Town Limits

trishr@herald-mail.com BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - It's election time in the Town of Bath, the small incorporated government inside Berkeley Springs in Morgan County. The mayor, town recorder and five Bath Town Council seats are up for grabs and will be chosen by Bath residents beginning May 25, the first day of early voting. Election Day is June 14. Voting will take place at Town Hall in Berkeley Springs. Two candidates are running for mayor, nine candidates for the five town council seats and the town recorder candidate is unopposed.

Town cleanup slated for May 2 to 5 CLEAR SPRING - The Town of Clear Spring has scheduled spring cleanup for May 2 to 5. On those days, residents may place bulk trash items and recyclable items at regular trash pickup sites. Bulk trash items include televisions, furniture, carpeting and computers. Recyclable items include metal appliances (refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters, dishwashers), lawn mowers, glass bottles, corrugated cardboard, newspapers and magazines.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Town of Bath Mayor Susan Webster said Wednesday she has filed for re-election. Webster said she wants all Bath Town Council members to get people out to vote on June 14. "We have something to prove this time. There are good and wonderful people in this town," she said. In the last election, only 13 people in town voted and the state law requirement is 20. A petition to dissolve the town was filed by 22 residents, but it was struck down by the Morgan County Commission because the town's Berkeley Springs Water Works had a $2.8 million debt.

marlob@herald-mail.com CLEAR SPRING - Carol Hovermale was successful in her first run for public office, winning Monday's special election for a vacant seat on the Clear Spring Town Council. "I'm feeling pretty good about my win," said Hovermale, who received 28 of the 56 ballots cast. Timothy Bonds came in second with 17 votes as he tried for a council seat he had been unable to win in two previous regular town elections. Newcomer Daniel Tedrick collected 11 votes in his first try. Tedrick, 31, showed up at Town Hall as polls were closing to see how he had fared.

Not everyone fits neatly into a growth category To the editor: I am a citizen and constituent of Jefferson County, W.Va., politicians. I applaud Jim Surkamp's efforts to raise awareness about issues currently being debated - it is more than I can say for many of the other politicians. Most people do not have time to go to every meeting to gain insight on local issues, and using the listener forum is an insightful way to communicate to the constituents who, in-turn, can respond.

marlob@herald-mail.com CLEAR SPRING - For the second time in three months, the Town of Clear Spring received official notice Monday night that a veteran council member was resigning because of a change in residency. Gary L. Grove, 57, submitted a letter at the monthly meeting stating that because he is moving out of the town limits in mid-January, he will necessarily be resigning his position as of Jan. 31. "We hate to see you go," said Town Mayor Paul Hose Jr. Grove began his public service 21 years ago as vice mayor and then served as a council member during that uninterrupted period.

Town awaiting list for water bill credits SHARPSBURG - Sharpsburg Mayor Hal Spielman said Monday that he hopes Washington County water and sewer customers within town limits will get their bill credits on the first bill of 2005. The county is mailing a list of customers in the area to the town so town officials can mark which ones live within town limits, Spielman said after Monday night's mayor and Town Council meeting. The town has $18,000 budgeted to give town residents the credit.

shappell@herald-mail.com SMITHSBURG - For the second time in as many meetings, the Smithsburg Town Council on Tuesday discussed a new annexation request. The council also discussed a new ordinance that will allow the town to restrict uses on properties it agrees to annex and the formation of a committee to discuss a previous request. Mayor Mildred "Mickey" Myers said a written request was filed with the town for the annexation of a South Main Street property just outside of Smithsburg.

marlob@herald-mail.com SMITHSBURG - It may not be as dramatic as Jimmy Stewart's role in the movie, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," but don't tell that to Thomas B. Smith, who is getting his feet wet as a first-term councilman in his adopted town of Smithsburg. "Not any one issue got me involved," said Smith, a town resident since 1997. "I would call about things and then come to meetings. " Smith said he is convinced that town politics shouldn't be government against the people.