Walkersville Town Meeting

The Town of Walkersville held its Town Meeting on the evening of June 24, 2015. Burgess Ralph Whitmore was setting up the carnival grounds for next week’s Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company Carnival. Commissioner Chad Weddle ran the meeting in his absence.

During the first item of business, Town Manager Gloria Long Rollins informed Commissioners that the owner of Walkers Overlook would not be making the required balloon payment for his loan on the Walker Farm as exepcted on July 1, 2015. The owner misunderstood the contract to have payment due on August 15, 2015. The Commissioners voted to extend the deadline to August 15, 2015 with interest due on the extended period.

The Town of Walkersville will pursue a contract to accept credit cards for water bills in person at Town Hall. Commissioner Russ Winch asked that they also look into accepting payments on the Town’s new web site. There was discussion that the site was to be built with this ability, but Ms. Rollins has not been able to get the web developer to respond to her requests.

Commissioners learned that legislative changes have required that the limits on the town’s litigation liability have been raised. The time period to sue the Town has also been extended. As such, the insurance rate on liability increased.

Michael Kuster, who was re-appointed to the Planning Commission, was sworn into office by Commissioner Weddle.

Glade Valley Athletic Association (GVAA) presented plans to work with the town to secure bids on a new building at Heritage Farm Park. The Town must wait for the Maryland Board of Public Works to approve the $100,000 Project Open Space funds for the project. Burgess Whitmore wants the project started before he leaves office in October.

GVAA also presented the Town with a situation that occurred while the Town’s Resident Troopers were not available. Three individuals tore up the middle of a field with dirt bikes. Police were called, but the responding officer informed GVAA that without signs posted to prohibit such activity he could not arrest the vandals. The Resident Trooper said that a sign is not required, and asked for any information on the individuals responsible.

The Commissioners approved the Walkersville Planning Commission Annual Report. The report shows that in 2014:

• no building permits for new homes were issued,
• various stages of plans were approved for:
  • 103 homes on Fountain Rock Road,
  • 22 homes on Pennsylvania Avenue, and
  • 16 homes on Glade Road were approved.

Ms. Rollins announced that two new employees began work on June 16, 2015 in the maintance division. A part-time employee for the front desk of Town Hall has also begun working.  All employees are working out well.

Commissioner Baker reminded the audience that the weekly Farmers Markets on Friday evenings at the Evening High School parking lot continue to grow. He also noted that the gas station on Sandstone Drive had opened.

Commissioner Weddle read a letter from the State Highway Administration noting that a traffic was done for thirteen hours on a typical day. They found no need for any traffic signals along MD 194 at Crum Road, Nicodemus Road, nor West Frederick Street. Commissioner Winch asked how the SHA had decided that MD 194 needed to be expanded if traffic does not warrant a signal.

The Town received a thank-you note from the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company for a contribution of $14,500. Commissioner Weddle noted that the amount was $2,000 more than usual to help with the purchase of the company’s new Quint-11.

Commissioner Weddle reminded anyone planning on running for office in Walkersville’s Election in September must file by August 17, 2015.

The Commissioners then voted to go into a closed meeting to discuss staff evaluations and a pending contract. Commissioner Donald Schildt voted against the closed meeting. He wants any discussion of raises for employees to be done in public. He noted that other governments post salaries online and he has urged the same transparency for Walkersville.