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 Jennifer Livesay, Town Treasurer Kerry G. Kavaloski, Town Clerk OFFICIAL MINUTES OF MARCH 24, 2025 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING NO. 25-05 The Council meeting of the Town of Sykesville was held on Monday, March 24, 2025. 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, Leo Keenan, and Jeremiah Schofield. ABSENT: Council Member Mark Dyer STAFF: Joseph Cosentini, Town Manager Kerry Kavaloski, Town Clerk Michael Spaulding, Police Chief PUBLIC COMMENTS: Dan Andersen, 7411 Second Avenue, gave a public comment regarding the election and people going door to door. CONSENT AGENDA: • Minutes from March 10, 2025 MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to approve the item on the Consent Agenda with the revision provided. Council Member Schofield seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: I. Public hearing and Consider/Discuss/Act on Ordinance NO. 2025-02: AMENDING CHAPTER 76, “DISTURBING THE PEACE”, SECTION 76- 3, “NOISES” OF THE TOWN CODE, TO REGULATE NOISE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 A.M. AND 10:00 P.M. Joe Cosentini, Town Manager, explained that this ordinance was introduced at the March 10 meeting. There was one change made as discussed at that meeting, which was to reduce the long-term disruption time to five minutes. He also clarified that a written warning is not required in the Town code except for the curfew and helmet ordinances. He emphasized that the proposed noise ordinance is only for noises made on public property.  Mayor Link announced that she received an email regarding burdening the police and restricting freedom of expression of religion and other items. She indicated that she did not intend for this proposed ordinance to do this and instructed staff to draft an ordinance narrowing the scope of the proposed noise ordinance to mechanically amplified noises only. MOTION: Council Member Keenan motioned to deny Ordinance NO. 2025-02: AMENDING CHAPTER 76, “DISTURBING THE PEACE”, SECTION 76-3, “NOISES” OF THE TOWN CODE, TO REGULATE NOISE BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7:00 A.M. AND 10:00 P.M. and to direct staff to address a more narrowed goal of limiting mechanically amplified sound on public property unless as part of a properly permitted event. Council Member Schofield seconded the motion. There was discussion of using any of the previous text in the new noise ordinance for mechanically amplified noises. The enforcement of a proposed noise ordinance will be the same; it will be a municipal infraction. Staff has enough direction to write a new ordinance directed only at mechanically amplified sound. The motion carried unanimously. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to open a public comment period at 7:21 P.M. Council Member Keenan seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. Julie Della-Maria, 7411 Second Avenue, gave a public comment and thanked the Council for their hard work to create a tool for the police to enhance peace and unity in Sykesville. MOTION: Council Member Grasley motioned to close the public comment period at 7:23 P.M. Council Member Schofield seconded. The motion carried unanimously. ANNOUNCEMENTS/REPORTS: • The next meeting is Monday, April 14, 2025. • We have volunteer opportunities available as a Crossing Guard, on the Police Auxiliary, and on the Board of Zoning Appeals. Email town@sykesville.net for more information about volunteering with the Town. • Staff Updates: o Mr. Cosentini announced that Bulk Pickup Day is on April 12 beginning at 5 A.M. The milling has started on Springfield Avenue with paving to follow. Safety fencing has gone up around the Cannery building. Council Member Schofield asked for a public service announcement to be  released explaining to not go within the fencing for safety. Council President Carter announced that funding from a capital grant will be used for a second opinion on the Cannery building. The grading permit for the South End Streetscape Project was signed off on. The Baldwin’s parking lot will be closed, and overflow parking will be available at the Public Works lot on the weekends. o Kerry Kavaloski, Town Clerk, announced the candidates for the upcoming election. Stacy Link and Robert Whittaker filed for mayoral candidacy; Mark Carbone, Elizabeth Guroff, Gregory Hilliard, Leo Keenan, and Alexandra Ries filed for council candidacy. o Public Safety Report Chief Spaulding presented the Public Safety Report for the period of March 3 through March 17. There was a total of 505 reports, including 10 assist other agencies, 14 community policing events, 40 foot patrols, nine incident reports, 277 patrol checks, and 26 traffic enforcement initiatives. Chief Spaulding explained that incident # 00025 did not involve a bicycle; the statute is written in a way that has the word bicycle in it. Incident #00029 involved sharp material placed under a tire. There are no exterior cameras at the location. Council Member Schofield thanked the police for their ongoing community policing efforts. Officer Bond was tasked with finding a balance between enforcement and community policing and has done well with meeting all of the merchants. He initiated over 1,000 traffic enforcement stops in the past nine months. Mayor Link has received numerous complaints about speeding delivery trucks on Kalorama Road near the end of the street. Chief Spaulding explained that there has been little change in the complaints since the speed sign was placed on Oklahoma Avenue. There was a discussion about speed humps, speed tables, rumble strips, and other options to slow speed at various places in Town. Chief Spaulding announced that Sergeant Michael Schlaerth was awarded Officer of the Year, Sergeant Padraic Lacy was awarded Supervisor of the Year, Auxiliary Police Officer Steve Barry was awarded Auxiliary Officer of the Year, and Auxiliary Corporal Nidia Diaz was awarded Auxiliary Supervisor of the Year. • Council/Commission Reports o Council Member Schofield announced that Planning Commission will have a meeting on Monday, April 7. o Council Member Guroff announced that the Parks and Recreation Commission has a meeting on March 27. They have their park cleanup on Saturday, April 12.  o Mayor Link announced that Council Member Dyer was not in attendance as his mother passed away. o Council Member Grasley announced that the Historic District Commission has a meeting on March 26. o Council Member Keenan announced that the Green Committee held a planning meeting for the upcoming season. The Design Committee is working on the veteran banners, the Downtown Sykesville Connection (DSC) attended Maryland Main Street training. The DSC held a board retreat on March 15. There will be a unity float showdown portion added to the Let Freedom Ring Parade for neighborhoods to enter and have a friendly competition. Council Member Keenan also echoed a previous public comment regarding non-partisan elections in the Town. Mayor Link agreed with Council Member Keenan and reiterated the non-partisan nature of the Town elections. ADJOURN: There being no further business to come before the Council, Council Member Grasley motioned and Council President Carter seconded to adjourn meeting at 7:50 P.M. The motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted Town Clerk Kerry Kavaloski