Board of Town Commissioners

BOARD OF TOWN COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION December 12, 2023 5:15 P.M. PRESENT: Commissioner Steven T. Chizmar, Vice-Chair Commissioner Mary F. Chance Commissioner James B. Rutledge III Commissioner Jakob D. Taylor Edward Hopkins, Town Administrator Stephen Kline, Director of Public Works Michael Krantz, Director of Administra�on Lisa Moody, Director of Finance Angela Robertson, Director of Economic Development Kevin Small, Director of Planning David Hughes, Deputy Chief of Police David Anderson, Media & Public Rela�ons Specialist Elizabeth Thompson, Town Atorney ABSENT: Commissioner Paula S. E�ng, Chair Charles Moore, Chief of Police OTHERS: Pam Moore, Recording Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Vice-Chair Chizmar called for approval of the agenda. Commissioner Taylor moved and Commissioner Chance seconded the mo�on to approve the agenda as writen. The agenda was approved by the Commissioners. The Town Administrator moved to amend the agenda to add item b., adding an administra�ve discussion for a holiday closure, under #7 Miscellaneous. Commissioner Taylor yielded to amendment. The updated agenda was approved by the Commissioners. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT: The Town Administrator reported that the Winter Wonderland fes�val was this past weekend; it was amazing and was certainly one of the best events they have ever had. He thanked his staff - the police, DPW, support staff from Economic Development, and the Director of Administra�on’s staff - which provided incredible infrastructure and support for this event. Bel Air Farmer’s Market es�mated that between 8,000 – 8,500 people atended their event, over 3,800 people atended the Armory event, and the Train Garden set a one day record with 2,295 people atending. One of the Armory Marketplace retailers reported to the Director of Economic Development that it was their best sales day to date, surpassing even Small Business Saturday a few weeks ago. The Town Administrator acknowledged the 1 amazing work the various non-profits did to make the Winter Wonderland events happen, and he again congratulated the police, DPW, Economic Development, and the Armory staff for providing the robust infrastructure that made this event such a success. On December 11, 2023, the Town Administrator along with Vice-Chair Chizmar, Commissioner Chance, and Commissioner Taylor met with the Maryland Secretary of Commerce, Kevin Anderson. This mee�ng went very well and the Director of Economic Development’s presenta�on was well received by the Secretary and his staff. The Town Administrator is hopeful that Secretary Anderson and his staff will soon return to Bel Air to visit the Armory Marketplace and interview some of the successful businesses who have since relocated to Main Street. The Bel Air Lions Club wants to hold its Soap Box Derby on June 23, 2024; however, that is the same day as MML’s summer conference. The Town Administrator asked the Commissioners at the mee�ng to please let him know who will or will not be atending the MML conference so that he will have sufficient Commissioners back in Bel Air to kick off the race that day. The Lions Club needs to confirm this date as soon as possible so they can apply to the State Highway Administra�on for a road closure permit. Commissioner Chance confirmed that she is available on that date. Vice-Chair Chizmar confirmed that the Director of Economic Development’s presenta�on was well- received by Secretary Anderson and men�oned that the mayor of Aberdeen said that they are considering star�ng a similar project of their own in Aberdeen. Vice-Chair Chizmar applauds the Director of Economic Development’s efforts for star�ng the Bel Air Armory Marketplace project. The Director of Economic Development spoke to Secretary Anderson following the presenta�on and confirmed that he did provide posi�ve feedback. TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR TOWN MEETING (Monday, December 18, 2023, at 6:00 p.m., Bel Air Town Hall) Presenta�ons i. Cer�ficates of Recogni�on The Director of Administra�on announced that recording secretary Joan Suit re�red a�er fourteen (14) years of service. He recommends recognizing Ms. Suit for her service with an official cer�ficate from the Town and the Board of Commissioners. Everyone felt this was well-deserved recogni�on and this will be on the agenda for December 18, 2023. The Director of Economic Development advised that Brigite Grubbs, a member of the Cultural Arts Commission, tendered her resigna�on a�er nineteen (19) years of service. She is unable to atend the December 18, 2023, Town Mee�ng, so the Director of Economic Development will put together something for the Commissioners’ signatures that will be presented to Ms. Grubbs. The Commissioners agreed this cer�ficate would be very appropriate. Public Hearing i. Resolu�on 1215-23 amending Resolu�on 1082-17 for the Town of Bel Air Armory Marketplace Leasing Fee Schedule 2 The Director of Economic Development said that a public hearing regarding this Resolu�on will be held at the December 18, 2023, Town Mee�ng. This Resolu�on will raise the Armory Marketplace tenant rates from $6.00/square foot to $8.00/square foot; these rates are below market rates as is common for all incubator facili�es across the country. The lease rates will not be increased for exis�ng tenants who have leases dated prior to January 1, 2024. The hearing and vote on this Resolu�on will be the same evening. Unfinished Business i. Resolu�on 1215-23 amending Resolu�on 1082-17 for the Town of Bel Air Armory Marketplace Leasing Fee Schedule The public hearing will happen first at the December 18, 2023, mee�ng, and then the unfinished business is the approval of Resolu�on 1215-23 amending the new Lease Fee Schedule. New Business i. Ordinance 822-23 Repealing and Replacing Bel Air Town Code Chapter 43 Code of Ethics The Director of Administra�on spoke to Ordinance 822-23. As a result of the last legisla�ve session in Annapolis, the legislature adopted a handful of addi�onal changes to the Maryland State Ethics Commission (MSEC). Municipali�es are then required to adopt those changes into their ethics code which Bel Air will do with this Ordinance which was last amended in 2018. What the Commissioners will see come before them is a complete revision of the Ethics Code; it is not a significant departure from the current language, but it will provide alignment with the Maryland State Ethics Commission by adop�ng the State’s Model A Ethics Code for Municipali�es. There are brand new schedules which are basically the same ques�ons the Commissioners have been answering for the last decade regarding real estate, business interests, gi�s, and lobbying. This Code will have to go before the Maryland State Ethics Commission which will advise the Town of Bel Air if anything should be changed; the Director of Administra�on has been in touch with Mr. Calhoun, the atorney for the MSEC, who will review the Code again. This Ordinance will be put before the Commissioners at the December 18, 2023, Town Board mee�ng, and then there will be a public hearing and a vote in January 2024. For the most part, they are going forward with language that the State recommended. The Town Atorney has reviewed this Code several �mes. She and the Director of Administra�on did not want to take the substance away from it being modeled a�er the Code recommended by the State. There are only very minor altera�ons, the biggest of which is the model code provides for a bigger municipality where the Town is required to provide a separate legal budget for the Board of Ethics. This is not how the Bel Air Code is designed. The Town Atorney represents the Board of Ethics and they removed that. If she does have a conflict and cannot represent the Board, then the Town Administrator would appoint a conflict counsel the Town has used before. The Commissioners have the right to refer this Code to the Board of Ethics for review. The Town Atorney would like to see the Board of Ethics have Rules of Procedure in place for their ac�vi�es and would like to present these Rules to the Board of Ethics at their December 20, 2023, mee�ng. The Town Commissioners could send Ordinance 822-23 to the Board of Ethics for review, introduce it at the next Town mee�ng, and then schedule a public mee�ng. Vice-Chair Chizmar asked if the new Code needed to be in place before the Board of Ethics 3 mee�ng on December 20, 2023. Ms. Thompson stated that it did not need to be in place prior to that mee�ng. ii. Redlight Camera Program Contract The Deputy Chief of Police advised that they are tabling this for now. The Director of Finance said that this is coming off the December 18, 2023, agenda. She said the Redlight Camera Program Contract is up on December 31, 2023, and it has gone out to bid. Bel Air is in a consor�um with other jurisdic�ons for this program and Howard County does the bidding process. They will be using the same company again and there is an unwriten extension for the moment un�l the contract is worked out; the pricing will change. They will bring this contract to the Board in January 2024, but un�l then, it is business as usual. Commissioner Taylor moved to remove that item from the tenta�ve agenda and Commissioner Rutledge seconded. All were in favor. Mo�on passed. STAFFING UPDATE: The Director of Administra�on reported: • Laborer job is ac�vely posted on the website and on indeed.com • Part-�me procurement officer posi�on • Police recruit posi�on or police lateral officer already through academy CALENDAR: The December 2023/January/February 2024 calendars were distributed. Contact Ruth Seitler with addi�ons or correc�ons. Correc�on: the January 4, 2024, Planning Commission mee�ng was changed back to Town Hall. MISCELLANEOUS: Na�onal Flood Insurance Program Community Ra�ng System Update The Town Administrator spoke about FEMA’s Na�onal Flood Insurance Community Ra�ng System. The work the Town does behind the scenes results in substan�al insurance savings for residents. The Director of Public Works spoke of retaining this CRS ra�ng this year. Bel Air has a Class 6 ra�ng which is great; there are only twelve (12) homes in the Town of Bel Air that benefit from this Class 6 ra�ng in the flood plain areas around Howard Park, Plumtree Run, and Atwood. These homeowners get a 20% discount on their flood insurance and are aware of this program. Holiday closure The Town Administrator noted that earlier in the week he and the Director of Administra�on discovered that the County Execu�ve granted an administra�ve holiday on Tuesday, December 26, 2023, to all County employees. Tradi�onally, the Town of Bel Air follows the County in these maters. He would like to move to approve Tuesday 12/26 as a holiday. All were in favor of gran�ng this holiday to Town employees. 4 The Director of Public Works said that, if this holiday is approved, all trash would be Wednesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 28. COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS: Commissioner Chance thanked the Director of Economic Development for the ribbon cu�ng this morning for Lean Kitchen in the Bel Air Town Center. It was wonderful. Commissioner Rutledge and Chair E�ng atended the County Council mee�ng and presented their Resolu�on last week. They received good feedback from the public and Council members. Commissioner Rutledge thanked the Director of Economic Development for all her hard work and does not know when there might be a vote on this Resolu�on. CLOSED SESSION: Vice-Chair Chizmar noted that this mee�ng would adjourn and be closed under the provisions of the Maryland Open Mee�ngs Act General Provisions Art. § 3-305(b)(7) to discuss the following topics: • To consult with counsel to obtain legal advice regarding Chapter 165: Comprehensive Plan and Development Regula�ons § 165-52C Fee in lieu of open space. The reason for closed-session discussion of above topics is because public discussion of confiden�al informa�on and legal strategies can compromise the atorney-client privilege and inhibit the ability of the public body to receive candid and uninhibited legal guidance. The Town Administrator asked to dismiss everyone from his staff with the excep�on of the Director of Planning and the Director of Finance. This was approved. Commissioner Rutledge noted that they will not return for any public business a�er the closed session. Commissioner Taylor moved and Commissioner Rutledge seconded to enter the closed session for the reasons just stated. Ayes – Commissioners Rutledge, Chizmar, Taylor, Chance The mo�on passed. ADJOURNMENT: With no further comments, the mee�ng was adjourned at 5:52 p.m. to the conference room for a closed session. APPROVED: January 16, 2024 5  Signature on file _____________ Paula S. E�ng, Chair Board of Town Commissioners Signature on file____________ Michael L. Krantz, Town Clerk 6