Williamsport briefs

June 11, 2008

Council, four town employees meet behind closed doors

WILLIAMSPORT - The Williamsport Town Council met with four employees - Randy French, Les Guessford, William Shank and Robert Talhelm - in executive session on Monday for about an hour.

Beforehand, in open session, Mayor James G. McCleaf II announced the topic of the executive session as "employee issues."

Asked afterward about the session, McCleaf said the town employees had complaints to air.

Three of the employees refused after the executive session to describe the discussion, but one added, "We needed to clean this up."

Under Maryland's Open Meetings Act, government bodies are required to conduct business in public. However, they may - but are not required to - meet privately for certain exceptions.

One exemption covers issues directly connected to specific employees, such as their promotions, discipline, compensation or resignation.

"I think we have everything resolved," McCleaf said Tuesday.

The executive session wasn't listed on Monday's agenda. McCleaf announced it shortly after the four employees filed in and sat together.

Assistant Mayor Monty R. Jones, who typically opposes private meetings, and Councilman Jeff Cline voted against a motion to go into executive session. The rest of the council voted in favor, so the motion carried 4-2.

At the end of the evening, during a public session, resident Regina Yohe called town officials "inconsiderate" for holding an hourlong executive session at the start of the meeting. A few people who came for the regularly scheduled meeting left before the executive session was over.

"Point taken," McCleaf said.

Deputies responded to 276 calls in May

WILLIAMSPORT - The Washington County Sheriff's Department's resident deputies responded to 276 calls in Williamsport in May, according to a report reviewed at Monday's town council meeting.

Deputies arrested one juvenile.

They issued nine speeding tickets, two parking tickets, 45 other tickets and 64 warnings.

Boy Scout requests to use parks OK'd

WILLIAMSPORT - The Williamsport Town Council on Monday approved two requests by Boy Scout groups who wanted to use town property.

A group from Wilmington, Del., asked to use Byron Memorial Park on June 16 and Riverbottom Park on June 17.

An Akron, Ohio, troop plans to camp in Byron Memorial Park on July 3 and leave the next morning.

- Andrew Schotz

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