Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
July 2, 2019

Dear Readers:

Attached is the proposed Resolution that will be on for first reading on July 8th. The proposed changes to the City Charter are underlined (pages 4 and 7). When the Charter establishing the City Manager form of government was passed, it included the right of the City Council to “Advise and Consent” on the hiring of Department Heads. This was a compromise that enabled our current form of government to be established, which has proved to be a very successful way to govern the City of Cambridge.

I oppose the proposed change because it will take away the ability of the city manager to effectively run the city and hire the most qualified people without political interference from the elected officials. The city currently has a very comprehensive and detailed mechanism for screening applicants that is aimed at us hiring the best person available.

If this resolution passes, there will be an effort to garner enough signatures on a petition to send the matter over to the November 2020 election for vote. If city council does not pass this Resolution, we will not need to go to the effort and expense to overturn this decision.

At the start of the July 8th meeting, you have the opportunity to speak briefly about anything including this proposal. At the next regular meeting, you will also have the opportunity to speak about it at the public hearing on the proposal. I urge you to attend both meetings and let the city council know what you think.

The reasons that I oppose the Resolution are these:

1. The current system was fully thought out and approved and has worked effectively.
2. The change will allow politics, cronyism, and discrimination to enter into a process that should avoid those issues.
3. When the staff vetting process is complete, the best candidate will be hired. If city council can “Advise and Consent” and refuses to hire that person, we will be opening the City to law suits based on a variety or real or perceived concerns of the candidate. At the very least, this will cause us to use taxpayer money to defend against law suits that will be filed.
4. There are other safeguards in the city charter for any dissatisfaction with the work of the city manager or department heads.
5. Personnel policies can be established without changing the Charter that can address the yet unknown concerns that the commissioners promoting this change seem to think exist.
6. Having City Council make the hiring decisions for all employees is like having the board of directors of a corporation make those decisions. In that instance and in ours, elected people who have little or no professional training or experience in employment law or appropriate hiring practices will be making these decisions when we should be leaving them up to the professional staff that has established the methods to properly screen applicants to find the best qualified person.

If you are unable to attend either of the meetings or even if you are, please think about sending an email to the Mayor and Commissioners providing your view about this proposed Resolution.

Thanks,

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
June 28, 2019

Dear Cambridge Matters Readers:

As it past years, when we have a break in our meeting schedule in June for the Maryland Municipal League Conference, I provide a summary of some of the matters that were taken up and addressed during the past Fiscal Year (July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019). As you will see, I cover a lot of ground and a number of different issues.

I know that there are matters that I have not mentioned in the report that are important as well but I felt that I touched on those that gave the flavor of the goings on here with our City Council and our City Government.

We meet next on July 8th with some issues of importance to you and the city. I will let you know more about them as I receive information.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Steve

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Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
June 21, 2019

Dear Cambridge Matters Readers:

Below is an email regarding the latest update on the High Street repairs. We are almost finished.

Steve

* * * * *

Morning Everyone;

Wanted to give you what will be my final update on High St. renovation project. The final bricks were laid on Monday with a curing period of 7 days; yesterday the contractor did the blacktop tie in’s from the existing streets to the new brick street with the final lane shift to accommodate this work. In consideration of this High St. will be fully opened on Monday June 24th, to normal two way traffic and parking.

I would like to thank George Hyde and his staff especially Ed Phillips who has been our project inspector on site daily to ensure we finished with a quality product. Through the efforts of the contractor Dave A. Bramble, Ed Phillips, and George, I feel they have done an exceptional job to make sure we maintained the historic integrity that High St. has always presented, traffic patterns where such to minimize the impact on the local business, and citizens. We would like to thank MUC for their efforts in changing over the water services to the facilities throughout the route from the old main to the new main once the water main was installed and certified.

We would like to thank Council for your support during this venture, and funding of the project. With everyone’s efforts especially the patience of the local business, and our citizens, I hope they will enjoy and appreciate the renovations with opening of the 300 Block of High St. on Monday June 24th .

Thank you.

Oden C. Wheeler Jr.
Director DPW
1025 Washington Street
Cambridge, Maryland 21613
Phone 410-228-1955
Fax 410-228-1474
owheeler@choosecambridge.com

Commissioner Steve Rideout
swrideout@aol.com
June 16, 2019

There will be a work session on the issue of City Council becoming involved with personnel matters (see attached). Right now the City Manager handles this part of City government.

This may be an effort to overturn the City Manager’s role which would be a mistake. If available, people need to come to learn more about possible plans.

I do not know what the problem is or is perceived to be.

It is scheduled for 2 pm on Monday at City Council Chambers on Gay Street next to the library.

Steve

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