Town Commissioners Minutes — 2017-08-09

Exactly as extracted, unformatted — for checking against the original. The readable version is easier to read.

QUEENSTOWN COMMISSIONERS
August 9, 2017
PRESENT: President Thomas B. Willis, Jr., Commissioner Hogie Schuster, and
Commissioner George L. Plumbo, Jr., Mike Bowell, Acting Town Manager, and Amy Moore.
Town Clerk.
WORK SESSION CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:06 P.M.
Work session was called to review and discuss draft rental and short-term rental legislation.
Renters Ordinance - Questions/comments that arose were:
1.
Number ofrentals vs owner occupied?
2.
Number ofpeople permitted in a household? Can that be regulated in a renters
ordinance?
3.
Who inspects and what regulations are followed?
4-
SubJeasing was not addressed in draft ordinance.
5.
Compile list ol'rental properties.
6.
All property o\4ners ofrental properties should receive a copy ofthe water/sewer invoice
that is sent to their tenant. The property owner is ultimately responsible if tenant does not
pay.
Short-Term rental Ordinance - Questions/comments that arose were:
.
1 It's believed that the State considers Air B&B's to be a hotel. If this is the case, hotels
are not permitted in the R-1 zone. How does this affect a regular B&B?
2.
This ordinance will be forwarded to the Plannine Commission to review and determine
designated use.
President Willis motioned to adjoum the work session at 6:48 p.m. and take a break between
meetings. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster, and motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:OO P.M.
Public hearing on proposed Ordinance 17-06 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF
QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH
LOCATIONS FOR MEDICAL LICENSED CANNABIS DISPENSARIES
President Willis motioned to amend Ordinance 17-06 to include Highway Commercial (HC)
zone as a zone permitting medical licensed cannabis dispenaries. Motion seconded by
Commissioner Schuster, with motion carried unanimously.

Due to the amendment to the Ordinance, the hearing will be postponed until August 30,2017 at
7:00 p.m. The public asked that the Sheriff s Department be invited to the hearing. Town Clerk
will contact the Sheriff s Depa.rtrnent and provide notice ofhearing postponement.
REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:15 P.M,
GUESTS:
Robert Rauch, Town Engineer, was present to provide updales on wastewater operations,
kayak/park grant project, and Queenstown Harbor Golfproject.
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Town advertised lor a water and wastewater operator several months ago. White Marsh,
Inc. (Tidewater) was the only responsive bidder. Mr. Rauch recommends the Town hire
them as the operator beginning January l, 2018. President Willis motioned to accept
White Marsh as operator of the water and wastewater facilities beginning January -,
2018. Motion seconded by Commissioner Plumbo, with motion carried unanimously.
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Grant approved from DNR for $120,000 for living shoreiine project, boardwalk and
kayak launch. The design has been completed, and his engineers estimate for the entire
project, based on his design, is $251,628. DNR/State has additional 100% grant money
available and is encouraging the Town to apply for additional funding as they are
favorable ofthis project. Next steps would be to apply for additional grant funding and
prepare proposal for bids. President Willis motioned to authorize Mr. Rauch to proceed
with additional grant requests and prepare proposal to bid. Motion seconded by
Commissioner Schuster, r'ith motion carried unanimously.
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Mr. Rauch was previously requested to provide a cost estimate to prepare design
standards and regulations for installation ofnew water meters and inspections. Currently,
the town does not have a published set of design standards. He recommends the Town
consider developing Town of Queenstown standards to cover all infrastructure. To
prepare a full set ofstandards would cost $5,000-$7,500. He would research other
jurisdictions and apply them to Queenstown as necessary. Mr. Phil Snyder, Town
resident and Planning Commission member, stated he would support the Town doing
this. These issues have come up during Planning Commission review of development
projects, and having adopted standards would be beneficial during the review process.
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Queenstown Harbor Golf Course has been working on what plans they have and several
different options for development. The Town should be receiving a letter from Lex
Birney soon identilying an additional grouth allocation area. Mr. Rauch will meet with
Town Planner, Peter Johnston to discuss further.
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He expects to hear on the water tower and infrastructure improvement grant within the
next few weeks. He won't know how USDA will determine the loan to srant ratio until
he hears back from them.

PUBLIC WORKS: Lane Cole
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Worked on hauling storm debris
.
Two tees in need of removal - one in the open space at Queenstown Village and the
other at 220 Old Wharf Lane in the Town's right of way. The Commissioners will take a
look at before approving removal.
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Resurfacing work has begun on Maryland Ave. and Steamboat Ave.
PLANNING: Betty White
.
Owners of Hippocratic Growth presented the Commission with a plan for a medical
cannabis dispensary. They need to be operational by December 201 7 in order to meet
their permit requirements, and it is too late to be considered by the Planning Commission.
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Lex Bimey came before the Commission with four proposals for four different plans, and
each with different growth allocation needs. Commission provided feedback, and Mr.
Bimey will be coming back to the Town with their choice.
FINANCE COMMITTEE: Patricia Bowell
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No Update
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Mr. Perry Stutman advised that the draft annual report of employee assessment is
completed, as well as the draft employee handbook that was provided on a previous date.
Would like to have a work shop set uo alier Commissioners have time to review both
documents.
ACTING TOWN MANAGER: Mike Bowell
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Munilink project coming along. Next water and sewer billing will be done from Muni-
Link.
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Manuals are about comolete
TREASURER'S REPORT:
General Fund checking s112,834.05
Water/Sewer checking $142,281.38
s
WWTP Project checking 4,907.12
CLERK:
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Clerk advised that she received letter from Tereza Hagerstrom regarding speeding on
Main Street. Ms. Hagerstrom installed an app on her phone and was able to clock
vehicles traveling past her house. She provided acopy ofthe letter to the Sheriffs
Department as well, and ultimately met with a deputy who discussed lack of signage on
Rt. l8 showing the speed limit. The deputy advised that if signage was put up by SHA
then they can enforce. Lane Cole advised that he has a call into SHA but has not been

able to meet up with Charlie Coppage. There were further discussion among the
Commissioners for additional speed control options, such a painting the speed limit on
the road and "yield to pedestrian" signage in the crosswalks. These options will be
discussed when a meeting with SHA is scheduled.
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Email from Perry Stutman with concems regarding golf carts being driven on the road.
As our Town Attomey was not present to discuss this, Mr. Stutman did not wish to
address.
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Clerk advised that Ms. Marge Lantz of Queenstown Village still has concerns and
complaints regarding idling trucks at Royal Farms. She has been keeping track of when
this occurs. as she was instructed to do by the Commissioners, and reported to the Clerk
numerous occasions of the violation. Clerk was instructed to get with Town Attomey on
enforcement, as Royal Farms has been notified ofthese disturbances on several previous
occasions.
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Clerk advised that Slate Comptroller Franchot will be hosting a press event on
Wednesday, August l6th at I :00 p.m. at the Queenstown Premium Outlets to remind
residents of the upcoming Shop Maryland Tax-Free Week. Commissioners Plumbo and
Schuster will both atlend.
OLD BUSINESS:
.
President Willis motioned to adopt Resolution 17-104 A RESOLUTION OF THE
COMMISSIONERS OF QUEENSTOWN TO PROHIBIT ON.STREET PARKING OF
VEHICLES ALONG CERTAIN AREAS OF OLD WHARF LANE AND MARYLAND
AVENUE. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Plumbo, and motion canied
unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS:
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Commissioner Plumbo would like the Town to look into a standard for mailboxes and
posts. He believes it would be a very inexpensive way to clean up the appearance of
some of the unsightly areas, and improve the efficiency for the post office. He offered to
look at different areas and research.
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He would like to get a financial update that includes the Certificates of Deposit.
.
There are several tree losses in town and wonders if any trees to be planted as part of
mitigation at the WWTP could be used. Per Pat Bowell, we can't use Town mitigation
requirements on private property.
.
There were some traffic reports generated last year that he would like to have a copy of.
Ms. Bowell advised she would provide him with copies.
ATTORNEY UPDATES: Brynja Booth
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No updates as attorney not present

OPEN DISCUSSION:
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Joe Kelkowski - Aker Road - recently hit with a tomado on Kent Island and possibly in
Queenstown. Some people did not have enough insurance to cover cleanup and repairs.
There are a lot of limbs and trees down which could pose a fte hazard. Some of the
residents need financial help to clean up. He did not see anyone from the Town come out
to see what damage they had. He asked ifthere was any money available to the residents
in need. He stated that one resident still has a lot of limbs and debris on his property and
it's his responsibility to clean it up- There are some property orvners who need to repair
fences, etc. He would like to see the Town follow up on these issues to make sure things
get cleaned up.
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Di Quynn-Reno - Main St. - emailed a statement to be read at the Board of Appeals
hearing on July l9th as she was unable to attend. She was informed that it had not been
read at the hearing due to time but was included as part of the record. Had she known it
was not going to be read she would have given it to someone else to read on her behalf.
She asked what the protocol was for these types of things. As the Commissioners were
unaware ofany protocol, she requested they determine how this should be handled for
clarity for future submittals. She also advised that the annual town yard sale will be held
on October 7th. She will orovide a flver to the Clerk for inclusion in the next
water/sewer billing.
There being no further business at this time, President Willis motioned to adjoum the meeting at
8:51 p.m. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster, and motion carried unanimously.
Respectfu lly submitted,
0,r'1]Vn*.-
Amy $/ Moore, Town Clerk