Shepherdstown’s newly elected Town Council and Mayor James Gatz walk down German Street, to greet paradegoers at the Fourth of July Parade. Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The new mayor and Town Council of the Corporation of Shepherdstown met for their first monthly meeting, since they were sworn into office after the Municipal Election, on Tuesday in Town Hall.

Although the town’s staff had reoriented the meeting room, to allow for more seating, the attendance of the meeting was so heavy that even the overflow seating outside of the room’s open doors was filled with local residents.

“This is great!” said councilman Marty Amerikaner. “Glad you’re all here.”

Mayor James Gatz expressed his appreciation to the town staff for making the seating changes happen. He also announced that, in the future, reports on town projects will be included with the meeting agenda. During Tuesday’s meeting, however, the reports were only given in-person by Shepherdstown Police Chief Mike King and Town Administrator Stephanie Grove.

“This is part of our efforts to be extra transparent with how the town is moving along,” Mayor James Gatz said.

Grove reported that the $250,000 Market House renovations are expected to be completed by October. Currently, the building’s electrical wiring is being worked on. The Shepherdstown Visitors Center will move into the space as soon as it is complete.

Grove said that the $2.1 million pedestrian path from Morgan’s Grove Park to Shepherdstown Middle School is set to be constructed by the West Virginia Department of Public Highways.

Water systems improvements, funded by an Army Corps Engineer Grant, will improve water flow and quality to Mecklenburg and the Mill Street area. As of July 8, the project is 23 percent completed, with a projected completion date of Dec. 24.

Housing development plans on five parcels of Kalathas property is in the planning stage. Three of those parcels of land were previously annexed into the Corporation of Shepherdstown. Since the remaining two will be part of the housing development, Grove said the property’s new owners will likely request them to be annexed into town in the near future.

Of some concern was news that Grove shared about the town’s recent website issues. The town realized that after its new website had been launched, the information from the old website had not been transferred, as had been in the town’s agreement with its website vendor. Because of this, the town has had to temporarily switch back to using its previous website, as the website vendor completes the transferal process. To make up for its error, the website vendor has waived its final payment from the town.

The first reading of Chapter 8, Title 9 of the Code of Shepherdstown was unanimously approved by the Town Council.

“This was to get away from the antiquated state code and to bring us in line with the other pawnshops and other jurisdictions within Jefferson County,” King said, regarding the work of the Shepherdstown Police Department. “What it allows us to do, is collect the information that they are doing. It encompasses most of the products that they are purchasing from people who are pawning it, rather than just precious metals and guns. Precious metals and guns are the only things covered in the state law.”

The Town Council unanimously approved the appointment of Shepherdstown resident Mary Ann Hitt to the Shepherdstown Public Library board.

A request for equipment procurement by the Water & Sanitary Board and the Public Works Committee, on behalf of the new director of Public Works, was unanimously approved by the Town Council.

“We hired a new Public Works director, Charles Coe, in May. He has worked for the town as chief water operator. Of course, he has ideas about how to make Public Works better — and, often that includes money,” Grove said. “Of the equipment that needs replaced, we need a half-ton truck, a plow truck that’s a three-quarter-ton truck, a new truck for the inspector and our chief wastewater operator, a Public Works dump truck, a back trailer and a mini excavator attachment.”

Grove said 25 percent of the equipment costs will be covered by the Shepherdstown Water Department and the Shepherdstown Waste Water Department, each. The remaining 50 percent will be covered by the Corporation of Shepherdstown. The total cost is $342,000.

“We do have the money in capital to fund that. And the two departments have already voted in agreement to fund their own portions of the cost,” Grove said. “Our prior Public Works director, the need wasn’t immediately needed by him. But the new Public Works director believes these are needed right now. As with any change in leadership, there’s a change in priorities.”

Approval of funding for Public Works to add a new equipment operator/pipe fitter position was unanimously agreed upon by the Town Council.

The final approval by the Town Council was the designation of $3,000 toward the initial preparation of the surface for the newest mural in town on Alma Bea’s building. The mural will be completed by Shepherd University Professor of Art Sonya Evanisko and her mural class during the fall 2024 semester.