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MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
May 21, 2012
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present:
Mayor Donald Briggs; Commissioners Clifford Sweeney,
Glenn Blanchard, Patrick Joy, Tim O’Donnell and
Christopher Staiger, President.
Staff present were Vickie Felix, Sue Cipperly, Donna
DesPres and Dave Haller.
_________________________________________________________________________
I.
Call to Order
Commissioner Christopher Staiger, President of the
Board of Commissioners, called the May 21, 2012 Town
Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance
was recited.
Approval
of Minutes
The Minutes of the May 7, 2012 Town Meeting were
approved as presented.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioners cited attendances, recognitions and
announcements to include the Mother Seton School
Carnival, Community Gardens, Community Day meeting,
usage of the town park for cross-country weekday
practices, Main Street maintenance upkeep by
residents, and two Scouts working on citizenship
badges. Thanks were expressed to the Frederick
County Deputies for covering the G8 Summit.
Mayor’s Comments
Mayor Briggs stated that Mr. John Gauss, a resident
of Emmitsburg, passed away last week. He also cited
announcements and attendances to include the Mason
Dixon welcome center’s reopening on May 26th,
attendance at Mount Saint Mary’s Commencement, a
spring reception for the Tourism of Frederick
County, and a meeting with the Taneytown Economic
Development Director. He will attend the Journey
through Hallowed Ground annual conference along
with the Town Planner. The Sustainable Communities
grant application was submitted. Decisions on that
and the Heart of Civil War Heritage area grant
should be made in June. There were improvements
made along the town streetscape on South Seton
Avenue at the Ford Motor Building.
Administrative Business
-
126 East Main Street sewer line problem – need
to follow town policy
-
Dog park request in B zone – Board declined
-
Request to close yard waste dumpster site on
holiday weekends
-
Removing free-standing “No Parking” signs in
Pembrook Woods subdivision
-
House numbers – staff to move forward with text
amendment
-
Pool contract for splash park – must respond in
30 days
-
Brookfield neighborhood high grass issues
-
Completion of North Seton Avenue sidewalk
connection
-
Recycling drop off – single stream
Consent Agenda - none
Reports:
Town Manager Report
- reported on the public works department monthly
activities to include a water production and
consumption analysis. The town wells are 4.5 feet
lower than they were last May. Lately, town staff
has been trying to draw 2/3 of the water from the
reservoir. Overall town is in a 6.5 inch
precipitation deficit for the last six months and
the sewer plant’s design capacity was surpassed on
one day in the month of April.
Town Planner Report –
working on efforts to coordinate a civil war
encampment event during Community Day. Two East
Main Street has applied for permits to start working
on the second floor apartment and first floor
occupancy is expected in two months. Detailed
report at Exhibit A.
Police Report
- Deputy McQuain gave the April 2012 police report.
Detailed report at Exhibit B.
II. Agenda Items
Consideration of the refinancing option for the
wastewater treatment plant bridge loan
Mr. Haller stated that at the Mayor’s request they
have solicited a possible refinance of the bridge
loan that the town presently has, this one would
operate as a credit line at 2 1/2 percent capped at
4% with a settlement cost of $6,500, for 36 months.
If managed effectively, this refinance could save a
substantial amount of money. Need to settle by July
1 if approved. Board approved for staff to move
forward. Unanimous consent.
Consideration of Ordinance 12-05: text amendment to
add allowable use to village zone
This will amend the village zone to include sales
and service of small and medium size outdoor power
equipment, not to exceed 25 hp and 2500 lb weight.
Town Planner Sue Cipperly stated that the Planning
Commission reviewed and approved this
change.
Motion:
- To approve Ordinance 12-05 to add an allowable use
to village zone as presented.
Motion by Commissioner Joy second, by Commissioner
Blanchard
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Consideration of Ordinances 12-06, 12-07, 12-08:
text amendments regarding village zone setbacks
Sue Cipperly stated that last fall the Board did
something similar in the R1 zones for lots that were
thirty feet in width or less. This situation still
exists in the village zone requiring application to
the Board of Appeals. Last fall the Board indicated
their desire to also change the village zone code
for the same case. The text amendments address
accessory uses and structures, allowable projections
of accessory building into yards and required lot
area and, lot width and yards in residential
districts. Basically, the text amendments all tie
together.
Motion:
- To approve ordinances 12-06, 12-07, 12-08-- text
amendments regarding village zone setbacks as
presented.
Motion by Commissioner Joy, second by Commissioner
O’Donnell
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Consideration of the FY 2013 Budget
The budget was constructed with the Board’s
direction based on a tax rate of 42.65 cents per
hundred dollars of assessed value. Staff and Mayor
have given their recommendations on how they believe
the funds should be allocated. Commissioner Staiger
and Commissioner Joy prepared spreadsheets with
their suggestions and handed them out to council and
staff. Commissioner Joy commented that he thinks
this budget can be done without raising the tax
rate. The Board went over the general fund budget
and made the following proposed changes.
Commissioner Staiger commented on the state pension
plan increase. He said he can’t approve a 2% COLA
because of the pension increase.
Motion:
not to accept a 2% COLA because of the increase of
the state pension.
Motion made by Commissioner Staiger, second by
Commissioner Joy.
Vote 2-3,
motion failed.
Motion: to
fund storm water mapping of $52,000 and the $11,000
for countywide communications from the fund balance
instead of the general fund budget.
Motion made by Commissioner Staiger, second by
Commissioner O’Donnell
Vote: 4-1 in
favor, motion carries.
Motion: to
remove $11,000 from line item 6600 in department 22
under public safety. Already in CIP, this would be
a duplicate. Motion carried--unanimous consent.
Department 10 – Legislative changes
Motion:
to modify lines 5401 education conferences, etc.
and lines 5402 travel and expenses of department 10
of the general fund budget to $2,000 each.
Motion made by Commissioner Staiger, second by
Commissioner O’Donnell
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Motion:
to modify line item 5505 contractual to $2,000.
Motion made by Commissioner Joy, second by
Commissioner O’Donnell
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Motion: to
modify line item 6901 special events from $3,500 to
$1,500.
Motion made by Commissioner Joy and second by
Commissioner Staiger
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Department 12 – Planning and Zoning changes
Motion: to
modify lines 5401 education conferences, etc. to
$700 and line 5402 travel and expenses to $1,500.
Motion made by Commissioner Joy, second by
Commissioner Blanchard.
Amended Motion:
to modify line 5401 to $1,000 and line 5402 to
$1,800.
Motion by Commissioner O’Donnell, second by
Commissioner Blanchard
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Motion:
to modify line 5501 legal fees from $2,000 to
$1,000.
Motion made by Commissioner Staiger second by
Commissioner O’Donnell
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Motion:
to modify line 5001 salaries wages by $14,080 to the
water and sewer fund. Motion failed.
Department 13 – Financial changes
Motion:
to modify line 5401 education conferences, etc. to
$500 and line 5402 travel and expenses to $750.
Motion made by Commissioner Staiger, second by
Commissioner O’Donnell.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Motion:
to modify line 5505 contractual from $3,387 to
$1,100.
Motion made by Commissioner Staiger, second by
Commissioner Joy.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Motion:
to modify line 6100 other expenses from $1,800 to
$1,000.
Motion made by Commissioner Staiger, second by
Commissioner O’Donnell.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Department 15 – Buildings changes
Motion:
to modify line item 6200 repair from $33,482 to
$28,000.
Motion made by Commissioner Joy and second by
Commissioner Sweeney.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Motion:
to modify line item 6600 capital outlay from $5,542
to zero.
Motion made by Commissioner Staiger, second by
Commissioner Joy.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Department 20 – Public Safety changes
Motion:
to modify line item 5505 contractual from $250,000
to $240,380.
Motion made by Commissioner Joy, second by
Commissioner Sweeney.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Department 30 – Streets changes
Motion:
to modify line item 6160 vehicle maintenance from
$20,517to $19,402.
Motion made by Commissioner Staiger, second by
Commissioner Joy.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Motion:
to modify line item 6200 repairs from $7,111 to
$4,000.
Motion made by Commissioner Joy, second by
Commissioner Sweeney.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Department 60 – Parks and Recreation and Culture
changes
Motion:
to modify line item 6600 capital outlay from $2,500
to zero.
Motion made by Commissioner Joy, second by
Commissioner Sweeney.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Ordinance 12-09 - Adoption of the FY 2013 tax rate
Commissioner Staiger stated that the Board asked the
staff to prepare the budget on the constant yield
rate which would be a tax rate increase from .36
cents per hundred dollars to 42.65 cents. It
appears as to the changes made on the last agenda
item that town could get by, by maintaining the
current tax rate and still fully fund the existing
programs as well as making sure for expected future
expenses for both roads and equipment.
Motion:
to maintain the constant yield tax rate of .36 cents
per hundred dollars of assessed value for fiscal
year 2013.
Motion by Commissioner Staiger, second by
Commissioner Joy
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Set Agenda Items for June 4, 2012 Town Meeting
-
Consideration of contract for WWTP inspection
and site management
-
FY 2013 budget consideration
III Public Comments –
Amanda Snedegar, 126 East Main Street
– addressed the Board on their sewer line problems
and asked the town to help fix it. (addressed
during Administrative Business)
IV SIGN APPROVED TEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR
RESOLUTIONS
IV Adjournment
With no further business, the May 21, 2012
Town Meeting was adjourned at 11:10 p.m.
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