Council Minutes
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
The Mayor and City Council of Cumberland, Maryland, met in Public Session on Tuesday, January 23, 2007, in the Council Chambers of City Hall. President Fiedler called the meeting to order at 7:29 P.M.
Invocation – A moment of silence
Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States
Call of Roll:
Present: Mayor Fiedler, Councilmen Elliott, Hedrick, and Rephann.
Absent: Councilman Hendershot; Michael Cohen, City Solicitor.
Department Heads and/or Officials Present: Jeffrey E. Repp, City Administrator; Kevin Hagerich, Director of Public Works; Jeffrey Rhodes, Director of Administrative Services; William Herbaugh, Fire Chief; and Sharon S. Clark, City Clerk
Reports –
The following reports were submitted:
1. Fire Department Report submitted by William Herbaugh, Fire Chief, for the month of December, 2006
2. Public Works Report submitted by Kevin Hagerich, Director of Public Works, for the month of December, 2006
Councilman Elliott made a motion to adopt the reports. Councilman Hedrick seconded the motion and it the reports were unanimously adopted.
Ordinances and Charter Amendment Resolutions -
Ordinance No. 3572 authorizing the City Administrator to declare emergencies and emergency situations for the purposes of collective bargaining agreements was introduced in Title Only for its first reading.
Councilman Elliott made a motion to adopt the first reading and move to the second reading. The motion was seconded by Councilman Hedrick and unanimously approved.
Ordinance No. 3572 was presented in Title Only for its second reading. Councilman Elliott made a motion to accept the second after comment and move to the first reading. The motion was seconded by Councilman Hedrick.
Mr. Repp, City Administrator, explained both FOP and AFSCME bargaining agreements have provisions for declaration of emergencies allowing extended work periods for employees covered by the agreement; however, but they don’t include who declares the emergency. The adoption of this ordinance gives the City Administrator that authority.
Mayor Fiedler asked for comments or questions.
Mr. James Bestpitch, Staff Representative for AFSCME Local 553, ask for clarification as to what portion of the collective bargaining agreements this affects in declaring emergencies. Mr. Repp advised this is specific to the issue of working hours. Mayor Fiedler further explained this to make this more efficient rather than having to contact the Council for a vote in an emergency. Mr. Repp clarified that this change pertained only to hours worked.
With no further questions, the second reading was unanimously adopted.
Ordinance No. 3572 was presented for its third reading and was unanimously adopted.
Orders (Consent Agenda):
With five (5) items on the consent agenda, Mayor Fiedler asked if there were requests to handle any of the items separately. There were no requests.
Councilman Rephann made a motion to adopt the consent agenda. Councilman Elliott seconded the motion and the following consent agenda was unanimously adopted:
Order No. 24,497 Authorizing the City Administrator to execute an Agreement between the City of Cumberland and the State Highway Administration for use of salt domes
Order No. 24,498 Authorizing the City Administrator to approve additional costs incurred with the installation of the Microsoft Exchange 2003 Server - $2,262.50
Order No. 24,499 Approving a Historic District Tax Incentive Program tax credit for the property located at 81 Baltimore Street owned by Global Marketing Systems, Inc. - $32,204.50
Order No. 24,500 Approving a Historic District Tax Incentive Program tax credit for the property located at 115 Hanover Street owned by Frank Fotia & Patricia Hilton - $2,789.60
Order No. 24,501 Approving appropriation transfers for Fiscal Year 2005-2006
Requests To Be Heard –
Mr. James Bestpitch, Representative/AFSCME 553, requested a committee consisting of members of the union, the Council and staff be formed to address problems cropping up in the work force with the hope of getting back on the right track.
Mayor Fiedler agreed and said he would set up a meeting with Mr. Bestpitch and Mr. Keiper for the purpose of designating the committee members. He added he would discuss with the City Solicitor the number of Council appointments to be made. He suggested having that session next week. Mr. Bestpitch said he would send the Mayor a letter with names of those representatives for the committee. Mr. Bestpitch acknowledged members of 553 present in the meeting.
Mr. Derrick Campbell, Bedford Road, thanked the Mayor for meeting with him after the last meeting last week explaining ISO. Mr. Campbell asked if they had considered running a mini-pumper at the station. Mayor Fiedler said he wasn’t knowledgeable in that area and asked Chief Herbaugh to meet with Mr. Campbell after the meeting to discuss the matter.
There were no further requests.
Adjournment –
With no further business to be addressed, the meeting adjourned at 7:39 P.M.
Approved February 6, 2007
Attest:
__________________________
Sharon S. Clark, City Clerk