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FOLLANSBEE -- Follansbee officials are planning a change to the city charter in an effort to meet state-mandated adjustments to the municipal election schedule.
Under advice from City Attorney Michael Gaudio, Follansbee Council agreed Monday to retain the Gurrera Law Office in Weirton for assistance in implementing the charter change.
Mayor Scott McMahon explained the amendment, still in the early stages of development, is being pursued in an effort to meet the requirements of Senate Bill 50, approved by the West Virginia Legislature in April 2025.
"This is for the election process," McMahon explained.
Under Senate Bill 50, any city, town or village whose charter requires elections to be held on a day or in a manner that conflicts with state law must adjust its election provisions by July 1, 2032.
Under the terms of the law, "Municipalities are required to share in the administrative costs of holding elections with county commissions, but those costs shall not exceed the municipality’s pro rata share of voters registered in the municipality compared with the total voters registered in the county."
Municipalities also can adjust the terms of their current officeholders as part of the rescheduling, provided any extension is no more than 18 months.
To implement a change to the charter, Follansbee Council must follow a process that includes passage of an ordinance and a public hearing. State law provides procedures for handling objections to proposed charter amendments.
The process is outlined in West Virginia Code 8-4-8.
Currently, Follansbee holds its municipal elections every two years, with the mayor, police chief, city attorney, city clerk and all members of City Council up for election at the same time.
The next municipal election in Follansbee currently is scheduled for 2027.
"It shouldn’t exceed $2,500," Gaudio said of the contract with attorney Vince Gurrera.
Gurrera has experience with such a change.
In his role as city attorney for Weirton, he helped organize a charter change for that city in 2019 designed to adjust its election schedule to align with presidential elections. As a result, one term of Weirton’s elected officials lasted from July 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2024, instead of the traditional four-year term. The current Weirton administration, elected in 2024, will have its term end in 2028.
Weirton Council also redrew the boundaries of its wards and precincts to align with established districts for Hancock and Brooke counties.