Town Commissioners Minutes — 2024-09-25

QUEENSTOWN COMMISSIONERS

September 25r 2024 PRESENT: President Al Hardee, Commissioner Bryon Callahan, Town Manager Amy Moore, and Town Attorneys Lyndsey Ryan & Carly Landolfi

REGI]LAR MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 6:00 PM

PUBLIC WORKS

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Greg Smith and Jimi Harrison/Rauch working on getting the EQ pump out of the 40 ft. pit.

o Hydrant flow test on Monday, 9130, at golf course to check pressure for the upcoming events center and lodge.

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Lane Cole met with property owners of Bowlingly and they approve the plan to open up the ditch on Maryland Ave and clean up the ditch on the Old Wharf Lane side.

PLAI\NING COMMISSION - (no updates) SAFETY & SPEEDING TASK FORCE (no updates)

FINAI\CE COMMITTEE

o Pat Bowell advised she is working on the balance sheet for USDA as part of our WWTP loan requirements.

o Suggested looking over the 201 3 Water & Sewer Rate Study as some assumptions may be worth revisiting. Cost of running the WWTP has increased substantially, and we are not keeping up.

CODE ENFORCEMENT/HARBORMASTER (no updates) EVENTS COMMITTEE (no updates)

TOWN CLERK

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Treasurers/FinanceReport .

General Fund 527,1,36.82 - W/S Fund - $70,634.13 - ARPA Fund - $611,550..71 2.

Minutes .

August 28, 2024 (Regular meeting) Callahan motion to approve as written. Hardee second. VOTE: 2 alte - 0 nalt. Willis abstained due to being absent-from that meeting.

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September 1 I ,2024 (Regular meeting) Willis motion to approve as written. Hardee second. VOTE: 2 alte - 0 nalt. Callahan abstained due to being absentfrom that meeting.

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September 17 ,2024 (special meeting) Callahan motion to approve as written. Hardee second. VOTE: 2-a])e - 0 naJ). Willis abstained due to being absentfrom that meeting.

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September 17 ,2024 (Closed meeting) Callahan motion to approve as written. Hardee second. VOTE: 2-alte - 0 nalt. Willis abstained due to being absentfrom that meeting.

3.

Correspondence/Requests/Info - Sent and Received o Best price on a microphone/speaker system is $524.49.

Callahan motion to purchase s:tstem. Willis second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nalt o Electronic speed signs - will send links or info to Commissioners to review o Trick or Treat date for 2024 - October 31,2024 from 6-8 p.m.

TOWI\ MAI\AGER UPDATES

o lStr'Annual yard sale update: Total revenue - $255, Expenses - $81.13 Total donation to Fire Department was $173.87. Total donation over l8 years is $3200.

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Advised Lindsay Dixon is looking forward to moving on the property he just purchased on Main St. and inquired if town is interested in swapping some land and giving access to his rear parcel.

Commissioners are not interested in the land swap as proposed and would be willing to discuss other options with Mr. Dixon.

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Requested a closed session at the end of the meeting to discuss a personnel matter.

OLD BUSINESS:

INFRASTRUCTURE

1. I&IProject

Need to obligate the ARPA funds for this project by 12/31124, which includes having a signed contract. Commissioners agreed waiting for the right time to TV the sewer lines may make us miss the deadline. Therefore, since the project has already been bid, we will go back to the contractor to see if price is still good. Ms. Ryan suggested that all bidders should be contacted.

2. New Water Tower & Infrastructure Project

Working on obtaining updated term quotes for interim financing.

3.

Membrane Clean - Valve Automation Contractor has resumed the automation project.

MARINE PROJECTS

1.

Federal Channel Dredging Applied for $1.5 million in FY'26 grant funding from DNR for the channel dredging. Currently, consultant is completing the design and permitting phase of the project.

POLICY

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

2.

Road And Sidewalk Standards (no updates)

3. A.

Draft ordinances/Dudley Property Town Attorney Lyndsey Ryan explained that she had drafted ordinances to designate the zoning on the Dudley property, as the County zoning designation was to have been removed by the County in August 2023. According to email received from Amy Moredock, QAC Planning, she referenced the property as having the County Countryside (CS) and Suburban Residential (SR) zoning designations, which is not what the County zoning map indicates.

Ms. Ryan reviewed the zoning history of the Dudley Home/Salthouse parcel and the Arurexation Agreement between the property owners and the Town and found that the Dudley Home Farm property (also referred to as Salthouse) is currently zoned Quean Anne's County Agricultural and would remain such until the Dudley's requested Plaruned Neighborhood (PN) zoning. Given that the property was annexed into the Town, the Town has jurisdiction

over plaruring, subdivision control, and zoning of it.

B. Draft ordinance/Cannabis growing Per the Queen Anne's County Code, a cannabis licensed grower is a conditional use in the Agricultural District. A conditional use requires approval from the Board of Appeals, after considering certain criteria. In Queenstown, our Zoning Ordinance refers to conditional uses as special exceptions, but they are essentially the same. Given that Queenstown has zoning

authority, applicant must apply to the Queenstown Board of Appeals for the conditional use/special exception approval to operate as a cannabis licensed grower on the Salthouse property. Before the Board of Appeals hears the case, the Planning Commission must render a favorable recommendation for the special exception.

Callahan motion to withdraw all ordinances. Hardee second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nay.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

l. Wheatland's Project (no updates)

NEW BUSINESS

1. Commissioner Willis advised that there are several streets with overgrown vegetation that should

be addressed by Public Works. Commissioner Willis and Ms. Moore will ride around and note the areas to be addressed.

2. President Hardee asked if the town should consider a noxious odor ordinance. We will obtain

legal advice on this matter from the Town Attorney in closed session.

ATTORNEY T PDATES (no updates) PIIBLIC COMMENT (none) Willis motion to close the regular meeting at 6:48 p.m. and enter into Closed Sessionfor the purpose of discttssing ,a Wrsonnel matter and obtainin,g legal advice from the Town Attornq. Callqhan second.

YOTE:3aye.0nay.

Willis motioned to adjourn the Closed Meeting and re-enter the regular meeting at 7:02 p,m. Callahan second. VOTE: 3 aye. 0-na!.

There being no further business at this time, Willis motion to adjoum the meeting at 7:02 pm. Callahan second. YOTE: 3 a.ve - 0 nalt.

Respectfully submitted,

. JA. I

frnrprb\L{Lt/r,r e-{w Moore Town\ianager TOWN Ol[ OUEENSTOWTIi C LOS E I) }If ETIIiG/E XIiC UTI VE Sf,SSI O N RT, ( ] O RI) t\ public hod.l' that meets in closed sessir:n nlay'not discuss or act on an)' matler not permitted under the lv{aryland Statute summarized belo'ur'. l'he public meeting law does ncrt appll to executive tunctions. quasi judicial fi.rnctions, or chance encounters or social meetings.

( l) I)Alli AND ]'tlvttl OF PROPOSF.D CLOSbID tuIF.E'l'tN(i OR EXE('t ;'l IVt:

SESSI0N:

qlell l ioa loa\l - r)ate: J'ime, U':qB

(2) I.F.(iAL ALJI'I{ORIfY FOR ('l-OSING PtiBt,[C: iVI[1fr I ING OR (iOIN(i IN] C)

UXfict r]'lVE SESSION (circle the sc-ction ot'the law r,r'hich authorizes the closed session):

Open N'leetings i\ct, ivlar,v-land Code Amotated. Statc (iovcrnnrent Article. { l0- 508(a), 200-l Repl. Vol.

d ise u.ss:

(i) the appointment. crnploymcnt, assignnrcnt. pnrmotion. cliscil]linc-.

demotion. compcnsation, removal, resignatitln. tlr pertirrmanee evaluation of appointees, emplolees. or officials ovs'r r,'uhom it has jurisdiction; or (ii) an1 other personnel rnafter that aftbcts I or nrore specitic in.li v itluals:

(2) protcct thc prir,'zic)'or rcputation ol'indivitluals r,vith rr'spcct t() il ft]atLcr that iS nt)[ rclated ttt pr"rhlic business:

(3) considcr the acquisition rlt'real propert] tor a ptrhlic purpose and mail.crs directll rclatcd t.hereto:

(41 consiclcr a nratter that concerns the proprl.sal tirr a husincss or industrial rurganization [o locate, expand, or remain in thc State;

) (5 considcr thc investme nt of public ltnds;

(6) consicler the rnarketing of public securities;

(@\ consult r.vith counsel to obtain legal advice;

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(8) consult with staff, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation;

(e) 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 constirute a risk to the public or to the public security, including;

(i) the deployment of tlre and police serv'ices and stat! and

(ii) the development and implementation of emergency plans;

( I t ) prepare, administer. or grade a scholastic, licensing. or qualitying examination:

( 12) conduct or discuss an investigative pr()ceeding on actttal or possible criminal conduct:

l3 ) comply with a speciflc constitutional, statutory, or jtrclicially irnposed 1 requirement that prev'cnts pubtic disclosures about a particular proceeding or matter: or ( l4) before a contract is awarded or bids are opened, disctlss a matter directly if related to a negc'rtiating strategy or the contents of a bid or proposal, public discussion or clisclosure r,vould adversely impact the ability of the

public body to participate in the competitive bidding or proposal process.

(3) ]'OWN BOARD, AGENCY, OR COMMISSION PROPOSING (]I-OSED OR

TIXECTJ'I]VE S TJSS ION :

0f \rrAnnr SS rrrrnorE Name of Board, Agency. Commissiou, or Committee)

(4) IDtlNl'tFy Toptc(s) pROposED t oR DISCTJSSION IN CLOSHt) SIiSSION:

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(5) MEMBERS OF BOARD, AGT]NCY. COMMISS{ON, OR COMMITTEE

PRESENT AT PTJBI,IC MEE'I'ING A1"W}{ICH CLOSED SESSION

REQTJES'r'ED:

Name Vote on Closure Hqv,Aee- n"*.ffi'*;",l:l

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\_/ @'Asainst arrn lYtt\ts -- (forlngainst For/Against L'or/Against (r.Itg

(6) TIMTJ CI,OSED SESSION C'ONVENED:

:oa.

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T'[ME CL,OSED S ESSION CO}\ICI.UDED :

(7) PERSONS PRHSENT A'T' CI,OSTID SESSION:

(8) PLACE CLOSED OR EXECU'IIVE SFSSION tIEI-D:

(9)

PLTR"POSE OF AND TOPIC.S DISC'USSED AT CI.OSED SESSION:

(101 st-rvtvlARy o[; Ac'l'toNS I'AKEN A t'C]t.OSF.D SI]SSION. [l; AI\lY:

CER1'IT'I(]A1'E OI' PRESIDIN(; OF'FTCER

Iherebycertify.thatIanrthepresic1irrgottjcerof, public boar,l, agency, commission, comnrittee, or other public body oltl* Town of Maryland. I ftrrther ccrtify that by a majority vote on the r?.< day ot Queenstowrr, Sfft\.O0o3l{ , the aforesaicl agency, board, committee, or commission voted to ffigfortheptrrp0SeS'andtodiscussthetopicS,Setforthabove,andthat no other topics were discussed, and that the fbregoing is a true record of the closed

ntccting dcscrihed hercilr. lhe t'lerk or Secretary is dirccted to maintein this docuntcnt a.s a puhlic rccord tlt'thc ['t)!\.Tr of Qucr'nsto\r'n. and to appcnd the srurte tri thc niinutes trt thc nexr ptrhlic rrrccting ()f'thc nforesai.l agenc-y. hoarrl. comnlittec.,vv't1)II)lrtissirrn.

tl q lrolL\ lCIs I)ate Signaturc

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HavdcL Printed Name a Pvgs tolrant I'itle