Union Bridge Ma/June 2005 Newsletter

Council Meetings	May 23 & Jun 20 – 7 pm.
Funding Committee Meetings	May 4 & Jun 1 – 7pm.
Planning & Zoning Meetings	May 19 & Jun 16 - 6:30 pm.
Council Work Sessions	May 9 & Jun 13 - 6:30 pm.

ELECTION Day - Monday May 12, 2005
Office Closed Memorial Day - Monday May 30, 2005

Web Page www.carr.org/~unionbr

E-mail unionbr@ccpl.carr.org

Now that warm weather is finally here, and our kids are playing outside more often, we need to pay greater attention to where they are and what they're doing. There have been a few instances in which kids have been playing in the streets and have hit cars and houses with balls. I know that the ball fields and playground are not close to everyone and you may not want your kids playing there unsupervised, but the street is not a safe alternative. Other towns have gone through this, all with similar results - an ordinance prohibiting playing in the street, that includes curbside basketball hoops. I hope we don't need to do the same. Please keep your kids safe as they play outside. Know where they are and keep them out of the street.

We are in need of a volunteer to sit on the Cable Commission for the Town. This involves quarterly meetings held at the County Office building at 6 PM, usually on a Thursday, and reporting back to the Council on meeting nights. Someone having knowledge and/ or experience in this area would be very helpful, but a willingness to learn will do. If you are interested please call the office. Thank you.

I've been promoted to sergeant and will be reassigned to a workgroup as a patrol supervisor. It's been a pleasure to serve The Town of Union Bridge for the past three years. This has been my best patrol assignment within my career. The Union Bridge community has helped me resolve several types of incidents through your concern and support. Please pass that support on to your new deputy. Thanks for everything.

Sgt. R. C. Cromwell/Union Bridge Community Deputy
Sheriff’s Office 410-386-2900
Tips 1-888-399-TIPS
Emergency 911
Non-emergency 410-386-2900

The Funding Committee holds a breakfast on the third Sunday of the month Sept. through May. (No breakfast in December.)

SPECIAL PROJECTS
Water Supply Program As part of the town’s comprehensive water improvement program, we are working to install back-up generators for the Water Treatment Plant, Town Office, and WasteWater Treatment Plant. The town has hired Stearns & Wheler, LLC, as electrical engineers to design the project.

This summer Union Bridge will begin the bidding process to secure cost proposals for the rehabilitation of the town’s primary well on West Locust Street. The primary improvement will be the installation of a new well casing.

Main Street (Rt. 75) Revitalization Program The streetscape project is complete. We extend our sincere thanks to residents, property owners, and business managers for your patience throughout the construction process. Now that we can see the finished product: it was well worth it.

If you are interested in renting one of these units, please call 410-775-2940 for information.

Proposed Town Projects and Activities Town projects planned during the next 24 months include:
1. Lighting for the basketball courts on Ladiesburg Road.
2. Reconstruction of the town tennis courts on Thomas Street.
3. Placement of security cameras in the town parks.
4. A feasibility study for the extension of public water and sewerage service to industrially zoned areas.
5. Research the feasibility for a new town library and a wetland museum.
6. Restoration of the historic well house on West Locust Street, including the protection and display of historic town artifacts, photographs, books, etc.
7. Town-wide sidewalk improvement program.
10. Additional parking for Main Street.

Section 3 Employment and Business Opportunities The Town of Union Bridge has received program funding from the Maryland CDBG program through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development. The Mayor and Town Council of the Town of Union Bridge will comply with Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, requiring that to the greatest extent feasible opportunities for employment and development will be given to lower-income residents of the project area and contracts in connection with the project be awarded to eligible businesses concerns which are located in, or owned by, persons residing within the Town of Union Bridge.

Possible projects include the construction of a new parking area near Main Street and Broadway, drainage improvements, sidewalk construction, and interpretive signs and brochures for the Little Pipe Creek Trail.

If any town resident or business is looking for employment or business opportunities, please submit a written resume or business brochure to the town office. If applicable, the town will forward your information to contractors. It is up to the contractor to contact you if they have an opening.

Sidewalk Improvement Program The Union Bridge Planning Commission is reviewing possible ways to promote improvements to town sidewalks. Town ordinances currently require property owners to maintain the public sidewalk fronting along their property. Many town sidewalks are in disrepair. They are cracked, broken and heaved; in many areas there are no sidewalks at all. The planning commission would like to review with citizens possible ways to construct and finance sidewalk improvements, and to meet the requirements of town ordinances. If you have comments, questions, or suggestions, please attend the May 19, 2005, Union Bridge Planning Commission meeting at the Town Hall, 104 West Locust Street. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. Please call the town office prior to the meeting to verify date and time. Arro Consulting, Inc., town engineer, has prepared a draft sidewalk improvement report. If you would like to review this document or the town’s Capital Improvement Program, please contact the town office at 410-775-2711.

National Pollution Elimination Discharge Permit Carroll County is working with Carroll municipalities to comply with requirements of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Maryland Environment Article, and the Code of Maryland Regulations. National pollutant discharge elimination requirements have been developed with an aim to prevent the discharge of pollutants into the nation’s streams and rivers by storm water. Subsequently, the state regulates storm water system discharge through a permit process entitled the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit.

Mayor Grossnickle signed a Notice of Intent to MDE that Union Bridge will participate with other municipalities through Carroll County’s comprehensive permit process. In order to comply with state and federal regulations, Union Bridge must implement “Best Management Practices.” Some of the programs being implemented by Union Bridge are listed below:
1. Prepare a newsletter article about the NPDES process to be published once or twice each year in the town newsletter.
2. Provide a link from the town’s Web site to Carroll County’s NPDES Web site.
3. Spread the word that anyone with information about a known or possible storm water pollutant discharge should contact Carroll County.
4. Review town law to determine if we comply with applicable Carroll County regulations, including enforcement measures.

If you notice anything unusual regarding a possible pollution violation (someone dumping used oil on the ground, a liquid with a strange color coming out of a storm pipe, etc.), please call Carroll County at 410-386-2400.

Trash on Main Street Sidewalks and Gutters Main Street is finished and it looks great, doesn’t it? However, there is trash, cigarette butts, and other junk on the sidewalks, gutters, and streets in front of several properties on Main Street. Take a few minutes to sweep the sidewalk and gutter in front of your house, business, or apartment. It will make all the difference in how the downtown looks. A big “thank you” to all the residents and business managers who do a great job in keeping their property frontage looking great! For the rest of you - PLEASE, DO YOUR PART! Thank you.

PUBLIC NOTICE TO THE CITIZENS OF UNION BRIDGE

THIS IS ELECTION YEAR IN UNION BRIDGE THREE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE ELECTED.
ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, MAY 10, 2005 7:00 A.M. - 8:00 P.M.
LOCATION: TOWN HALL, 104 WEST LOCUST STREET

Qualifications of voters:
1. You must be a citizen of the United States.
2. You must be at least eighteen (18) years of age on or before Election Day.
3. You must have resided within the corporate limits at least thirty (30) days prior to the Election.
4. You must be registered to vote.

The 2004 holiday season is over and plans are being worked on for the decorations on our new Main Street for 2005. Residents of Union Bridge can join in with ideas and financial support. Phone Town Council Member Karen Kotarski with your ideas.

Pole decorations are costly, but, depending on the severity of the weather, they can look good for from five to ten years. Telephone-line poles are specially wired for lighted decorations on Main Street from the Union Bridge Church of the Brethren to Elmer Wolfe Elementary School. New lampposts, line our new Main Street.

Garland and lighted lanterns are being considered for the poles and red bows for the lampposts. Special vertical seasonal banners are being considered for the four crosswalk signs at the square.

The addition of the new decorations under consideration to the previously purchased decorations we used in past years will cost from five to seven thousand dollars. To date, over a thousand dollars has been donated to help defray these costs. You can be part of the Union Bridge Holiday Spirit by donating to a Town Fund specially earmarked for Main Street Holiday Decorations.

The West Carroll Rec. Council serves Union Bridg, New Windsor and surrounding areas. Anyone interested in Rec. Council programs or events is welcome to attend our meetings, which are held the 3^rd Monday of each month at the Union Bridge Town Hall. Next meeting dates: May 16^th and June 20^th @ 7:00pm.

West Carroll is pleased to announce the appointment of the following officers for 2005: President: Brad Rockwood, Vice President: Brad Wentworth, Secretary: Rebekah Snyder, and Treasurer: Sandy Sullivan.

Interested in helping your child's sports team, but don't know how? Volunteers are a critical part of our Rec. Council. We are currently seeking a Fundraising Coordinator and a Concession Stand Coordinator. By volunteering a few hours of your time, you can join our mission to promote sportsmanship through competition and fair play. Questions? Contact Sandy Sullivan at 410-857-9170.

Mountain View Cemetery located in Union Bridge, Maryland will hold its annual meeting at the Methodist Church in Union Bridge-South Main St., May 16^th at 7pm. Anyone with interest in the cemetery please be present.

NOTICE NO MOTORIZED VEHICLES SUCH AS MOTOR SCOOTERS, MOPEDS AND MOTORCYCLES, ARE PERMITTED IN LITTLE PIKE CREEK PARK OR ON THE WALKWAY IN THE PARK!!.

YARDWASTE PICKUP
YARD WASTE WILL BE PICKED UP ON WEDNESDAYS. YARD WASTE MUST BE PLACED IN BAGS THAT CAN BE PURCHSED AT UNION BRIDGE HARDWARE OR AT THE TOWN HALL. COST FOR BAGS is $1.00 EACH.

*BRUSH PILE OWNERS*
THE TOWN HAS A CHIPPER THAT CAN BE USED FOR FREE TO HELP ELIMINATE BRUSH PILES TAKING UP USABLE YARD SPACE

DATES TO REMEMBER

Web Page www.carr.org/~unionbr

E-mail unionbr@ccpl.carr.org