Board of Town Commissioners

MINUTES BEL AIR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION MEETING DECEMBER 10, 2024 The Board of Commissioners Work Session Mee�ng was held on December 10, 2024, at 4:30 pm. PRESENT: Commissioner Paula S. Etting, Chair Commissioner Mary F. Chance Commissioner Steven T. Chizmar Commissioner James B. Rutledge, III Commissioner Jakob D. Taylor IN ATTENDANCE: David Anderson, Media & Public Relations Specialist Edward Hopkins, Town Administrator Stephen Kline, Director of Public Works Michael Krantz, Director of HR & Administration Lisa Moody, Director of Finance Charles Moore, Chief of Police Angela Robertson, Director of Economic Development Kevin Small, Director of Planning Jane Sudbrink, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL Chair E�ng called the mee�ng to order at 4:30 pm and read the roll call of commissioners. III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Chance mo�oned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Taylor seconded the mo�on. Mr. Krantz asked for a vote on the agenda. Ayes: Commissioners Rutledge, Chizmar, Taylor, Chance, E�ng. Nays: None. Mo�on carried 5-0. IV. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Mr. Hopkins provided early numbers from the town’s Christmas parade celebra�on. He said about 4,000 people went to the armory and 5,000 people went to Independent Brewing Company. Mr. Hopkins said for the parade, there were “too many people to count.” He reported that the Facebook livestream of the parade was a good first atempt and he received posi�ve feedback. Mr. Anderson will con�nue to improve the process. Mr. Hopkins said the biggest challenge was uploading content with such a large crowd size and, as such, service was interrupted a few �mes. He reported that an elderly person did fall and hit her head during the parade. He commended the swi� ac�on of public works employee, Ryan Ramer, in facilita�ng this person’s access and transport to an ambulance. Mr. Hopkins said BGE will be doing pole restora�on work on Hickory Avenue on December 12. He said the work will be conducted overnight with litle impact to residents and businesses on the avenue. 1  Mr. Hopkins said he, Commissioner Chizmar and Chair E�ng had previously met with Harford County Council President Vincen� regarding the council’s impact fee bill. He said the bill was approved and was sent to the county execu�ve for signature. V. TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR TOWN MEETING (Monday, December 16, 2024, at 7:00 pm, Bel Air Town Hall) A. Presenta�ons 1. BAPD Promo�on of Hollie McCraghan to Officer First Class Chief Moore reported that Officer McCraghan has completed two years of service and is up for promo�on. He said she will be presented with a cer�ficate at the presenta�on and a celebra�on will follow in the community room. 2. BAPD Recogni�on of Corporal Kayhla Hendren Chief Moore said this presenta�on will recognize Corporal Hendren’s re�rement a�er fi�een years from the police department as a sworn officer and her recent hire as a civilian dispatcher. He praised her abili�es in her new job. 3. The Greater Bel Air Community Founda�on Broumel Award Presenta�on to Phil Raub Mr. Hopkins said he and Commissioner Chance are on the board of directors for this founda�on. He described this award and said that this year’s nominee is Phil Raub. Mr. Hopkins said the town hall forum is the appropriate venue to publicly recognize Mr. Raub since the founda�on has such an important rela�onship with the town. 4. Town of Bel Air 150th Anniversary Time Capsule Sealing Ceremony and Recogni�ons Mr. Krantz said he has sent out the invita�ons to commitee members and is in the process of comple�ng the cer�ficates of recogni�on. Mr. Krantz said this ceremony will officially lock up the �me capsule. He encouraged commissioners to prepare speeches and contribute to the ceremony. B. Public Hearing 1. Resolu�on 1242-24 Town of Bel Air Fee Schedule Amendments C. Unfinished Business 1. Resolu�on 1242-24 Town of Bel Air Fee Schedule Amendments Commissioners did not have any ques�ons or comments regarding Resolu�on 1242-24. D. New Business 1. Ordinance 836-24 to Purchase Property owned by Mt. Royal Management on South Atwood Road 2  Mr. Hopkins provided context for this ordinance. He said that over the summer the Board of Commissioners authorized him to enter into nego�a�ons to purchase this property as part of the Homestead-Wakefield Elementary School project. He said that in August the commissioners passed a resolu�on to enter into a contract to purchase the property at an agreed-upon price. He said that since then he has been working with the school board to get the property surveyed and this was finally done in October. Mr. Hopkins said he received the results of the survey on December 2. He said that, a�er consulta�on with town counsel, he would like this process memorialized as an ordinance. Mr. Hopkins said that he has worked with Mr. Small and Mr. Krantz on this ordinance and it contains survey informa�on (e.g., .375 of an acre, la�tude and longitude) and the setlement agreement with the school board. Mr. Hopkins said he would like the board’s approval of this ordinance and a public hearing will be scheduled January 21. Mr. Hopkins expressed his dismay over the many delays in the atainment of this property. He confirmed for Chair E�ng that the ordinance has been reviewed by town counsel. 2. Resolu�on 1243-24 Request Approval of Complete Streets Leadership Academy (CSLA) Improvements Mr. Small said this will be a resolu�on memorializing the commissioners’ preference to close the le�- hand turn from south Main Street to east-bound Gordon Street. He said the approved resolu�on will be atached to a leter to state highway to facilitate state highway’s permanent closure of this turn and installa�on of a median. Mr. Small noted that state highway has removed some speed control devices in that area but not all. He said this may be a result of confusion regarding possible installa�on of the devices further back on the road in front of the armory. 3. Thomas Street Phase III Complete George Street Project Contract Mr. Kline provided background on this project. He said that originally there was only funding for Phases I and II of the Thomas Street project. However, Mr. Kline said that a�er funding for the sewer projects have come in under budget, staff determined to use the extra funds to complete Phase III of this project, George Street. Mr. Kline said that work will be done from south Kelly Avenue up to Atwood Road. He said curbing and guters will be installed on both sides of the street, as well as sidewalk and parking areas. Mr. Kline said the cost will be $215,750 paid out from ARPA funds. Mr. Kline explained for Commissioner Chizmar where exactly sidewalks and curbing will be installed and that parking will be built for those residents who now park on the grass. Mr. Small said the street will be widened only where on-street parking will be built. 4. Reappointment to the Cultural Arts Commission 5. Appointment to Board of Appeals The appointments will be discussed in closed session. VI. COMMISSIONER LIAISON REPORTS Chair E�ng reported on the Tree Commitee. She said they have been discussing future tree plan�ng projects, including plan�ng trees behind the Planning Department, at Rockfield Park, and at Alice Anne Park. She said the commitee also plans to post the street tree applica�on on the town’s website. She noted that a ci�zen can apply for the town to plant a tree but there must be a four-foot-wide strip between the sidewalk and the street. She said the next mee�ng will be in January. 3  Chair E�ng reported that the legisla�on for the Historic Preserva�on Commitee (HPC) regarding the Board of Appeals will be sent to Delegate McComas tonight for introduc�on. She noted that Ms. Thompson reviewed this legisla�on first. Chair E�ng said that this legisla�on is similar to other jurisdic�ons and it has the delega�on’s approval. In answer to Commissioner Chizmar, this legisla�on will be an exemp�on for Harford County and jurisdic�ons therein, including Bel Air. Commissioner Taylor said this legisla�on allows the town to determine whether to have the appeals go to the circuit court or the Board of Appeals. Chair E�ng said that in the town’s case, it has chosen the Board of Appeals because it is simpler, faster, and local. VII. STAFFING UPDATE A. Review Term Expira�on Dates of Boards, Commitees, and Commissions Mr. Krantz said there is an ac�ve laborer job posted. He said the town is also accep�ng applica�ons for a police officer job. He said this posi�on could be filled by exis�ng officers as well as those who are interested in becoming a police officer as a recruit. Mr. Krantz said that aside from the Cultural Arts Commission and Board of Appeals openings, all other upcoming commitee posi�ons do not expire un�l March, April, or May 2025. Commissioners and Mr. Krantz elected to postpone these decisions un�l next year. VIII. CALENDAR A. Discuss January 2025 Town Hall Mee�ng Schedule Mr. Krantz stated that the first town hall mee�ng in January will be on January 21 with a work session on January 14. Commissioner Taylor and Chair E�ng reported on their limited atendance in January. Commissioner Rutledge asked if Ordinance 836-24 could be voted on at the work session on January 14. He cited the numerous delays and the need to advance the project on the calendar as the ra�onale behind this request. Mr. Krantz said the no�ce and pos�ng requirements for this ordinance will be sa�sfied in the upcoming �me period so he confirmed this vote could happen at that mee�ng. Commissioners agreed with Commissioner Rutledge’s proposal. Mr. Krantz said he would put the public hearing and the unfinished business for Ordinance 836-24 on January 14’s agenda. Mr. Hopkins and Chair E�ng moved their regularly scheduled first Wednesday of the month mee�ng to January 8. IX. MISCELLANEOUS A. Discuss Town of Bel Air Christmas Holiday Schedule Mr. Hopkins said that historically town employees are given one administra�ve holiday around the Christmas holiday. In consulta�on with Ms. Moody and other department heads, Mr. Hopkins determined that the best day for the administra�ve holiday would be December 26. He said this day interferes the least with the trash and recycling pick-up schedule. Commissioners agreed with this date, and Ms. Moody said their agreement at this work session is enough to proceed with the scheduling. Mr. 4 Anderson agreed to post the revised trash and recycling pick-up schedule on next week’s announcements and on social media. X. COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS Commissioners were unanimous in their apprecia�on for last weekend’s Christmas parade and celebra�on. Commissioner Rutledge congratulated everyone on their hard work and said they did a fantas�c job. Commissioner Chizmar said it was a great day and expressed his apprecia�on for the volunteer groups. Commissioner Taylor pointed out the many people who assist with the parade behind the scenes who are not always recognized. Commissioner Chance was delighted to see so many people enjoying the parade and the celebra�on in Shamrock Park. Chair E�ng thanked Michael Blum and his work on the Christmas Parade, which, she said, is now rivalling the July Fourth Parade in its scope and par�cipa�on. She thanked all the department heads, the police department, the public works department, and the many parade sponsors. XI. CLOSED SESSION Commissioner Taylor mo�oned to move the mee�ng into closed session. Commissioner Taylor read the reasons for the closed session as listed below. Commissioner Chizmar seconded the mo�on. Mr. Krantz asked for a vote to go into closed session: Ayes: Commissioners Chizmar, Rutledge, Taylor, Chance, E�ng. Nays: None. Mo�on carried 5-0. Chair E�ng stated that the mee�ng would not return to open session. The mee�ng closed at 5:09 pm. A. This por�on of the mee�ng will be closed under the provisions of the Maryland Open Mee�ngs Act General Provisions Art. § 3-305(b)(1). B. Topic of Discussion 1. To discuss the appointment of officials to Town Boards, Commissions, and Commitees C. Reason for Closed-Session Discussion of Above Topic 1. Because public discussion of candidates’ names, qualifica�ons, experience, and background could discourage people from volunteering for public service or compromise their privacy rights XII. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Taylor mo�oned to adjourn the mee�ng. Commissioner Chance seconded the mo�on. All in favor. The mee�ng adjourned at 5:21 pm. APPROVED AS AMENDED: January 21, 2025 Signature on file _____________ Paula S. E�ng, Chair Board of Town Commissioners 5 Signature on file_____________ Michael L. Krantz, Town Clerk 6