Town Council

SYKESVILLE - A hastily called special meeting of the Town Council on Tuesday has renewed infighting among council members and posed a new threat to the restaurant planned for the town's historic train depot.Some elected officials were notified Tuesday to attend the meeting, during which the council discussed terms of a state loan the town will administer for renovation of the 106-year-old depot.But Councilman Kenneth W. Clark and Mayor Lloyd R. Helt Jr. said angrily that they were never notified about the meeting.

Mount Airy Town Council will meet at 8 p.m. today at Town Hall.Among items on the the agenda are discussions about the park and ride lot, the ethics ordinance, planning commission appointments, and reduction of letter of credit for Fields of Nottingham and Twin Ridge.Town Hall is located at 110 S. Main St.Information: 410-795-6012.

Mount Airy's Proactive Community Committee is scheduled to deliver its "wish list" to the Town Council tonight.The council will meet at 7 p.m. to dedicate the Main Street wall mural painted by local artist Marie Cardany, then will go to the town hall at 7: 30 p.m. for public hearings on zoning changes that would allow nursing homes to cover a larger area of building lots, and homeowners to add apartments to their houses to accommodate relatives.The committee, formed to assess recreation needs, plans to present its report to the council.

Officials have changed the location of tonight's Town Council meeting on Main Street changes to accommodate the large number of residents expected to attend. The session begins at 7 p.m. at St. Paul's United Methodist Church, 7538 Main St. First on the agenda is a discussion with State Highway Administration on Route 851, the town's major thoroughfare. The town is considering making the highway, which is both Main Street and Springfield Avenue, a municipal road. Officials are seeking public comment.

The town of Hampstead will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. today on an ordinance that would levy impact fees on new development. The fees would go toward water, parks and recreation and police protection.Paul Tischler and Carson Bise of Tischler & Associates will present an analysis of the proposed ordinance at the town hall.The regular Town Council meeting will begin at 7: 30 p.m.The agenda also will include:A resolution concerning Parcel D, Plat F and acceptance of roadbed deeds for Roberts Field Section II.Comments on the county's concurrency management ordinance and county Master Plan.

After a brief discussion, Sykesville Town Council appointed last night Russ Vreeland, an accountant who has worked on the town budget and economic development committees, to fill a vacancy on the six-member panel. "Russ Vreeland has volunteered for the town and has been actively involved," said Mayor Jonathan S. Herman. "He understands the issues and as a CPA, he certainly can help with our fiscal responsibilities." Vreeland, a Norris Avenue resident, was named to fill the seat vacated by Councilman William Hall, elected to his third four-year term last year.

Dwight Womer, 35, has thrown his hat in the ring to become the second candidate for the May 11 Hampstead Town Council election.Mr. Womer has been pursuing the creation of a new crosswalk for school children at North Woods Trail and Boxwood Drive, but he said that isn't why he's running for office."

The Sykesville Town Council will take nominations for the mayor and three council seats at its 7 p.m. session tomorrow.All four incumbents have said they will accept if they are nominated.They might run unopposed. Mayor Jonathan S. Herman said he has not heard of any other residents interested in running in the May 2 election. Tomorrow is the deadline for nominations."I guess we will just have to wait and see if anyone else comes forward," Mr. Herman said.Mr. Herman, elected to the council four years ago, has served as chairman of the town Planning Commission.

Sykesville will reduce its property tax rate by 2 cents. The rate will be 7 cents lower than it was three years ago.The Town Council set the rate at 77 cents per $100 of assessed value in the $1.2 million fiscal 1998 budget, which takes effect July 1."We can lower the tax rate and meet the goals and objectives regarding spending and capital projects," said Councilman Michael Burgoyne, chairman of the budget committee.The council included a few amendments Monday before approving the budget.

In a narrow vote among six candidates seeking two Town Council seats, Manchester residents elected Ryan M. Warner and Mary E. Minderlein to four-year terms yesterday.Christopher B. D'Amario, 37, received 198 votes as the unopposed candidate for mayor, replacing Elmer C. Lippy, 78, who did not seek re-election.Minderlein garnered 108 votes and Warner received 100 to edge incumbent James J. Singer, who had 96 votes.The remaining three Town Council candidates, A. Geoffrey Rice, Mark J. Mangieri and Howard Grundland, received 57, 47 and 13 votes, respectively.