The August 20, 2009, Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Council President Frank C. Ogens in the first floor meeting room of the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company. The following members and staff were present: Frank C. Ogens, President; Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Vice President; Timothy E. McCluskey, Member; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; Chief Charlie Rhodes, CPD; Greg Swartz, Director of Public Works; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; and PJ. Townsend, Town Clerk.
Review and Approval of Minutes
Timothy McCluskey made a motion to approve minutes from the July 16, 2009, Special Session (Work Session.) Norman Pinder seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
Timothy McCluskey made a motion to approve minutes from the July 16, 2009, Public Hearing. Norman Pinder seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
Timothy McCluskey asked that the minutes of the July 16, 2009, Council regular meeting be amended to show the complete motion concerning the Council’s action regarding the request for parking on Homewood Avenue. At the request of the Clerk, and by consensus, the Council tabled action on these minutes to the September 3, 2009 Council regular meeting to allow the Clerk to research the motion in order to correctly complete that amendment. In discussion of those minutes, Mr. McCluskey also clarified for the record that the cost of $316,000, mentioned as a project cost estimate by Town Manager Bob McGrory in his report about the wharf project is a 50% match amount, not the full estimated project cost.
Timothy McCluskey made a motion to approve minutes from the July 23, 2009, Special Session (Work Session.) Norman Pinder seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
Announcement of Closed Sessions
President Ogens announced that i) The Town Council met in closed session on July 16, 2009, at 10:15 p.m., at Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company, Centreville, Maryland, to discuss personnel issues and to receive legal advice from counsel. (ii) All three members of the Town Council voted to close the session. (iii) The authority to close the session is found in Sections 10-508(a)(1)(i) and (ii), and (7), of the State Government Article. (iv) The Council discussed personnel issues regarding personnel matters, and received legal advice from counsel. The Council directed the Town Attorney to prepare a response to correspondence received. The following members and staff were present: Frank C. Ogens, President; Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Vice President; Timothy E. McCluskey, Member; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; Chief Charlie Rhodes; and PJ. Townsend, Town Clerk.
Mr. Ogens further announced that (i) The Town Council met in closed session on July 23, 2009, at 1:14 p.m., at the Town Annex, 105 N Liberty Street, Centreville, Maryland, to discuss personnel issues and to receive legal advice from counsel. (ii) All three members of the Town Council voted to close the session. (iii) The authority to close the session is found in Sections 10-508(a)(1)(i) and (ii), and (7), of the State Government Article. (iv) The Council discussed personnel issues regarding personnel matters, and received legal advice from counsel. The Council approved health insurance adjustments for two employees. The following members and staff were present: Frank C. Ogens, President; Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Vice President; Timothy E. McCluskey, Member; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; and PJ. Townsend, Town Clerk.
Additionally, Mr. Ogens advised that (i) The Town Council met in closed session on August 20, 2009, at 6:00 p.m., at the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company, 212 Broadway, Centreville, Maryland, to discuss personnel and to receive legal advice from counsel. (ii) All three members of the Town Council voted to close the session. (iii) The authority to close the session is found in Sections 10-508(a)(1)(i) and (ii), and (7), of the State Government Article. (iv) The Council received legal advice from counsel. The Council took no actions. The following members and staff were present: Frank C. Ogens, President; Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Vice President; Timothy E. McCluskey, Member; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; Chief Charlie Rhodes; and PJ. Townsend, Town Clerk.
Citizens Forum
Mary Roby, 203 S Liberty Street; and Dolores Patterson, 304 East Water Street, offered comments.
Appearances
a. Mark Freestate, Vice President, The Avon Dixon Agency, LLC, re: Town Insurance Update
• Mr. Freestate presented an update to the Council about insurance coverage currently held by the Town. He distributed a summary document to the Council, and requested that he and the Town Manager review this document for accuracy, and to complete any necessary updates.
b. Kara Snyder, President: Centreville Alive! Update
• Ms. Snyder updated the Council on the organizational progress of Centreville Alive!, and announced that the group’s next event would be “Paint the Town Pink,” on October 9, 2009.
• The next meeting for Centreville Alive! is scheduled for September 10, 2009. Ms. Snyder asked that the group’s regular meetings and special events be added to the Council’s announcements and the Town’s webpage calendar.
• Mr. Pinder asked if the group had operating funds, and Mr. McCluskey, Secretary for Centreville Alive!, responded that the group needs assistance in completing legal and organizational functions, but expects to be able to continue operations with membership fees and event donations.
Mr. McCluskey made a motion to donate $500.00 to Centreville Alive! to assist with legal and organizational activities. Norman Pinder seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
c. Mary Margaret Revell Goodwin: Queen Anne’s County War of 1812 Organizing Committee Update
• Ms. Goodwin advised the Council of several activities, including a water trail and a half-marathon, related to planning for this celebration.
d. Chris Rogers, URS/Town Planner; and Michael Troxell, URS/Principal Transportation Engineer, re: Railroad Avenue Concept Plan
• Mr. Rogers advised the Council that when this project was introduced in July, 2008, URS agreed to return with the concept plan, which is tonight’s presentation. Mr. Troxell gave an overview of the project for the Council’s information.
• Mr. McCluskey asked if there were other streets that should be considered for this same type of project, and by consensus, the Council agreed that Green Street should also be considered.
• Mr. McCluskey requested estimates of the total project cost, and clarified for the record that that gain in parking spaces at the municipal lot would be through repainting, not reconstruction.
e. Chris Rogers, URS/Town Planner; and Michael Troxell, URS/Principal Transportation Engineer, re: Wooded Wetland Notice of Award
• At Mr. Pinder’s request, Mr. Rogers explained that the purpose of this project is to create a wetland filter on 14 to 20 acres that drain into Gravel Run South. He added that the State Highway Administration has reviewed the bids and issued a concurrence of award. Mr. Rogers requested the Council’s approval for a Notice of Award so that a pre-contract meeting can be scheduled, followed by the issuance of the Notice to Proceed.
• Mr. Rogers also explained that one portion of the sewer work needs to be completed that is the responsibility of the developer of North Brook. URS will ascertain that this work is confirmed prior to undertaking the wetland installation. Mr. Rogers anticipates being able to move forward within the next two to three weeks.
• Mr. McGrory reviewed the project’s funding and advised that the Town’s contribution is mostly in-kind.
Norman Pinder made a motion to approve the bid award for the Route 213 Stormwater Retrofit for Gravel Run South (Wooded Wetland), to Baltimore Pile Driving, Inc., in the amount of $167,309.50. The motion was seconded by Timothy McCluskey and unanimously approved.
Old Business
a. Proposed Text Amendment to the Centreville Code: Increase to the Allowable Square Footage for Convenience Stores
Timothy McCluskey made a motion to deny the proposed text amendment to increase the allowable square footage for a convenience store from less than 2,000 square feet to less than 3,500 square feet, as requested by High’s of Baltimore. Norman Pinder seconded the motion, and it was unanimously passed.
b. Stop Signs: Little Kidwell at Spring Street
Norman Pinder made a motion that the Town remove the two stop signs on Little Kidwell at Spring Street. Timothy McCluskey seconded the motion, and on discussion, Mr. McCluskey clarified that the motion did not include the one stop sign on Spring Street at the Little Kidwell intersection. The motion was unanimously passed.
c. Personnel Manual Revision
• Mr. McGrory reviewed previous discussions about revising the personnel manual. He recommended to the Council that he convene a committee of department heads and the Citizen’s Review Committee, and begin a review of one chapter at a time. Mr. McGrory invited the Council to participate as well, and confirmed that all suggested changes will be returned to the Council for review and approval.
• By consensus, the Council affirmed the approach to revising the personnel manual as recommended by the Town Manager.
d. ARRA: Bids Status
• Mr. McGrory advised the Council that these two projects will have a September 26, 2009, bid opening. The Town must meet this deadline, and be prepared for “shovels in the ground” by December 31, 2009, in order to retain the stimulus monies.
• Mr. McGrory added that he will present legislation to the Council regarding the acceptance of these bonds.
• The Council clarified that URS is responsible for ensuring that the Town is meeting all requirements of the ARRA funds.
New Business
a. Providence Farm Annexation
• Mr. McGrory reviewed the actions of the Planning Commission on August 19, 2009, regarding the proposed annexation.
• By consensus, the Council agreed to schedule a public hearing to proceed with the proposed annexations, and set a tentative date of September 17, 2009, at 6:30 p.m.
b. Proposed Ordinance 03-2009: One Year Extension for Approved Site Plans
• Norman Pinder provided an overview of his reasons for requesting this ordinance, and then asked Mr. McGrory to review the edits he suggested to the draft.
• By consensus, the Council request Mr. Kehoe redraft the ordinance with the suggested edits, and return this second draft to the Council for its review at the September 3, 2009 meeting. The Council will plan to forward the ordinance to the Planning Commission for review at its September meeting.
Announcements
Mr. Ogens read announcements for the information of the Council, staff, and public.
Correspondence
Mr. Ogens reviewed Council correspondence for the information of the public.
In response to a letter from the Corsica River Conservancy for support of its annual Watershed Awareness Day, Timothy McCluskey made a motion to donate $250.00 to this event. Norman Pinder seconded the motion and it was unanimously passed. Greg Swartz, Director of Public Works, agreed to provide event planners with the Town’s tent and other assistance as needed from his department.
In response to correspondence from Tidewater Physical Therapy requesting a handicapped parking space near its office on Pennsylvania Avenue, Timothy McCluskey made a motion that the Town install one handicapped parking spot at 130 Pennsylvania Avenue. Norman Pinder seconded the motion and it unanimously passed. The Council requested that the Clerk draft a letter to developer Cal Gray and request information about his intentions to provide on- and off-street parking on Pennsylvania Avenue.
On a related issue, the Council agreed by consensus to leave the handicapped parking spot on Commerce Street at the former location of Tidewater Physical Therapy. Chief Rhodes agreed to monitor the use of this spot to determine if it should be retained.
Department Head Reports
a. Town Manager
• Mr. McGrory discussed demolition permits and thanked Chief Rhodes for encouraging Mr. Bozek to move forward with the demolition on Spring Street.
• Mr. McGrory advised that he had discussed a work day at the wharf property with the Environmental Advisory Committee. Mr. Pinder asked if there might be available grant monies to assist with cleaning this property, and Mr. McCluskey advised none are available. Mr. McCluskey also requested that the Town place a second Geocache box at this site. The Council asked that Mr. McGrory caucus the Park Advisory Board and the EAC for a date to schedule the site clean-up.
• Mr. McGrory announced that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources has funded the construction of two storm water rain gardens at the Sheriff’s Office and at the Centreville Police Department, and invited the Council to the kick-off for these events at 9:00 a.m., on August 21, 2009.
b. Chief of Police
• Chief Rhodes presented the July 2009 statistics report.
• Chief Rhodes provided a follow-up report to the Council regarding the earlier discussion of parking meter time limits. After some discussion and by consensus, the Council requested that Chief Rhodes select several different parking zones around Town, mark them for about a week, and see if a pattern(s) can be determined related to parking habits in downtown. The Council asked that this information then be used to make recommendations regarding the best areas to limit parking time and to determine if an increase in meter fees is warranted.
3. Town Attorney – No report.
4. Town Clerk
• Ms. Townsend thanked the Council, Staff, Board volunteers, and Chief Rhodes for helping to staff the Town’s booth at this year’s Queen Anne’s County Fair.
• Ms. Townsend advised Council that the Christmas Parade Committee has convened to plan the 2009 parade. Joining the Committee this year are representatives from Centreville Alive! and the Park Advisory Board. The Committee has selected “Christmas Wishes” as this year’s parade theme.
• Ms. Townsend announced that the PAB approved both Invitations for Bid related to the Millstream Park revitalization project and those IFB’s will be published in the coming week.
• Ms. Townsend updated the Council on the Town’s enrollment in the Eastern Shore of Maryland Educational Consortium Energy Trust.
Citizens Forum
Mary Margaret Revell Goodwin, 221 N Commerce Street, offered comments.
Council Roundtable
President Ogens:
• Mr. Ogens read a letter of resignation from Tom Baker, Member, Park Advisory Board. The Council requested that notice of this vacancy be added to the Town’s webpage, and that previous applications be again reviewed in the interest of quickly filling this slot.
Norman Pinder made a motion to accept the resignation of Tom Baker from the Park Advisory Board. Frank Ogens seconded the motion and it unanimously passed.
• Mr. Ogens advised that the letters for the Millstream Park entrance gates have been ordered.
• Mr. Ogens advised that the crosswalk signs on Chesterfield Avenue will shortly be removed.
Vice President Pinder:
• Mr. Pinder updated the Council on anticipated costs to install a sewer line at the cemetery. He advised that Town staff can do this work at an estimated cost of $2,000 to $2,500. In discussion of this item, Mr. McCluskey advised that he would also like to see a restroom installed at Millstream Park.
Norman Pinder made a motion to approve up to $2,500 for installation by Town staff of a sewer line at the Chesterfield cemetery. Timothy McCluskey seconded the motion, and it unanimously passed.
Council Member McCluskey:
• Mr. McCluskey thanked the Chief and officers of the Centreville Police Department for hosting a successful National Night Out.
• Mr. McCluskey reminded the Council of previous discussion regarding community event sign(s). He advised that he would research the costs and designs, and return to the Council with that information. Mr. Ogens agreed to ask the Park Advisory Board for input, and the Council, by consensus, agreed that the Town should standardize the way in which event information is advertised to the public.
• Mr. McCluskey updated the Council on his conversation with Sandi Pepe regarding Waterway Improvement Fund monies. He hopes to bring recommendations to the next Council meeting, and advised that one of two pending grants will need to be withdrawn since state monies are currently limited.
Motion to Adjourn
Norman Pinder made a motion to adjourn to closed session for the purpose of discussing personnel and to receive legal advice from counsel. The motion was seconded by Timothy McCluskey and the August 20, 2009, regular meeting adjourned at 9:52 p.m., by unanimous vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
PJ. Townsend
Town Clerk