Council approves youth sailing summer camp; directors report holiday attendance and infrastructure repairs

The Havre de Grace City Council unanimously approved the Havre de Grace youth sailing program summer camp at its Dec. 15 meeting. Director Chris Ritchie presented the program schedule — June 15 through Aug. 7, 2026, daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Hutchins Memorial Park — and the measure passed on a motion and second with no recorded opposition.

In director reports Ritchie thanked staff and volunteers who organized Holly Jolly festivities and said Santaland attendance increased from 278 children last year to 346 this year during a four-day span. Director of Economic Development and Tourism Miss Johnson announced staffing changes (Alyssa Mahaffey starting Jan. 5) and listed remaining seasonal events (train garden, roaming carolers).

Director of Public Works Conway told council crews completed a significant overnight repair on a 20-inch force main with work adjacent to the main pump station on Lafayette Street and a secondary repair at Seneca and Bloomsbury; he warned nearby residents they may hear a large pump during the night. Director of Finance Mr. Abdi presented fund-balance updates: he reported the general fund balance decreased by $512,800 to $8,618,100 and summarized water/sewer and marina fund balances as up since the prior report. Some revenue figures in the transcript were unclear and should be confirmed in the official finance report.

Council members praised program staff and volunteers and closed the item with procedural directions to staff for implementation and onboarding where appropriate.