Will White stepped into a new role Monday at the New Cumberland City Council meeting. The long-time Councilman took the helm as Mayor and appointed two former Council members to vacant Council seats. Judy Bartley will replace Larry Binkoski as 2nd ward councilmember. Binkoski moved out of City limits. Brian Webster was appointed to fill the 1st ward vacant seat. Council also welcomed Ann Blankenship and former mayor Dick Blackwell as new council members. Attorney Kevin Pearl will continue in his role as City Solicitor under the new administration as will Chief of Police Lester “Chickie” Skinner and City Clerk Tammie Jenkins who will also serve as the Grants Administrator for the City.
Upon the Mayor’s recommendation, Kevin Hurley was appointed building inspector and Jeremiah Squires was hired as a new employee.
White announced that after much consideration the City made the decision to no longer rent out the multi-purpose room to the Oak Glen Jr. Bears. The group currently owes the City $1,453.00 for rental of the room. Council learned that the group had pledged to pay half of the amount owed in July with the remaining due in August. Council heard from resident Rich Zumer who asked that another basketball group be allowed to use the multipurpose room until the Community House floor is completed in mid- August. Zumer said those students range from 7th grade to 12th grade and need the space to practice.
Concerns about the impact of the basketball groups on the City’s insurance and the risk of potential lawsuits in the event of injury were discussed. City Clerk Jenkins clarified that City buildings are covered under one insurance policy, but each entity pays a portion of the premium.
Zumer responded that each student in his group would sign a waiver saying they wouldn’t sue the city if injured, but City Solicitor Pearl pointed out that the students were all minors and questioned whether a minor could sign a waiver. The matter will be discussed at a Park Board meeting Sunday and Zumer was invited to attend the meeting and discuss the issue in further detail.
In other business, Council:
**Agreed to a fifty cent per hour raise for full-time employees;
**Restored donations to the prior year’s level. Donations approved were New Cumberland Festival Committee – $5,000.00; Volunteer Fire Dept . – $1,000.00; United Church Social Services – $1,000.00; Pride Park – $500.00; Yuletide Committee – $1,000.00; and Swaney Library – $1,000.00
**Agreed to investigate purchase of a utility vehicle for use by all departments;
**Agreed to pursue the military banner program. Mayor White said the project is a cooperative effort with the Garden Club, VFW and the City. Cost of purchasing a banner is estimated at $130.00. Hopes are for the program to be in place in time for Memorial Day 2020.
**Announced that Bill Webster’s yard had been chosen for the first “Yard of the Month”;
**Heard a report from George Hines regarding the municipal building. Hines said air conditioning had been installed on the second floor of the building and repairs on the men’s restroom were being completed;
**Lauded the efforts of workers to keep the grass cut on city property with special thanks to Tom Kessel for his hard work;
**Scheduled the following committee meetings: Finance, July 13 at 4:30 p.m.; Police, July 19 at 4:30 p.m.; Streets, July 15 at 4:30 P.M.; Water/Sewage, July 12 at 5 p.m.
NEW CUMBERLAND MAYOR CHARTS COURSE FOR NEW ADMINISTRATION
Will White stepped into a new role Monday at the New Cumberland City Council meeting. The long-time Councilman took the helm as Mayor and appointed two former Council members to vacant Council seats. Judy Bartley will replace Larry Binkoski as 2nd ward councilmember. Binkoski moved out of City limits. Brian Webster was appointed to fill the 1st ward vacant seat. Council also welcomed Ann Blankenship and former mayor Dick Blackwell as new council members. Attorney Kevin Pearl will continue in his role as City Solicitor under the new administration as will Chief of Police Lester “Chickie” Skinner and City Clerk Tammie Jenkins who will also serve as the Grants Administrator for the City.
Upon the Mayor’s recommendation, Kevin Hurley was appointed building inspector and Jeremiah Squires was hired as a new employee.
White announced that after much consideration the City made the decision to no longer rent out the multi-purpose room to the Oak Glen Jr. Bears. The group currently owes the City $1,453.00 for rental of the room. Council learned that the group had pledged to pay half of the amount owed in July with the remaining due in August. Council heard from resident Rich Zumer who asked that another basketball group be allowed to use the multipurpose room until the Community House floor is completed in mid- August. Zumer said those students range from 7th grade to 12th grade and need the space to practice.
Concerns about the impact of the basketball groups on the City’s insurance and the risk of potential lawsuits in the event of injury were discussed. City Clerk Jenkins clarified that City buildings are covered under one insurance policy, but each entity pays a portion of the premium.
Zumer responded that each student in his group would sign a waiver saying they wouldn’t sue the city if injured, but City Solicitor Pearl pointed out that the students were all minors and questioned whether a minor could sign a waiver. The matter will be discussed at a Park Board meeting Sunday and Zumer was invited to attend the meeting and discuss the issue in further detail.
In other business, Council:
**Agreed to a fifty cent per hour raise for full-time employees;
**Restored donations to the prior year’s level. Donations approved were New Cumberland Festival Committee – $5,000.00; Volunteer Fire Dept . – $1,000.00; United Church Social Services – $1,000.00; Pride Park – $500.00; Yuletide Committee – $1,000.00; and Swaney Library – $1,000.00
**Agreed to investigate purchase of a utility vehicle for use by all departments;
**Agreed to pursue the military banner program. Mayor White said the project is a cooperative effort with the Garden Club, VFW and the City. Cost of purchasing a banner is estimated at $130.00. Hopes are for the program to be in place in time for Memorial Day 2020.
**Announced that Bill Webster’s yard had been chosen for the first “Yard of the Month”;
**Heard a report from George Hines regarding the municipal building. Hines said air conditioning had been installed on the second floor of the building and repairs on the men’s restroom were being completed;
**Lauded the efforts of workers to keep the grass cut on city property with special thanks to Tom Kessel for his hard work;
**Scheduled the following committee meetings: Finance, July 13 at 4:30 p.m.; Police, July 19 at 4:30 p.m.; Streets, July 15 at 4:30 P.M.; Water/Sewage, July 12 at 5 p.m.
