Business Class Service-Learning Project Makes a Difference - Frederick, MD

Mount survey reveals opinions of Emmitsburg residents, businesses

By Ashley Andyshak Hayes/Frederick News-Post

Emmitsburg, MD - Town officials recently got a picture of how local businesses and residents view their performance, thanks to a group of students at Mount St. Mary's University.

The students were part of a service learning course taught by business professor Cyd Maubert. The class split into two teams, one focused on town residents and the other on the business community. Both teams surveyed their respective population's satisfaction with town administration, leadership and services, Maubert said.

The group focused on town businesses mailed 74 surveys and received about one-third of them back.

About half of the responding businesses said they planned to expand within the next year, and more than half said they were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the town as a place to do business.

When asked if they would choose Emmitsburg if they were to open a new business today, about half of the respondents answered "very likely" or "likely."
The majority of respondents said they were "neutral" or disagreed that the mayor and town council would enact policies to enhance the town's business climate, and the majority said they were "neutral" or disagreed that the mayor and council understood the needs of the business community.

Respondents listed fees and taxes, the town's permitting process, a lack of public parking and a competitive environment outside of Emmitsburg as some barriers to business growth.

Commissioner Tim O'Donnell said the survey shows that government needs to work more closely with business owners to ensure future economic growth.
"The bottom line here is we, in town government, need to do better to assist our local businesses (to) expand. Our nation's economy needs government to work with business and in these rugged times leadership with vision at the local level is profoundly important," he said.

Residents were invited to participate in an online survey. The residential survey had a much lower response rate than the business survey -- of 678 postcards mailed, 6 percent led to a response.

Two-thirds of respondents said they were "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with Emmitsburg as a place to live, citing a peaceful atmosphere, affordable living, proximity to major metropolitan areas and local history among the town's major assets. Challenges cited included lack of employment opportunities, lack of retail businesses and restaurants, and government leadership.

The majority of respondents said they had "neutral" feelings about the mayor and town council's understanding of Emmitsburg's needs and communication between government officials and residents. Most said they felt "satisfied" or "neutral" about town staff.

Commissioners President Chris Staiger said he was disappointed with the neutral and unfavorable views.

"I see my primary role as an advocate to the town office for the concerns of both groups," he said. "The reality is that the survey results mirror what you hear on the street: taxes are too high, regulation is too heavy, and government is unresponsive."

Staiger said that while many ordinances and policies originate with town staff, commissioners are responsible to evaluate these before voting.
"When we adopt them uncritically we deserve our constituents' admonishment," he said.

The class presented its findings to town council and staff in December. Erin Greenwald, who graduated last month with a degree in business administration, said she found the experience rewarding. Greenwald helped design the questions for the residential portion of the survey, and worked on composing and analyzing the results.

"This was one of the most gratifying projects that I have participated in in all my years of schooling," Greenwald said. "It was an opportunity to participate in a real-world activity and gain long-term research skills, one in which we never had the chance to experience in any other class."

Maubert said she was pleased with the class's work and the final result.

"The students managed every part of the research process. ... It was an incredibly in-depth and rigorous project, and I couldn't be prouder of how well our students performed," Maubert said.

O'Donnell said the survey further strengthened the bond between the university and the town.

"Our futures are tied together in many ways and I do not underestimate the value we provide one another," he said. "If the university continues surveying our community, the survey will continue to grow in value as a tool for town government."

Mayor James Hoover has set up a website, separate from the official town website, and an e-mail newsletter to increase communication between town government and residents. Users can sign up for e-mail updates at mayorhoover.com.