Council approves bond counsel, water leak insurance, food pantry building kit and MES budget amendment

The Frostburg City Council voted unanimously at its meeting to approve four resolutions that advance the city’s sewer projects, change residential leak-adjustment administration, fund a food-pantry building kit and authorize a contract amendment for water-treatment expenses.

Resolution 2025‑07 approves an engagement letter with McGuireWoods LLP to serve as bond counsel for loans and loan-forgiveness work tied to upcoming combined‑sewer‑overflow (CSO) projects and to prepare ordinances needed for an MDE (Maryland Department of the Environment) loan closing. The council approved a not‑to‑exceed fee of $50,000 for the engagement. The agenda presentation said the next CSO phases (noted in the meeting as CSO phase 10b and 10c, with 10b near Cemetery Lane) are each estimated at about $3,000,000 and that roughly half of the loan pieces could be forgiven when grant/forgiveness terms are applied. The finance presenter said the ordinance draft would be prepared for introduction in April with final consideration in June and a bond closing planned after July.

Resolution 2025‑08 authorizes an agreement with ServLine for a residential leak‑protection insurance product to replace the city’s current residential leak adjustment process. The program would be offered on an opt‑out basis at $1.70 per household per month and provide up to $1,000 of coverage; the change would take effect July 1, 2025, if implemented. The council was told the city would keep the existing leak‑adjustment policy for multi‑unit and commercial properties and that the city could discontinue the ServLine arrangement later by amending the ordinance without penalty.

Resolution 2025‑09 approves a sole‑source purchase of a building kit from Kaufman Metals for the Frostburg Food Pantry building project on a city‑owned lot at the end of Water Street. The recommended contract amount for the kit is $44,402.40. The council noted that part of the project funding has been earmarked by local philanthropic partners, including the Prosper Foundation and Foundation for Frostburg.

Resolution 2025‑10 authorizes a contract/budget amendment in the amount of $118,384.86 to cover additional costs Maryland Environmental Service (MES) has incurred at the water treatment plant, including a time‑sensitive replacement of carbon exchange filters. Presentations to the council described sharp chemical‑cost increases that contributed to the amendment; MES expected some offsetting savings later in the year and the city has recognized increased water revenue tied to continued supply to a neighboring area.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 2025‑07 (engage McGuireWoods LLP for bond counsel related to MDE water‑quality loan): approved unanimously (aye vote by Mayor Doxen and Commissioners Ritchie, Groves and Forsyth). - Resolution 2025‑08 (ServLine residential leak‑protection program, opt‑out at $1.70/month): approved unanimously. - Resolution 2025‑09 (Kaufman Metals building kit for Frostburg Food Pantry): approved unanimously. - Resolution 2025‑10 (authorize $118,384.86 MES contract/budget amendment for water treatment plant costs): approved unanimously.

Council discussion on each item was brief and focused on implementation details: the CSO/bond‑counsel item included a timeline to ordinance introduction and closing steps; staff said the ServLine product would reduce administrative burden and that informational mailings would go out in April so residents could opt out before July billing; the food‑pantry purchase noted local fundraising support; and the MES amendment was presented as a time‑sensitive operational need tied to higher chemical usage and filter replacement.