Council Meetings Agendas

Hearing & Council Meeting of the Mayor and Town Council Brentwood, Maryland 20722 Meeting Minutes January 6, 2016 Present: Mayor Rocio Treminio-Lopez X_ Vice Mayor Jeffrey Clark Excused _, Council Member Tonya Harrison_X , Council Member Regina Morlan_X ,Council Member Victor Olano X__, Staff Present: Town Administrator C. Reginald Bagley __X__ Chief of Police Robert Altoff___ Town Treasurer Shelley Gaylord Code Enforcement Officer Fern Williams_ X_ I. Organization Call to order 7:30 Roll Call Moment of Silence/Pledge of Allegiance Approval of agenda CM Morlan wants the LGIT and Solid Waste RFP-Bid Opening moved to new business. CM Harrison motion to approve the agenda for Wednesday January 6, 2016 with the changes that we noted. CM Morlan second. Voice vote. All voted yes. Agenda approved. Presentation- Aaron Marcavitch Anacostia Trails Heritage area. ATHA is Maryland Milestones. I wanted to come out and check in with Brentwood. I come at least once a year. Anacostia is doing well moving with the 1812 work, now moving into bicycle tourism. Bicycle tourism is a lot more work. We are involved with MOU and bike share. It’s a large DC area. We have closed out of all 1812 grants. There is less money in bicycle tourism. We are building our first office, a heritage center in Hyattsville. We are coming to all Towns and asking if in their 2017 budget they can help us, since there isn't much grant funding.(Maybe $1000.00 per Town) We are looking to raise at least $15,000.00. Our major grants program is open now for anyone who has a program in history, arts or nature. Thinking of doing a bike rally, riding to 1 Bladensburg Waterfront Park, or people can kayak. We are glad the council signed MOU. Presentation- Dan Puma-Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation A physical review was done in Brentwood. Appraisers walked the streets looked at all the houses. This is done once every 9 years. We use the sale prices of like properties. There were 20-25 sales in Brentwood. Then we estimate all the properties in Brentwood. We do this in mass, so if you get an appraisal and you disagree, there is a possibility it is wrong. Homes in District 1 were all reassessed Brentwood went up higher than average; average is about 50 % higher. The real-estate market is now recovering. Make sure people file for their Homestead. Residents have until February 11th-45 days to appeal. If you have a good reason, and feel like your home is not worth that value. There are written appeals, face to face personal meeting with the home assessor, and telephone hearings. No off site hearings, no late night hearings. You don't like the first appeal, then you go to the appeal broad, you present your case. Then Maryland Tax Court. You also have the right to file an out of cycle appeal, which must be done by January of that year. CM Olano-his house was assessed at $706,000.00, last year was $330, 000.00. What is your formula? Everyone in Town (Brentwood) is upset about this new assessment. I am hearing from Facebook that people say their property jumped 50 % or even 100 or more percent. How is that normal? One of the reasons we live in this area is because we can afford our home, I couldn't even afford to buy my own house now at this price. What formula do you use? There isn't a property in Brentwood that is worth $706,000.00. A person should look at situations like this. Not a computer generated bill. Provide an example of what is the percentage of people who appeal win, or have their value changed. The value isn't lowered that much. Mr. Puma- He believes the assessment of CM Olano's house is wrong, that is too high. A resident asked Mr. Puma to provide an example of what is the percentage of people who appeal win, or have their value changed, and how much on average is the price lowered? 2 Mr. Puma said it would be reassessed at the right value, and that value placed on the property. He couldn't give an average. New values are not placed a lot because the appraisal isn't that far off. It's a case by case basis. Resident asked what a person could/would tell the appraiser (key facts) about their home that could lower the value of the home? Mr. Puma Key facts in an appeal-problem with the house rather than deferred maintenance, like a bad roof, bad foundation, basement leak, damage because of an old leak. If you do have a problem with your house, feel free to tell the appraiser because they don't tell anyone, it is kept private. CM Orlano asked if the Town going to see more revenue because of this assessment? Mr. Puma said he would think so. It will depend on the cap set by PG County. CM Harrison-if there is a lot of highly assessed properties, like a whole street, will you come back and reassess all the houses, the entire street? Mr. Puma-no not really. Only if an entire town was all too high, If a neighborhood has a lot of different houses, different sizes, different ages. Everyone must file for an appeal. It's a case by case per property. CM Morlan, thinks there a lot a variables, the age of house, number of vacant houses, foreclosures, rentals. How long will the appeal process take? Mr. Puma- I would say if you did the appeal today, you would hear in March, the end of March (6-8 weeks). Unless we have to go out and do more detailed things. CM Morlan when you say they went door to door on foot, was that at every property? Mr. Puma: yes, it should have been CM Morlan doesn't recall seeing them Mr. Puma, they should have, they should have left a card if someone wasn't home. CM Morlan didn't get a card, and that raises a lot of questions. Mr. Puma: they are supposed to leave a card Resident asked how do you prove your house has problems/damage? Send a picture? Mr. Puma said the appraiser should come back to the property 3 Mayor said so the more improvements you do to your house the money your property value goes up, which is why some people don't want to do improvements to their property. Resident asked Mr. Puma is there is any help for seniors, any tax relief? Mr. Puma: Nothing that attends to age. Homeowners tax credit, which is based on income, regardless of your age. Appraisers were in Brentwood last year 2015 or even 2014. CM Morlan: anyone that doesn't have the time to mail back in, and if you are watching and want to stop by and leave your name and number with Mr. Puma, he is going to be here for awhile, he is willing to take that information and start your appeal process. Wanika B. Fisher, Esq. Policy & Community Coordinator for County Council Member Deni Taveras Second District. Left her card for anyone who has questions about policies or taxes, or needs help with those things. It’s an election year, please register to vote. A lot of things going on please pay attention this year. No more public comment: Mayor Treminio-Lopez minutes? CM Morlan motion to approve minutes for October 21st, November 4th, November 18th, December 16th, December 2nd as well as the hearing held on December 2nd CM Olano second. Roll Call: CM Harrison-abstain, CM Morlan-yes, CM Olano-yes, Mayor Treminio-Lopez-yes. Motion approved. Town Administrator Report: Full written report is available in paper form. Compliment the Mayor Council and team Brentwood for performances over the holidays for extra staff duties. Brentwood Police Department and staff has worked diligently over the holiday reason to host and assist with the festivities. Staff paid for the food for the holiday event on December 18th with personal funds Police Department gathered donations for the toys for the children's holiday event Made a donation to the Cora B Woods Crisis Center Took backpacks and school supplies to Thomas Stone Elementary School Must be more aware of MS4 storm water management requirements, should do a briefing so the Council is more aware of requirements. Solid Waste RFP received one bid which we will open later 4 Received bids on the Windom Road projects Brentwood Business Association, regular meeting is January 28th also a meeting tomorrow January 7th, Gateway CDC is housing both meetings LGIT is offering a defensive driving class, I recommend we attend. Smith Architects has submitted a follow up proposal for the second phase of the project presented. Note: they held the drawings for the Town center and Firehouse projects We did receive the $1900.00 grant for ATHA Mural Project-recommend we return the money. CM Olano asked what the deadline was for that grant? CM Morlan said it was an old grant dating back from 2011-2012. Town Administrator Report Minutes training-available dates are January 25th, 26th, 27th or 28th of January The Municipality is required to developed a COOP Plan; a continuance of operation plan, which would outline what the Towns procedures are in the event of an emergency, if Town Hall or other facilities are unavailable in event of an emergency. Chief and I should be the ones to move that forward, the development of it has to be authorized by the Mayor and Council. I did receive email from 2 council members looking for approval from all. Mayor Treminio-Lopez said you have my approval. Questions? CM Morlan-can we get documentation from Mr. Weinstein ahead of time? So we can be prepared to ask questions? TA-yes, full website that outlines MS4 and its requirements. CM Harrison-with the Smith Architects proposals are there any additional expenditures? TA-yes with the second phase. CM Morlan motion to receive the TA Report CM Harrison second-all in favor-voice vote. All voted yes. Mayor Treminio-Lopez-Incorporating Town Ordinances? TA-waiting on information from General Codes. Tabled CM Morlan asked about MEA New Communities Smart Energy Grant 5 TA-they extended the deadline to January 26th. We can apply for the grant and in the first round, they come in and do an energy audit, run an energy audit on all the Town properties to include energy usage, lighting, electricity. What is applied for in a new community is lighting upgrades and improving the overall electrical performance. What we can expect out of the grant is new lighting for Town Hall, parking lot, electric vehicles, that is what typically comes in the first around. CM Morlan asked about LED lighting for the Town? TA-as a new community the funding that is typically approved is for the immediate uses. Old Business: CM Morlan motion to return the $1900.00 to ATHA Grant, CM Harrison second Roll Call: CM Harrison-yes CM Morlan-yes CM Olano-abstained Mayor Treminio-Lopez- yes. Motion passed. So grant money goes back. Mayor Treminio-Lopez Windom Road contract approval TA-you have the two bid analysis, Mr.Wu and Mr. Bagley opened on December 23rd, one contractor was here for the opening. Bid from J Villa Construction for $9,498.00, and VMP Construction for $11,050.00, our recommendation is we accept the bid from J Villa Construction, pending the check out of their references and previous work. CM Olano motion to accept J Villa Construction submitting a bid through the bidding process CM Morlan Second CM Harrison is concerned about WSSC, we need to coordinate the Sidewalk Project and the work from WSSC. CM Olano-what is the time frame to complete this project? TA if you approve to accept this project tonight, we'll know at next meeting, by then we'll know what is going to happen with WSSC and State Highway, so the start date will be in the contract. Mayor-send contract to council prior (before next meeting) for council review. CM Olano stated we need to be mindful of the residents property. Mayor wants TA to oversee this project, wants TA there. Roll Call -All voted yes. Motion approved. 6 Holiday Lighting Contest Winners TA, Chief, were judges TA-reads honorable mentions: Winners: Holiday Lighting Contest 3rd 3411 Upshur Street- William Joines 2nd 3800 Volta Avenue-Miguel Velasquez-Hernandez 1st Place 3603 Webster Street-Rizale Olipie and Jun Dizon CM Morlan-we will invite them all back to the next meeting for their certificate and check. New Business: LGIT Defensive Driving Course Mayor Treminio-Lopez asks who needs to take this course? TA-anyone who hasn't taken it in the past. CM Morlan motion to approve $150.00 for 6 people to that the LGIT defensive driving course from line item number 5-1120 CM Harrison second. Voice vote-all voted yes. Motion approved. Opens Bid Contract: Bates Solid Waste Bid $8,937.50 per month (TA opens bid) for 715 homes-solid waste only. CM Harrison motion to accept the proposal and forward to negotiate the contract with Bates, CM Olano second. Roll Call-All voted yes. Council Retreat scheduled is schedule for January 23rd at 9am-noon. Meetings: Council Meeting Wednesday January 20, 2016 at 7:30pm Committees Tree-TBA Green Team-TBA Cable-January 19, 2016 at 7pm 7 CSEC-January 26, 2016 at 6pm PWC-TBA *Mayor ask Mr. Bagley to get involved in the PWC* Firehouse-January 28, 2016 at 7pm Hispanic-TBA Neighborhood Watch-TBA Brentwood Business Association Meeting-small group meeting-January 7, 2016 at 6:30 at the Gateway CDC. Open to all businesses. Matt Karl announced that this is the first live stream, all meetings will be live streamed and all meetings will be available on the internet. We are still working on the content. Matt is working on the new cable slides. Working on the new software. CM Olano wants the information put in the newsletter on how to watch the live stream. Matt can still make CD's for anyone who wants one. CM Harrison motion to adjourn the meeting CM Morlan second. Voice vote. All in favor. Meeting adjourned at 9:33 per Mayor. Respectfully submitted by: Fern Williams__________________________ Approved by:____________________________ Date____________ 8