Town Commissioners Minutes — 2023-05-09
Minutes May 9, 2023 · 3 page(s)
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The Queenstown Commissioners met May 9 with President Al Hardee, Commissioners Tom Willis and Bryon Callahan, Town Manager Amy Moore, Town Clerk Aaron Horney, Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan, and guest Bob Rauch of Rauch Engineering. Rauch introduced Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio and reported dock ladders will be repaired next week at Rauch’s expense; Rauch also has bid packages ready for valve automation at the WWTP, pier paving, and the Old Wharf water line, and the federal channel dredging RFP was issued with proposals due May 26. Public works will seek estimates to re-excavate a ditch by R&D Electric (with possible rip rap), and the WWTP is reported to be running smoothly. The Planning Commission sent a letter to the owner of the old Getty station and reiterated support for boat/trailer storage and town ownership of buffers/trails at Wheatland’s. The Safety & Speeding Task Force recommended multiple measures (4‑way stop at Main/Del Rhodes/Maryland, new crosswalks/markings, rumble strips, electronic speed signs, possible 15 mph town speed limit, and more speed bumps); commissioners will discuss State roads with SHA, get quotes and placement plans for town streets, will replace one rubber bump with asphalt, repaint bumps and stop lines, and post a newsletter notice. Financial and administrative actions: account balances reported (General Fund $256,806.16; W‑S Fund $43,142.17; ARPA $685,717.60), minutes approved 3‑0, a cooperative agreement with QAC Department of Community Services for livability code enforcement was approved 3‑0, the town office repair bid increased by $480 to $7,440 and flooring is delayed 2–3 weeks, a $1,555 upgrade for the clerk’s computer was approved, the final pay application for the town dock construction was approved, and commissioners will send letters to address misuse of the dock dumpster.
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QUEENSTOWN COMMTSSTONERS Mutr 9120?3 PRESENT: President Al Hardee, Commissioners Tom Willis & Bryon Callahan, Town Manager Amy Moore, Town Clerk Aaron Horney, Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER GUESTS o Bob Rauch, Rauch Engineering - Updates and Introduction of Staff Mr. Rauch introduced his new staff member, Jeannie Haddaway-Riccio. Ms. Haddaway- Riccio is the former Maryland DNR Secretary and has previously served in the Maryland House of Delegates. Her role will be in Government Relations and will help with finding government funding for new and existing projects. Mr. Rauch also informed that the dock ladders will be fixed next week- Rauch to cover the cost. Working on bid sets for valve automation at WWTP. Bid package for pier paving is ready. Still working on ideas for proposed ramp pier. Bid package for Old Wharf water line project ready- will work on cost proposal for engineering related to construction portion of project. PUBLIC WORKS o Owner of R&D Electric concerned about ditch next to the properfy filling in. Lane Cole contacting excavators for prices to dig out ditch- also thinks should rip rap at some point. Commissioners agree to get estimates for the ditch work. o Operator informs the WWTP is running smoothly overall currently. PLANNING COMMISSION o Letter sent to owner of old Getty station advising PC is in preliminary discussion stage of developing a Corridor Management Plan- want to know if any future development plans or visions for the property. o Feels important that some land at Wheatland's be set aside for boat/trailer storage area as there won't be adequate space on lots. Still in favor of Town taking over buffer areas at Wheatland' s for trails. SAFETY & SPEEDING TASK FORCE o Members Tereza Hagerstrom, Stefanie Takacs and Sue Donaldson discussed the Task Force's recommendations for improving safety and reducing speeding on town streets including: conversion of Main/Del Rhodes/IV1aryland intersection into a 4-way stop, improved street marking/signage for crosswalks, adding additional crosswalks, rumble strips and street markings for speed limits at entrance points of town center, electronic speed signs, reducing speed limit to 15 mph on town streets, additional speed bumps on town streets, among other ideas. Resident Travis Palmer also presented ideas/estimates he acquired for speed bumps as well- would like rubber bump on Charity replaced with asphalt bump. Commissioners agreed all good suggestions and will discuss recommendations for State roads with SHA during upcoming work session. Will also review suggestions discussed for Town streets and determine next steps. FINANCE COMMITTEE (no updates) CODE ENFORCEMENT/HARBORMASTER (no updates) EVENTS COMMITTEE (no updates) TOWI\ CLERK 1. Treasurers/Tinance Report General Fund $256,806.16 / W-S Fund $43,142.17 / ARPA Fund $685,717.60 2. Minutes r (lesular April 11, )011 nreetins) Callahan motion to approve os written. Willis second. VOTE: 3 alte - 0 nav. 3. Correspondence/Requests/Info - Sent and Received (nothing to report) TOWII MANAGER UPDATES r Contractor selected to perform Town Office repairs reviewed bid scope to ensure bid was accurate. Factored in removal of flooring and debris not originally account for- result is $480 increase in bid to total bid of $7,440. o Flooring has been ordered for T.O. repairs- currently 2-3 week delay expected before receiving. Columns ordered and received. Remaining materials needed readily available. o Lamp head/accessories to repair damaged streetlight have been ordered- 6 week lead time before receiving. . Cooperative agreement dQAC Dept. of Community Services for enforcement of QAC Livability Code within Town limits. Prior agreement was entered into May 2006 Agreement reviewed by Ms. Ryan and ready for approval. Hardee motion to approve the agreement. Willis second. VOTE: 3 ave - 0 nalt. o COG meeting tomorrow in Sudlersville at 6:30pm. Ms. Moore/Mr. Homey will attend. o Clerk's computer in need of upgrades- slow & having issues. Cost of $1,555 to install/configure. Upgrade now or wait? Commissioners agree to upgrade now. OLD BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE l. I&IProject Need to get cost proposal from Rauch to continue with engineering services for the construction portion of the project. No competitive bid requirement for ARPA funds but need to follow Town procurement procedures. 2. New Water Tower & Infrastructure Project Ms. Ryan to follow up on status of ER report for USDA. 3. Wall St. Water Line Replacement Cunently waiting on a start date from the contractor. MARINE PROJECTS 1. Boat Ramp Improvements Waiting on proposal from Rauch. 2. Town Dock Projects Contract for construction is complete and final pay app has been submitted for review/approval. Commissioners agree to approve payment. Rauch addressing ladder issue next week. 3. Federal Channel Dredging Request for Proposal notice started last week. Several engineering firms have requested scope of work. Proposals due May 26. POLICY 1. Water/Sewer Connections Code - Proposed Clarifications & Revisions (no updates) 2. Road And Sidewalk Standards (no updates) 3. FranchiseAgreements Ms. Moore and Finance Chair Pat Bowell meeting with Cohen Law Group on May 11 to discuss possible negotiating agreements on Town's behalf. 4. PROPOSED ORDINANCE 23-02 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND ARTICLE IV, PART III OF THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINANCE TITLED, "CzuTICAL AREA OVERLAY DISTRICT'' TO COMPLY WITH AMENDMENTS TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES ARTICLE (Public hearing scheduled for 5/2 4/2 3 ) DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS l. Wheatland's Project Ms. Ryan informed Waterman currently working on DRRA, seems to be ok with Town request for lot for maintenance building area, discussed buffer area ownership, possibility of connection around outlets us. uia outlet lines, wants to know when I6ti issues will be fixed/timeframe for capacity for project. Commissioners believe Rauch previously stated town has capacity for entire project- ask Ms. Ryan to verify with Rauch. OTHER l. Speeding on Town Streets. Commissioners discussed need to address speeding on Town streets in a swift manner. Agree to replace rubber speed bump with asphalt bump, repaint existing bumps, repaint stop lines, lower speed limitio 15 mpl as first rt"pr. Will review recommendations for placement of new bumps throughout town and determine number needed and exact placement areas and get qirotes. Will post notice in newsletter regarding speeding as well. NEW BUSINESS (nothing to report) ATTORNEY UPDATES (no updates) PUBLIC COMMENT o Pat Devitto - Dumpster at dock smells bad- is being misused with large amounts of dead crabs being dumping into it. Ideas to address misuse? Wants slipholjers to have access but need to discourage non-resident/commercial dumping. Commissioners agree- will o send letter to individuals known to be misusing dumpster as first step. Stefanie Takacs - Possible to establish community garden in lot tehind Town office? Commissioners informed idea has been suggested before- has not received much interest from residents when notice put out previously. There being no further second. VOTE: 3 alte - 0 na!,