Town Council Meetings

Town of Sykesville Dear 7547 Main Street, Sykesville, MD 21784 Town House p: 410.795.8959 f: 410.795.3818 Stacy Link, Mayor townofsykesville.org Joseph Cosentini, Town Manager Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer Kerry G. Chaney, Town Clerk OFFICIAL MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 8, 2021 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING NO. 21-15 The Council meeting of the Town of Sykesville was held on Monday, November 8, 2021. Mayor Link called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in the Conference Room of the Town House. Mayor Link led the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence. PRESENT: Mayor Stacy Link, Council President Anna Carter, and Council Members Alan Grasley, Elizabeth Guroff, Mark Dyer, Leo Keenan, and Jeremiah Schofield. STAFF: Joseph Cosentini, Town Manager Police Chief Michael Spaulding Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer Kerry Chaney, Town Clerk PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA I. Minutes from October 12, 2021 II. Municipal Government Works Month 2021 Proclamation MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to approve the items on the Consent Agenda. Council President Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS III. Public hearing on Ordinance NO. 2021-05 – Noise Ordinance Town Manager, Joe Cosentini, explained that an adjustment was made to the first section to incorporate machine and animal noise. He also explained that the penalty is already stated in the overall chapter of the Town Code. A public comment was received, and an adjustment was made to clarify the lewd and obscene language. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to open the public hearing. Council Member Schofield seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. There were no public comments. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to close the public hearing. Council Member Schofield seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. IV. Consider/Discuss/Act on the Adoption of Ordinance NO. 2021-05 – Noise Ordinance Council Member Grasley asked Chief Spaulding if he had any additional input. Chief Spaulding explained that he had the chance to give input during the writing of the ordinance and was very pleased with the wording. Council Member Schofield expressed his concerns about an issue with suppressing protests. Mr. Cosentini explained that as long as the protest is not lewd and obscene, it would not be affected by the noise ordinance. Chief Spaulding explained that his officers would work with the protestors to ensure no one’s First Amendments rights are suppressed. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to approve Ordinance NO. 2021-05 – Noise Ordinance. Council President Carter seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-1 with Mayor Link, Council President Carter, and Council Members Dyer, Grasley, Guroff, and Keenan voting in favor and Council Member Schofield voting against the motion. NEW BUSINESS V. Consider/Discuss/Act on a Request for an Addition to Sykesville Station Mr. Cosentini explained that Sykesville Station is currently leasing from the Town of Sykesville, and part of their lease requires them to receive approval for any changes done to the building. The addition would be on the non-historic side of the building. The Planning Commission and Historic District Commission would both have to approve the plans as well. Mayor Link expressed her confidence in the Historic District Commission and Planning Commission for proper review of the plans. She asked if there was any affect to the parking lot or loss of parking spaces with this addition. Mr. Cosentini explained that the parking lot would not be affected by the addition. The footprint would be the same as the existing deck, and the deck in that area would be removed to allow for the construction of the addition. MOTION: Council Member Keenan motioned to authorize tenant to move forward with their request to expand the kitchen building with the understanding that they will need to follow all Planning Commission, Historic District Commission and building permit approval procedures prior to beginning the work. Council Member Schofield seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS • The next meeting is Monday, November 22, 2021 (discussion). o There was a discussion about moving the meeting date. It was decided to keep the meeting on November 22. It will be a workshop. • We have volunteer opportunities available on the Historic District Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Planning Commission, Police Auxiliary, and Crossing Guard. Email town@sykesville.net for more information about volunteering with the Town. • Due to the Veterans Day holiday, recycling will not be picked up on November 11, 2021. It will be picked up on Friday, November 12, 2021. • Staff Updates o Mr. Cosentini announced the Linear Trail work was completed. Staff is working with SPARC now to address the exercise stations along the trail. o SPARC had a mini cleanup at the Linear Trail swing set. o Mr. Cosentini will be meeting with KCI, Inc., the Town’s engineering firm, to discuss capital projects, APR funding, and other projects o Treasurer’s Report. Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer, presented the October 2021 Treasurer’s Report. Everything is tracking well. The Post Office income is currently behind expenses and Mr. Weaver does not expect that to catch up. There is a very health net surplus currently, however there are some expected expenses planned. Council Member Carter mentioned that most of the Town income is from property tax, though a portion comes from income tax as well. o Public Safety Report Chief Spaulding presented the Public Safety Report for the period of October 5 through October 31. There was a total of 728 reports including 17 assist other agencies, 11 community policing events, 23 foot patrols, 26 incident reports, 468 patrol checks, and 27 traffic enforcement initiatives. Chief Spaulding announced that two suspects are in custody in Baltimore County for the Shell Station burglary and are suspected to be involved in 30 other smash and grab burglaries. Council Member Schofield thanked Chief Spaulding for the community policing. He stated that early reports are coming from communities that tried defunding the police and have seen negative effects, but positive effects have been seen with increased community policing efforts. A “swatting incident” occurred at Sykesville Middle School where a young girl called 9-1-1 to warn of a school shooting in the future. The  name provided was not listed with any residences in the area, and the number called 9-1-1 multiple times on the same day across the country to report similar incidents. Chief Spaulding announced eight new AED units were acquired to replace the old units, and every patrol car has an AED in it now. Chief Spaulding highlighted numerous patrol checks that turned into incident reports including patrol checks at local businesses and through the Warfield complex. • Council/Committee Reports o Council Member Guroff announced that SPARC is trying to plan a Santa’s Arrival event and details are being worked out currently. If anyone wants to help, they are invited to the next SPARC meeting on November 18. Council Member Guroff also announced that she joined a Trauma Informed Care Commission through the Governor’s Office and will be representing small towns. o Council Member Keenan announced the Craft Beer Festival is on November 13. Maryland Department of Health will be in attendance with vaccines and booster shots available. Fundraising is ongoing for the annual Sykesville Happy-Thon. Walmart donated $3,000 already. Donations will be accepted through mid-December, and 25% more families have been identified as recipients for the Happy-Thon this year. A Main Street Gift Card is now available and can be used at participating Main Street shops. The DSC was awarded a grant that will go towards operating funds. The Downtown Sykesville Connection will be interviewing for the position of Events Coordinator. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, Council Member Grasley motioned and Council Member Schofield seconded to adjourn meeting at 7:48 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted Town Clerk Kerry Chaney