Town Commissioners Minutes — 2025-08-04

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

QUEENSTOWI\ COMMISSIONBRS
WORKSESSION
August 41 2025
PRESENT: President Al Hardee, Commissioners Tom Willis & Bryon Callahan, Town
Manager Amy Moore, Town Clerk Aaron Horney, Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan
The purpose of the work session was to meet with engineering consultants regarding bids
received for the Water Infrastructure Project, to discuss revisions to the existing Bulk and Brush
Collection Regulations, and to meet in Closed Session to discuss a personnel matter.
WORK SESSION CALLED TO ORDER AT 4PM
Bob Rauch & James Cook, Rauch Inc. - Review of bids received for Water Infrastructure
Project and discussion on additional funding required.
Rauch stated priorities of the project being addressing the town's fireflow needs and
expandin g capacity in relation to the Wheatlands development project. Discussed expected
increased costs of the project- with the water tower portion being a major factor in the
increases- prior increases resulted in changing plans from a new water tower to an in-ground
tank/pump system. Costs have continued to increase as reflected by the bid numbers recently
submitted to the town for the project. Lowest bid submitted by Lindstrom Excavating was
$8,290,530, which is significantly higher than latest engineer estimated cost of $5,902,435.
Restoration of existing Wall St. tower also high contributing factor as original estimates were
at $135.000- now at $800,000 due to remediation required for lead paint found. Project
expenses broken down as 53,297,590 improvements supporting old town exclusively,
$3,899,700 supporting Wheatlands exclusively, $371,000 supporting both. Suggests
Wheatlands developers take over portions of project improvements that support Wheatlands
exclusively and their half of the shared improvements. Town would need to discuss with
USDA idea of reducing the scope of the project to only include the portions of improvements
supporting the old town- determine if would be allowable and still receive funding approved
for project. Barry Waterman and Wheatland developer stated they would be willing to work
on gathering cost estimates for their portion of the project. If USDA ultimately does not
allow scope reduction, reduced scope project could be resubmitted in future as a new project
for funding however Commissioners believe project should be done ASAP as dirty
water/pressure issues need resolution and costs continue to increase. Ms. Ryan and Mr. Cook
will begin talks with USDA to determine if plan to reduce project scope will be allowable.
Further decisions will be made following USDA's decision.
Review current bulk and brush collection regulations and discuss possible changes.
Comm. Willis stated he prefers Ridgely and Denton's guidelines on their bulk collection-
could work into our guidelines. Comm. Callahan suggested allowing an outside entity to
collect any scrap metal items placed for bulk as the town does not generate a significant
amount of income from recycling these items- would alleviate some of the burden for town
staff by reducing amount of bulk to pick up. Believes collection would go better if his
suggested method of collection would be used. Also wants town to strictly enforce existing
rules and not collect items that don't follow rules. Pres. Hardee suggested using Comm.
Callahan's method of collection of a month- see if any improvement prior to changing
current regulations. Also agrees with strictly enforcing existing regulations. All
commissioners agree.

Hardee motion to leave the Work Session and enter a Closed Session at 5:04pm. Willis second.
VOTE:3aW-0nalt. n
ctosED sEssIoN
The Commissioners entered a Closed Session for the purpose of discussing a personnel issue
with the Town Attorney.
Hardee motion to end the Closed Session and return to the Work Session at 5:45pm. Callahan
YOTE:3ave-0nav.
Hardee motion to adjourn the Work Session at 5:45pm. Callahan second. VOTE: 3 alte - 0 nay.
n
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TOWN OF OUEENSTOWhI
CLOSED MEETINGIEXECUTIYE SESSION RECORI)
A public body that meets in closed sessigp may not discuss or act on any matter not
penrritted under the Maryland Statute summarized below. The public meeting law does
not apply to executive functions, quasi judicial firnctions, or chance encounters or social
meetings.
(I)
DATE AND TIME OF PROPOSED CLOSED MEETING OR EXECUTIVE
SESSTON:
Date: 8A - rime: 5to4
Pm
(2)
LEGAL AUTHOzuTY 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, State Government Article, 10-
$
508(a), 2044 Repl. Vol.
\/J,1Tdiscuss:
(i)
theappointment,employment,assignment,promotion,discipline,
demotion, compensation, removal, resi gnation, 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 concerns the proposal for a business or industrial
orgartization 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;
( 1 0) 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;
(1 t) prepare, administer, or grade a scholastic, licensing, or qualiffing
examination;
(12) conduct or discuss an investigative proceeding on actual or possible
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,
pubtic discussion or disclosure would adversely impact the abilify of the
public body to participate in the competitive bidding or proposal process.
(3) TOWN BOARD, AGENCY, OR COMMISSION PROPOSING CLOSED OR
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
fName of Board, Agency, Commission, or Committee)
(4) IDENTIFv TOprC(S) eROPOSED r,OR DISCUSSION IN CLOSED SESSION:
irse-$ss Qtson
A,
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rnqtd [4rSoAAL

_____(5I_
PRESENT AT PUBLIC MEETING AT WHICH CLOSED SESSION
REQUESTED:
Name Vote on Closure
(circle,pegect vote)
(@iagainst
t'J'\\\S
Tb^
@against
6rt o ,\ Qo\\ nhq.\
@.gainst
For/Against
-T
F'or/Against
5ro"lf A
(6) TIME CLOSED SESSION CONVENED:
TIME CLOSED SESSION CONCLUDED: 5'^'15 "n
(7) FERSONS PRESENT AT CLOSED SESSION:
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(8) PLACE CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD:
(9)
PURPOSE OF AND TOPICS DISCUSSED AT CLOSED SESSION:
&-PorQr-
-.
(10) SUMMARY OF'ACTIONS TAKEN AT CLOSED SESSION, [F ANY:
CERTIFICATE OF PRESIDING OFFICER
I\\A
I hereby certify that I am the presiding officer of ,
public board, agency, commission, committee, or other public body of the Town of
Vfiyfand. I further certify that by a majority vote on the q {'h day of
Queenstown,
j\uags} lOaS , the aforesaid agency, board, committee, or commission voted to
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holdCclosed meeting 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

rneeting 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.
Date Signature
A\
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Printed Name
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Pcu\Aenf &,nrmisslont
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Title