MINUTES
TOWN
MEETING
August 18, 2014
Emmitsburg
Town
Office
Present:
Mayor Donald Briggs; Commissioners Clifford
Sweeney, Christopher Staiger, Jennifer Mellor, Glenn
Blanchard and Tim O’Donnell, President.
Staff present were Vickie Felix and Sue Cipperly, Town Planner.
Absent:
Dave Haller, Town
Manager with prior notice
_________________________________________________________________________
I.
Call to
Order
Commissioner Tim O’Donnell, President of the Board of
Commissioners, called the
August 18, 2014
Town Meeting to order at
7:30 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the
July 21, 2014
Town Meeting were approved as presented.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioners’ cited attendances to include the
pool parties, both very well attended; the concert in
the park; the back to school night event at Christ
Community Church, handed out over 200 items to children.
The garden plots are starting to flourish; hopefully
next year town can expand the operation. The food bank
will take produce donations.
Announcements included children going back to
school, please be watchful of the children walking; the
pool will be opened every weekend from now until Labor
Day; the Cross Mountain Trail from Hampton Valley Rd. to
Crystal Fountain Rd is nearing completion. The trail
will only be open on Sundays once hunting starts. Staff
was complimented on their efficiency in helping
Commissioner Blanchard with his porch permit. Emphasis
was made on the value of wearing helmets and wishes of
wellness were expressed for the boy injured while skate
boarding.
County Commissioners’ liaison David Dunn was
present and addressed the Board stating the MOU is being
developed for the path from the town to the college. The
Commissioner’s are moving forward with that to make
the 1/3 contribution that they agreed to do.
Mayor’s Comments
Mayor Briggs attended
the pool parties; back to school night. He recognized
all the businesses that helped with the pool parties. He
announced that the town has rejoined the Chamber of
Commerce; Bishop Lori will be celebrating a Mass at the
Basilica, he is a Mount Seminary graduate; the
refrigerator replacement program put on by the County
has been very well received, over 30 people received new
refrigerators; the Deputies are now taking a Narcan
training. He thanked the EBPA for their $1,000 and the
Frederick County Tourism Council for their $1,500 to put
towards the three sided Kiosks that will be put
downtown.
Administrative Business
·
Trail Work Days
scheduled for 10.5.14 and 11.2.14
·
Parks Committee Business
o
Appoint Sandy Umbel to
Parks Committee – unanimous consent
o
Clean up – parks
committee membership/list
Consent Agenda - none
Reports:
Town Manager Report - reported on the public works department monthly activities to
include a water production and consumption analysis.
Mayor Briggs highlighted some items in Mr. Haller’s
absence. Staff hung up the hanging baskets in the
square; Rainbow Lake is now 2.5” below the spillway
level; there is a precipitation surplus of 13.2”;
trash pickup post Labor Day will be Tuesday, September
2, 2014; trees were trimmed in the parks; staff has
installed a new baby swing; the basket ball and tennis
courts have been resurfaced. Staff met with the HR
consultants related to job descriptions. Zoning/Code Enforcement Report – Ms. Cipperly highlighted that
staff has received approval for second round of grant
money for the Energy Administration grant for $30,000.
Jerry Muir has been developing some weatherization
proposals that get submitted to the State for the WWTP
and WTP. If those are approved Town will get money to
make those facilities more energy efficient.
Town Planners Report - Ms. Cipperly highlighted that she has spent a
lot of time on the Community Legacy grant program; which
has been very popular. In FY2013 there were four
projects which are finished or nearing completion and
FY2014 there were six projects in the last round and
staff just had another round where they got three
additional projects in. This is really helping people
enhance buildings that they otherwise couldn’t afford.
This is a 50/50 match; state and private money. Ms.
Cipperly applied for $150,000 for FY2015. Dollar General
is still ongoing; she spoke with someone today in
regards to the architectural issue that were expressed. Detailed
report at Exhibit A.
Police Report
- Deputy
Rohrer reported on July 2014 police activities. There
was a brief discussion in regards to the young skate
boarder who experienced a head injury due to not wearing
a helmet. Deputy Rohrer will look into getting safety
pamphlets to hand out in schools. Commissioner Blanchard
stated he appreciated the bike patrols. Detailed report
at Exhibit B.
Treasurer’s Report – Commissioner
Blanchard reported on July 2014 cash activity. Detailed
report at Exhibit C.
Planning Commission Report
– Ms. Cipperly stated the report combines with
tonight’s agenda item. Ms. Cipperly reported the
planning commission met and the agenda item was the
Floodplain Ordinance which in on the agenda list for
tonight.
II.
Agenda Items
Delegate
Kelly Schultz
Delegate Kelly Schultz was present and addressed the Board stating
that she was present to see if the Town had any
immediate needs to be addressed at the State level. She
will check with the SHA in regards to the sidewalks
timeline; concerns were expressed by Board for
pedestrians with Dollar General Store going in.
Loan
Resolution and Security Agreement for Subsequent Funding
For WWTP
Mayor Briggs presented that at the April 21, 2014 town meeting the
Board unanimously approved staff to move forward with
arrangements with USDA for the additional $2,001,000 for
the WWTP; $1,000,000
will be grant and $1,001,000 made available in loan at
2.5% over a 40 year term. This is the paper work for the
resolution and security agreement that needs to be
signed. During Board discussion there was concern on
item number 17 which appears to be incomplete. The
documents were reviewed by the Town Attorney.
Motion: - To accept
the Loan Resolution and Security Agreement.
Motion made by Commissioner Sweeney and second by Commissioner
Blanchard.
Vote: 3-1in favor
Commissioner Mellor against
Commissioner Staiger abstained
FY
15 General Fund Budget Transfer
Mayor Briggs stated that when the Emmitsburg Baseball team were
going on to play in the regional’s in New York they
needed funding and Mayor Briggs transferred money out of
his discretionary funds to supply the need and now would
like to request a budget transfer to be made within the
general fund – legislative & executive department.
Increase account 6100 other expenses by $1,500 and
decrease account 5401 education & conferences by
$1,000 and decrease account 5304 communications by $500.
Motion:
- To accept the FY 2015 General Fund Budget
transfer.
Motion made
by Commissioner Mellor and second by Commissioner
Sweeney.
Vote: 5-0
in favor
Flood
plain ordinance for consideration and adoption
Ms. Cipperly stated the Floodplain ordinance came to the Board in
June which was referred to the Planning Commission
because it was going to be inserted into the zoning
section of the town ordinance. Anytime there is a change
to the ordinance the Planning Commission is suppose to
be involved. The Planning Commission met and they
recommended that the Floodplain Ordinance take place.
Ms. Cipperly stated that it has been advertised properly
in the Frederick News Post. Essentially this is a
federal document that keeps people from building in
floodplains. The reason it is being put in the zoning
ordinance is to provide for an appeals procedure. There
was a brief discussion on the elevation certificate.
Motion:
-
To approve the Flood Plain Ordinance 14-06; An ordinance
to repeal Chapter 15.28 of Title 15 of the Code of
Emmitsburg Entitled Floodplain Management Regulations
and to enact Chapter 17.42 of Title 17 to be entitled
Floodplain Management.
Motion made by Commissioner Sweeney and second by
Commissioner Blanchard.
Vote: 5-0
in favor
Set
Agenda Items for September 2, 2014 Town Meeting
1.
Solar power phase II
discussion
2.
Appointing election
judge and election judge alternate – Consent
Agenda
3.
Re-appointments to the Board of Appeals – Consent Agenda
III.
Public Comments – Candidate
Mark Long, PO Box
495, Thurmont, MD 21788 – Commented that he is
running for County Council District 5. He wanted to
introduce himself and get acquainted with the Board.
Candidate Susan
Jessee, 8694 S. Pacific Ct., Middletown, MD 21769
– Commented she is running for County Council at
large. She gave a brief background of herself and
experience/involvement with the county.
IV.
SIGN APPROVED TEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS