Meeting Round Up: Marlboro Day, Memorial Day, and New Sidewalks

The Upper Marlboro Board of Town Commissioners met on Tuesday, May 8 for their regular monthly meeting. Couldn’t make the meeting? Here’s a quick rundown of what you may have missed.

Commissioner Reports

• Commissioner Joseph Hourcle reminded citizens that this coming Saturday, May 12 is Marlboro Day. He advised people to walk downtown to attend the festival and avoid traffic snares.
• Hourcle also reported that the State Highway Administration (SHA) is doing a corridor study between the 301/Rt. 5 split and the Maryland Beltway.
• Commissioner James Storey reported that he is continuing to work on the town Memorial Day celebration, which is scheduled for May 28 at 10 a.m. The NJROTC from Frederick Douglass High School will serve as color guard and two local World War II veterans will be in attendance. Storey has also requested a speaker from Andrews Air Force Base for the ceremony.
• Commissioner and President Stephen Sonnett reported that the town is seeking a director for the public works department. He also met with county and state sign people and discussed removing some signs, downsizing others, and generally getting better signage for the town.
• The Washington Suburban Sanitation Commission will be realigning sewer lines on Rectory Lane and Wilson Street, but no digging will be required, said Sonnett. There will be more sewage line realignment near the courthouse this summer. In other utility news, Pepco will be replacing the power feeds in the town with insulated wire.
• Sonnette said the old water tower cleanup permit is almost in hand. The town plans to solicit bids for the job this week, with work to begin in around 30 days.
• The state has agreed to fund a continuous sidewalk from Spring Branch Drive to Rectory Lane, as long as no residents object, said Sonnett. He is working to get someone from SHA to come in and discuss the project with residents. There will also be resurfacing on Route 4 from Route 301 to Suitland and a state contractor will be repaving Route 725 this summer.

Business

• The town also held a Public Hearing on future cable needs, as the town is negotiating their own franchise with Comcast.
• The commissioners also discussed the town’s fiscal year 2013 budget. Residents raised concerns over the 36 percent increase in healthcare costs, but Sonnett said that was the best the town could find and that rates were going up.
• The commissioners approved at $200 town donation to Marlboro Day.
• The residents and commissioners discussed the town’s Sustainable Communities application at length and what changes they hope to see in the town.