SPRING CLOSING SOUGHT
FREDERICK -- Frederick County officials are renewing efforts to convince CSX Railroad to close a contaminated spring near Mount Airy that is apparently being used by some people for drinking water.
The spring, which health officials say is contaminated with fecal coliform bacteria, ison CSX property.
The county commissioners said Tuesday that they will ask their health officer, James Bowes, to ask for the state secretary of the environment's aid in forcing the railroad to close the spring. Previous requests have gone unanswered, the county said.
While the county officials have tried to stop people from using the water for three years, efforts to provide a replacement have been defeated by the commissioners.
County Public Works Director Robert Hayes said Tuesday that he will make plans to dig a community well in the area at a cost of$40,000 to $60,000.
But Commissioners Bruce Reeder and Sue Ann Yingling said they don't believe the residents want the county to provide water.
Reeder said he isn't aware of anyone getting sick from the spring.
PLANNERS REVIEW DISTRICT
WESTMINSTER -- City planners said Thursday they want a complete list of standards for the proposed historic district ordinance before they can make a recommendation on the measure to the City Council.
At their regular monthly meeting, members of the city Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed a second draft of the proposed ordinance, which would introduce building and renovation restrictions for structures in a designated area of downtown.
The measure is intended to preserve the historical character of the area.
The draft ordinance was developed by the Historic District Committee, which also submitted a list of standards to establish which types of building and renovation activities should be subject to review.
The standards list was not intended to be complete, said committee chairman Dean Camlin, but rather was meant to offer examples of the possible scope of the measure.
OnThursday, planning commission members said they'd like to see a complete list of standards before making a final recommendation.
"I don't know how we can recommend it without having all the standards," said Councilman Stephen R. Chapin Sr., the council's liaison to the planning commission.
Camlin said the Historic District Committee would compile a complete list of standards for the ordinance and submit it to the planners.
The planning commission is reviewing the proposed ordinance and will make a recommendation on it to the City Council, most likely early next year.
The proposed area for designation as a historic district is a roughly half-square-mile centered on the downtown Main Street business district. The proposed boundaries were based on the area that earned designation of the National Register ofHistoric Places several years ago.
TRUANCY PLAN APPROVED
The Carroll Board of Education has endorsed a pilot truancy program that would allow police officers to issue citations for students caught skipping school.
Edwin L. Davis, director of pupil services and staff development, said the program, which would be piloted in Frederick and Carroll counties, would not eliminate truancy but would provide educators with another tool in combating chronic absenteeism.
Although the program would allow police officers to issue citations for truancy, the school system would determine whether an unlawful absence occurred, school officials have said.
The Frederick school board has already approved that district's participation and is seeking a sponsor among the county's legislative delegation to write a bill authoringthe program.
The Carroll board plans to ask the county legislative delegation to co-sponsor the bill. School officials hope to kick off the program, sponsored by the Maryland Community Crime Prevention Institute of the Police Training Commission, in September.
"I'm glad to see we're going to be a part of the project," said board vice president Cheryl A. McFalls.
CLASS SIZE REPORTED
The Carroll school staff's annual report on classroom size showed the district lost someground since last year.
As of Sept. 30, 1991, the average elementary class size is 25.03 students, up from last year's figure of 24.89. School staff reported there are 62 classes with more than 30 students. That figure, however, is down from 63 classes last year.
At the middle school level, the average class size is 27.9 students, up from 26.5 the previous year. The number of classes with 30 or more students is 335, down from 351 the year before.
The average class sizein the county's five high schools is 23.7 students, up from 23.9 theyear before. However, the number of classes with 30 or more studentsis 284, up from 235 in 1990-1991.
"We lost a little ground in some areas, we picked up in others," said Brian L. Lockard, assistant superintendent of instruction.
Superintendent R. Edward Shilling said because of a growing elementary enrollment, the staff has reallocated staff from the high school and middle school to elementary schoolsthe past several years. That, he said, has contributed to larger class sizes in secondary schools.
He said the district was fortunate to add some teaching positions this fiscal year, despite a budget crunch, with the opening of two new schools -- Spring Garden and Piney Ridge elementaries.
Said board Vice President Cheryl A. McFalls: "Idon't see us getting any better with budget cuts. There is no easy solution."
LUNCH COUNT GIVEN
Some Carroll schools reported slight decreases in student participation in free and reduced meals in November, compared to the month before.
At Taneytown Elementary School, for example, 263 reduced meals were served in November, compared with353 in October. Average daily participation was 14.61, down from 15.35 or .74 percent.
Overall, participation in November was down 6.39 percent from October, school staff reported. However, the staff noted there were five more serving days in October than November.
Theschool board has asked the staff to monitor student participation the free and reduced lunch program. Board members have been concerned that recent state-initiated price increases -- caused by state cuts inthe program -- would lower participation.
NEW HEALTH CARD
The Carroll school board endorsed a new teen health card, one without some of the controversial wording about birth control that angered some parents.
"This is a great improvement," said board Vice President Cheryl A. McFalls.
The board, on a 3-2 vote in June, asked the staff to create a new card after parents objected to passages, such as "parental permission is not required for birth control or V.D. (venereal disease) services" and "3 for free -- free condoms available on walk-in basis."
Under state law, minors do not require parental permission to obtain those services. The card is supported by the Governor'sCouncil on Adolescent Pregnancy and the Maryland State Department ofEducation.
The new card will be printed on business size cards sothat teens could easily carry them in their wallets. The first side of the card gives health department services and the reverse side lists community agencies and resources.
ETHIC PANEL REAPPOINTED
The board reappointed the five county residents to its Ethics Panel. They were: B. Jay McNamara of Westminster, chairman; the Rev. Paul L. Groff of the Westminster Ministerial Association; Jesse Herndon of the Carroll County Council of PTAs; Linda Holmes of the League of Women Voters of Carroll County, and Frank Wanken of the Carroll County Chamberof Commerce.
BOARD ENCOURAGES RALLY
Carroll board members and staff encouraged teachers and parents to attend a planned Jan. 8 rally in Annapolis.
The school is arranging bus transportation for the trip. Participants will be asked to pay a fee for the transportation. The school staff doesn't want to use taxpayer dollars for the trip.
Superintendent R. Edward Shilling noted that although the board and staff are encouraging rally participation, they are not endorsing a planned work-to-rule action set for Jan. 8 through 10 by the Carroll County Education Association.
COUNCIL TO MEET
HAMPSTEAD -- The Hampstead Town Council will meet at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow to discuss bids received for repairs to the town pool.
Other business will include:
* Selecting new dates for the January 20 and February 17 town Council meetings, which fall on the birthdays of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and George Washington, respectively.
*A roll call vote for acceptance of zoning ordinance 226.
DELL CALLS BUDGET 'CRAZY'
The commissioners are "groping around in the dark" dealing with Gov. William Donald Schaefer's latest budget-cutting proposal, and they don't expect to see the light any time soon.
"We're really dealing with a crazy, mixed-up mess this time," said Commissioner President Donald I. Dell. "We're really groping around in the dark."
The commissioners have met once since Schaefer announced Tuesday that the county would face cuts of up to $3.7 million as the state grapples with a new $225 million shortfall.
The governor's proposal leaves each county and Baltimore the right to choose where cuts will be made. Dell said the commissioners were looking at furloughs and salary reductions for the county's 611 employees.
"Nothing is final yet," he said. The commissioners are expected to meet with county budget Director Steven D. Powell early this week to discuss the budget.
Dell said that, unlike the five previous rounds of cuts, thistime, county departments would probably not be asked where cuts can be made.
"We will probably be making more of the decisions this time," Dell said. "It's getting to be a real puzzle."
ZONING CHANGE REJECTED
MOUNT AIRY -- A proposal to change zoning on a 13.3-acre site zalong South Main Street and Route 27 probablywill not get the recommendation of the town's Planning and Zoning Commission.
The commission, which meets tomorrow night, will offer its views on the proposal to rezone the Merridale Gardens Limited Partnership property on South Main Street from community commercial to high-density residential, according to town planner Teresa Bamberger.
The rezoning, if it were granted, could pave the way for as many as104 housing units, Bamberger said.
Merridale can appeal a denial of the zoning change to the town's Board of Appeals.
CHIMNEY REPAIRS NEEDED
The county Department of Public Works has received four proposals for repairing and restoring the landmark chimney in downtown Westminster that was built more than 50 years ago as part of a whiskeydistillery business.
Two proposals for restoration of the chimneytowering above the Barrel House, which houses the Carroll Departmentof Social Services on Distillery Drive, range from $35,000 to $43,000, said Keith Kirschnick, assistant public works director, in a meeting last week with the county commissioners.
Two other proposals recommended tearing down part of the chimney and range from $30,000 to $35,000, he said.
Kirschnick said he would discuss the matter withWestminster Mayor W. Benjamin Brown before making any decisions.
"We don't need an immediate decision," he said.
Water seepage has caused expansion in the huge chimney and affected its structural quality.
Commissioner Julia W. Gouge said she'd like to see the historic structure preserved.
COUNTY NEEDS SURVEY
The Maryland Historical Trust has identified Carroll as one of the Maryland counties most in need of a comprehensive survey of historic sites.
"The county has one of the densest groupings of historic structures," said Marcia Miller, administrator of architectural research with the historical trust, at a meeting with the county commissioners last week.
"Peoplethink of the county in terms of its landscape and country atmosphere," said Miller, a graduate of Liberty High School in Eldersburg. "I know we're in difficult times financially, but it's extremely important. We can't let quality of life issues suffer."
The commissioners are considering applying for a grant that would provide money to complete a survey of historic structures, such as churches, farm buildings and railroad stations, in the county. Some work has been done in piecemeal fashion throughout the 1980s, but the job is incomplete. The information would be integrated into a computer model to be used in planning and development reviews.
The maximum grant is $40,000. Thecounty must match a grant.
"We feel the county is in desperate need," said Miller. "It's one of our high priorities.
YOUR COUNTY GOVERNMENT
The current County Commissioners are:
* President Donald I. Dell: R; Westminster, term ends 1994, home telephone 848-5486.
* Vice President Elmer C. Lippy Jr.: D; Manchester, term ends 1994, home telephone 239-8358.
* Secretary Julia W. Gouge: R; Hampstead, term ends 1994, home telephone 239-3119.