Wednesday, May 17, 2023 | Issue 21

Please join the Town Commissioners for a public discussion of the proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Town Budget. Public comment is welcome.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81890018912?pwd=QnlBY3Z2a2xSMTBBd2pyK25GQ2pjQT09

Meeting ID: 818 9001 8912

Passcode: 744823

Phone: 301-715-8592

If you are not able to attend the meeting and would like to submit comments, please email staff@charlestownmd.org by 5:00pm on Monday, May 22nd. The Zoom recording will be available on our website on Friday, May 19th.

Click the button below to view the draft FY 2024 budget.

Shut-Off Notices for outstanding account balances were mailed out yesterday, and door hangers were placed at each property. The scheduled day for shut-offs is Tuesday, May 23rd. If you received these notices, payments are due by Monday, May 22nd, to avoid shut-off and a $50 shut-off fee.

Payments can be made in-person at Town Hall, 241 Market Street, via cash or check during business hours (M-Th 7:30am-5:00pm; F 7:30am-4:00pm). After hours, please utilize our drop box in our front door. If you would like to pay with a debit or credit card, please pay online at www.charlestownmd.org/paycenter.

If you are having trouble paying your bill, please contact Mary Culver at 410-287-6173, ext. 4, or via email at mculver@charlestownmd.org, to discuss payment options.

The Town is currently seeking to fill a Part-Time Park Ranger position to work seasonally from May to September.

Click here to view the job ad for details.

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

Façade Improvement Grant

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

Water and Sewer Rates for In-Town Residents:

Water: $73.05/13,500 gallons (minimum billing), plus $6.25 for each additional 1,000 gallons

Sewer: $122.85/9,000 gallons (minimum billing), plus $13.65 for each additional 1,000 gallons

State Bay Restoration Fee: $15,00 per quarter

Water + Sewer + Bay Restoration = $210.90 per quarter (minimum billing)

Water Rates for Out-Of-Town Residents: $116.35/13,500 gallons (minimum billing), plus $6.90 for each additional 1,000 gallons

The water rate is regulated by the Town of Charlestown, the sewer rate is regulated by Cecil County, and Bay Restoration is mandated by the State of Maryland.

For information about the State Bay Restoration Fee, please refer to the Comptroller of Maryland's website and the Maryland Department of the Environment website.

If you have any questions about your bill, please contact Mary Culver at 410-287-6173, ext. 4, or via email at mculver@charlestownmd.org.

When mailing 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 ensure our P.O. Box is 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

Children ages Birth to 5 years are welcome to join!

Clean out your closets and gather your unwanted treasures!

It’s time again for a town-wide yard sale!

All residents are welcome to set up a sale on their properties.

Just like driving a car, boating should be done safely and responsibly. The Safe Boating Campaign, which is a program of the National Safe Boating Council and observed annually, is all about encouraging boaters to be responsible whenever out on the water.

A few recommended tips are to wear a properly-fitting life jacket, watch the weather, and never boat under the influence.

To brush up on your boating safety skills, visit www.SafeBoatingCampaign.com.

Follow the Safe Boating Campaign on social media @BoatingCampaign throughout the week for tips, contests, and more!

In Observance of Memorial Day, Town Hall will be Closed on Monday, May 29, 2023.

The Town would like to host a shredding event for the benefit of residents to securely discard their personal paper documents. We're looking to offer this event in late Summer or early Fall, and would hire a local document shredding company to shred all personal documents on the spot. Before we set this up, we want to hear from you.

Have questions? Please contact Town Hall at 410-287-6173, ext. 5, or via email at staff@charlestownmd.org.

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: June 6, 2023

Planning & Zoning Commission

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

• Next Meeting: June 8, 2023

Town Commissioners

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

• Next Meeting: May 23, 2023 (Working)

Bulk Trash Collection

Schedule for May thru August:

South of Route 7 - Last Tuesday of the Month

North of Route 7 - Last Wednesday of the Month

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

Next Collection: May 30 & 31, 2023

Yard Waste Collection

Every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month.

No need to notify Town Hall.

Next Collection: May 22, 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.