Town mulls Main Street designation
Chris Patterson
(9/9/2003) It may not be too long before Main Street in
Thurmont is part of the National Main Street Program to revitalize downtown
districts.
Town commissioner Bill Blakeslee gave an overview of
the Main Street Program at Tuesday's town meeting, and his fellow commissioners
indicated they were pleased to consider the idea.
The Main Street Program is designed to re-vitalize
downtown areas across the country. Working through The National Main Street
Center of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a town's downtown
business district can see a variety of changes that can include design changes
to the downtown area, consensus building among diverse entities in the town,
and a strong marketing effort to promote downtown businesses.
The program provides support in the way of providing
on-site technical assistance to towns, cities and urban neighborhoods in the
program. It also serves as a clearinghouse for information and research, as
well as advocacy for preservation of commercial districts.
There are costs involved. Among others, there is the
potential cost of a consultant to write the application or proposal and the
cost to pay a full-time program manager for at least three years.
Blakeslee reported that figures reported on the
program's Web site show a return rate of $40.35 for every $1 spent.
The board plans to convene again for a workshop in
October to consider the program in more detail.
Blakeslee also announced the next meeting of the
Economic Development Committee will be at7 p.m., Sept. 15 at the Cozy
Restaurant. Guest speakers will include a member of the Maryland Small Business
Administration. Anyone may attend the meeting.
Commissioner calls for respect to town staff
Commissioner Ron Terpko said he thinks it's time for
the
"The ladies in the office did not set the water and
sewer rates. We commissioners set the rates," he said. "...I think for people
to come in here screaming, yelling, swearing, hollering up and down with them
is just totally uncalled for. I don't that it's right and I don't think they
should be treated that way."
Terpko asked residents to treat town staff with respect
when and if they have a complaint.
He stressed that any of the board members can be
contacted with a compliant and are available to do so.
Police officers sworn in
Two recently promoted town police officers were sworn
in to service in their new ranks on Tuesday.
With their respective wives and daughters looking on,
Lt. Troy A. Angell and Sgt. Michael A. Figgins promised to uphold their job
responsibilities without preference or favoritism.
Figgins is approaching his 4th anniversary and Angell
his 10th anniversary with the department.
Ethics Commission member sought
Mayor Martin A. Burns announced that the town is
seeking one Ethics Commission member.
There are two commissioners on the three-member board
and one application has been received, he said.
The board is expected to make a decision on the
appointment at its next regular town meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The mayor will
have the responsibility to make the appointment to the commission and the board
will vote to approve or deny the appointment.
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