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 FEBRUARY 14, 2022 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING NO. 22-03 The Council meeting of the Town of Sykesville was held on Monday, February 14, 2022. Mayor Link called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in the Town House Conference Room. 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 Kerry Chaney, Town Clerk Kevin Rubenstein, Town Planner Derek Shreves, Public Works Director Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer PUBLIC COMMENTS There were no public comments. MINUTES: I. Minutes from January 24, 2022 The minutes were tabled until the February 24, 2022, meeting so some corrections could be added. CHIEF OF POLICE – RECOGNITION Chief Spaulding recognized eight-year-old Kira for her bravery and maturity during a medical emergency her mother had. Kira was able to call 9-1-1, explain what surgery her mother recently underwent, and remained calm with younger sister until their father arrived. Chief Spaulding explained that Kira showed bravery and maturity beyond her years. Chief Spaulding also recognized Sergeant Shawn Kilgore and PFC Jason Kirkner for their bravery during a suicide with a handgun in progress on January 14. Sergeant Kilgore and PFC Kirkner were some of the first who arrived on scene, established a perimeter, worked to evacuate surrounding residences, talked with some children who were present in the house, and managed to get them out safely, converse with the suicidal subject, and managed to have the man surrender his weapon and exit the house. Chief Spaulding presented Sergeant Kilgore and PFC Kirkner with the highest award in Sykesville, the Medal of Valor, for their actions during this event. NEW BUSINESS I. Proclamation – Steve Enslow Service Contributions A proclamation for Steve Enslow’s service contributions was read. It will be presented to Mr. Enslow at the next Planning Commission meeting. II. Appointment of Steve Enslow to the alternate position of the Planning Commission for a 5-year term expiring February 2027 MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to appoint Steve Enslow to the alternate position of the Planning Commission for a 5-year term expiring February 2027. Council Member Dyer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. III. Consider/Discuss/Act on Resolution NO. 2022-01 – Town Zoning Map Kevin Rubenstein, Town Planner, presented the new Town Zoning map and explained that the recently annexed portion of land along Oklahoma Avenue was added to the map and the historic district boundaries were readded after they were left off the previous map. Council Member Schofield explained that there were no comments on the zoning map from the Planning Commission. MOTION: Council Member Schofield motioned to approve Resolution NO. 2022-01 Town Zoning Map. Council President Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS • The next meeting is Monday, February 28, 2022 • We have volunteer opportunities available on the Historic District Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Police Auxiliary, and Crossing Guard. Email town@sykesville.net for more information about volunteering with the Town. • Staff Updates o Treasurer’s Report Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer, presented the January 2022 Treasurer’s Report. He explained that the FY2021 Audit is complete and will be presented at the March 14 meeting. The most recent budget amendments were included in this Treasurer’s Report. Council Member Schofield asked if the real estate assessment affects the current budget. It will impact future budgets. The entire Town gets assessed at the same time, and it is a phased increase over three years. o Public Safety Report Chief Spaulding presented the Public Safety Report and presented some crime statistics for Carroll County. He explained that there is a crime analyst in Carroll County, and every other week a report is  issued about crimes that occurred within Carroll County. The Town did not have any of the reported crimes occur within its boundaries. Chief Spaulding highlighted some incidents that showcased proactive policing by Sykesville officers. Officer Schlaerth was able to stop two adults and a juvenile who were in the Warfield Complex to steal lumber. Officer Kirkner was able to identify a damaged mailbox before the residents noticed, and he was able to identify a car with front end damage, unrelated to the mailbox damage, and the driver was driving under the influence. Damage continues to be found at the Warfield Complex as well. o Joe Cosentini, Town Manager, announced that the DSC will be at the February 28 meeting for their annual report, the audit findings will be presented at the March 14 meeting, and the County will be in attendance at the March 28 meeting to discuss water and sewer upgrades to Springfield Avenue. The Warfield petition for a text amendment will be back in front of the Council after it is finished working through the Planning Commission process, possibly as early as the second meeting in March. Citizen comments will be during the Council review process. Citizens can come to any Council meeting between now and when the amendment comes back to Council and give a public comment. Written comments will be accepted as well. Council Member Schofield explained that written information was distributed to the Planning Commission at their meeting by the petitioner, which has delayed the process slightly. Council Member Schofield recommended that the public watch or listen to the Planning Commission meetings and look at the percentages of residential they are proposing. The Maryland Municipal League summer conference is fast approaching. Mr. Cosentini asked for any Council Member who is interested in attending to let Town Clerk Kerry Chaney know. • Council/Committee Reports o Council Member Schofield announced that the Planning Commission will probably need at least one more meeting for the Warfield text amendment petition due to the information submitted during the last meeting and with how large of an amendment it is. Council Member Schofield also announced that he has had to resign his role on the MML Legislative Committee. o Council President Carter announced that there is a Historic District Commission meeting on February 22 at 7 P.M. o Council Member Guroff announced that SPARC developed their calendar for 2022. She also gave an update from the Trauma Informed Commission she is on. She is the co-chair of a subcommittee that will put together information for implementation.  o Council Member Keenan announced the Downtown Sykesville Connection (DSC) will have a retreat on February 26. Jackson Fraiser has been hired as the event coordinator. Entries for the Keep Sykesville Beautiful art contest were passed around to the Council Members. Façade Improvement applications have been completed. CLOSED SESSION: The meeting is proposed to be closed pursuant to the General Provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Section 3-305(b): (7) to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter. MOTION: Council Member Keenan motioned and Council Member Schofield seconded to go into closed session at 7:53 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. Those in attendance were: Mayor Link, Council President Carter, Council Members Dyer, Grasley, Guroff, Keenan, and Schofield, Town Manager Joseph Cosentini, and Town Clerk Kerry Chaney. Town Attorney Elissa Levan was in attendance via telephone. Items discussed were: • Consult with Legal Counsel – Warfield Contract Discussions MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned and Council Member Schofield seconded to go back into open session at 8:58 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, Council Member Grasley motioned and Council Member Dyer seconded to adjourn meeting at 8:59 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted Town Clerk Kerry Chaney