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MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
October 17, 2011
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present:
Mayor Donald N. Briggs; Commissioners Clifford
Sweeney, Glenn Blanchard, Patrick Joy, Tim O’Donnell
and Christopher Staiger, President
Staff present were Vickie Felix;
Donna DesPres, Town Clerk; and Sue Cipperly, Town
Planner.
_________________________________________________________________________
I.
Call to Order
Commissioner Christopher Staiger,
President of the Board of Commissioners, called the
October 17, 2011 Town Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Approval
of Minutes
The Minutes of the October 3, 2011 Town Meeting were
approved as presented.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioner(s) Blanchard, Joy, O’Donnell cited
attendances. Commissioner Sweeney reported on the
upcoming Halloween festivities. Commissioner
O’Donnell announced that the trails corridor is
open; that there is still tread preparation to do on
the mountain biking piece; and there is still a need
for volunteers. Commissioner Joy reported that the
first police “committee” meeting was on September 17
and 5 members were there along with Deputy Cline.
They would like to move forward with “community
watch”. The flagpole is scheduled to be going up by
the Doughboy next week and there will be a ceremony
on November 12, 2011.
Mayor’s Comments
Thanked Deputy Cline for orchestrating the police
meeting. Mayor Briggs listed a number of groups
that have used the conference room for meetings
since it has been made available. The Heritage
center has opened their museum. Fire Fighters
memorial service was held this past Sunday and Mayor
Briggs represented the Town of Emmitsburg. A rugby
match in the town park between the Naval Academy and
Mount Saint Mary’s was well attended. Working on
getting lacrosse matches in November. Reported on
the Upcounty building redevelopment – possible
donation of $3,000 coming in to establish a business
incubator. He would like to see the committees that
he proposed at the last meeting be established. He
got some quotes for speed bumps in Timbermill,
looking to Board for advice, these will be
permanent.
Public Comments
Sheila Pittinger, Total Look, 5 East
Main Street –
Expressed her concerns on items that
need to be revamped around the square.
Administrative Business
·
Make a concerted effort to address
town square issues
·
Business owners in Silo Hill
appreciate deputy coverage at closing time
·
Update website to have Commissioner
O’Donnell as the liaison for the citizens
advisory committee
·
Trails – Commissioner O’Donnell will
contact leadership at Vigilant Hose and the
Ambulance Company to take them on a tour of the
trails so they have a sense of what is out there.
·
Timbermill Drive asphalt stress
fracture – public works department is addressing it
·
Community calendar access has been
corrected
·
Effort to associate
our area with Gettysburg’s celebration of the 150th
battle anniversary
·
Mayor met with auditors; report will
be coming to the Board in about a month
·
Council needs to press the issue to
elected officials to reopen the Visitors Center
·
Input for the County comp plan/zoning
review needed by November 16
·
Commissioner Staiger addressed the
apparent formation of the police “committee” and
stated his concern that this and other citizen
groups need to be done in an organized process
through the Citizens Advisory Committee
Consent Agenda
Mayor Briggs recommended appointments for
committees: Ethics Commission: Larry Little; Board
of Appeals: Ron Lind, Richard Kapriva as alternates;
Citizen’s Advisory Committee: Amy Myles, Conrad
Weaver, and Joe Ritz. No objections.
Recommendations approved.
Reports:
Town Manager’s Report
- includes public works monthly activities to
include a water production and consumption
analysis. Detailed report at Exhibit A.
Commissioner Staiger expressed his concerns on the
amount of wild water being treated, expressing the
need to take a hard look where it’s coming from and
get a handle on it. Commissioner Joy made a
suggestion to include a list of the top ten
contracts included in the manager’s report.
Motion:
to add a section to the town manager’s report
listing contracts over $500 signed during that
reporting period.
Motion made by Commissioner Joy, seconded by
Commissioner Blanchard
Vote: 5-0 in favor
Police Report
- Deputy Gary Cline gave the September 2011 report.
Detailed report at Exhibit B. Received a citizen’s
request via email to improve the lighting at the
Community Park pavilion. The Board directed town
staff to modify channel 99 in regard to the deputy
contact-- that it is for non-emergency. A “no
loitering” ordinance was suggested.
II. Agenda Items
Review comprehensive plan objectives
Ms. Cipperly directed the council to
look at the report included in the packet. She went
over the tasks that have been completed and those
that are ongoing. With a slide demonstration she
reported that staff has been participating in the
watershed plan for the Chesapeake Bay. Eventually
an analysis will need to be done of storm water
treatment within the town and mapping the system.
There was discussion about a pedestrian audit and
the need to take a more comprehensive look and a
housing survey; need a list to prioritize. Council
will review report and identify items to move
forward on.
Ordinances 11-18, 11-20, and 11-21
related to residential zone setback requirements
Sue Cipperly stated the planning
commission met on September 26, 2011 at the request
of the Board to expedite these ordinances. The
planning commission had no issues with any of the
ordinances. They were passed unanimously and
advertised properly.
Motion:
- To accept Ordinances 11-18, 11-20
and 11-21 related to residential zone setback
requirements as presented.
Motion by Commissioner Sweeney, and
second by Commissioner O’Donnell
Vote: 5-0 in favor
Review proposed architectural
guidelines
Sue Cipperly along with Keith
Suerdieck, Architect gave a power point presentation
of the architectural guidelines focusing on
architecture and preservation. Mr. Suerdieck gave
examples of different classic styles in Emmitsburg
during different time periods. These guidelines
will help people get an idea of what they can do to
rehab these buildings. Ms. Cipperly presented that
the next steps would be to decide how to protect the
historic character that is detailed in the
guidelines. Staff recommends having the Maryland
Historic Trust and/or the County speaker detail the
options at the November 21, 2011 meeting – if
available, and having the Board members review the
guidelines document during the month in between
these meetings.
Discussion concerning smoking ban in
town parks
Commissioner Blanchard would like to
put up signage that would encourage people not to
smoke in Community Park playground, the community
pool, the Memorial Park playground area and the
little league fields. He is not looking for an
ordinance just signage. He suggests using one that
would say “thank you for not smoking” and also put
up receptacles to prevent littering of the
cigarettes. Public Comment: Larry Little,
324 DePaul Street – expressed his concerns of
putting up signs. Sr. Eleanor Casey, 333 S Seton
Avenue - spoke in support of the signs.
Commissioner Staiger stated the reality is that the
town will not be able to enforce the signs, only
rely on the smokers’ willingness not to smoke.
Commissioner O’Donnell also expressed a concern on
the tone of the sign. No opposition from the board
to put up the signs. They were in agreement that
the signs should say “thank you for not smoking” in
the particular area. Commissioner Blanchard will
get a quote on some signs and a list of areas where
they are to be posted and the item will be brought
back as administrative business.
Consideration of Ordinance 11-22,
Ethics
This agenda item is back to the Board
for consideration. It has been edited by the town
attorney. Commissioner Staiger stated that, having
read through it, it appears to address the issues
that were concerns of the Board and Attorney Clapp
at the past two previous meetings.
Motion:
- Approve Ordinance 11-22, Ethics
Motion by Commissioner Joy,
second by Commissioner Blanchard
Vote: 5-0 in favor
Consideration of resolution in
support of tax equity
Mayor Briggs reported that this was
brought up at the last meeting and feels it is
appropriate to adopt this resolution and get a
letter off to the County. Commissioner Staiger
commented that it gives the town more security to
maintain the tax equity over the tax differential.
He then read the resolution.
Motion:
- To accept resolution 2011-04R, a
resolution by the Town of Emmitsburg in support of
tax equity
Motion by Commissioner
O’Donnell, second by Commissioner Joy
Vote: 5-0 in favor
III.
Set Agenda Items for
November 7, 2011 Town Meeting
1.
Town response to county comprehensive
plan/zoning review
2.
Proposal for town-administered
Facebook page
3.
Update discussion of wastewater
treatment plant financing and operating cost
4.
Update on splash park installation at
town pool
Public Comments:
Sr. Eleanor Casey, 333 S. Seton Avenue –
expressed her issues of residents’ concern of
alleged crime in Emmitsburg. It seemed to her that
this falls in the jurisdiction of the citizens
advisory committee.
IV SIGN APPROVED TEXT
AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS
V Adjournment
With no further business, the October
17, 2011 Town Meeting was adjourned at 10:36 p.m.
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