The Jefferson County Commission was unable to convene for seven scheduled meetings spanning three months in the fall of 2023. The commission has 5 seats, one of which has been vacant since June 2023. In a political struggle over filling the vacant seat, two commissioners — Jennifer Krouse and Tricia Jackson — refused to attend commission meetings unless the action item to fill the vacancy was removed from the agenda.
Since a quorum (at least 3 commissioners) is required to conduct business, the commission was unable to approve new hires or sign contracts during this period. The standoff ended on November 30, when a local circuit judge ordered Commissioners Krouse and Jackson to attend the commission meeting scheduled for that afternoon.
Chronology of Events
September 7 2023 — Regular County Commission meeting, 4 commissioners attend (The Observer, Oct 26 2023).
September 21 2023 — Regular County Commission meeting, 2 commissioners attend (Stolipher, Tabb), 2 commissioners absent (Jackson, Krouse), no quorum to conduct business (The Observer, Sep 28 2023).
September 28 2023 — Special County Commission meeting, 2 commissioners attend (Stolipher, Tabb), 2 commissioners absent (Jackson, Krouse), no quorum to conduct business.
October 5 2023 — Regular County Commission meeting, 2 commissioners attend (Stolipher, Tabb), 2 commissioners abent (Jackson, Krouse), no quorum to conduct business.
October 12 2023 — Special County Commission meeting, 2 commissioners attend (Stolipher, Tabb), 2 commissioners absent (Jackson, Krouse), no quorum to conduct business.
October 19 2023 — Regular County Commission meeting, 2 commissioners attend (Stolipher, Tabb), 2 commissioners abent (Jackson, Krouse), no quorum to conduct business (The Observer, Oct 26 2023).
November 2 2023 — Regular County Commission meeting, 2 commissioners attend (Stolipher, Tabb), 2 commissioners abent (Jackson, Krouse), no quorum to conduct business.
November 13 2023 — Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Matthew Harvey files a petition for removal of Tricia Jackson and Jennifer Krouse from office (civil case CC-19-2023-P-174).
November 16 2023 — Regular County Commission meeting, 2 commissioners attend (Stolipher, Tabb), 2 commissioners abent (Jackson, Krouse), no quorum to conduct business.
November 29 2023 — Circuit Court Judge David Hammer holds hearing for the removal petition and rules that the petition is valid.
November 30 2023 — Special County Commission meeting, 4 commissioners attend. Pasha Majdi selected for temporary appointment to fill vacant seat (The Observer, Dec 5 2023).
December 4 2023 — The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals receives official notice of the removal petition. According to state law (WV Code 6-6-7), the Chief Justice shall appoint a three judge panel that will have the duty to schedule and conduct a hearing on the merits of the removal petition. The law specifies a 20 day deadline for the Chief Justice to appoint the three judges (which would be the first week in January 2024) but does not specify any specific timeframe for the three judge panel to schedule its hearing.
Originally published Oct 26 2023; Updated Dec 21 2023.
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County Commission Returns To Work (The Observer, Dec 5 2023)
Judge Orders Commissioners To Meet (Journal-News, Nov 30 2023)
Circuit Judge Confirms Validity of Petition to Remove Commissioners (Journal-News, Nov 29 2023)
Emergency Services IT Contract Expiring (Spirit of Jefferson, Nov 22 2023)
Deputies Sue County Commission (Spirit of Jefferson, Nov 22 2023)
Prosecuting Attorney Files Petition To Remove Jackson, Krouse (Spirit of Jefferson, Nov 15 2023)
Another County Administrator Resigns (Spirit of Jefferson, Nov 8 2023)
A Recap of Krouse, Jackson No-Show Protests (Spirit of Jefferson, Nov 3 2023)
County Commission Misses Grant Deadlines (The Observer, Oct 26 2023)
No-Quorum Commission Impacting County Business (Spirit of Jefferson, Oct 25 2023)
Lack Of Quorum Continues For Commissioners (Spirit of Jefferson, Oct 18 2023)
Impact of Jackson’s and Krouse’s No-Show Protest Continues (Spirit of Jefferson, Oct 11 2023)
No Shows By Jackson And Krouse Having A Financial Impact (Spirit of Jefferson, Oct 4 2023)
Stolipher, Jackson Square Off In Citing State Code (Spirit of Jefferson, Oct 4 2023)
Two Commissioners Refuse To Meet (The Observer, Sep 28 2023)
Stall Tactics on Jefferson County Commission (The Observer, Sep 28 2023)
Lack of Quorum Halts County Business (Journal-News, Sep 21 2023)
Commissioners Attempt to Repeal Zoning Ordinance (The Observer, Sep 8 2023, updated Oct 26, 2023)
Nine People Seeking Position To Replace Commissioner Ath (Spirit of Jefferson, Aug 2 2023)
Jefferson County Commission Deadlocks (The Observer, Jul 1 2023)
Ath Resigning From Charles Town Seat On Commission (Spirit of Jefferson, May 31 2023)
County Commission Begins 2023 With Many Disagreements (The Observer, Jan 25 2023)