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. Kavaloski, Town Clerk DRAFT OFFICIAL MINUTES OF DECEMBER 12, 2022 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING NO. 22-22 The Council meeting of the Town of Sykesville was held on Monday, December 12, 2022. Mayor Link called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in the Town House Council Chambers. 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, and Mark Dyer. ABSENT: Council Members Leo Keenan and Jeremiah Schofield STAFF: Joseph Cosentini, Town Manager Police Chief Michael Spaulding Kerry Kavaloski, Town Clerk Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA: I. Reappointment of Michael Johnston to the Historic District Commission for a term expiring December 2025 II. Approval of the 2023 Meeting and Holiday Schedule III. Minutes from November 14, 2022 IV. Minutes from November 28, 2022 Council Member Guroff asked to revise the November 28 minutes with the detail that Council President Carter also recognized Parks and Recreation volunteers Chris Sevick and Billy Shifflet. MOTION: Council President Carter motioned to approve the items on the Consent Agenda with the revision to the November 28 minutes. Council Member Guroff seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS V. Public Hearing and to Consider/Discuss/Act on the adoption of Ordinance NO. 2022-06 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE AMENDING THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE, CHAPTER 180 – ZONING, ARTICLE XIV – SPECIAL PROVISIONS, §180-89 – SIGNS Joe Cosentini, Town Manager, explained that this ordinance has been brought before the Planning Commission multiple times and was introduced by the Council on November 14. There were clarifications made to the definition of the word “obscene”, a change in section D regarding the clearance height of hanging signs, and the switch of a “his/her” to “their”. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to open the public hearing on Ordinance NO. 2022-06 at 7:06 P.M. Council Member Guroff seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. There were no public comments. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to close the public hearing on Ordinance NO. 2022-06 at 7:07 P.M. Council Member Guroff seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Link explained that this ordinance is to allow for signs to be utilized without having them become public nuisances and to enhance the nature of the Town. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to adopt Ordinance NO. 06 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE AMENDING THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE, CHAPTER 180 – ZONING, ARTICLE XIV – SPECIAL PROVISIONS, §180-89 – SIGNS. Council President Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. VI. Public Hearing and to Consider/Discuss/Act on the adoption of Ordinance NO. 2022-08 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE AMENDING CHAPTER 60 “BRUSH, GRASS, WEEDS, AND TREES” OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE TO INCORPORATE CHANGES NECESSARY TO DESIGNATE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGING PUBLIC TREES AND ESTABLISHING PRACTICES GOVERNING THE PLANTING AND CARE OF TREES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY Mayor Link introduced this item. she explained that this will not alter or add to existing staff duties. It is specific for public trees and will not affect trees on private property unless they are declared a nuisance. Mr. Cosentini explained that the changes discussed at the last meeting were included in the ordinance. An additional change was made after the previous Council meeting to change the wording from “telephone” to “communication”. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to open the public hearing for Ordinance NO. 2022-08 at 7:15 P.M. Council Member Dyer seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. There were no public comments. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to close the public hearing for Ordinance NO. 2022-08 at 7:16 P.M. Council Member Dyer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. MOTION: Council Member Guroff motioned to adopt Ordinance NO. 2022-08 – AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE AMENDING CHAPTER 60 “BRUSH, GRASS, WEEDS, AND TREES” OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE TO INCORPORATE CHANGES NECESSARY TO DESIGNATE AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGING PUBLIC TREES AND ESTABLISHING PRACTICES GOVERNING THE PLANTING AND CARE OF TREES ON PUBLIC PROPERTY. Council President Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS VII. Consider/Discuss/Act on the introduction of Ordinance NO. 2022-09 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE AMENDING CHAPTER 129, “SOLID WASTE”, OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE TO UPDATE THE ALLOWABLE SIZE OF TRASH AND RECYCLE CONTAINERS. Mayor Link introduced this item and explained that the update is due to the new containers provided by the Public Works Department. Council Member Guroff appreciated the ability to continue using individual cans instead of requiring the use of the Public Works provided containers. Mayor Link asked for a change to be made to 129-10(C)3 to be changed to recycling bins. She also expressed interest in removing “multi-ply” bags as an alternative to using a container. She explained that having refuse and recycling in containers instead of just in bags will help reduce the amount of vermin, would help with plastic bags being included in recycling when they are not allowed, and she doesn’t want to dissuade people from using compostable bags in the containers for trash. Council President Carter is concerned about removing the ability for someone to place a bag of trash next to their container if they have excess trash. Council Member Guroff echoed Council President Carter’s concerns and stated that she has neighbors who only put out a single bag of trash each week and do not use the containers. Council Member Grasley is in favor of keeping the possibility of the use of bags. Council Member Dyer expressed concern over people dumping trash loose into the containers, however Mr. Cosentini explained that there is no real way to enforce that, and it will still be dumped like normal trash. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to introduce Ordinance NO. 2022-09 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE AMENDING CHAPTER 129, “SOLID WASTE”, OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE TO UPDATE THE ALLOWABLE SIZE OF TRASH AND RECYCLE CONTAINERS. Council Member Guroff seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously. VIII. Consider/Discuss/Act on KCI Technologies Professional Services Agreement – Town House Lawn, Sandosky Lot, and ADA Accessibility Mr. Cosentini explained that two of the projects were identified in the Comprehensive Master Plan and were included in the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). The ADA Accessibility piece was added during the discussions and in conjunction with the Patapsco Greenway Trail project. $280,000 was identified in the CIP with funding from the Strategic Demolition Grant and America Rescue Plan Act funding. The KCI proposal for all three projects includes construction administration. The ADA accessibility would also include a pretty significant grade change and geotechnic engineering. Conceptual drawings will be included and this will bring the Town to a construction ready position on all three projects. The timeline would be at least a year for the engineering documents to be completed, and then the Baldwin Drive/Oklahoma Avenue project will be completed before construction begins on these three projects. Mr. Cosentini explained that typically 10% of the expected project cost is budgeted in the CIP the year before the work is anticipated to cover any engineering work prior to construction. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to approve KCI Technologies Professional Services Agreement dated November 23, 2022 for capital projects including the Town House Lawn, Sandosky Building/Parking Lot and ADA Sidewalk. Council Member Dyer seconded the motion. No input was received from Council Members Keenan and Schofield regarding this item. The motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS • The next meeting is Monday, January 9, 2023 • We have volunteer opportunities available on the Historic District Commission and Police Auxiliary. Email town@sykesville.net for more information about volunteering with the Town. • Staff Updates o Treasurer’s Report Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer, presented the November 2022 Treasurer’s Report. He explained that it was a quiet month and the Town is currently $285,000 under budget. Two big items recently were a water pump replacement on the Police Department’s 2018 Ford Explorer and building maintenance at the Old Main Line Visitors’ Center and Post Office. Chief Spaulding explained that the water pump is located inside the motor, and the whole engine had to be removed in order to replace it. Mr. Weaver announced that the audit presentation was delayed until January.  o Public Safety Report Chief Spaulding presented the Public Safety Report for the period of November 22 through December 5. There was a total of 421 reports including 12 assist other agencies, 12 community policing events, 19 foot patrols, six incident reports, 215 patrol checks, and 24 traffic enforcement initiatives. Chief Spaulding explained that he is working with the officers to properly document foot patrols and community policing events; foot patrols do not have a community engagement component, but community policing does include those. He also explained that the license plate that was recovered was most likely lost and not stolen. Chief Spaulding announced that cameras have been installed on Main Street, in Millard Cooper Park, and in South Branch Park. Officers are being trained and can pull up the live feeds on their phones. Chief Spaulding thanked Corporal Schlaerth for heading the Toys for Tots donation drive again this year. One and a half boxes of donated toys were received at the Police Department and were taken to the local drop off location. • Council/Committee Reports o Council Member Guroff thanked the Council for their involvement during the Santa event. o Council President Carter wished everyone a safe and happy holiday and New Year. o Council Member Dyer announced that the Aztec America channel is going off the air. He also announced that there is a meeting occurring between the Town and a vendor for some technological upgrades. He echoed the safe and happy holidays and New Year. o Mayor Link announced the Holiday Decorating Contest is scheduled for December 22. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, Council Member Grasley motioned and Council President Carter seconded to adjourn meeting at 8:00 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted Town Clerk Kerry Kavaloski