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With new business designation, Brunswick gets a pitch for development

Thu, 28 Jul 2016 15:53:33 +0100

Brunswick has received its first proposal for downtown development since it received a special business-friendly designation from the state in early July.

Scot Lessler told city officials Monday that he’s reached an agreement with Verdant Development Group LLC and architect Bruce Zavos, both of Frederick, to do a 120-day feasibility study for development in downtown Brunswick.

Lessler owns several properties in downtown Brunswick, many along the South Maple Avenue corridor, in the block adjacent to the Brunswick MARC train station. He owns the properties through Solstice Historic Properties LLC and Railroad Square LLC, according to City Administrator Bob McGrory. Lessler did not tell officials which properties will be the focus of development.

Asked on Tuesday which properties he plans to develop, Lessler said, “I’d rather not say.”

He said he has no idea what type of development he’ll consider, but he wants to add something that will complement Brunswick’s unique downtown. The group expects to announce its proposal in November.

“It’s still extremely early,” he said. “We’re not even much into the ideas stage yet.”

Verdant Development Group and Zavos have both signed a confidentiality agreement with Lessler surrounding the project and declined to speak Tuesday.

Verdant specializes in residential land development projects, as well as adaptive reuse projects, according to its website. Its current projects include Chesterbrook, a development of 18 town houses in Middletown, and Parkside, which is 24 single-family houses in Walkersville.

Zavos is president of Zavos Architecture and Design, a firm involved in local projects such as a proposed mixed-income workforce housing development at 520 N. Market St., in Frederick. He is the chairman of the Affordable Housing Council of Frederick County.

Brunswick officials, along with representatives from Frederick County, announced on July 5 that the state had designated an enterprise zone in the city. Brunswick’s zone is approximately 1,300 acres, including the Brunswick Main Street District, the business transitional district, and the commercial and industrial properties along Petersville and Souder roads.

The designation, given by the Maryland Department of Commerce, offers tax incentives to businesses or other developments that locate in the zone or for businesses that hire new employees. Brunswick has the first enterprise zone in Frederick County, and is one of about 30 enterprise zones across the state.

The city received the status because it experienced a population decrease and property abandonment that met the zone designation criteria.

Lessler said the enterprise zone status created an incentive for him to look into new developments in Brunswick, although he’d wanted to do so for many years.

“It helped at least speed up the process,” he said.

Given the proximity of the properties to the city’s MARC station, the development may qualify for the city’s Transit Oriented Development zoning overlay option. That allows a larger mixture of office, general business/retail, and medium- to high-density residential uses than other zones. The zoning is designed to attract tourists and residents who commute by train.

Mayor Karin Tome said Tuesday that she was ecstatic.

“This is great news,” she said.

Allison Wilder, chairwoman of the city’s economic development commission, who worked on the city’s application with the state, said she hopes Lessler’s project will spur other developers to consider downtown Brunswick.

“Maybe there will be more? Hopefully, this is just the beginning,” she said.

By MIKE PERSLEY mpersley@newspost.com

Brunswick trying to appeal to people who love the outdoors

Sat, 23 Jul 2016 14:17:08 +0100

Brunswick’s economic development commission is strengthening its efforts to use local outdoor destinations in marketing the town.

The campaign will highlight that the downtown area is close to the C&O Canal National Historical Park, the Appalachian Trail and the Potomac River.

On Wednesday, the commission held a special public meeting to announce its plan to launch a marketing campaign to brand the city as a destination for people who love being outdoors.

The commission wants to create a downtown filled with outdoor-themed restaurants, shops and other businesses to attract tourists.

The outdoor theme is a result of surveys and focus groups of residents. People who participated in the study said rivers, hills, baseball, outdoor opportunities and a small-town feel are identifying features of the city.

Brunswick’s downtown, anchored by Potomac Street, has more than 17,000 square feet of commercial lease space, according to the city.

To attract new businesses, the commission will use the city’s newly acquired status as an enterprise zone as a pitch. The state-designated enterprise zone offers tax incentives to businesses that locate there or for businesses that hire new employees. Brunswick’s is one of about 30 enterprise zones across the state.

Brunswick’s zone is approximately 1,300 acres, including the Brunswick Main Street District, the business transitional district, and the commercial and industrial properties along Petersville and Souder roads.

The marketing campaign is part of a larger effort to bring development to the city. Brunswick’s fiscal 2017 budget includes $252,500 for economic development, more than double the previous year. Around $30,000 is dedicated to the marketing campaign.

On Friday, the city unveiled a new, more user-friendly website. It has a visitors tab with things to do around Brunswick, and with links to current maps, census data and demographics for businesses that might consider coming to Brunswick.

Wednesday’s meeting was an opportunity for the public to offer ideas for the campaign. It included people from Brunswick Main Street, the Brunswick Heritage Museum, business owners and residents.

Allison Wilder, the commission chair, who led the meeting, told the audience that Brunswick is great for both residents and outsiders. She wants to let others know about it.

“There’s so much we have to be proud of here in Brunswick,” she said. “Let’s let others see what we have to offer.”

Suggestions from the audience included hosting marathons, bike races, and outdoor festivals that may have a regional appeal.

One person suggested speaking with the National Park Service about placing advertising signs along Brunswick’s part of the C&O Canal National Historical Park that would direct people toward downtown.

Louisa Zimmerman-Roberts, a resident, suggested creating a cartoon animal, such as a beaver or muskrat, to market Brunswick to children.

“It’s just an idea,” she said. “But there are a lot of children that come out here. It could appeal to them.”

The campaign is in its early stages. The commission’s hope is to begin a more concerted effort within a few months.

Commission members have consulted with marketing firm Jean Peterson Design, of Frederick, on effective strategies, and may hire it to develop a long-term plan.

Some ideas the firm suggested included creating a strong social media presence, newspaper and magazine advertisements, and a focused central theme.

In 2012, the commission developed a new logo and tagline, which will be a centerpiece of the campaign. The logo includes a train passing through high hills and trees along the Potomac River. The tagline, “Big Town, Small City,” is meant to represent the small-town feel of the city mixed with the public amenities of a city.

Some of Brunswick’s downtown businesses already have an outdoorsy, rustic theme.

Smoketown Brewing Station, at 223 W. Potomac St., is housed in an old, red-brick former fire station. It offers housemade beer selections in samples, full pints and growlers.

Beans in the Belfry, at 122 W. Potomac St., is a cafe in a century-old, restored church.

Wilder said the goal is to continue filling the empty commercial space throughout downtown.

Abbie Rickets is the owner of Brunswick Hardware and Sporting Goods, at 302 W. Potomac St. She said her store sells fishing and hunting gear to people passing through on their way to fish in the Potomac River.

She said she’d love to see more customers.

“Obviously, it would help,” she said. “I think it would help all of us.”

By MIKE PERSLEY mpersley@newspost.com

Questions and Angel's Answers to the GBACC, Citizen sponsored Candidate Forum July 11, 2016

Thu, 14 Jul 2016 18:39:01 +0100

1) Leadership -- When two groups of citizens have different opinions on a subject do you feel that elected leaders should take sides or should they work to reach a compromise?

In our form of Government (representative republic), Elected Representatives serve the people. We elect leaders whom we trust will make decisions and votes based on our best interest. I believe that for important issues, true leaders are responsible for researching facts and discussing the issue with the citizens. Then the leader’s opinion should be formed based on the learned information and a combination of factors, including costs and long-term implications of a decision. Many decisions will have long-term implications that must be thought out.

First, understand the issue, second, are limitations established by law?, third, what are the potential benefits and liabilities? Fourth, attempt to approach the issue without bias and work to find a middle ground. Lastly, is the compromise good public policy? If compromise works with these considerations and factors then yes, compromise can be achieved.

2) Customer service at City Hall -- Do citizens report positive experiences or negative ones? If the latter, what appears to be causing the problem?

Customers service is a very important thing the City needs to focus on. Government touches people more at the local level than any other level, and the City Government needs to be 1) available; 2) easy to navigate; 3) fair; and 4) transparent. There is always improvement to be achieved, and it’s exactly the reason I’ve been working on trying to develop ways to educate residents about how the City government operates and why it does some things. I look forward to working with the Mayor and Council to make some positive changes with regard to how the City serves its residents.

One example is that of the comments I hear most frequently is that when a citizen sends in a concern to the customer service email they don’t hear back for some time that the email was even received. The processing of the emails needs to be handled in a timelier manner and the emails need to be responded to with a clearer process with a response of receipt and actions being taken.

3) Reserves -- The City of Brunswick has financial reserves in excess of $2 million. What do you suggest be done with these reserves? Leave them alone? Spend part -- how much and on what?

Reserve funds are an important component in financial planning, and need to be available in some amount for unforeseen needs or emergency repairs. Personal financial planners recommend at least 3 months of expenses including debt service to be in a savings account. This is the same practice with municipal financial planning. It is recommended that the City hold in reserves 10-15% minimal for municipal surplus reserves. These funds should not be used to supplement an operating budget.

I can understand some residents raising the issue but if we spend without a strategy is reckless. There are many projects to undertake. This would be a great task for the finance committee i.e. develop a policy for reserves and make recommendations to the Mayor and Council. Some of these projects could be paying down debt service, roads, swimming pool upgrades even possibly a dome, strategic methodical planning for sidewalks that would include grants, strategic planning of the municipal buildings and their uses, planning/ build out for the newly purchased property on West Potomac.

4) Transparency -- Do you think that the mayor and council have been abusing the provisions of the Open Meetings Act to secretly conduct regular business? If "yes," can you cite specific incidents?

There has not been an abuse (violation) of the Open Meetings Law, though I think that some issues could have been dealt with more efficiently. Councilmembers have spoken up if the discussion began to lose focus of the issue at hand. Frequent meetings resulted in part as personnel matters that were in multiple parts that needed to be addressed in additional meetings. We were also considering purchase of two buildings and those negotiations were legitimately closed meetings.

5) Sidewalks -- There are many areas on Brunswick with broken or missing sidewalks. What should be done about that?

Sidewalks are an important part of infrastructure that enhance community living. But many of the sidewalks in Brunswick have been in disrepair for a long time. So, such a significant undertaking needs to be planned thoroughly and fairly with engagement of the community. Right now, we need specifics on the conditions of the existing sidewalks and we need to know where sidewalks do not currently exist. The city should be exploring grants and other possible funding sources during the development of a plan. Yes, it is going to take some time to develop such plan but let us do it right. We have a success with grants. Why create more public anxiety than is absolutely necessary? There are grants for safe routes to school for BES and BMS students. The walk distances established by FCPS basically cover most of Brunswick. I propose a sidewalk commission to be established to prioritize implementation and ensure engagement of the community.

6) Sustainability -- Should Brunswick continue with its efforts to promote sustainability by encouraging recycling, conserving energy and resources, and supporting a walkable and bikeable community?

Sustainability is a popular term these days. I think it’s absolutely the role of the City to promote the concepts of sustainability in terms of recycling, resource and energy conservation, and increasing walking and biking in Brunswick. I do not think that drastic changes to the way we do things are necessary. Brunswick’s citizens are smart and know how to apply information. I can’t tell you the number of people who have told me how much their water bill benefited by basic water conservation techniques. I think that finding ways to educate residents on sustainability concepts would benefit us all.

Where it makes sense, we might find some ways to increase the City’s investment in sustainability. But as with all things, we have to ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs, and that the citizens are engaged.

7) Leadership II -- What is the role of the Council in a modern City government? Should there be less reliance on hired professionals (City Administrator, Superintendents of Public Works, Water, Wastewater) and more on citizens such as elected Council members and members of City Commissions?

The City government more directly affects taxpayers than any other level of Government. As the City grows, it’s important to maintain an organizational structure that is able to meet the needs of the City. Having knowledgeable management chains is a critical component of any diverse organization and the way to do that is to rely on professionals to lead qualified staffs. Commissions can be a good tool for planning and long-term types of tasks, but day-to-day management is better left to full-time professionals.

The basic role of the council in a modern government has not changed. Simply stated to represent the citizens to the best of our ability. Many times there are differing views among citizens and a Council member then exercises their best judgement. Further, help citizens when they feel their concerns are not being addressed and/or resolved. Many times, a Council member can not resolve the citizen’s satisfaction due to constraints of law and other considerations but we need to do our best to do so.

8) Incumbents -- What have you done while in office that make you most proud?

I have dedicated many of my efforts to improve our city, specifically the businesses climate specifically downtown business. I have been very active in Main Street, EDC and GBACC as well as the one-on-one efforts to retain business and recruit new business. I speak with passion to make our city a better place for all residents. I have been involved with the trail and the skateboard park at the Sports Complex, spearheaded the mini-golf project coming to the pool complex and volunteering at the museum, creation and maintaining the Brunswick Community Calendar for events as well as the Brunswick Community Calendar on facebook to share the events in our city indicate my level of commitment. My desire to provide constituent service by helping to resolve issues.

9) Leadership III -- When making a decision on an issue, what is most important: 1) learning the facts from research and staff reports, 2) The word on the street, or 3) Social Media?

I find that facts learned by research and staff reports and the word on the street are most important. Social media outlets can be a source of information, but are often very polarized or biased with little support. Further, social media outlets have not been adopted by everyone in the community, and those that do subscribe to social media do not necessarily contribute opinions. So by allowing social media to drive decisions, we ignore a part of the population.

1) Research and staff reports are crucial to good decision making. Research can take many forms including the thought/position of a learned individual. Exploring how other municipalities have handled similar situations. Contact MML to gain insight as to the history of similar ideas. Assessing information is more readily available with the internet. Inquiry as to whether the city had dealt with the issue in the past. Refer to city charter and ordinances. Seek input from fellow elected officials and staff members with institutional knowledge. Contact the city attorney if appropriate.

2) Word on the street can add value. First question, is the message consistent or are their mixed messages? The merit of the message is of more significance than the messenger. Is there a clear understanding of the issue or is there a misinterpretation?

3) Social Media could have some value but must be viewed with some skepticism as some people post for reaction rather than adding any meaningful information. The same number of keying strokes could have sent an email to an elected official. Completely ignoring social media is not recommended but should be considered with reservation. Look for the merit of the comment.

Seven candidates vie for three open seats on Brunswick council

Thu, 07 Jul 2016 00:42:15 +0100

Part I of two parts about council candidates in the Aug. 2 Brunswick city election.

BRUNSWICK — Broken sidewalks, potholes, and council power and communications concern first-time Brunswick City Council candidates Eric Beasley, Ginger Cayo, Laura Dvorak and Vaughn Ripley.

They are four of seven candidates running for three seats in the Aug. 2 election. Councilwoman Angel White, former Councilman Tom Smith and Amanda McGannon are also running and will be featured in Part II.

Of the city’s six council members, three have terms that expire in August: White, Ellis Burruss and Walt Stull. Burruss and Stull are not seeking re-election.

Eric Beasley

Since Beasley moved to Brunswick in 2012, he said he has watched local government with disappointment.

“I feel like Brunswick right now is run on emotion, not what is logical or legal.”

His support last year for a failed effort to recall Mayor Karin Tome gave some people the wrong impression about his political disposition, he said. He said he will disagree politely as long as different positions are based on facts.

“There will be logic and facts to support whatever decision I make,” he said.

He would like to give council members power to put legislation to a referendum.

He said the more than $1 million annual budget surplus would be better used as a rebate to taxpayers or to repair water and sewer lines and sidewalks and roads.

“Spend on something to benefit the whole town,” he said.

Government should support “individual liberty” and get “out of the way,” he said. The city should not regulate taxicabs, and it should not expect homeowners to pay for sidewalks that get used by the public.

He faults the pace of the city’s efforts to spur redevelopment, and does not want to subsidize the Brunswick Main Street nonprofit group that seeks to support downtown or any nongovernmental corporation, he said.

The city, not property owners, should pay for sidewalks where they are needed, he said.

Ginger Cayo

In Brunswick Crossing, where Ginger Cayo has lived for four years, the new sidewalks and smooth streets do not compare to those downtown. She is willing to get downtown fixed at taxpayer expense, even if her development’s residents have paid for their streets and sidewalks initially in housing costs. They have been waiting for potholes, faded fire hydrants, broken sidewalks and empty storefronts downtown to change.

“We were hoping it would be more aggressive with paving and painting by now,” she said. Potomac Street, which is the heart of the to-be-redeveloped business district, concerned them particularly.

“When is at least that street going to get done?” she asked.

Cayo found that council decisions to follow up on economic development initiatives, such as an application for enterprise zone status for redevelopment tax incentives, seem to take longer than expected. Too many committees and organizations are working on the redevelopment effort when she would like to see more consolidation.

“I believe they could go faster,” she said. She faulted council members for taking too much time to make a decision, and wants the mayor to set stricter expectations about the time they have to decide.

“I’m a big supporter of Mayor [Karin] Tome,” Cayo said. “I believe that she should be more firm. Calling members out on their position.”

Cayo would like to get an estimate of the price to repair all of the roads and sidewalks. She wants to consider a variety of ways to pay for them publicly, including using the budget surplus.

Cayo wants highlights of council actions to be announced on social media after public meetings, and to make the city website easier to use, so residents can find legislative acts and current government news.

“With the age of Twitter, people would like a quick summary,” she said. “People would feel more involved.”

She wants to establish a way to help residents who cannot pay their water bill, perhaps with an option for payers to add an amount to be dedicated to a fund for those who need help. Until such a utility relief fund is established, Cayo said if she is elected, she would donate her $300 monthly council salary to that cause.

Laura Dvorak

Sidewalks are part of Dvorak’s three focal points as a candidate: She wants Brunswick to be safe, comfortable and proud of itself.

“My biggest issue is downtown,” she said. “The street needs to look vibrant.”

She sees sidewalks playing a vital role in safety, recreation, economic development and transportation. She supports the city’s interest-free loans to help property owners pay for the needed repairs. She would not change the ordinance that places sidewalk maintenance responsibilities on property owners.

“I’m all about being fiscally conservative,” she said. “I believe sidewalks are transformative. ... They have not really been dealt with.”

She would look for grants to help pay for infrastructure improvements.

As a two-year resident of the city, she has found herself drawn to public action in a way she has not before. She moved from Gaithersburg and soon started volunteering for the Brunswick Heritage Museum, the Community Garden, Adopt-a-Park, Brunswick Main Street and the Literacy Council of Frederick County.

She would like the city to do what it can to fill vacant buildings with government contractors or other tenants, and perhaps get foreclosed properties rented at low rates to artists until more permanent tenants come along. She would like to seek out grocers to occupy the former grocery site in the Brunswick Shopping Center. She would like to see more public transportation serving the city on weekends.

She would like the museum to get a full-time curator to boost the tourism opportunities, and increase places for people to stroll and sit downtown. She does not want to do another study of economic development needs.

She would like to explore using some of the budget surplus to lower the interest the city is paying on some of its debt, she said.

She does not place any blame for the city’s current condition.

“I want to take a step back to civility,” she said. “I’m willing to work with anyone. ... I feel like when we respect each other’s rights, it gives us more flexibility.”

Vaughn Ripley

Ripley said his father taught him that “armchair” politicians get even less done than real ones, so he felt it was time for him to answer the questions he found himself asking about what goes on in the city with broken sidewalks, parks, and aged water and sewer lines.

“I’m not knocking the city,” Ripley said. “I would like to be more involved.”

He said serving on the council would give him the information he would need to answer questions and make good decisions.

“The more that I know about it, the more that I can help,” he said.

He is discouraged that a small percentage of registered voters usually participates. He also wanted to be a courteous option on the ballot in case any less courteous people were running, he said, without naming anyone.

“Investigate, look at the council candidates,” he said. “Make sure they’re in it for the right reasons.”

“How about chivalry?” he asked. “I’m running for integrity and honor. I believe in chivalry.”

Ripley, who has lived in the Galyn Manor development on the northeast edge of the city for 10 years, rides a bike and runs three times a week across the crumbled sidewalks and roads that have dominated many council meetings this year.

He would like to see what grants are available to help pay for new roads and sidewalks and explore other options to get them fixed.

For economic development, Ripley supports Brunswick Main Street and would like the city to do more to help small businesses and to promote its growing outdoor recreation image. He has been volunteering on the River’s Edge trail that is under development and with the city skate park renovation, both on the east side of the city.

“I’d like to build up the fact that we’re so accessible to the C&O [Canal National Park],” he said.

Follow Patti Borda Mullins on Twitter: @FNP_Patti

Brunswick's sidewalk network proves costly, contentious

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 00:24:33 +0100

BRUNSWICK — Anyone in Brunswick who has taken a sidewalk for granted had better take a step back.
The City Council is conflicted about how to maintain sidewalks and get sidewalks built where they are missing, and who should pay for this work.
Settling those questions would suit Jennifer Knowles and Tota Schultz, two mothers who find walking with children around town difficult and hazardous.
Along Maple Avenue, an interrupted patchwork of sidewalk runs between downtown and the showpiece public library at 915 N. Maple Ave. Of the more than 30 properties on North Maple between E Street and Wenner Drive, more than a dozen have faulty or missing sidewalks.
“There’s a library there, but there’s no sidewalk [to it],” said Schultz, who likes to walk with her three children from her house on North Maple.
Mayor Karin Tome said that when she was a librarian, people with children in strollers often complained about the difficulty getting to the library, which has a full sidewalk. Some have to push a stroller through grass or walk in the street.
“The sidewalks are super cracked,” said Tota Schultz’s 11-year-old son, Daniel.
‘A shared space’
Tota Schultz paid for her sidewalk, she said, and she believes other property owners should fulfill their responsibility. City ordinances put the responsibility on property owners to construct and maintain sidewalks around their property.
When a house is built, it must include curb, gutter and sidewalk, said Bruce Dell, Brunswick city planning and zoning administrator. That has been the rule for as long as current city staff and elected officials can remember.
This was news to Amy Hebb, whose family has owned a house on North Maple for 37 years.
“I didn’t know it would be our responsibility to replace our sidewalks,” Hebb said. “I knew it was our responsibility to shovel snow.”
The irregularly enforced maintenance rule now has the City Council in a quandary about whether to force property owners to pay to build or repair sidewalks.
Knowles, who was pushing 1-year-old Joe in a stroller and walking with Eli, 7, on Wednesday, said safety concerns her.
“We walk a lot,” she said, standing with her family at the corner of Ninth Avenue and Md. 464, near their home. “Maple Avenue is really bad.”
She considers the sidewalk network a city responsibility.
“Intuitively, I feel like this is a shared space,” she said.
The cost of safety
“It’s millions of dollars ... to replace all of the sidewalks in Brunswick,” Councilwoman Angel White said in a phone interview.
The cost is roughly estimated at $50 per linear foot, not including curb, according to Councilman Carroll Jones. The city does not have an estimate of how many properties need sidewalks.
Several years ago, the State Highway Administration built sidewalk along Md. 464 from Maple to Second Avenue, Jones said in a phone interview. He was mayor when the city asked for that sidewalk out of concern for the safety of disabled residents traveling on the shoulder.
Jones suggested that sidewalk construction should start based on safety concerns and may qualify for outside funding.
“Having a safe route for our kids is something most people will agree upon,” he said.
The question remains whether the code will be strictly enforced. Code enforcement is largely complaint-driven, except for matters of health, safety and welfare, Tome said; those matters go to the top of the list.
White wants the council to establish a sidewalk committee that will first address areas where sidewalks fail to serve students and then work on the rest of the city.
“Target the walkability and safety for schools,” White said. “And go for grants. The grant process is what I think we should go after.”
Fifth Avenue and H Street are also high priorities for students, Jones, Tome and White said.
“H Street is kind of a mishmash of sidewalks,” Tome said.
Creating hardship
To help unprepared property owners, the council has budgeted $50,000 to lend interest-free, up to $5,000 per property for sidewalk work. A few people have contacted the city about the program, Tome said.
Councilman Ellis Burruss was surprised to learn that the responsibility for sidewalks falls on property owners in the city of Frederick and other jurisdictions. White said her research found that is generally the norm, though Brunswick property owners may not know it.
Even with a loan program, Burruss and White said the cost could create financial hardship.
“The transition of something like this could be difficult,” Burruss said in a council discussion.
Knowles said her house has some good sidewalk and some not so good.
Hebb’s sidewalk is not in bad shape, but she has a few pieces of broken curb stacked in front of her property. During the blizzard last winter, a snowplow chipped the curb, she said. She collected the pieces and set them aside.
Tome said the city will have to work out how to deal with such situations.
White said the city should keep the ordinance as is, but educate property owners before citing them for falling short.
“You’ve got a lot of houses [that were built] before we had any kind of ordinances,” Dell said.

Conflicted feelings

The sidewalk shortage came to a head in recent months when a bid was put out to repave Maple Avenue. The city at first included sidewalk work in the bid, and then reconsidered, since the ordinance places that responsibility on property owners. Councilmen predicted that residents would be caught unaware of their responsibility.
Before the city lends money or starts construction on any sidewalks, Jones advised setting a clear, consistent public policy, establishing “a program that everyone can relate to and understand, even if they don’t agree.”
“It’s going to take a lot of discussion,” Councilman Jeff Snoots said during the council discussion. “What’s our goal? What are we looking at?”
“We have to agree on how ... the sidewalk restoration is going to be funded,” Tome said in a telephone interview. “There are a lot of conflicted feelings.”
Applications are still open for the interest-free loans.
“It would be great if we could just do this all at one time,” Tome said. “It’s clear … it’s going to be much more complicated.”
Outside the Brunswick Community Pool with her three children Wednesday, Schultz had one word to describe the city’s sidewalk network: “Awful.”
Follow Patti Borda Mullins on Twitter: @FNP_Patti.

Letter of Support

Mon, 20 Jun 2016 20:51:17 +0100

I would like to take a minute and say a few words about Angel White, and why it is important, no, imperative, that she continue on as a member of the Brunswick City Council. I was the vice chair of the Brunswick Economic Commission, and as a member of that group was continuously looking for ways to make Brunswick more attractive to business. I watched as Angel became and stayed a solid voice of reason on the Council.

Nobody knows business like someone who is successful in business, and Angel’s business thrived in Brunswick. Why? Because she understands and holds the economics, the philosophy and the ethics of doing business as well as the city of Brunswick close to her heart. Secondly, Angel knows how to make a decision. We don’t see much of that. There is a lot of talk and not much action, but Angel was always in the forefront of bringing the best direction to the City of Brunswick.

Please join me in supporting Angel White as she runs for another successful term as City Council member. Let’s Work with her as she applies responsible policy to continue to build Brunswick into a top class city. Please remember, Taxes are YOUR money. Angel White is the best way to see they are responsibly used.

Thom Peschke

Past Vice Chair, Brunswick EDCI would like to take a minute and say a few words about Angel White, and why it is important, no, 

imperave, that she connue on as a member of the Brunswick City Council. I was the vice chair of the 

Brunswick Economic Commission, and as a member of that group was connuously looking for ways to 

make Brunswick more a!racve to business. I watched as Angel became and stayed a solid voice of 

reason on the Council. 

Nobody knows business like someone who is successful in business, and Angel’s business thrived in 

Brunswick. Why? Because she understands and holds the economics, the philosophy and the ethics of 

doing business as well as the city of Brunswick close to her heart. Secondly, Angel knows how to make a 

decision. We don’t see much of that. There is a lot of talk and not much acon, but Angel was always in 

the forefront of bringing the best direcon to the City of Brunswick. 

Please join me in supporng Angel White as she runs for another successful term as City Council 

member. Let’s Work with her as she applies responsible policy to connue to build Brunswick into a top 

class city. Please remember, Taxes are YOUR money. Angel White is the best way to see they are 

responsibly used.

Thom Peschke

Past Vice Chair, Brunswick EDI would like to take a minute and say a few words about Angel White, and why it is important, no, 

imperave, that she connue on as a member of the Brunswick City Council. I was the vice chair of the 

Brunswick Economic Commission, and as a member of that group was connuously looking for ways to 

make Brunswick more a!racve to business. I watched as Angel became and stayed a solid voice of 

reason on the Council. 

Nobody knows business like someone who is successful in business, and Angel’s business thrived in 

Brunswick. Why? Because she understands and holds the economics, the philosophy and the ethics of 

doing business as well as the city of Brunswick close to her heart. Secondly, Angel knows how to make a 

decision. We don’t see much of that. There is a lot of talk and not much acon, but Angel was always in 

the forefront of bringing the best direcon to the City of Brunswick. 

Please join me in supporng Angel White as she runs for another successful term as City Council 

member. Let’s Work with her as she applies responsible policy to connue to build Brunswick into a top 

class city. Please remember, Taxes are YOUR money. Angel White is the best way to see they are 

responsibly used.

Thom Peschke

Past Vice Chair, Brunswick ED

Brunswick listens to a new way of thinking about redevelopment

Tue, 24 May 2016 20:01:02 +0100

BRUNSWICK — A meeting to help shape Brunswick’s future took place Monday inside the brick shell of the four-story former Kaplon department store. About 20 business people, elected leaders and nonprofit redevelopers considered options to fill space in the city with a combination of arts venues, small stores and places to live on any income.

Chris Velasco and Elizabeth Bowling, principals with Projects Linking Art, Community & Environment, or PLACE, shared the group’s experience around the country reclaiming environmentally degraded sites, run-down neighborhoods and abandoned buildings. Their nonprofit works with the community, leaders and property owners to imagine and manage redesigned places.

Their leadership can help leverage funding for a site and associated projects, Velasco said.

“This is the secret sauce right here,” Velasco said, referring to stakeholders present in the empty building at 102 W. Potomac St.

Mayor Karin Tome and council members Carroll Jones and Angel White attended the event, which was organized by Terri Householder, the city’s economic development coordinator. Householder and Brunswick Main Street nonprofit leaders Lee Zumbach and Abbie Ricketts greeted property owners, city and county economic development representatives, and County Councilman Jerry Donald.

Afterward, Tome and White said they were ready to learn more about the possibilities of working with PLACE.

“It’s a whole different way of looking at what we’ve got,” Tome said.

Based in Minneapolis, PLACE has developed communities in Ajo, Arizona; Ventura, California; and Reno, Nevada, among others.

The newly designed places are filled with creative professionals living where they work, community performance sites, modest to luxury urban living, and small retail — all based on what they call “profound environmental design.”

In Ventura, the development features ocean-view penthouses for higher-income earners and modest apartments for a formerly homeless population, a theater, a rooftop garden and studios where artists work and live.

Velasco said PLACE is committed to the idea that people need access to nature. Urban forests lie between PLACE’s tall buildings with their smaller footprints. PLACE’s E-Generation innovation involves growing food locally and recycling scraps to fertilize crops and to turn into energy.

The design maximizes vertical space, leaves natural paths and parks accessible, and encourages pedestrian commutes. Residents depend more on mass transit than automobiles in a development “that embraces a trail as our main street,” he said.

With the MARC train station at Brunswick’s heart, Velasco said, the city has one jewel already.

“This is one of the best opportunities for transit-oriented development I’ve ever seen,” Velasco said.

If the city is interested further in working with PLACE, the group would assess five key components for success, Velasco said: location, financing, market, program and leadership.

PLACE conducts many public meetings about its plans, Bowling said.

Jones questioned whether PLACE could solve a parking shortage. Velasco said solutions might include collecting premium fees for street parking and offering a less expensive central location, building a garage that could be converted to another use, and accepting that popular places may survive perceived parking shortages.

People who visit PLACE’s communities remember them not for specifics, but for the overall impression, he said.

“They just think of it as ‘that cool place,’” he said. “People just think of them as great places.”

Brunswick’s inventory of early 20th-century structures impressed Velasco. He said PLACE’s projects have saved much younger properties.

“Here you’ve got some real historic gems,” he said. “There aren’t many of these left. ... I see this as being one of those ... authentic Main Streets.”

Follow Patti Borda Mullins on Twitter @FNP_Patti

Brunswick council determined to fund Maple Avenue sidewalks

Fri, 20 May 2016 19:57:09 +0100

BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick City Council and mayor agreed in budget talks on Wednesday that they want sidewalks completely along Maple Avenue sooner rather than later, and they are willing to help owners finance their responsibility to get the work done.

Mayor Karin Tome tentatively budgeted $50,000 for a loan program to help property owners fix their sidewalks as part of her proposed $4.5 million fiscal 2017 general fund budget. Councilmen Harry Lashley and Angel White were prepared to put more money into the loan program. No final amount or repayment plan has been set.

The homeowners’ share of the cost has not been set, but it could be 100 percent. The council is considering enforcing the current building code, which requires property owners to have and maintain sidewalks in front of their property.

Along Maple Avenue, which leads to the Brunswick Public Library, the Brunswick Shopping Center and other commercial properties, portions of sidewalk in front of several residences need repairs, and some stretches have never had a sidewalk.

The situation adversely affects city connectivity and safety, Tome said.

The estimated cost to fix the situation on Maple Avenue is about $100,000. The city should not pay for the work, which is the property owner’s responsibility, Councilman Carroll Jones said.

Councilman Ellis Burruss, Tome and Lashley said the addition of new sidewalk would benefit the whole city.

“We want that walkability,” Tome said.

The loan program is being considered as a less expensive option for property owners to get the work done. If the city contracts for the work, the homeowner could pay the cost over several years in quarterly installments.

On Wednesday, the council also gave tentative approval for spending $100,000 — $90,000 in Program Open Space grant funding — to refurbish the basketball courts on Potomac Street southwest of City Park. And $12,000 was approved for City Skate Park renovations.

The council voted 5-1 to add a 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment to employee salaries. Lashley cast the dissenting vote, preferring a COLA closer to 1 percent. The budget includes a 2.5 percent merit raise for civilian employees and a 2.5 percent step increase for police officers. The force has 12 officers now, and is budgeted to have 14.

The proposed budget is 6.5 percent higher overall than this year’s. The property tax rate is proposed to go down from 46.2 to 44 cents per $100 of assessed value, but property owners may get a larger tax bill if their property assessment has gone up.

The city estimates that increased income tax revenue, higher property assessments and new construction will generate $221,300 more in tax revenue than this year.

The council will discuss the economic development portion of the budget, $252,500, and other budget details at a special meeting at 6 p.m. June 3. On June 14, the council will have a public hearing and is scheduled to adopt the budget.

Follow Patti Borda Mullins on Twitter @FNP_Patti

Brunswick going ahead with purchase of Potomac Street buildings

Wed, 11 May 2016 20:30:20 +0100

BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick City Council voted Tuesday in favor of spending $535,000 to buy two buildings on Potomac Street and considered a $4.5 million budget for next year.

Last month, the council discussed buying both 811 W. Potomac St., which is vacant, and 40-42 W. Potomac St., which houses the Brunswick Heritage Museum and Visitor Center.

The property at 811 W. Potomac belongs to the estate of Walter L. Engle and was slated for public auction before the council let the owners know of the city’s interest. The plan is to use it for the Department of Public Works and possibly for other expanded office uses.

In the public hearing, one person said he planned to attend the auction and the city deprived the public of a chance to buy the building, forcing the taxpayers to pay for it.

Councilman Ellis Burruss said the public had the same opportunity the city did to make an offer for the property at any time before the auction.

The contract price is $270,000.

The public works department is based at 600 Petersville Road on property with steep slopes. The property at 811 W. Potomac offers more than an acre of scarce level land, said Bob McGrory, the city administrator.

“This was a great opportunity for the city to purchase some flat ground,” he said.

Mayor Karin Tome estimated the development of more than 1,200 additional lots at Brunswick Crossing over the next several years, taking the city population from about 5,000 to 12,000. That will put further pressure on the public works and police departments to grow.

In March, the council tentatively agreed to buy 40-42 W. Potomac St. for $265,000. The plan is to lease it back to the Brunswick Potomac Foundation, which operates the museum. The museum and visitor center, which the city regards as a tourism and economic development centerpiece, has struggled financially. The foundation intends to buy back the building if possible.

Councilman Jeff Snoots was on vacation Tuesday. The remaining five councilmen voted to buy the two properties.

The five also voted to amend the fiscal 2016 budget to pay for them. Reserves are available to fund the purchases, McGrory said.

Budget talks begin

Next year’s $4.5 million proposed budget had its first public hearing Tuesday, and the council made some suggestions. Councilman Carroll Jones asked for some percentage of a cost-of-living raise to be included for employees.

The budget includes a 2.5 percent merit raise for civilian employees and a 2.5 percent step increase for police officers. The force has 12 officers now, and is budgeted to have 14.

Tome’s proposed city budget is 6.5 percent higher overall than this year’s, but proposes a drop in the tax rate from 46.2 to 44 cents per $100 of assessed value. A combination of increased income tax revenue, higher property assessments and new construction are expected to generate $221,300 more in tax revenue than this year, McGrory said.

The council will have public discussion of the budget in two more special meetings before it is scheduled to adopt a plan on June 14.

On May 18, the council is scheduled to set the tax rate and discuss the general fund. On June 3, the council is holding a special meeting to discuss the enterprise funds that apply to the public utilities.

Follow Patti Borda Mullins on Twitter: @FNP_Patti., May 10, 2016

Economic development up, taxes down in draft Brunswick budget

Wed, 11 May 2016 20:27:35 +0100

BRUNSWICK — On Tuesday, the Brunswick City Council will consider Mayor Karin Tome’s proposed $4.5 million budget, which includes double the spending for economic development and no tax-rate increase.

In the proposed fiscal 2017 general fund budget, Tome included, in the economic development department budget, $75,000 for a business loan program and $18,000 for Brunswick Main Street. The proposed $252,500 for economic development is more than double this year’s $121,200.

The rest of the increase for economic development comes from $36,600 in facade improvement grants, paid for by the Department of Housing and Community Development Community Legacy program.

The loan program is a strategy the council is considering to get vacant downtown properties filled. Financing has been cited as one of the obstacles hindering prospective businesses, said Bob McGrory, the city administrator.

“There’s a perceived need for some opportunity for capital financing,” he said.

If the program stays in the budget, loan eligibility, caps and payback terms would have to be set, he said.

Although Tome’s proposed city budget is 6.5 percent higher overall than this year’s $4.2 million plan, it proposes a drop in the tax rate from 46.2 to 44 cents per $100 of assessed value. Even with the lower tax rate, though, individual property owners may have to pay more, depending on their assessments.

A combination of increased income tax revenue, higher property assessments and new construction are expected to generate $221,300 more in tax revenue than this year, McGrory said.

Filling a vacant spot on the police force and adding an officer and a narcotics detection dog are part of a proposed 15 percent increase in the police department budget. In Tome’s draft, with 14 officers, a 2.5 percent step pay increase, and a dog, police costs will go up about $170,000.

The council will discuss next year’s budget at Tuesday’s meeting and is expected to adopt it June 7.

Follow Patti Borda Mullins on Twitter: @FNP_Patti. May 9, 2016