City creating second safe surrender site, cutting taxes for some small businesses
Safe surrender sites are designated locations at which newborns up to 30 days old can be dropped off while maintaining the anonymity of the person surrendering the child.
In April 2024, Morgantown opened West Virginia's second Safe Haven Baby Box at the Norwood Fire Station.
Earlier this year, the West Virginia Legislature expanded the allowable surrender sites beyond fire departments to include police departments, sheriff's departments and EMS facilities.
In response, the city of Morgantown is looking to add the Morgantown Public Safety Building — home of the Morgantown Police Department — as a designated site.
Unlike the Norwood setup, which includes dedicated infrastructure known as a "baby box, " built directly into the fire station, a baby dropped at the Public Safety Building will be handed to a police officer.
"The police department, who is there 24-7, feel comfortable that they would be able to have policy and procedures to follow state code and be able to accept an infant less than 30 days old and get it to the nearest hospital facility, " Assistant City Manager Emily Muzzarelli said.
"It likely would go to the police supervisor ... but it still requires the same anonymity. The person does not have to give their name or any information should they not want to."
Morgantown City Council recently passed the first reading of an ordinance creating a new section of code pertaining to the safe surrender sites. Safe surrender guidelines were previously under the city's fire code as fire stations were the only allowable locations under the law as it was passed by the West Virginia Legislature in 2023.
In other business, council has passed on first reading amendments to the city's business license and business and occupation tax provisions.
During its most recent session, the Legislature passed House Bill 2451, which eliminates the need for municipal business licensure as well as business and occupation tax liability for some businesses.
City Attorney Ryan Simonton explained that in order to be eligible for the business license exemption, a business must be a sole proprietorship or independent contractor ; cannot have a permanent physical location within the city ; and must generate annual revenue below $2, 500.
In order to be exempt from business and occupation tax liability, a business must generate gross annual revenue below $2, 500.
Business and occupation taxes — or B &O taxes — are taxes charged by municipalities on business activity within the city.
"If they have $2, 501 in revenue, they do have to pay taxes on that full amount, " he said.
If adopted upon second reading on June 17, the changes will take effect at the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.
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