Town Council Meeting #22-04
December 2,
2004
Council President Norman Pinder convened meeting #22-04 at 7:00pm in
Town Hall. Donna Turner, Council Vice-President, Mary McCarthy, Council
Member, Royden Powell, Town Manager, Stephen Kehoe, Town Attorney,
Police Chief Ben Cohey, and Deana Ashley, Clerk, were also present.
Welcome: Citizens and guests were welcomed to the
meeting.
Review of Minutes from Previous Meetings: Minutes for the
meeting on November 18, 2004 were reviewed and approved as presented.
Mrs. Turner made a motion to accept the minutes; Mrs. McCarthy seconded
the motion. A vote was taken, members voted in the affirmative, and the
minutes were approved unanimously. (3 ayes)
Appearances: None.
Business:
-
Public Works Agreement
Amendment, Northbrook 2 and 3 – Mr. Powell summarized the
amendment as a fee assessed to building permits to cover the costs for
upgrades to the north pumping station and arsenic treatment plant.
The $1,900 would be charged until the costs are recouped; if the
charges exceed the facility costs, rebates will be extended to those
homeowners. Mr. Powell noted that grinder pumps will be included in
the upgrades. Mrs. McCarthy stated that she would prefer to table the
discussion for the next work session, as the document was just made
available to the Council for consideration. The engineering for the
upgrades will be provided to the Town for future projects.
-
Public Works Agreement,
Ridgeview (Bozek) – Mr. Kehoe reported that a draft agreement has
been reviewed and approved, with some redlines, by Mr. Bozek’s
counsel, Mr. Karl Philips. Mrs. McCarthy again requested the Council
review the agreement prior to discussion at their next work session.
-
First Reading of
Ordinance 08-04, Loitering – Mr. Pinder stated the Council wishes
to discuss the legislation at their next work session, therefore,
tabling the agenda item.
-
Planning Commission
Chairmanship – Mrs. McCarthy read a statement into the record
(available upon request). She noted her concern over the violation of
the bylaws governing the chairmanship tenure; she also discussed the
status of the work completed to date on the update to the Town’s
comprehensive plan. Mrs. McCarthy made a motion to ask for the full
Council to request the resignation of the chair of the town planning
commission. Mr. Pinder asked for a second to the motion; there being
none, the motion failed.
Mrs. Turner read a statement from Gene Ransom, Queen Anne’s County
Commissioner (available upon request). The letter stated his desire to
better understand the waiver process between the County and
municipalities. He also noted the current lack of documentation for the
Wood’s annexation and that the County needs to formalize it rules and
procedures with regard to annexation waivers. Mr. Ransom’s letter also
noted that the Centreville Planning Commission did not have the
authority, therefore no responsibility, with regards to the waiver.
Finally, he requested that all the information be gathered so that a
formal and fair process can be implemented for future projects.
Mr. Kehoe informed the Council that they had the authority to appoint
board members, but none to terminate their work. He also noted that the
County is first working with the Queenstown comprehensive plan, and then
will work with Centreville.
Mr. Pinder stated that he has requested the Planning Commission submit a
budget to the Council for the work required to update the plan.
Maryland Municipal League: None
QAC Municipal League: None
Announcements and Correspondence: Mr. Pinder read the
announcements and correspondence into the record.
Report of Department Heads:
Town Clerk – Ms. Ashley reported the following:
·
Ms. Ashley deferred her report time to the Town
Manager.
Chief of
Police –
·
The Chief noted his report was in the Council’s books for
their review. There was nothing unusual to report.
·
The department is moving forward with plans to purchase
Mobile Data Terminals. Mounts have been received and will be installed
in 2 vehicles next week.
·
The department has initiated 266 criminal investigations
this year. To date, 72.1% have been closed by arrest or exceptional
means.
Town Manager –
·
He stated that he is working on subdivision review,
building permit and allocation fees which are outstanding. The auditor
has expanded their scope of work to include commercial permitting and
allocation fees.
·
Mr. Powell completed a review of the engineering and
inspection fees for “minor projects”. Mrs. McCarthy and Mrs. Turner
asked for a definition of inactive projects listed? He reported those
as projects which no longer had work to be completed under building
permits or planning phases. Mrs. McCarthy made a motion to direct staff
to create receivables and collect all monies owed; Mrs. Turner seconded
the motion. The Council voted unanimously to collect all receivables as
listed in Mr. Powell’s report (3 ayes).
·
A request for bids for a new public works dump truck was
advertised in local papers; two were received and processed. Mr. Powell
stated that the Barr International bid did not meet the posted
specifications; Elliott Wilson Trucks did meet the process and
specification requirements.
Mr. Powell recommended the Council accept the Elliott Wilson Trucks bid
and purchase the dump truck with budgeted capital funds. Mr. Pinder
noted that the bid amount exceeded the budget? After discussion, the
Council and Mr. Powell agreed to the purchase of the dump truck, but
postpone the budgeted $28,000 chipper. Mr. Pinder made a motion to
accept the bid and approve the purchase of the $88,990 dump truck; Mrs.
McCarthy seconded the motion noting the chipper would be excluded from
this year’s capital expenditures. The Council voted unanimously to
approve the purchase (3 ayes).
·
Chris Curran, URS Engineering, reported to the Council on
the status of projects. The new reed beds are 80% complete at the
plant; discharge was moved back to the stream this week. There are
issues with the spray irrigation; MDE has extended spray testing at the
farm.
Data gathering for the I&I study is underway; initial results
demonstrate inflow from storm runoff and other system infiltration. The
next phase is smoke testing. Mrs. McCarthy requested work product
deadlines? Mr. Curran stated that initial reports could be made
available as early as January.
·
Mr. Pinder asked Mr. Powell about the status of the
Capacity Management Plan? He responded that interim relief was granted
to the 47 permits as of the moratorium date. He also stated that MDE is
awaiting information from the new plant for the first phase of the CPM;
Mr. Powell has suggested a counter-proposal requesting release of the
first year of allocations (70,000 gallons).
Citizens Forum:
·
Jeff Thompson, Thompson and Thompson – Mr. Thompson
discussed
Mr. Ransom’s letter to the Council regarding the annexation/zoning
waiver. He reported that he was in possession of documentation
approving the Town’s waiver request.
·
Luke Phipps, Commerce St – Mr. Phipps requested and
received approval from the Council to sell tickets for a Day Care, Inc.
raffle at the Christmas parade.
Motion to Adjourn: There being nothing further to discuss,
the Council voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 7:50pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Deana Ashley, Clerk
