David Vaughn was sworn in by Mayor Carr at
the Town meeting on October 1. Commissioner
Vaughn was appointed to fill the town council
position vacated when Commissioner Chris Stahley
resigned last month. He will serve on the
council until elections are held in April 2002.
Town donates to VHC New York Family Fund
Mayor Carr presented a check for $1,000 to
Vigilant Hose Company Chief Frank Davis for the
VHC’s New York Family Fund. In accepting the
donation Chief Davis stated that the two-day
drive netted over $25,000. The funds will be
given to families of two fallen firefighters who
died at the site of the World Trade Center.
"Representatives of VHC will hand deliver
the money to the families we are
sponsoring," said Davis.
Tower Moratorium Extension
The council voted 4-0 to extend until January
10, 2002, the moratorium on communication towers
within the town limits. The extension will give
more time for the town attorney to design a
draft ordinance. Commissioner Hoover called for
a council workshop prior to designing the draft
ordinance so that the council could have input
in the early stages of the process.
Water system and possible annexation
Town manager Dave Haller told the council
that the new water system will soon be online,
raising the question of what is the best way to
improve the water delivery service to residents
on Mountain View Road who are outside the town
limits. He told the commissioners the present
water system is close to failure.
Mayor Carr said the town had two options.
"We can annex the area, or we can make the
repairs without annexation. Whichever we do, we
want to work with the residents along Mountain
View Road."
The council will meet to decide whether or
not they are interested in annexing the area
into the municipality. This decision will be
forwarded to the residents of the area. The
residents will discuss the matter and then
inform the town of their preference. The
commissioners will meet with the residents in
November. The waterline will be started in
February.
According to Linda Junker, representing the
Mountain View Road residents, when the
annexation issue was originally raised several
years ago 93% of the residents were opposed to
annexation. Since then, there has been a substantial
turn over in
Mountain View Road residents, with 43% of the
current residents new to the area since the
annexation issues was last presented." said
Junker.
In other business the commissioners:
*voted 4-0 to change the number of meetings
held each year by the Parks Committee from
twelve to four and to limit the membership to
five regular members, rather than seven.
Commissioner Sweeney, who has been on the Parks
Committee for 5 years, said the parks are in
good shape and that it was not necessary to have
12 meetings a year. Reducing the number of
persons on the committee will make it easier to
have a quorum, he said.
*announced that North Alley, running between
N. Seton Avenue and Federal Avenue, will be
paved. Contract negotiations are underway with
the Frederick County Paving Company of Thurmont.
It is expected that the paving will be completed
by this winter and will cost $13,100.