MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
08/03/15
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 Cathy Willets, Town Clerk; Sue Cipperly,
Town Planner; and Dave Haller, Town Manager.
Absent:
I.
Call to
Order
Commissioner Tim O’Donnell, President of the Board of
Commissioners, called the 08/03/15 Town Meeting to order
at 7:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the 07/20/2015 Town Meeting were approved
as presented/corrected.
Motion by Commissioner Ritz III and second by
Commissioner Mellor. Changes:
remove Commissioner Ritz III as attending and please add
Commissioner O'Donnell's exhibit to the minutes.
Passed 5-0.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioner(s) cited attendances, recognitions and
announcements. Commissioner Ritz CAC meeting on July 21st.
The committee elected Mark Walker as vice-chair,
and Amy Myles as secretary.
Discussions on sister city; different businesses in
Town such as specialty shops that relate to: Ski Liberty,
Baseball, Main St., etc.
More activities for community - movies, bingo,
chili cook-off, etc. Commissioner
Blanchard very pleased with current pool company, good
lifeguards, clean pool, etc.
Commissioner O'Donnell future meeting will bring
back Scott Road Farm for camping.
Thank you to staff for making available weed
whackers for trail work.
Thank you to the Mayor for efforts on Main St.
400 riders road through town during the Firefighter
50 Century ride and the staff's attention to the sign
welcoming the riders.
Mayor’s Comments
Met with Board of engineers at SHA and got updates on the
sidewalk on S. Seton Ave - should be starting soon as well
as the area of Emmit Garden and Brookfield into Warthens
Way. Timetables
on the square - start late 2016.
The bridge will be 2016.
Solid Waste Steering Committee meeting with County
Executive Gardner - push for recycling.
TAPS (transportation alternative program) financing
for over $128,000 for our MSM to Town multi-use pathway.
The County is online for $140,000 and sometime soon
the Town will have to make a commitment.
Staff received a conservator's assessment report on
the doughboy. Mayor
reviewed the timeline after the crash and the details of
the town's efforts to repair of the pedestal and statue.
The crash, which damaged the statue and pedestal,
occurred on June 17th at 11pm.
The Town received the police report on June 19th.
Within, five business days, staff contacted two
local memorial companies to get repair estimates.
After five business days, staff did not get a
response from either company.
Mayor Birggs then contacted another company who did
visit the site and advised they would give an estimate.
Staff was then contacted by a representative from
the Maryland Historical Trust offering assistance with the
repair of the pedestal and possible restoration of the
staute. The
representative met with Mayor and staff the next day.
The representative and the Mayor visit the site.
She advises the doughboy is part of the Federal
Historic Emmitsburg District and there are protocols to be
followed before for repair work.
She gave staff names of three “conservators”
that are approved by the state the same day of the visit.
Also, she made recommendations as to how to
stabilize the statue until repairs commenced, which was
followed. Staff
reached out to the three conservators the same day,
providing them with photographs and scope of work for
repair of limestone pedestal, place/secure doughboy on
repaired pedestal, and condition assessment on copper
doughboy and bronze tablet.
Within, five business days, one conservator advised
the Town he was interested in submitting a condition
assessment and treatment proposal for sculpture.
The Town spent $1,500 and retained the conservator.
The conservator visits site.
We received the final assessment and the Town
will be putting out a RFP to bid.
There will be a discussion at the town meeting
September 8, 2015. Thank
the Emmitsburg All-Stars - represented the Town very well
in the playoffs in Waynesboro.
There will be a ribbon cutting for the WWTP and
Solar field on September 25, 2015.
Both projects together totals almost 20 million
dollars worth of work.
We are coming in at only 1.5% over budget at the
new WWTP. The
Town election is September 29, 2015.
The Town Clerk is in process of developing a new
website.
Public Comments - none
Administrative Business - At the request of Commissioner
Blanchard, he is hoping you will join him in his
appreciation of Deputy Patterson's service to the Town.
Exhibit B attached.
Thanked her for service at Community Day, pool
parties, and back to school night
as well as her continued presence in town on bike
and cruiser. He
requested all Commissioners to sign the letter.
Consensus of all to commend the deputy on her
efforts - all Commissioners will sign letter.
Commissioner O'Donnell -
Commissioner O'Donnell would like the trash and weeds
cleaned up for the parents of MSM students.
The Main St. clean-up will be done for Fallen
Firefighters weekend.
Consent Agenda - no items.
Reports:
Treasurer's Report -
Commissioner Blanchard reports on the cash activity as of July 29,
2015.
Planning Commission Report -
Commissioner Sweeney deferred to Sue Cipperly who advised the public
hearing was held for the Comp Plan Update on July 27th.
Commissioner Sweeney provided a summary - did not
have the Comp Plan back from the State as of the public
hearing. Addressed
the issues the Commissioners had for the pedestrian
overlays as well as passed the B1 zoning on East Main St.
It will be added to Comp Plan when it comes back
from State.
II. Agenda Items
Delegate Kathy Afzali
Has heard great things about the Town - solar and the
trail program. Had
their best year ever - eleven pieces of legislation
passed. Please
keep Governor Hogan and family in your prayers for his
speedy of recovery. Town
Ethics rules is one piece of legislation she is working
on. Been
honored to represent the town for the last five years and
be a part of the community.
Please call anytime.
Love being invited to events going on in Town.
Mayor Briggs spoke to Delegate Afzali about her
availability and how quickly she responds.
Commissioner Blanchard thanked her for assistance
in passing Anaya's Law (foster care).
Commissioner Sweeney asked for Del. Afzali’s
assistance fighting for more head start programs.
She requested a meeting to discuss other options
for the children and pre-K.
Commissioner O'Donnell spoke on the money and
efforts the Town made to make it more sustainable and
livable. The
Town would like to see some economic development in our
community. He
would like to see Del. Afzali to assist in promoting our
Town as a viable and vital community. Del. Afzali asked
about the Town’s streetscape.
Commissioner O'Donnell spoke on behalf of Mayor and
Board to wish Governor Hogan and his family well in his
battle against non-hodgkins lymphoma.
Discussion of the Town’s street program.
Mr. Haller advised Del. Afzali that the funding is
going through the State not the County and the plans are
about 80% complete. He
suggested a meeting between himself, the Mayor, and Del.
Afzali to discuss moving forward on the Town’s street
program.
Approve
Election judges for September 29, 2015 town election
The
following residents have expressed interest in being
election judges for the 2015 town election:
Sharon Hane, 3145 Stonehurst Ct.; Charlotte
Mazaleski, 2035 Brookfield Ct.; and Barbara Weedon, 15
First Ave.
Motion: - To accept Sharon Hane, Charlotte Mazaleski and Barbara Weedon as
election judges for the September 29, 2015 town election.
Motion by Commissioner Ritz III and second by Commissioner
Mellor.
Vote: 5-0 in favor
Presentation of Community Legacy Projects
Ms. Sue
Cipperly presented a power point of the progress report
for the Community Legacy Program.
She reviewed eligible applicants, the purpose of
program, the structure of program, the application flow,
the financial flow, etc.
FY 2013 $50,000 grant, FY 2014 $50,000 and FY 2015
$50,000. Just
applied for more money in FY 2016.
Ms. Cipperly showed pictures of work that has
already been completed.
Exhibit attached.
Mayor Briggs mentioned that the Town is going to do
a "face-lift" on 140 S. Seton Ave.
Update on Comprehensive Plan
Ms. Sue
Cipperly reviewed the public hearing.
Some discussion on wording and questions on a
practical stand-point.
Several people attended the hearing to speak in
favor of the proposed zoning change on Main St.
Change some wording in the infrastructure
particularly in Northgate.
Comments are back from the State.
She will continue to review and bring to the
special Planning Commission meeting.
Agenda
items for 09/08/15 Town Meeting
- Discussion
of the condition assessment of the Doughboy
- Update
on status of Comprehensive Plan
IV
SIGN APPROVED TEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS