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 SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING NO. 24-14 The Council meeting of the Town of Sykesville was held on Monday, September 9, 2024. Mayor Link called the meeting to order at 7:02 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 (virtually via Zoom.us Teleconference), Elizabeth Guroff, Mark Dyer, Leo Keenan, and Jeremiah Schofield. STAFF: Joseph Cosentini, Town Manager Jason Kirkner, Police Sergeant Kerry Kavaloski, Town Clerk Craig Weaver, Town Treasurer PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA: I. Minutes from July 8, 2024 II. Minutes from July 29, 2024 III. Minutes from August 19, 2024 IV. Reappointment of Ken Johnson to the Planning Commission for a five-year term, expiring July 2029 Council Member Dyer asked to remove the Minutes from July 29, 2024, as he would like to abstain from the vote to approve them. MOTION: Council President Carter motioned to approve three items on the Consent Agenda, excluding the Minutes from July 29, 2024. Council Member Dyer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. MOTION: Council President Carter motioned to approve the minutes from July 29, 2024. Council Member Keenan seconded the motion.  The motion carried unanimously with Council Member Dyer abstaining due to his absence during the July 29 Council meeting. NEW BUSINESS: V. Consider/Discuss/Act: Update on the Station Project – Stazione, Inc. i. Request for Funding Dante Liberatore, Stazione, Inc., presented changes that they would like to make to the building. These changes include removing the flooring and awning on the platform and enclosing it, dropping the floor in the freight room so it is even with the rest of the building and cutting a second exit, and creating a new kitchen building that is further away from the historic building and expanded. The new kitchen building would take four parking spaces from the redesigned parking lot. Mr. Liberatore explained that their investment will be above $1,000,000. He is asking for the Town to cost share only the building expenditures and asked for $350,000 from the Town. Mr. Liberatore explained that they have received conceptual approval from the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT), and they are close to submitting for permitting and Historic District Commission approval. A second review by the MHT will be done during the permitting process as well. Their target opening date is Mother’s Day 2025. Council Member Schofield asked if the financial participation by the Town will delay any other Town projects that have been discussed up to this point. Town Manager Joe Cosentini explained that there is already $125,000 budgeted from the American Rescue Plan Act funding in this fiscal year for building improvements at the Station. The remaining funds will not impact the potential land purchase that has been discussed by Council recently. The payment will be in some structured form as construction progresses. Grant funding has been discussed, including using an existing grant the Town has received, and between Stazione, Inc. and the County. MOTION: Council President Carter motioned to approve the proposed amendments to the Station building as presented with the note that this approval does not waive any other required steps in the construction process. Council Member Keenan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. MOTION: Council Member Keenan motioned to approve the Town’s financial participation in the construction effort at the Station in an amount not to exceed $350,000 and direct the Town staff to present the recommended financing plan at the September 23 Council meeting. Council President Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.  ii. First Amendment to Lease Agreement Mr. Cosentini explained that due to the current timeframe, parts of the existing lease need to be amended. From the start date of the lease to June 2025 will now be considered the construction period, and rent would not be able to be charged until July 1, 2025; however, the abatement period would begin then, and rent would not be charged until July 1, 2026. Following that date, the abatement period could be increased based on the amount of financial investment in the building. Due to the potential amount of investment, the lease period has to be extended to 25 years. Council Member Schofield asked if there was any “refund” type process if the tenant does not want to continue their lease during that 25-year period. Mr. Cosentini explained that the Town’s portion is the rent abatement, and if the tenant decides to break the lease early, they do not get any sort of funds for the remaining abatement period. MOTION: Council Member Guroff motioned to approve the First Amendment to the Lease Agreement as presented. Council Member Schofield seconded the motion. Council Member Keenan noted that there is a minor typo on the signature line of the Lease Amendment listing the tenant as Stazione, Inc., LLC, when it should just be Stazion, Inc. The motion carried unanimously. VI. Consider/Discuss/Act on the award of the FY2025 Paving Contract Mr. Cosentini explained that CPE, Inc. is most frequently the winner of our paving contract, and the Towns’s Charter allows for authorization of contracting with any contractor “under the same terms as provided to… any county or local governments, which governmental entities have arrived at those terms through a competitive procurement procedure requiring bids”. CPE, Inc. recently was awarded a county-wide on-call roadway resurfacing contract with Howard County and has agreed to use the unit pricing associated with the Howard County contract for work in Sykesville. Council Member Guroff asked for clarification regarding the portion of Obrecht that will be repaved. Mr. Cosentini explained that Obrecht Road has been repaved in portions, and the section from the County line towards Norris Avenue has not been repaved recently. MOTION: Council Member Schofield motioned to approve the paving contract with CPE, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $279,500 and authorize the Mayor to sign all necessary documents to begin the paving projects. Council Member Dyer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS • The next meeting is Monday, September 23, 2024. • We have volunteer opportunities available on the Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Crossing Guard, and Police Auxiliary. Email town@sykesville.net for more information about volunteering with the Town. • Staff Updates o Treasurer’s Report Town Treasurer, Craig Weaver, presented the August 2024 Treasurer’s Report. He explained that there are 10 fewer bank accounts listed in the report, as he and Mr. Cosentini have been consolidating the numerous bank accounts. The number of accounts should continue to decrease over the next few years. There was discussion regarding several one-time payments, including the liability insurance payment. These are one-time payments, which is why the categories for these items are almost fully spent. Ther was discussion regarding legal fees, of which a third of the budgeted amount has already been spent. Mr. Cosentini explained that due to the ongoing legal needs, a budget amendment will most likely be required for legal fees. o Public Safety Report Sergeant Kirkner presented the Public Safety Report for the period of August 1 through August 31. There was a total of 1,072 reports, including nine assist other agencies, 35 community policing events, 59 foot patrols, 17 incident reports, 603 patrol checks, and 64 traffic enforcement initiatives. Sergeant Kirkner explained that there were several events during this period. ▪ National Night Out was well attended even with inclement weather. ▪ The Medication and Sharps Take Back event was also well attended, and the County Health Department took away 50 pounds of medication and two full boxes of sharps. ▪ Corporal Barrett organized several car washes, park clean ups, and a school supply drive. Mayor Link thanks Corporal Barrett for her hard work and dedication. ▪ The police had a large presence during the first day of school, including at the school and various crossing guard duties. The 15th annual Jr. CSI is scheduled for September 28, and Sergeant Lacy will be taking the lead role for the event. The dog owner who is suspected to not be cleaning up after the dog in Fountain Park has been spoken to by several officers now. If the officers see him not picking up the waste in the future, he will be cited. There was a discussion regarding changing the ordinance to include a stricter leash law.  A grant has been approved that will be used for the WatchDog camera system. Two new vehicles will be delivered in the next week and then will go through up-fitting. The auxiliary vehicle is almost ready thanks to Auxiliary Lieutenant Queen, who has been handling the up-fit himself. Mayor Link thanked Officer Bond for introducing himself to the various Main Street merchants. • Council/Commission Reports o Council Member Keenan announced that the final composting workshop is on September 18. The final preservation series meeting is on September 21. The golf tournament was a success. The Fall Festival is on October 19, Trick or Treat on Main is on October 26, and the Craft Beer Festival is on November 2. Volunteers are always needed for events. The Downtown Sykesville Connection received a grant to improve 7611 Main Street and a technical assistance grant. o Council Member Guroff announced that Parks and Recreation (SPARC) had a concert on September 7, Super Mario Bros on September 14, and a cleanup in Millard Cooper Park on September 21. The Concert series continues on September 28. o Council Member Schofield announced that the next Planning Commission meeting is October 7, and there was not one in September. He also highlighted the public-private partnership that was able to happen at tonight’s meeting as a way local government works. o Council Member Dyer announced that the summer Cable Regulatory Commission meeting was cancelled; however Flight Fiber will begin work on September 16. Council took a five-minute recess at 8:20 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 (8) To consult with staff, consultants, or other individuals about pending or potential litigation. MOTION: Council Member Dyer motioned and Council Member Grasley seconded to go into closed session at 8:25 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, Town Clerk Kerry Kavaloski (for the Pending Litigation item), and Attorney Brad Swallow (for the Pending Litigation item). Items discussed were: • Personnel – Town Manager Performance Evaluation – confidential personal information – action • Pending Litigation – Warfield Lawsuits – no action MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned and Council President Carter seconded to go back into open session at 9:34 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, Council Member Schofield motioned and Council Member Grasley seconded to adjourn meeting at 9:35 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted Town Clerk Kerry Kavaloski