April 7, 1976
Interview
(cont’d)
[continued from page 1]
hike in school district taxes.
Oliver Overlander thinks
that move was a mistake.
With inflation cutting into
the borough's budget, the
quality of municipal services
cannot be maintained unless
more money is raised.
HISTORIC DISTRICTING
Oliver Overlander thinks
restoration efforts are one of
the best things that have
happened to Marietta.
He hopes that the older
houses in towns will contin-
ue to be preserved, because
the increase in property
values that results benefits
all property owners.
In areas where all the
homes date from the early
1800’s, historic districting
might be a good idea, since
it would protect the value of
the preserved homes in the
area, Oliver thinks.
“It’s bad to build new
homes in a restored area,’
Oliver says, ‘‘but it’s okay
on Fairview Avenue, where
there are already a lot of
new homes.”’
The present zoning laws
state that new homes should
conform to the surrounding
buildings, Oliver notes.
‘‘Historic districting
should be started in a few
blocks,’ Oliver says. ‘‘We
can see if the people in those
blocks want it. If they do,
it’s a good thing.”’
The regulations in the
historic district shouldn't be
too strict, Oliver feels. Some
towns, like Lititz, have
ridiculously tough rules in
their historic districts, ac-
cording to Oliver.
He notes that no one in
Marietta has really restored
a house to its’ original
condition. Real restoration
would involve tearing out all
the electrical wiring, and
installing whale-oil lamps.
““The historic district
commission shouldn’t force
you to clean the paint off
your brick, for instance.”
Oliver says.
GROWTH
Marietta has improved
dramatically in the last 10
years, Oliver thinks.
The improvement was
due to a combination of two
things: people have been
fixing up the town’s beauti-
ful old houses, and the
municipal government has
taken active steps to im-
prove the town.
This combination of pri-
vate and public energy
resulted in higher property
values, and a growing town.
‘‘Basically,”” Oliver says,
‘‘the majority of houses that
have been saved from
deterioration have been
saved because people from
outside have come into the
town and fixed them up to
make them attractive and
beneficial to the town.
We don’t have room for
big industries. You can’t
compare Marietta to the
tourist strip on Route 30.
We don’t have the big
motels, and the Dutch Won-
derland and we don’t have
room for them.
The only attraction for
tourists would be the anti-
que shops and the homes
that have been restored.”’
The small size of the
borough restricts it’s tax
base, Oliver notes.
The businesses on Route
441, and the big Armstrong
Carpet Plant, are outside
the town limits.
Oliver says, ‘“We can only
grow from within.”’
IMPROVEMENT
One improvement Oliver
would like to see is a paving
job for Front Street.
“A lot of homes were
damaged in the 72 and '75
floods,’’ he says. ‘‘Very few
are left. They came back,
and fixed up their homes. I
think thoses people deserve
one heck of a lot of credit.”
““The borough now has an
obligation to take care of
Front Street. I think Front
Street should be redone
from one end to the other.”
Oliver notes that Front
Street is one of the S major
streets in the borough. The
last major paving jobs were
done on Walnut Street and
the Charles development.
Another improvement,
which might be accomplish-
ed quite cheaply, involves
the rivershore.
“We have a beautiful
river that’s perfect for
fishing and boating,’ Oliver
says.
If local organizations, like
the Lions, Jaycees, and fire
company volunteer their
time, a park could be built
along the shore.
The park would have to be
simple because high water
could threaten permanent
structure. Pathways, picnic
areas, and free boat launch-
ing facilities could be built.
Such a park might attract
local people to the town,
giving a boost to local
businesses. It would also
make life more pleasant for
the people of Marietta.
MARIETTA AT A
TURNING POINT
The following is a pre-
pared statement written by
Oliver C. Overlander II,
Borough Council President
of Marietta:
“Just a decade ago,
Marietta had many more
problems than it has today.
Buildings were falling down
from lack of maintence, and
year after year the elements
began to deteriorate many
our homes, buildings
throughout the Borough.
We had no public sewage
system and the smell of
burning garbage and ex-
ploding aerosol cans was
common throughout the
town. Borough Council did
take steps to eliminate these
problems only because the
general out look of the town
left something to be desired
and in order to better the
town something had to be
done. Overcoming many
problems and often thank-
less hours spent at meet-
ings, trash collection came
about, also our present
sewage system, and the
passing of our present
housing ordinance. Thus
eliminating burning in the
borough. Having weekly
trash collection and making
it manditory that every
dwelling be hooked up to the
public sewage system. The
housing ordinance put a
stop to property owners
letting structures deterior-
ate and fall down. Today if a
property is in violation of the
housing ordinance, the
borough can exercise the
right to prosecute if a
violation isn’t corrected in a
reasonable time period, thus
eliminating most of our
delapadated buildings. This
ordinance can only be
effective if buildings are
constantly inspected and
violators are pressured by
the borough to comply with
the adopted housing ordin-
ance, which by the way, is
taken directly from the State
and Housing code. But this
is 1976, and we are forced
with current problems which
must be met with swift
action to protect the welfare
of all Marietta citizens.
Property values in the town
have increased and if these
values are to remain stable
and the town will continue to
improve then every property
owner along with borough
council must do their part to
improve and maintain the
town. Our growth must be
within our boundries. We
must all realize that any
more annexation by the
borough is very doubtful
due to the cost of such an
endeavor. This is where
Marietta missed the boat in
past years, when the town
fathers couldn't foresee the
future growth of this area.
So we must be content to
grow within our boundries.
Voters have a very big
responsibility to elect the
best men available to
borough council. Even with,
foresight, ambition to set
and achieve worthwhile
goals, men who can do the
job voters want them to do.
At the present time, I
believe people are reluctent
to come to council and voice
their oppinions or complain
because they feel it wouldn’t
do any good to complain. As
president of borough I urge
all citizens to attend council
meetings if only to be
informed of borough mat-
ters. And if you have a
complaint, problem, or need
assistance, I guarentee you
will be heard. Election Day
Voters have the last word
either to elect a good man,
retain one who has served
well, or get rid of any
councilman who doesn’t
measure up to voters stand-
ards.
Hypertension
clinic
The Lancaster PA Chap-
ter of the American Heart
Association will hold a free 6
day hypertension clinic in
conjunction with the Lancas-
ter Home Builders show at
Park City from Monday,
April S through Saturday,
April 10.
Blood press.
clinic
The April schedule of free
blood pressure clinics spon-
sored by the American
Heart Association, Lancas-
ter, PA Chapter was an-
nounced today. These free
blood pressure testings are
provided by your HEART
FUND dollars and will be
provided at Sloan’s Phar-
macy, 61 East Main Street,
Mount Joy, Tuesday and
Wednesday of each week
from 2 to 4 p.m.
SUSQUEHANNA TIMES - Page 5
Spring tune-up special
$29.95
Tune-up includes
Plugs
Points
Condenser
Offer good thru April 30
9¢
Distributor cap
Rotor
Labor
/ =% “We will crawl under your car
more of'en and get ourselves dirtier
than any of our gasoline competitors.”
DON FORRY THAGD ©
585 West Main Street, Mount Joy, PA 653-4800
NOW PAYING AS
HIGH AS . . .
Jacob N. Olweiler
Incal representative
218 S. MARKET ST.
ELIZABETHTOWN, PA.
367-5134
ale Capitalize
1.13%
MON. - TUES. - THURS.
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
WED. -8:30a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
FRI. -8:30a.m. 8:00 p.m.
SAT. -9:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon
$1,000 minimum required. Accounts insured to $40,000.
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COMING THIS WEEK!
3 3 @F Thurs., Fi., Sat., ONLY {yp
OUR BIGGEST DISPLAY YET OF
EASTER
~~ FLOWERS
LILIES-HYACINTHS-TULIPS-MUMS- AZALEAS-
CINERARIOS- POCKETBOOKS- GARDENIAS-
HANGING PLANTS-CORSAGES
FRUIT BASKETS
Made to Order or Ready Made FROM $5.95
EASTER BUNNY
SUPPLIES =,
Baskets—Candy
Egg Dye—Toys
Kunzler Hot Dogs rez. 51.29
Boiled Ham Res. 52.59
HERR
PHONE: 426-1805
Daily &
(=
Il
only 99c¢ Ib.
only $2.29 Ip.
Intersection of 441 & 143
Open 8 AM.-1l P.M.
Sunday