by Geoff Fox
Town Manager Mike Faith said the town had been approved to have new steps installed at Joseph Hancock Park, paving in the municipal lot, and pavilion roof repairs.
The stairs in the park and paving projects had previously been approved by the Maryland Department of Public Works, but the town had to wait on the roof project.
A few years ago, the town had applied for grants to pave the municipal lot along Canal Street, put in new guardrails, and install a pavilion in the lot, Mayor Roland Lanehart, Jr. said.
He said a request for proposal, or RFP, will be put out for that project.
When it comes to the pavilion, Lanehart said town officials would have to discuss that part of the parking lot project. Councilman David Kerns said if it’s part of the grant request, it has to be installed.
Lanehart’s issue is the pavilion could cause the loss of a few parking spaces and possibly be an open invitation to have people sleeping there.
“That’s just my opinion,” he said. “I’m afraid we’re going to get people there we don’t… probably don’t want.”
He said with the pavilion at Joseph Hancock Park and people sleeping there, police could see them when they drive by on Main Street.
Councilman Josh McCusker said the first step would be if having or not having the pavilion is an option before discussing.
Faith admitted he hasn’t asked about modifications as things have changed since it was applied for and approved.
The town already has the pavilion and it is currently in the town’s Public Works building.
If the town is allowed to not put the pavilion in the parking lot, Faith said it would be better used at the splash pad in Widmeyer Park.
The pavilion is similar to one at Kirkwood Park, just smaller.
Faith said at the very least, the lot is getting paved with parking spaces marked off and guardrails.
The roof replacement project had been announced last June and was approved by the DNR, however the Board of Public Works still needed to sign off on it.
That approval came last week.
The roof project would see Hancock get $59,219 in Project Open Space funding to repair the roofs of pavilions in Joseph Hancock Park and Widmeyer Park. The total project will cost $65,800.
