Response to Letter to the Editor

To the editor: As the current mayor of Rock Hall, I am writing in response to Art Kendall's recent letter to the editor in which he announced his mayoral candidacy and referred to "turmoil" in town government. Due to this serious charge, I feel compelled to reply.

Regarding town finances, Rock Hall currently faces the same challenges of municipalities throughout Maryland and nationwide as state and federal resources have become more and more scarce and competitive. To be specific, both highway user funds and grant-in-aid monies - totaling approximately $200,000 a year are no longer dispersed to local municipalities, despite these reductions in available funding sources, Rock Hall has undertaken and completed numerous infrastructure projects, including replacement and upgrading of a deteriorated water line on Catholic Avenue, the installation of a new Town well and water clarifier, and the rebuilding of two sewer pump stations. A new $40,000 utility billing software system will be implemented in the near future.

In addition to the replacement of aging infrastructure, the Town has also undertaken major revitalization initiatives to help strengthen the local economy. With the assistance of a Town grant writer, Rock Hall applied for and was designated as a Sustainable Community, thus opening the doors for numerous funding opportunities with the State Department of Housing and Community Development. Revitalization grants to-date have totaled approximately $300,000.

Other accomplishments have included a reduction in the crime rate, and a major initiative to promote drug awareness and education.

Regarding the Town's relationship with the local Bank, we take seriously their recommendation that the Town increase revenues to balance out expenses, and we continue to have a strong and cooperative working relationship with them. We continue to explore ways to address budgetary concerns, and while an "easy fix" would be to raise taxes on our citizens, a majority of Council members are committed to first pursuing and exhausting every other possible option.

In conclusion, I am proud of the many accomplishments of the Mayor and Council during my tenure, and I am sorry that Mr. Kendall chose to resign from his Council position, in the middle of his appointed term, when he determined that his opinions and viewpoints were not often in the majority.