Town Commissioners Minutes — 2022-04-27

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

QUEENSTOWTI COMMTSSTONERS
April 27,2022
PRESENT: President Al Hardee, Commissioner Tom Willis, Commissioner Bryon Callahan,
Town Manager Amy Moore, Town Attomey Lyndsey Ryan
REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:01 PM
Hardee motion to leave the regular Commissioners meeting and enter a closed session at 5:01
p.m. to discuss contract and legal matters. Willis second. YOTE: 3 aye - 0 nay.
Hardee motion to adjourn the closed session at 6:08 p.m. and take a small break bqfore
resuming regular meeting. Willis second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nq).
REGULAR MEETING RESUMED AT 6:13 P.M.
PUBLIC WORI$
o
Revised quote from Aerzen for the blower was received. As they expected the Town to
remove and ship to them for repair, Town Manager requested quote for thern to repair on
site. This was not an option, and it was not an option for us to remove and ship. Revised
quote added $1550 to pull blower and take to Aerzen to overhaul, making the repair cost
$7216. New blower, delivered and installed, is $9737.
Callahan motioned to purchase the new blower, i.f it is confirmed that deliverv and
installation is included. Motion seconded by willis. vorE: 3-aye. }-nay
.
Complaint received about parking on Steamboat Ave. Had Chris Ritch install another no
parking sign, as there was only one located on other end of the street.
r
Kubota representative, Kevin Crane, will meet with Commissioners on May 25,2022, to
discuss mernbranes.
PLANNING (No update)
FINANCE COMMITTEE - Pat Bowell
o
APPI checked the market and provided price quotes from several different electric
suppliers. Electric market very volatile right now. Looked into Delmara Power rates, and
they are about I}%higher. Recommends Town sign again with Freepoint for 48 months
at $ .0548 kwh. Callahan motioned to enter into a 48-month agreement with Freepoint.
2022. Motion seconded by Hardee. VOTE: 3-aye, }-nay
o
Attended the LGIT Renewal Workshop in Cambridge with Town Manager. Insurance
rates are pretty much the same as this year, except for an increase in auto coverage.
o
Attended the QA County Commissioners public hearing with Town Clerk/Treasurer
regarding the tax set off for FY23. Commissioners have put 5167,299 in their budget for
Queenstown next fiscal year. She also asked for funds to cover fireworks and it was
approved.
HARBORMASTER (No update)

TOWN CLERK
1.
Minutes
.
March 24,2022 (Closed Session)
Hardee motion to accept as written. Willis second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 naJ).
.
April 7 ,2022 (Emergency Special Session)
Hardee motion to accept as written. Callahan second. VOTE: 2 aye - Willis abstain
.
April 12,2022 (Closed Session)
Hardee motion to accept as written. Willis second. VOTE: 2 aye - Callahan abstain.
2.
Correspondence/Requests/Info - Sent and Received
(Nothing to report)
TOWN MANAGER UPDATES
o
Maryland Dept. of Human Services has launched a new progrcm designed to help
residents offset the costs of their water and sewer bills. The federally funded program
offers eligible households up to $2000 in assistance, focusing on the households *hose
water and sewer bills are 30 or more days past due. The program will assist the low-
income households pay their water and sewer bills, avoid shutoffs, and support water
reconnections related to non-payment. There is no cost to the Town to participate. We
would enter into an MOU with the Maryland DHS. Payment for any approved applicant
would be sent directly to the town to be applied to the resident's account. MOU was
reviewed by Attomey, and she approved with the addition of an indemnity clause.
Hqrdee motion to enter into MOU agreement. Willis second. VOTE: 3 ave - 0 nalt.
o
Contacted Eastern Shore Land Conservancy regarding costs to maintain trails. Referred
me to Chestertown and Tuckahoe. Owen Bailey, ESLC, cited examples ofjurisdictions
creating "friends of' groups made up of residents who volunteer time to take care of
basic maintenance, and he's also seen jurisdictions utilizing wood chips instead of mulch
from local tree removal companies, as this is usually a free resource. He provided a
paper they developed that includes a section on how best management practices can help
alleviate the maintenance costs for parks.
o
Lex Birney requested an amendment to the LDA boundary. This amendment does not
change the total area. The Planning Commission reviewed and recommended the
Commissioners approve. Attorney Lyndsey Ryan will draft an ordinance for introduction
at future meeting.
o
Received complaint from resident on Comegys Lane regarding the condition of the trees
in the rear of the property they say belongs to the town. Limbs are dead and breaking off
onto homeowners' property. Before taking any action, need to veriff ownership of the
open space.
o
Town Manager requested a closed session at the end of the meeting to discuss employee
matters.
OLD BUSINESS
INFRASTRUCTURE
1. I&Iproject
No update
2. New Water Tower & Infrastructure project
Waiting on revised PER. USDA review engineer has requested that Rauch send the
project back through the MDP Clearinghouse and it has been submitted. Anticipated
completion date is mid-May.
3. Wall St. Water Tower Maintenance
Waiting on revised PER as stated above
4.
Old Wharf Lane -Stormwater
Waiting on Engineer to supply bid documents

5. Wall St. Water Line Replacement
No update
MARINE PROJECTS
1.
Boat Ramp Improvements
Under construction
2.
Town Dock projects
Waiting on revised big packages.
3.
Federal Channel Dredging
No update
POLICY
1.
Review and Updates to Town Codes and Ordinances (2022)
No update
2.
Water/Sewer Connections Code - Proposed Clarifications & Revisions
No update
3. Slss2sline (Atlantic Broadband) RenewaUoptions
No update
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
1.
Wheatland's Project
No update
OTHER
1.
Speeding on Main St
No update
2.
American Rescue Plan Act
a.
Quarterly report submitted.
b.
Suggested Commissioners consider assisting some non-profits in town that may
have been affected by Covid. Other towns set up applications that they would fill
out requesting assistance. Due to the projects the town is considering, and the
unknown costs, no decision was made. They will consider once costs are known
with town projects.
NEW BUSINESS
None
ATTORNEY UPDATES
None
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
CLOSED SESSION (Authorized by Section 3-305(b) of the General Provisions Article of the Marytand Annotated Code,
and voted upon in Open Session)
nay.

There being no further business, Hardee motion to adjourn the regular meeting at 7:30 pm.
Callahan second. VOTE: 3 a:re - 0 nav.
Respectfully submitted,
Amv dMoor"
Town Manager

TOWN OF OUEENSTOWN
CLOSED MBETING/EXECUTIVE SESSION RECORI)
A public body that meets in closed session may not discuss or act on any matter not
permitted under the Maryland Statute summarized below. The public meeting law does
not apply to executive functions, quasi judicial functions, or chance encounters or social
meetings.
(I)
DATE AND TIME OF PROPOSE,D CLOSED MEETING OR EXECUTIVE
SESSION:
-ll*l
nut., lJ-l JoAs.
I
(2) LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR CLOSING PUBLIC MEETING OR GOING INTO
EXECUTIVE SESSION (circle the section of the law which authorizes the closed
session):
Open Meetings Act, Maryland Code Annotated, General Provisions Article, $ 3-
30s(b) (2014)
(l)
discuss:
the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline,
demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance
evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has
jurisdiction; or
(ii) any other personnel matter that affects 1 or more specific
individuals;
(2) protect the privacy or reputation of individuals with respect to a matter
that is not related to public business;
(3) consider the acquisition of real property for a public purpose and matters
directly related thereto;
(4) consider a matter that concems the proposal for a business or industrial
organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State;
(s) consider the investment of public funds;
(6) consider the marketing of public securities;
Closed Session form Rev. I .15
Page 1

@ consult with counsel to obtain legal advice;
(8) consult with staff, or other individuals about pending or potential
litigation;
(e) conduct collective bargaining negotiations or consider matters that relate
to the negotiations;
(10)
discuss public security, if the public body determines that public
discussion would constitute a risk to the public or to the public security,
including;
(i)
the deployment of fire and police services and staff; and
(ii)
the development and implementation of emergency plans;
(11) prepare, administer, or grade a scholastic, licensing, or qualifying
examination;
(12)
conduct or discuss an investigative proceeding on actual orpossible
criminal conduct;
(13)
comply with a specific constitutional, statutory, or judicially imposed
requirement that prevents public disclosures about a particular proceeding
or matter; or
(14)
before a contract is awarded or bids are 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 of the
public body to participate in the competitive bidding or proposal process.
(3) TOWN BOARD, AGENCY, OR COMMISSION PROPOSING CLOSED OR
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
\s\
Coslnn
(Name o rd, Agency, Commission, or Committee)
(4) IDENTIFY TOPIC(S) PROPOSED FOR DISCUSSTON rN CLOSED SESSION:
Closed Session form Rev. 1.15
Pas.e2

(s) MEMBERS OF BOARD, AGENCY, COMMISSION, OR COMMITTEE
PRESENT AT PUBLIC MEETING AT WHICH CLOSED SESSION
REQUESTED:
Name Vote on Closure
A\ ('c ircle correct vote)
Ko.vAe e 6?asain.i
\J
aunn
\N\L\ @
r..
gainst
@
gainst
For/Against
For/Against
5'.ot
1'. Dq
(6) TIME CLOSED SESSION CONVENED:
b,D8
TIME CLOSED SESSION CONCLUDED:
(7) PERSONS PRESENT AT CLOSED SESSION:
\
A Kr vc\e a , Tona \r. ,r u\ rr, /\wry l.{rn v r ,
Closed Session form Rev. l.l5
Page 3

(8) PLACE CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD:
n
Ttrr OQhr
o
(e) PURPOSE OF AND TOPICS DISCUSSED AT CLOSED SESSION:
(10) SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN AT CLOSED SESSION,IF ANY:
f\One_
CERTIFICATE OF PRESIDING OFFICER
I hereby certify that I am the presiding officer of CiJnAt.l\\SS\O ,
public board, agency, commission, committee, or other public body of ^thoe-.,Tro(w n of
Queenstown, Maryland. I further certify that by a majority vote on ttt" &1h day of
ftOv't\ JOS1 , the aforesaid agency, board, committee, or commission voted to
11gfu;tor"d *""tirg for the purposes, and to discuss the topics, set forth above, and that
no other topics were discussed, and that the foregoing is a true record of the closed
Closed Session form Rev. l.l5
Page 4

meeting described herein. The Clerk or Secretary is directed to maintain this document
as a public record of the Town of Queenstown, and to append the same to the minutes of
the next public meeting of the aforesaid agency, board, committee, or commission.
.ll
\
F1 leoar .1t' :
L
Date Signature
Printed Name
Prgstd€,nk
Title
Closed Session form Rev. 1.15
Page 5