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BARCLAY - The Town of Barclay Commissioners, Joey Clough, Michael Cox, and Robin McKinney welcomed Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks to the town on Feb. 27 in a small event celebrating the receipt of $1,044,000 in Congressional Directed Spending (CDS) to support the design and construction of a town hall and community center.
The Town of Barclay, in the northern part of Queen Anne’s County, approximately 5 miles east and 5 miles north of the Caroline County line, is famous for its one room town hall. People traveling on MD Route 313 or Md Route 302 use the brick building as a landmark.
However, as Town Manager Virginia Albers, a Goldsboro resident, points out operating the town from a one room building that is no bigger than a typical cubicle is challenging. There is no bathroom. There is no room for the four elected officials, planning commissioners, or the residents to meet in the building. But how could a town with just over 70 properties afford to build a new space?
Albers and the Commissioners looked at grants to help fund a larger building. Albers connected with Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio, formerly Secretary of Department of Natural Resources now with Rauch Engineering and engaged the firm on a design-build. Haddaway-Riccio connected Albers with the senators’ Eastern Shore staff last summer, the town applied for the CDS and was awarded.
Senator Van Hollen during his remarks, turned to face the one-room town hall and said, “we can see you need a new town hall,” and he noted how valuable the “one time expenditure can make a big difference.” Senator Alsobrooks said, “it is a proud day for Barclay…a proud day for us.”
“By far this grant funding for our new town hall/meeting space/conference center will be one of my most rewarding accomplishments,” Albers said, “and I am honored to be involved in this wonderful project hoping to see it to fruition.”
Albers’ experience in working on infrastructure projects helped her understand the documentation requirements for the CDS spending, and the importance that projects can have to small towns in northern Caroline and Queen Anne’s counties.
“I assisted with the Greensboro/Goldsboro sewer (connection) project, attending project meetings, working with residents and went door to door obtaining signed easements from residents to install grinder pumps and connect to the public sewer system,” she explained. After becoming the town manager for Barclay, “I had the opportunity to repeat this process with the Sudlersville/Barclay sewer project as well.”
As she nears retirement, Albers is joyous in knowing that the Town of Barclay, with dedicated citizens and support from the businesses in town, will continue to thrive. As for the one-room town hall - the chatter among folks at the ceremony was to perhaps incorporate it into the design of the new building. That’s a legacy to Albers, the Commissioners, and all of the people who came before that the CDS is helping to ensure.
