Workers with Building Systems Inc. of Hagerstown are doing the Streetscape project on German Street. Photo by James P. Whipple/Chronicle

The Shepherdstown Town Council heard updates on two major infrastructure projects during the regular monthly meeting Tuesday at Town Hall on North King Street.

Project manager John Brady reported on behalf of the Streetscape Committee on the $990,000 Streetscape improvement project, which aims to restore the sidewalks and curbs on German Street, stretching from Church Street to Princess Street.

Work has been completed at the Church Street intersection and contractor Building Systems Inc. of Hagerstown has begun at the King Street intersection with a second, seven-man crew.

Monday morning, ground was broken in front of the Sweet Shop Bakery at King and German streets. With the commencement of this new phase, “we hit virtually no rock … bringing great joy to everybody,” added Brady.

The Streetscape project is behind schedule because of unforeseen circumstances, including impeding rock and a sewer line in need of repair. “If weather allows … by March we should be back up to speed and on time,” Brady told Council members.

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A fee proposal was approved for the building of a new Shepherdstown Town Hall, which would combine the now separate Police station and existing Town Hall into one building.

The Shepherdstown Building Commission worked with Singletary Rueda Architects to plan out a design schedule for the new structure. Singletary proposed a fee schedule resulting in an $8,600 reduction, totaling to $88,400.

The plan accounts for the fees and calendar times for each phase of preparing the design of the new building. The future Town Hall, which would be located in the same spot at 104 N. King St., is expected to cost around $1 million and would require a lot area of 3,250-square-feet.

According to the Singletary fee proposal, one of the goals is to “accommodate moderate growth in current functions and improve public experience and services.”

Through Jan. 23, the Building Commission is asking for input from the public to be submitted in writing to to Town Hall.

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In other Council news, some expenditures were approved. A contribution of $500 will be given to Good Shepherd Interfaith Volunteer Caregivers, which provides service and care to the home-based elderly and/or disabled living in Jefferson County. This $500 gift will aid in supporting the relationships with and service to home-based residents.

The Council discussed and approved the purchase of 10 double and three single parking meters at a cost of $8,625. These meters will be placed on South Church Street between German Street and New Street and were initially recommended by the Parking Committee.

The Shepherdstown Police Committee welcomed new officer James Cummings, after he was approved by the Council and sworn in by the mayor. Cummings is currently certified as an officer in Virginia. According to the minutes submitted by former Police Chief Terry Bellomy, the hiring of Cummings is necessary, as evidenced by a recent altercation at Tony’s Pizza in which the only police officer available was greatly outnumbered.