Town Commissioners Minutes — 2026-05-13
Minutes May 13, 2026 · 7 page(s)
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These are the Town Commissioners minutes for Queenstown on May 13, 2026. Staff reported utility items: an effluent sampler was sent out to test repairability (replacement cost cited ~ $11,000), hydrant flushing scheduled for May 27 (rain date May 22), and the I&I sewer work/restoration is complete with planned paving and a water main replacement segment; stormwater drawings from Rauch are pending and Commissioners agreed to use the selected contractor to clean the Dudley Field ditch. The Planning Commission recommended rezoning certain properties from retained County SR and CS to the Town R1 district with future development to use a PN (planned neighborhood) floating zone overlay and Critical Area rules to remain in effect; rezoning must follow Critical Area amendment procedures. Code Enforcement Officer Harold Veasel requested Zoning Administrator authority/title to enforce zoning and verify permits; the assistant town attorney will research what authority can be granted. Financial and manager updates noted fund balances (General Fund $63,128.08; WS Fund $28,166.17; ARPA Fund $0 after paying the Old Wharf Lane sewer contractor), a draft PWA from RAH, drafting a trades permit application and fee structure, and researching EDU allocations for a proposed new fire station; Commissioners agreed to budget using a 32% water/sewer rate increase (debt service increase deferred). Ordinance No. 25-06 (solar energy equipment) was motioned to be tabled indefinitely, Wheatland’s PWAs were provided for review, and the meeting moved into a closed session on personnel (no actions taken).
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QUEENSTOWN COMMTSSIONERS
May 13,2026
PRESENT: President Al Hardee, Commissioners Bryon Callahan & Jim Watzin, Town Manager Amy
Moore, Town Clerk Aaron Horney, Town Assistant Attorney Jen Dindinger
REGULAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 4:OO PM
GUESTS (no guests)
PUBLIC WORIG
o
Effluent sampler went up. Will try to rent one from lab and send ours out to see if repairable. New
one costs around $1 1,000.
.
Hydrant flushing scheduled for May 27- rain date of May 22.
o
Waiting on drawings from Rauch for stormwater work planned. Should use selected contractor to
clean Dudley field ditch as well? Commissioners agree yes.
PLANNING COMMISSION
.
Recommending Commissioners rezone the properties from the retained County SR and CS
classifications to the Town's R1 residential district as the base zoning district. Change should be
made with intent and understanding that future development will occur under the PN planned
neighborhood floating zone overlay. Any portions within Critical Area RCA would continue to be
governed by stricter CA standards. Rezoning must comply with CA amendment procedures.
FINANCE COMMITTEE (no updates)
CODB ENFORCEMENT/HARBORMASTER
o
CE Officer Harold Veasel suggested Commissioners give him Zoning Administrator authority/title
in addition to current duties as would give him more ability to deal with various violations noticed
throughout town- can also help veriff building/zoning permit projects are following standards in
addition to role MDIA has in process. Ms. Dindinger infonned she would look into what authorities
Mr. Veasel could be given and reporl back.
EVENTS COMMITTEE (no updates)
TOWN CLERI(
1.
Treasurers/Finance Report
o
General Fund $63,128.08 WS Fund $28,166.17 ARPA Fund $0 (last of funds used to pay
contractor on Old Wharf Lane sewer replacement project)
2.
Minutes
.
April29,2026 (Regular Meeting)
Callahan motion to approve as written. Watzin second. VOTE: 3 qte - 0 nqv.
3.
Correspondence/Requests/lnfo - Sent and Received (no updates)
TOWN MANAGER UPDATES
o
Draft PWA from RAH available for Commissioners review.
o
Drafting permit application for electrical/plurnbing/mechanical work. Curently only required to pull
inspection requests with MDIA. Currently don't know work being done until it's completed with
current process. Charge/determine fee? Commissioners agree good idea- have Ms. Dindinger look
into what is needed to put into place.
o
Looking to determine EDU's for new fire station- currently have one for existing station. New
station would have room to rent for events, etc. Similar stations at Kent Island and Church Hill only
have one EDU charged. Centreville station isn't charged any EDU's. Rauch believes around 6-8
needed. Ms. Dindinger will research standards for EDU allocation calculations.
INFRASTRUCTURE
1 I&lProject
o
Sewer work/restoration is complete. Paving from Maryland Ave towards the water will be repair
only with water main in this area to be replaced. East from Maryland Ave to Main St will be
milling and full overlay.
2. Water Tank & Infrastructure Project
o
State Engineer currently reviewing documents.
3.
Queenstown Harbor Water Issues (no updates)
MARINE PROJECTS
l.
Federal Channel Dredging (no updates)
POLICY
L
Water/Sewer Connections Code - Proposed Clarifications & Revisions (no updates)
2.
Water/Sewer Rate Study
Can work up budget using a few different percentages for rate increases- Commissioners agree to go
with 32o/o increase with debt service increase deferred for purposes of budgeting for now.
3.
Proposed revisions to the Zoning Ordinance Related to Accessory Dwelling Units
o
Deferred any discussion until next meeting.
4.
Long Term Rentals - Possible Legislation
.
Will look into what possible inspections would entail before making any decisions.
5.
Proposed Revisions to Zoning Ordinance - $95 Table of Height, Area, and Bulk Requirements
.
Deferred any discussion until next meeting.
6.
ORDINANCE NO. 2s-06 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND ARTTCLE
VII, SECTION 77 OF THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINANCE TITLED SOLAR ENERGY
EQUIPMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE BRIGHTER TOMORROW ACT
(E I ig i ble for adopt io n)
o
Hardee motioned to table the proposed ordinance indertnilely. Callahan second. VOTE: 3 qve - 0
nay.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
1.
Wheatland's Project
o
PWA's provided to be reviewed.
NEW BUSINESS (no new business)
ATTORNEY TJPDATES
o
Will provide information on standards for determining EDU allocations at next meeting.
PUBLIC COMMENT (no comments)
Callahan ntotion to leave the regular meeting at 5:30pm and enter a closed session to discuss personnel
issues. Watzin second. VOTE: 3 qve - 0 nqv.
CLOSED SESSION (Authorized by Section 3-305(b) of the General Provisions Article of the Maryland
Annotaled Code, and voted upon in Open Session)
The Commissioners entered a closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel issues. No actions
were taken during the closed session.
-0
TE,
There being no further business, Callahan motion to adjourn the regular meeting at 6: I lpm. lYatzin
secolld. VOIE;I aye o Lst-
subm
Town Clerk
TOWN OF OTTEENSTOWN
CLOSED NtE ETING/EXEC [-ITI!'E SESSION RECORD
A public bocly that meets in closed session may not discuss or act on any malter not
permitted trnder the Maryland Statute summarized below. I'he public meeting law does
not apply to executive ftrnctions, quasijudicial functions. or chance encounters or social
meetings.
(l) DATE AND TIME OF PROPOSED CLOSF,D MEETING OR EXECUTIVE
SESSION:
Date: 5 I 13 leJ- rime: 5 39e
^
-
(2) LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR CLOSTNG PUBLIC MEETTNG OR GOING INTO
EXECUT'IVE SESSION (circle the section of the law which authorizes the closed
session):
Open Meetings Act, Maryland Code Annotated, State Government Article, $10-
508(a), 2004 Repl. Vol.
discuss
(i) the appointment. employment, assignment, promotion, discipline,
demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance
evaluation of appointees, employees, or ofllcials over whom it has
jurisdiction; or
any other personnel matter that affects 1 or more specific
individuals;
(2)
protect the privacy or repLrtation of individr,rals r,vith respect to a malter
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 malter that concerns the proposal for a business or indLrstrial
organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State;
(5)
consider the investment of public funds;
(6)
consider the marketing of public securities;
(7')
consult with counsel to obtain legal advice;
(8) consult with staff, or other individuals about pending or potential
litigation;
(9)
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 or possible
criminal conduct;
(13) compiy 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, disclrss 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:
(ff
S.r ID 4
Qllame o Agency, Commission, or Committee)
(4) TDENTTFY TOprC(S) pROpOSED r--OR DISCUSSION IN CLOSED SESSION
(8)
PLACE CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD
(9)
PURPOSE OF AND TOPICS DISCUSSED AT CLOSED SESSION
Lil:.rrrrg l-l u6--onel-
ftr) aa< p ,
(10) SUMMARY OTT ACTIONS TAKEN AT CLOSED SESSION, IF ANY
ADrt t
CERTIFICATE OF PRESIDING OFFICER
I hereby certify that I am the presiding officer of ;ssi
public board, agency, commission, committee, or other public body of the Town of
Queenstown, Maryland. i further certify that by a majority vote on the l-t day of
hav , the aforesaid agency, board, committee, o. to
"o.i]ffioted
tottt u ctosed *".ti.rg 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
(s) MEIVIBERS OF BOARI), AGENCY. COMMISSION. OR COMMITTF,E
PRESENl'AT PLIBLTC MIIEI'ING ATWI{ICH CLOSED SESSION
REQr_lES1'ED:
Name Vote on Closure
(circle q:ryct vote)
Gg/Against
ffi
T- 6'DXgai,,st
@guirrtt
F'or/Against
For/Against
(6) 5 :3o en
TIN,IE CI.OSED SESSION CONVENED
TIME CLOSED SESSION CONCLUDED
(7)
PERSONS PRESENTAT CI.OSED SESSION
n I \\e.JrcF trn
04
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rnr-eting describecl lrereiu. Clerk or Secretan is directecl ttl maintain this docttnlcnt
as a pgblic record ttl'thc -l'or,r,n of Qtrcensto'rl.tt. itncl to appenci thc samc to the mintltL's ()f
thc next public t'rleeting of the afttresaicl agenc). hoard. conrmittc'e. or ctlmtuissit'rt-t.
5l
Z.-fl"fuZt"
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Date Signature
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No.ilee
Printed Name
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