Town Commissioners Other — 2017-09-27

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QUEENSTOWN COMMISSIONERS

September 27, 2017 PRESENT: President Thomas B. Willis, Jr., CommissionerHogie Schuster, and Commissioner George L. Plunibo, Jr., Town Attorney Brynja Booth, Acting Town Manager Mike Bowell, Public Works Director Lane Cole, and Town Clerk Amy Moore.

MEETING CALLED TO ORDER AT 7:00 P.M.

President Willis informed that the Commissioners met in Closed Session from 6:04 p.m. to 6:56 p.m. for the purpose ofobtaining legal advice from Town Counsel.

At the request ofthe Commissioners, Town Attorney, Brynja Booth, started by announcing that the Town Commissioners received several letters ofcomplaint regarding what had transpired at the Board of Appeals hearing on September 20, 2017. The Planning Commission, Town Commissioners, and Board of Appeals are separate from each other. Boards have no control over what a citizen may say during a meeting or hearing when they are given the chance to speak. Actions from that hearing have given cause

to the Commissioners that some rules and procedures should be adopted for all Boards to follow. Ms.

Booth stated that none ofthe Commissioners were in attendance at that hearing. She announced that the Commissioners would not be taking any public comments related to the complaints or actions during and after the Board ofAppeals hearing.

PUBLIC WORKS: Lane Cole

• Ditch behind Methodist Church needs to be filled in. Price from John English would not exceed

$2,175.00. President Willis advised he has looked at the ditch and agrees it should be filled in.

President Willis motioned to accept the price from John English, not to exceed $2,175.00. Motion seconded by Commissioner Plumbo. Motion carried unanimously.

• Traffic cahning devices have been installed on Main Street. Waiting on SHA to erect the signs.

PLANNING: Al Hardee

• Working on completing the Comp Plan.

• Rezoning at golfcourse for some additional cottages. He noted that there is a new golfpro that is

very well renowned. Cottages have already been rented for next year.

FINANCE COMMITTEE: Patricia Bowell

• Ms. Bowell advised that the Highway User Revenue report will be completed and submitted by

the September 30th deadline.

• She indicated that there are some environmental issues regarding spraying for phragmites and

Japanese nut weed around the sewer plant. Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage currently sprays for phtagmites each year, and has sprayed the shoreline and looked at the Second Ave. dock.

Property owners adjacent to the Town areas cannot be under the town permit. They must be responsible for their own removal. CWH will assist property owners in applying for a permit to

• have their properties sprayed. The second issue is the Japanese nut weed around the plant. It is a

noxious weed that Roundup will not take care of. It must be sprayed with Garlon 3 by a licensed applicator. CWH could spray for us, and will need to be done every year. CommissionerPlumbo motioned to appropriate funds to add the spraying ofJapanese nut weed to our annual spraying.

Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster. Motion carried unanimously.

2 ACTING TOWN MANAGER: Mike Bowell Nothing to report

TREASURER’S REPORT:

General Fund checking $102,237.89 Water/Sewer checking $153,696.33 WWTP Project checking $286,083.58

MINUTES:

President Willis motioned to adopt the September 13, 2017 minutes as written. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster. Motion carried unanimously.

CLERK:

• Clerk informed that Kevin Dey advised he has cleaned up the storm debris on his property. The

logs and debrisjust over the fence is not on his property, as the property line ofthe adjacent property extends beyond their fence.

OLD BUSINESS:

• ACTION ON PROPOSED ORDINANCE NO.

17-06 AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN

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OF QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND THE QUEENSTOWN ZONING ORDINANCE TO

ESTABLISH LOCATIONS FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSED DISPENSARIES

AND MEDICAL CANNABIS LICENSED PROCESSORS Ms. Booth informed that both - the Planning Commissioner and Town Commissioners spent time reviewing the State requirement that we allow these types ofestablishments. Ifan area is not identified for these uses, they could basically go wherever Retail is permitted. By carving out the zone, they would only be allowed where specified. Following the Public Hearing on the proposed Ordinance, the Commissioners

were in agreement to remove the HC zone from the ordinance. It appeared from public cOmments received that that zone was the one most people were against it being permitted in. The revised Ordinance allows the dispensary in the Regional Commercial (RC) zone and the processor in the Planned Regional Commercial (PRC) floating zone. Commissioner Plumbo motioned to adopted Ordinance 17-06, described above. Motioned seconded by Commissioner Schuster. Motion

carried unanimously.

• Ms. Booth informed that the Planning Commission approved the text and made a recommendation

that the Commissioners adopt the draft Comp Plan. They had held a public hearing and sent the

• draft to the State and County for their required review. Since that time, there have been map

amendments. She recommends there be one more hearing by the Planning Commission before coming to the Town Commissioners for a hearing.

• Ms. Booth advised that the County Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan needs to be amended to

include the Town’s plans for water infrastructure improvements, and the deadline is October 24th• Brynja, Bob Rauch and Peter Johnston will come up with the appropriate language that is also needed in the Town’s Comp Plan for the upgrades to the Town’s water infrastructure. They will have this language to the Planning Commissionprior to their October meeting. They intend to 4th hold their second hearing on the Comp Plan on November 1, 2017.

• The Miller Environmental contract expires on December 31, 2017. The Town put the water and

wastewater operations out to bid in the spring, and White Marsh was the only responsive bidder.

After review oftheir submittal, the Town awarded them thejob to begin January 1, 2018. The 3 contract was reviewed by the Town Attorney, and a couple changes are wanted by the Commissioners (remove flushing ofhydrants and exercise ofvalves). CommissionerPlumbo motioned to approve the contract, with changes. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster.

Motion carried unanimously. Once changes are made, contract will be signed by the President.

Town meetings the Commissioners discussed the concerns raised at a previous meeting by — several residents regarding the time ofthe first monthly meeting and the placement ofpublic comment at the end ofthe meetings. It was unanimously agreed that the Town Commissioners will hold one regular meeting per month on the Wednesday beginning at 7:00 p.m. This will 4th begin in October 2017. This will be the only regular business meeting per, unless business

demands additional meetings. Should that be the case, adequate notice will be posted ofany additional meetings. As for public comment, that will remain at the end ofthe meetings. Should anyone have a matter they specifically need to discuss earlier at a meeting, they can request to be placed on the agenda and time can be allotted towards the beginning.

• Public was reminded that there are public hearings scheduled for October 25, 2017 onproposed

Ordinance

17-05 AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF QUEENSTOWN TO

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AMEND THE QUEENSTOWN TOWN CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 7 TITLED

“RESIDENTIAL RENTAL HOUSING LICENSE AN]) iNSPECTION” TO ESTABLISHA

LICENSING AND INSPECTION PROGRAM FOR RESIDENTIAL RENTAL DWELLING

UNITS WITHIN THE TOWN OF QUEESNTOWN and proposed Ordinance

17-07 AN

ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN TO AMEN)) THE QUEENSTOWN

TOWN CODE TO ADD CHAPTER 27 TITLED “SHORT TERM RENTALS” TO

INCORPORATE INTO THE TOWN CODE CERTAIN MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR

SHORT TERM RENTALS WITHIN THE TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN.

NEW BUSINESS:

No new business brought before the Commissioners ATTORNEY UPDATES: Brynja Booth

• Growth allocation consideration by the Critical Area Commission was to be October

4th~ However, as it was their only item ofbusiness, it was pushed back to theirNovember meeting.

• The reply briefto the Special Court ofAppeals is complete

PUBLIC COMMENT:

• Mr. Richardson owner ofhouse on Del Rhodes Ave., inquired about the rental license fees. He

— was informed they would be adopted by Resolution should the Ordinance proposed be adopted.

• Jenny Walton drain at the corner ofMaryland Ave. and Old WharfLane has left a hole in the

— road. Lane will follow up and address.

• Matt Anthony asked ifthe State makes the Town permit medical cannabis dispensaries? Ms.

— Booth informed him that it is considered a permissible retail use and could go anywhere that retail is allowed in Town ifa location is not specified. The Commissioners preferred to designate where they could go.

• Mr. Simison Second Ave. likes what the Town did with the Public Comment. He asked ifthe

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rental ordinance is not adopted, can a property still be rented. He was advised yes rentals would still be permitted.

• Stefanie Takacs Thanked the Commissioners for moving the meeting to once per month at 7:00

— p.m. She also thanked the Town for the traffic calming devices that were installed. She did inquire about having white lines put down on the roads at the stop signs. Commissioners agreed it could be done on paved roads, but not the tar and chip.

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• Pat Bowell since changing the water and sewer operator, will we get all the required reports?

— She was advised yes.

President Willis announced that the Town Clerk, Amy Moore, recently celebrated 30 years with the Town ofQueenstown.

Lori Sharer also announced that Town Clerk, Amy Moore, and Town Commissioner George Plumbo, both recently graduated from the University ofMaryland’s School ofPublic Policy Academy of Excellence on Sunday, September 23, 2017.

There being no fhrther business at this time, Commissioner Plumbo motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 p.m. Motion seconded by Commissioner Schuster. Motion carried unanimously.

Respectfully submitted, Amy oore, Town Clerk .