Town mulls Main Street designation

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.