by Kate Shunney
Town of Paw Paw officials were not united in their desire to seek home role powers from the West Viginia Home Rule Board, but a 3-2 vote has advanced that effort toward a state application.
Home rule powers, under state law, can be granted to municipal governments to tackle town problems with unique solutions.
West Virginia’s Legislature created the Municipal Home Rule Pilot Program in 2007 to give towns some flexibility “to be creative in addressing local problems by implementing ordinances, rules, and regulations not otherwise available because of the various one-size-fits-all statutes that apply to all municipalities.”
For example, Paw Paw’s proposal to get Home Rule powers is driven largely by a desire to simplify the steps to “address abandoned, vacant, or unsafe structures,” according to their application.
“Blight remediation and revitalization are the Town’s top priorities. Paw Paw currently lacks formal policies or resources to address abandoned, vacant, or unsafe structures. The ordinances included in this application would allow the Town to respond to these conditions using more efficient administrative and judicial processes. Modeled on ordinances adopted by Romney, Wardensville, and Marlinton, these reforms will allow Paw Paw to issue administrative citations, certify liens and judgments through its Municipal Judge, and enforce dangerous structure remediation orders with due process safeguards,” the application summary says.
At the end of a contentious town meeting on December 1 where several members of the public were asked to leave the town council chambers for being disruptive, a public hearing about the Home Rule application was held. The hearing was a requirement of the application process.
Two people spoke publicly about the matter, though more people had signed up to speak at the beginning of the meeting.
Jenn Norris said no one she has spoken with thinks that Home Role is a good idea for Paw Paw.
“More government is not a good idea,” she said. “People are on fixed incomes and can’t always afford fixes to their properties. We are a special town; we are not like the other towns.”
Another woman said she was not in favor of the Home Rule application because town residents don’t have enough information about it yet.
“Tell me another town that has it. Let’s talk to them about the pluses and minuses,” she said. She recommended the town post information at the bank and post office where the public reads notices.
“Not enough people have been educated about it to take a vote,” she said. “We’re in the dark and don’t understand it.”
One resident said that Councilwoman Rickli Armel, who was called away in the middle of the meeting because of an emergency, had wanted to vote on the agenda item. She suggested the vote could wait to let Armel have a say.
Consulting attorney Logan Mantz of Hampshire County, who has been advising the Paw Paw Council about several ordinances, said the Home Rule application is ready to submit.
Town Manager Ron Davis told the council he recommends the town pursue the application step.
A vote on whether to authorize Mayor Darlene Abe to submit the application to the state passed 3-2, with the mayor casting the tie-breaking vote to pass the motion.
The West Virginia Home Rule Board meets quarterly, and will meet next on January 7, 2026. Mantz said he will present the application to the board in Charleston, and they will make a decision that day on whether Paw Paw will be accepted into the Home Rule program.
