Dear Citizens of Harpers Ferry,

This is my last mayor’s message. I

conclude a decade of service to the Town. Thank

you for electing me mayor five times. It has been

an honor and privilege to serve as mayor of one of

the most historic towns in the United States.

We now have a new Mayor, Joe Anderson,

and three new members of the Harpers Ferry Town

Council: Betsy Bainbridge, Jerry Hutton and Greg

Vaughn. Two incumbents, Dan Riss and Charlotte

Thompson, were reelected by the voters. In

previous newsletters, I have called for civility and

moral discourse when addressing town issues.

With a new mayor and reconstituted council, we

have another chance at resolving the many problems facing the future of Harpers

Ferry.

The major problem is financial. Therefore, let us move together as a

community addressing this situation forthrightly and realistically. My neighbor,

John Van Vliet, said to me that, “Harpers Ferry today is at a major crossroad, such

as it faced when the Federal armory and arsenal were destroyed.” That is true. We

know that the metaphor for the armory is the future of the Hilltop House. Primarily,

the Town has voted for negotiation with the SWaN group. The “big bird” needs to

negotiate a smaller footprint for the hotel. We as a Town hold in our hands

potential increased revenue from business and occupation taxes, water and public

service district services and the resurrection of our town’s struggling business

district. My hope is that as all of us go forward it will be with civility and moral

discourse. We can disagree, but do so agreeably!

In the words of Ulysses S. Grant, uttered at the conclusion of the Civil War,

“Let us have peace!”

Farewell as mayor,

Jim Addy

June 2011 Volume 8 Issue 6

Calendar of events

Commission Vacancies 2 2

4th of July

Town election results 2 2

Police report

Tree Committee 3 3

Personal note

4th of July 4 3

Water Bill Notice

4

Community Garden

Music on the Ridge

4 4

Council meeting

Foundation letter 5 6

Inside this issue:

Harpers Ferry Town Election Canvass -

June 21, 2011 for the June 14, 2011

elections

Results

Mayor: Joe Anderson 107*

Bob Johnson 45

Recorder: Kevin Carden 103*

(unopposed)

Council: Betsy Bainbridge 93*

Greg Vaughn 93*

Jerry Hutton 92*

Dan Riss 77*

Charlotte Thompson 77*

Jim Jenkins 66

Pat Morse 65

Elayne Edel 60

Theresa Burns 13

* denotes elected

All ballots were validated as correct.

Calendar of Events All meetings in Town Hall are held in

meeting room, unless noted.

June 27– Landmarks 7PM

June 30– Tree Committee 7PM

July 2– Training on ethics and

parliamentary procedures. 10 AM

July 5– Planning 7PM– Public meeting

parking issues

July 6– Court 7PM

July 11– Council 7PM

July 12– Visioning Steering Committee

6PM

If you would like to help with the July

4th celebration at the Gazebo, please

call Cathy Burcham (President of the

Women’s Club)

304-535-6900

Water, Planning, and Library Board Vacancies There are 3 vacancies on the Water Commission, 3 vacancies on the Planning Commission and one vacancy on the Library Board. Please send a letter of interest to the Mayor by July 7.

The Mayor as well as all the Council members will be sworn in on July 1, 2011 at 7 PM.

Training for Council on Ethics and

Parliamentary procedures on Saturday

July 2, 2011 at 10:00 AM at Town Hall.

The Public is invited to attend.

Harpers Ferry Police Dept.

May 2011 Monthly Report

CITATIONS: 131 No evidence of registration 31 Failure to obtain WV operators 1

Expired/No MVI 16 Hazardous zone 1

Speeding 47 Improper/defective equipment 21

No Insurance 3 Possession 2

No operators 3 Stop sign 1

Driving suspended 5

Bolivar citations 93 Harpers Ferry citations 38

Complaints 48

Driving susp. 4 DUI 2 Domestic 2 Rec. stolen prop 1

MVA 1 Ambulance 3 Petit larceny 4 Disturbance 8

Harassment 2 Animal 1 Alarm 4 Juveniles 1

Civil 1 Possession 2 Suspicious act. 4 Enter w/o breaking 1

Bolivar complaints 30 Harpers Ferry complaints 11

Assisted with other departments: 7

The Harpers Ferry Tree Committee recently sent an email reminder to the community

to be aware of the current bagworm infestation in our trees and how to eliminate

them. This document can also be found on our website at www.hftrees.org.

The Tree Committee notes that a recent storm fell several

large trees in town. Most had been compromised by ivy

growing into their crowns. The Committee encourages

residents to cut ivy growing on any trees on their property to

avoid the eventual weakening of the trees.

July 4, 2011 The Traditional Harpers Ferry July 4th celebration will take place at noon. We will be

entertained by the Rohrersville Community Band. Soft drinks, Hot Dogs, and cookies

available at $1.00 each.

Community Garden

There is genuine interest in establishing a community garden on the town owned lot behind

town hall!

It would take organizers, residents willing to work the property and fundraise or donate labor

and materials such as fencing, lumber for raised beds and creating rules of operation. The

"Garden" would likely be comprised of individual plots for vegetables and or flowers.

Some interested residents have experience running community gardens and are interested in

participating here. This process would take time and effort. Please speak up if you are

interested in forming a community garden group to discuss ideas and the concept. All

comments are welcome. Please contact town hall with comments.

by Elayne Edel

A personal note This last year has been a time of change in town employees and finances. We have a relatively new staff at the

town offices and water plant. Under the leadership of Shauna Johnstone, our treasurer and director of

operations, I urge all of you to give full support to her as she has and continues to guide us through a

reorganized management system for the governance of Harpers Ferry.

Thanks,

Jim Addy

Music on the Ridge

The Second Summer series and the 4th Music on the Ridge concert was

held on 11 June 2011, in Harpers Ferry, Columbia and East Ridge Streets,

riverside.

June's concert featured Jazz, Folk and Rock music, food and drinks.

A big shout out of gratitude to all who helped make the concert event a

huge success!! The Town of Harpers Ferry for their financial contribution,

William and Pauline Stanhagen for again graciously hosting the event in

their yard, the Country Cafe for donating drinks and hot dogs, the HF

Woman's Club for working the door collecting donations and selling drinks

and hot dogs, Wayne Bishop who tirelessly works, organizes, performs,

and recruits additional performers. Thank you to all volunteer and paid performers and to all who attended, many for all 4 concerts.

The 5th Music on the Ridge will be announced soon. Hope to see you there!

This and previous concert donation proceeds benefit the Harpers Ferry Women's Club.

by Tess Bishop

Water Bill Notice:

Water Bills will be sent out on July 1, 2011 and will be due no later than July 21, 2011.

We are following the PSC rules where the bills are sent out the first of the month and

due the twenty first of the month.

Special Town Council Meeting June 21,2011 Town Council Approved

Minutes for 9 May 2011, 13 June 2011, and 16 June 2011

$5,000 approved for security windows in the Police and Town Hall reception areas. (see

below)

Josh Carter was approved as Water Plant Superintendent

Ed Johnson’s survey of the East Ridge area was certified per Town Council's

recommendations

Office chair presented to Mayor James A. Addy for a decade of service

Town Council Minutes

Because of the length of the May 9, June 13, and June 16, 2011 minutes, we have not

included details in the Newsletter. You can inspect those approved minutes at the counter at

the Town Hall Office.

The money expended for personnel security was part of a $50,000

Town Hall grant from the State of West Virginia. Security payment

windows have become necessary due to troublesome situations that

endangered the safety of our town clerks, and at the request of Chief

J.D. Brown.