The February 18, 2010, Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Frank C. Ogens, in the Symphony Village Clubhouse. 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; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; Abigail Hill, attorney; and Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Jim Kindle.
Review and Approval of Minutes
Mr. McCluskey made a motion to approve the February 4, 2010 Council minutes as amended.
Mr. Pinder seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Mr. Pinder made a motion to approve the February 4, 2010 Council work session minutes as submitted. Mr. McCluskey seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
Announcement of Closed Sessions
Council President Ogens announced that (i) The Town Council met in closed session on February 4, 2010, after the regular meeting at 8:50 p.m. at the Goodwill Fire Department to discuss personnel and receive legal advice on legal matters. (ii) All three members of the Town Council voted to close the session. (iii) The authority to close the session is found in Section 10-508 (a)(1) and Section 10-508 (a)(7) of the State Government Article. (iv) The Council discussed personnel issues and received legal advice from counsel. The Council discussed the following:
• Prospective Public Works agreements regarding Spring Street
• Personnel issue regarding a specific employee
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; Abby Hill, attorney; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; Chief Charlie Rhodes; and Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide.
Citizens Forum – No comments.
Appearances – None
Old Business
a. Watson Road Parking- Status Update
• Mr. McGrory referred Council to the minutes of the last meeting for review. Restricting traffic on the east side of Watson Road has been taken under consideration. Based on the opinion of the Queen Anne’s County Public Works Department, the Goodwill Fire Company, Chief Rhodes, and discussion this evening about the duration of the trial period, Mr. Pinder made a motion to post “No Parking” signs on the east side of Watson Road for a period beginning May 1, 2010 and ending October 31, 2010. Mr. Ogens seconded the motion. The motion passed 2-1 (Mr. Pinder, yea; Mr. Ogens, yea; Mr. McCluskey, nay.)
New Business
a. Symphony Village Stormwater Management Pond Retrofit Bid
• Mr. McGrory reported on the proposed stormwater retrofit project at Symphony Village. The project, with the assistance of Department of Natural Resources, will improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Designs were created for each of two ponds, a meeting was held at Symphony Village for feedback from residents and the home owners association, and the plan was modified to incorporate the suggestions made. Bids were received and the recommendation for Site Maintenance, Inc. before the Council is based on an evaluation by Eva Kerchner, Zoning Administrator/Watershed Manager
• Mr. McCluskey made a motion to accept the bid submitted by Site Maintenance, Inc. for the Symphony Village Retrofit grant-funded project, not to exceed $89,170. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
b. Water Resource Element & Municipal Growth Element Extension Request
• Mr. McGrory described the work the Planning Commission has been doing on the Municipal Growth Element and Water Resource Element and the delay that necessitated a request for an extension. The Planning Commission had hoped to schedule hearings and adoption of both elements concurrently, but the necessary information has not been received from the County to accomplish this by April 1, 2010, the extension deadline. The Commission has made a good faith effort and would like to request another six month extension until October 1, 2010.
• Mr. McCluskey made a motion to authorize the Planning Commission to request a six month extension of time, April 1, 2010 through October 1, 2010 from the Maryland Department of Planning to complete work on the Municipal Growth Element and the Water Resource Element. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
c. Ordinance No. 02-2010, Re: Setting the Maximum Speed for Residential Streets: First Reading
• Mr. Kehoe read Ordinance No. 02-2010 for the record. He noted that the 25 MPH speed limit applies to all streets within Centreville, not just residential streets. He stated that the Town’s default speed limit will be 25 MPH.
• Mr. McGrory reported that Symphony Village residents have expressed interest in having the 25MPH limit applied to its streets.
d. Snow Removal
• Mr. McGrory gave an update on snow removal in Centreville and itemized the priority of tasks undertaken during the course of snow removal. He reported that the Town’s Public Works Department and extra contractors have put in many long hours to make the streets passable. He said he is extremely grateful for all of their hard work. He also commended the Centreville Police Department for its outstanding work. The total estimated cost for snow removal this winter is in excess of $100,000.
• Mr. Ogens said he works in Chestertown and that their roads have not been cleared nearly as well as Centreville’s roads.
• Mr. McCluskey noted that there are still school delays due to the condition of roads in outlying areas. He said he rode with one of the Town’s Public Works employees during the last storm and saw how difficult a job it is, especially when there are white-out conditions.
• Mr. Ogens reported that he and Mr. McGrory met with Arlen Marshall and Alan Ettman of Symphony Village and had a productive dialog regarding snow removal. Symphony Village hires a private contractor and they were interested to know if the Town could provide snow removal services. Mr. McGrory explained that the residents of Symphony Village for snow removal both as part of their Town taxes and as part of their Home Owners’ Association fees. Mr. Ogens suggested continuing the dialog about snow removal, determining the cost of providing that service, and seeing where it goes.
e. Garbage Collection Contract
• Mr. McGrory reported that Cahall Waste, LLC’s contract expires at the end of August. A new contract should be effective September 1, 2010. In a letter from Cahall on January 12, 2010, they offer a cost savings if we continue our contract with them. Mr. McGrory said Council could extend the current contract now or put garbage collection out for bids.
• Mr. Ogens advised that there is no harm in putting the service out for bids.
• Mr. Pinder suggested it would be good budgeting if garbage collection was contracted for five years.
• Mr. McCluskey reported that a number of waste contractors are offering curb-side recycling.
• Mr. Ogens recommended going out for bids with a choice of two years or five years.
Announcements
Mr. Ogens read the announcements for the information of the Council, staff, and public.
Correspondence
Mr. Ogens reviewed Council correspondence for the information of the public.
• The Town Council is invited to Dr. William Leon Taylor’s 102nd birthday celebration on Saturday, February 20, 2010, 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Corbaley Hall at Our Mother of Sorrows Church.
• The State Highway Administration is beginning the process for installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of Wexford Boulevard and Spaniard Neck Road.
Department Head Reports
a. Town Manager
• Mr. McGrory reported that most of his time during the last two weeks has been consumed with snow removal issues.
• Mr. McGrory reported he had received an email from Jennifer Schmidt, Byway Coordinator, advising that the deadline for installation of the National Scenic Byway signs is March 15, 2010. The three locations for the Town’s Byway signs are: (1) Taylor Mill Road and Route 213; (2) Route 18 at the corporate limits of Town; and (3) the intersection of North Liberty and North Commerce.
b. Chief of Police
• Chief Rhodes read the stats for the month of January for the benefit of Symphony Village residents who may not have attended Council’s February 4, 2010 meeting. He reported that speed enforcement has been stepped up at approaches to Town using the speed trailer. The results have been effective.
c. Town Attorney – No report
Citizens Forum
• Mary Margaret Goodwin, 221 North Commerce Street, offered comments.
• Jim Cooke, 225 Opera Court, offered comments.
Council Roundtable
• Mr. McCluskey reported that the Small Town Bakery, 105 East Water Street, will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, February 23, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. He reported that the proposed Council meeting with the State Highway Administration has been postponed due to the snow. The new date for the meeting is April 20, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. at the Goodwill Fire Company.
• Mr. Ogens requested that citizens call him whenever they have questions or concerns. If he does not know the answer, he will find out.
• Mr. Jim Kindle, Symphony Village, offered comments.
• Doug Puls, Symphony Village, offered comments.
Motion to Adjourn
Mr. Pinder made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. McCluskey seconded the motion and the February 19, 2010 regular meeting of the Town Council adjourned at 8:13 p.m. by unanimous vote.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide