Salisbury council adopts an 'Adopt-a-Road' program; some council members object to process

The Salisbury City Council on June 16 voted to establish and adopt a citywide "Adopt-a-Road" program by passing resolution 3413, a measure the council labeled a directive for the city to implement a volunteer road-adoption program with safety guidelines and participation requirements.

The vote followed a lengthy discussion in which several council members said they had not received sufficient detail about the program before it reached the legislative agenda and asked that staff provide a fuller implementation document. "I'm not picking. But how are we supposed to adopt something if we don't know what we're adopting?" Councilwoman Jackson asked during debate, saying she and other members wanted more specifics to answer constituent questions.

City staff and supporters described the resolution as a nonbinding step to authorize the city to move forward with program development. "In particular with this piece of legislation, it is a resolution. It's more ceremonial in nature where it's saying that the city wants to adopt this program," a staff member explained, noting section 2 of the resolution directs the city to implement and administer the program and to include, but not be limited to, eligible roadways, safety guidelines and participation requirements.

Public commenters urged the council to adopt the program and described volunteer interest. "I can't wait to see what that's all about. I think that will be a great enhancement to our city and work to really get the trash, the weeds, and whatnots out of our city," resident Paula Donald told the council during public comment. Another resident, Dave Chittington, said volunteers already have helped organize cleanup work and only need some basic supplies from the city.

Supporters pointed to volunteer capacity and low cost. "There's nothing that we do as church people that are trying to disrupt a committee. We're just trying to help the city of Salisbury," Chittington said. Another resident, Mike Paretsky, said volunteers and local businesses have expressed interest in maintaining planters and other small public spaces.

Council members who wanted more detail said they expected staff would return with an implementation document, and several noted the matter could have been routed through a council work session for additional discussion before moving to the legislative agenda. "I believe in work sessions," resident Lynn Bratton said during public comment, suggesting that earlier review by council could have avoided the heated exchange.

The resolution passed on a voice vote. City staff said the resolution establishes the program framework and that staff will provide more complete program documents, safety guidelines and a list of eligible roadways and responsibilities for volunteers before implementation.

Ending: The council approved resolution 3413; staff will return with a program document and implementation details for council review.