Residents press Hampstead on Roberts Field dam work; county, Fish and Wildlife to join July town hall

Residents told the Mayor and Council they are concerned about planned changes to the Roberts Field stormwater facility and the effect on wildlife and neighborhood access. The council and staff responded that the project responds to regulatory dam-safety requirements and that county and federal partners will participate in community outreach.

During public comment a resident described the pond as "a pillar of our community" and asked whether the new plans would preserve fish and wildlife. Jim (town staff) responded: "We're gonna have to move basically, you'll see on the plan. We gotta move the pond back. It's gonna be deeper. It's gonna have fish and all and we're gonna basically, you know, take the wildlife, put it in a new pond." He said funding partners include Carroll County resource-management programs, and that the state's MDE has designated the existing earthen dam a higher-hazard structure that requires remediation.

Why this matters: The project involves a locally valued recreation area and three earthen dams; residents want clarity about wildlife, fishing access and schedule, while regulatory agencies require safety upgrades.

Key meeting details: - Town hall scheduling: Staff proposed three possible dates for a public meeting at town hall (July 9, July 16 and July 22) and said the county would attend. Staff said they would widely publicize the chosen date via social media, the town website and posted signage. - Agency involvement: Jim and other staff listed Fish and Wildlife, Carroll County Bureau of Land Resources, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as participants in the project. Staff said Fish and Wildlife had signed off and that county resource-management programs supply some of the stormwater-management funding. - Project approach: Staff described moving and deepening the pond, capturing and relocating fish and wildlife where necessary, and scheduling some work for cooler months (staff said fish removal was shifted to fall to protect fish). Staff emphasized they would show engineers'prepared site plans and schematics at the upcoming town hall; handouts and schematic drawings were available on the back table at the meeting.

Public outreach and next steps: Staff said they would hang signs at the pond, post on social media, and distribute meeting notices; at least one resident and a homeowners association representative urged targeted door-hanger outreach to adjacent properties as well.

Ending: Staff urged residents to attend the July town hall for detailed renderings and for county staff to answer technical questions; no formal council action on the Roberts Field work was taken at the meeting.