Merced’s new city manager’s first meeting set

After swearing in the new city manager, the Merced City Council is set to conduct some housekeeping during its Monday meeting.

City Manager Steve Carrigan began work last week in the city with a swearing-in Jan. 25, but a more ceremonial rite featuring Merced Superior Court presiding Judge Brian L. McCabe is planned during the regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 678 W. 18th St.

Some of the decisions the council will be asked to make:

• Whether the council should award a $200,000 contract to Evoqua Water Technologies of Milpitas to do work to remove PCE, a cleaning solvent used at dry cleaners and auto repair shops, from city drinking water at Well 3C.
• Whether the city should apply for $25,355 in State Homeland Security Grant Program funds to purchase a bomb suit and bomb helmet to protect investigators checking suspicious packages.
• Whether the city should aid Golden Valley Health Centers, which is looking to finance a $9.5 million bond to renovate about 4,100 square feet to provide dental care. The city can help by providing a public hearing, a requirement of the Tax and Equity Fiscal Responsibility Act.
• Whether the city should declare an exemption to temporarily hire a retired city employee without the typical 180-day waiting period, a normal requirement of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System. The city is looking at bringing on Roberta Medina, a former community services officer who retired Dec. 31, to train two new officers.

The council has scheduled a closed session meeting before the regular session to discuss the search for a new city attorney.

This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 2:29 PM with the headline "Merced’s new city manager’s first meeting set."