Published: July 18, 2008 11:53 pm         

City ordinance should free up parking for permanent residents around FSU

The Frostburg mayor and council approved an ordinance Thursday that, although not a major problem, should free up at least some on-street parking for year-round residents near the Frostburg State University campus.

Until the new ordinance passed, homes could be purchased by the parents of college students who would put the name of their offspring on the deed. Consequently, even though other, nonrelated students would share the house — including paying rent and cooking meals — the dwelling would not fall into the student-rental category, a category which requires that off-street parking be available.

The new ordinance changes that by defining boarders as people who sleep there, but do not partake of meals at the home.

“This hasn’t been a big problem, just cropping up in a couple places, but we wanted to deal with it,” said City Administrator John Kirby.

In other business at the public meeting Thursday the city:

• Supported an application for a state grant of $12,000 by FrostburgFirst to fund rear facade improvements near the new Mechanic Street parking lot.

• Approved the purchase of a police cruiser, which will be partially paid for with $13,750 grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

• Proposed real estate tax incentives for qualifying use of homes. The incentives will be included in the September application to state sources for establishment of an arts and entertainment district.

• Approved $21,725 in change orders for the ongoing combined sewer and storm water overflow project on Ormand Street.

Contact Michael A. Sawyers at msawyers@times-news.com.