FROSTBURG — As the current Commissioner of Finance for the city of Frostburg and realizing the challenges facing our community in the future, I am asking for your support to continue serving you as Commissioner of Finance. In this position, I will continue to work with the Mayor, members of the City Council, and city staff to guide the city into the future and to ensure that Frostburg is a place where people want to live, shop, dine, and enjoy quality of life. 

Frostburg is a wonderful community where my family and I have resided for over 40 years. I retired from FSU as professor of mathematics and computer science, having chaired the department of mathematics for 21 years and the department of computer science for one year.  I hold a Ph.D. degree from the University of Illinois, have authored four college textbooks, coauthored several college texts, and wrote numerous articles that were published in professional journals.

For the past 18 years I have worked with my son in his construction businesses (Potomac Valley Industrial Supply and Braddock Construction), where I manage budgets, accounts receivable, accounts payable and payrolls.  Additional information about me can be found on my Facebook account: Dick Weimer.

During my tenure as Commissioner of Finance, I have been directly involved and have worked with the council and community to establish the following improvements in our community:

• Refinanced city debts with lower interests rates, thus saving money.

• Tightened internal financial controls with money transactions.

• Made early payment of debts resulting in savings in reduced interest.

• Hired a city inspector to oversee the city’s CSO projects and a City Rental Housing Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer (instead of contracting the work out), resulting in cost savings, greater efficiency and control, and improved communications with contractors, citizens, and city staff.

• Worked collaboratively with faculty, staff and students from FSU to develop            the city’s new website: frostburgcity.com.

• Developed the current two-tier water rate schedule which charges everyone the same rate for water used in the first tier.

• Worked with a development team to write a successful application for a state-sanctioned Arts and Entertainment District for the city.

• Recommended that city staff apply for two grants, which both were funded: the savage hydroelectric turbine project and the LED street lighting project.

• Worked with a citizen group to raise $50,000 for the Frostburg Area Ambulance Association’s equipment drive.

• Worked with the Frostburg Fire Department to support their needs.

• Requested cost-saving ideas from citizens using local media.

• Opened the budget-building process to all citizens by establishing special budget meetings and worked to provide transparency in budgeting.

• Established a rainy-day fund for use in case of an emergency.

• Worked to build stronger working relationships with FSU.

There is still much to be accomplished. This is why I am asking the voters to re-elect me as their Commissioner of Finance. Specifically, some of the work the council should continue is:

• Support our local businesses and work to attract new business and industry to  locate within our city.

• Deliver services more efficiently to citizens.

• Lower fees and taxes whenever possible.

• Improve communications with and among citizens.

 • Develop a dog park for the community.

• Develop additional parking areas within the city, specifically on Mechanic and First Streets.

• Support the Allegheny Highlands Trails initiative. 

• Continue with our CSO program and streets upgrades. (To date, for every     dollar spent on CSO upgrades, the cost to citizens has been approximately 20 cents, due to grant-funded monies.

• Improve the delivery of trash pickup with lower operating costs and fees and better facilitate recycling efforts.

I have the education, leadership experience, and skills, as well as the time and energy to devote to the position of Finance Commissioner. My performance record supports this.