Town Council Meeting #06-04
April
1, 2004
Council
President Michael Whitehill convened meeting #06-04 at 7:00pm in the
Town Hall. Donna Turner,
Council Member, Terry Adams, Town Manager, Jonathan Hodgson, Town
Attorney, Chief Benjamin Cohey and Deana Ashley, Clerk, were also
present.
Welcome:
Citizens and guests were welcomed to the meeting.
Review
of Minutes from Previous Meeting:
Meeting #06-04 of March 18, 2004 minutes were accepted as read by
the Council members. Mrs.
Turner made a motion to accept the minutes; Mr. Whitehill seconded the
motion. A vote was taken, members voted in the affirmative, and the
minutes were approved unanimously. (2 ayes)
Appearances:
None
Business:
-
QA
Soil Conservation, Request for Permission to Use Millstream Park for
a Field Day Event (05/12/04) – Approved
-
Bethel
AME Ushers of Church Hill, Request for Permission to Use Millstream
Park for a Fish Fry (05/29/04) –
Approved
Maryland
Municipal League: Ms.
Ashley reported that reservations were made for the annual MML
convention in June.
QAC Municipal League: Discussion
was held regarding the next Eastern Shore Association of Municipalities
meeting.
Announcements
and Correspondence: Mr.
Whitehill read the announcements and correspondence into the record.
Report
of Department Heads:
Town
Clerk – Ms.
Ashley reported the transition to the new accounting software was on
schedule. She also reported
that 2nd quarter receivables for engineering and inspection
fees would be mailed in the coming weeks.
Chief
of Police –
·
The Chief’s report was included in the Council’s books
for their review. There was
nothing unusual to report.
·
The department will participate in the 2004 Chief’s
Challenge in April and May.
·
The 2004 Police Unity Bicycle Ride will be stopping at the
department on May 11 to conduct a short ceremony in memory of our fallen
hero.
Town
Manager -
·
Mr. Adams and Mr. Tom DeLormier, URS Engineering,
discussed the rationale for contracting out the water and wastewater
plant operations to Miller Environmental, Inc.:
o
Increased service and staffing levels
o
Class 5 license required for new treatment plant operation
o
Contractor will provide training to Town personnel for
Class 5 certification
o
Contract on year-to-year basis
o
$10,000 a year savings including reorganization of water
and wastewater department
o
Proposal of $2,900 per month
Mr.
Whitehill made a motion to approve the contract with Miller
Environmental; Mrs. Turner seconded the motion.
The Council voted to approve the contract
(2 ayes).
·
The newly purchased pump was leased to David Bramble, Inc.
for limited usage.
·
A demonstrator alarm was installed at the north pumping
station to notify Town staff to any irregularities.
·
A work session is requested with the Council by the
Northbrook Homeowners Association to discuss storm water management,
roads and other issues.
·
The new wastewater treatment plant project is underway.
·
The punch list project for the Heights road improvement
work is underway. Mr. Adams
will ask David Bramble to complete other outstanding items while crews
are available.
Citizens
Forum:
·
Mr. Sveinn Storm, 209 S Commerce St
– Mr. Storm appeared before the Council to discuss the operations of
the Town’s water and wastewater treatment plant.
Mr. Storm talked with them about the current capacity of the
plant and 2003-2004 average daily usage figures.
He also asked the Council if all violations were reported to MDE
and if they were aware that the Operator and Superintendent were under
investigation by the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Unit. Mr.
Whitehill and Mrs. Turner responded they were aware of the criminal
investigations. Mr. Storm then asked the Council about
inspectors/technicians, water testing labs, and the current consent
agreement with MDE. Mr. Whitehill and Mrs. Turner noted they were not
familiar with the specifics of each of his questions but would take each
under advisement along with the findings of the investigation.
·
Mr. Luke Phipps, 202 S Commerce St
– Mr. Phipps questioned the Council and Mr. Adams if any wastewater
was “pumped overboard”? Mr. Whitehill responded no and discussed with Mr. Phipps the
age of some of the water pipes within Town limits.
The Council thanked Mr. Phipps for his contribution.
·
Mr. Robert
Thompson, 510 Chesterfield Ave – Mr. Thompson asked
Mr. Whitehill if the new wastewater treatment plant at a designed
capacity of 500,000 gallons per day would support the current annexation
allocation requirements? He
also questioned if the 28 allocations requested for the “wharf
project” had been approved by Council?
Mr. Whitehill responded that Mr. Adams and Mr. Hodgson were in
the process of developing a sewer allocation policy that would include
an accounting method for all remaining allocations that would be
reconciled with the new treatment plant capacity.
The Council thanked Mr. Thompson for his participation.
Motion
to Adjourn: There being nothing further to discuss, the meeting was
adjourned by unanimous vote at 7:55 pm.
(2 ayes)
Respectfully Submitted,
Deana Ashley, Clerk
