Town Commissioners Minutes — 2024-11-20

QUEENSTOWN COMMISSIONERS

November 20r 2024 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 6:00 PM

ELECTION

o

CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION RESULTS

o Mr. Horney certified the results of the Novemb er 4 election, which was cancelled pursuant to Town Chaner Sec. 19-12.2 due to being uncontested. Thomas Willis, Jr. was declared re-elected to a new 3-year term as commissioner.

O

SWEARING IN OF COMMISSIONBR THOMAS B. WILLN, Jf,T.

Ms. Ryan administered the Oath of Office of Queenstown Commissioner to Thomas Willis, Jr.

o

APPOINTMENT OF PRESIDENT

Cal ion to eC rHa Commissi Willis second. VOTE: 3 q])e -0 nay.

PUBLIC WORKS

' Rauch quoted price to investigate brown water complaints in Queenstown Harbor Dev.

Quote of $1,500. Work includes pressure testing the hydrants and pulling samples from some different points in the main line on Harbor La. Plan to test for iron and TSS.

Cr moti 1.500. wi cond. V, -0 H, bstai ent i o 10 lead/copper water test samples taken by homeowners at end of September as part of 3yr MDE testing requirements were all satisfactory with results well below iesting parameters. Participants will be notified of their results this week.

o Bucket truck town is considering purchasing found to be leaking at pTO by pW employee. Suggests Commissioners personally check out issue befori town makes final decision to purchase or not. Comm. Willis stated belief that seller will repair prior any purchase by the town. Comms. Hardee and Callahan stated they will insp."i u, well.

o Resident previously requested installation of speed bump on Comegys Lane to curb speeding issue. Commissioners agreed to have rubbei type bump installed after determining best location for the b*p.

PLANNING COMMISSION

o Following the resignation of member Phil Snyder, Matt Reno will be the acting Chairman and Geneva Rieu will be the acting Co-Chair until such time that a new member is appointed to the commission.

o Preliminary approval was granted to the golf course for the events center and lodging facility. Approval subject to consultant, .ttgin..t, staff and Critical Area comments.

o Administrative subdivision application approved for property at 642 Del Rhodes Ave. for removal of a property line to combine 2 parcels into i parcel.

SAFETY & SPEEDING TASK FORCE

o Commissioners agree as most suggestions of task force have been addressed or noted as not feasible by SHA, to remove the SSTF from agendas going forward and address any future issues as they arise.

FINANCE COMMITTEE

o Audit work continues. Granted extension by State to l2l3ll24 after request by Town auditors.

CODE ENFORCEMENT/HARBORMASTER (no update s)

EVENTS COMMITTEE

o Tree lighting event plans coming together. Tree to be delivered/set up on 1213.

TOWN CLERK

l.

Treasurers/Finance Report o Gen. Fund $227,678.06 / W-S Fund $15961 .28 IARPA Fund $594,692.48 2.

Minutes o October 9, 2024 (Regular meeting) Willis motion to approve as written. Hardee second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 nay.

.

October 23,2024 (Regular meeting) Callahan motion to approve as written. Willis second. VOTE: 2 aye - 0 nay. Hardee abstoined as he was not present for this meeting.

3. Correspondence/Requests/Info - Sent and Received

o provided for electronic speed sign models for Commissioners Quotes/estimates review. Hardee motion to purchase 2 solar speed signs .from LED Lighting Solutions for estimoted cost qf $8,107.98. Callahan second. VOTE: 3 aye - 0 na]).

TOWN MANAGER UPDATES

o Complaints regarding smell of dock dumpster from nearby resident. Informed they caught repeat dumping offender attempting to dump and confronted him. Consider removing dumpster? Commissioners believe dumpster is beneficial to slipholders and residents of town when used properly. Continue to monitor- issue civil citation to dumping offender if caught dumping again.

. Attended COG on 1 lll3. Informed that State will be considering measure to allow speed limits under 25 mph in residential/commercial areas on State roads within municipalities.

Also asked Sheriff s Dept. to increase radar in town as haven't seen much lately.

o Rate study discussion needed- will tentatively schedule work session in January to discuss.

OLD BUSINESS ITEMS

INFRASTRUCTURE

l. I & I Project Rauch to set up pre-construction meeting with Retallack- anticipate beginning project in Spring2025.

2. New Water Tower & Infrastructure Project

Met with Brian & James from Rauch last week. Should be close to submitting all documentation to USDA. Will follow up this week to see if still on schedule.

a. Interim Financing Received updated quotes from Shore United and Queenstown Bank. On hold per Commissioners for now.

b.

Bond Counsel c.

Wall St. Water Tower Maintenance Comm. Willis requested info on last time Wall St. tower was cleaned. Contract was cancelled in iOZO- last cleaning likely several years prior. MDE recommends washouts no less frequently than every 5 years.

MARINB PROJBCTS

1. Federal Channel Dredging (no updates)

POLICY

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

2. Road And Sidewalk Standards

Tentatively plan to meet in January to discuss'

3. Draft Ordinance - AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN TO

REPEAL AND REPLACE CHAPTER 7 OF THE QUEENSTOWN CODE TO

ESTABLISH THE PROHIBITION OF ODOR NUISANCES

Hardee motion to introduce Ordinance 24-05. Willis second. VOTE: 3 alte - 0 nall Public Hearing will be scheduled for January 22,2025.

DEVELOPMBNT PROJECTS

l.

Wheatland's Project (no updates) 2.

6915 Main Street - Discussion of Possible Land Purchase Currently waiting for revised plat/stakeout of land prior to making any decisions.

Commissioners also inquired if owner would consider selling back portion of lot without any land swap. Ms. Moore will reach out to seller to inquire.

NEW BUSINESS (no updates) ATTORNEY UPDATES (no updates)

PUBLIC COMMENT

o Di Quynn-Reno 6740 Main St.

Requested clarification on prior comments made by Pres. Hardee in response to another resident requesting keeping chickens on their property at a previous meeting. Resident was told by Pres. Hardee that current Code does not allow them and if she could get a petition signed by 50% of registered voters, he would personally look into supporting her request for allowing chickens in Town. Ms. Reno stated that the threshold for a

referendum per the Town Charter is 20o/o and Pres. Hardee's comments were confusing to residents who may be dissuaded from pursuing a referendum effort due to the high amount of support stated to be necessary. Ms. Reno stated that chickens don't lower property values if reasonable measures for keeping them on properties are put in place and that several towns in Maryland allow chickens with conditions including Trappe and

Centreville. Pres. Hardee clarified that his comments were his personal opinion for the amount of support such a request would need for him to personally consider it.

Acknowledged he should have been clearer in his comments that they were his opinion and not the Town's official position. Also stated that such a request has only been made a few times over the last several years and doesn't seem to have much support behind it.

Ms. Reno suggested the Town seriously consider allowing or having residents vote on the request as she believes it would be beneficial to the community. She also provided info and data for the Commissioners review that she previously submitted in a past similar request. Ms. Ryan stated that she can provide the Trappe chicken ordinance to the Commissioners for their review as well.

There being no further business, Hardee motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:I8pm. Callahan second. VOTE: 3 alte - 0 nalt.

Aaron Horney Town Clerk TOWN OF QUEENSTOWhI

ELECTION RESULTS

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2024

(Election Cancelled) Thomas Willis, Jr. filed a certificate of nomination and qualified for the office of Town Commissioner of Queenstown. No other candidate filed a certificate of nomination to be placed on the ballot as a listed or writein candidate by the October 10, 2024 deadline. Therefore, the election was considered uncontested and was cancelled, pursuant to Section 19- 12.2 of the Queenstown Town Charter. Thomas Willis, Jr. is hereby

declared re-elected as Town Commissioner of Queenstown for a 3-year term, beginning November 13,2024.

I hereby certiff the above information to be true and correct.

ll, 'l Aaron R. Horney, To Date

OATH OF OFFICE

I, Thomas Willis, Jr., do swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland and support the Constitution and Laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill and judgement, diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prejudice, execute the Office of Queenstown Commissioner, according to the

Constitution and Laws of this State.

Thomas Willis, Jr.

I certiff this to be Thomas Willis, Jr.'s true act tr.)oveqnbe,v Jo, Joeq Date Notary Public My Commission Expires: ryr \ 3, ""\21 SEAL: