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County / CEDC Merger Vote Expected Next Week

April 24th, 2020 by WCBC Radio

 A week after the Allegany County Commissioners agreed to postpone a planned merger of its economic development department with the agency performing that same function for the city of Cumberland- it now appears a finalized agreement may be approved as early as next Thursday. In a 2-1 vote during last week’s session, the commissioners voted to table a measure that would have established a target date of June 1 to merge the Allegany County Economic Development Department with the Cumberland Economic Development Corporation. Commissioners Jake Shade and Creade Brodie voted in favor of postponing further efforts- and Commissioner Dave Caporale voted against.  Efforts to merge the county with the CEDC have been ongoing since the negotiations began late last summer and a number of target dates to reach a deal have passed. Commissioners President Shade tells WCBC News he expects the merger issue will be on the agenda at the commissioners next business meeting- at which time he would anticipate a vote…

Plans for the merger were spelled out in a memorandum of understanding among the county, city of Cumberland and the CEDC. Commissioner Brodie voted against the original MOU several months ago, he says, because the county would essentially be turning over control of a key department and would have limited say in future economic development matters. If those terms remain, he once again may vote against the proposal…

Commissioner Caporale said he is optimistic that next week will see the merger either finalized, or a firm timeline established for a final vote….      

 

The merger calls for the two-person CEDC and county economic development personnel to be housed together in a neutral building not owned by the county or the city. A location to house the new Allegany Development Corp. has not been determined.

5 Responses to “County / CEDC Merger Vote Expected Next Week”

  1. April 24, 2020 at 7:48 am, Welchy said:

    For the best, I’ll be happy if they pull it off

    Reply

  2. April 24, 2020 at 8:47 am, mac said:

    Who cares?
    Economic development in Allegany County is an oxymoron. Just like military intelligence, or Dodge Ram.

    Reply

    • April 24, 2020 at 9:26 am, Jay said:

      Or radio personality.

      Reply

      • April 24, 2020 at 10:42 am, mac said:

        > Oh man, I wish I’d thought of that one!

        Reply

  3. April 24, 2020 at 2:15 pm, Kevin said:

    Great to see that no one got any smarter during the pandemic – stupid is deep here in Allegany County. I’m sure by this time next year we’ll still have a big hole on Maryland Avenue.

    Reply

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