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Council accepts $37,134.98 West Virginia First Foundation grant to fund social-worker position; details on employment status to return
Summary
Council accepted a West Virginia First Foundation grant of $37,134.98 for a social-worker position intended to serve evening and weekend shifts; members debated whether the role should be a contract position or a W-2 employee with benefits and amended the acceptance to include further details to be returned at the next meeting.
Clarksburg City Council on April 17 accepted a West Virginia First Foundation grant of $37,134.98 to fund a social-worker position that would serve nights and weekends, with council members asking for clarification about employment status and possible local matching funds.
The grant acceptance matters because it funds a proposed social-worker post in the police department during evening and weekend shifts; council members raised questions about whether the position would be an independent contractor (1099) or a W-2 employee and whether the city would supplement the salary from local opioid-settlement funds.
Staff told council the position would be a contract position tied to annual grant renewals unless the council chose otherwise. The grant-funded wage presented in the job description was roughly between $48,000 and $52,000 plus benefits; council discussed that, if offered as a contract role, the salary might need to be adjusted to allow the worker to purchase benefits on their own. Councilman Martin asked specifically whether opioid funds could be used to supplement the position; staff said the city currently has almost $900,000 in the opioid fund account and expects a larger second payment this year, with smaller payments in later years.
Council members also discussed converting the role to a W-2 employee with benefits but noted that the job would be clearly presented as grant-funded and potentially not continued if grant funding ended. Council directed staff to return with details about whether the position would be W-2 or contract, benefits options, and recommended salary adjustments; the council amended its motion to accept the grant as presented while including the requirement that details be provided at the next council meeting. The amended motion to accept the West Virginia First Foundation grant for $37,134.98 passed by voice vote.
The council did not adopt final employment terms during the meeting and requested staff return with a clarified job description and recommended compensation and benefits approach.
