Town Commissioners Minutes — 2017-05-24

QUEENSTOWI\ COMMISSIONERS

REGULARMEETING

May 24,2017 PRESENT: President Thomas B. Willis, Jr., George L. Plumbo, Jr., and Commissioner Hogie Schuster. Also present were Acting Town Manager Mike Bowell, Finance Chair Pahicia Bowell, Public Work Director Lane Cole, and Town Attomey Brynja Booth.

PUBLIC HEARING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.

Public hearing on proposed Ordinance 17-03 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF

QUEENSTOWN ADOPTING A GENERAL BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR

BEGINNING JULY 1,2017 AND ENDING JUNE 30,2018, AND ESTABLISHING A TAX

RATE OF .1773 PER $IOO OF ASSESSED REAL PROPERTY VALUE AND A TAX RATE

OF .44 PER $IOO ON ALL COMMERCIAL OR BUSINESS PERSONAL PROPERTY AND

PUBLIC UTILITIES; AND ALSO ADOPTING AN ENTERPRISE BUDGET FOR THE

TOWN'S WATER AND SEWER OPERATIONS.

The Commissioners presented budgets as follows:

Fund: Expenditures General Total (629,434) Revenues Program 134,995 Revenues General 507.051 Assets Unrestricted Net 12,612 Anticipated Capital Expenditures (59.900) Balance of Capital Expenditures (47,288) Transfer of Existing Cash Reserves 47 .228 Final Increase in Assets Unrestricted Net -0- Fund: Expenditures Enterprise Total (654,282) Revenues Program 654.282 Final Increase in Assets Unrestricted Net -0-

There were no increases to water and sewer rates.

There were no public comments made regarding the proposed budgets.

Commissioners voted unanimously to leave the record open for any written comment until June t4,2017 .

REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:15 P.M.

PUBLIC WORKS: Lane Cole o Water leak on Main Street, near Charity Lane. He and Town Engineer Bob Rauch are discussing best method ofrepair.

PLANNING: Phil Snyder o Nothing new to report FINANCE COMMITTEE: Patricia Bowell r Completed work on the budget r Working on mitigation at the WWTP o Received email from Mr. Sarracho informing they are pleased with the plantings done to screen the WWTP o Bob Rauch is looking into an energy grant, which is restricted to energy efficiency. If unable to meet deadline this year to file, will plan on filing next fiscal year.

ACTING TOWN MANAGER: Mike Bowell o Softwareftrardware project is complete. Next step is some training o Muni-Link has been given the water and sewer data for conversion to their program.

Project is moving along.

r Concentrating on the new manuals, including Personnel Manual, which will include updated job descriptions and salary structures. Once finalized, work sessions to review and discuss will be scheduled.

r He and Lane Cole met with Bob Rauch, Town Engineer, on the GIS program. It shows all piping and meters. Can add other data, such as costs, dates, as-builts, etc.

TREASURER'S REPORT:

Fund:

General $150,072.77 Fund:

Water/Sewer $123,583.27 Fund:

WWTP Project $ 11,299.5'1

MINUTES:

President Willis motioned to accept the minutes of April 12,201'7 Regular Meeting as written.

Commissioner Schuster seconded. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0 President Willis motioned to accept the Closed Session minutes of April 12,2017 as written.

Commissioner Schustsr seconded. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0 President Willis motioned to accept the Budget Work Session minutes of April 19,2017 as written. Commissioner Schuster seconded. Vote: Aye-3, Nay-0 President Willis motioned to accept the Closed Session minutes of April 26,2017 as written.

Commissioner Schuster seconded. Vote: Ave-3 Nav-O President Willis motioned to accept the Regular meeting minutes of April 26,201'7 as written.

Commissioner Schuster seconded. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0 President Willis motioned to accept the Regular meeting minutes of May 10,2017 as written.

Commissioner Schuster seconded. Vote: Ave-3 Nav-O

CLERK:

r Summer meeting schedule - Commissioners unanimously voted on the following schedule for meetings:

o June 14,2017 - 4:00 p.m.

o July 12, 2017 -7:00 p.m.

o August 9, 2017 7:00 p.m.

.

Deputy from Sheriffs Department was present. Topics ofdiscussion included use ofthe Auxiliary to patrol Town, more visibility, and radar for speeders. Deputy advised several calls to Queenstown for vehicles rummaged through or broken into. Put in newsletter to lock vehicles.

OLD BUSINESS:

President Willis motioned to adopt Resolution

17-102 A RESOLUTION OF THE

COMMISSIONERS OF QUEENSTOWN TO ESTABLISH A DISCONNECTION POLICY

FOR DEINQUENT WATER AND SEWER ACCOUNTS. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0 Resolution was introduced at the May 10,2017 meeting.

Customers will have until Decernber 31, 2017 to bring delinquent account current.

ATTORNEY UPDATES: Brynja Booth r Ms. Booth provided a draft ordinance for further review and discussion on rental properties. Commissioners tabled until next meeting.

OPEN DISCUSSION:

o John Fitzgerald stated that the large red shoe collection bin, located at the old Getty station, is unsightly as you first come into town. He inquired if it could be moved to another location. Town will check with the new owner ofthe property.

o Mark Maybeny inquired about whom from the town contacted the SherifPs Dept.

regarding an item he had on his property. After further discussion, Mr. Mayberry informed the Commissioners that the prior tenants in Mr. Stutman's apartrnent on Charity Lane, who were Caucasian, used to cut through his property. He hung a noose from a tree at the end ofhis property closest to the apartment building as a "sign" that trespassing on his property was prohibited. The new tenant, an African American, who is

also a town employee, now lives in the apartment. There is also an Aiiican American family living on the other side of Mr. Mayberry. The noose was apparently deemed offensive by someone who saw it, and they were apparently the ones who contacted the police, as the Town officials did not know of it until now. Mr. Mayberry stated he was asked to remove it by the police, and he complied. Mr. Mayberry then expressed

concems with Section 8 housing on his street, as he feels it devalues his property.

CLOSED SESSION:

President Willis motioned to close the regular meeting and enter into closed sessi on at7i52p.m.

to consult with counsel for legal advice. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster.

Commissioner Plumbo motioned to adjoum the closed session and reconvene in rcgular session at 8:20 p.m. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster.

There being no further business before the C,ommissioner's at rhis time, Presideot Willis motioned to adjoum the meeting at 8:20 p.m. Commissioner Schuster s€conded, Vote:

Aye-3 Nay-0.

W

Respectfirlly submitted, Town Clerk

TOWN OF'OUEENSTOWN

CLOSED MEETING/XXECUTN'E SESSION RECORD

A public body that meets in closed session may not discuss or aot on any malter not permitted under the Marl'land Statute sunrmarized below. The public neeting law does not apply to executive funclions, quasi judicial functions, or chance encounters or social rneetings-

(I)

DATE AND TIME OT' PROPOSED CLOSED MEETING OR EXECUTIVE

SESSION:

l}iltl. SiSZW r,,., Datc: S (2\

LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR CLOSING PUBLIC MEH,TING OI{ GOING INT'O

EXECUTIVE SESSION (circle the section of the law which authorizes the closed session):

Open Meetings Act, Maryland Code Annotated, State Covemmenl Article, 10- $ 508(a), 2004 Repl. Vol, f1) discuss:

(i) theappointment,employment,assignment,promotion,discipline, dernotion, compensation, removal, resignation. or performance cvaluation of appointces, cnrployees, ol of{icials over whom it has jurisdiction; or (ii) any other personnel matter that affccts 1 or more specific individuals;

(2) protect the privacy or reputation ofindividuals with respect to a matter

lhat is not rclated to public business:

(3) consider the acquisition of rcal property for a public purpose and matters

directly related thereto;

(4) consider a malter that concems the proposal for a business or industrial

organization to locate, expand, or rernain in the State;

(s) consider the investment ofpublic funds;

(6) consider the marketing ofpublic securities;

consult with counsel to obtain legal advice;

consult with staff, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation;

(e) conduct collective bargaining negotiations or consider matters that relate

to the negotiatiors;

(10) discuss public security, ifthe public body determines that public discussion would constitute a risk to the public or to the public securitv, including;

(D

the deployment oftire and police ser.rices and staff; and (iD the developmenl and implementation of emergency plans;

l) (1 prepare, administer', ol grade a scholastic, licensing, or qualifying examination;

(.12) conduct or discuss an investigative proceeding on actual or possible crirninal conduct:

(13) comply with a specillc constitulional, statutory, orjudicially imposed requircment that prevents public disclosures about a particular proceeding oI mafier; or (14) before a contracl is awarded or bids arc opened, discuss a matter directly if related to a negotiating strategy or the contents of a bid or proposal, public discussion or disclosure would adversely impact the ability ofthe public body to participate in the competitive bidding or proposal ptocess.

(3) TOWN BOARD. AGENCY. OR COMM]SSION PROPOSING CLOSED OR

EXI]CUTIVE SESSION:

, Commission, or Committee)

G\ IDENTIFY TOPIC(S) PROPOSED FOR DISCUSSION IN CLOSED SESSION:

(5)

MEMBERS OF BOARD, AGENCY, COMMISSION, OR COMMITTEE

PRESENT AT PUBLIC MEETING AT WHICH CLOSED SESSION

REQIJESTED:

Vote on Closure tcircle2orlect vote) f FodAsalnst /\r\ F_o-r// As"ainst rGils.uin \\J' r For/Againsl For/Against

(6) TIME CLOSED SESSION CONVENED:

l]i\4li CI-OSED SESSION CONCLUDED :

PERSONS PRESEN'I A'I CLOSED SESSION:

(l!l'

(8) PLACE CLOSED OR BXECUTIVE SESSION HELD:

19)

PURPOSE OFANDTOPICS DISCUSSED AT CLOSED SESSION:

(IO)

SUMMARY OFACTIONS TAKEN A'T CLOSED SESS]ON, IF ANY:

CERTIFICATE OF PRESIDING OI.'F.ICER

I hereby certify that I am the presiding officer of public board, agency, commission, committee, or othet pubiic body gq l[S Town of Queenstown, I\4Eyland. I furlher certify that by a majority vote on the ()uL\vvday of \l )A lLI rf,l) ], the aforesaid agency, board, committee, or commission voted to hfiAni";8dffitfig for the po.por"-*, and to discuss the topics, sel folrh above, and that no other topics were discussed, and tlraf the foregoing is a tl1le record of the closed

meeting described herein. 'l'he Clerk or Secretary is directed to maintain this document as a public record ofthe Towl of Queenstorvn, and to append the same to the minutes olthe next public meeling of the aforesaid agency, board, oommittcc, or conmission.

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