Martinsburg City Council appoints five to Human Relations Committee

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The City Council Thursday night unanimously approved Mayor George Karos' five appointees to a committee that is to advise the city on affirmative action and equal employment issues.

After the 7-0 vote, Karos said in brief remarks that the committee would advise the city on its equal employment and affirmative action plans and community relations in connection with the related issues.

Karos said a "kick-off" meeting for the newly comprised panel is set for July 21 at 5 p.m. on the second floor of Martinsburg City Hall.

The mayor also publicly thanked the appointees Chris Amores, the Rev. Vernon L. Cartright, Christina M. Lundberg, Wilma Roberts and former city Councilman Rodney Woods for agreeing to serve on the committee.

The potential creation of such a committee is referenced in city documents dating back to June 2004 when an ordinance to readopt the city's equal opportunity plan and affirmative action plan was approved by city council, according to a copy of the ordinance and supporting documents released by the city on Thursday.

The committee's composition comes after local NAACP leaders have voiced concerns over the last several months about the lack of diversity in the police department and also questioned the handling of the police-involved fatal shooting of Wayne A. Jones in 2013 in downtown Martinsburg. The shooting of prompted a federal civil lawsuit by Jones' family that was dismissed in U.S. District Court in Martinsburg, but has since been appealed to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va. Two rallies also have been held downtown concerning the police shooting.