Hagerstown City Council briefs

September 09, 2009

Suggestions sought on street name

HAGERSTOWN -- The City of Hagerstown is asking the public to help choose a new name for a road near the downtown Arts & Entertainment District parking deck.

The road, now called Cramer Alley, runs parallel to Potomac Street. A section near the parking deck, south of East Washington Street, is scheduled to be widened to a two-way street, according to a city map and memo.

On Tuesday, City Engineer Rodney Tissue told the council the origin of the name hasn't been found. Councilman William M. Breichner joked that former Councilman Fred Kramer liked to take credit, despite the different spelling.

Councilman Lewis C. Metzner, who suggested the name change, said he had a suggestion, but didn't want to mention it outside of an executive session.

Local students might want to suggest ideas, Councilman Martin E. Brubaker said.

Mayor Robert E. Bruchey II asked suggestions be forwarded to City Hall soon, so the council can pick a new name in early October.

Sidewalk project considered

HAGERSTOWN -- City officials are considering how to use a $100,000 state grant to fix up sidewalks in the first block of North Potomac Street.

Planning Director Kathleen Maher said the grant requires a 100 percent match, meaning the city must contribute an additional $100,000 to get it.

A memo by City Engineer Rodney Tissue says it would cost about $200,000 to replace concrete sidewalk with brick and improve trees and planters.

The city has talked about a larger-scale project -- widening sidewalks and adding brick and landscaping, similar to work done on South Potomac Street.

About 10 parking spaces would be removed, Tissue said Tuesday.

Council members ruled out the more-detailed project, which would cost about $400,000, but expressed interest in getting the $100,000 grant.

-- Andrew Schotz

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