P.O. Box 651
Mount Savage, MD 21545
P.O. Box 651
Mount Savage, MD 21545
LaVale Sanitary Commission seeking code rewrite
* Current code written in 1947, last updated in 1955
* Commission member: this language here does not allow us to do what we're doing
By The Potomac Highlands Dispatch
CUMBERLAND, Jan. 14 -- The LaVale Sanitary Commission wants a code rewrite.
Judson Collins, commission member, met Thursday during a public work session with the Allegany County commissioners to discuss the draft update that would "bring us up to today's business and operating environment."
Collins said current code was written in 1947 and "updated, somewhat," eight years later. It's been virtually untouched for the past 55 years.
"So, we're way behind the times," said Collins, who serves on the county commissioner-appointed board with Margaret Bean, chair, and David Drewry.
Collins said one key obstacle resulting in facing the challenges of today while working with yesterday's foundation include a "very convoluted" bond-issuing process.
"This new code simplifies that," Collins said.
Another challenge is the LaVale Sanitary Commission, which encompasses all of voting precinct 29, has an agreement with the county and Maryland State Highway Administration to pay for the cost and maintenance of the lights installed during the streetscape project along National Highway. The LaVale Sanitary Commission's jurisdiction is bordered on the north by the Great Allegheny Passage at Cash Valley Road and on the west by Dan's Mountain. Its southern border is Warrior Run near Cresaptown and the district goes east to Haystack Mountain.
"This language here does not allow us to do what we're doing," Collins said, "which is paying the bill for those lights."
Collins said other difficulties arising from an outdated code include an inefficient bid process. Under current code, anything with a price tag greater than $1,000 must go to bid.
"Today, you can't do that," he said.
In addition, Collins said the LaVale Sanitary Commission is in the process of starting monthly billing. Current code does not allow that, he said.
Commissioners Mike McKay, Creade Brodie Jr. and Bill Valentine listened to Collins and LSC attorney Nicholas Monteleone. Monteleone and County Attorney Bill Rudd said the current code would need to be repealed and the new bill re-enacted, with at least one public hearing on the matter to be scheduled at a future date.
No timeframe was proposed by Collins said work has been ongoing for about two years. Monteleone said it was time to take the next step and review the draft code he submitted to the commissioners in order to "jettison (the code) forward to the 21st century."
"This should be a more workable document," Monteleone said.
The LaVale Sanitary Commission will wait for the county's response to Thursday's presentation prior to taking the next step in the process of adoption of the updated code.