Town Hall Reports

From the Mayor Emmitsburg by Mayor Briggs The town received several late Christmas presents. On December 26, 2015, five Troop 727 Boy Scouts were awarded the Eagle Scout designation. Keegan X. Wright, Andrew Neibecker, Brendan P. Isaacson, Paul B. Slotwinski, and Stephen M. Lowe were awarded the prestigious achievement award at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor program held at St. Joseph Parish Hall. It was an honor to be present at the award ceremony and to see these young men tracking toward leadership in the future. Thank you to Scoutmaster Mary Neibecker and assistants, Christopher Anadale and Matthias Buchheister, for a job well done. On January 1, 2016, Emmitsburg received more recognition, this time as one of ten “Most Beautiful, Charming Small Towns in Maryland” by onlyinyourstate.com. It sure is. In mid-December, Emmitsburg was awarded its fourth State of Maryland Community Legacy Program (CLP) grant. CLP is a matching grant program to encourage property owners who live within the town Sustainable Community designated area to make exterior improvements to their properties. To date, over $150,000 in grant funds have been matched by that of owners equal to or in excess of for a total invested in the town historic district of over $325,000. Our goal is $400,000 by 2017. In January, Lib and I, along with Councilman Glenn Blanchard and his wife, Maggie, attended the Vigilant Hose Company’s annual banquet and awards dinner. This is always a special event that we are honored to attend, this year even more so after the two fires in town in December. With the mild fall, our solar field production exceeded expectations. As is the case, production dips in winter and early spring, with shorter days and typically cloudy days. The town is reliant on solar renewable energy to reduce the energy cost of residents by not competing with them for it, reduce costs, and enhance the environment. It is a twenty-year program. January 2016 by James Rada, Jr. Emmitsburg Emmitsburg Commissioners Will Hold Fewer Meetings The Emmitsburg town commissioners voted in January to meet only once a month rather than twice a month, which they have done for the past few years. If additional meetings are needed during the month for some reason, they will be scheduled on an as-needed basis. The commissioners are required by town charter to meet only once a month. According to Mayor Don Briggs, having town staff at each meeting costs $300 to $400. Cutting the meetings in half could save the town as much as $4,800 a year. The commissioners have been meeting twice a month since 2002. For more information on the Town of Emmitsburg, visit www.emmitsburgmd.gov or call 301-600-6300. Thurmont Applications Available for Thurmont Senior Tax Credit If you are at sixty-five years old as of January 1, 2016, live within the corporate limits of Thurmont, and have a total gross household income of $70,000 or less, you may be eligible for a tax credit on your property. The application for the Thurmont Senior Tax Credit Application is available at the town office or online at Thurmont.com. In addition to the application, you will need proof of age and a copy of your latest tax return so that your gross household income can be verified. Thurmont Community Park Closed to Vehicles Thurmont Community Park will be closed to vehicles until the spring. Vehicles can still use the first parking lot next to Frederick Road. The park itself is still accessible to walkers, bicyclists, hikers, and tennis players.   View the Town of Thurmont’s website at www.thurmont.com or call the town office at 301-271-7313 for more information.