Town Council talks celebration of life service, ordinance updates
SHEPHERDSTOWN — May’s meeting in Town Hall for the Corporation of Shepherdstown Town Council began with a focus on updating The Code of Shepherdstown.
Public hearings for eight different portions of The Code of Shepherdstown were held, including: the Shepherdstown Grant Guidelines; an ordinance re-enacting Section 11-601 of Chapter 6 of Title 11 of The Code of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to define types of refuse; an ordinance re-enacting Section 11-604 of Chapter 6 of Title 11 of The Code of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to clarify county landfill entity; an ordinance re-enacting Section 11-605 of Chapter 6 of Title 11 of The Code Of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to clarify tenant responsibilities; an ordinance re-enacting Section 11-606 of Chapter 6 of Title 11 of The Code Of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to clarify owner and tenant responsibilities; an ordinance re-enacting Section 11-607a of Chapter 6 of Title 11 of The Code Of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to revise refuse container size and material requirements; an ordinance re-enacting Section 11-608 of Chapter 6 of Title 11 of The Code of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to revise refuse storage requirements; and an ordinance re-enacting Section 11-609 of Chapter 6 of Title 11 of The Code of Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to clarify permitting entity. The first reading of each update was unanimously approved.
“This is the result of many months of agreements we made, and then we’re coming back to you all with some proposed guidelines that we think are going to make the process consistent,” said Town Council member Chris Stroech. “I think it will help the town, through its various committees and commissions, prepare for longer term, strategic planning and capital needs planning.”
The Town Council then unanimously approved Melissa Jackson’s request to hold an Out of the Darkness Walk for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention on Sept. 9, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“For about eight years, we have been doing it in Martinsburg. It’s not suiting our needs anymore,” Jackson said, noting she was hoping to move her walk to one in Shepherdstown, ending at the Rumsey Monument, which another Out of the Darkness Walk had used in the past. “We would really like to do the walk here and get the college included. It usually takes about 40 minutes to complete the walk. Most of the rest of the time would be spent at the Rumsey Monument. We will have a food truck that has ice cream. We will have some activities to do there, as well, such as rock painting, luminaries and activities for kids to do.
“We want to open up the dialogue and be there for people,” Jackson said. “What’s really cool about this walk, is that everybody who walks either knows somebody who has committed suicide, or they themselves have been dealing with that.”
Shepherdstown resident Richard Young then approached the Town Council, requesting for the block behind the Market House to be closed off on June 16, in conjunction with a reception at the War Memorial Building, following Jack Young’s celebration of life service at Shepherdstown Presbyterian Church. The request was unanimously approved.
The Town Council unanimously approved Emily Simade’s appointment to the town’s Grants Committee and Rebecca Parmesano’s appointment to filling an unexpired term on the town’s Planning Commission.