Manchester officials plan to tear down a town-owned apartment building next to town offices in the Memorial Building for much-needed parking.
The council voted Tuesday night to again seek bids for the demolition of the building at 3206 York St., with ample notice to tenants who have been renting month to month.
The town had looked into tearing down the building before and had a bid then that was thousands of dollars less than the others. If that price is available, the council agreed to accept it without rebidding the project.
Work probably would not begin before six months.
This year, the council passed an ordinance that bans on-street parking in much of the town. The parking lot would be built on the site with state and federal assistance for partial use as a park and ride.
The demolition is part of revitalization efforts in the town of about 3,100 in northeast Carroll County.
Councilman Daniel Riley serves on the revitalization committee and on a Route 30 Work Group, both seeking to improve the town with state assistance. A public presentation of the Route 30 group's ideas is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the regular monthly Town Council meeting.
Part of the plan would ease traffic congestion on the heavily traveled commuter route that is also the town's Main Street, Riley said. "We can't remove it, but we can take some of the bottlenecks out of Main Street. It's going to be a benefit to the town of Manchester."
For the revitalization plan, he said, drawings being prepared stretch about 40 feet and show details of problems along Main Street. One suggestion is for red-colored asphalt to highlight pedestrian crossings.
A public hearing on the plan will be set when a concept plan is finished.
In other business, the council:
Reappointed Philip L. Arbaugh as town manager for another two-year term, until July 2002;
Decided to build a pole barn, although the lowest of three bids was $19,770, higher than the $14,000 budgeted for the project;
Heard from Public Works Director Steve Miller that a new water meter-reading system had glitches, but "blew those bills out of here like it was nothing;"
Learned that the town's share of a countywide mapping of storm water facilities would be about $3,100 - $1 a head and lower than the $5,000 budgeted;
Did not reimburse a resident who sent a bill for $210, saying his laundry was ruined during replacement of a water valve this year. None of the five council members made a motion to pay the bill;
Discussed again a location for a skateboard park;
Heard from several residents of Charmil Drive, where two residents have been seeking speed humps since May, while others oppose the idea. Four-way stop signs or striping of the road to give an illusion of less width were suggested as alternatives, with stepped-up traffic enforcement.
Before next month's meeting Sept. 12, the mayor and council will hold open office hours beginning at 6:45 p.m. This will be the second opportunity for residents who might not want to speak in public.
