By Beth Sergent, The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — “It’s just a guy looking for answers,” Gregory S. Morris said of what is becoming a public undertaking in the art of questioning how state government works.
Morris is one of two potential plaintiffs in possible litigation against the state regarding the Capitol murals project.
Morris, 66, who lives in Huntington with his wife and youngest of five daughters, is a retired pipefitter, engineer and draftsman. Although he attended Marshall University and Marietta College, he has no special education or certification in art, architecture or history. But he says they are among his lifelong interests.
Born in Charleston and raised in St. Albans, he just finished writing a book on Kanawha County history. It is yet to be published.
According to a copy of the presuit notice filed July 5 and submitted on behalf of Morris by his attorney, Harvey Peyton of the Nitro-based Peyton Law Firm, Morris’ claims include alleged violations of the West Virginia Open Governmental Proceedings Act and “unlawful substantial physical changes” to the West Virginia Capitol Building.
Included in the filing is the specific allegation that the inclusion of a “domestic pet of the Governor” [in the “Shivaree of Seneca Rock” mural], “was the result of the action of a select ad-hoc subcommittee that met in violation of the Open Governmental Procedures Act” at some point between April 3 — June 20. The other allegation argues the procurement and placement of the murals were done in violation of, and not in compliance with, the law regarding “substantial changes to the Capitol.”