Town Commissioners Minutes — 2020-05-27

QUEENSTOWT\ COMMISSIONERS

trlay 27,2020 PRESENT: President Thomas B. Willis, Jr. Commissioner Holger Schuster, Commissioner Al Hardee, Robert Rauch, Town Engineer, Lyndsey Ryan, Town Attomey, Amy Moore, Town Manager/Clerk, Matt Reno, and Di Quynn-Reno.

REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:06 P.M.

GUESTS: None scheduled

PUBLIC WORKS:

o Mernbranes arrived and are stored. Meeting with operator and supplier on Friday to go over the plan for removal and replacing.

o Burst pipe in the belt press room over the weekend. Repaired by Steve Roberson

PLANNING:

o Next meeting is June 17,2}zl,beginning with a joint session with Town Commissioners to discuss Wheatland's concept plan. Ba:ry Waterman also to present plan to both Commissions.

o New home on Old Wharf Lane is planned on lot previously owned by Queenstown Landing Farm. Planning Commission will review site and mitigation plans for the project.

FINANCE:

o Budget complete. Ready for public hearing. Commissioners can introduce Ordinance 20- 01 and hold hearing in June.

o Schedule meeting to discuss raising allocation fees

TREASURER'S REPORT:

checking:

General Fund $131,057.12 Water/Sewer Fund checking: $ 89,3g0.51

MINUTES:

President Willis motioned to approve the minutes as written for the Apiil22,2020 regalar Commissioners meeting. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster. Vote: 3-aye,g-nay

CORRESPONDENCE:

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Hugh Odom, Vertical Consultants, advised he's been in negotiations with AT&T for a lease renewal. Mr. Odom has advised that they are leading him to believe should we not reach an agreement, they will move elsewhere when the lease expires. Their proposal is to keep the rent the same, for us to not require any reviedconsent of modifications, and to not increase rent on any modifications. Mr. Odom advised he is against the town

giving up any reviedconsent of modifications. He recommends Town go back with a small increase on monthly rent (based on current lease increase incrernents), maintain review/consent of any modifications, but agree to no rent increase on any modifications.

President Willis motioned to accept Mr. Odom's recommendation and authorize him to relay our proposal to AT&T. Motion seconded by Commissioner Hardee. Vote: 3-aye, 0-nay o President Willis motioned to reopen the Queenstown Community Park playground and basketball court. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster. Vote: 3-aye,0-nay

OLD BUSINESS:

o I & I - Per Bob Rauch, waiting on Maryland Rural Water Association (MRWA) to become available to conduct smoke test on sewer lines. It is important to find the I & I as we discuss Wheatland's capacity needs. Once membranes get installed, and get I & I repaired, will get a better idea on what capacity remains.

o Water Tower - Bob Rauch advised responsible for geo-tech work. We will need a test well and an application has been filed with MDE. The test well is included in the project costs and can be converted to a permanent well. Mr. Rauch offered options for the Wall St. tower- keep existing tower online; erect new smaller tower; refurbish Wall St. tower, and then use all three towers to meet our needs. He will look into cost of reducing the

size of the new tower. With concerns on who pays for the costs associated with the project, Mr. Rauch advised that Mr. Waterman could take advantage of our low interest rates and pay the town annually vs. having to come up with alarge,lump sum early in his project.

o In relation to Wheatland's, Matt Reno expressed concem in having an HOA there as we don't want to create a divide with residents. Would like to discuss HOA pros and cons with Commissioners and discuss all options. Suggested Peter Johnston look at and come up with a list. Commissioner Hardee stated Town needs to look at our costs associated with maintaining the development once it's furned over to town. He also suggested town

may want to implement a special tax district. Mr. Reno advised the Planning Commission had asked Peter Johnston to look into that so can have a well-defined discussion with good data to go by.

o Fire Tax Credit - Mernbers of the fire department presented a request for a tax credit for the Commissioners to consider at their February meeting. Members of the QVFD would have to be in good standing, meet the requirements implernented by the State and the department. They asked the Town to consider a 5o/o or l0o/o creditbased on the Countv tax credit that has been agreed upon. President Willis motioned to approve a l}o/otax

credit to the active QVFD members who own property in town and meet the criteria.

Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster. Vote: 3-aye,0-nay. Ms. Ryan will draft and present a Resolution for adoption at the next meeting.

o Commissioner Hardee advised he cancelled the band for the June 25th concert due to current circumstances with the coronavirus. The Commissioners will try to have a July concert. Commissioner Hardee will look into further.

NEW BUSINESS:

o Commissioner Schuster stated that we need to get a sense of the chain of command with employees. Some things take too long to get done. Commissioner Hardee agreed and stated the Town Manager is the nucleus of the operation and there should be a plan for every day for every ernployee/department. It was agreed to have the Town Commissioners and Town Manager review job descriptions with employees so everyone

knows what is expected of them.

o Proposed Ordinance 20-01 - An ordinance of the Town of Queenstown Adopting a General Budget for the Fiscal Year Beginning July 1,2020 and Ending June 30, 2021 and Establishing a Constant Yield Tax Rate of .1867 per $100 of Assessed Real Property Value and a Tax Rate of $ .47 per $00 on all Commercial or Business Personal property and Public Utilities; and also Adopting an Enterprise Budget for the Town's Water and

Sewer Operations. President Willis introduced Ordinance 20-Ol and scheduled a public hearing on same for June 24,2020. Motion seconded by Commissioner Hardee. Vote: 3- aye,0-nay

ATTORNEY UPDATES:

o Ms. Ryan is meeting with Joe Stevens, attorney for Barry Waterman, to go over the concept plan and share with him the numbers that Bob Rauch qlme up with for his share of the new tower and infrastrucfure costs.

o Hopes to have the purchase agreement for the Dudley property by the end of the week.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

o Di Qulmn-Reno - o Supports the tax credits to the fire department o Advised of a report they use at her work called a Council Action Report (CAR).

It helps them keep track of tasks so they don't get lost. She will provide Clerk with a copy for our use.

o Speeders on Main St. - some regular culprits. Frustrated and wants the town to be more proactive with enforcing. With COVID, more people are home and people are out walking. The most frequent culprits are the mail carrier, mail truck, and the recycle and/or trash truck. Commissioner Schuster advised he will contact the Postmaster and discuss his ernployees and the mail truck. Commissioner Hardee

advised he would contact Sheriff Hoffrnann to discuss radar. Commissioner Hardee advised that we did have them coming in fairly regularly to conduct radar on Main St., but he noticed that they had not been here much.

There being no firttrerbusiness before the Commissioners at this time, President Willis motioned to adjourn the meeting at7:43 p.m. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster.

Vote: 3-aye,0-nay.