MINUTES
TOWN
MEETING
November
17, 2014
Emmitsburg
Town
Office
Present:
Mayor Donald Briggs; Commissioners Clifford
Sweeney, Joseph Ritz III, Jennifer Mellor, Glenn Blanchard
and Tim O’Donnell, President.
Staff
present were Vickie Felix, Sue Cipperly, Town Planner and
Dave Haller, Town Manager.
_________________________________________________________________________I.
Call to
Order
Commissioner
Tim O’Donnell, President of the Board of Commissioners,
called the November 17, 2014 Town Meeting to order at
7:30 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of
Minutes
The
Minutes of the
November 3, 2014
Town Meeting were approved as corrected.
Commissioner
Comments
Commissioner(s)
cited attendances to included Community Day committee
meeting. Recognitions included all organizations that
helped with Halloween celebrations and repairs on the
trails. Announcements were upcoming Thanksgiving Turkey
Trot, MORE road 13 miles of the multi-user trails - got
positive feedback, trails are being well used and there
will be a home owner’s association meeting coming up.
The Seton Center has limited funds for people that need
help for housing oil and Commissioner Sweeney will be late
for the December 2, 2014 town meeting.
Mayor’s
Comments
Mayor
Briggs cited meetings to include meeting with staff and
accounts; went over the budget, preparing to make
presentation in January; attended the Mount St. Mary’s
Athletic Committee meeting; along with staff met with
waste water treatment plant inspection engineers; spoke
with the elementary school fourth grades; made a
presentation of the square to the Frederick County Board
of Realtors; had a dry run on signing the papers for USDA.
He cited announcements that included that the entire staff
including him went through CPR training; town is working
on a MOU with the County re: walkway with the Mount. The
Green Team meets this week, getting closer to point
attainment goal. He will meet with the Fallen Firefighters
executive; the Hobbs garage is being torn down; the tree
lighting ceremony on the square; Mount Saint Mary’s
University will be donating a clock for the square. He
thanked Mount Saint Mary’s and the staff for all the
work involved in getting the clock. Town is working on a
very experimental way to save money at the waste water
treatment plant.
Administrative
Business
·
Appoint
Stephanie Andrew to parks and recreation committee –
motion made by Commissioner Sweeney, seconded by
Commissioner Ritz – unanimous consent.
·
Proclamation
– Municipal Government Works Month – motion to support
the proclamation by Commissioner Blanchard, seconded by
Commissioner Mellor - Unanimous consent.
·
Tipping
fee and recycling
·
Signage
in Silo Hill in regards to trucks turning around- staff
working with deputies; Commissioner Mellor suggest
“Residential Traffic Only” signage
Consent
Agenda - none
Reports:
Town
Manager Report
- reported on the public works department monthly
activities to include a water production and consumption
analysis. He highlighted that the town remains in a
surplus for precipitation over the last six months of 8 ½”;
no spills of untreated sewage; did exceed sewer plants
design capacity on 2 days. It was a pretty standard month.
Town Planners
Report – Ms. Cipperly highlighted that generally the
same projects are still continuing and the grant programs.
The former Hobbs garage is no longer standing and Dollar
General is in process. Detailed
report at Exhibit A.
Police
Report
- Deputy Patterson reported on October 2014 police
activities. Detailed report at Exhibit B.
II.
Agenda Items
Human
Resource presentation (salary assessment)
Mr.
Haller stated about a year ago they started on the project
to evaluate the salary scale since it has not been updated
in a long time. Ms.
Renee McNally of HR Solutions gave a power point
presentation showing several spreadsheets. She explained
the compensation process; she used the point factor method
to determine their value. She established compa ratios,
which is to determine where Emmitsburg salary rate wages
are compared to the market value. Recommendation
was to increase wage ranges by 15%. Mr. Haller commented
that this was brought before the Board to make them aware.
Staff will bring this back at a later date to see how this
can be implemented.
USDA
loan agreement and certification
Mr.
Haller handed out a copy of the loan agreement and general
certificate reporting that these are the final documents
that would be used in the settlement of the $1,001,000,
loan with USDA. On November 3, 2014 the Board approved an
ordinance that authorizes this. One of the requirements of
USDA is that the Board that approved them looks at them.
It’s the same conditions that were approved – it will
be converted from a bridge loan with PNC Bank to a 40 year
bond with USDA at 2.5% or less percent. The Town attorney
has reviewed all the documentation.
Ordinance
2014-09 vehicles and traffic related to maintenance
Ms.
Cipperly stated this ordinance deals with obstructing
thoroughfares. Sometimes there are tree branches or shrubs
that are encroaching on the streets or alleyways and it
makes it difficult to get down the street; staff has
received complaints. Town practice was to write the
landowner a letter asking them to cut vegetation or offer
them the option for the town will do it and send them a
bill. It’s really never been an ordinance but an office
practice. This proposed ordinance was patterned after the
city of Gaithersburg. Staff believes this would be good to
have amended into the ordinance. Staff was directed by
Board to modify ordinance to reflect state of process and
timeline to keep consistency.
Ordinance
2014-10 health and safety related to property appearance
Ms.
Cipperly stated this ordinance was inserted in the health
and safety section. The first part of this sections deals
with anything that is annoying or unhealthy, but a
specific issue that town has is when people have indoor
furniture such as upholstered couches on their porch which
is an appearance issue but also becomes a likely habitat
for rodents and snakes etc., which is a health and safety
issue as well, and staff has received complaints in
regards to this matter. There was discussion on what is an
exterior attachment. Board recommended some language
changes. Board directed staff to make modifications and
bring back to the Board at the next town meeting.
Holiday
season – meter holiday
Mr.
Haller reported that the town has done this for the past
12 years. This is when you can park for free in town over
the holiday season. Staff suggest Friday, December 19,
2014 through January 4, 2015. Commissioner Sweeney
suggested the funds collected from the meters in that time
frame be designated to the Mayor’s discretionary fund
which is used for many donations. It was also suggested to
notify the residents by putting the information on the
sign in front of the Community Building stating free
holiday parking and the dates.
Motion:
- To accept the
holiday season – meter holiday free parking on December
19, 2014 through January 4, 2015.
Motion made by Commissioner Blanchard second by
Commissioner Ritz.
Vote:
5-0 in favor
Code
of Conduct Policy
Commissioner
O’Donnell asked if the Board would like to consider
tabling this item.
Motion:
- To table the
agenda item regarding the code of conduct policy.
Motion made by Commissioner Ritz and second by
Commissioner Blanchard.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Set
Agenda Items for December 2, 2014 Town Meeting
1.
Consideration
of limitations on water and sewer tap fee funds
2.
Consideration
of modifications to citizens advisory committee related to
scheduling
3.
Ordinance
2014-09 vehicles and traffic related to maintenance
4.
Ordinance
2014-10 health and safety related to property appearance
III.
Public Comments-
Paul Stull, 2813
Raleigh Rd., Walkersville, MD– spoke on the Fire
Museum water/sewer bill to see if Commissioners could do
anything about the cost of the bill. Staff will evaluate
the bldg; possible consideration for gratis program.
IV.
SIGN APPROVED TEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS
