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 23, 2024 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING NO. 24-15 The Council meeting of the Town of Sykesville was held on Monday, March 11, 2024. 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, Mark Dyer, and Leo Keenan. ABSENT: Council Member Jeremiah Schofield STAFF: Joseph Cosentini, Town Manager Michael Spaulding, Police Chief Kerry Kavaloski, Town Clerk PUBLIC COMMENTS: There were no public comments. CONSENT AGENDA: I. Minutes from September 9, 2024 Council Member Dyer noted a small grammatical change to the September 9 minutes. MOTION: Council Member Dyer motioned to approve the item on the Consent Agenda. Council Member Grasley seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS: II. Consider/Discuss/Act on Station Financing Plan Joe Cosentini, Town Manager, explained that at the September 9 meeting, the Council approved funding for the building renovations at the historic Station. Funding for the Town’s portion will come from the unassigned fund balance. There is potential for funding from the Strategic Demo grant that the Town has received for another building, and staff has reached out to the coordinator for the Strategic Demo grant to discuss moving the funding to the Station. Additional grant opportunities will be researched; however, the difficult part of grants would be the timing as the lessee wants to be open for business in 2025. MOTION: Council Member Keenan motioned to approve the allocation from the Town’s unassigned fund balance for the purpose of renovations to the Station building in the amount of $225,000. Council President Carter seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. III. Consider/Discuss/Act on the Introduction of Ordinance NO. 2024-06: ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE AMENDING CHAPTER 165, “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC”, OF THE CODE OF THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE TO INCORPORATE ARTICLE III, SECTION 165-16, “SCHOOL ZONES”, AND SECTION 165-17, “SPEED MONITORING SYSTEMS” TO PROVIDE FOR THE AUTHORIZATION AND USE OF SPEED MONITORING SYSTEMS IN SCHOOL ZONES IN THE TOWN Mr. Cosentini explained that this ordinance is the first step in allowing speed cameras on Springfield Avenue. A traffic study would need to be conducted, along with engineering to ensure proper placement of the camera. The State Highway Administration would also have to approve of the placement on Springfield Avenue, as it is a state highway. The Town would contract with a provider of speed cameras, but initial information received showed little upfront costs, as the provider is compensated through the fines collected. The fines from a speed camera would be $80 and would not carry any points on the driver’s license. Fines would only be issued to cars driving 12 or more miles over the posted speed limit. There was discussion regarding the engineering and traffic study. The traffic study can be used to benefit the Town in other ways, such as for the Safe Streets for All or Safe Routes to School grants for pedestrian safety improvements. There was also discussion regarding the speed trailer data for the school zone area on Springfield Avenue. Chief Spaulding has the data for the area and can share it with the Council. Council Member Keenan explained that he was the sole vote against the ordinance in 2010, when speed cameras were first considered. At the time, he felt that it was pushed as a money-making endeavor for the Town, and he appreciates that safety is the focus now. Mr. Cosentini further explained that if the traffic study comes back with no reason for speed cameras, they don’t have to be put in place. This ordinance just allows for their placement. Public outreach will occur during the entire process, and the speed camera is for learning, not for revenue. MOTION: Council Member Guroff motioned to approve the introduction of Ordinance NO. 2024-06 as presented and schedule the public hearing and adoption for Tuesday, October 15, 2024. Council Member Keenan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.  IV. Consider/Discuss/Act on Gate House Porch Proposal by Herman Restoration, LLC Mr. Cosentini explained that the Gate House porch has been showing signs of deterioration, which is believed to have been caused by poor drainage around the structure. Town staff worked with the Maryland Historic Trust (MHT), which holds an easement on the building, and received approval for the necessary repairs and improvements, subject to certain conditions. Following the MHT approval, the Town put out a request for proposals and received bids in February 2024. The two bids that were received were higher than staff expectations, and both were rejected. Staff reached out to Herman Restoration, LLC., and requested a proposal for the needed work. Herman Restoration, LLC., is a known contractor to the Town with experience working with MHT and man successful historic renovations. Herman Restoration, LLC., provided a bid that was much lower than the previous two bids. Mr. Cosentini further explained that the Gate House Museum received a donation many years ago that was restricted to use at the Gate House Museum. The funding for this porch restoration project would come from the Town’s Restricted Fund Balance – Gate House, which is where the donation money is kept. There was discussion regarding sending the donator’s trust a thank you letter regarding the use of the money. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to approve the proposal from Herman Restoration, LLC., for repairs to the front porch of the Gate House Museum in an amount not to exceed $60,000 and to authorize the Mayor to sign any necessary documentation to allow the project to proceed. Council Member Dyer seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS: • The next meeting is Tuesday, October 15, 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 Town Manager Updates: Mr. Cosentini announced that State Highway has not restriped Main Street yet due to the weather. He hopes to have a new date for the restriping after a meeting with them this week. Antietam Broadband has begun work in Town. Several complaints have been received regarding lack of proper notice and one damaged sidewalk. The audit is starting and will be presented to Council soon. And he thanked the Sykesville Parks and Recreation Commission (SPARC) for their annual fall cleanup. There were more than 25 volunteers helping beautify Millard Cooper Park. o Public Safety Report  Chief Spaulding presented the Public Safety Report for the period of September 1 through September 15. There was a total of 629 reports, including 10 assist other agencies, 20 community policing events, 29 foot patrols, nine incident reports, 366 patrol checks, and 30 traffic enforcement initiatives. Chief Spaulding explained that there was a large community policing effort and police presence on the first day of school. PFC Hoppa has been contacting all the businesses on Main Street to update the business directory that all officers have access to while on duty. Sergeant Lacy used the directory to contact liquor stores after a rash of robberies in the Eldersburg area. Two new Dodge Durango police vehicles arrived at the department, and Sergeant Kirkner is working on the upfit. These vehicles will be used by Sergeant Schlaerth and PFC Hoppa. Lieutenant Queen is installing equipment on the new Auxiliary vehicle. Lieutenant Queen will be away for several months, and before he leaves, he wants to promote other Auxiliary members to supervisory roles. Mayor Link gave a “Syke-out” to PFC Hoppa for her above and beyond community policing efforts. • Council/Commission Updates o Council President Carter announced that several Main Street businesses are recipients of the Carroll’s Best Businesses awards. o Council Member Guroff announced that the original 1984 Ghostbusters will be shown on October 12 in Millard Cooper Park. Santa’s Arrival is on December 7 from 3 PM to 6 PM/ o Council Member Grasley thanked Mr. Cosentini for providing him with pictures of the handouts during the last meeting. He also announced that the Historic District Commission is meeting on September 25. o Council Member Keenan announced that the Farmers’ Markets are continuing through October. There are numerous volunteer opportunities available with the Downtown Sykesville Connection (DSC). The DSC will have representatives at the Maryland Main Street Conference, and they are working on updating their Downtown Visitor’s Guide. o Mayor Link announced that Hatton Animal Rescue will be collecting pumpkins on November 3 at the Little Sykes Railway Park. The pumpkins will be given to their rescue animals to enjoy. No paint or other chemicals can be applied to the pumpkins, however carved pumpkins are accepted. The Council did not enter Closed Session, as detailed on the agenda. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, Council Member Grasley motioned and Council President Carter seconded to adjourn meeting at 8:01 P.M.  The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted Town Clerk Kerry Kavaloski