Town of Emmitsburg
300A S. Seton Ave Emmitsburg, Maryland
21727
301-600-6300

Town Meeting Minutes
February 1, 2010
Emmitsburg Town Office

Present: Mayor James Hoover; Commissioners Clifford Sweeney, Glenn Blanchard, Tim O'Donnell and Christopher Staiger, President.

Also present were Donna Despres, Town Clerk and Dave Haller, Town Manager.
Absent: Commissioner Etris with prior notice
_________________________________________________________________________

I. Call to Order

Commissioner Christopher Staiger, President of the Board of Commissioners, called the February 1, 2010 Town Meeting to order at 7:33 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Approval of Minutes

Commissioner O'Donnell requested that mention of the discussion of building heights and bicycle amenities for businesses be inserted. Upon motion by Commissioner Blanchard to add this mention to the discussion on Chapter 17 of the Code of Emmitsburg, the Minutes of the January 20, 2010 Town Meeting were approved as amended.

Commissioner Comments
Commissioner Blanchard reported on his attendance at a Cleveland teachers' conference, highlighting a presentation on civic preservation whereby he reflected on the need to preserve the historic core of a town in any planned restoration. Commissioner O'Donnell issued compliments to the staff for quick snow clearing, mentioned his contact with business owners and that he gave a presentation to the Boy Scouts re the constitution commenting how he was impressed with their understanding.
Mayor's Comments - None

Administrative Business

The Board and management reviewed the following issues:

  • Ballfield access is handled through the office by requesting a reservation form. By contract, leagues have a standing reservation during the summer.
  • A posted site plan for the Emmit Gardens water project was requested. Mr. Haller updated that this project is at 75% completion stage
  • Grease trap ordinance update: All 26 concerned businesses have been contacted and responded in December. Six have completed the permitting process and are fully compliant.
  • Re a resident request to change traffic direction on Chesapeake Avenue: Mr. Haller gave history of the property and added that staff felt that the existing alternating directions of the side streets should not be altered. As there was not any finding of any accident incidents in the last 10 years, a letter will be sent of this information and the denial to alter the direction.
  • Pool update: The Mayor met with the management company to establish "pool rules" and the need to strive to improve visibility of management. More concrete plans will be available in March. Continued repair of the baby pool cannot be guaranteed due to the condition of the underlying piping without tearing out the pool and rebuilding. Staff is looking into the possibility of dividing a section of the existing pool into a baby pool with a physical barrier as at Braddock Heights. When queried by Commissioner O'Donnell about the rules, the Mayor explained that they have been garnered from examples of other pools, tailoring to the town pool in size and use.

Reports
Treasurer's Report - Commissioner Glenn Blanchard. See attached report, Exhibit A.
Committee reports - Commissioner O'Donnell reported that the Planning Commission discussed comprehensive rezoning revisions.

II. Agenda Items

Ordinance 10-10 (09-10), Purchases and Contracts
Commissioner Staiger expressed that this is effective to define the purchasing process and that the Board-discussed revisions made at the December 21, 2009 meeting were incorporated into this final product. A few typo corrections were made. Also, the Ordinance was renumbered to the originally considered 09-10.

Motion: To accept Ordinance 09-10 as revised, adding Chapter 3.12 Purchases and Contracts to Title 3, Revenue and Finance of the Code of Emmitsburg outlining a purchasing policy for the Town.

Motion by Commissioner O'Donnell, second by Commissioner Blanchard.
Vote: 4-0 in favor

Reference to ordinance 09-10 was incorrect. Original ordinance presentation was numbered 09-12.

Admended Motion: To revise previous approval of Ordinance 09-10 to approval of Ordinance 09-12 as amended, adding Chapter 3.12 Purchases and Contracts to Title 3, Revenue and Finance of the Code of Emmitsburg outlining a purchasing policy for the Town.

Motion by Commissioner Staiger, second by Commissioner Blanchard.
Vote: 4-0 in favor
Commissioner Sweeney acting as President pro tem for this vote.

Ordinance 10-01, Establishment of The Citizen Advisory Committee

This ordinance first presented at the January 4, 2010 meeting was returned with the Board-reviewed recommendations. Three refined language corrections were made with unanimous consent. This establishes a Citizen Advisory Committee to address quality of life issues in the Town.

Motion - To adopt Ordinance 10-01 as amended, adding Chapter 2.80 to Title 2, General Provisions of the Code of Emmitsburg establishing a Citizen Advisory Committee.
Motion by Commissioner Blanchard, second by Commissioner Sweeney
Vote: 4-0 in favor

Ordinance 10-04, Repealing of Sections 2.40, 2.60 And 2.70 From The Code of Emmitsburg

Commissioner O'Donnell expressed concern that the deletion of these sections would lose the historical reference to the prior existence of these committees. The Board agreed that the repeal process is a more efficient method of this committee reorganization.
Motion - To adopt Ordinance 10-04, as amended, repealing Chapters 2.40, 2.60 and 2.70 of Title 2, General Provisions of the Code of Emmitsburg deleting the Streets and Transportation, Water and Charter Review committees.

Motion by Commissioner Sweeney, second by Commissioner Blanchard
Vote: 4-0 in favor

It was brought up that a committee liaison will need to be appointed. It was decided to consider this when a full Board is convened.

III. Public Comments - none

IV. Set Agenda Items for February 15, 2010 Meeting
1. text amendments to chapter 17-44 entitled amendments

V. Adjournment
With no further business, the February 1, 2010 Town Meeting was adjourned at 8:35 p.m.

Date Approved: February 15, 2010