The Local Source for News and Information Since 1980
FEDERALSBURG – A rare Saturday morning meeting of the Federalsburg Town Council Jan. 18 attracted two town residents who stayed for the entire meeting, which began at 10 a.m. and lasted just over two hours at the town hall on Main Street.
Although a new police chief was appointed to the Federalsburg Police Department Jan. 6, no discussion was held about Chief Joseph Gasser’s first two weeks on the job, or former Chief Michael McDermott’s resignation Jan. 5.
Instead, Mayor Kimberly Abner and town council members Darlene Hammond, Debra Sewell and Brandy James used the workshop to focus on the budget and strategic planning, specifically looking at how to contain costs, tighten procedures and plan for better communication and transparency.
Council President Pro Tem Torbert Williamson II was absent, having resigned from the board because he moved out of town. The council is soliciting candidates for his District 2 seat.
The state-mandated ethics board needs one or two members, and the planning and zoning board needs to fill two or three seats.
Town Manager Kristy Marshall shared a preliminary budget. Just over $250,000 in unused American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds is tentatively earmarked, and ARPA funds were used to replace a $125,000 sand filter. “Thank God for ARPA,” Abner said.
With a spending freeze in place since September, Marshall said cost savings could be realized in public works and law enforcement by using in-house personnel, and subbing in sheriff’s deputies and state troopers instead of paying excessive overtime.
Council Member Brandy James questioned why the cost of grass-cutting nearly doubled. Marshall explained that Public Works Maintenance Supervisor Eric Hall is working on getting a spray license and repairing equipment in an effort to contain costs.
Streamlining the budget, reporting procedures, revamping the website, creating one portal for paying speeding tickets and permit fees all were part of the wide-ranging discussion.
Other action items include implementing task-tracking software, creating standard operating procedures, reviewing and updating all job descriptions by the Feb. 19 town council workshop, conducting annual employee performance reviews by April 1, and developing a town-specific disaster plan by May 1, to be reviewed annually.
Also on the drawing board is creating a constituent services and resources area in the town hall.
Council members welcomed comments from the two residents who attended the meeting in person, thanking them for coming out on a Saturday morning. “I feel very fortunate that I came to get this information today,” one of the attendees said. The meeting was available remotely via ZOOM.
“Thank you for saying that,” James said. “I think we have been pretty darn transparent.”
However, Federalsburg native Logan Hoxter said bluntly, “The town is falling apart” and asked for more transparency and opportunities for youth.
“There have been a lot of issues over the last couple years the town has been neglecting,” Abner said. “You have to eat an elephant one bite at a time, and this town has a lot of problems to fix. That's what we are working to do. And it's going to take the entire community to get us there together.”
The next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 3.
