Board of Town Commissioners

MINUTES BOARD OF TOWN COMMISSIONERS January 17, 2023 The regular meeting of the Board of Town Commissioners was called to order on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 5:30 p.m. at the Bel Air Library, Bel Air, Maryland. MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioner Kevin M. Bianca, Chair Commissioner Mary F. Chance Commissioner Paula S. Etting Commissioner Donna L. Kahoe ABSENT: Commissioner Erin S. Hughes STAFF PRESENT: Edward Hopkins, Town Administrator Trish Heidenreich, Director of Economic Development Stephen Kline, Director of Public Works Michael Krantz, Director of Administration Lisa Moody, Director of Finance Charles Moore, Chief of Police Kevin Small, Director of Planning Charles Keenan, Town Counsel Joan Suitt, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Commissioner Kahoe moved and Commissioner Etting seconded the motion to approve the Agenda as written. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes 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 November 29, 2022, December 5, 2022, and December 27, 2022, be approved as submitted. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes Recuse: Commissioner Kahoe – December 27, 2022 meeting. 1 The motion carried. NEW BUSINESS: Purchase of Axon Audiovisual Interview Room Surveillance Equipment Commissioner Kahoe moved and Commissioner Etting seconded the motion that the quote for the purchase of the Axon – interview room surveillance system and accompanying accessories/installation package in the amount of $28,206.02 be accepted by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Commissioner Etting asked for clarification on the tax. Chief Moore advised there is no tax involved. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes The motion carried. Purchase of ELSAG Plate Hunter TM M7 (Two Cameras-License Plate Readers) Commissioner Etting moved and Commissioner Chance seconded the motion that the quote for the purchase of the ELSAG Plate Hunter TM M7 (two License Plate Readers – Cameras) amounting to $29,100.00 be accepted by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Commissioner Etting inquired if the readers are tied statewide. Chief Moore agreed. Chair Bianca acknowledged the efforts of receiving the grant. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes The motion carried. MacLeod Law Group Contract Commissioner Chance moved and Commissioner Kahoe seconded the motion that the contract for the MacLeod Law Group of Chestertown, Maryland to represent the Town of Bel Air and provide legal services, specific to the Town of Bel Air, Maryland vs. Harford County Board of Education legal action, be approved by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes 2 The motion carried. Award of Contract – Shamrock Park Commissioner Kahoe moved and Commissioner Etting seconded the motion that the change order from Gametime c/o Cunningham Recreation in the amount of $42,103.10, which represents a total cost of $243,675.24 for the improvements to Shamrock Park playground be approved by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes The motion carried. Personnel Policy - Classification/Classified Positions & Personnel Table - Employee Benefits Commissioner Etting moved and Commissioner Chance seconded the motion that revised Personnel Policy II.F.3 entitled Classification - Classified Positions & Personnel Table, including the addition of one Corporal in the Bel Air Police Department and the reclassification of the Secretary III to Administrative Secretary in the Public Works Department be adopted by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes The motion carried. Personnel Policy Amendments: Policy II.E.01 - Employee Benefits Leave Policies Administrative Leave Commissioner Kahoe moved and Commissioner Etting seconded the motion that revised Personnel Policy II.E.01 entitled Employee Benefits Leave Policies, Section K. Administrative Leave, changing the maximum administrative leave accrual from forty (40) hours to eighty (80) hours, be adopted by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Ms. Moody, Director of Finance, requested this policy be made retroactive before December 23, 2022 because this date was an Administrative Leave day and many employees had the 40 hours maximum. The policy change was discussed earlier but delayed coming before the Commissioners due to the holidays. Ms. Moody recommends the retroactive date of December 22, 2022. The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners approved the retroactive date of December 22, 2022. 3 Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes The motion carried. Economic & Community Development Commission Reappointment Commissioner Chance moved and Commissioner Kahoe seconded the motion that the reappointment of Donna Dickey to the Bel Air Economic & Community Development Commission, for a term of three (3) years, effective immediately, be approved by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Ms. Heidenreich, Director of Economic and Community Development, informed Donna Dickey was honored to receive the invitation from Commissioner Chance to serve another term. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes The motion carried. Cultural Arts Commission Reappointment Commissioner Kahoe moved and Commissioner Etting seconded the motion that the reappointment of Nicki Jergensen to the Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission for a term of three (3) years, effective immediately, be approved by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. Ms. Heidenreich, Director of Economic and Community Development, stated Nicki Jergensen was happy to receive the invitation from Commissioner Kahoe to serve another term. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes The motion carried. Reappointment to the Historic Preservation Commission Commissioner Etting moved and Commissioner Chance seconded the motion that the reappointment of Jeffrey Campbell to the Historic Preservation Commission, for a term of three (3) years, effective immediately, be approved by the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners. 4 Mr. Small, Director of Planning, notified Commissioner Hughes talked with Jeffrey Campbell on his reappointment and is willing to serve another term. Chair Bianca advised Commissioner Hughes has always spoken highly of Mr. Campbell. Ayes: Commissioners Chance, Etting, Kahoe and Bianca Nays: None Absent: Commissioner Hughes The motion carried. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS: Chair Bianca informed of a Blood Drive on January 26th at the Armory from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Appointments are available and can be made online at the Red Cross website. PUBLIC COMMENTS: Kristen Powers, 626 Hickory Overlook Drive, Bel Air, Md. has concerns with the Bel Air Athletic Club closing and asked for the process the Town will be involved with the sale and development of the property. Chair Bianca notified the Town does not get involved with a private transaction. The property has been zoned B3 in the Town of Bel Air for decades and includes residential and commercial. Chair Bianca advised nothing has been submitted to the Town and knows there have been generations of Bel Air citizens who used the athletic club. Chair Bianca knows there are a lot of rumors on social media Ms. Powers asked what plans have to be submitted to the Town for redevelopment. Chair Bianca informed plans for the redevelopment will need to be submitted and a public hearing will be held before the Planning Commission. Mr. Hopkins, Town Administrator, stated there is a lot of misinformation being sent out and assured there is no connection with the Harford Mall. The Town has no idea what the corporate owner will submit and the property could sit vacant for months or years. Steve Chizmar, 321 E. Broadway, Bel Air, Md., attends Work Session meetings where there is no comment and tonight the public had no opportunity to comment on the agenda items voted on. Mr. Keenan, Town Council, advised during public comments anyone can express their views. Mr. Chizmar questioned why no comments are allowed before the vote. Mr. Keenan stated the regular business items are within the current budget and after the budget is adopted each Department Head has control on spending. Chair Bianca notified comments can be sent to the Commissioners by email and will be taken under consideration. Chair Bianca stated public hearings are held for citizens to comment before a budget is finalized. 5 Bill Montanary, 1801 Fallstaff Road, Bel Air, Md., cautioned the Commissioners regarding the redevelopment of the Bel Air Athletic Club into low income housing. Mr. Montanary stated that is what the rumor mill is saying. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Commissioner Etting knows there is a lot being said about the Bel Air Athletic Club and was shocked when hearing the news. Commissioner Etting informed there was a failure to pay rent filed and this is an owner/tenant action. Commissioner Etting would like to see someone come in and continue to run this as an athletic club. Commissioner Chance reminded about the Valentine’s Day Dinner, February 14th at Rockfield Manor. Reservations are online at Rockfield’s website. Commissioner Chance encouraged everyone to attend and enjoy being with loved ones. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m. APPROVED: February 6, 2023 Signature on file________________ Kevin M. Bianca, Chair Board of Town Commissioners Signature on file_______________ Michael L. Krantz, Town Clerk 6