Sharpsburg briefs

January 07, 2004|by BRIAN SHAPPELL

Town extends cable franchise agreement

SHARPSBURG - The town has extended its franchise agreement with Adelphia cable through the end of the year, Mayor Hal Spielman said.

Sharpsburg and Adelphia were operating under an agreement that expired more than two years ago.

Spielman said the town agreed to the extension through December 2004 while negotiations continue for a long-term deal.

Town Attorney Charles Wagaman has said Adelphia originally proposed an agreement for a 15-year-deal with an additional five-year period, following a contract renegotiation.

Wagaman said a counterproposal should call for the company to provide free cable access to the police and fire departments, and to expand the number of issues that would fall under allowable "customer complaints."

Adelphia officials have said the company, which filed for bankruptcy in June 2002 amid allegations of white-collar crime, is under new management and will emerge from bankruptcy by the second quarter of 2004.

Square corners to be no-stopping zones

SHARPSBURG - Mayor Hal Spielman said the town will declare each of the corners of roads in Public Square a "no-stopping zone."

Spielman said the no-stopping zones are intended to prevent people from temporarily parking in the area extending 30 feet from each intersection.

Spielman said motorists traveling on side streets have a difficult time seeing around the cars that stop on those corners despite the "no parking" signs.

Town won't chip in for speed sign/trailer

SHARPSBURG - The Sharpsburg Town Council Monday declined to support a request from the Town of Keedysville, which asked Sharpsburg to help pay for a speed sign/trailer.

The sign/trailer, which tells motorists how fast they are traveling when they pass, costs $13,927, Mayor Hal Spielman said at Monday's meeting.

Keedysville officials had proposed, in a letter, that Boonsboro, Sharpsburg and Keedysville split the cost of the sign three ways, Spielman said.

Some council members said they did not want to spend more than $4,000 of the town's money for the equipment.

"I think it costs too much," Spielman said. "You could rent them when you want them."

Memorial Day Parade committee to meet

SHARPSBURG - The Sharpsburg Memorial Day Parade Committee will meet Monday at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

The committee will draft and prepare to send letters to potential participants in the parade, to be held on May 29.

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