WASHINGTON: After two hours of questions and responses, it was the silence that meant the most. The members of the West Virginia Public Port Authority did not respond when asked for a motion to rescind the powers of the Weirton Area Port Authority during a meeting in Charleston Wednesday, meaning the local group would be allowed to continue its local economic development work.
The state agency issued 14 points it said the Weirton authority failed to meet and called the hearing to rescind its powers. The hearing was held as a response after the Weirton Area Port Authority said the state authority failed to meet a 60-day notice requirement when issuing a cease-and-desist order in October 2013.
“Essentially this coming October, three years would have been lost. And it hurts the citizens of Weirton. Now, we are back on track. Hopefully, we will be able to bring some jobs to the area, some prosperity, and hopefully, our children can return,” attorney William Galloway said. He added that he and Connolly will work closely together to be sure the WAPA works hand in hand with the state port authority.
During the hearing, thick binders of records, reports and information from the WAPA were provided to the state authority’s members, but the records only provided information through the state’s attempt to rescind the local authority’s powers. The period from October 2013 forward was not included, largely because of confusion over the status of the authority, as explained by WAPA Chairman B.J. DeFelice.
“After the dissolution, there was no clear legal process of who was responsible for what. The volunteers (who make up WAPA) did the best they could with legal advice. But without rules, you could pick apart my answers all day. I’m saying we’re still interested in proceeding,” he said.
DeFelice said WAPA didn’t give any of the port authority’s governmental powers, such as bonding or eminent domain, to any other entity, as was alleged by the state agency. He likened the use of the other entities by WAPA to that of a coffee shop given a lease in an airport. “The airport sets the rules about how to operate the airport, but it does not dictate how Starbucks operates. We aren’t there. We didn’t get to that point. These people are trying to develop something to get to that point,” he said.
Pat Ford, executive director of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, is a member of the state public port board. He suggested that WAPA be dissolved and reformed with clearer requirements. Galloway said that wouldn’t be necessary. Michael Ballato of Weirton was in attendance at the meeting and said he missed only two meetings of the port authority. “I think a lot of all these guys. What has happened with the city is political,” he said.
