The use of surveillance cameras to be investigated
November 23, 2009 By Kevin Dayhoff
http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2009/11/main-street-businesses-decry-public.html
The number one topic of recent discussions with downtown Westminster businesses was public safety, say Westminster officials.
The discussion and feedback come at a time when the flagging national economy continues to hurt local businesses and the city budget remains in dire straights.
Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz presented the Common Council with a number of recommendations that resulted from five Main Street roundtable discussions held by Westminster officials in the last two months.
The feedback from the Westminster Main Street businesses was the highlight the Westminster mayor and Common Council meeting last Monday.
“We have asked 35 businesses to attend five Main Street Roundtables over the past two months and I would like to summarize the discussions and put forth a series of recommendations for your consideration,” said Utz.
Utz then comprehensively reviewed a summary of the business roundtable findings and four recommendations.
A copy of the summary was given to the Westminster Eagle by Westminster city administrator Marge Wolf.
It reveals that the “business owners (have) requested more police presence, particularly when the stores are closing for the evening. The businesses owners would like to partner with the police department, reporting questionable activities and observations.”
“We need to have our residents and citizens feel comfortable being on Main Street,” said Utz as council members looked-on and nodded in approval.
As a result: “An officer has been assigned to patrol the Main Street area from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Additional officers will be assigned to patrol the area when businesses close.
“In addition, the (Westminster Police Department) will develop strategies to familiarize the merchants with both Command staff and patrol officers and will investigate the use of camera in strategic locations to assist the patrol officers,” Utz read from the report.
In a related problem, Utz noted that “The City of Westminster is also the County Seat for Carroll County and as such provides a wide range of social services in our town.
“This fact, coupled with the fact that the churches in the area are very magnanimous in providing additional services to this client group, results in groups of clients congregating in public areas.”
The recommendation offered at the meeting was that the “Mayor will convene a Roundtable with area church representatives to discuss possible solutions to this problem.”
Business owners also said at the roundtable discussions that many of the local shopkeepers “are not the property owners and, as group, they feel the landlords do not maintain the properties to even code standards.
“The rents are not affordable for most small businesses and the landlords are not willing to work with small businesses. Small businesses have special funding needs and need special assistance. The business owners supported the rental licensing of apartments as an avenue to improving properties to code standards.”
It was recommended that the city initiate “a revolving loan program … to provide low-interest loans to new businesses or businesses expanding in the Main Street area.”
The program would be undertaken by the Westminster Town Center Corporation, an organization developed a number of years ago to advance business interests in the city.
In addition it was recommended that city officials “Continue the work on the more stringent building maintenance code and maintain the timetable for implementation on July I, 2010.
“The Code Enforcement Officer will focus on the Main Street area in a concentrated effort to maintain not only the appearance but the health and safety standards in our Code.”
Marketing the downtown businesses was also the focus of concern: “The Roundtable participants offered a number of suggestions for increased activity on Main Street, including additional activities and events.
“The need for a solid marketing plan to promote the Westminster image was supported by a number of the participants.”
It was recommended that the city “Fund a marketing study for Main Street and consolidate our various promotional budget items into one line item to fund those marketing activities. Develop one brand and one coherent message to promote our downtown.”
It was not discussed at the meeting how the “marketing study” would be funded or whether or not the study would be done in-house or if an outside agency might be hired to do the job.
The final recommendation was that city officials “Continue the Main Street Roundtables on a monthly basis. Convene additional Roundtables with the property owners and church representatives to discuss various concerns expressed by the business owners.
“Continue to pursue the development of the Route 27 Corridor, former Westminster Inn, Stocksdale property and former Ain't that a Frame location to jumpstart the Main Street area and provide a destination for visitors and tourists.”
Look for updates to this and other stories about Westminster city government on our website, http://www.explorecarroll.com/.
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The number one topic of recent discussions with downtown Westminster businesses was public safety, say Westminster officials.
The discussion and feedback come at a time when the flagging national economy continues to hurt local businesses and the city budget remains in dire straights.
Westminster Mayor Kevin Utz presented the Common Council with a number of recommendations that resulted from five Main Street roundtable discussions held by Westminster officials in the last two months.
The feedback from the Westminster Main Street businesses was the highlight the Westminster mayor and Common Council meeting last Monday.
“We have asked 35 businesses to attend five Main Street Roundtables over the past two months and I would like to summarize the discussions and put forth a series of recommendations for your consideration,” said Utz.
Utz then comprehensively reviewed a summary of the business roundtable findings and four recommendations.
A copy of the summary was given to the Westminster Eagle by Westminster city administrator Marge Wolf.
It reveals that the “business owners (have) requested more police presence, particularly when the stores are closing for the evening. The businesses owners would like to partner with the police department, reporting questionable activities and observations.”
“We need to have our residents and citizens feel comfortable being on Main Street,” said Utz as council members looked-on and nodded in approval.
As a result: “An officer has been assigned to patrol the Main Street area from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Additional officers will be assigned to patrol the area when businesses close.
“In addition, the (Westminster Police Department) will develop strategies to familiarize the merchants with both Command staff and patrol officers and will investigate the use of camera in strategic locations to assist the patrol officers,” Utz read from the report.
In a related problem, Utz noted that “The City of Westminster is also the County Seat for Carroll County and as such provides a wide range of social services in our town.
“This fact, coupled with the fact that the churches in the area are very magnanimous in providing additional services to this client group, results in groups of clients congregating in public areas.”
The recommendation offered at the meeting was that the “Mayor will convene a Roundtable with area church representatives to discuss possible solutions to this problem.”
Business owners also said at the roundtable discussions that many of the local shopkeepers “are not the property owners and, as group, they feel the landlords do not maintain the properties to even code standards.
“The rents are not affordable for most small businesses and the landlords are not willing to work with small businesses. Small businesses have special funding needs and need special assistance. The business owners supported the rental licensing of apartments as an avenue to improving properties to code standards.”
It was recommended that the city initiate “a revolving loan program … to provide low-interest loans to new businesses or businesses expanding in the Main Street area.”
The program would be undertaken by the Westminster Town Center Corporation, an organization developed a number of years ago to advance business interests in the city.
In addition it was recommended that city officials “Continue the work on the more stringent building maintenance code and maintain the timetable for implementation on July I, 2010.
“The Code Enforcement Officer will focus on the Main Street area in a concentrated effort to maintain not only the appearance but the health and safety standards in our Code.”
Marketing the downtown businesses was also the focus of concern: “The Roundtable participants offered a number of suggestions for increased activity on Main Street, including additional activities and events.
“The need for a solid marketing plan to promote the Westminster image was supported by a number of the participants.”
It was recommended that the city “Fund a marketing study for Main Street and consolidate our various promotional budget items into one line item to fund those marketing activities. Develop one brand and one coherent message to promote our downtown.”
It was not discussed at the meeting how the “marketing study” would be funded or whether or not the study would be done in-house or if an outside agency might be hired to do the job.
The final recommendation was that city officials “Continue the Main Street Roundtables on a monthly basis. Convene additional Roundtables with the property owners and church representatives to discuss various concerns expressed by the business owners.
“Continue to pursue the development of the Route 27 Corridor, former Westminster Inn, Stocksdale property and former Ain't that a Frame location to jumpstart the Main Street area and provide a destination for visitors and tourists.”
Look for updates to this and other stories about Westminster city government on our website, http://www.explorecarroll.com/.
-30-
*****
Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/
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