(7/24) The Emmitsburg commissioners will be considering adopting a resolution "to repeal the charter of the Town of Emmitsburg in its entirety" at their August 2 meeting, and adopt a new one in its place with "modernized" wording.

Commissioner Joe Ritz told the News-Journal that it was his understanding that the intent is to have the currently existing charter "replaced (by one) with more modern verbiage," and to update other information contained within the charter that is no longer applicable or out of date.

For example, the town boundaries, as stated in the current charter, have "significantly grown over the years," and need to be updated, Ritz said. The charter also references specific properties by owner, a practice which needs to be replaced with one that geographically identifies the sites. In another instance, the existing charter even discusses MD State Route 97, which is now Route 140.

The current charter also establishes and defines the Emmitsburg Police Department, an agency which hasn’t existed in years.

Ritz said that other specifics which need to be removed include such regulations as those that require the commissioners: "to regulate the cleaning of chimneys; to prohibit the running-at-large of animals in the streets or public places; to license and regulate public conveyances or forms of transportation; to regulate the speed and travel in general of all animals, bicycles, and automobiles, and to designate over what streets and thoroughfares the same may be driven."

The existing charter charges the Town Commissioners with establishing quarantine regulations and regulate the burial and disinterment of the dead; and "preserve the peace and order of town, and punish the resistance, hindrance and obstruction of public officers in the discharge of their duties; and to prevent vice, suppress gambling, houses of ill fame, and disorderly houses."

In addition, Commissioners are responsible for regulating the manufacturing and keeping of explosives in the town, the construction of telegraph lines, and the peddling of merchandise on the streets.