From Staff Reports Cumberland Times-News
OAKLAND — The Western Maryland Consortium is preparing to assist 59 workers who will be laid off from Fechheimer Brothers Co. in Grantsville by March 1, consortium executive director John Wynn told the Garrett County commission at its weekly meeting Tuesday.
A rapid-response meeting will take place Jan. 30 with officials from the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, the Maryland Division of Unemployment Insurance and Somerset County (Pa.) CareerLink, explained Wynn in an interview with the Times-News.
An employee orientation session will be held during the meeting to provide service for those being laid off as well as job search assistance and job training, said Wynn.
The employees may be eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance, which provides aid to workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports, according to Wynn.
The Maryland General Assembly passed a bill in 2011 that requires state agencies to buy uniforms, safety equipment and protective gear from U.S. companies.
Delegate Wendell Beitzel introduced the measure after a visit to Fechheimer, a manufacturer of uniforms, when the plant manager told him that the company was bringing in orders from several states that had buy-American preferences in place.
The TAA program provides training, income support, job search allowances, relocation allowances and Health and Coverage Tax Credit.
In order to apply for TAA, a petition must be filed by a group of three or more workers, their union or company officials. It takes about 40 days before a decision is rendered, but if requested, workers could receive assistance before the decision is made, according to Wynn.
A call to Fechheimer CFO Dan Dudley was not returned. Also, multiple attempts to contact Gary Ison, dislocation field representative at the Maryland DLLR, were unsuccessful.
During the commission meeting, the board was provided with several updates:
• Donald DeWitt, director of the Garrett County Department of Social Services, told the commissioners that the close-out of the 2011 financial audit has been completed and noted that the budget for 2012 will again be evaluated as part of the ongoing budget deficits with the state of Maryland.
• David Baker, supervisor of the Garrett County Department of Solid Waste and Recycling, updated the commission on a number of projects, including timber harvest, Cell 4 construction and King’s Run collection site expansion. He also provided the commission with an update on a collection site sticker sale program
• Linda Lindsey, director of Garrett County Department of Public Utilities, gave a status update on projects, such as the Thayerville and McHenry water systems, Pee Wee Hill water project, Friendsville sewer system-Maple Street sewer line extension project and Deep Creek Lake Western Conveyance.
• Mount Haven Wellness and Recovery provided an update on a mental health drop-in center in Oakland previously known as Harvey House.
• The commission appropriated $37,480 as a cost share with the Maryland Department of Agriculture for the Forest Pest Management Program, which works to manage gypsy moths in the county.
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