Town Commissioners Minutes — 2025-08-13

QUEENSTOWN COMMISSIONERS

August 13r 2025 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 AT 4:OO PM

GUESTS - Lieutenant Troy Lowery - Discussed parking citations QAC Sherrif s Dept. will use to enforce parking regulations at the town boat landing area. Will issue $30.00 citations as needed. All Shenif s patrol personnel notified of policy. Will look into whether Town's Code Enforcement Office can utilize as well or if must be issued by Sherrifs Dept. Also has recently put two separate directed patrols in Queenstown area- will look into weekend/nighttime patrols

as well.

PUBLIC WORKS

o George Smith/Susquehanna recommends the Town proceed with purchase of new membranes as quoted recently by Mann-Hummel. Believes existing membranes are due to fail at any given time, this would allow the town adequate time to make decisions for different brands/types of membranes that may have longer life cycles and plan for any retrofit work required. Callahan motion to purchase the new membranes aid also send

' '' ' ' Mann-Hummel legal letter .{ reliqt due to issues ex' with current membranes.

lTillis second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 naLMs. Ryan will draft a letter to send to Mann-Hummel.

o Source of odor neighbors of the plant brought up recently believed to be caused by dumpster at plant which collects debris dumped from chute during screen filtration pror.5. Dumpster may sit for some time between dumpings. Combined with heat and rain sitting stagnant, believed to be source of odor. Dumpster was emptied and pressure washed/clJaned with bleach- should alleviate the problem.

o Waiting on Comm. Callahan to meet with Rick Davis regarding ditch on their property before contacting additional contractors for the stormwater projects- will upd ate atthat time.

PLANNING COMMISSION

' Maryland Chapter 196/Senate Bill S91 effective Oct. 1,2025, requires local jurisdictions to adopt local laws by Oct. l, 2026 authorizing accessory dwelling units in ali single-family residential zones, subject specific standards prohibitions on restrictive conditiottr. ftuntting Commission currently reviewing and will make ordinance amendments recommendations in near future to ensure compliance with new state requirements.

o Planning has drafted amendments to the Zoning Ordinance to comply with Maryland's Brighter Tomorrow Solar Act and recommend Commissioners approve. Copies will be available for review at next meeting.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

o Town staff has begun working with auditor on Fy20 25 audit.

C ODE ENFORCEMENT/HARBORMASTER

o Haven't been issuing citations at boat landing area as unclear how to identiff vehicles as police can't provide identifuing info to Code Enforcement Offrcer. Have only been leaving warning notices on vehicles. Per Lt. Lowery's discussion earlier, town will rely on Sherrif s office personnel to issue citations going forward.

EVENTS COMMITTEE

o Tree lighting date discussed last meeting. EC will contact QVFD Ladies Auxiliary to discuss cookie walk event dates and thoughts on weekend after Thanksgiving.

o Instead of a stand-alone town fall parade event, EC looking to partner with Auxiliary planning a Fall Festival combining a vendor fairlfood trucks/fall fesVfire prevention and more on Oct. I l.

TOWN CLERK

l.

Treasurers/Finance Report o General Fund $83,884.89 W/S Fund $48,461 .57 ARPA Fund $592,135.52 2.

Minutes o July 23,2025 (Regular Meeting) Willis motion to opprove as written. Callahan second. VOTE: 2 alte - 0 nalt. Hardee wqs not present durins the m o August 4,2025 (Work Session) Callahan motion to approve as written. Willis second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nay.

o August 4,2025 (Closed Session) Callahan motion to app'ove as written. Willis second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nay.

3. Correspondence/Requests/Info - Sent and Received (nothing to report)

TOWN MANAGER UPDATES

o Property owner informed last week of a break-in attempt at apartment building next to town office- reported to Shenif s Office. Inquired about having a community watch as was done in past. Di Quynn-Reno informed there is an informal watch between residents alreadypossibly formalize for residents to join.

o Bayshore Soccer Club donated a hand-painted picnic table for the Community Park which was set up August 3.

o Followed up on resident inquiry last meeting regarding Queenstown Creek's designation as a Closed Safety Zone prohibiting shellfish harvesting. Per MDE regulations, areas adjacent to all sewage treatment plant outfalls are classified as "prohibited" as required under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program which prohibits harvest of shellstock for any purpose.

o Permitting for fireworks complete and received. Fireworks/QVFD Fair Sept. 12 with rain date of Sept. 13.

OLD BUSINESS ITEMS

INFRASTRUCTURE

1. I & I Project (no uPdates)

2. Water Tank & Infrastructure Project

possible to complete project in phases. Rauch putting together written scope of work and budget. Scope must be consistent with that which was evaluated in the approved amended pER and ER. Must follow procedures established when bids received in excess of obligated funds. Info provided to Rauch.

3.

Solar (no updates) 4.

Queenstown Harbor Water Issues public Works attempted to check meters at Queenstown Harbor- found fittings dissimilar to that on other town meters and did not disconnect as was unfamiliar with them/didn't want to damage them. Believes should call Steve Roberson Plumbing to inspect first and provide guidance. Commissioners agree.

MARINE PROJECTS

1. Federal Channel Dredging

Bayland submitted request on August 6 for a Water Quality Certification from MDE as required by the Clean Water Act before the Corps may issue a permit for dredging.

Waiting on review/resPonse.

POLICY

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

2. Water/Sewer Rate Study (no updates)

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

l.

Wheatland's Project a.

Cost Estimates for Bonding On hold until PWA drafted.

2.

6915 Main Street a. ORDINANCE 25-05 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN TO AUTHOzuZE THE PURCHASE OF 16,874 SQUARE FEET OF LAND OWNED

BY KATHLEEN SNYDER TO RECONFIGURE THE TOWN PROPERTY

LOCATED ON CENTER STREET, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT OF

THE COMMISSIONERS OF QUEENSTOWN TO EXECUTE SUCH DEEDS AND

PLATS AS ARE NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE THE PROPERTY LINE

REVISION (eligible for adoption) Commissioners Willis and Hardee stated no reason to purchase property if unreachable to current WWTP property using easements. In addition, engineer recommended alternative plant expansion location. Commissioner Callahan agreed. Commissioners will not vote to approve the ordinance.

b.

Purchase Agreement No agreement as was dependent on above ordinance being adopted.

NEW BUSINESS

o Commissioner Willis stated a work session is needed to address outstanding issues such as bulk collection updates and brush/tree growth into town ROWs.

ATTORNEY UPDATES (no updotes)

PUBLIC COMMENT

. Di Quynn-Reno - Are there camera/lights at the landing area and plant entrance- if not could be good idea to have as has noticed activity at those locations at odd overnight hours.

Pres. Hardee agreed- will have staff look into purchasing cameras for those locations.

Also asked if town's ARPA funds have been obligated as is aware they must be by acertain date. Commissioners informedthey are obligatedto use onthe Old Wharf Lane I&I Project.

There being no further business, Callahan motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:I8pm. Willis second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nqt.