Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ordinance Review topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ordinance Review Committee mission approved; council advances several ordinance tasks including garage‑sale rules and sign guidance
Summary
The council approved an amended mission statement for its Ordinance Review Committee, advanced a first reading of new garage‑sale rules and referred several ordinance matters — including a proposed trans‑jurisdictional planning notification, appointment-process harmonization, electronic minutes, and sign/wayside marker rules — to the ORC for draft
The Harpers Ferry Town Council approved an amended mission statement for the Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) and moved several ordinance-focused items to the ORC for drafting and analysis.
Council adopted the ORC mission statement with an amendment that makes the town recorder an automatic committee member and clarified the committee’s scope and the recorder’s role; the motion carried 6-1. Council members debated whether the ORC should be composed primarily of council members or include more resident members; the council opted to keep ORC membership largely within council ranks but directed the committee to consult with outside experts where helpful.
On code amendments, council approved first reading of an ordinance to amend Article 7-35 (garage sales), which sets definitions and a limit on the frequency of sales (no more than one in any 30‑day period) while keeping the process simple and free for residents. The first reading passed 7-0.
Council also referred to ORC for drafting and review: a proposed ordinance to allow cross‑jurisdictional notification and collaboration with neighboring Bolivar’s planning commission on projects that may affect both towns; harmonization of appointment procedures across town commissions and committees (to resolve inconsistencies between existing provisions); and amendments to permit electronic records and electronic signatures for commission minutes and documents (removing a requirement for physically signed hard copies). The council additionally asked ORC to explore rules or guidance for interpretive wayside markers and historic signage on private residential and business properties, responding to a BZA request noting the current sign code prohibits signs not explicitly allowed.
Council members indicated these referrals are exploratory: ORC will research model ordinances, consult stakeholders and counsel, and return proposed ordinance language for first reading.
