(11/2020) Town 'chicken ordinance' expires

Emmitsburg Town Planner Zach Gulden informed the commissioners at their October meeting that the municipal “chicken ordinance” had run its course.

Gulden stated that the “chicken ordinance” - which had been passed an amendment to the Animal Ordinance in 2013 - had expired: and some other issues needed to be updated.

The Animal Ordinance had been amended in 2013 … “In an effort to allow the raising of a limited number of hens on a hobby/local food basis,” and to establish spatial and “performance standards” in raising chickens. A 12-year-old resident, Adam Leverette, was credited with introducing the issue, which led to the successful passage of the “chicken ordinance.”

Gulden said the “chicken ordinance” would likely be brought before the commissioners in December or January if the town manager and the mayor wish to pursue it.

“We're also going to look at some dangerous dog situations and some other things (relating to the Animal Ordinance),” the town planner noted.

Hotel sign appears ... but no sign of hotel

Commissioner Burns noted at the commissioners' October meeting that a sign had been posted on Silo Hill Parkway in front of the Sleep Inn hotel, advertising that it would be the location of a four-story hotel with pad-sites for other businesses. “I know a lot of people were commenting on it,” Burns said.

Mayor Briggs said, “It's a little progressive (the project has no approvals),” further noting, that as far as the town has been involved, it had been to work out taps connection fees last fall. “That's as far as we got.” He said the applicant did state he envisioned an “extended-stay” hotel, but that “nothing has been approved.”

Briggs said, “It's a 'coming soon' sign and we can't stop them from doing it.”

Commissioner Clifford Sweeney said, “I hope it does come. We've made a lot of changes so they could bring the business and the hotel here, and it'll be a shame if they don't bring the hotel here. We could use the business.”

Town Planner Gulden previously stated in June that the proposal involved the construction of an as-yet-unnamed, 80-room hotel, but that he still has not heard anything from the proposed developer, for months.

Police warn of scams

County Deputy Ben Whitehouse stated at the town commissioners' October meeting that there appeared to be an uptick in reported scams.

He said that typically … people will call and ask the recipient to leave their house and go to a nearby store and purchase a money card, such as a Vanilla Visa Gift Card, and put money on the card, such as $500, then call the caller back with the card information.

Whitehouse said the recipient of the scam call might be told they have to pay the amount as a “processing fee” in order to receive money they had won in a sweepstakes, such as from the Publishers Clearing House.

He said the Sheriff's Office should be notified immediately anytime someone receives such a call.

In other law enforcement issues, Whitehouse stated that there had been the theft of a couple of cars in late September within the Brookfield development, and the thefts are still under investigation.

He said residents actually appeared to have captured images of the suspect on video-cameras, and then posted the images on the Brookfield Facebook page. He said police have not yet identified the suspect.

Town approves COVID-related relief funds

The Town approved in a 4-0-1 (Commissioner T. J. Burns abstaining) vote to authorize town staff to initiate a second opportunity for small business to apply for COVID-related relief funds. Commissioner Burns, in abstaining, stating his reason for doing so was due to his family owning business in town.

The board had previously set-aside $30,000 for small business grants for COVID-19 relief, but as of August only 13 businesses who had requested assistance were granted $1,000 each, leaving $17,000 uncommitted. The commissioners voted in September, to consider giving the $17,000 to the Emmitsburg Business and Professional Association.

The commissioners also agreed with a recommendation proposed by Town Manager Cathy Willets to further reduce the minimum requirements that a business must meet in order to qualify for the funds, such as lowering the threshold on the number of employees a business must have, and reducing the amount of financial loss suffered, due to the virus.