Thurmont and Emmitsburg Officials Talk Local Effects

Ingrid Mezo

Officials from 157 municipalities throughout the state introduced three different legislative priorities they want state officials to address during an annual Maryland Municipal League (MML) meeting at The Cozy Restaurant in Thurmont. The priorities include increasing the percentage of state aid to pay for police services, electric aggregation, and giving municipalities the right to maintain their own light fixtures, so they can save by using energy efficient bulbs.

The State of Maryland used to pay for 10% of municipalities’ police costs, and now only pays 6.9%, Thurmont Mayor and Frederick County MML Chapter President Martin Burns said in an interview.

Thurmont Commissioner Wayne Hooper said during a phone interview that MML members did not hear much from state officials about increasing the amount of state aid to municipalities because state officials did not have the numbers available. But, Hooper said state officials told MML members they would get back to them about that initiative.

"I don’t know the actual increase Emmitsburg would receive, but I suspect not very much," Emmitsburg Mayor James Hoover said. "This legislation would be more helpful to municipalities that have their own police force.

But, I agree with the initiative."

In addition, Burns said that while Thurmont, which has a separate power company contract unlike many other municipalities throughout the state, would not directly benefit from allowing the state municipalities to place energy efficient bulbs in their street lamps, many of the town’s neighbors in the county, especially Frederick City, could realize a substantial savings.

"Our state law says you can’t get within 10 feet of electric lines," Burns said. So, with the current law on the books, electric companies can place the least efficient bulbs into street lamps, then charge municipalities the higher cost.

Hoover said this initiative would not have much of an effect on Emmitsburg’s budget since most of the town’s street lamps are only 10 feet tall, and not on wooden poles, nowhere near power lines.

"There [are] no cost savings or noticeable benefits that the town will receive or lose from the initiative," he said. "We already maintain most of our lights now."

The third proposal from municipal leaders is one that could have far-reaching effects, but it is unlikely to even come up for debate at the state level this session. Hooper said state officials did not express much optimism with regard to electrical aggregation.

"They said they were only one person, but that they would make sure the committee chair is willing to bring up [the issue] to the commission, because before, they wouldn’t even do that…," Hooper said. "I think that’s foolish because it’s a bill brought up, and it should at least be heard."

Burns said that though Thurmont, along with Front Royal, Williamsport, and Hagerstown has its own electric contract, electric aggregation would be very beneficial to town residents.

"If we were allowed to aggregate, we could, for example, bring in Emmitsburg and other municipalities throughout the state," Burns said. "Now we have millions of people to buy a better rate. The more customers you have, the more you can buy down the rate."

However, Burns said, "Nobody thinks this will even get out of committee this year." Instead, he said MML members were told state officials would spend a lot of time "fixing the FCC."

Hoover said he did not like the electric aggregation initiative because he would prefer it to be an "opt-in" instead of an "opt-out."