Board of Town Commissioners

MINUTES BEL AIR BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION MEETING APRIL 1, 2025 The Board of Commissioners Work Session Mee�ng was held on April 1, 2025, at 5:15 pm. PRESENT: Commissioner Paula S. Etting, Chair, via telephone 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 Charles Dawson, Deputy Director of Public Works Michael Krantz, Director of HR & Administration Charles Moore, Chief of Police Angela Robertson, Director of Economic Development Kevin Small, Director of Planning Jane Sudbrink, Recording Secretary I. CALL TO ORDER Vice Chair Chizmar called the mee�ng to order at 5:15 pm and Mr. Krantz read the roll call of commissioners. II. ROLL CALL III. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Taylor mo�oned to approve the agenda. Commissioner Rutledge seconded the mo�on. Mr. Krantz asked for a vote on the agenda. Ayes: Commissioners Rutledge, Chizmar, Taylor, E�ng. Nays: None. Mo�on carried 4-0. Commissioner Chance had not yet arrived to cast a vote. IV. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT Mr. Krantz reported that Mr. Hopkins was out of the office. V. PRESENTATION A. Lions’ Club Derby Update by David Guzewich A video about the upcoming derby was presented first. Mr. Guzewich, Bel Air Lions’ Club, thanked Zane Decker, the video producer for the video. Mr. Guzewich then gave an update on the derby scheduled for May 18. He said everything is on track and it is truly a community event. He reported that there will be 26 to 27 cars, up from 20 last year and 10 the previous year. Mr. Guzewich said Main Street will be closed from 7 am-1 pm, with racing �me from 8 am-12 pm. He said that he has no�fied and will con�nue to no�fy every Main Street business about the event, distribute a handout and flyer to them, and offer free adver�sement in the program book. 1  Amy Biondi, Bel Air Lions’ Club, discussed some changes to this year’s derby. She said it will be broadcast by Harford TV, at no cost, but it will not be a live recording and will air at a later date. She reported that Kristy Breslin will be returning to do the announcements and Miss Bel Air will be the official starter. Ms. Biondi highlighted the sponsors of the event, in par�cular Deer Creek Exteriors, which is the major donor. Ms. Biondi also reported that the stage and announcers will be located on Main Street this year, enhancing the visibility of the event and the maneuverability of the cars around the stage. She said there was a recent derby car clinic at Independent Brewing Company with the race director. Ms. Biondi said the test run days will be on Lee Street on April 26 and May 4. Mr. Guzewich thanked Mr. Hopkins and town counsel, Elizabeth Thompson, for the MOU. He said he is working with the Downtown Alliance to improve the sound along Main Street. In addi�on, Mr. Guzewich said a fellow Lions’ Club member is building an enhanced �ming system. Mr. Guzewich told Vice Chair Chizmar that he has received good responses from the Main Street businesses so far. Vice Chair Chizmar asked about having vendors who would serve refreshments at the derby. Mr. Guzewich said he does not want any vendors to compete with the Main Street businesses. Ms. Biondi added that Kona Ice provides free shaved ice to contestants and volunteers. Staff and commissioners thanked Mr. Guzewich, Ms. Biondi, and the Lions’ Club for all their hard work on this event. Ms. Biondi noted that it says a lot about a town that is willing to shut down its Main Street for children. VI. TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR TOWN MEETING (Monday, April 7, 2025, at 7:00 pm, Bel Air Town Hall) A. Presenta�ons 1. Kite Day Proclama�on Mr. Krantz said Kite Day will be on April 12. He reported that it will be the 18th Kite Day, founded in 2006 by Allen Ault. Mr. Krantz shared that Mr. Ault passed away last year, so this kite day will be in remembrance of him. Mr. Krantz noted that APG Federal Credit Union is the premium sponsor and will provide free kites while supplies last. 2. Explorer Award Presented to OFC Richard Krause Chief Moore referenced a packet he distributed to commissioners. He detailed that the organiza�on sponsoring the award would like to maintain an element of surprise around the reward and its recipient. He noted that the organiza�on has an agenda outlined for how it wants the presenta�on to proceed. Chief Moore said this will be a na�onwide recogni�on with public informa�on representa�ves from the organiza�on. B. New Business 1. Resolu�on 1248-25 Town Administrator’s Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Mr. Krantz reported that Ms. Moody and Mr. Hopkins are s�ll working on the final details of the upcoming budget to be presented on Monday and available to commissioners before the mee�ng. Mr. Krantz said the budget binders will also be available on Monday, and the first budget session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9 at 4:30 pm. 2 2. Resolu�on 1249-25 Bel Air Planning Commission Annual Report for 2024 Mr. Small said the Planning Commission submits this report yearly. He highlighted that the report contains the approvals of four single-family houses behind Bel Air United Methodist Church and thirty apartments for The Standard on Bond with accompanying commercial development, as well as several other approvals outlined in the report. He asked for feedback from the commissioners. Mr. Small noted that last year Chair E�ng had discussed that the state does not require the board to accept this report, rather the only requirement is that the report is filed. Mr. Small said the acceptance is part of the code and it would require a code change if the commissioners would like to just file the report, as is done in Aberdeen and Havre de Grace. Mr. Small said the report will be on Monday’s agenda for acceptance a�er which it will be forwarded to the state for review. 3. Deed of Easement for Tollgate Marketplace 12” Sanitary Sewer Mr. Dawson referred to the map handout. He reported that Ms. Thompson and the Department of Public Works are working on the turnover of a 12” line through Tollgate Marketplace. He referred to it as TG22. He said the line heads south and is 1,300 linear feet with seven manholes. Mr. Dawson explained how this line will operate and said it is for the future development at the mall. VII. COMMISSIONER LIAISON REPORTS Commissioner Taylor reported that the Economic and Community Development Commission met in March and further discussed their recommenda�ons regarding vacant commercial property soon to be submited to the board. He said they also began preliminary discussions regarding short-term rentals. Commissioner Chance said the Rockfield Manor renova�on con�nues and is on track to reopen at the end of June. Commissioner Rutledge reported that the Historic Preserva�on Commission (HPC) met in March and he updated the HPC on the status of the appeals bill. Commissioner Taylor provided a more recent update. He said the bill did not make crossover, but the house did vote it out and so the bill has revived. He said it is now in the Senate Rules Commitee with further votes required before it can possibly be passed in six days. Commissioner Taylor was concerned that with only six days le� and numerous other issues to consider, the bill might not be at the top of the Senate’s list. He said that he will provide an update on all per�nent bills on April 7. Commissioner Rutledge then said the HPC has authorized the Planning Department to dra� legisla�on on a revision to the tax credit. He said the commission would like to add another “�er” to the tax credit to provide a boost beyond the minimum home repair. Commissioner Rutledge said this tax credit would be more for a restora�on and not just a preserva�on. He said it would provide an incen�ve for property owners to restore their home to its original concep�on. Commissioner Rutledge said he is in support of this new �er. He said a study would have to be done first, then the dra� tax credit legisla�on, followed by a presenta�on to the board by the HPC members. He said that members believe this will be an addi�onal incen�ve for property owners to join the program. 3  Commissioner Taylor asked what the requirements would be for a property to be eligible. Commissioner Rutledge explained that determina�ons would be at the discre�on of the HPC and its members’ exper�se. He noted that the members are very aten�ve to looking at old photographs when considering a current request for work or when determining whether a project qualifies for a tax credit. Commissioner Rutledge provided an example of siding products to explain how HPC members carefully consider projects. Vice Chair Chizmar asked how this addi�onal �er level would affect adding new construc�on on to historic structures, which is currently allowed. Commissioner Rutledge explained that there is a separate category for new construc�on and it will not be changed under this new system. He said this new �er would affect repairs. He clarified that the new legisla�on will not alter anyone’s exis�ng rights. Commissioner Rutledge explained how this �er process would work using a roof upgrade as an example. Vice Chair Chizmar reported that the Board of Appeals did not meet in March. He said the Planning Commission met in March and discussed the annual report. Mr. Small confirmed the Planning Commission will meet this Thursday to discuss a trampoline park at the Pep Boys building. Chair E�ng said the Tree Commitee will not meet on April 9. Members will be at the opening of the Farmers’ Market on April 12 to celebrate Arbor Day by giving out free trees. She also reported that there will be an invasive-vine-cu�ng event at the Ma & Pa Trail on April 5 sponsored by Harford County Climate Ac�on and Harford County Parks and Recrea�on. VIII. STAFFING UPDATE A. Review Term Expira�on Dates of Boards, Commitees, and Commissions Mr. Krantz said two members of the Board of Ethics, William Bolton and Theresa Rose, have terms expiring in May. He reported that both members have volunteered to be reappointed. He said that a closed session will be scheduled for the next work session to discuss their reappointments. He noted that Sue Niewenhous’s term expires in July but he has not reached out to her yet. Mr. Krantz also said he has not yet addressed the August term expira�on for the Board of Building Appeals. Mr. Krantz said there is s�ll no candidate for the vacancy on the HPC. Mr. Krantz said the town is currently accep�ng applica�ons for a part-�me construc�on inspector and a part-�me procurement officer. He said there are three candidates under review for the Deputy Director of Planning. IX. CALENDAR A. Summer Board Mee�ng Schedule—July and August Mr. Krantz received approval from the board to cancel the town hall mee�ngs that would be held on the first Mondays in July and August, as has been done in the past. 4 X. MISCELLANEOUS A. Discuss Proposed Indoor Shoo�ng Range Development Regula�ons Mr. Small reported that he was contacted by a representa�ve of an organiza�on that wanted to open a gun store with an indoor shoo�ng range in town. He said the town does not have a use category for such an opera�on because it is not in the code. He said that the gun store was, therefore, prohibited. He said he wanted to present the scenario to the board to explore crea�ng a use category. He noted that this person also contacted Aberdeen and was denied. Mr. Small said his preliminary research revealed that many jurisdic�ons do not manage such establishments and defer to their respec�ve states for regula�ons. He noted that Bel Air can establish its own rules. He referred commissioners to the performance standards for amusement centers where some of the specifics, like setbacks, would apply. Chief Moore said he is suppor�ve of having an indoor gun range in town. He said that in the county, problems with gun ranges are mostly related to internal security, such as the security checks for firearm rentals. Chief Moore said that if the town were to have an indoor gun range, it should have significant rules and regula�ons, such as background checks, safety policies, and the use of a range master to check firearms. He also noted that the discharging of firearms tends to be very loud so noise regula�ons also need to be established. Commissioner Taylor said the state of Maryland has firm restric�ons on who can rent a firearm and the town cannot be more lenient than the state. He said the task for the commissioners should be to determine the setbacks and the zone; B-3 made the most sense to him. Commissioner Taylor said he is suppor�ve of having a gun range in the town and cited gun safety and public educa�on on gun safety as key reasons to allow such an establishment. He said he is “heavily suppor�ve of legalizing this use.” Mr. Small said his main concern for today is to make sure the commissioners are open to this discussion before he and Chief Moore conduct more research. Chair E�ng concurred that she, too, is suppor�ve of this discussion since there are no regula�ons in place currently. Commissioner Rutledge also was in favor. He said he appreciated the concern of someone simply ren�ng a gun at a range versus using a gun for training. He suggested researching states that have strong second amendment support like West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Commissioner Rutledge said he did have environmental concerns regarding lead. Mr. Small noted that if the establishment were just a gun store, it would have been allowed as a special retail. Commissioner Chizmar said he also supported further discussion. Commissioner Taylor asked that Ms. Thompson research the state’s guidelines regarding internal security, while Mr. Small would research zoning and use. XI. STAFF COMMENTS Mr. Small said the opening day for the Farmers’ Market will be Saturday, April 12 from 8 am-12 pm. XII. COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS Commissioner Taylor provided a legisla�ve update. He said that HB1255 cleared an important hurdle in the house but has many more commitee hurdles to clear in the senate. He said it he was impressed that it had made it this far and remained op�mis�c. 5  Commissioner Taylor was surprised that neither the house nor the senate municipal elec�ons bills have passed yet. He reported that both chambers passed the bill with no amendments but a commitee chairperson has to put it on the vo�ng list before Friday. Commissioner Taylor said he spoke with Mr. Small regarding the ADU bill. He said it is significantly amended and is a beter dra�. He said the bill will s�ll require all municipali�es to permit ADUs but it does not allow a municipality to prevent a rental of an ADU. He said this revised bill is now workable for the town. He next discussed SP430, the governor’s housing act. He suspected that members of the house will amend this bill and move it, but Commissioner Taylor speculated that this bill has less poli�cal capital behind it than the previous housing bill. Furthermore, he said the government is highly focused on other issues like the budget, energy, and the blueprint educa�on policy. Commissioner Taylor said he hoped this bill will not pass. He assured commissioners that he will have a final report on Monday of all the relevant bills. He noted that the upcoming state budget will have a significant increase in taxes and fees. In answer to Commissioner Rutledge, Commissioner Taylor said these increases will be retroac�ve and most relevant to millionaires and half-millionaires. Commissioner Chizmar asked for insight on the federal government pulling back on money for educa�on. Commissioner Taylor said the state has already spent a large por�on of the federal educa�on money and there will now be no reimbursement. He suspected that the general assembly may call a special session in the fall to address increased fiscal concerns for the state. Commissioner Taylor said MGA.leg provides up-to-date informa�on on legisla�on. XIII. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Rutledge mo�oned to adjourn the mee�ng. Commissioner Taylor seconded the mo�on. All in favor. The mee�ng adjourned at 6:36 pm. APPROVED: April 21, 2025 Signature on file _____________ Paula S. E�ng, Chair Board of Town Commissioners Signature on file_____________ Michael L. Krantz, Town Clerk 6