April 20, 2023 | Issue 20

Town Meeting Updates

Historic District Commission

The Board voted at the April 4th meeting to change the meeting time from 7:00pm to 6:00pm. The vote was approved unanimously.

Town Commissioners

It was decided that a timer would be used for all public comment going forward. The timer will be set at two (2) minutes for each person who has a comment.

The Façade Improvement Program supports exterior façade projects to recover and promote the integrity of the buildings and improve the visual characteristics of the Town’s Sustainable Community Area (please see attached map).

Some Eligibility requirements include:

• Applicants must use licensed home improvement contractors for all work or may elect to complete the work themselves.
• Maximum grant award is $5,000.00 per property.
• Applicants are encouraged to provide a contribution toward the project. Contributions can be monetary, materials, and/or labor. 

Eligible projects include:

• Door and window replacement/repair
• Porch and step replacement/repair
• Painting
• Masonry repair
• Roof repair

Please see link to application and other guidelines.

APPLICATIONS DUE TO TOWN HALL ON OR BEFORE JUNE 2, 2023, AT 4:00 PM

Employment Opportunities

The Town is currently seeking to fill multiple Part-Time Park Ranger posititions to work seasonally from April to September.

Click here to view the job ad for details.

The deadline to apply is Friday, April 21st.

If interested, kindly forward resume with experience and job history to Bryan Lightner, blightner@charlestownmd.org.

Volunteer Opportunity

The Historic District Commission Board currently has a vacancy and is looking for an interested candidate to participate for a three-year term. Are you interested in the Town's historic district ordinance and willing to share the responsibility of revising it, along with creating a Historic Preservation Plan, in order to help implement a shared vision for the Historic District? If so, we would welcome your service!

The Commissioners may appoint by a majority vote, a candidate who is willing to serve in this capacity.

If interested in joining the Board, please contact Bryan Lightner at 410-287-6173, ext. 2, or via email at blightner@charlestownmd.org.

Utility Bill & Payment Plan Due Date Reminders

Utility bill payments are typically due a month after they are finalized.

• For 2023, the due dates are scheduled as follows:

Payment Plan monthly payments are due by the 1st of every month.

• When the 1st falls on a weekend, payments must be received by the end of day Monday to avoid a $25 late fee.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: When sending in payments to Town Hall, whether it's a personal check or bill payment check through your bank, please make checks payable to the "Town of Charlestown", and our P.O. Box MUST be listed as the mailing address. Payments sent to our physical address will be returned by the Post Office.

• Our mailing address is: Town of Charlestown, P.O. Box 154, Charlestown, MD 21914

Trash Tech provides Charlestown residents with trash and recyclable collection every Wednesday. To ensure proper pickup, please read the following requirements.

• Place your bins at your curb on Tuesday evening. Residences without bins at the curb before trucks arrive will not be serviced until the following week.
• Recyclables must be contained within bins. Large boxes that are unable to be broken down must be taken to the Cecil County Landfill by residents.
• Trash and recyclables cannot be mixed. Contaminated recyclables will not be collected. Here's a link to Cecil County's recycling guidelines: Click here.
• Bulk trash items must be separate from household trash. The Town Maintenance staff collects bulk items at the end of each month, but these items must be separated from household trash to avoid a missed collection by Trash Tech.

If your trash or recyclables are not collected, please notify Town Hall no later than 4pm on Thursday to get you on the list for pickup on Friday. We keep track and notify Trash Tech of what's been missed.

If you are planning to complete repairs or upgrades on your home, interior or exterior, make sure to speak to our Town Administrator, Bryan Lightner, before starting your project to see if a zoning/building permit is required.

Here are some examples of when a permit is required:

MINOR Zoning/Building Permit - Fee $20 ($100 after work starts)

• Fences
• Tree removal
• Major landscaping
• Relocation and/or addition of siding, windows or doors (as applicable)
• Roof or siding repair
• Change type of driveway surface

MAJOR Zoning/Building Permit - Fee $50 ($250 after work starts)

• New dwellings
• Garages/sheds
• Additions
• Above ground and in-ground swimming pools
• Decks/patios/porches and/or enclosing thereof
• Rooftop Solar
• Interior Renovations
• Demolition

Major permits, and some minor permits, will be reviewed by the Charlestown Planning & Zoning Commission. Those meetings are held on the 1st Thursday after the 1st Tuesday of every month. Permits must be submitted by the Friday before the meeting date.

If you are unable to see the flyer below, please click here.

Town-Wide Scavenger Hunt

Sunday, April 30th - 1pm to 3pm

We guarantee that our first ever Town-Wide Scavenger Hunt will be fun for all ages, and you won’t want to miss it!

The hunt will start no sooner than 1pm, will include all sections of Town, and prizes will be awarded to the first 3 participants, or groups of participants, that meet us at Avalon Park with their completed list before 3pm.

In order to participate, look for the list on our Facebook page, in your email inbox, or pick up a paper copy at Avalon Park at 1pm sharp. The items on the list will need to be photographed with a date and time stamp, and must be completed within 2 hours.

Please contact Town Hall at (410) 287-6173, ext. 5, with any questions. A rain date has not yet been determined.

Forever Young... at Heart!

The Young at Heart Club is a senior citizen program sponsored by the Town. The club is always looking for new members — those who like to play cards, read books, quilt... you name it! They meet every Tuesday from 9:00am to 1:00pm at St. John’s Methodist Church, located at 240 Market Street in Charlestown. The club likes to share refreshments and lunch, and have fun!

If you’re interested, feel free to join the next meeting! If you’d like more information, contact Town Hall.

Park Rentals, Boat Ramp & Fishing Pier

Park Rentals

Looking to host an event locally? Reserve one of our parks!



Whether you're hosting a birthday party, a family reunion, or a wedding, our parks can be reserved for your private event at any time of year. Parks available for rent are Avalon Park, Long Point Park (Stone Wharf), and Veteran's Park (Pavilion Only).

Long Point Park offers a great waterfront view for wedding ceremonies, and Avalon Park & Stage has the views, as well as space for wedding ceremonies and receptions, and ample parking. Veteran's Park, which is one of our public beaches, has a pavilion with picnic tables that can be reserved, and has BBQ grills, public restrooms, and permit parking.

Parking for private events is free for residents and non-residents, except at Veteran's Park, due to the public beach.

If you are interested in reserving one of our parks, please check our calendar for available dates and complete an Event Request Permit form. Reservations are added to our calendar once approved. To obtain insurance for an event, if applicable, please reference the TULIP (Tenant User Liability Insurance Program) form. Please direct any questions to Mary Culver at mculver@charlestownmd.org or 410-287-6173, ext. 4.

Public Boat Ramp

Our Town boat ramp, located at the intersection of Water and Market Street, is the best place to start your boating adventure. If you don't already have an annual permit, it's $25 for Maryland residents, and boat trailer parking is free at Avalon Park Lot B, located on Louisa Lane.

To get a permit, stop into Town Hall during business hours with your valid boat and trailer registration cards. To complete a permit application prior to stopping in, click here.

Free Fishing Pier

Did you know that the Stone Wharf, located at the intersection of Water and Conestoga Streets, is a designated 'free fishing' zone? This means that you do not need a fishing license to fish off the wharf, and it's free of charge.

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: May 2, 2023

Planning & Zoning Commission

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

• Next Meeting: May 4, 2023

Town Commissioners

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

• Next Meeting: April 25, 2023

Bulk Trash Collection

South of Route 7 - Last Wednesday of the Month

North of Route 7 - Day after Last Wednesday of the Month

Town Hall must be notified by 4pm the day prior.

Next Collection: April 26 & 27, 2023

Yard Waste Collection

Every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.

No need to notify Town Hall.

Next Collection: April 24, 2023

Household Trash & Recyclables Collection

Every Wednesday, starting at 6am.

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

All holidays included, unless otherwise noted.