Harpers Ferry converts stormwater task force into five-member stormwater committee

The Harpers Ferry Town Council voted July 14 to convert its ad-hoc stormwater task force into a formal stormwater committee and expand membership from three to five voting members to handle anticipated grant-driven work and planning.

Councilor Storm, who presented the proposal, explained the task force began in 2021 after Region 9 appointed a new stormwater specialist and produced a green infrastructure plan. The task force, which included the mayor or mayoral designee, a town council representative and a planning commission representative, recommended formalizing the body and expanding membership to two at-large Harpers Ferry residents, with the town finance officer serving as a nonvoting ex officio member.

Councilors discussed potential burdens on volunteers and the need to avoid overloading officials who serve on multiple committees. Storm said membership could include the mayor’s designee rather than the mayor personally, and noted the committee would create a charter and coordinate with Bolivar, the National Park Service and other partners on projects and grant applications. The motion to reconstitute the committee as proposed passed unanimously, 6-0.

Why it matters: Councilors said the committee will prepare and manage grant-funded projects, help produce a capital improvement plan and coordinate infrastructure work so the town does not repeat disruptive excavations. The committee is intended to be the central body for stormwater planning as infrastructure funding becomes available.

Next steps: The mayor or the mayor’s designee and the planning commission representative will serve initially; council directed staff to announce vacancies for the two at-large seats and to prepare a charter for council review.