By: Mikayla Roberts
University Park Ward 7 Councilman William “Bill” Sweet was elected for a second term unopposed yesterday.
“Usually the council members for University Park go uncontested. From what I see, with most of us, we all do it more so for the community service aspect than anything else,” said Sweet.
The husband and father of three has been a University Park resident since June, 2013. Sweet said he has worked in the operating room since early 1999. He became a nursing administrator over 10 years ago at the University of Maryland Medical Center, according to his LinkedIn profile. He is currently a Director of Nursing for cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.
After hours spent at the hospital, Sweet spends roughly 10 to 20 hours a month at town council and committee meetings. He is the co-chair of the Development Overview Committee which makes recommendations to the council regarding the planning, zoning, and development of areas within one mile of town. He also sits on the Public Facilities and Services Committee and the Police, Traffic and Public Safety Committee.
“I feel like I had a really good [first] run. … I got a temporary speed bhump on the 4000 block of Van Buren Street. I’m going to push to have two permanent ones put in over the next two years. And some other things that I’d like to see,” said Sweet, who co-chairs the town’s Development Overview Committee.
Traffic speed has been a long-time issue for Ward 7 according to Jenna Beveridge, a 12 year resident of Van Buren. One of the cars in her driveway was hit by a driver speeding down the hill in 2016, Beveridge said. At the time of the accident she had two 5-year-old daughters that played in the yard, leading to worries they would be hit by oncoming traffic.
Ward 7 residents signed a letter asking the town for a speed bump on Van Buren, according to Beveridge. Traffic speed was a concern of residents during former Ward 7 Councilman Roy Alvarez’s three terms from 2012 to 2018, Alvarez confirmed. He said unfortunately, at the time, the town did not have the data to suggest there was a present issue.
The speed bump came when Sweet and Biermann took office according to Beveridge. Van Buren also received a traffic speed monitor that notifies drivers of their speed and a reduced speed limit.
Sweet takes the job seriously and is a good collaborator, said Biermann. Sweet’s immediate predecessor, Roland Stephen, said that he knows things are going well because there is no drama or controversy.
Featured Image: Bill Sweet and his three children in front of University Park Town Hall. Photo courtesy of Bill Sweet.