MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
September 16, 2013
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present:
Mayor Donald Briggs; Commissioners Clifford
Sweeney, Christopher Staiger, James Hoover and
Tim O’Donnell, President.
Staff present were Vickie Felix
and Sue Cipperly, Town Planner.
Absent: Commissioner
Patrick Joy with prior notice
I.
Call to Order
Commissioner Tim O’Donnell,
President of the Board of Commissioners, called
the September 16, 2013 Town Meeting to order at
7:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the September 3,
2013 Town Meeting were approved as presented.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioners cited announcements
to include the Drug Awareness Meeting that will
be held at the Walkersville Fire hall on
September 30 held by Delegate Kelly Shultz. The
Emmitsburg Multi User Trail will be included in
a guidebook this upcoming year. The trail is
available Sundays only at the present time.
Commissioner O’Donnell stated that there is an
abundance of young people riding bikes without
helmets. Commissioner Hoover reported that this
will be his last meeting. He wished the
candidates that signed up for office good luck
and stated that he enjoyed the opportunity to
again serve the town.
Mayor’s Comments
He announced that the
Thanksgiving Day Run proceeds will go to the
Seton Center this year; Team Emmitsburg has been
out cleaning up the streets.
Administrative Business
·
Election Judge – Charlotte
Mazaleski agreed to serve; still need an
alternate judge
·
Running waterline for ball field
#2 – Commissioner Staiger thanked Dave and staff
for getting closer to getting this done which
will be a big help this spring.
·
Email from Delegate Shultz to
schedule a time to attend and speak in the
future
Reports:
Town Manager’s Report
- Mr. Haller was absent; the report was in the
packet for Board to review which reported the
public works department monthly activities to
include a water production and consumption
analysis. In Mr. Haller’s absence, Ms. Cipperly
highlighted several items to include that staff
cut and sprayed curb weeds in a number of the
newer developments; repaired and replaced a
number of street signs, some were due to
vandalism; all the LED street lights have been
installed and the wells continue to be down
compared to May 2011 levels. Town Planner’s
report - Ms. Cipperly reported that she
continued on the Square project; applied for an
additional $200,000 community legacy grant,
attended the EPA meeting and briefed them on
current projects. She mentioned that the town
does have a potential commercial project on East
Main Street which will have to undergo some
subdivision and site plan approvals; this will
take some time yet and she is not at liberty to
state the name at the present. Detailed report
at Exhibit A.
Police Report
- Deputy Patterson reported on the August 2013
police report. Detailed report at Exhibit B.
II. Agenda Items
Square project timeline
Sue Cipperly gave a PowerPoint
presentation for the Emmitsburg Square
revitalization. She did a brief recap to
include the design process; consensus design
elements; community presentation; additional
public meetings; state highway administration
meetings and then presented the future timeline
for anticipated completion target dates. Mayor
Briggs interjected that, for the record, there
will be a time when the town will have to invest
as well. Public Comments: Harold
Craig, 103 West Main Street – in favor of
the plan. Bob Hance, 200 South Seton Avenue
- in support of the plan and made a verbal
commitment representing the EBPA to support and
do what they can do to make it happen.
Robert Rosensteel, 110 Depaul Street –
emphasized that after growing up here for 70
years, he has not seen much change; this is
exciting that the people and businesses have
come together to participate and make this work.
Dora Connolly, 20 East Main Street – very
supportive of the Square project. Jay Myles,
506 West Main Street, - the positive is that
the community is behind this; the challenge is
looking at the hard numbers--he asked, as a
resident, to look at the positive and find ways
to make this happen.
Standard Solar presentation and
proposed contract
Mr. Ugast of U.S. Photovoltaics
was present for the Board to ask specific
questions. Attorney Matthew Pirnot was present
to walk the board through the contract which was
not yet finalized; there are still a couple of
open points and Standard Solar was also
present. After a very lengthy discussion the
Board was reserved to give conditional approval
of the contract and it was recommended to table
this agenda item until the points in the
contract are resolved.
Motion:
to table agenda item #2, the Standard Solar
presentation and proposed contract, to a future
meeting; date to be determined.
Motion made by Commissioner
Hoover, second by Commissioner Sweeney.
Vote:
4-0 in favor
At this time there was a motion
to take a five minute recess.
Motion made by Commissioner
Sweeney, second by Commissioner Hoover.
Vote:
4-0 in favor
Meeting reconvened at 10:06 p.m.
Sign ordinance amendment
Due to the late hour of the
evening this agenda item was tabled until the
next town meeting.
Motion:
To table agenda item #3, Sign ordinance
amendment.
Motion made by Commissioner
Hoover, second by Commissioner Sweeney.
Vote: 4-0 in favor
Set Agenda Items for October 7,
2013 Town Meeting
1.
Board reorganization
2.
Standard Solar contract
presentation
3.
Sign ordinance amendment
III. Public Comments Pastor
John Talcott, 303 West Lincoln Avenue,
representing Christ Community Church - commented
on a Day to Serve which will take place
September 21 from 8am to noon. The project will
be called Main Street Clean Up. They
will meet in the morning at Christ Community
Church.
IV. SIGN APPROVED TEXT
AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS - none
V. Adjournment
