West Virginia Public Port Authority Rescind 'Powers and Duties' of Weirton Port Authority

The State Journal
4 October 2013

WEIRTON, WV - The West Virginia Public Port Authority has rescinded the "powers and duties" of the Weirton port authority, Mayor George Kondik reports.

In a brief statement released Friday afternoon, Kondik indicated the vote had been 5-0, with Pat Ford, executive director of the Business Development Corporation of the Northern Panhandle, abstaining.
The dissolution is effectively immediately.

"(WVPPA) immediately rescinded and terminated all powers and duties of the Weirton Inland Port District, doing business as the Weirton Area Port Authority, as granted by WVPPA," Kondik said.
Kondik declined further comment, referring questions to City Solicitor Vince Gurrera who said WVPPA's decision speaks for itself. He said city officials do not have to take a similar action.

"The City did nothing to create the Weirton Area Port Authority, so we believe that by state taking the action they did, they, in essence, have dissolved WAPA," he said.

Gurrera said council will, however, reconsider an ordinance passed some years ago that had authorized the mayor to appoint members to the board, "then the city no longer has any appointment power."
Port officials scheduled an emergency Friday afternoon meeting to discuss the WVPPA decision, along with a closed-door meeting to discuss financial and property matters.