Clarksburg City Council discusses potential camping ordinance

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — In light of its growing popularity in neighboring cities like Morgantown, the Clarksburg City Council has mentioned implementing the camping ordinance as a safeguard.

In its meeting on Thursday, the Clarksburg City Council discussed the possibility of implementing both a camping and trespassing ordinance as brought in front of the county by Councilman Marc Jackson.

The trespassing ordinance was described as allowing consenting businesses in the city to fine individuals who are not permitted to be on their property. After the individual has obtained so many fines and a court hearing, they may be placed in jail.

With the camping ordinance, individuals who have constructed camps and structures on properties they do not own will receive similar conduct.

Councilman Jackson stated that the reason behind bringing these ordinances to the council was that cities like Wheeling and Morgantown have already implemented them, leaving Clarksburg to be a “soft spot” for travelers and people getting out of the North Central Regional Jail to land in.

“We need to make sure we’re putting these safeguards in place right now along with offering that assistance to help these individuals get off the street. They don’t want to accept the help; they have to accept the consequences,” Jackson said in the council meeting.

Clarksburg Mayor Jim Malfregeot also said that he believed the camping ordinance to be “long overdue.”

Easier access to housing and rehabilitation services is also being considered and structured among these ordinances.

With both topics’ popularity in the city council meeting, both trespassing and camping ordinances will be drafted and mentioned in the next Clarksburg City Council meeting.

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