Sharpsburg Mayor and Council approve FY25 audit, adopt historic tax-credit MOU and approve local repairs and programs

The Sharpsburg Mayor and Council on Nov. 3 approved the town's FY25 financial audit, adopted a memorandum of understanding to make property owners in the town eligible for Washington County's Historic Preservation Tax Credit program, and approved several local maintenance and community-program items.

Erin Clark of auditing firm SEK presented the FY25 Annual Financial Audit to the council, reporting that the Town's General Fund showed a net favorable budget variance of $140,522. Clark said total expenditures showed an unfavorable variance of $30,761 (about 4% of the $809,509 budgeted expenditures), primarily because the town had not budgeted for water rebates paid to residents or debt service on a construction line of credit. Clark reported total revenues had a favorable variance of $171,283 (about 22% of the $776,080 budgeted revenues), driven by recognition of more grant funds than budgeted (including ARPA funds and a county grant that had been considered unearned in the prior year), higher contribution revenue and increased interest income. She reported the town's capital assets at fiscal year-end were $957,223, with restricted funds including $47,388 for hotel/motel and $85,599 for highway user revenues and $528,712 in unrestricted funds, for a total net position of $1,618,922.

On a motion by Councilmember Robbie Waters, seconded by Councilmember Anne-Marie McCullough, the council voted to approve the FY25 audit as presented.

The council also adopted Resolution 2025-003, authorizing the town to enter the Memorandum of Understanding required to participate in Washington County's Historic Preservation Tax Credit eligibility program. The zoning administrator had prepared the resolution after the county's 1990 ordinance was repealed and reenacted in 2024 to expand eligibility to qualified municipalities that execute the MOU. The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Councilmember Robbie Waters and seconded by Vice Mayor Jacob Martz; the motion carried.

Other approved items included a proposal from Mayor Weaver to convert an unimproved alley between Antietam Street and Garrison Alley into a pedestrian walkway with interpretive placards coordinated with the Antietam Institute; that motion (moved by Councilmember Heather Waters, seconded by Councilmember Anne-Marie McCullough) was approved. The council approved a quote of $850 from R.W. Services to grade the culvert area between the EMS building and 112 W. Chapline St. to improve drainage; the motion to approve the Chapline Street culvert work was recorded as carrying with Councilmembers Heather Waters and Robbie Waters abstaining. The council voted to re-open the Hometown Hero Banner Program with a limit of 40 banners restricted to veterans and service members from the Sharpsburg Elementary School district (motion by Councilmember Robbie Waters, second by Vice Mayor Jacob Martz).

The council also discussed a council seat vacancy arising in mid-August with an unexpired term through 2026. After considering options—interviewing applicants, advertising for applicants, or leaving the seat to be filled at the 2026 election—the council voted, on motion by Councilmember Robbie Waters seconded by Councilmember Heather Waters, to wait for the 2026 election and let voters fill the seat.

The meeting concluded with routine approvals of minutes and the October financial report and adjourned at 7:25 p.m.

What happens next: the zoning variance hearings mentioned in the meeting (Town Historic Park sign and St. Paul's Episcopal Church sign) are scheduled for Nov. 19; town staff will proceed with the approved culvert work and the banner program sign-up process.