CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A signature from Governor Jim Justice on HB 3141 will give the West Virginia Capitol Building Commission more oversight when it comes to any future changes to buildings and grounds at the State Capitol.
“That’s one of our most treasured artifacts in the state,” said Randall Reid-Smith, curator for the state Department of Arts, Culture and History and chair of the Capitol Building Commission.
“It’s consistently one of the most beautiful capitols in the country. Cass Gilbert (the architect) was very significant in the work that he did and we want to continue to protect the historical integrity and significance of our capitol building.”
The bill reads as follows:
“The Capitol Building Commission shall review and approve or reject all plans recommending substantial physical changes inside or outside the state Capitol building or surrounding complex which affect the appearance thereof.”
It continues, “In all instances constituting a substantial physical change, the approval of the commission is mandatory before a contract may be let or before changes are started if the work is not done under a contract, or before work on a change order is begun and includes all areas occupied by the Legislature, the Governor and the Supreme Court of Appeals.”
Other areas, including the Governor’s Mansion, are identified in the legislation.
The full text of the bill is available HERE.
The bill was introduced during this year’s regular legislative session in response to spending in the West Virginia Supreme Court on office remodeling.
Office renovation costs increased to $3.7 million because of a series of change orders to the original contract, originally estimated at $187,000, that did not undergo scrutiny from the Capitol Building Commission and there was no recourse for that.
From now on, the commission will have to approval all projects before contract consideration from the West Virginia Purchasing Department.
“I think it was very necessary to make a clarification about the accountability of all spaces in the Capitol — that it comes to the Capitol Building Commission, historic preservation looks at it and to make sure that we keep the historic integrity of the building,” said Reid-Smith.
“This does not add to the workload at all and, I think, it’s just to make a clarification that everything needs to come to the Capitol Building Commission dealing with the historic significance of the building.”
It’s one of the bills awaiting action from Governor Jim Justice following the end of this year’s regular legislative session on Saturday night.