Monday night’s meeting of the Town Council was highlighted by a request made by Washington College’s Mark Hampton, VP Financial and Administration, for the town to act as the agent for an issuance of debt for a $20 million loan the College needs to move forward with their building projects, including a new dorm and academic building now underway on Washington Avenue. Both projects are slated to be completed by next July.
The town, as agent of the loan, will not be financially responsible for the loan debt, and unanimously agreed to provide assistance.
“What we are asking for is that the town serve as issuer. This allows us to get low cost financing and really helps us continue the relationship with the town which I feel has been mutually beneficial,” Hampton said.
Also, Mayor Chris Cerino addressed an email of complaint about Saturday Market protocols and asked the council for clarification on requirements to participate in the market. Councilwoman Linda Kuiper explained the requirements and agreed that they should be posted on the town website. The complaint originated from someone who appeared at the market without registering with the Saturday Market committee.
With Election Day coming up on Tuesday, November 3, 2015, Councilman Marty Stetson remarked that he would make a decision about running again 60 days before the election.
The 2015 election will be for Second and Fourth wards, currently held by Linda Kuiper and Marty Stetson.
Advertising for the elections will begin August 27. The last day for candidate filing will be Friday, October 2. Last day to request absentee ballot applications is Wednesday, October 28. Final count and certification will be Wednesday, November 4.
Elections for Mayor, First and Third wards will be held in 2017.
We apologize for the audio glitch.
Also appearing on the council agenda:
• Chief Adrian Baker submitted two bids for installing a phone system, card-reader locks, cabling, and generator for the police station. Of the two bids, Professional Multimedia Integration for $111,000 met the bid requirements and baker recommended the council approve it.
• Mark Williams, President of Eart Data. solicited the support of the council for a grant application on behalf of the town to study the town’s stormwater infrastructure and to develop a stormwater planning document. Both Earth Data and Washington College Geographic Information Systems (GIS) would be technical service providers for the project funded by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. If successful, the grant would provide the town with a template for best practices for stormwater management.
• Two recent home break-ins has called attention to the need for people to pay attention to how they leave their homes during the day. Often people will leave home with only a locked screen door or open windows with only screens, easily cut open to gain access.
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