Associated Press Published

Board Denies St. Albans' Home Rule Application

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St. Albans has lost its bid to join the state’s home rule program because of technical problems with its application.

The West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board denied St. Albans’ application on Monday. Board members said the city didn’t submit paperwork in time.

St. Albans was one of 23 municipalities seeking to participate in the program. Sixteen will be chosen.

The home rule program gives municipalities a larger say in how they govern by shifting power from the state to the local level. It began as a five-year pilot in Bridgeport, Charleston, Huntington and Wheeling.