Both buyers and sellers at the Chestertown farmer’s market are searching for a way to keep the market open all year. According to market manager Owen McCoy, Washington College president Mitchell Reiss suggested that the college could host the market during the winter months. It would be a win-win situation; the students would have easy access to fresh produce, meats and baked goods, and market vendors would have a location to continue selling through the cold weather; the market would, of course, be open to the public as well.
Initially, Reiss offered the Field House, but the college athletic department said that was not an option, as it is booked for community events most Saturday mornings. The second suggestion was the old Board of Education building on Washington Avenue, owned by the college and currently vacant aside from library book storage. However, the fire marshall has told the college it is not feasible. Reid Raudenbush, Director of Physical Plant, sent the following email last week, “The Md State Fire Marshall’s Office will not allow a vacant structure without code compliant systems to be used by the public. Harry Bradley, Chief of Engineering for the Fm Office, told me that that when any structure changes use (educational to mercantile) that this triggers the requirement that the newest codes prevail. An abandoned and vacant building will not meet any minimum requirements and it doesn’t matter how temporary or limited the use is, the answer is no.”
This past Saturday, when McCoy delivered the discouraging news to farmers’ market producers, a number of them told him they would be happy to continue selling in the park throughout the winter, barring inclement weather, (snow, sleet, etc.). On Monday, the suggestion was brought before the town council. Mayor Bailey told McCoy on Tuesday that the answer was, “No. It is not possible now.” She went on to say that the town was expecting to do some work on the park during the winter. McCoy told the Spy that he was disappointed, of course, but that perhaps something could be worked out for the following year.
Mimi Parish says
There are so many empty buildings in Chestetown…how about the new building that sits across from Blue Bird that has been empty since they built it..It might look great to see some action in there, even though its only on Saturdays. Just a thought.
Bill Leary says
If, in fact, the market is prepared to continue operating outdoors, surely the City and the College can find an appropriate place for that to happen.
Kevin Shertz says
Wilmer Park… foot of High Street… parking lot at Board of Ed… this doesn’t seem impossible to solve at all. It would just require good communication to let people know the new location.
Robbi says
Hear hear. Wilmer Park! That place is empty as the day is long! Or, if there are fewer vendors in the winter months, what about the War Memorial park right across the street from the town park?
Owen McCoy says
I had assumed we would be able to stay where we are. With fewer vendors we could easily have stayed off the grass but we were not given any options,just a simple no. Unfortunately,we are running out of time for this year but perhaps we can now consider other options since there appears to be a great deal of interest in continuing the Market.
Jack Offett says
By the way, the State Fire Marshall only has jurisdiction over 17 of 23 Maryland counties; how about we join the other six holdout counties? Someone ought to call the Governor’s office and let them know how goofy this rule is by the Fire Marshall. Weren’t we voting there in the old cafeteria two years ago? Can’t we call it a bake sale for education if we donate some proceeds (because then the code is “A-ok” for public use? Why is the answer to any creative answer to problems the community faces always “no” by some bureaucrat?
Patrick Bushby says
No. No. NO. …and NO. The failure of the imagination is epic. Request the use of the grass lot at the end of Cross St. Near the train station ( Picturesque , logical association. Sited facing directly up Cross St.) Colorful umbrellas , some flags and pennants, tents and awnings. Parking is everywhere. Plus , people can walk, and need to. I suspect the issues of ” who’ll pay the liability , roving gangs of ten year old buskers and some lawyerly council against exposure will all come into to play. The death of a small town by a thousand denials. So it goes. The government we choose to live with is the one we deserve.
Rob Comfort says
Rather than the abrupt and dismissive “No”, why not try “No…but here is what we can do to help with this good idea”
Karen Smith says
We were also giving blood there in the cafeterial when the Blood Bank came to town – a ‘public’ event unrelated to the previous use of the school/bd of ed building. It’s a shame so little creative thinking goes on in Chestertown!
Robert Sweetman says
Even though there are other jurisdictions in the state who do not fully use the services of the State Fire Marshals office, The entire State of Md. comes under the auspices of the National Fire Code. Those other jurisdictions have replaced the State Fire Marshal with their own Fire Marshal/Investigator service, which in some degree, give or take a few minor differences because of Local, State & National Building Codes, still follow the National Fire Code.
Jack Offett says
I just hope that everyone who scared to go to the farmer’s market doesn’t ever go into any building over 10 years old. Millions of people travel without incident every year to the Sistine Chapel or U.S. Capitol, etc. Half of Chestertown is older than that school. Watch out for fire! When the Fire Marshall’s Office says it has no provision to issue a permit for incidental use, I suspect that has nothing to do with statute, but everything to do with their unwillingness to promulgate regulatory exceptions. So, in the name of our health and safety, the community has to lose access to healthy food. What an irony. Where there’s a will, there’s a way, the saying goes and the old adage probably applies to the Maryland Fire Marshall’s Office as well.
Jack Offett says
The so-called “National Fire Code” is promulgated by the for-profit National Fire Protection Association. States and even municipalities have the right to create their own fire codes separate from the “National Fire Code.” It would be preferable, instead of blindly following the dictates of advocacy groups, for people to use a little common sense. As I’ve said, if it’s too scary to go into old buildings, don’t go in (you’ll probably have to leave Chestertown).
Robert Sweetman says
Jack, I understand what you are saying, and I agree.. Common Sense is the path to follow. But we live in a society today that is over run and swamped with frivolous (and in my opinion sometimes Criminal) lawsuits every day…the National Fire Code is used every day in court cases to both prove and disprove points of contention. Something happens and you have an incident where the “Guidelines” of the NFC weren’t followed, how fast do you think it will take a Lawyer to use the National Fire Code against you? Faster than sliding down the back of a Muskrat on a greased Banana Peel in the middle of a swamp, that’s how fast…Common sense no longer prevails. People have to live by the Letter of the Law, not by the Spirit of the Law anymore.
Fletcher R. Hall says
Appears there is more than one GRINCH in Chestertown!
This action does not support Farm to Market Program and assist local producers with sales.
Fletcher R. Hall
Chestertown, Maryland
Bob Kramer says
This would be an unbelievable story if we read about this happening in another town in another county. Unfortunately it’s becoming a regular feature on Chestertown’s ‘not can do’ spirit. Surely this one deserves a re-think.
Harvey Wigder says
I have to agree with all of those who point to the lack of imagination and can do spirit. I will be very disappointed if the Council doesn’t figure a way to do this.
Johnny Roe Hudson says
Please, Please, Please!!! Could someone PLEASE just suggest the The Newman Armory on Quaker Neck Road for the winter’s Farms Market!!!! My goodness, it’s just sitting there doing nothing! Then maybe Washington College could get enough support for two water view windows to see the Chester River. With all due respect to the National Guard and Mr. Newman with all of his many years of dedicated loyal service inwhich the building bestow his name. Can we please just take a wrecking ball to this “White Elephant”! Than upon demolition we can again honor the National Guard with a new plaque and maybe a statue for Mr. Newman. It is pointless to save a building in this condition. Especially when no one can figure out a viable solution to this eyesore. Tear it down, build something more useful where Chestertown and Washington College could put to better use. Think about it! Jobs, Jobs, Jobs!!!
Marty Stetson says
What happened to the story that said the market would be open for the winter? Good news is news too. Not just what is viewed as not good should be the only thing that seems to remain on The Spy forever.