Minutes – Town Council Meeting

 

January 04, 2012

 

Present: Mayor Roop, Council Members Steve Farkas, Ed Palsgrove, Kimberlee Schultz, Sam Pierce and Kevin Null. Also present was Town Attorney, Michelle Ostrander, Town Clerk, Donna Alban and Town Manager, Frank Schaeffer. There were 11 others in attendance.

 

Call to Order: Mayor Roop called the regular Town Council meeting to Order at 7:00 p.m.

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Roop.

 

Recording and Agenda Policies: Mayor Roop stated that the Town Meeting is recorded by electronic means and that the meeting will follow an Agenda. Anyone who wished to have a matter placed on the Agenda needed to submit the topic to the Mayor in writing by the last Wednesday of the month, by the close of the business day, which is 3:00 p.m.

 

These items will be reviewed for approval.

 

Previous Meeting Minutes: Councilman Farkas made a motion to approve minutes from the December 7, 2011 meeting. Motion was 2nd and approved 5-0.

 

Committee Reports:

 

Public Works – Councilman Farkas

 

Bad weather coming on, please make sure to have the streets cleared of vehicles for easier plowing by the Public Works department 

 

Mayor added that the Secretary of Transportation sent a letter about streetscape and it doesn’t look positive that will be happening anytime soon 

 

Water & Sewer – Councilman Palsgrove

 

Jack Coe reported to him operations are functioning smoothly at the WWTP 

 

Mayor stated that the only progress on expense relief is a small hope of getting some of the flush tax money once the fee has been raised. He also received an e mail from MDE stating they have been getting letters from residents about the rates and they are formatting a response at this time. 

 

Public Safety –   Councilman Null

 

Planning Commission did not meet last month 

 

Comm. Deputy report –81 calls last month 

 

Destruction of property in Atlee Ridge 

 

Fraud case 

Unlocked cars entered, nothing taken 

Economic Development – Councilwoman Schultz

 

Met with the County along with a representative from Dept. of Housing and Development to get input on attracting business to the Town. It was not very encouraging 

Dielman Inn property has made the 1st cut to stay on the list for Preservation Maryland 

 

Community Enhancement – Councilman Pierce

 

He received a few complaints about the Christmas Lights at the R.31 & Rt.75 park – 

 

The replacement of the banners on the poles through Town is progressing, getting cost information now 

 

Community Deputy: - given by Councilman Null

 

West Carroll Recreation: Representative, Lora Jones

 

Registration for baseball is underway – she will get a list of registration dates to Town Clerk who will place them on the Municipal channel 23 as well as the Town website 

 

Fire Chief Report:

 

  Chief Tom Coe –  not present

 

 He did want to relay his appreciation to the Council for voting to recommend to keep the Sprinkler Ordinance intact

 

 Mayor stated there was a house fire in the Sykesville area yesterday and because of sprinklers in the home, it saved a lot of the structure

 

   Pancake breakfast at Windsor Station, 1st Sunday in February

 

Town Manager Report:

 

Electricity Supplier - The electricity supplier contract has been signed with Direct Energy for the next 3 year period. New rate will save around $8,000 – 9,000 per year 

 

Property Assessments – The Town is in the 3rd year of the property assessments. New assessments will be done during 2012 and will be in effect for the following 3 years. Property assessments continue on a downward trend. This in turn will reduce the revenue from property taxes over the next 3 to 4 years. 

MES meeting – Yesterday he and Jack Coe met with some representatives from MES about the operating cost on the sewer side. We are already $10,000 over budget. MES is in the process of working on a budget amendment as well as working out some methods to control the costs for the remainder of the year 

 

Christmas tree pickup –  Will be 1/3/12 & 1/10/12 

 

Meeting date conflicts – Decided to move the Work session to Jan. 18th and February 15th. The June Council meeting will be moved to the following Tuesday 

 

Newsletter –  mailed out last week 

Letter writing campaign – 10 letters have been received at Town Office. He has spoken to Jag Khuman from MDE and they are working on a response for the 

ones that they already have received. The letter to Secretary Summers was sent along with copies to the local elected and State officials.

 

 

Residents Concerns: Jeanne Vaccarino from Green Valley Rd. concerned about her neighbor that has a cat colony on their property. She has spoken with them about it and he will not do anything about it. Town Manager will contact the Humane Society for any options.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

 

Charter Amendment – Section C7-23 – purchases and contracts – postponed to January Work Session 

201-203 Main Street property – Town Attorney will be attending a Show Cause hearing on 1/9/12. It is held at District Court. 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

 

Councilman Null would like to discuss the Town opening a Face Book page. Postponed to January Work Session. 

 

Announcements: None

 

No other business to discuss, a Motion to adjourn by Councilman Pierce, it was 2nd and approved. 5-0

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Donna E Alban

 

Town Clerk