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 OFFICIAL MINUTES OF MAY 22, 2023 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING NO. 23-10 The Council meeting of the Town of Sykesville was held on Monday, May 22, 2023. 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 Members Anna Carter, Alan Grasley, Elizabeth Guroff, Mark Dyer, and Jeremiah Schofield. ABSENT: Council Member Leo Keenan STAFF: Joseph Cosentini, Town Manager Police Chief Michael Spaulding Kerry Kavaloski, Town Clerk Auxiliary Lt. Jeff Queen Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA I. Minutes from May 8, 2023 II. Minutes from May 15, 2023 MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to approve the items on the Consent Agenda with the amendments provided via email. Council Member Schofield seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS III. Consider/Discuss/Act on appointment of the Council President MOTION: Council Member Guroff motioned to nominate Council Member Carter as the Council President. Council Member Dyer seconded the motion.  Council Member Schofield thanked Council Member Carter for the work she has done over the past two years and expressed his support of her remaining as the Council President. The motion carried unanimously. Mayor Link announced that Council Member Keenan, who is absent from this meeting, texted her to offer his support for Council Member Carter remaining as Council President. IV. Introduction of Ordinance NO. 2023-03 – FY 2023 Budget Revision Joe Cosentini, Town Manager, presented this item. He explained the revenues from Millard Cooper Park pavilion rentals has far exceeded estimates due to increased popularity from the splash pad, grant revenues and ARPA funds were reduced due to the projects not expected to be completed before June 30, 2023, and an unexpected rebate from the health insurance provider was received this year. The expenses in the Public Safety category are mostly due to attempts to hire and outfit employees. Fuel expenses for both Public Safety and Public Works increased as well. Dumpsters have been replaced, with funding from the snow removal line item moved to cover the purchase. Funding was increased in Parks for landscaping and to replace the fence by the splash pad; two grant funded projects were removed due to them not being completed by June 30. The projects will still be pursued in the next fiscal year. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to introduce Ordinance NO. 2023-03 – FY 2023 Budget Revision and schedule the public hearing for June 12, 2023. Council President Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS • The next meeting is on Monday, June 12, 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 April 2023 Treasurer’s Report. He explained the loan to the DSC will remain on the Treasurer’s Reports moving forward, but it will decrease based on the quarterly payments that are usually made to the DSC. Mr. Weaver will be discussing the best practices for a loan such as this with the auditors. There was discussion regarding various purchases, including the leaf vacuum, office furniture, tree plantings, and the newsletter. o Public Safety Report Chief Spaulding presented the Public Safety Report for the period of May 2 through May 15. There was a total of 364 reports, including four  assist other agencies, 10 community policing events, 22 foot patrols, 15 incident reports, 167 patrol checks, and 24 traffic enforcement initiatives. Mayor Link thanked Chief Spaulding for the detail on the assist other agencies and for the various forms of community policing by the officers. Council Member Grasley asked if the three burn locations in Burkett Park were campfires. Chief Spaulding explained that they looked more like discarded cigarettes which started small fires. Campfires are not permitted in any of the Town parks, and care should be taken when disposing of cigarettes, particularly during the dry seasons. ▪ Auxiliary Police Presentation – Auxiliary Lt. Jeff Queen Auxiliary Lt. Jeff Queen presented the Auxiliary statistics for the past six months. There are six Auxiliary Officers who have put in almost 500 volunteer hours. He explained that there are two openings on the Auxiliary force. The Auxiliary force has taken various lifesaving training and CSX training as well, due to the railroad crossing on Main Street. Patrols and support will be increasing in the warmer months, including having Auxiliary officers at the splash pad opening, Farmer’s Markets, and various summer events on Main Street and in the Town parks. People interested in volunteering with the Auxiliary need reliable transportation and need to be willing to volunteer at least 10 hours a month. Background checks are performed on all applicants. Council Member Schofield thanked the entire Auxiliary force for their volunteering, and he expressed interest in seeing the statistics quarterly. • Council/Committee Reports o Council Member Grasley asked Chief Spaulding to announce the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Awards that Lt. Kilgore and Sgt. Kirkner received. Chief Spaulding explained that Lt. Kilgore and Sgt. Kirkner each received a lifesaving award and a medal of valor. o Council Member Guroff announced that the splash pad is opening May 26 at 10 AM. The Movies and Concerts are upcoming as well. o Council President Carter announced that there is a Historic District Commission meeting on Wednesday, May 24, at 7 P.M. o Council Member Schofield asked if there is a possibility for a garbage pad on Oklahoma Avenue and that there was a concerned resident who reported a high rate of speed in motorists on the one-way section of Oklahoma Avenue. He also noted that there was interest from residents on Mellor Avenue in adding a safe crosswalk from their side to the other side of Sandosky Road.  The Council took a five-minute recess at 7:48 P.M. CLOSED SESSION: The meeting is proposed to be closed pursuant to the General Provisions of the Annotated Code of Maryland, Section 3-305(b): (1) To discuss the appointment, employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal, resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees, or officials over whom it has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter that affects one or more specific individuals, and (7) to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice on a legal matter. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned and Council Member Schofield seconded to go into closed session at 7:56 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. Those in attendance were: Mayor Link, Council President Carter, Council Members Dyer, Grasley, Guroff, and Schofield, Town Manager Joseph Cosentini. Items discussed were: • Personnel – re-employment request – confidential personal information – no action • Consult with Legal Counsel – Warfield Contract – no action MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned and Council President Carter seconded to go back into open session at 8:35 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, Council Member Grasley motioned and Council Member Schofield seconded to adjourn meeting at 8:36 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted Town Clerk Kerry Kavaloski