Town Commissioners Minutes — 2025-09-24

QUEENSTOWT{ C OMMTSSTONERS

September 2412025 PRESENT: Presideirt Al Hardee, Commissioners Tom Willis & Bryon Callatran, Town Manager Amy Moore, and Attorney Jennifer Dindinger.

REGULAR MEETING CALLED To ORDER AT 6:00 PM GUESTS - None scheduled

PUBLIC WORKS

' Aaron Hopey compiled some data on bulk collection for past years vs current. Work session scheduled for Wednesday, October 15ft at 4:00 p.-.io review bulk and ftee trimming regulations.

' Scheduling a meeting with George Smith to get updates on the plant. Date to be determined.

' waiting on delivery of mertbranes. Greg smith keeping things going at the plant.

Lyndsey's position dMann+Hunmel:

She thinks the rown is stuct payrng the cost and then we will need to try to go after M&H to cover the cost as damages. During the meeting we set up with George smith, we should also discuss the membranes to avoid two separate meetings. she needs to get an understanding from him about when the w m a em ra b n ra ty n e p s e r s i t o a d rt ' e o d n t c o e fa w il e , d o e r t s e h n o n w in e s i t g h n a J t, o w f e fa c il a u n e d , e t c o i d 9 g e e h i o f w w e to c p a r n o c p e in e p d o . in If t o it n d s ' c ri h n e g du t l h e e ,

membranes should be due to ship to us sometime early octobei. waiting on expected delivery date.

PLANI\IING COMMISSION _ No update

F'INAIYCE COMMITTEE

' FY 25 audit ongoing' Pat Bowell is working on the annual Highway user Revenue report.

coDE ENFORCEMENT/HARBORMASTER

- No update

EVENTS COMMITTBE

o o Participating with the QVFD Auxiliary Fall Festival on l0/l l p s s s a a e im r c n ti u m t c a r i i o p , n a n g g t s i a n m T m g r u e e s w e s ic i t F h a f a o n r r r d e m T f c r r a e e o n s e o d h k l c i m i g e o h o e t w i r n n d a g t i s l i , k i . " w ti p r r h g r ic i " h w i a i i t s h ro 1 T 2 o b / w 6 y n. Q S o t V f a g b F e e D n is t A e re v r n u ill t r e e i l d i f a . o r r c y o p . n i c f L k ir o u m p c e a a d l n h c d h e u s e e r c t w h u e it p s h .

TOWN CLERK

.

Treasurers/Finance Report Checking:

GF

$175,7g5.g7 checking:

wS ARPA: $ -49,965.90 ($ l23,6g0Tax SetOffto be deposited = $l 73,655.96) o $sgz,oss .23 Minutes o September 10, 2AZ5 (Regular Meeting) lViili.g mntinn tr) ttts*.,n1'A ^a -..--:11 ^, ^ o September lT,2O2S (Work Sesrio"l Correspondence/Requests/Info - Sent and Received (nothing to report)

TOWN MANAGER UPDATES

l. Per MD Code, local govemments are required to have an Investnent Policy that is consistent with guidelines adopted by the State. Ours is severely outdated, from 1995, and needs to be brought up to code. Will have a draft for the next meeting

2. Out of all responses (approx. 30) to our Indeed notice, we have about 5 prospective

applicants. Wi've requested they fill out orn application and return if still interested, ffid to date only have received one. Following up with others and then will schedule inte,lrriews.

3. eA County Garden Club will be including us in their holiday decorating this year.

Looking to trang wreaths, swags, bows etc. at Town Office, Courttrouse, and clock area on oecqnber 4t[, which will be in time for our tree lighting event. They want to add this to their schedule every Year.

4. Have a call in with ni* Davis this week to schedule meeting for lighting at boat ramp.

Waiting on date. Susie DeVito informed Aaron that we could access internet if needed for cameras if town responsible for cost to extend.

OLD BUSINESS ITEMS

INFRASTRUCTURE

l. I&IProject preconstnrction meeting held Tuesday. Town needs to file a utility permit with sHA, for work done on Rt. rg @ old wh*i' l*". Retallack will file for trafEc control plan' Retauack io g* us a dei"ailed work schedule and then we will send out letters to residents' R to a u th c e h m ir . $ T ; h ; e * re w w ill i ll b e b e s o o m n e s i t t r e a f a f n ic d d w is i r ll u p ke ti e o p n , r e b s u id t e a n c t c s e s in s f o fo rm r r e e d s id a e s n t t h s e o w f o th rk a t g s e t t r s e e c t l o w se il r l

b p e la m ns a d c e a a ll v f a o i r la n b e le w ' manholes, with the exce,ption of the large one at intersection of old w ad h v a is r e f d a t n h d a t M T a o r w yl n a n c d ou . l T d h r a e t p l w ac o e u l n d e w be m re a f n u h rb ol i e s s h e w d i t a h s l n a e rn e p d e ho d l . e s D , u r r r i h n i g c h m i e s e b ti a n s g ic , a R ll e y t a ju ll s a t c k a

cleanout and is all that is nieoea. He said a lot of new constnrction projects use these vs manholes. They are large anough to allow cruneras to get thru. Also about $4000-$5000 b c E h u x e t p a p e p r c o e t r b w a tt o b ' r l r y k i n n to i b w b a e l m l g p i a a n r n k a h t o il t f e h 4 s e . - e 5 D n .. d o T n o h ' f t e b y k r n w o o i w w ll w r th t o u e r r k e r x * u a o p c t th * n e o t p i * t r b i c t " e o t w o o a n f r d t m h s a a t R n a h t. n o d 1 le 8 a s d ' t v o P is r e b o . e je c re t p s la h c o e u d ld '

take upp-*itnately a month. Probably start mid'october now

2. W J b a id m a , t e e a s r n t d m a n e to k e t a i & n ls g o l n w d fr i i s a t c h s u t s n L s r in c r d t e u s m r t e r o o P v m r a o l j T e o h c t u t s r o sd il a p y o r to ti o d n isc r u s o s^ r p p r r o ic je rn c g it o o n g e s t o o m v e e r o a f l l th p e ri c i e te m of s p i r n o je th c e t

down. Will advise outcome'

3. Hartor Water Issues - No update

Queenstown

MARINE PROJECTS

1. F w d is o e I n p d F e r e o r g b j a e r y l a c C n t m e t h d i a a d n p a N n t p o e $ li v l 2 c e D a .4 r r t n M i e o b d r e b g r- r y i r n . u g B i B * a i i t d y te l d a d i n n J g r . a a s c n t t d w a p i e r e e t r k f m u f n i o ts d r . i a n $ r g g e 2 o e 5 b x , f 0 p ig 0 e a c 0 t t . e e d d D e t in o s ig l d a n a r t y e w r o f e o r u r k p 2 is r 0 o s 2 je c 6 h c ' e t P d is u ro le je d c t t o t o b t e al

s I ,657,000.

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.

NEW BUSINESS

1.

ORDINAI\iCE NO.25.06 - AI\ ORDINANCE OF TIIE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND ARTICLB Vrr, SECTTON 77 OF THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINAhTCE TITLED SOLAR ENERGY

EQUIPMENT TO COMPLY WITH THE BRIGHTER TOMORROW ACT

(e ligible fo r intodu ction) Not introduced. Commissioners still reviewing information on the Brighter Tomonow Act.

ATTORNEY UPDATES (no updates)

PUBLIC COMMENT

Matthew Ball - will tree trimming include himming or cutting of trees in thE courthous e yard?

They are growing over onto his property and house. He was advised that yes, town intends to have trimmed, but he is welcome to cut anything that has grown over onto his property.

Di Quynn-Reno - l) asked status of lighting at the boat ramp parking area and stated six weeks is too long to get an elecfician. Town informed her we are working -on it and due to scheduling with electrician we use' it is taking longer . 2) asked if town used keypad on sewer plant gate.

Can get something that would nack who goes in and out if there is an issue. Commissioners informed the issue wasn't with someone going into the sewer plant area, just in and out of the drive to the ramp area during overnight horns.

Claire Leocha - read and submitted a letter requesting to discontinue routine use of the fire siren currently used by the QVFD. She stated thalwhile the siren once played an important role in srunmoning firefighters, advances in technology have made routine *" Lf the siren unnecessary.

She also stated that continued use of the siren presents several concerns, including disruption to nearby residents, contributes to alarm fatigue,- and diminishes the impact of aleis d'ring true emergencies' She cited national standardJ guia*ce which emphasizi modern communication syste'lns over outdoor sirens and reflect the importance of reserving sirens for true emerge'cies such as tornadoes or hurricane: *!* urgent rhrtto in place or evasuation may be necessary.

Commissio i n t' e r Hardee advised that it is thi fire deparfrn"nt', siren and would be their decision if they keep He stated that the Town could send a letter to the fire deparfinent requesting their consideration of discontinuing the siren or at least silencing it in the overnight hours.

Matt Ball - asked if the decibel level could be reduced. He has hearing problerns, and the siren does affect him' Has a phone app, which he acknowledged may not be \X}%accurate, but recent siren read at 130 decibels- oion't know there was a siren when he was looking to buy house.

Suggested town require sellers to disclose to buyers that there is a siren.

Sue Donaldson - in favor of siren being discontinued during quiet hours Di Quynn-Reno - in favor of a compromise on discontinuing siren dgring quiet ho'rs.

There was discussion on ducation about what the siren tones mean. Most residents are not aware what the tones are for, they just hear it blow and know there is a call. Pertraps educating public would be helpful.

There being no firrther business, Callahan motion to a4iourn thg meeting at 6:57 p.m. Willis second. YOTE: 3 aye - 0 nay.

Respectfu lly submitted, Town Manager