Town staff told the Board of Town Commissioners on Oct. 6 that the town has operated the North Shamrock Road sewer pumping station on a parcel for nearly 50 years but that the property was never formally deeded to the town. The town presented an ordinance to accept a grant in fee simple of the lot, and the board voted to receive the ordinance and schedule a public hearing for Oct. 20.

According to staff, the town contacted the estate of the prior owners to request formal conveyance and the town attorney advised that under the town charter and Maryland municipal law acceptance of real property should be approved by ordinance so the ownership can be documented in the county land records. Staff recommended introducing ordinance 849-25 and adopting it after a public hearing on Oct. 20 to record the conveyance in Harford County land records.

Director Klein presented background and said the conveyance is a no-cost transfer that formalizes the town’s legal title to the lot supporting a critical public utility. No members of the public spoke on the matter at the Oct. 6 meeting; the board received the ordinance and scheduled the hearing for Oct. 20, at which adoption may occur.

If adopted, the ordinance will provide the legislative authority and documentation needed for recordation with Harford County so the town’s ownership of the pumping station parcel is unambiguous.