Harpers Ferry News and Events

On 24 August 2019, the Town Council of the Corporation of Harpers Ferry heard testimony and received evidence in the trial of Case v. Johnson, No. 2019-HFTC-01, contesting the 2019 Harpers Ferry municipal elections. On 11 September, the Town Council issued its majority opinion and order. The case has since been appealed to the Jefferson County Circuit Court. The following is a timeline of the proceedings of the case. Note: Click the links below to access judicial orders and other documents.

• 24 August: The hearing tribunal was held (Case v. Johnson, No. 2019-HFTC-01). A full transcript of the hearing is available for review.
• 11 September: Majority Opinion and Official Order issued by the Town Council.
• 16 September: Dissenting Opinion issued by Recorder Kevin Carden and Councilmember Jay Premack.
• 27 September: Petition for Appeal filed at Jefferson County Circuit Court (Case v. Corporation of Harpers Ferry, No. 19-P-136.)
• 1 October: Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Expedited Briefing Schedule filed.
• 2 October: Order Setting Hearing and Briefing Schedule issued by the Circuit Court.
• 28 October: Oral arguments to be heard before Circuit Court Judge Debra McLaughlin.

Further updates will be posted as they occur.

Interested persons are invited to share written comments concerning proposed changes to MARC Train Brunswick Line service to West Virginia. These changes would reduce the current schedule from three trains each morning and evening down to one single train in the morning and one in the evening. Proposed changes would be implemented beginning Monday, 4 November 2019. Maryland MTA will accept written comments on the proposed changes through Monday, 7 October 2019. Comments may be submitted as follows:

• Visit this page (click the link) to download and print the comment form.
• Mail comments to: MDOT MTA MARC Train, 1600 Ludlow St, Bldg 7, Baltimore MD  21230.
• Comments may also be emailed to HearingComments@mdot.maryland.gov, with "Hearing Comments" as the subject heading.

For comments to become part of the public hearing record, please include your name and address.

SWaN Investors submitted several requested economic and fiscal impact documents to the Town Council as part of the negotiations between the two parties on use of public streets and rights-of-way. The following documents have been posted here for public review:

• An "estimated fiscal impact of the Hill Top House Hotel specific to Harpers Ferry"
• A report on the state and local impacts of the Hill Top House Hotel project
• Agreements and options for use of public streets and rights-of-way
• An email was also published with further information of interest.

On 7 June 2019, the firm TischlerBise released a "Review of Hill Top House Hotel, Fiscal Impact and Valuation Assessment Data" (click on the link to access). This document, commissioned by Town Council, reviews the estimated fiscal impact study referenced above.

Hard copies of all these documents may be reviewed at Harpers Ferry Town Hall upon request. Additionally, a professional appraisal report is available for review at Town Hall.

During a special meeting on Wednesday, 22 August 2018, the Town Council heard from a number of residents of Harpers Ferry, Jefferson County, and surrounding areas concerning the proposed Rockwool production facility in Jefferson County. Following action by Council, an official statement was released and sent to stakeholders, including Roxul USA, the Jefferson County Commission, the City of Ranson, the City of Charles Town, the Corporation of Bolivar, the Corporation of Shepherdstown, the Jefferson County Board of Education, and the Jefferson County Development Authority (JCDA). In addition, Council directed the Corporation of Harpers Ferry's official representative on the JCDA Board to vote in opposition to any proposed bonds that would support infrastructure to the proposed facility site.

The official statement from the Corporation of Harpers Ferry can be read in its entirety here. A summary statement has also been released, which can be read here.

The Corporation of Harpers Ferry is actively seeking volunteers to serve on the following boards of the Town government:

• Board of Zoning Appeals (one alternate vacancy)
• Planning Commission (three vacancies)
• Tree Committee (two vacancies)
• Water Commission (two vacancies)

Those individuals interested in seeking appointment to any of these committees should send a letter of interest to Recorder Kevin Carden (recorder@harpersferrywv.us).

After conducting a public hearing on 22 February 2018, the Town Council approved the second and final reading of Ordinance 2017-09, which increases water rates in two steps. The first step of an increase of 5% on water service rates only (not sewer service) went into effect at the 1 June 2018 billing.

The second step, a 29% increase on water service rates, will take effect 60 days prior to the closing on the USDA loan for the water system infrastructure project, expected to occur in the spring of 2019.

Ordinance 2017-09 can be read in its entirety here.

Harpers Ferry has instituted three paid parking zones to improve safety and better regulate the very limited parking within the Corporation. Two of the zones, 7510 and 7520, are on Washington Street (Alt. U.S. 340). The third is on Potomac Street in Lower Town. The cost for parking is $1.00 per hour in Zone 7510, $2.00 per hour in Zone 7520, and $3.00 per hour in Zone 7515. Parking may be purchased in half-hour segments. Payment may be made using the Parkmobile cell phone app. To use Parkmobile, open the app, enter zone number, select amount of time desired, and pay by major credit card or PayPal. Visitors may find it easier to download the app to their cell phones before visiting Harpers Ferry to simplify their parking experience at the following link: http://us.parkmobile.com/mobile-apps.

Paid parking is strictly enforced in all three zones between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday through Saturday. Violators may be fined and /or towed. Parking is free in all paid parking zones after 6:00 p.m. and before 8:00 a.m. Sunday through Saturday.

All sides streets within the Corporation of Harpers Ferry are parking by residential permit only. Violators may be fined and / or towed. Permits for residents and their guests may be purchased at Town Hall.

Harpers Ferry Water Works customers can pay online.  To learn more, click here.

The Corporation maintains a list of operators and companies licensed to perform business in Harpers Ferry. These businesses have volunteered to appear on this public list. To review the list, click here.