(10/8) Emmitsburg's newly re-elected mayor and re-elected commissioner were sworn-in at the commissioners' October meeting, and reorganized board duties.

Mayor Briggs prevailed in the September 29 town election against challengers ... former town Mayor James Hoover, and Commissioner Clifford Sweeney. Of the 398 ballots cast, Briggs garnered 230 votes, while Hoover received 110 votes, and Sweeney received 58.

Commissioner Joseph Ritz was re-elected to his uncontested position with a vote of 331.

Mayor Briggs was sworn-in by Sandra Dalton, clerk of the Circuit Court for Frederick County, while the mayor conducted the swearing-in of Commissioner Ritz. Commissioner Ritz stated, "Thanks again. I'm looking forward to serving the community for another three years."

Briggs said, "I'm pretty humble to be elected for a fourth term. I ran against two, true gentlemen opponents, where only the issues were discussed, much different from the decorum of exchanges between our presidential candidates. This speaks so highly of our town and what we expect."

The commissioners also approved the appointment of Wayne Slaughter to the Board of Appeals.

Additionally, the mayor presented his recommendations for board and liaison assignments. "We like to rotate chairs. We want everybody to get a shot of everything. These are only one-year appointments," he stated.

Briggs recommended that Commissioner Sweeney step-down as president of the board and, instead, serve as vice-president, and thanked the commissioner for his serving as the president. Sweeney has served as the president of the board for the past two years. In his place, the mayor recommended that Commissioner Timothy O'Donnell assume the position as the board's president.

The mayor further requested that Sweeney also serve as liaison to Citizens Advisory Committee, replacing Commissioner Burns.

Briggs also recommended Commissioner Burns to serve as treasurer, and that Commissioner Frank Davis continue for another year as liaison to the Parks and Recreation Committee, adding, "Keep this baseball thing going and make it great again here."

The mayor suggested Commissioner Ritz continue on as liaison to the Planning and Zoning Commission, noting, "It's got a good click to it right now and you are all doing very well right now."

The commissioners approved the mayor's recommendation by consensus. The appointments became effective as of the end of the town meeting.