LEGISLATION
There are two (2) pieces of legislation for consideration of ADOPTION tonight. Ordinance # 2026-02 amends the Town’s FY 26 municipal operating budget AND Ordinance #2026-03 amends the present Town FY 27 municipal operating budget. Both measures address the increase in the overall surplus in town funds.
BOARDS/COMMISSIONS/COMMITTEES APPOINTMENTS
There are no appointments to consider at this time.
FINANCE
Along with the amending budget ordinances, the other financial news is that the Town is still waiting to hear back from the State’s DHCD regarding approval on our TOWN MANAGER/CIRCUIT RIDER GRANT application submitted several months ago. This is very disturbing since in years past the application was approved and the grant agreement signed and in place BEFORE October. We are now into the 2nd quarter pending approval. All the other member circuit rider programs are in the same position we are! Along with this, our CDBG grant application for the storm drainage ditch maintenance project is still pending approval as well! Also, the Town has received the final grant/loan disbursement recommendation and close out letter for the WTP PHASE IV UPGRADE project from MDE. The final loan proceeds to be received will be $290,492.00. These funds will reimburse the Town for the remaining local share monies the Town had to upfront while the project was in progress. And since the project came in “under” budget by $76,900.00 the loan schedule for payment back to the State will be revised since we will not need to use those funds.
The Town this quarter has sent out the utility/trash billing notices in the amount of $216,133.09 with payment due 31 Oct 26. To all our consumers, please remember that the new late fee of $25 will be assessed 15 days AFTER the due date!
The water/sewer rate study is underway and should be completed by the end of the year. As I have mentioned before in my earlier monthly reports, with the new water meters being installed throughout the year, our goal is to have the first new meter billings based on actual usage in place by 1 Jan 28!
With the potential decrease in state local share and grant funding, the Maryland Municipal League has conducted a thorough report study identifying all the different avenues of revenue producing that local governments can consider adopting in the future. PITTSVILLE has been very aware of these issues and WE have been doing just that. We need only look at what the Town has done thru the MLGIP interest revenue producing tool that does NOT increase any additional costs on our citizens. I have requested a hard copy of the MML report for us all to review.
The total available funds for the Town as of this month by percentage is the following: General Fund 49%, Water Fund 10.6 %, and Sewer Fund 40.4%!
Effective 1 Jan 27, the Wicomico County landfill fee will be $100 per ton! What this will mean is that I am sure any new trash removal contract we enter into next year will be much higher that we have been used to. So an increase in our trash fee will certainly need to be addressed for FY 28!
PLANNING/ZONING
The Planning/Zoning Commission met on 14 Oct to hear updates from the Town Manager/Planning & Zoning Administrator on the following:
a) New business being considered (Shower Glass Doors) on the former Barnes property on Sixty Foot Road across from Dollar General in the Mixed Use Employment/MUE district
b) Planned expansion of the Pittsville Self Storage Facility located on Friendship Road
Both will need to submit site plans for review by the Planning/Zoning Commission before moving forward. Also, total number of building permits to date are 16 with building permit fees totaling $6,323.08
Since the next planned monthly meeting would be on November 11 (VETERANS DAY), I am recommending that the Planning/Zoning Commission’s monthly meeting be held on the 18 Nov which would be the 3rd Wednesday of the month with a public notice being on the town web site/face book.
PITTSVILLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
The PEDC monthly meeting was held on 23 Sep with the members being briefed on town capital projects plus new business interests in the Town Next monthly meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 28 Oct commencing at 5:30 pm in Town Hall
TOWN PUBLIC WORKS/PUBLIC UTILITIES
Dale is here to give his monthly report.
TOWN ENGINEER
Rob is here to give his report.
TOWN ATTORNEY
Our Town Attorney will be completing the final paperwork for the Town to finally have in our possession the Smith property located between Main Street and Old Ocean City Road that was purchased at tax sale. Also, condemnation proceedings have commenced for the Town to obtain the warehouse property located between Railroad Avenue and Main Street with the intention and goal to make it a municipal parking lot to serve the Town Park and local businesses in the area with the addition of electric charging stations to be installed. Also, due to recent activities and concerns regarding the Town’s “NUISANCE ORDINANCE”, both the Town Attorney and Town Manager believe the ordinance needs to be amended or replaced in order to best address the public’s needs at large.
PERSONNEL
Our Town Treasurer is on a much deserved vacation and will be back the first of November
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Halloween is Saturday 31 Oct and will be held on that date from 6-8 pm. Please be very careful while traveling thru Town while our young citizens are about enjoying their “special” day! And be generous in passing out your candy!!!
VETERANS DAY is November 11 and is a federal, state, town holiday so Town Offices will be closed.
Bulk Trask pick up day is Thursday 19 Nov 26 and notices will be posted for the public. Since THANSGIVING Day always falls on a Thursday, our normal pick up day, trash collection will be on the following Saturday 28 Nov 26 with appropriate notification being made.