EASTON, MD – The Easton Town Council passed a $17 million budget for FY 2013 Tuesday without any change in tax rates.
In a 4-0 vote, with Councilman Pete Lesher absent, the council passed the about $17 million budget that is about 8 percent less than last fiscal year’s budget. That decrease is mostly from a change in the method of accounting depreciation, Easton Mayor Robert C. Willey explained at a public hearing last month on the proposal.
That $17 million includes about a $2.6 million capital fund with at least two carryover projects at about $1.7 million transferring from the general fund. The town still faces sizable expenses in the next few years, such as $1.5 million for a new fire truck, about $500,000 for radio upgrades and about $1.2 million for road repairs at two places in town.
For the last fiscal year, however, the town finished several capital projects, including the Tanyard Branch stormwater project and handicap projects at several intersections. The upcoming fiscal year budget includes money for sidewalk extensions along Dutchmans Lane, with crosswalks planned at U.S. Route 50.
The US Postal Service (USPS) listened to complaints from Maryland politicians and now those same politicians are upset because the USPS evidently bought into their argument. Rather than keep the Easton processing plant open, it appears that mail for Maryland’s Eastern Shore will be going to the Hares Corner facility in New Castle, DE.
Let’s face it. Senators Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) didn’t want the Easton facility to close – at any cost. However, they (and a host of other Maryland politicians) couldn’t be so brazen as to say – “Don’t close Easton, we want that piece of pork to stay”. Instead, they argued that Eastern Shore businesses and consumers would suffer because heavy Bay Bridge traffic (or an occasional shut down) would delay mail if the work of the Easton plant was moved to Baltimore.
At the same time, the Hares Corner plant was also on the chopping block. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) didn’t want that plant closed any more than Cardin and Mikulski wanted Easton shuttered. The USPS is now looking at closing Easton and moving Eastern Shore mail sorting to Hares Corner. No potential Bay Bridge problems there.
Does anyone on the Maryland Shore want to see those jobs leave? Of course not. Unfortunately, the USPS simply can’t raise rates at will. They have too much competition in the digital age. They are saddled with union contracts that make them a high cost producer. Whether deserved or not, the Postal Service’s reputation for poor customer service is legend. They have to cut costs somewhere.
$6 per household per month.
EASTON, MD – Rates for Easton Utilities cable subscribers will see their rates rise $2.22 – $4.90 at the end of the month. Easton Utilities states that the cost increase is solely due to increased fees paid to cable networks and broadcast affiliates.
EASTON, MD – Three months after 13 year old Avery Monique Bechtel was struck by a car and killed, a crosswalk at Easton Parkway and Marlboro Road is complete. Bechtel, of St. Michaels, was struck by a car at the intersection around 9 PM on August 12th.
EASTON, MD – Visitors to this weekend’s 
EASTON, MD – At Monday evening’s Police Board meeting, the Easton Town Council gave preliminary approval to installing speed cameras in school zones within the town of Easton.
EASTON, MD – A public meeting has been schedule to discuss the possible closing of the US Postal Service processing facility in Easton. The meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, November 10 at 7PM. The meeting will be held at the Todd Performing Arts Center at Chesapeake College.
