Morgantown’s City Council approved the first reading of the proposed $23 million city budget Tuesday.
All councilors voted in favor of the budget except Councilor Ron Bane, who voted against it.
"The budget is fine except I can’t vote on it. There’s a line item in there I don’t like," Bane said. "I just don’t think we’re getting our bang for our buck."
Bane would not discuss which item he disapproved of, saying he just could not approve the budget as is.
Council also voted to approve an ordinance changing a block of property on Beechurst Avenue between Third and Fourth streets from a multi-family residential district to a Planned Unit Development district.
This area will be the site of a new residential complex, and changing the zoning gives the city more control over the development.
"Planned Unit Development gives us the power to basically work with the developer to meet the city needs," said Morgantown Mayor Bill Byrne.
The $30 million building will have four floors for residential living and two stories of parking spaces in addition to utility lines set beneath the ground.
Councilor Don Spencer said he hopes the developers will pursue Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.
Creating a green building will increase its value and make it more attractive to tenants despite the startup costs for pursuing LEED certification, Spencer said.
"People more than break even very quickly on LEED certification," Spencer said.
Byrne said the development will be beneficial for the area.
"We look forward to it as a being a great improvement to the Sunnyside area," Byrne said.
In other business:
Byrne is urging citizens to visit Morgantown’s Web site and nominate the city for Google’s experimental ultra high-speed Internet network.
"Google’s investment in Morgantown would provide more bang for its buck than somewhere like Palo Alto," Byrne said. "It will change the way we do business in this town."
Byrne said the city has received great support from West Virginia University and the Monongalia County Board of Education.
The application must be submitted by March 26.
To nominate Morgantown, visit the "Morgantown Needs a GIG" section of the Web site at www.morgantown.com.
The Internet search company is currently soliciting requests for information from interested cities across the country to test its experimental fiber optic network.
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