Cambridge Mayor proposes changes to CWDI charter
CAMBRIDGE, Md. – The harbor is a staple in Cambridge and city officials want to know that their city is in good hands.
On Tuesday, Mayor Steve Rideout, the sole member of the Cambridge Waterfront Development Incorporated proposed some changes to the charter. “So what Mayor Rideout did to do was introduce new articles of incorporation, amendments of the existing ones that will clarify and clarify the role of the board of Directors and the City of Cambridge in relation to CWDI,” said City Manager, Tom Carroll.
Mayor Rideout called a public meeting Tuesday to unveil his proposed charter changes, including: if the position of mayor is vacant, the president of the Cambridge commissioners would serve as the sole member of CWDI and that member would have the right to access all CWDI meetings, among other things. City manager Tom Carroll says the direction the current project is going is not what’s best for the city of Cambridge. “The project does not generate enough economic value. Number two, they CWDI has decided to serve as their own master site developer. We think that’s a colossal mistake. Number three, the TIFF tax increment Finance District is very speculative and does not work and for the board doesn’t have the right governance, structure, openness, and transparency,” said Caroll.
CWDI Executive Director Matt Leonard previously told us he believes there is bad information or misinformation out there about the project and has a public meeting planned for April 18th to answer questions. On Monday CWDI’s attorney sent a letter to the City attorney saying “If the mayor chooses to proceed in an effort to unilaterally amend the CWDI charter, CWDI will consider the lawful remedies available to it.”
“Anytime somebody makes suggestions or they say they’re making suggestions to help you do better, we’re always happy to hear those suggestions. We have to get legal review from our attorney and then the board would have to deliberate any changes and I’d have to approve any changes,” said Matt Leonard.
Mayor Rideout says he welcomes input on his proposed changes and will make his decision in ten days. He declined to answer any questions on Tuesday. Leonard says that for changes to be made to the corporation, no one party is in charge, rather the sole member, Rideout in this case and the Board of Directors are to work together.
As to who ultimately has the final say, it seems no one is on the same page.
CWDI plans to host a community update meeting on the project on April 18th at the Chesapeake Grove Intergenerational Center, and following thaMay 22nd is CWDI’s next board meeting.
