Walkersville considers making English official language

TO DESIGNATE ENGLISH AS WALKERSVILLE’S OFFICIAL TOWN LANGUAGE. COMMISSIONER DON SCHILDT SUGGESTED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO PUTTING THE ISSUE ON THE AGENDA FOR WEDNESDAY’S TOWN MEETING.

By SARAH FORTNEY
News-Post Staff
sfortney@fredericknewspost.com


Frederick County Commissioners recently approved a resolution proclaiming English as the official, primary and common language of Frederick County Government.

However, county commissioners declined to take up a measure requiring all county documents be written only in English.

The issue has become a growing concern amongst town residents, Schildt said Friday.

“I thought it’s time to bring it up rather than just keep brushing it under the rug.”

Town commissioners will discuss whether the municipality should adopt a resolution similar to the county’s and could come to a conclusion during the meeting, commissioner Russell Winch said.

Both Winch and Schildt believe a majority of the town’s commissioners and residents agree with the county’s decision.

“I understand it’s a controversy,” Winch said.

Steve Berryman, Frederick County coordinator for HelpSave-Maryland.com and an online columnist for thetentacle.com, believes Walkersville will take the decision to heart.

HelpSaveMaryland.com is “a grassroots organization that works to preserve the state’s counties, cities and towns from negative effects of undocumented workers,” according to its website.

Berryman, who lives in Frederick, suspects Walkersville would favor a resolution like the county’s. Though some politicians might be more concerned about political correctness when voting against undocumented workers, he said, it would be characteristic of Walkersville residents to base their decision on “doing the right thing.”