Tuesday, December 10, 2024 | Issue 35

Town Hall will have adjusted hours on the following dates:

• Tuesday, December 24th: Closing at Noon
• Wednesday, December 25th: Closed for Christmas
• Tuesday, December 31st: Closing at Noon
• Wednesday, January 1st: Closed for New Year's Day

Please be aware that household trash and recycling collections WILL BE AFFECTED during Christmas and New Year's. As a result, collections on these weeks will take place on THURSDAYS. If you experience a missed collection during this time, kindly contact Town Hall as soon as possible at 410-287-6173, ext. 1, or at staff@charlestownmd.org to get on the schedule for recovery. Thank you!

For water emergencies, please contact Bobby Straiton, Director of Public Works, at 410-287-6173, ext. 7, or directly at 667-647-0474.

In October, we transitioned to a new finance and billing system at Town Hall, which included a revamped online payment portal. Overall, the initial billing cycle using this new system went smoothly, with only minor issues that were easily resolved.

A significant change with this new system is the replacement of old location IDs with new account numbers. These new account numbers, along with a PIN for online access, can be found in the top left corner of your new utility bills. If you pay your bills through your bank or another financial institution, it's important to update your account number to ensure your payments are processed correctly. Also, if you use a check for any payments (personal, money order, or through a bill pay service), please refrain from writing your PIN on the check. This PIN is meant solely for your access to the online payment portal and should not be shared with anyone. If we find your PIN on a check, we will change it for security reasons.

For those who have opted to receive utility bills via email and encountered any issues last quarter, please add our email address, staff@charlestownmd.org, to your contacts. This should help resolve any problems.

If you have any questions regarding your utility bill or our new online payment portal, please reach out to Mary Culver, Assistant Town Administrator, at 410-287-6173, ext. 4, or via email at mculver@charlestownmd.org.

Our 3rd Annual Donuts with Santa event on Sunday, November 17th, was a fantastic success! Families and children had a wonderful time meeting Santa, taking photos, writing letters, sipping hot chocolate from Market Street Cafe, and enjoying delicious apple cider donuts from Milburn Orchards. It truly was an exciting day for everyone!

This year, we held the event at Charlestown Elementary School, which provided us with more space and allowed us to raise funds for the Charlestown Elementary Parent-Teacher Organization. We are excited to share that we raised $345! While donations were not mandatory to attend, both Charlestown Elementary and we are deeply appreciative for those who contributed to support the PTO. Your generosity means so much to us.

The extra space at the school enabled us to create a quiet area for Santa to interact with the children. Our local Santa, Tom Durange, delighted in taking photos with everyone—both kids and adults—and asked each child what they wanted for Christmas. He is such a jolly character, and we are incredibly grateful for his willingness to donate his time to make the event special.

Photographer John Sadowsky, who also volunteered his services, did an outstanding job creating the perfect atmosphere. He was a pleasure to collaborate with, and his meticulous attention to detail ensured that every family received a stunning, professional photograph.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to Tom Durange, John Sadowsky, Milburn Orchards, Market Street Cafe, our amazing volunteers, and Stacey Rominski, Heather Wirtanen, and the maintenance staff at Charlestown Elementary. Your support was invaluable in making this event a success!

We can't wait to see everyone again next year!

Bryan Lightner (Town Administrator), who is always full of cheer, was absolutely thrilled when he got to meet Santa! It made his day even brighter!

Mary Culver (Assistant Town Administrator), along with her husband Rich and their son Lucas, were delighted to pose for a family photo with Santa!

Two (2) Commissioner Seats are up for Election

The Charlestown Board of Supervisors of Elections will hold the 2025 Municipal Election on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 from 7:00AM to 7:00PM at the Town Hall Building, 241 Market Street, Charlestown.

• Eligibility to Vote: In order to be eligible to vote, you must be at least eighteen (18) years of age and be a town resident for one (1) month prior to the election.

• Absentee Ballot Request: To request an absentee ballot, please contact Town Hall by Friday, February 14, 2025 at 4:00pm.

• 2025 Candidates: Information about candidates will be posted to our website once available. If you are considering candidacy, there are a few things you need to know:

• Qualifications: You must be a resident of Charlestown for at least one (1) year, be at least twenty-one (21) years of age, and be qualified to vote.

• How to Apply: There are no write-ins on the ballot, so all candidates for Commissioner must apply. If interested, please submit an application, which can be found by clicking here or at Town Hall, along with a recent photo and a short biography on your background and pertinent experience related to the Commissioner position. Short video biographies are also welcome. The deadline to apply is Friday, January 31, 2025 at 4:00pm.

• What to Expect: Commissioners attend two (2) meetings per month to discuss policy, ordinances, expenditures, and civic progress. They also attend Town and County events. Please ask yourself the following:

1. Why do I want to be a Commissioner?
2. Can I be an effective team member?
3. Am I able to focus on the future and the common good?
4. Can I help create a civic culture of mutual respect?

• Candidates' Forum: The Candidates' Forum has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 6:00pm. It will be held at the Charlestown Fire Hall, 307 Market Street, and via Zoom. We strongly encourage residents to attend, as it is an opportunity to meet and get to know the candidates. If you are unable to attend, or would like to submit questions for the candidates anonymously, please click here. The Zoom video will be posted to our website the next day for later viewing.

• Election Results: After polls close at 7:00pm, you will have the opportunity to watch the ballot count live via Zoom. Results will be posted to our website, Facebook page, Historic Charlestown app, and sent via email after they are finalized.

Our Code Enforcement Officer, Ken Hamilton, has compiled important community guidelines and regulations for you to review. If you have any questions about these topics, please reach out to Ken at khamilton@charlestownmd.org.

Tree Permits: It's important that you obtain a permit from the Town before cutting down any tree, even if it appears to be dead. The approval process is quick, typically taking only about 5 minutes once you apply.

Untagged Vehicles: Residents are allowed one untagged vehicle on their property that is actively being restored. Having more than one may lead to a notice of violation from the Town requiring the removal of additional vehicles.

Floodplain Requirements: All propane tanks located in the Town’s regulatory floodplain must be anchored. To determine if you’re located in a floodplain, please reach out to Ken Hamilton at Khamilton@charlestownmd.org. For assistance with anchoring these tanks, please reach out to your gas company.

Common Complaints

Barking Dogs: While the town does not have specific regulations for barking dogs, it’s important to be considerate of your neighbors, as not everyone has or appreciates pets. Please manage your pet’s noise, especially during late night or early morning hours.

Pet Control: You are responsible for managing your pets when they are outdoors. They should either be in a fenced area, in a kennel, or on a leash. Additionally, please ensure you clean up after your pets and avoid letting them relieve themselves on other properties, as this helps to foster a harmonious community.

Education

Firearms Regulations: The discharge of firearms, including BB guns, is not permitted within 200 feet of any dwelling.

House Numbers: Please ensure that your residence has a visible house number from the street. Whether the numbers are illuminated by a porch light or are reflective, it is important that you can be found quickly in the event of an emergency. To purchase a reflective house number sign for your home, please call the Charlestown Fire Company at 410-287-6451.

The Town Commissioners of Charlestown warmly invite you to our annual holiday celebration!

Join us in the tent and The Wellwood Restaurant for a festive evening filled with holiday cheer alongside the Town Commissioners, Town Staff, and your fellow residents. Enjoy a selection of hor d'oeuvres, desserts, and refreshments, with a cash bar available for those who wish to enjoy alcoholic beverages.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP by Wednesday, December 11th.

This event is free, and parking at The Wellwood Restaurant is complimentary as well.

We look forward to celebrating with you!

This event is free of charge and parking is available at St. John's United Methodist Church, Town Hall/Post Office, and the Charlestown Fire Hall.

We're eagerly anticipating Santa's arrival, and he's looking forward to seeing you, too!

Thanks to the Charlestown Fire Company and our cheerful Santa, Tom Durange, he will be making his way through Town to greet everyone, starting at 5:30pm.

This year, we have a new feature! you'll be able to track Santa's route using Glympse Santa Tracker. A link will be shared on the day of the event, so keep an eye out! You can also check out Santa's route in the image and details below.

** The fire truck will begin its route by heading east along Market Street, traveling through the Historic District. After that, it will proceed north to the Charlestown Manor neighborhood before heading south down Bladen Street towards Holloway Beach. Next, the truck will go north on Baltimore Street to Route 7, where it will continue north to reach the Scott Gardens, Cool Springs, and Trinity Woods neighborhoods. Finally, it will head south on Route 7 towards Route 40, wrapping up its journey in Charlestown Crossing. The entire tour is anticipated to take about two hours to complete.

All meetings held at Town Hall, unless otherwise noted, and via Zoom.

Meeting Dates

Historic District Commission

Held on the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm.

• Next Meeting: January 7, 2024

Planning & Zoning Commission

Held on the 1st Thursday following the 1st Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm.

• Next Meeting: January 9, 2024

Town Commissioners

Held every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm.

• Next Legislative Session: December 10, 2024

Bulk Trash Collection

Place items separate from regular household trash & recyclables any day during the week. Limited to four (4) large items per collection. No need to contact Town Hall unless your items are out longer than 48 hours. Please limit to one collection per month, when possible.

Yard Waste Collection

Every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.

No need to notify Town Hall.

Next Collection: December 23, 2024

Christmas trees will be collected in January on the 7th and 21st (Tuesdays).

Household Trash & Recyclables Collection

Every Wednesday, starting at 6am. Check our website for holiday notices.

Place trash and recyclable bins at your curb the night before.

Contact Town Hall regarding problems with collections.