Town Commissioners Minutes — 2024-03-12

QUEENSTOWI\ COMMTSSTONERS

March 12,2024 PRESENT: President Al Hardee, Commissioners Tom Willis & Bryon Callatran, Town Manager Amy Moore, Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan

REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:OO PM

PUBLIC WORKS

o Called in Kline's to pump out tank at wastewater plant as it was full and mixed liquor was maxed out.

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Looked into having Kline's pump out 18,000 gallons of sludge water so that Roberson Plumbing can replace the operating valves located in the parking lot. Cost is estimated to be $4-5K. Another option being explored is getting a Rain for Rent tank, pump out to the tanks to hold while repairs are made, and then pump back when completed. Greg Smith will keep us posted.

PLANNING COMMISSION

o As a compromise to allowing the Planning Commission to grant an exception to the 500- foot cannabis enterprise buffer in an existing commercial building in the HC zone, the use could be approved by Special Exception. As such, any proposal would be vetted by the Board of Appeals, who would determine if parking was adequate, could require a traffic impact study, and can establish appropriate conditions, e.E.,limited signage and

buffering from visibility from US 301. The Board of Appeals process would also allow the public to comment on the proposal. The text amendment would be something like the following:

S 87. Cannabis Enterprises.

Cannabis enterprise uses, except on-site consumption businesses, are permitted in the HC Highway Commercial, RC Regional Commercial, I Industrial districts, and commercial areas in an approved RPC overlay district subject to the following conditions:

A. Any proposed development site is located south of us 301.

B. The State of Maryland licenses the enterprise.

C. No enterprise may be located within -firu hundred (500) feet of a pre-existing school, licensed childcare center, registered famity childcare home, playgrottnd, ricreation center, Iibrary, public park, or church.J D. The Boa llow es tn an rc ng tn the HC Hi Co I di, ial the mitatio outlined in C notwithstanding. (new text) Use would be limited to infill properties only. Vacant lots would not be applicable.

' The Planning Commission reviewed a request for a dayhesource center from Haven Ministries, to be held at Shore Christian Fellowship. Based on the information before them, the Planning Commission did not consider the proposed use as an accessory use to a church. They motioned to recommend the Town Commissioners amend the Zoning Ordinance to provide for a day center as a special exception in churches. This would

require a public hearing and allow the applicant to make a presentation and give the public an opportunity to ask questions.

Per Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan, a special exception is presumed to be approved. The more regulatory thing to do would be to permit by variance. Commissioners approved to table and discuss further at the next meeting.

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SAFETY & SPEEDING TASK FORCE

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As the specific project requesting recommendations for safety traffic measures has been completed, it was discussed about whether the group needs to continue on a regular basis or on an as-needed basis. Town staffwill contact the members to get their feedback.

o Benches - will replace the one in the bump out to match the other new ones purchased.

FINAI\CE COMMITTEE (no updates)

C ODE ENFORCEMENT/HARBORMASTER

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Letters issued for a few untagged vehicles and trash violations.

EVENTS COMMITTEE

o Easter Egg Hunt event scheduled for March 23 at}pmwith rain date of March 24.

TOWII CLERK

1. TreasurerslFinanceRePort

General Fund $28,751.41 WS Fund $69,383.88 ARPA Fund $642,330.92

2. Minutes

o February 28,2024,2024 (Regular meeting) llis moti itten. Call, VOT.

3. Correspondence/Requests/Info - Sent and Received - none

TOWN MANAGER UPDATES

o Rebecca Clark of QAC Economic/Tourism Development requested a meeting with Town/State officials to discuss the town's economic development vision and any resources needed. Couldn't make March 12th work, so looking at April 9th at 3:00 p.m.

Waiting for confirmation.

o The Council of Governments (COG) meeting is being hosted by Queenstown on Wednesduy, March 13th at 6:30 p.m. Town to provide lite dinner. Topics and guest speakers include: Theresa Young, Executive Direction of American Red Cross of Delmarva; eAC HazardMitigation Plan (Scott Haas, Emergency Services Director), and eAC Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance and Regional Hospital (Todd Mohn, County Administrator).

OLD BUSINESS

INFRASTRUCTURE

1. I & I Project (no update - tabled until spring 2024)

2. New Water Tower & Infrastructure Project (no update)

3. Mernbrane Clean - Valve Automation

Work began last week on Project

4. Lead Service Line lnventory Project

Ms. Ryan advised that Rauch submitted an agreement for professional services with a revisei project budget. The original cost of $205,985 was reduced to $ 1 29,345. Ms.

Ryan tras rwiewedihe agreement and found it to be acceptable with the exception of t[uidated damages. Propose to revise section E to permit the recovery of damages, including reasonable attorney's fees and litigation expenses, if any, resulting from any failnre to submit the inventory by the required due date. Callahan motion to add MARINE PROJECTS (no updates) 1.

Boat Ramp Improvements (no update) 2.

Town Dock Projects (no update) 3.

Federal Channel Dredging o Waiting on final report from Bayland Consultants .

On our behalf the County has again applied for federal funding through Sen.

Cardin for FY'25.

POLICY

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Water/Sewer Connections Code - Proposed Clarifications & Revisions (no updates) 2.

Road and Sidewalk Standards (no updates - resend & print hard copies) 3.

Nuisance Flooding Plan Found no exemption in the State's Nuisance Flood Plan Development Guide regarding state road flooding in town. Plans for other jurisdictions depict state roads.

Areas that are shown on assessment are Rt. 18@ Skipjack/Melvin and also theTown dock at 2nd Ave. Asked Ms. Ryan to look into what responsibility the Town would have, if any, to erect high water signs on a state road if we adopt the draft Plan. If we don't place signs, is there any liability to the Town? Town staff instructed to contact SHA about installing permanent signs depicting areas prone to flooding. Ms. Ryan

will also check with Oxford on how they implemented their plan, as they have state roads that flood.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

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Wheatland's Project a.

DRRA & PWA

ORDINAIICE NO. 24-OI _ AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMISSIONERS

OF QUEENSTOWN APPROVING AND ADOPTING A DEVELOPMENT

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE

TOWN COMMISSIONERS OF QUEENSTOWN AND WATERMAN FAMILY

LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, PURSUANT TO THE QUEENSTOWN TOWN

CODE. (pending revisions) (no update)

NEW BUSINESS

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Haven Ministries - proposed daylresource center Discussed under Planning Commission business ATTORNEY UPDATES (no updates)

PUBLIC COMMENT

o Pat Bowell Noted that all the benches in the Town Center are different. Commissioners advised the one between office and apartment building is privately owned. Commissioner agreed the one in the bump out is older and could be replaced to match the new one installed, and others to be installed.

o Lane Cole Suggested Town Manager ask Todd Mohn if the county would like all the chairs back that were given to us years ago. They are currently taking up much needed storage space and they have not been used, nor is there a plan to use.

o Paris Wells Resident of Second Ave. Researched ordinances and found that livestock and fowl are not permitted to be raised in town. She would like to raise chickens for meat, not necessarily for eggs. The raising time would be approximately 6 weeks. They would be kept in her garage, not free roaming. Commissioners advised that the request has comd up over the years, but the ordinance prohibiting ha-s rernained in effect. She suggested

that maybe the town could allow it on a permit basis. Commissioners advised that if she were to get a petition for consideration to amend the ordinance, they may consider putting it to referendum.

There being no furtlrer business, Hardee rnotion to adjoum the meeting at 5:02pm.

Callahafi second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nay.

Respectfully Submitted, Town Manager