Town Council met Tuesday evening at the Entler Hotel and approved requests made for the upcoming May Day celebration, the 2011 Farmers Market season and other projected projects.

Mayor Jim Auxer and the six-member council listened to requests for a range of projects presented by residents including, Shepherd University’s Relay for Life, the 2nd Annual Sallie Spaulding Duck Race and the Shepherdstown Day Care Center 5K run.

The council also heard reports from the Semi-Quincentennial committee and the riverfront revitalization partnership and voted on the approval of a riverfront and Town Run ravine survey.

Paul Elliott, acting secretary of the Shepherdstown Farmers Market, gave a presentation requesting that the council’s approval of the market’s 2011 season. Elliott also solicited input from the council members as to how to go about expanding the market’s scope in upcoming seasons.

The council advised Elliott to look for alternatives to the city streets and alley ways which present parking limitations on Sunday mornings when the market takes place, due in large part to church services being held around town.

The council unanimously approved Elliott’s request for the 2011 season in its present location. The council also unanimously approved requests made to close down German Street for the May Day celebration and parade to be held May 7 and the Relay for Life half-hour long parade, to take place April 15.

In old business the council discussed a proposal to survey the riverfront and Town Run ravine area.

According to Zoning Officer Harvey Heyser, who attended the meeting in order to answer any questions posed by the council regarding the project, the Historic Landmarks Commission and the Planning Commission have both made recommendations to the town council in support of the survey, which would result in the protection of certain historic “remnants.”

The survey, which was prompted by increased interest in the riverfront and ravine areas coinciding with proposals and research being undertaken in association with the riverfront revitalization efforts, would amend historical narrative to include sites not previously included in the Inventory of Historic Places in the Shepherdstown Historic District.

“It’s important to have these landmarks identified and listed,” Heyser said.

The council has reportedly expressed concern over the specifics of the project.

Tuesday night, Councilman Josh Stella suggested that more sites be surveyed relative to its cost, which is projected to be $2,500 for a two- to three-page narrative, 10 forms and a one-day visit, time and travel.

“Can we come up with more places in town so that we’re not spending a bunch of travel money for 10 sites?” he said.

Ultimately, the council unanimously voted to approve the project and moved on to reports by the Mayor, who made remarks about the status of town projects, including the riverfront revitalization.

Auxer once again encouraged the partnership to move forward with short-term goals, like the renovation of the Mecklenburg Tobacco Warehouse, calling it the ” jewel in the middle of this necklace.”

Representatives from the riverfront partnership responded to the citizens’ letter presented at last month’s planning commission meeting by explaining that the National Park Service “is not a partner” in the project but simply provides assistance.

William Howard, co-chair of the riverfront’s access committee, explained that the group hopes to prioritize small projects, like the warehouse, rather than the “blue sky” ideas that the citizen group took issue with and hopes to meet with residents interested in contributing input for the project.

The next town council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 12.