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City Will Meet with CSX Today on Bridges

July 18th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

Cumberland city officials will meet this morning with representatives of CSX Transportation to review design options for two new West Side bridges- and for the first time Mayor Ray Morriss will be able to participate in those talks. An opinion from legal counsil earlier this year recommended that Morriss as well as councilman Eugene Frazier not be involved with those talks as they are retired CSX employees with stock in the company- and it could be perceived as a conflict of interest. Mayor Morriss took the issue to the city’s administrative appeals board on Wednesday afternoon and received a favorable ruling- allowing he and Frazier to meet with and vote on CSX matters. The balk of the discussion centered on the definition of having “an interest” and the percentage of stock ownership permitted. It was ultimately agreed that the level be set at 3% or less which was deemed acceptable and not viewed as having the potential for significant financial gain of any kind. The mayor said he was pleased with the ruling and looking forward to moving forward with CSX negotiations…

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