Currently viewing the tag: "Emmitsburg Town Council"

Town Tries to Address Short-Term Rental Housing

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James Rada, Jr.

The Emmitsburg Town Council is tackling the issue of short-term rental housing, such as the type of rentals made through Airbnb. These rentals aren’t hotels or bed and breakfasts. Sometimes, they might not even be the rental of the entire home.

This type of rental differs from a traditional lodging option because it may not have an on-site manager and it isn’t subject to health and safety inspections. They also don’t use commercial signage and are typically rented online through a site like Airbnb.

There is concern of such rentals changing the nature of the neighborhood and even commercializing it to some extent. It also increases the number of strangers in a neighborhood. There have been problems with fraudulent listings, unfair competition with tradition lodging, and the lack of public notice about such rentals taking place.

“It can be like having a mini-hotel in your neighborhood,” said Town Planner Sue Cipperly.

Zoning and code changes can help regulate such usage. Short-term rentals can be treated as a commercial use. They can be licensed. Additional insurance can be required. Rental rooms can be limited. Adequate parking can be required. These are a few of the control options that municipalities can enact.

“This is not a unique problem,” said Town Manager Cathy Willets. “It’s a problem the state of Maryland across the board has been trying to figure out.”

Maria Henry, who uses her home for short-term rentals, said she went to Frederick County to see if she could do this because the town does not have an ordinance addressing it. The county told her she was “good to go,” but the town threatened her with fines. This seems to have been due to parking issues her rental caused and not because of the rental itself.

“If there’s no ordinance, I shouldn’t be punished for continuing an Airbnb,” Henry said.

Cipperly explained that the town found a way to fit the rental use into the town code, but this created the parking issue.

The commissioners will continue considering how to deal with the problem in an equitable way, compared to traditional lodging and long-term rentals, like those used by students at Mount St. Mary’s.

Emmitsburg Cares Off to Strong Start

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James Rada, Jr.

The Emmitsburg town council meeting room was filled to capacity on August 11, 2016, as citizens sought for a way to band together to fight Emmitsburg’s crime problem.
“Since I moved here, I’ve noticed the quality of life dropping and crime increasing,” one of the group’s founders, Elizabeth Buckman, told the group.

She said that the town needed to unify against crime, and this could happen if its residents get to know each other, start reporting what they see, and become good neighbors by watching out for each other.

“If we’re not successful, Emmitsburg is going to crumble,” stated Buckman.

Emmitsburg Community Deputy Travis Rohrer said that all suspicious activity should be reported and that the call can be anonymous.

“It may be nothing, but if it looks out of place, there’s a good chance that it probably is,” Rohrer said.

Finding out about the suspicious and criminal activity after they have happened only serves to hinder an investigation. He also pointed out that if sometimes nothing immediately seems to happen when suspicious activity is reported, it may be because the problem is part of a larger one that is being investigated. If residents see a situation, they should gather as much information as they can. This could include descriptions, names, license plate numbers, and even pictures. The more information that law enforcement has about the situation, the quicker a resolution can be reached.

While the group got off to a strong start, the test will be to see if it can continue and grow. In the past, Community Watch efforts in town have started and faded. Emmitsburg Mayor Don Briggs even pointed out that a similarly large group had gathered five years earlier in the room after a youngster had been killed. That effort to help the community had also faded.

“It’s the same message, but it’s up to us to do something, to reach out and watch,” said Briggs.

Emmitsburg Cares has set up a Facebook page that they hope will act as a central hub for information about suspicious activity in town. It is the place to start to get involved. Everyone is encouraged to join.

Town Hall Reports

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by James Rada, Jr.

Emmitsburg

June 2015

Helping Out Little League

The Emmitsburg Town Council recently voted to give the Emmitsburg Little League $500 for a concession stand, as they host a state tournament on July 2-5.

They also voted to give all of the tournament participants a free admission day to the town pool during the tournament.

 

Community Legacy Grants Available

If you have a property located in the Emmitsburg Main Street Historic District or on Frailey Road, East Lincoln, or Chesapeake Avenue, you may be eligible for a Community Legacy Grant. Applications are available at the town office. The grants provide 50 percent matching funds for exterior restoration and façade improvements.

For more information, call the town office at 301-600-6300.

 

Improvements for Emmitsburg

Emmitsburg recently received $16,000 of its requested $18,000 in Program Open Space funds. This money will pay for a new back stop on a baseball field and a dog park.

The town is also planning on new sidewalks along South Seton Avenue from the FEMA Emergency Management Institute entrance to the downtown square. The sidewalks on North Seton are expected to be replaced in 2016. East and West Main Street sidewalk replacement will probably be tied into the bridge project.

It was announced at the last MML meeting that the town received $16,000 in POS money, town requested $18,000. The town will be able to get a back stop and a dog park. Town Manager Dave Haller interjected that staff will have to rebid the back stop, probably this fall. The dog park will most likely happen next spring.

 

New Ethics Committee Member Appointed

Robert Rosensteel has stepped down from the Board of Appeals to serve on the Emmitsburg Ethics Committee. His appointment was unanimous.

 

2016 Budget Passed

The Emmitsburg Town Council approved its budget for fiscal year 2016, which begins on July 1. Commissioners Sweeney, Blanchard, and O’Donnell voted to approve the budget. Commissioners Mellor and Ritz were absent from the meeting but had not expressed any concerns to town staff.

 

For more information about the Town of Emmitsburg, log onto www.emmitsburgmd.gov or call 301-600-6300.

Thurmont

June 2015

Thurmont Officials Pass Budget

Leaving the tax rate unchanged (30.17 cents per $100 of assessed value), the Thurmont Mayor and Board of Commissioners passed its Fiscal Year 2016 budget, which begins on July 1. The General Fund budget $3,689,711 of $4,547,745 in expected revenues. The independent sewer fund budgets $1,448,850 of $2,282,492 in revenues. The independent water fund budgets $802,911 of $1,271,656 in revenues. The independent electric fund budgets $6,461,341 of $7,387,246. Additional amounts in the funds have been budgeted for capital improvements and future uses.

 

Thurmont’s Assistant Mayors

Griffin Puvel and Abigail May, Thurmont Elementary fourth-grade students, “assisted” Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird during the June 9 Thurmont town meeting. The students were the winners of the “If I Were Mayor” contest. They wrote essays that explained how they would resolve a conflict about whether the fictitious “Happy Town” government should build a playground or skate park on town property.

The students read their essays to the audience and gave some input during the meeting as well as gaveling it to a close.

Kinnaird had also visited the school previously to talk to the students about town government and what a mayor does.

New Police Officer Sworn In

Brian Donovan, a former officer with the Maryland National Park Police, was sworn in by the mayor as a new Thurmont town police officer during the June 9 meeting.

 

Officer Receives Recognition

Thurmont Police Officer Kyle Minnick received a certificate of achievement for his work during a campaign to stop drivers from using hand-held telephones while driving. The Thurmont Police made sixty-two stops during a two-month period and issued the drivers written warnings. Minnick made thirty of the stops in an effort to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving.

Thurmont Police Chief Greg Eyler presented the certificate to Minnick.

 

Yard Waste Must be in Paper Bags

After September 1, 2015, the Town of Thurmont will no longer have its trash contractor pick up any yard waste that is not in a paper bag. This move is expected to save the town some money in labor costs. Currently, yard waste put in plastic bags has to be opened so that the waste can be composted. Paper bags for yard waste can be purchased at local retailers or you can supply your own.

 

New Thurmont Main Street Website

The new Thurmont Main Street Website is up! Go to thurmontmainstreet.com and check it out. The Frederick News Post annual “Best of the Best” nominations are now underway. Follow the link below to vote for your favorite business by category. www.fredericknewspost.com/BOB. Let’s get Thurmont businesses into the Best of the Best! Share with your friends!

View the Town of Thurmont’s website at www.thurmont.com or call the town office at 301-271-7313 for more information.

New Restrictions in Place on Moser Road Bridge in Thurmont

New restrictions went into effect on the Moser Road Bridge in Thurmont on Friday, June 5, 2015. These restrictions are being implemented pursuant to recommendations identified in a recent bridge inspection. Weight limits will be decreased from 25,000 pounds to 12,000 pounds for a single unit and from 46,000 pounds to 21,000 pounds for a combination unit. In addition, the travel lane of the bridge will be narrowed to a single lane only. A stop sign will be in place on the west side of the bridge, immediately past the Thurmont Regional Library. A yield sign will remain in place on the east side of the bridge.

The Town of Thurmont is in the process of securing bids to replace the bridge. Thurmont Mayor John Kinnaird stated, “We concur with the recommended restrictions and are currently working on requests for proposals to have the bridge replaced as soon as possible.”

Questions can be addressed to Chief Administrative Officer Jim Humerick at jhumerick@thurmontstaff.com or 301-271-7313, ext. 204.