ll have an opportunity to amend,” Harris said.

The ordinance most likely will be presented for a second reading during council’s regular March meeting.

Under the terms of the amended ordinance, “Effective July 1, 2024, or as soon thereafter as all administrative regulations are filed and distributed to employers within the City of Weirton, there is hereby imposed a city service fee to help defray the cost of providing and maintaining City services within the City. The fee is hereby imposed upon any person who is employed within the City and meets the requirements of a user of municipal services.”

No other elements – beyond the increase in the fee rate – would be made to Ordinance 1417, which originally established the fee.

Prior to taking up their business Monday night, council heard from Brenda Mull, president of the Weirton Area Chamber of Commerce, who said, while she isn’t against the fire department being able to provide services to the city, she is concerned about the increased fee’s effects on the business community.

“Most businesses today, as you know, have a hiring issue,” she said, pointing to the potential of more difficulties in filling jobs if people know they are going to lose, on average, $20 per month from their pay simply for working in Weirton. “I just don’t think this is the way to go.”

Mull encouraged council to find a fairer way – for residents, workers, and businesses – to support their needs.

Council also heard from resident Karen Mentzer, who also questioned the proposed fee increase.

“They deserve everything they can get,” she said of the fire department, “as long as we can afford it.”

The recommendation for the fee increase follows a pair of recent work sessions involving city council and the Weirton IAFF 948 focused on the reopening of the County Road Fire Station and the hiring of six new firefighters to assist in an increase in staffing needed to do so.