City of Havre de Grace Weekly Briefing Week of August 8, 2022 Havre de GraceCity of Havre de Grace Weekly Briefing Week of August 8, 2022 Department of Administration: Appointments/Reappointments: Sue Nappi will be appointed to the Street & Traffic Safety Advisory Board at the Council meeting on August 15. Presentations: The Independence Day Commission will give a report at the City Council meeting on August 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers. Upcoming Public Meetings: August 9 – Historic Preservation Commission, 7:00 p.m, City Hall Conference Room August 11 – Informational Presentation – the restoration of the drainage ditch in the rear of the homes along Chesapeake Drive and Giles Street August 15 – Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 1081 concerning a Tax Waiver for 1828 Pulaski Highway, 7:00 p.m, City Hall Council Chambers August 15 – City Council Meeting, 7:00 p.m., City Hall Council Chambers August 16 – Cultural Exchange Commission, 7:00 p.m., City Hall Conference Room Upcoming City Legislation: The following legislation will be introduced at the City Council meeting on August 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers: Resolution concerning Establishing Legislative Priorities and Positions for the 2023 Session of the Maryland General Assembly Ordinance concerning Creating a Process for Establishing Legislative Priorities and Positions (First Reading) Ordinance concerning a Temporary Tax Waiver for Habitat for Humanity Properties (First Reading) Upcoming Events: August 13 – Farmers Market, 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m., 100 Block of St. John Street August 13 – Arts, Wine & Jazz Festival, 12:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Lock House Grounds August 14 – Second Sunday Hymn Sing, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m., Tydings Memorial Park Trolley Update: July 2022 217 operational hours. 3,712 passengers were transported for varying distances as passengers could get on or off the vehicle at various stops around the City. There were no traffic safety issues associated with the vehicles in the month of July 2022. Police Department: Crosswalks and School Pedestrians and drivers must follow the rules when crossing the street. Unfortunately, it can be terrible for pedestrians since they have less protection and can suffer serious injuries. That is why pedestrians should always cross the road in a crosswalk. Ideally, crosswalks marked with strips or laddered with white paint make pedestrians more visible and more effective at getting drivers to notice and stop for pedestrians. Unmarked crosswalks are implied or invisible crosswalks that legally exist at every corner. We encourage everyone to use a crosswalk when possible to reduce their chance of injury. Do not suddenly step out into the roadway assuming all vehicles will see or stop for you. This is especially true if you step out from between two parked vehicles. School will be back in session soon, so it is vital to pay close attention to those walkers who travel on foot and cross our streets. Likewise, please remind your children to use crosswalks when they travel to and from school. No Parking Notice Please pay attention to the No Parking signs posted at the Water Treatment Plant located at 415 St. John Street. The signs are posted on the fence at various locations that enclose the sides and a small portion of the rear of the Water Treatment Plant. If you park in an area that indicates No Parking, you will be cited and may have your vehicle towed. Department of Public Works: The Wilson St. project to install a new water main will finish in late August. Then contractors will begin the Green St installations to replace old water infrastructure with a new water main. The Bulle Rock water tower priming of the exterior of the tower is finishing up. They will begin adding a few finish coats to the exterior and then add a new logo to complete the project. Our water treatment plant filtration room cleaning capability was enhanced with the installation of a high-powered hose by Joe Correri. Contractors, BG&E, will be continuing work to update utility and gas services for residents on Pennington and Washington. The living shoreline project contractor will be working in the fenced-off area behind McGregor’s and beside Tidewater Grille, with heavy equipment to lay the placement of trees, plants, aggregate, and sand material necessary for restoration. Thank you to our Stormwater Management Coordinator, Brad Burnham, who led a significant portion of our in-house State MS4 reports and storm management program for over four years. Department of Planning: The Department of Planning is auditing open permits and notifying some residents that there may be some additional information required to close out old files. If a resident receives a letter and has any questions, we urge them to contact the department at 410-939-1800. A Planning Commission hearing is tentatively scheduled for August 22, 2022, at City Hall. A Board of Appeals hearing is tentatively scheduled for August 25, 2022, at City Hall. Department of Economic Development and Tourism: The City has awarded Harford Digital Marketing Solutions the Digital Content Manager, Storyteller & Writer position. The contractual position is for one year, starting August 2022 and ending August 2023. Harford Digital Marketing Solutions will work under the supervision of the Department of Economic Development & Tourism. The 2022/2023 downtown Main Street District walking maps are available and easily accessible at our Visitors Center on Pennington Avenue and most retail stores and restaurants. The Tourism Office represented the City of Havre de Grace at the annual Harford County Farm Fair. Department of Finance: Pay Online – Water/Sewer, Property Taxes, and Municipal Invoices at www.havredegracemd.com. Click on the Payment Center Tab. Register as a user, and you can save, store and schedule payments. Or make a one-time payment using your account number and pin. Pins are located on your invoice and can be changed by request only. When making tax or water/sewer payments online, please be sure to use the account number for the type of bill for which you are trying to pay. If you enter your tax id when you are wanting to pay your water bill, the payment will be posted to your taxes. The payment always follows the account number! Sign up for Water/Sewer e-Billing at www.havredegracemd.com. Click on the eBilling Registration tab located at the top of the home page. August Water/Sewer Service Bills were mailed last week. If you are billed in the August, November, February, and May cycles, you should have received them. User Benefit Bills for 21/22 were mailed last week. 2nd Quarter Electric Bills for slip holders were mailed last week. Properties with outstanding balances for tax year 21/22 or older likely have been sold in the County’s Tax Sale. Check with City Hall (410) 939-1800 before attempting to pay your 21/22 or older real property taxes. Payments for any property in Tax Sale must be paid by cash, money order, or certified bank check, and no online payments will be accepted. If you are having trouble paying your City bills on time, call Tara Leever at City Hall, (410) 939-1800, ext. 1110, and make arrangements to pay your Water/Sewer account if you are unable to pay your outstanding bill in full. Now is a good time to check your home for water leaks. Small faucet drips and leaking toilets can increase your bill significantly. Don’t let a running toilet run up your water bill. Visit the ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY’S website for tips on eliminating leaks in your home and ideas on how to conserve water at: https://www.epa.gov/watersense Please Do Not Put Cash in the Drop Box at City Hall.
