Town Commissioners Minutes — 2017-02-08

QUEENSTOWTI COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING

February 8,2017 PRESENT: President Thomas B. Willis. Jr.. Commissioner Georse L. Plumbo, Jr. and Commissioner Hogie Schuster

REGULAR MEETING:

President Willis called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m.

President Willis stated that each year in November, the Town Commissioners declare the month to be "Municipal Govemment Works Month". This is part of a progam established by the Maryland Municipal League called Municipal Govemment Works. The program is to promote and recognize the efforts of cities and towns to manage and create effective and cost efficient operations for the benefit of its residents, to funher education of school age children to leam and

directly experience municipal government, and to function for the benefit of the health, safety and morale of its residents. As part of this declaration each year, the Town Commissioners select a Volunteer of the Year. This person, or persons, demonstrates selfless acts of kindness and volunteerism throughout the community and the Town.

Today, the Town Commissioners are proud to recognize the volunteer efforts of longtime Queenstown residents, Mrs. June Collier and Mrs. Diane Lewis. Both have demonstrated the true definition of the word "volunteer" throughout their years as Queenstown residents. In addition to their families, their accomplishments include being active members and volunteers with the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Dept. Ladies Auxiliary, the Calvary United Methodist

Church, and the Town of Queenstown.

On behalf of the Commissioners, President Willis presented Mrs. Collier and Mrs. Lewis each with a Certificate of Recognition and a town flag.

OPEN DISCUSSION:

No one spoke during Open Discussion PUBLIC WORKS: Lane Cole o Construction is winding down at the plant o Pouring concrete for the storage bins o President Willis mentioned now is time to start planning for the dedication ceremony.

Possibly hold in May.

o Mr. Cole informed Mr. Pat Sarracco, who was present, that the town will install sensor lighting at the plant, and that they have been ordered.

PLANNING:

No one present on behalf of Planning. The Town Clerk reported that they reviewed the revised draft Community Plan, based on the comments submitted by the State. They will hold a public hearing on April 13,2017 at 7:00 p.m.

ACTING TOWN MANAGER: Mike Bowell o Clerk drafted newsletter to go out with the water and sewer bills o Shosh Callahan announced she is retiring effective March I,2017. We wish her well and thank her for her 20+ years of service to the Town.

o Aaron Horney, new employee, is still in training and doing very well.

o Contract with Muni-Link for the water/sewer billing progrilm has been signed and submitted.

o Working on backlog of clouding documents. Clouding gives those with access the ability to access any of the files from wherever they are.

o Working with Atlantic Broadband to install Wi-Fi in offrce, and also help with the setup of new work stations.

o Looking for better ways to communicate with the Town to get out factual information.

Clerk will strive to get minutes completed, approved, and loaded on website in a timely fashion.

o Working on job descriptions for future positions.

FINANCE:

Nothing to report

TREASURER'S REPORT:

Fund:

General $280,716.76 Fund:

Water/Sewer S113,813.06 Fund: $ WWTP Project 3,031.57

MINUTES:

President Willis motioned to accept the minutes of September 28,2016 as written.

Commissioner Plumbo seconded. Vote: Aye-2 Nay-0 (Commissioner Schuster abstained as was not in office at that time) President Willis motioned to accept the minutes of October 26,2016 as written. Commissioner Plumbo seconded. Vote: Aye-2Nay-0 (Commissioner Schuster abstained as was not in office at that time) President Willis motioned to accept the December 14,2016 minutes as written. Commissioner Plumbo seconded. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0

President Willis motioned to accept the December 29,2016 Special meeting minutes as written.

Commissioner Plumbo seconded. Vote: Aye-3 Nay-0 President Willis motioned to accept the January lI,2017 Closed Session minutes as written.

Commissioner Schuster seconded. Vote: Aye-3, Nay-0 President Willis motioned to accept the January lI,20l7 minutes as written. Commissioner Schuster seconded. Vote: Aye-3, Nay-0 President Willis motioned to accept the January 25,2017 Closed Session minutes as written.

Commissioner Schuster seconded. Vote: Aye-3, Nay-0

CLERK:

o Property owners of the old bam on Old Wharf Lane have notified us that the Queenstown Fire Dept. will be burning the barn down by a controlled bum on Saturday, February 1lh at 9:00 a.m. They will be notiffing the adjacent property owners of the burn, and the Clerk also included in the newsletter.

.

QA County Commissioners will hold their Ta:r Set Off meeting on Tuesday, March 28fr at 7:00 p.m.

o Chairman Deegan, of the Critical Area Commission, has determined the CA map update can be processed as a refinement. He will seek the full Commission's concurrence with his determination at the next meeting of the Commission, and the town will be notified of the final action.

o President Willis stated he was at the WWTP and found a few things that could be deemed trip hazards. He gave Greg Smith of Miller Environmental a list of things to address.

ATTORNEY UPDATES: Ms. Brynja Booth o Currently updating the Town's Personnel Manual o Submitted the Growth Allocation application and documents to the Critical Area Commission and provided the Town with a binder for our records' o Requested a Closed Session at the end of the meeting to give advice on a real estate matter.

Acting Town Manager, Mike Bowell, requested a work session with the Town Commissioners in early March, to discuss some personnel matters related to the upcoming budget, goals for the upcoming budget, and new line items to be considered for budgeting. A meeting was set up for March 15,2017 at I l:00 a.m.

Mr. John Fitzgerald inquired about the historical marker that was located at the comer of Maryland Avenue and Steamboat. Lane Cole advised that it was damaged by a lawnmower. He collected the marker and it is stored at the plant until such time as arrangements are made with the State to put it back up. Mary Margaret Goodwin is working on that on our behalf.

Mr. Fitzgerald also inquired if the Town had reached any settlement with the Shore Christian Fellowship regarding the land. The Commissioners informed him that we are still studying the issue and no decisions have been made.

President Willis motioned to close the regular meeting and enter into Executive session at 4:43 p.m. for the purpose of obtaining legal advice on a real estate matter. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster. Vote: Ave-3. Nav-0 President Willis motioned to close the Executive session at 5:12 p.m. and re-enter into the regular meeting. Motion seconded by Commissioner Plumbo. Vote: Aye-3, Nay-0 President Willis motioned to appoint Acting Town Manager, Mike Bowell, as Property

Maintenance Code enforcer for the Town. Motion seconded by Commissioner Plumbo. Vote:

Aye-3, Nay-0 There being no further business before the Commissioner's at this time, President Willis motioned to adjoum the meeting at 5:13 p.m. Commissioner Plumbo seconded. Vote:

Aye-3 Nay-O.

Rnespectwfully submTitted, \W

II

Amy W. Moore Town Clerk

TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN

CLOSED MEETING/EXECUTIVE SESSION RECORI)

A public body that meets in closed session may not discuss or act on any matter not permitted under the Maryland Statute summarized below. The public meeting law does not apply to executive functions, quasi judicial functions, or chance encounters or social meetings.

(I)

DATE AND TIME OF PROPOSED CLOSED MEETTNG OR EXECUTIVE

SESSION:

7l8ll1 Date: rime: Y rLl S ['fn .

(2)

LEGAL AUTHORITY 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, General Provisions Article, $ 3- 3Os(b) (2014) (1) discuss:

(i) theappointment,employment,assignment,promotion,discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or offtcials over whom it has jurisdiction; or (ii) any other personnel matter that affects I 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 properly for a public purpose and matters directly related thereto;

(4) consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial organization to locate, expand, or remain in the State;

(5) consider the investrnent of public funds;

(6) consider the marketing of public securities;

Closed Session form Rev. l l5 Page I @ consult with counsel to obtain legal advice;

(8) consult with stafl or other individuals about pending or potential

litigation;

(9) 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 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;

(l l) 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, public discussion or disclosure would adversely impact the ability of the public body to participate in the competitive bidding or proposal process.

(3) TOWN BOARD, AGENCY, OR COMMISSION PROPOSTNG CLOSED OR

EXECUTIVE SESSION:

\Ilwut/\^u (Name of Board, Agency, Commission, or Committee)

(4) IDENTIFY TOPIC(S) PROPOSED FOR DISCUSSION IN CLOSED SESSION:

k vul Ur,ta) Closed Session form Rev. l.l5 Page2 (5)

MEMBERS OF BOARD, AGENCY, COMMISSION, OR COMMITTEE

PRESENT AT PUBLIC MEETING AT WHICH CLOSED SESSION

REQUESTED:

Name Vote on Closure (circle cgryect vote) lfgVAeainst [@/eeainst @esuinrt For/Against For/Against rqSPvru '/

(6) TIME CLOSED SESSION CONVENED: .

TIME CLOSED SESSION CONCLUDED:

(7) PERSONS PRESENT AT CLOSED SESSION:

Closed Session form Rev. l. 15 Page 3

(8) PLACE CLOSED OR EXECUTIVE SESSION HELD:

(e) PURPOSE OF AND TOPICS DISCUSSED AT CLOSED SESSION:

A,tfiA, l)rr,4 ,

(10) SUMMARY OF ACTIONS TAKEN AT CLOSED SESSTON,IF ANY:

CERTIFICATE OF PRESIDING OFFICER

r hereby certiff that r am the presiding ofricer "r (t,/vrl"VVnlU myu Ol^lunYurnp PU u U b T l T ic V bUoUCaIrI\dI, , M u O a , g E r S . y n V l I a L " V y n J , , d cw . ov I tmr u f r u muo it io h srvs e ui r ,o n c , e r cv t v i o f r y rmu r t um h lr a vit t t e b e y , a o m r o a t jo h r e it r y p r '- v u "- o b te lic o n b --: o u t d h y e o -/ A . f ,l , 4 , U ||e -* T = o u d w 6 a n y o o f f

Queenstown, iiltltt r,?(t\4, the aforesaid agency, board, committee, or commission voted to Taw h"td;[Ca;r.tirg for the pu{poses, and to discuss the topics, set forth above, and that no other topics *"r" dir"utt!d,-*d that the foregoing is a true recotd of the closed Closed Session form Rev. I .l 5 Page 4 meeting described herein. The Clerk 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' TlEln Date u/r WvUle Printed Name ?vud u,,k Title Closed Session form Rev. L l5 Page 5