Board of Town Commissioners

MINUTES BOARD OF TOWN COMMISSIONERS July 20, 2020 Teleconference The Board of Town Commissioners was called to order on Monday, July 20, 2020 at 7:30 p.m. It took place via the GoToMeeting virtual platform in accordance with State of Maryland guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioner Amy G. Chmielewski, Chair Commissioner Erin S. Hughes Commissioner Donna L. Kahoe Commissioner Kevin M. Bianca Commissioner Patrick T. Richards, Vice-Chair STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: L. Jesse Bane, Town Administrator Trish Heidenreich, Director of Economic Development Charlie Dawson, Department of Public Works, representing Steve Kline, Director Michael Krantz, Director of Human Resources and Administration Lisa Moody, Director of Finance Charles A. Moore, Chief of Police Patti Parker, Community & Public Relations Manager Kevin Small, Director of Planning OTHERS: Charles Keenan, Town Council Kathi Santora, Recording Secretary 1. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Chmielewski called the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners meeting of July 20, 2020 to order at 7:30 p.m. She noted that the teleconference allows the Town of Bel Air to conduct normal business during the COVID-19 pandemic and provided guidelines for virtual meeting attendance. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Chair Chmielewski called for a motion to approve the agenda. Commissioner Hughes moved to approve. Commissioner Bianca seconded the motion. All in favor. The motion carried. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Chair Chmielewski called for a motion to accept the minutes of June 15, 2020 and July 14, 2020 meetings. Commissioner Hughes moved to approve. Commissioner Bianca seconded the motion. Commissioner Kahoe abstained from approval of the July 14, 2020 minutes since she was absent from that meeting. All others in favor. The motion carried. 4. NEW BUSINESS a. Ordinance 796-20 Amending Chapter 450: Vehicles and Traffic § 450-43: Fee-in-lieu rates: Commissioner Hughes moved that the amendment be received by the Board of Town Commissioners. Commissioner Bianca seconded the motion. Chair Chmielewski called on Mr. Small. He noted that Chapter 450, Article 5 of Town Code establishes regulations about parking meters and leased parking rates and provisions for parking fee-in-lieu. Chapter 165, Article 7 refers to the ability, in certain circumstances, to provide a fee for required on-site parking, provided approval by the Planning Commission. This fee is established in the Code as $2,000 per space to be placed in a Town account dedicated to the provision of public parking in the downtown 2020.07.20.MIN.BOTC.Teleconference Page 1 of 5 area. Funds would be available for a maximum of ten years for Town use. Funds would revert back to developer if not used within the time frame. This allowance was never meant to provide for a less expensive alternative to onsite parking, but rather to establish public parking where appropriate. Since the establishment of this code article, construction costs have increased. After study, it was determined that $4,000 is a more appropriate amount. This equals the cost of one parking space and one-half of a drive aisle. All construction materials and storm water management costs were factored into this recommendation. As part of the upcoming comprehensive plan update, the staff looks to explore expanding the parking fee-in-lieu to areas outside of downtown. This will maximize parking with minimal spending. Mr. Small recommends that the Commissioners receive Ordinance 796-20 amendments. A public hearing will take place on 8/27/20. There were no Commissioner comments. All in favor. Motion carried. b. Annexation Petition for Catherine Street property by Liriod, LLC: Commissioner Hughes moved that the petition be received by the Board of Town Commissioners. Commissioner Bianca seconded the motion. Chair Chmielewski called on Mr. Small, who stated that the annexation is governed by Sub-title 4 in the local government article of the annotated Code of Maryland. The petition must be initiated by a minimum of 25% of the property owners or registered voters within the area to be annexed. With signature validation, the Commissioners can vote to accept the petition. Then an annexation plan can commence. Once the Town of Bel Air Planning Commission accepts the plan, a public hearing will be scheduled to address all aspects of the proposal. The Board of Town Commissioners can make specific recommendations regarding the issue’s impact. The applicants propose R-1 low-density zoning and development consistent with the surrounding property as single-family detached homes. Staff will monitor for any adverse impact, including impact on Liriodendron Mansion. Staff recommends Board of Commissioners accept the petition. There were no Commissioner comments. All in favor. Motion is carried. c. Policy II.F.3 Classified Positions and Personnel Table Amendments: Commissioner Hughes moved that the amendments be adopted by the Board of Town Commissioners. Commissioner Bianca seconded the motion. Chair Chmielewski called on Mr. Krantz. The proposed change will replace the Inspector I position in the Department of Public Works with an Environmental Engineer Technician position, also in Public Works. Most duties relate to environmental and storm water management. In the Bel Air Police Department, a recent assignment of a sergeant to a County task force resulted in an opening for a sergeant. There is also an opening created by the most recent budget for an entry level officer. Mr. Krantz recommended that these changes in the Personnel policy be approved by the Board of Town Commissioners. There were no Commissioner comments. All in favor. Motion carried. d. Policy II.B.1 a-g Working Conditions Working Hours Exempt Employee Amendments: Commissioner Hughes moved that the amendments be adopted by the Board of Town Commissioners. Commissioner Bianca seconded the motion. 2020.07.20.MIN.BOTC.Teleconference Page 2 of 5  Chair Chmielewski called on Mr. Krantz. He noted this change is related to the change in the Environmental Engineer Technician position just discussed. The new position should be added to the exempt list of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Staff recommends approval. There were no Commissioner comments. All in favor. Motion carried. e. Lease Agreement Amendment with Main Street Tower Restaurant and Lounge, LLC: Commissioner Hughes moved that the amended lease agreement be approved by the Board of Town Commissioners. The issue is an approval of an awning at 37 S. Main Street. Commissioner Bianca seconded the motion. Mr. Krantz stated that the business owner requested approval for an awning on the property owned by the Town of Bel Air. The request was granted following the receipt and approval of a building permit and Use & Occupancy Permit #12364, dated June 10, 2020. There are no changes to the lease terms. Staff recommends incorporating the approval letter into the lease agreement. Chair Chmielewski asked for clarification of the awning location. Is it on the side over the existing concrete patio? Mr. Krantz stated that it covers a small portion of that, mostly covering the entrance and exit area next to the patio. There were no other Commissioner comments. All in favor. Motion carried. f. Office Supplies Contract: Commissioner Hughes moved that the consortium contract between the Town of Bel Air and W.B. Mason be approved by the Board of Town Commissioners. Commissioner Bianca seconded the motion. Ms. Moody provided information about the existing contract and the new proposal. The current National Cooperation contract is with Staples through SourceWell and exists until 8/1/20. Staff performed a price analysis for a six-month period of purchases between Staples and W.B. Mason. Currently, W.B. Mason holds a contract with Mid- Atlantic purchasing consortium via Baltimore County Public Schools until 10/2024. The analysis showed a cost savings if the Town of Bel Air uses the W.B. Mason contract. However, the Town of Bel Air will use the Staples contract as a backup. Records show close to $25,000 of office supplies in spending. The Finance Department is bringing the contract before the Board of Town Commissioners for approval. There were no other Commissioner comments. All in favor. Motion carried. 5. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Chair Chmielewski provided the following items: 1) The Bel Air Festival for the Arts and the Harford County Wine Festival have been cancelled due to COVID-19. 2) She reminded all to shop and eat locally to support local business in the wake of COVID-19. 3) There are several spaces available at the Red Cross Blood Drive at the Armory beginning on Monday July 27th. Book appointments by calling the Red Cross toll-free number. There are no walk-ins. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Chair Chmielewski invited public comments. • Mr. Leroy Fleming, who lives at 2 N. Reed Street, requested that a four-way stop sign be installed at Reed and Thomas Streets. He has lived at the address for 14 years. It is one of the only four-way intersections in the area that does not have a four-way stop sign. He hears honking and speeding. His garage faces Thomas and it is unsafe when he gets out of the car. 2020.07.20.MIN.BOTC.Teleconference Page 3 of 5  Mr. Small stated that there is a Neighborhood Transportation Management Program meeting next week and this is on the agenda. One of the issues that surrounds many currently proposed projects is accurately counting traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic. Traffic volumes are down and may not reflect “normal” times. It is estimated that traffic is down at least 20%. School is not in session. The Traffic Committee will need to discuss this and recommend how to approach. Mr. Fleming also asked if the bike lanes, recently installed, are intended to slow traffic. Mr. Small said bike lanes in all parts of town are intended to do this. Mr. Small will contact Mr. Fleming after the Neighborhood Transportation Management Program meeting next week. • Corporal Alex Maro, who has been a Bel Air Police Department employee since 2013, wanted to speak to the Commissioners about the future of public safety in the Town of Bel Air. He believes that no one would disagree that the police department building needs renovations, but he expressed concern that the Commissioners are missing a larger point. The building that contains the police department is the least important component of that department. What matters is the intelligence, integrity and quality of the police force inside. BAPD officer salaries were frozen from 2009 – 2014. Salaries are frozen this year. He stated that BAPD officers are not recognized for actual years of service in the Town’s pay scale. BAPD officers contribute more than anyone in the state to pension funds. They cannot collectively bargain. They have sacrificed the financial well-being of their families when the Town has been under financial hard times. The best and brightest will not apply for work here under these conditions. The Town of Bel Air will not be able to retain the officers needed to carry us into the future. He asked the Commissioners to consider the message sent when $10 million dollars is set aside for a new police building but there is no investment in officers and their future. The message is that we value buildings more than the people inside of them and appearance more than quality of services rendered to the public. He asked the Commissioners to recognize the officers as they proceed to plan for the new building by putting them where they belong on the pay scale. He also requests the right to collectively bargain. He believes these measures cost little and will attract and retain high-quality officers for public service more than a physical structure ever could. • Mr. Brad Stover, 836 S. Main Street. He is the attorney for the previously-discussed annexation item and looks forward to working together on the issue. 7. COMMISSIONERS COMMENTS: There were no additional comments 2020.07.20.MIN.BOTC.Teleconference Page 4 of 5  8. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Approved: August 17,2020 Signature on file___________ Amy G. Chmielewski, Chair Board of Town Commissioners Signature on file____________ Michael L. Krantz, Town Clerk 2020.07.20.MIN.BOTC.Teleconference Page 5 of 5