Board of Town Commissioners

MINUTES BOARD OF TOWN COMMISSIONERS July 18, 2022 The regular meeting of the Board of Town Commissioners was called to order on Monday, July 18, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 39 N. Hickory Avenue, Bel Air, Maryland. MEMBERS PRESENT: Kevin M. Bianca, Chair Mary F. Chance Paula S. Etting Erin S. Hughes Donna L. Kahoe STAFF PRESENT: L. Jesse Bane, Town Administrator Charles Dawson, Deputy Director of Public Works Trish Heidenreich, Director of Economic Development Michael Krantz, Director of Administration Lisa Moody, Director of Finance Charles Moore, Chief of Police Charles Keenan, Town Counsel Kevin Small, Director of Planning Joan Suitt, Recording Secretary ABSENT: Stephen Kline, Director of Public Works APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Kahoe moved and Commissioner Etting seconded the motion to approve the Agenda as written. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Hughes, Kahoe, and Bianca Nays: None The motion carried. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Kahoe moved and Commissioner Etting seconded the motion that the minutes of the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners’ meetings held on June 16, 2022, June 21, 2022, June 27, 2022, June 29, 2022, July 5, 2022 be approved as corrected. 1  • June 16, 2022 – Work Session – under Petition of Referendum correct the number of the Ordinance to 809-22. • June 21, 2022 – Town Board page 8 last paragraph – correct “have” to “had”, correct “admiral” to “admirable”. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Hughes, Kahoe, and Bianca Abstain: Commissioner Kahoe – June 27, 2022 meeting Nays: None The motion carried. PUBLIC HEARING Resolution 1189-22 Budgetary Amendment- Fiscal Year 2022 Ms. Moody, Director of Finance, reported there are several additional revenues/appropriations, transfers, and monetary adjustments that need to be addressed in the fiscal year 2022 budget. The total of the recommended adjustments in this year’s proposed budget amendment increases the fiscal year 2022 general fund budget by $4,210,359 from $15,409,112 to $19,625,471. While most of our revenue projections are still reasonable, several require adjustment. Some of the more significant changes are as follows: • Income Taxes - $43,655 increase: based on distributions received and updated projections • Admission/Amusement Taxes - $17,000 increase: based on 3 quarter payments and updated projection for the final quarter • Public Works Fees - $18,000 increase: based on various permits/fees to date • American Rescue Plan (ARPA) Grants, Federal - $40,717 decrease: HMAN fiber optics and ARPA consultant will be FY23 expenses • Stormwater Management - $32,541 increase: additional monies from Harford County FY21 true-up calculation • Miscellaneous Grants - $20,000 increase: LGIT grant for body camera and PD overtime grant • Bel Air Armory - $15,000 increase: reflects additional rentals • Equipment/Vehicle Sale Proceeds - $30,595 increase: reflects proceeds to date • Bond Proceeds, DHCD - $4,021,431 new account: reflects drawdown of monies from DHCD related to the building construction project 2  • Transfer from Capital Reserve - $16,925 increase: mainly DFI contract for a construction advisor and reflects monies spent to date • Transfer from Leave Payout Reserve - $33,929 increase: requirement to fund leave payouts greater than $2,500 per employee The net effect of these changes is an overall increase of $4,216,359 in Total Revenues. Ms. Moody advised adjustments to our expenditures are proposed as well. Some of the more significant changes are as follows: • A retention bonus is included for those employees who are employed with the Town as of June 13, 2022; however, it shall not include any employee who provided notice prior to that same date that he/she will separate from the Town’s employment in the immediate future. This bonus will be paid to applicable employees on June 24, 2022 and will equate to $2,000 for fulltime and $1,000 for part-time employees. Funding from additional revenues as well as expenditure savings affords the Town the opportunity to provide this bonus. • Town Buildings - $4,048,164 increase: $4,038,356 for various expenses, mainly Whiting Turner, related to the PD/TH construction project incurred this fiscal year. Legal - $20,000 increase: additional services for various projects • Technology: $22,217 decrease: $16,217 due to HMAN fiber optic project related to the expansion to be shifted to FY23 • DPW Administration - $57,912 increase: $32,541 additional monies from Harford County FY21 “true-up” calculation • DPW Shop - $23,100 increase: $6,000 and $11,100 due to an increase in gas and diesel fuel costs as well as a purchase at the end of the fiscal year • DPW Streets - $27,700 decrease: salary vacancies and $14,700 savings in snow and ice removal The net effect of these changes is an overall increase of $4,216,359 in Total Expenditures. Chair Bianca called for public comments. There were none. Chair Bianca called for Commissioner comments. As there were no comments, the Public Hearing was closed. 3 UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Resolution 1189-22 Budgetary Amendment - Fiscal Year 2022 Commissioner Etting moved and Commissioner Chance seconded the motion that Resolution No. 1189-22, amending the budget for fiscal year 2022 for additional appropriations, monetary adjustments, and transfers between departments, be approved by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners with the following amendments: 1. Added $13,550 to Income Taxes to balance the adjustments below (#3-#5) 2. Added $798,209 to Bond Proceeds, DHCD (revenue) and Capital Improvements under Town Buildings (expenditures) for the final fiscal year 2022 Whiting Turner invoice 3. Reduced $2,450 in Expenses under Finance to reflect the final fiscal year 2022 ARPA consultant costs 4. Added $10,000 to Legal to reflect anticipated legal fees for the month of June 5. Added $6,000 in Expenses under Department of Public Works Shop to reflect an additional diesel fuel invoice. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Hughes, Kahoe, and Bianca Nays: None The motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: Resolution 1190-22 Historic Property Designation – 24 E. Pennsylvania Avenue Commissioner Hughes moved and Commissioner Kahoe seconded the motion that Resolution No.1190-22, a Resolution designating 24 East Pennsylvania Avenue as a historic site in the Town of Bel Air, be approved by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Commissioner Hughes thanked the property owners for submitting the designation application. Commissioner Hughes informed there are advantages to designating historic properties but also certain responsibilities come along with it. Commissioner Hughes appreciates those who have made the decision to designate. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Hughes, Kahoe, and Bianca Nays: None 4 The motion carried. Purchase of Forestry Truck Commissioner Kahoe moved and Commissioner Etting seconded the motion that the bid of National Auto Fleet Group, 490 Auto Center Drive, Watsonville, California 95076, for a 2023 Freightliner along with a 14 Foot Moxley Forestry Body and other selected options in the amount of $132,850 be accepted by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Commissioners Chance and Bianca both commented about the purchase being timely due to the recent storm damages. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Hughes, Kahoe, and Bianca Nays: None The motion carried. Contract for Parking Use and Regulation Analysis Commissioner Chance moved and Commissioner Hughes seconded that the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners approve the contract with Mead & Hunt for $64,180 to provide Research and Analysis of Parking Use and Regulations for the Town of Bel Air. Commissioner Kahoe asked what area this will cover. Mr. Small advised the inventory analysis will be the downtown area but also wants to understand why Target has spaces that are never used. The Town also wants to understand residential needs. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Hughes, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None The motion carried. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Chair Bianca shared: • Summer Concert Series at Shamrock Park, Sunday’s at 7:00 p.m. – there are 5 free concerts left. • Downtown Alliance First Friday – August 5th at 5:00 p.m. • National Suicide Prevention Hotline – launched new number 988 to call or text to reach out for help. Chair Bianca encouraged everyone to reach out because help is always available. 5 PUBLIC COMMENTS: Dave Mitchell owns ten properties in the Town of Bel Air and is upset with MRA Management who is hurting the public and threatening tenants. Mr. Mitchell stated MRA is not good for the County and asked for help from the Commissioners. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: None. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 7:56 p.m. APPROVED: August 15, 2022 Signature on file__________ Kevin M. Bianca, Chair Board of Town Commissioners Signature on file_____________ Michael L. Krantz, Town Clerk 6