Board of Town Commissioners

MINUTES BEL AIR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION MEETING MARCH 11, 2025 The Board of Commissioners Work Session Mee�ng was held on March 11, 2025, at 5:15 pm. PRESENT: Commissioner Paula S. Etting, Chair, via telephone Commissioner Mary F. Chance Commissioner Steven T. Chizmar Commissioner Jakob D. Taylor IN ATTENDANCE: Edward Hopkins, Town Administrator Stephen Kline, Director of Public Works Michael Krantz, Director of HR & Administration Charles Moore, Chief of Police Angela Robertson, Director of Economic Development Pamela Wockenfuss, Deputy Director of Finance Jane Sudbrink, Recording Secretary ABSENT: Commissioner James B. Rutledge, III I. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Chizmar called the mee�ng to order at 5:18 pm and read the roll call of commissioners. II. ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Taylor mo�oned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Chance seconded the mo�on. Vice Chair Chizmar asked for a vote on the agenda. Ayes: Commissioners Chizmar, Taylor, Chance, E�ng. Nays: None. Mo�on carried 4-0. IV. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Mr. Hopkins said he had nothing to report at this �me. V. TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR TOWN MEETING (Monday, March 17, 2025, at 7:00 pm, Bel Air Town Hall) A. Presenta�on 1. Municipal Ci�zens’ Academy Gradua�on Mr. Hopkins said this is a gradua�on ceremony for the inaugural academy. He said there will be words of apprecia�on, gradua�on cer�ficates, and a recep�on. He said there will be five to six graduates all of whom were ac�vely engaged and interested in the class. Mr. Hopkins said he hopes that the graduates will spread the word about the academy and atendance will be higher next year. 1 B. Public Hearing 1. Resolu�on 1246-25 Armory Fee Schedule Amendments Mr. Krantz reported that this will be a public hearing for the $10 increase from $150 to $160 per hour for individuals and businesses ren�ng the armory. In addi�on, Mr. Krantz said that for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving the rate will be $160 per hour with a six-hour minimum for all en��es. C. Unfinished Business 1. Resolu�on 1246-25 Armory Fee Schedule Amendments D. Reappointment to the Economic and Community Development Commission Vice Chair Chizmar said this topic will be discussed in closed session. VI. COMMISSIONER LIAISON REPORTS Commissioner Taylor reported that the Appearance and Beau�fica�on Commitee met last night and he referred to the Garden Mart card. He said the event will be on Friday, May 9 at the armory. Commissioner Taylor said it is a great event for the community. VII. STAFFING UPDATE A. Review Term Expira�on Dates of Boards, Commitees, and Commissions Mr. Krantz reported that the town is currently adver�sing for a part-�me procurement officer, a full- �me planning and zoning deputy director, and a contractual recording secretary. Mr. Krantz said he is conduc�ng interviews for the planning and zoning deputy director and will begin interviews for the procurement officer. Commissioner Taylor said Marion McCarron’s posi�on on the Tree Commitee will expire on April 4, which is prior to the town hall mee�ng on April 7. So as not to have the posi�on vacant, commissioners agreed to tenta�vely put on the March 17 town hall agenda a vote for her reappointment. Chair E�ng agreed to contact Ms. McCarron to gauge her interest in a reappointment. VIII. CALENDAR Vice Chair Chizmar asked commissioners to confirm atendance at the upcoming budget sessions. Commissioner Taylor corrected the calendar, no�ng that the budget work session for April 10 should be April 9. In addi�on, the budget work session for May 8 should be May 7. Mr. Hopkins said the budget mee�ng on April 7 will be Ms. Moody’s overview of the budget and his presenta�on for the upcoming fiscal year. 2 IX. MISCELLANEOUS A. Discuss Status of Stray Cats in Howard Park Vice Chair Chizmar said this issue has come to Mr. Hopkins’s aten�on and he referred it to Vice Chair Chizmar as a possible legisla�ve ac�on. Chief Moore provided background. He said that in mid-2021 town administra�on was alerted to the problem and then-employee Paty Parker, who had a familiarity with cat colonies, took the lead. She had an organiza�on perform TNVR (trap-neuter-vaccinate-return) for several months. He noted that there were community mee�ngs and discussion as to whether animal control should be involved. He said Ms. Parker did speak with animal control at one point. Chief Moore said the situa�on gradually deescalated. He said that at the �me of Ms. Parker’s interven�on, two residents were feeding the cats and she was only able to persuade one of them to stop feeding the cats. Consequently, Chief Moore said that the colony has regained trac�on and con�nues to thrive. He said Shadow Cats TNR con�nues to spay and neuter the cats. He also noted that cats that are brought to the shelter are subsequently returned. Chief Moore reported that he has talked to the sheriff’s office, which runs animal control, and the sheriff’s office has agreed to discuss it with legal counsel. He said that animal control has dealt with this situa�on in other loca�ons of the county and could hopefully help the town. Chief Moore said that he sent the commissioners informa�on on courses of ac�on, which includes legisla�on and cita�ons. He was concerned about ci�ng individuals because he felt that rather than solve the problem, cita�ons will exacerbate it. Chief Moore said the town could increase the fine of $50 rela�ng to an animal issue. He noted that animal control does not have a clear defini�on for what is a feral cat. However, he said their legisla�on and procedures look sa�sfactory for addressing this issue. He was resistant to establishing the town’s own legisla�on because it would mean a need for an animal control unit in the town. Chief Moore further discussed civil cita�ons. He said the town rarely issues cita�ons and relies on state law and transporta�on ar�cles for issuing cita�ons. He noted that if someone refuses to abide by the cita�on, the town will have to sue them. He felt that it is beter to reach out to the residents involved and get their coopera�on. Chief Moore stressed that the stray cat situa�on is serious. Chair E�ng suggested using humane traps and taking the trapped cats to the Humane Society. She said that the Humane Society will retain the cats unlike the TNVR organiza�ons. She said the only solu�on is to neuter them. Mr. Hopkins said that the Humane Society may not be able to take all the cats. He reported that he is assembling a work group to address the issue. He said he has reached out to other municipali�es regarding the issue and the responses so far indicate that no one has a working solu�on. Chair E�ng said she is concerned about overburdening the police department with this issue. Vice Chair Chizmar said the working group will help determine the roles and responsibili�es of all par�es. Chair E�ng noted that town residents are also en�tled to animal control services. Vice Chair Chizmar spoke for the residents who have to deal with the numerous cats describing costs, odor, mess, and poten�al disease. Commissioners and Chief Moore discussed the defini�ons of feral, stray, and pet and then owner and keeper. Chair E�ng noted that drawing up legisla�on may make the mater more complicated because it is difficult to determine ownership of the cats. Commissioner Chance cau�oned 3 against relying only on the Humane Society, which may not take all the cats. She cau�oned against pushing the problem off to another en�ty. Mr. Hopkins said the work group will involve all interested par�es. In order to manage expecta�ons, he said he did not want to involve the community yet. Vice Chair Chizmar asked for the commissioners to dra� a list of items they would like to accomplish listed via priority. He said they could address and plan for them at a future work session. He said these items would be things they want to change and things they would like to do in the town. Mr. Hopkins said he does have a list of legisla�ve priori�es already that they are working through, as well as a no�ce and viola�on list. Vice Chair Chizmar asked to review those lists as well because priori�es change. Mr. Hopkins said the next legisla�ve items are cannabis and short-term rentals. Commissioner Taylor said he is addressing gun-range land use zoning with Mr. Small and a single-subject policy with Mr. Krantz. He said he is glad to contribute to a communal priority list. X. COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS Commissioner Taylor provided legisla�ve updates. He said SB 88 regarding municipal elec�ons passed the senate unanimously and also passed in the house with minimal opposi�on. He said this is an emergency piece of legisla�on and if all goes well it will be signed by the governor and become law in early April. Commissioner Taylor said a planning-related bill SB 891 was put in for a vo�ng session in the Educa�on, Energy, and the Environment Commitee. He said this is the ADU mandate bill that would allow ADUs for land that is zoned for single-family use. Commissioner Taylor said this bill has received pushback from MACo and MML. He said this bill may not have the votes to move it out of commitee because it may not have enough ins�tu�onal support. Commissioner Taylor said HB 1255 was heard today in front of the Environment and Transporta�on Commitee. He said Chair E�ng was in atendance. He reported that Delegate McComas, Laura Bianca- Pruet, and Chair E�ng provided tes�mony. He noted that some jurisdic�ons expressed concern that they would prefer an appeal go straight to the circuit court. Commissioner Taylor said this bill is just adding the op�on to go to the Board of Appeals. He said there is no opposi�on to the bill and the only ques�on now is whether this bill will be voted out. 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 Chance seconded the mo�on. Vice Chair Chizmar asked for roll call: Ayes: Commissioners Chizmar, Taylor, Chance, E�ng. Nays: None. Mo�on carried 4-0. Vice Chair Chizmar said the mee�ng would not return to open session. The mee�ng closed at 5:57 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(1). 4 B. Topics of Discussion: 1. To Discuss the Appointment of Officials to the Town Boards, Commissions, and Commitees C. Reasons for Closed-Session Discussion of Above Topics 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 6:02 pm. APPROVED: April 7, 2025 Signature on file _____________ Paula S. E�ng, Chair Board of Town Commissioners Signature on file_____________ Michael L. Krantz, Town Clerk 5