New Chesapeake Beach Town Administrator Richard Rose, left, chats with Town Councilman Eric Reinhardt, right, prior to the start of the November council meeting.

Chesapeake Beach, MD – “We’re looking at this again to create contention,” Chesapeake Beach Town Councilman Eric Reinhardt affirmed.

The issue Reinhardt was referring to was the proposed use of $355,000 from the town’s unallocated General Fund reserves to perform repairs, renovations and improvements to Veterans’ Park.

The proposal has been the source of much acrimony, with three councilmembers—Reinhardt, Dr. Valerie Beaudin and Jeffrey Krahling—refusing to allow the plan to go forward.

The Nov. 20 meeting of the town council was preceded by a public hearing on a proposed ordinance to amend the town’s General Fund Budget for fiscal year (FY) 2015 and allocate money for the project.

“I can buy a house for $355,000,” declared town resident Joe Johnson during the hearing.

The size of the allocation, not the need for maintenance at the park that honors the military, war veterans and emergency responders, remains the source of disagreement among the councilmembers.

Councilman Stewart Cumbo said there appear to be “misconceptions of what we want to do to the park.”

The project proponents contend the $355,000 will give the park, which includes a water fountain and concrete benches, a refurbishment that will last for years. Cumbo said spending the $355,000 now “is the best bang for the buck. This will fix the problem. I think we have a bargain here.”

Krahling proposed an allocation of $20,000 to paint the park’s benches and adopt a strategy of seeking grant money to pay for other enhancements. “The park needs maintenance but not repair,” said Krahling, who explained he came up with the $20,000 estimate from conversations he has had with contract painters he knows. “I look at this as a compromise,” said Krahling. “It’s a maintenance project.”

Beaudin agreed with Krahling, adding that the $20,000 allocation “will buy us time” with the plan considered as a capital project in FY 2016. She observed that any capital projects at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, DC do not involve taxpayer money and Chesapeake Beach taxpayers shouldn’t be burdened either with enhancements to Veterans’ Park.

Councilman Robert Carpenter declared that the work needed at Veterans’ Park, “is more than just slapping paint on benches.” Noting the council’s gridlock on the issue prevented the work from being done in time for the recent 9/11 and Veterans Day ceremonies at the park, Carpenter added, “I only hope we can make it happen by Memorial Day.”

Councilman Patrick J. “Irish” Mahoney, who was chairing the meeting while Mayor Bruce Wahl attended a Maryland Municipal League function, said he would support the ordinance since the $355,000 allocation was approved during the FY 2015 budget process.

The vote on the issue was three in favor—Mahoney, Cumbo and Carpenter—two opposed—Beaudin and Krahling—and one abstention—Reinhardt. Since the measure needed four votes to pass the motion died.

“We’ll be back next month,” said Beaudin, in acknowledgement that the Veterans’ Park proposal will likely reappear as an agenda item next month. “I think enough has been said tonight.”

Comings and goings
The November Town Council meeting was the first for Town Administrator Richard Rose, who began his tenure with the Town of Chesapeake Beach Oct. 20.

During the Deputy’s Report, F/Sgt. Matt McDonough of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office announced he has been transferred out of the Twin Beaches Patrol. His replacement as the patrol’s commander will be F/Sgt. Dave Payne. Regarding law enforcement, Mahoney announced that Calvert County Sheriff Mike Evans has recommended adding another deputy to the Twin Beaches Patrol. The recommendation came after a discussion among Evans, Wahl and North Beach Mayor Mark Frazer, Mahoney stated.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com