Port Deposit council approves ARPA funds to add sidewalk to 43 S. Main stormwater project

The Port Deposit Town Council voted Aug. 5 to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to add a sidewalk at 43 S. Main Street as part of a broader stormwater-improvement project.

Town Administrator Vicky Rinkerman presented maps prepared by Frederick Ward showing how the sidewalk could be incorporated into the stormwater work, and said "the property owner's contribution would be $2,500." Deputy Mayor Brown moved the funding motion and Councilman Berlin seconded; the council voted unanimously to approve the ARPA expenditure.

Council members and staff discussed who will be responsible for the new sidewalk and clarified that the owner would make the contribution; the council's approval folded the sidewalk into the stormwater contract rather than pursuing a separate private installation. The motion carried with all council members present voting in favor.

The decision follows other ongoing capital and streetscape work in town: Rinkerman also updated the council on MDOT impact-determination materials and on nine pending landscape and streetscape grant applications for property owners. Letters will be sent to property owners whose projects are approved, some of which will be fully funded by the town and others partially funded.

The next procedural step will be to finalize contract details and incorporate the sidewalk work into the overall stormwater project schedule and budget; the council did not specify a completion date during the meeting.