Town Council

Minutes of the Mount Airy Town Meeting March 6, 2017 Attendees: Town Officials - Mayor Patrick Rockinberg; Council President – Peter Helt; Council Secretary – Ken Phebus; Council Members Bob King, Jason Poirier and Scott Strong. Town Staff: Barney Quinn –Town Engineer, Tom McCarron-Town Attorney, Debbie Brennan-Town Clerk, Charlene Singleton- Accounting Dept., Heather Smith –Community Planning & Development Admin., Matt Betz – Polices Services Administrator; Doug Reitz- Mount Airy Chief of Police; Mount Airy Police Officers Russ Halterman and Curt Snyder. Others: Approximately 55 residents/visitors and 4 reporters. 1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Councilman Helt called the meeting, held at Town Hall – 110 S. Main Street, to order at 7:55 pm (due to the public hearing held prior to the Council meeting) and led everyone in the pledge. 2. Speakers –None 3. Presentations - Mr. Vance with the Local Government Insurance Trust presented a donation to Chief Doug Reitz for $1038.00 4. Council Minute Approval- Minutes from February 6, 2017 Town Council meeting and closed meeting following the Council meeting. – MOTION: Councilman Helt moved to approve the minutes stated above, seconded by Councilman King. Vote: All in favor. 5. RESIDENT TROOPERS POLICE REPORT- Trooper Moore reported that they received 196 calls for service during the month of February. 6. MOUNT AIRY POLICE CHIEF REPORT – PSA Betz has been working on HR issues in preparation for the hiring of new line officers. Sgt Snyder is reviewing and finalizing policies for the Mount Airy Police Department. Two patrol cars have been delivered and sent to Brekford for up-fitting. Plan to purchase 6 more cars. The contract with Maryland State Troopers – Resident Trooper Program will be terminated effective October 1, 2017. A generous donation for the K-9 division was given from Howard Chapel Ridgeville for $20,000. Corporal Russ Halterman was introduced. 7. MOUNT AIRY VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY (MAVFC) REPORT - Bruce Walz with the MAVFC, gave the report for February 2017, with 141 total calls for service. Mr. Walz is also the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Elections, and gave an update on the upcoming nominations meetings to be held on 3-13-17 and 3-20-17. 8. COMMUNITY CONCERNS/CITIZENS COMMENTS (15MIN) Alice with the Farmers Market said the Farmers Market with open May 17, 2017 –Sept. 27, 2017. Frank Dertzbaugh asked to address the Town about the Phase 1 and Parking Analysis and he  addressed the members of the Parking Study Committee. They discussed how many parking spaces we need and what would be a long term solution. 9. ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS: Ordinance No. 2016-27- Zoning text amendment to Sec 112-12- up for adoption, potentially as an emergency measure. - The Town Attorney addressed the proposed amendment to the Ordinance that would go under I. on page 2 of 3, after Sales “as a regular course of business or trade with the principal objective of profit“. The Mayor and Council addressed the Ordinance and the amendment. MOTION: Councilman Strong moved to approve the motion with the proposed amendment. Vote: All in favor. MOTION: Councilman Helt moved to approve Ordinance 2016-27 (with the amendment that was just approved) .as an emergency Ordinance. Seconded by Councilman Strong. Vote: Yea – 4; Nay – 1 (Councilman Poirier.) The Ordinance will go in effect immediately, and will not have to wait 20 days. There will be a Board of Appeals meeting on March 14, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. Ordinance No. 2017-3 - Budget Amendment Parks and Recreation Manager. MOTION: Councilman Helt moved to adopt Ordinance 2017-3. The Mayor explained that a temporary person is doing this work now, and this position will be advertised and interviews will be held. Discussion was held. Vote : All in favor. Resolution 2017-1 – To authorize the consumption and possession in open containers of alcoholic beverages on Public property for Main Street ICS Chili Cook- Off (beer garden) on 4-8-17 - Councilman Helt moved to adopt the Resolution. Seconded by Councilman King. Vote: All in favor. 10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Train Station Property Acquisition - 3rd Amendment to purchase agreement. The Town Attorney addressed the 3rd amendment to the Purchase Agreement for the Train Station. They need to extend the closing date to March 14, 2017. Still waiting on final Subdivision plat. MOTION: Councilman Helt moved to accept the 3rd amendment to the purchase agreement, and authorize the Mayor to sign it. Seconded by Councilman Phebus. Vote: All in favor. 11. NEW BUSINESS a) Flat Iron Building Public work session for March 20, 2017 at 7:30 pm. b) Road closure of Main Street for Chili Cook-off: Joann with Déjà vu dress shop was very upset about the road closures, it is a very busy time for her and she will lose about $7000.00 worth of business due to the road closure. They discussed different places for Déjà vu  customers to park or open part of Main Street. The Mayor wants to have a separate meeting to work on this problem. c) Meeting for budget works session in April will be April 18, 2017 at 6:00pm. d) 3D Archery Competition Presented by Council Member Jason Poirier: Many questions from Town Council: How to access park? What kind of Bows can be used? What type of liability to town? Tom McCarron suggested participants sign a waiver. No decision has been made. Council needs more details. e) New Walking Path at Wildwood Park for $35,000 (POS grant). –MOTION: Councilman Helt moved to accept the bid from SAL’s LLC (bid attached) for $34,500. Seconded by Councilman Poirier. Vote: All in favor. f) Purchase of two new maintenance dept. trucks – This was not addressed because the backup paperwork was not received. 12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS a) Mayor Rockinberg’s Report and Commission Appointments and Reappointment’s- The Mayor will file his report at a later date. The Mayor recommended that the Council reappoint Tobi Drabczyk and Jim Stargel to Recycling & Sanitation Commission. The Mayor also recommended that the Council appoint Mary Beth Ruch to the Ethics Commission. MOTION: Councilman Helt moved to accept the Mayor’s recommendations. Seconded by Councilman King. Vote: All in favor, b) Beautification and Parks and Recreation Commission- Jason Poirier reported that they are working on a budget. Money from the sales of the town ornament was used to buy more benches and trash cans. There are going to be a lot of 5ks run this year also. c) Economic Development & Planning Commission- Bob King reported next meeting will be March 27, 2017. New spring meeting on Tuesday mornings “The Resourceful Entrepreneurs” at Town Hall for the public. EDC was talking with the Planning Commission. Mayor stated concern with EDC involvement with the Planning Commission. Bill Butts will be working on a downtown master plan. They met with the KAS brothers and a planning professional about downtown planning and learned a lot. Zack Peters will be having round table discussions with the state comptroller that should be very interesting. The Planning Commission voted 5-2 in support of Ordinance 2016-27. d) Recycling & Sanitation Commission- Scott Strong reported they did not have a meeting in February. e) Streets and Roads Commission- Ken Phebus reported they did not have a meeting in February  f) Water and Sewer Commission -Peter Helt discussed that at the Commission meeting they addressed how they need to look at the water bill rates, we are losing money. g) Space Allocation Task Force - Peter Helt – they did not have a meeting in February. h) Town Administrator Report- Mayor Rockinberg spoke for Monika Weierbach-Waste Water treatment plant at full operation with three employees. She is working on lease agreement for parking across from plumbing company. Summit Ridge development used new process for repairing sidewalks and it went very well. We are initiating phase 1 of the Smart City Program. i)Town Attorney Report- Tom McCarron reported that he has been working on the Train Station purchase documents. He also worked on the environmental site assessment for 1 Park Ave. He spent a lot of time on the Wonsala application. Finally he worked on the changes to the Police station leasing and the parking lot lease. j) Code Enforcement Officer Report – Distributed. 13. CALL FOR ANY OTHER BUSINESS – None 14. BILLS – MOTION: Councilman Helt moved to consider the bills paid, seconded by Councilman King. Vote: All in favor. 15. CLOSED MEETING – It was decided that a closed meeting will not be needed. 16. ADJOURNMENT – Councilman Helt moved to adjourn the Council meeting at approximately 10:30 p.m. Seconded by Councilman Strong. Vote: All in favor. Approved by: ______________________________________ Ken Phebus, Council Secretary