Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Committee Washington Street Red Tape topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor forms two short‑term committees to study downtown street closure and 'red tape' for businesses
Summary
Mayor Martin signed executive orders creating a temporary 'Washington Street' study committee and a six‑month 'red tape' committee to examine pedestrianization options and administrative hurdles for businesses. The Washington Street committee will report by Sept. 1; the red‑tape group will report by early January 2026.
Mayor Martin announced at the July 7 meeting that he would form two temporary committees to study separate but related downtown issues: (1) whether portions of North Washington Street should be pedestrianized for events or permanently altered, and (2) whether city code, permits and administrative processes impose unnecessary burdens on prospective developers and businesses.
The mayor said the Washington Street committee will be chaired by Lori Orzowitz, tourism manager, and will solicit input from downtown merchants, the Chamber, the public and city departments. The committee will evaluate options ranging from weekend‑only closures and removable bollards for events, to permanent closures, and will report back with recommendations no later than Sept. 1, 2025. The mayor emphasized the committee will hold public meetings, be subject to the Open Meetings Act, and that council would have the final authority over any permanent changes.
A second temporary “red tape” committee will examine the city’s permitting, fee and inspection processes to identify provisions that are outdated, duplicative or stricter than state requirements. The mayor named Charlie Hyner (BCH Realty), Clark Turner (local builder), Jim Miller (former council member) and Scott Elliott (banking) as members, and said the committee will meet at least twice a month and report to the council at the first meeting in January 2026 with recommendations for streamlining procedures.
The mayor framed the effort as an attempt to balance customer‑facing economic development with the city’s obligation to enforce codes: “It’s very hard to get your hands around this perception,” he said, referencing concern that some prospective businesses perceive Havre de Grace as not business friendly. The committees will accept public comment and posted meeting schedules; any council action on recommendations would follow the committees’ reports.
Ending: The mayor signed the executive orders and directed staff to post committee schedules and solicit public input; council members can act on any recommendations the committees return.
