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Town Council talks library funding increase, festival updates

By Tabitha Johnston - Chronicle Staff | Apr 22, 2022

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The Corporation of Shepherdstown’s Town Council met twice this month in Town Hall, for its regular monthly meeting on April 12, along with a special meeting on Tuesday evening.

The items in Tuesday’s 15-minute meeting unanimously approved, including: the laying of the levy for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year and two public hearings. The public hearings involved the second reading of an ordinance to enact chapter five, title three of the Code of Shepherdstown as the Public Sidewalk Dining Ordinance, which was read and approved for the first time in the April 12 meeting; and the renewal of a 10-year lease agreement between the Corporation of Shepherdstown and the state of West Virginia, Department of Commerce, Division of Natural Resources. The lease renewal agreement pertains to the town leasing to the state of West Virginia, acting by and through the Department of Natural Resources, a public access site to the Potomac River on a tract of 1.256 acres located on the west bank of the Potomac River at the mouth of Town Run and bordered by New Princess Street in the Shepherdstown Corporation District. The one major update in the lease renewal agreement will allow the Mecklenburg Tobacco Warehouse to be subleased out by DNR, with the prior consent and permission of the town to the Ascend West Virginia program or a similar organization. This update will make it possible for the warehouse and the surrounding land to be developed, with the approval of the Corporation of Shepherdstown.

In the monthly meeting, the Town Council opened the meeting with a hearing about the recommended cutbacks to Jefferson County’s emergency services budget, by Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Stolipher. No action was taken, regarding his speech.

Shepherdstown Public Library Director Hali Taylor was next welcomed up to the microphone, to request the Town Council increase its funding of the library, which is currently $900 a month, to $1,600 a month.

“The library has not received an increase in funding from the Corporation [of Shepherdstown] in nine years. Inflation, however, has risen by over 22 percent over that time,” Taylor said, mentioning the state has recently been pushing for libraries to become more reliant on local funding to stay afloat. “As our funding authority, the Corporation of Shepherdstown should be contributing a little bit more robustly to its beautiful new library.”

The Town Council agreed to place Taylor’s request on the Finance Committee’s next meeting’s agenda.

In the discussion over the first approval of the Public Sidewalk Dining Ordinance, Councilman Chris Stroech explained the action the ordinance will require of Shepherdstown restaurant owners.

“Everybody who wants any outside dining would have to follow this process and get it permitted,” Stroech said.

Councilman Jim Ford noted his confusion over the ordinance’s blanket policy, requiring restaurants to have 48 inches between outdoor tables and the curb, to allow enough room for vehicle doors to open along the sidewalk. Shepherdstown Planning & Zoning Administrator Andy Beall clarified that the 48 inch clearance has already been expected of Shepherdstown’s restaurants, as it is a state guideline. This ordinance will simply make the town’s compliance with the state’s guideline official.

Shepherdstown residents will most likely want to note the date change for Dog Fest. Dog Fest has been rescheduled from June 4 to June 11, beginning at noon with a dog fashion show on a red carpet, from the Market House to Town Hall.

May Day plans have remained unchanged, according to Auxer.

“May Day will be around noontime on Sunday the first [of May]. So, there’ll be a maypole, and we’ll be having Arbor Day at the same time,” Auxer said, mentioning a commemorative tree will be planted by the West Virginia Division of Forestry in honor of the town retaining its designation as a Tree City USA.

Mayor Jim Auxer reminded the council and meeting attendees of the upcoming primary election in town, on June 7. He then brought up the topic of congressionally directed spending, which the town is currently benefiting from.

“Congressionally directed spending, . . . we have taken advantage of that. Shepherdstown Parks & Recretion’s working with that now. We requested $9 million to advance our sewer project,” Auxer said. “Previously, the town water company got $1.6 million to improve water distribution outside of town and offer fire protection.”