The city of Elkins has a new city charter.
According to the City of Elkins the most significant changes approved move the city’s biannual municipal election from March to June in odd-numbered years. It stipulate five standing council committees and to reduce processes for budget planning, presentation, and administration.
Charter language is also updated and simplified throughout the document. Elkins City Council voted 9-1 to approve the new charter on its second and final reading and Mayor Van Broughton signed the ordinance.
The City of Elkins said that the current charter was adopted in 1901, when Elkins absorbed the town of South Elkins. In its 2018-2023 Strategic Plan, the Elkins council set itself the goals of reviewing and updating the charter and evaluating the feasibility of adopting a manager-based form of government. Starting in 2019, council retained and met multiple times with an attorney specializing in municipal law and charter changes to learn about opportunities for further improving and strengthening the Elkins City Charter.
The new charter will go into effect April 1.