The hiring of a new director for Taneytown’s Planning & Zoning office has been conditionally approved by the Taneytown Council at their November meeting. The approval was conditioned on the applicant passing an in-progress background check.

Applicant Matthew Farace’s hiring would officially alleviate Town Manager James Wieprecht of his current planning and zoning responsibilities, which Weibrecht had initially assumed while serving as Taneytown’s acting town manager. Weibrecht was appointed as town manager in August but agreed to continue to manage planning and zoning operations until a new hire could be found to relieve him of those duties.

Farace earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental & Land Use Planning and has previously been employed as a planning technician for Front Royal, Virginia, and was subsequently hired as a planning technician for Carroll County’s Planning Department.

Assuming Farace will pass the background check, his starting salary will be $44,970, and plans call for him to assume his new position on November 30.

Economic development position unfilled

Mayor Wantz informed the City Council at their November meeting that the search for a new economic development director has thus far been unproductive.

Wantz said the search has (to date) failed. "We received a few resumes. We went through them. We chose some for interviews … four candidates for interviews. One withdrew based on pay. Two withdrew … saying they took other jobs, and the fourth was a no-show."

The mayor further stated that town staff will continue to seek applicants, unless staff or council members would like to recommend an alternative to changing the position, as it presently exists.

City Hall returns with ceremony

Taneytown City Hall is now back in service, after a prolonged closure while repairs were underway to restore the building that was severely damaged when it was purposely rammed by a pick-up truck in August 2019.

Town Manager Wieprecht told the council at their November meeting, "We’re back to regular operations. Everybody that belongs here has been moved back, and folks have settled in nicely."

Staff did hold a "modest, limited celebration," including a ribbon-cutting, "but we did want to do something to mark the City Hall re-opening." A number of county and state officials attended.

The town offices sustained $51,735.99 in damages resulting from the impact of the truck driven by Rodney Davis, who was reportedly angered that the city had cut his water-service. David was sentenced on September 1 to a total of 13 years in prison, with all but 18 months suspended after having pleaded guilty to first-degree assault (which is a felony), and malicious destruction of property.

Mayor seeks post-election unity

Mayor Wantz stated at the November meeting that in the wake of the November 3 election, the country needs to "come together."

Wantz said, "We’re in a rather tumultuous time. Some people are upset. Some people are extremely happy. Whoever you voted for - it is what it is. What I’m hoping that we can get out of this is that we come back together as a country again."

He said that regardless of who becomes present, "We need to be a united people. That’s what makes the United States a great country"

Noting that there are bound to be recounts - whatever happens on the national stage really does not need to affect our sense of community here, adding. "It is time to make this country the best that it can be, and we can start that locally by making Taneytown the best it can be … by coming together."