June 23rd, 2014 by WCBC Radio
In early June, Mayor Brian Grim and Councilwoman Nicole Wagoner participated in a weeklong visit to the European country of Estonia, the home of Cumberland’s sister city of Viljandi. Involved in the international sister city program since 2000, the trip is a cultural and economic development exchange paid for by both Estonia and the city of Cumberland. Estonia paid for food, lodging and travel in the country while Cumberland covered the travel costs to get there. Using a patchwork of U.S Airways, Air Canada and Lufthansa, the cost for Grim and Wagoner to travel round-trip is about $3,500. Both Grim and Wagoner provided brief updates on the trip during last week’s council meeting. Some citizens have expressed concern about spending tax dollars on a trip abroad. Councilman David Kauffman tells WCBC News that while he understands those concerns, the cost was minimal and it provides for cultural exchanges and a chance at discussing possible economic development opportunities…
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