Tenant council approves two part-time police hires and advances Harpers Ferry waterworks upgrades

The tenant council, meeting March 13, 2026, voted 5-0 to offer part-time or contract employment to Desiree Harris and to Amanda Ruffner for positions in the town’s police department and to move Stevenson Street and Cleveland Street water-distribution upgrades into the Harpers Ferry Waterworks Fiscal Year 26 Phase 3 CDS project.

The council was called to order at about 10:00 a.m. by the chair, who also led approval of an amended agenda. The body then voted to enter an executive session at 10:01 a.m., citing exemptions from the Open Meetings Act identified in the transcript (referenced as "698, four exceptions, subsection A" and "section nine" for personnel and property matters). The chair authorized the finance officer, the chief of police and the public works administrator to attend that executive session. The council reconvened in open session at about 11:20 a.m.

After the meeting resumed, a council member moved to "offer Desiree Harris part time employment as either a contract employee or temporary employee at a rate equivalent to $20 an hour." The motion was seconded (the transcript records "Second from Chris") and the chair called for a vote; the motion passed 5-0.

A second motion to "offer Amanda Ruffner contract employment" was moved and seconded and also approved 5-0. The transcript includes two hourly figures in quick succession during that motion (it says both "at a rate equivalent to $20 an hour" and later "$26 an hour"); the recorded motion outcome was unanimous, but the compensation rate is not specified unambiguously in the record and requires follow-up for confirmation.

Later, a council member moved to "move the Stevenson Street and Cleveland Street water distribution system upgrades into the Harpers Ferry waterworks fiscal year 26, phase 3 CDS project and to make other adjustments to the project as deemed necessary and prudent." The motion was seconded and passed 5-0. The action places both street-distribution upgrade projects into the town’s FY26 Phase 3 CDS work plan for Harpers Ferry Waterworks; the transcript does not specify funding sources, cost estimates, or a construction schedule.

The council voted to adjourn at 11:23 a.m.

The transcript records motions, seconds and unanimous vote tallies but provides limited detail on compensation for one hire and no budgetary specifics for the waterworks motion. The council’s use of executive session to discuss personnel and property matters was recorded in the meeting minutes; the transcript’s statutory citation is not precise and should be clarified by town staff.