Bath Council appoints recorder and fills vacant seat
Six months after the municipal election in June, the Town of Bath finally has a full council chamber. Councilman Vince Kidwell volunteered to be the town’s recorder and the council appointed town resident Elizabeth Skinner to his vacated council seat.
Kidwell said he would take the position of recorder at the December 6 meeting. The council unanimously voted to appoint Skinner at the December 20 meeting after a brief interview.
Skinner said her and her husband bought a home in the Town of Bath about a year ago. They moved from Alexandria, Virginia where they both have worked in the Washington, D.C. area for the past 30 years.
She is a graduate of Condordia University Chicago and has a Masters Degree in Political Science from George Washington University.
“I am just anxious and excited to be able to become part of the community and contribute where I can,” Skinner said.
Town Clerk job interviews
Mayor Susan Webster said the town has received 36 applications for the position of town clerk. The Council will begin interviewing applicants in January.
The town has hired Bradley and Thomas Close, CPAs to manage the town’s finances during the transition period and expects to retain their services after a new town clerk is hired.
Grants and Resolutions
Former Councilman Ryan Rebant appeared before the council representing the Historic Landmarks Commission. He announced the commission has been awarded a $2,500 grant from the State Historic Preservation Office to conduct a seminar for citizens and real estate professionals on the benefits of buying historic buildings.
“It will help promote the historic properties in town,” Rebant said.
The town was recently awarded a state Transportation Enhancement Program grant of $304,264 to rehabilitate the train depot.
Rebant, also a member of the Train Depot Committee, reported on a conference call with state officials who advised him the town should not take possession of the CSX lot behind the train depot until after receiving the notice to proceed on the project.
That way the value of the lot may be used as matching funds against the grant, Rebant said.
The council passed two resolutions in support of two other grants.
Both are Governor’s Community Partnership grants; one for $2,000 for new computers and associated equipment for the Berkeley Springs Police Department and the other a $3,000 grant for new computers and a keyless entry system for the Berkeley Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
