UNION BRIDGE NEWSLETTER
November/December 2004

INSIDE

From the Mayor's Desk
Resident Deputy
Funding Committee
West Carroll Rec Council
Bay Restoration
Holiday Decorations

DATES TO REMEMBER

U.B. Town OFFICE CLOSED November 25, December 24 & 31, 2004

 NEWSLETTER ARTICLES DUE IN CITY OFFICE December 15, 2004

Web Page www.carr.org/~unionbr

E-mail unionbr@ccpl.carr.org

FROM THE MAYOR’S DESK

            We hope that by the time you read this, the paving will be finished on Main Street.  I would not have believed that milling the surface would make it worse, but it did.  The sidewalks are nearly finished and the traffic and street lights are being installed now.  Before long the mess will be just a memory, and we will have a fine new street to show all.  Again, thanks to everyone for their patience throughout this project, and a special thanks to the members of the Main Street Committee for their dedication and perseverance in seeing this through.  Were it not for their finishing the groundwork when they did the project would have been lost due to budget cuts at the state level.  They have done a wonderful job, which is becoming apparent with every passing day.

      There may be some bad news on the way in the form of increased electricity costs to the Town.  This is because of the deregulation of the electric industry, and will affect us all as a town and individually.  We are presently working with a larger group of users brought together by the Chamber of Commerce in an effort to secure a lower price for electricity.  The Town uses a lot of power to produce drinking water and treat wastewater as well as for street lighting.  Higher oil prices and severe weather has driven the projected costs for power much higher than expected.  We should know more by the end of October.

Bret Grossnickle

UNION BRIDGE RESIDENT DEPUTY

            The town wishes to congratulate Corporal Cromwell on becoming a member of the Carroll County Crisis Response Team, a unit that is capable of handling high-risk hostage and barricade situations.  Corporal Cromwell attended three weeks of SWAT team training in order to become a member of the team.  The team would also be dispatched for other high-risk issues such as school violence, chemical weapons, and high-risk search warrants.

Corporal R. C. Cromwell
Carroll County Sheriff’s Office
Non-emergency 410-386-2900
EMERGENCY 911
Tips hotline 1-888-399-TIPS

FUNDING COMMITTEE

      The Funding Committee holds a breakfast on the third Sunday of the month-Sept. through May. (No breakfast in December.)  You may get a call from a member of the Funding Committee asking for a donation for the bake table for the breakfast.  I want to thank all the people that have been donating and you still will be called.  I want to get some new people so maybe you will have to contribute only one or two times during the months that we serve breakfast.  We also need volunteers to help prepare and serve the breakfast.  If you have a couple of hours to give please call me and I will explain what we need and when.

Betty Grinder
410-775-2547

BAY RESTORATION FUND

      On May 26, 2004, Governor Ehrlich signed into law Senate Bill 320, which established the “Bay Restoration Fund”.  This legislation requires owners of wastewater treatment plants to collect $2.50 per month per equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) from their users, effective January 1, 2005.  The Bay Restoration Fund fees collected are to be deposited with the State Comptroller by the 20^th day after each calendar quarter.  The first payment is due by April 20, 2005. 

      The Town of Union Bridge bills quarterly for its water and sewer; therefore $7.50 must be collected each billing period and deposited with the state for every residential and non-residential EDU.  The water bills will have a line identifying the charge as “Bay Restoration Fee”.  Billing for non-residential sewer customers: the Town must calculate the average daily flow based on metered water, using 250 gpd as an average EDU.  Example: if the average daily flow were 1,000 gallon, the “Bay Restoration Fee” would be $30.00 per quarter, based on four EDU (1,000/250). 

      The fee will be a separate line item on the water/sewer bill and posted into a separate account.  At the end of each quarter, the amount shown in the “Bay Restoration Fee” account will be transferred to the state.

      For additional information visit the Maryland Department of the Environment Web site at: www.mde.state.md.us or call 410-537-3567.

WEST CARROLL REC. COUNCIL

      The West Carroll Recreation Council serves Union Bridge, New Windsor and surrounding areas.  Meetings are held the 3^rd Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Union Bridge Town Hall.  The public is invited and encouraged to attend.  The next meeting dates are November 15^th and December 20^th.

      West Carroll is currently seeking a Fundraising Coordinator and a Concession Stand Coordinator.  If interested, please contact Sandy Sullivan at 410-857-9170.

      Spring sports signups will be held in late January.  Look for more details in the next newsletter.  West Carroll is also in need of a Fast-Pitch Softball Coordinator.

      Thank you to the Sponsors of our Spring Basket Raffle: A.P. Boone & Son, Athletic House, Buttersburg Inn, BB&T-Englar Road Branch, D. B. Rockwood Plumbing, Inc., Ecker’s Lawn Service, J.P. Contractor, Inc. Lehigh Cement Co., Myers HVAC, Quality Utility Construction, Sentinel Title corp. Stambaugh’s Inc., Sub Surface Technologies, Inc., Amy & Don Eyler, The Eckards, Player & Parents of Fast Pitch Softball.

      For more information about programs, please call Penny Rockwood at 410-857-3549.

HOLIDAY CONTEST

      The Town will celebrate the Holiday Season with a Decoration contest.  All homes within the town limits are eligible to win.  Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: Traditional-Best Lighting-and Most Original. First prize-$25, second prize-$15, and third prize-$1.

      Residential properties will be judged after dark on Saturday, December 11, 2004.  A list of winners will be posted at the Town Hall.  We invite all to celebrate the season.

LOCAL BUSINESS

SARA’ S HOUSE OF COIFFURES

      Sara’s House of Coiffures is located at 106 South Main Street in Union Bridge.  Sara Black started her beauty shop in New Windsor in 1969 and moved to Union Bridge in 1985.   Sara has been in business for 35 years. The beauty shop is located in the basement of her home and is open four days a week.  For an appointment or more information please call Sara at 410-775-2718.

LEAF PICK-UP

      The town will pick up leave again this fall.   To schedule a pick-up, please call the town hall at 410-775-2711.  Bags containing yard waste or trash will not be picked up.

CARROLL COUNTY LANDFILL

      Effective September 1, 2004, normal operating hours will be 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.

SEWER LINE BLOCKAGES

      If your sewer line becomes blocked, please call the Town Hall at 410-775-2711, before you call a plumber. WATER/SEWER AFTER HOURS EMERGENCY Page Patricia Stonesifer (Tricia) at 1-410-899-1200.  To page Tricia, call her pager, key in the number you are calling from and press the pound button (#) on your phone and hang up.  Tricia will call you back.

FIRE DEPARTMENT BREAKFAST SECOND SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH

XMAS MART -- NOVEMBER 27, 2004

SNOW ORDINANCE #263 B-2 STATES THAT OWNERS OR OCCUPANTS OF PREMISES FRONTING ON ANY STREET WITH PAVED SIDEWALKS SHALL REMOVE ANY SNOW AND ICE FROM THE TRAVELED PORTIONS OF THE SIDEWALK, TO A WIDTH OF AT LEAST 30”, WITHIN 24 HOURS AFTER SNOW OR ICE CEASES TO FALL. MAIN STREET, SOUTH AND NORTH IS A SNOW EMERGENCY ROUTE WHICH MEANS THAT  NO PARKING IS ALLOWED WHEN THE SNOW EVERGENCY PLAN IS IN EFFECT.

COMMUNITY CENTER

The Community Center is available for weddings, parties and reunions.  To reserve the center for your function please call the town office at 410-775-2711.

TRASH PICK-UP
Thanksgiving Day Thursday changed to Friday

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR