Town Council Meetings

Town of Sykesville Dear 7547 Main Street, Sykesville, MD 21784 Town House p: 410.795.8959 f: 410.795.3818 Ian Shaw, Mayor townofsykesville.org Joseph Cosentini, Town Manager Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer Kerry G. Chaney, Town Clerk OFFICIAL MINUTES OF JANUARY 11, 2021 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING NO. 21-01 The Council meeting of the Town of Sykesville was held on Monday, January 11, 2021. Mayor Shaw called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. via Zoom.us. Mayor Shaw led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. PRESENT: Mayor Ian Shaw, Council President Alan Grasley, and Council Members Anna Carter, Mark Dyer, Leo Keenan, Stacy Link, and Jeremiah Schofield. STAFF: Joseph Cosentini, Town Manager Police Chief Michael Spaulding Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer Kerry Chaney, Town Clerk Jana Antrobus, Executive Assistant Derek Shreves, Public Works Director CONSENT AGENDA I. Minutes from November 23, 2020 MOTION: Council President Grasley motioned to approve the item on the Consent Agenda. Council Member Link seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS II. Consider/Discuss/Act on Resolution NO. 2021-01 for alcohol at DSC events This resolution will allow the Downtown Sykesville Connection (DSC) to apply for liquor licenses for their events. Council Member Link noted two dates that need to be changed. The first is May 33 in the Farmers’ Market should be May 30. The next is for the year for the Fourth of July parade should say 2021 instead of 2020. MOTION: Council President Grasley motioned to approve Resolution NO. 2021-01 for alcohol at the DSC events with the two date changes mentioned above. Council Member Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. III. Consider/Discuss/Act on 2021 meeting and holiday dates Joe Cosentini, Town Manager, explained that Christmas Day and New Years Day both cause conflicts with holidays on other days. Both are on Saturdays, and there is already a holiday on the preceding Friday. Mr. Cosentini suggested  that the Christmas Day holiday be observed on Monday, December 27, and that New Years Eve, which is typically a half day, be a full day off. Staff would then receive a floating half day to take off throughout the year. MOTION: Council Member Link motioned to approve the holiday schedule as recommended by Mr. Cosentini. Council Member Schofield seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Council Member Link noted that for the Council meeting schedule, the asterisk should be removed from May 24, as it is on a Monday. MOTION: Council Member Link motioned to approve the Council meeting schedule. Council Member Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. IV. Consider/Discuss/Act on COLA increases Mr. Cosentini explained that when the FY2021-2022 budget was passed, a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.5% was included. It was not implemented in July to make sure there was enough revenue to cover the adjustment. As revenues have come in, Mr. Cosentini recommends approving the COLA of 2.5% retroactive to July 1, 2020. MOTION: Council President Grasley motioned to approve the COLA of 2.5% retroactive to July 1, 2020. Council Member Link seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS • Next Mayor and Town Council Meeting is on Monday, January 25, 2021. This will be a Zoom meeting. • We have volunteer opportunities available on the Historic District Commission, SPARC, Police Auxiliary, and Crossing Guard. Email town@sykesville.net for more information about volunteering with the Town. • Staff Updates o Mr. Cosentini announced that the January 25 Council meeting will be budget heavy. o Mr. Cosentini also announced that the Warfield fiscal impact and economic studies are forthcoming. They have completed roofing evaluations for all the historic buildings. Building W needs work, but the rest of the buildings only need minor roofing repairs. The Warfield owners have also requested the Town waive the limit to the soft cost reimbursements. o Treasurer’s Report Craig Weaver presented the December 2020 Treasurer’s Report. He explained that 62% of the budgeted revenue has come in so far. Another income tax payment will be in May or June, and another real estate tax payment will come in soon. MOTION: Council President Grasley motioned to approve the December 2020 Treasurer’s Report. Council Member Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. o Public Safety Report Chief Spaulding presented the Public Safety Report for the period of November 17, 2020 through January 5, 2021. There was a total of 1,144 reports, including 23 assist other agencies, 11 community policing events, 40 foot patrols, 23 incident reports, 769 patrol checks, and 81 traffic enforcement initiatives. Chief Spaulding explained that there were 11 vehicle theft victims in the Raincliffe area from one suspect. The Ring doorbell app was utilized to identify and locate the suspect. The Ring doorbell app was also used in six thefts from mailboxes in Town. No suspect has been arrested in that case yet. If residents want to join the Ring doorbell app, they can text “StaySafe” to 555888. Chief Spaulding also announced that the holiday gift drive for the family in need was very successful. They were able to provide gifts to a mother, father, and their five children. The Police Department has received their first vaccine shots. • Council/Committee Reports o Council Member Carter announced that the HDC met on December 15 to review an application for a DSC sign on Main Street. The next meeting is scheduled for January 26. o Council Member Link announced that she met with Julie Della-Maria regarding the Keep Sykesville Beautiful plan, website, and teaming up with a local group that picks up trash. The next Parks and Recreation meeting is on January 28. o Council Member Keenan announced that the DSC has had board meetings recently. He thanked everyone involved in the HappyThon, including Julie Della-Maria, Stacy Link, and Dana Alonzi, along with everyone who donated. They were able to help 78 children. The DSC board is hopeful about the 2021 events. Council Member Keenan also announced that Stacy Link had won a volunteer of the year award sponsored by CivicPlus, and she has donated her winning of a free website to the Sykesville Police Department. o Council Member Schofield thanked Derek Shreves and the Public Works crew for helping with the snow in the Raincliffe area. He also announced that the Carroll County Board of Education and the Maryland Municipal League’s Legislative Committee both bave meetings on Wednesday, January 13. o Council Member Dyer announced that there had not been a Planning Commission meeting since the last Council meeting.  o Mayor Shaw announced that there is no tutoring happening at the Schoolhouse. The Gate House is updating their website, redoing the kitchen, and looking into ADA access. o Council President Grasley announced that there was not a merchants meeting in December. The next meeting is January 29. He thanked Jana Antrobus and the Public Works crew for their work on the Town’s decorations. Council Member Link also thanked the South Carroll Lions Club for decorating the tree in the gazebo. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, Council President Grasley motioned and Council Member Keenan seconded to adjourn meeting at 7:46 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted Town Clerk Kerry Chaney