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MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
February 20, 2012
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present:
Mayor Donald N. Briggs; Commissioners Clifford
Sweeney, Glenn Blanchard, Patrick Joy, Tim O’Donnell
and Christopher Staiger, President. Staff present
were Vickie Felix; Sue Cipperly, Town Planner; and
Dave Haller, Town Manager.
_________________________________________________________________________
I.
Call to Order
Commissioner Christopher Staiger,
President of the Board of Commissioners, called the
February 20, 2012 Town Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval
of Minutes
The Minutes of the February 6, 2012
Town Meeting were approved as presented.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioners cited attendances,
recognitions and announcements to include info on
the Gambrill State park bike trail, “police concerns
committee” meeting, citizen concern of town square
structures.
Mayor’s Comments
Mayor Briggs cited meetings and
attendances to include: Mayors’ Association meeting,
Little League Baseball meeting, police concerns
group meeting, re-enactors, Frederick County
Sustainability Commission meeting. He announced
that a Fire Muster will take place on Community
Day. Also announced that Nexus Homes toured the
town with him last year and they have a project in
Frederick where they are producing net zero energy
homes and they have some interest in Emmitsburg.
Administrative Business
-
Announcement of Ethics Committee
meeting
-
Use of sign board out front of
Town Office
-
Fees and permitting; future
agenda item
-
Community Watch program
Consent Agenda - none
Reports:
Town Manager Report
- reported on the public works department monthly
activities to include a water production and
consumption analysis. Mr. Haller highlighted that
the wells are getting better, stabilizing about 2
feet lower than their May 2011 levels. Town is
still in a precipitation surplus that is good. Town
exceeded the plant’s design capacity on 6 days in
the month and had no spills of untreated sewerage
in the month of January. The Town Planner reported
she attended some meetings about the Civil War
Heritage Area grant applications and how to apply,
also attended an informational meeting on
Sustainable Communities program. Detailed report at
Exhibit A.
Police Report
- Deputy Riffle reported on January 2012. Detailed
report at Exhibit B. Staff will meet with deputies
in regards to additional signage at Silo Hill
Parkway.
Public Comment
Dave Wallace,
a candidate in the 8th
congressional district, made a presentation to
introduce himself to the Mayor, Board and community.
III. Agenda Items
Ordinance 12-02: Grass and Weed
Control
This item goes back to an issue that
some town residents raised regarding property in the
Brookfield community; approved lots without homes on
them had some issues with maintaining the control of
the grass. The developer used pesticides to control
grass height so he didn’t have to come back and mow
so frequently. Some of the homeowners were
concerned about the use of the pesticides and some
others didn’t feel it needed to be cut to town
standards. This ordinance gives the town the option
to consider some areas “meadow lands” that can be
held to a different standard. The Town Manager would
be the one to approve the meadow designation.
Meadow areas shall be cut twice per year.
Pesticides are not considered an acceptable method
to control grass height. Public Comment:
Mitchell Greger, 1340 Wheatley Drive - in
support of the ordinance.
Motion:
- To approve ordinance 12-02: Grass
and Weed Control
Motion by Commissioner Joy, second by
Commissioner O’Donnell
Vote: 5-0 in favor
Consider Civil War Heritage
Resolution
Sue Cipperly stated the Civil War
Heritage management plan of 2006 was incorporated
into the 1998 plan by amendment. When the plan was
updated it included several references to the Civil
War Heritage area as a straight-forward approval and
not a resolution mentioning the Heritage area as
well. She stated that the resolution will confirm
the Town’s intent to incorporate the Heart of the
Civil War Area management plan within the 2009
comprehensive plan.
Motion: - To
approve resolution 2012-01R: Civil War Heritage
Resolution
Motion by Commissioner Blanchard,
second by Commissioner Sweeney
Vote: 5-0 in favor
Update on Sustainable Communities
Program
Ms. Cipperly stated this program
basically gives the town access to funding and
revitalization programs. The next submittal date
for applications is April 10. The application
consists of a designated area in which the town
desires to concentrate its efforts to revitalize and
improve infrastructure, offer business opportunities
and provide opportunities for building owners to
improve buildings. It’s a specific boundary down to
the tax map parcel level, requiring a lot of
background information. The goals must agree with
the comprehensive plan goals. A work group will
also need to be created. Town will also need a
resolution of support from the town’s board of
commissioners. There was discussion that the
designated area would be the entire historic
district. Ms. Cipperly stated it might be good to
include the antique mall that is not in the historic
district. Sue Cipperly was directed to move forward
with the application and invite people to
participate in the work group. Ms. Cipperly will
give the board an update at the second meeting in
March.
After School Program – Funding
Consideration
Mr. Haller commented that, at the
Board’s request, he did a takeoff outline of the
funding and process for the after school program.
He presented a proposals for discussion and
consideration. He stated the labor cost to fully
fund the after school program would be $21,000. The
Board agreed to items 1, 3 and 5 from Mr. Haller’s
proposal. The Board approved to fully fund the
after school program for the next fiscal year and
told Mr. Haller to budget accordingly.
Swimming Pool Review
At the Board’s request, Mr. Haller
did a bullet point review of the pool’s operation
cost and its attendance. He presented some potential
policies to include: a recreation fee, pool fee
increase or tax increase to help fund the pool. He
stated that municipal pools are hard to operate.
Commissioners were in agreement that the pool is a
benefit to the town but acknowledge the operation
loss. The Board was not in favor of a tax increase
or a pool fee increase. There was much discussion
on a possible rec fee and ways to increase the pool
usage. Commissioner Joy is not in favor of a rec
fee. Commissioner Sweeney proposed having a meeting
with the public on the pool. Commissioner Blanchard
believes the pool needs to stay open. Commissioner
Joy was fine with assuming a loss. Mr. Haller was
directed to budget as he normally does.
Public Hearing of consideration of
Ordinance 12-1 - Sewer Rate Change
Commissioner Staiger stated this was
a plan that was developed last fall and approved in
concept at the December 6, 2011 town meeting. It
increases the sewer rates to close a deficit in the
operating budget based on the construction of a new
sewer plant. Staff put together an ordinance based
on the plan as it was discussed in December 2011 for
the Board to review. Mr. Haller stated that
advertising requirements have been made and is
available for approval. Public Comments:
Marianne Cantwell, 601 West Main Street -
disappointed in the process the town took. She had
some questions on funding and thinks there should be
more effort to find grants for funding and a fair
way for increase. Commissioner Staiger clarified
that if this were only an Enhanced Nutrient Removal
compliance issue, then there could have been
potentially 100% funding but the Town also needed
the Biological Nutrient Removal compliance which was
not eligible for the full funding.
Motion:
- To continue Public Hearing of
consideration of Ordinance 12-1 Sewer Rate Change on
March 5, 2012 Town Meeting.
Motion by Commissioner Joy, second by
Commissioner O’Donnell
Vote: 5-0 in favor
IV. Set Agenda Items for March 5,
2012 Town Meeting
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Continuation of Public Hearing:
Ordinance 12-1; Sewer Rate Change
-
Resolution 2012- 02 Ninth
Amendment to LGIT organization of the Board of
Trustees
-
Splash Park Funding
-
Swimming Pool Funding Review
-
Resolution on Financial Literacy
Week
V. SIGN APPROVED TEXT
AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS
VI. Adjournment
With no further business, the
February 20, 2012 Town Meeting was adjourned at
10:08 p.m.
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