Town Commissioners Other — 2016-07-13

QUEENSTOWN COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING

JULY 13, 2016

7:00 P.M.

ATTENDANCE:

President Thomas B. Willis, Jr., Commissioner J. Michael Bowell, Commissioner George L.

Plumbo, Jr., Barry Waterman, Brynja Booth, Lane Cole, Lonnie Anthony, Perry Stutman, Jack Shaum, Bill Benton, Joe Walder, Ed Modell, Pfc. Copper (Q.A. C. Sheriff’s Office), Jeanie Fitzgerald and John Fitzgerald.

REGULAR MEETING:

President Thomas B. Willis, Jr. motioned to open the meeting at 7:00 p.m. Commissioner Plumbo seconded. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0.

PUBLIC HEARING:

RESOLUTION NO 16-103 – A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF QUEENSTOWN TO

AMEND THE QUEENSTOWN 2010 COMMUNITY PLAN TO REFLECT THE ANNEXATION,

REZONING AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHEATLEND FARM AND TO RATIFY AND

CONFIRM THE QUEENSTOWN 2010 COMMUNITY PLAN AS BEING THE ADOPTED

QUEENSTOWN COMMUNITY PLAN IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS. Town Attorney, Brynja Booth, informed the Resolution has been advertised. All comments were admitted to the Planning Commission with written comments, two letters received and public comments. Barry Waterman spoke about the changes to the plan. President Willis officially closed the Public Hearing at 7:03 p.m.

OPEN DISCUSSION:

Perry Stutman – Signs are posted on Steamboat Avenue on the Bowlingly side of the street that say “NO PARKING”. A car was parked right in front of one of the signs. Mr. Stutman would like to request a letter be sent to the owner of the car. Town Attorney, Brynja Booth, informed the Sheriff’s Office can give a citation because signs are posted. President Willis informed the Assistant Town Clerk to send a letter with the picture informing there is no parking on that side

of the street because of the narrowness of the street. If it continues, we will call the Sheriff’s Office.

Jeanie Fitzgerald – A yard sale was held on Del Rhodes Avenue that brings merchandise from out of Town to sell. Lane Cole had called property owner, who said he knew nothing about this but he would take care of problem. Jeanie Fitzgerald also noticed a syringe in the street in front of the Town Office.

Joe Walder – Still having major issues at the Town Park and he found two more syringes this week.

Page 2 7-13-16 Pfc Copper, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office - Reported 54 patrol checks last month and 9 calls for service. He will be out on patrol tonight for the Town.

Joe Walder - Problem with drugs in Town. Cars at the park exchanging drugs. Joe will meet with Pfc. Copper of the Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office after the meeting.

Commission Plumbo – Commissioner Plumbo announced he has did three Community night walks and going to the State Police barracks tomorrow night for policing speeders, etc. We need lights at the Town Park and on the church. People from out of Town are doing drive throughs. Put in the Town Newsletter we are forming Community night walks and need people to volunteer.

Pfc. Copper, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Office, said we need signs saying surveillance in Town.

Lonnie Anthony – Problem with drugs in Town. A lot of things being found in Town. Need presence in Town with uniformed policemen. May need to go back to paying for policemen in Town. Still have speeders on Dudley Avenue. Lady on Del Rhodes Avenue found a man in her garage.

Pfc. Copper, Queen Anne’s County Sheriff’s Department, said he was on patrol tonight in Town until 12 midnight and he will pass this on to his supervisor.

ATTORNEY UPDATE – Brynja Booth Brynja Booth had a discussion with Commissioner Plumbo at the MML in Ocean City regarding the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development Sustainable Community grants that we might be able to use. Can apply additional years if needed.

Brynja Booth sent an e-mail today to the Planning Commission regarding who can be on the Planning Commission.

Brynja Booth, ORDINANCE 16-03 – “AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF

QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND THE QUEENSTOWN TOWN CODE TO ADD SECTION 7 TITLED

“RESIDENTIAL RENTAL HOUSING LICENSE AND INSPECTION” TO ESTABLISH A LICENSING AND INSPECTION PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTAL RENTAL DWELLING UNITS WITHIN THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN. Table until the next meeting.

Page 3 7-13-16

PUBLIC WORKS:

Lane Cole presented Mr. Bill Benton who is interested in being the enforcer for tall grasses, vehicles parked illegally, etc., would like to talk to Commissioners. Maybe designate him as the code enforcer. Lights at park are ongoing. MDE rom GMB, state has opened up more grants.

Brynja Booth and Bob Rauch to check on operations for plant. Each individual home has to have their own sewer line or adjourning sewer line, etc. , Brynja Booth and Bob Rauch are looking into. Grass being planted at the plant and a fence installed.

Lonnie Anthony – What does R & D Electric need for lights at park? Come to Delmarva Power and talk to them because he doesn’t think solar lights will work.

Commissioner Plumbo will work with the church so maybe we can use their light pole.

The Assistant Town Clerk informed someone called about a second water meter for an irrigation system for lawns, filling pools, water new lawns, etc. Lane Cole looking into.

PLANNING:

No one here

FINANCE:

No one here

ASSISTANT TOWN CLERK:

TREASURERS/FINANCE REPORT

General Balance:

Ending Balance $175,185.78 Utility Fund:

Ending Balance $178,085.29

WWTP:

Ending Balance $ 19,935.02

CORRESPONDENCE:

1. A contract from Champion Energy Electric for 120 Skipjack Lane, to resume service.

Champion will waive the early termination charge. We were able to get them to honor the original contract rate of $0.08824 per kwh. If we didn’t sign, the early termination bill is about $8,000. Wickersham canceled our electric when they transferred the plant electric into their name. President Willis motioned to accept the resigning of the Champion Energy Electric contract. Commissioner Bowell seconded. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0.

2. MML endorsing Utility Service Partners in offering the National League of Cities Service

Line Warranty Program. The program is an affordable home protection solution for our residents to help them deal with the financial burden of unanticipated service line repair and replacement costs. They would like you to adopt the National League of Cities Page 4 7-13-16 (NLC) Service Line Warranty Program for your municipality. The Commissioners want more detail.

3. Bids received at 2:00 p.m. on 7-13-2016 for the construction of a new Public Works

Maintenance Building, renovations to the pumping station and barn and demolition of the existing Public Works building. Four bids were received. The low responsive bid was provided by Wickersham Construction and Engineering, Inc. The total amount of the bid is $258,000. Two bids were received with lower total prices but were incomplete per the requirements of the request for proposals. The low nonresponsive bids were from

Belcher & Co. and West and Callahan. A fourth responsive bid was received from Willow Construction that exceeded the bid from Wickersham Construction. Based on Bob Rauchs review of the bids, he recommends awarding the bid to Wickersham Construction as the low responsive bid. A summary of the base bids follow. Copies of the bids, this recommendation and the decision of the Commissioners will be provided

to USDA for approval and authorization to award the bid per the decision of the Queenstown Commissioners.

Wickersham $258,000.00 Belcher $203,601.00 Willow Construction $315,450.00 West & Callahan $223,393.56 Commissioner Bowell moves to accept the bid of Wickersham. Commissioner Plumbo seconded. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0.

4. Commissioner Plumbo while at the MML Convention in Ocean City found information

about a Community Garden that we could put behind the Town Office. Jeannie and John Fitzgerald will look into this. We could have activities at the Town Park like exercise classes, art, etc. that Commissioner Plumbo will look into and Commissioner Bowell will look into getting equipment. Commissioner Plumbo would like this put in the newsletter and have a sign-up sheet at the office. We can use gray water for

watering the garden. Mike and George will get together to draft a letter for the newsletter

5. Kayaking has been approved but need funding. Waiting for Bob Rauch.

6. RESOLUTION NO 16-103 – A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS TO AMEND THE

QUEENSTOWN 2010 COMMUNITY PLAN TO REFLECT THE ANNEXATION, REZONING,

AND FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THE WHEATLANDS FARM AND TO RETIFY AND

CONFIRM THE QUEENSTOWN 2010 COMMUNITY PLAN AS BEING THE ADOPTED

QUEENSTOWN COMMUNITY PLAN IN ALL OTHER RESPECTS. Commissioner Bowell moves to adopt the Resolution No. 16-103. Commissioner Plumbo seconded. Vote:

Aye-3 Nay-0.

Page 5 7-13-16 Bills to be paid as approved.

There being no further business, President Willis motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.

Commissioner Plumbo seconded. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0.

Respectfully submitted, Shirlee L. Callahan Assistant Town Clerk