MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
May 6, 2013
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present:
Mayor Donald Briggs; Commissioners Clifford
Sweeney, Christopher Staiger, Patrick Joy, James
Hoover and Tim O’Donnell, President.
Staff present were Vickie Felix;
Donna Despres, Town Clerk and Dave Haller, Town
Manager.
_________________________________________________________________________
I. Call to Order
Commissioner Tim O’Donnell,
President of the Board of Commissioners, called
the May 6, 2013 Town Meeting to order at 7:30
p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the April 15, 2013
Town Meeting were approved as presented.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioner(s) cited
announcements to include upcoming meeting at
Catoctin High School discussing drug problems in
area; Community Gardens were upgraded through
the efforts of volunteers and town staff and
ready to be used; successful trail work day;
spoke with president of the Emmitsburg Baseball
and Softball league regarding display at Route
15 rest stop; Commissioner O’Donnell toured WWTP
receiving insight to operation; Mid Atlantic
Off-road Enthusiasts have lined up a donor for
$30,000 for the Emmitsburg Trail efforts which
matches existing grant. Upcoming events include
Friends of the Emmitsburg Library hosting a
plant swap and a plant sale by Vigilant Hose.
Mayor’s Comments
Mayor Briggs cited attendances to
include Passport for Wealth at the Seton Center;
the Lions Club luncheon dinner and yard sale;
the Mount Athletic Advisory Committee meeting.
The Mount’s College of Liberal Arts will be
having new programs for adults to get involved
in. There will be a new committee starting the
Grotto Visitor Center will open. Mayor Briggs
also remembered Vernon Keilholtz who grew up
here in Emmitsburg.
Administrative Business
-
Public Works Mutual Aid
Agreement – tabled until next meeting
-
Visibility difficulties at
the Timbermill intersection meeting Route
140 – waiting to hear from SHA. Mr. Haller
will send email to Commissioner Staiger.
-
Drug problems in town;
request to have something included in the
monthly police report
-
Thanks to town staff for
speed bump placed on Huntley Circle and
raised garden beds
-
Possible placement of speed
bumps at Memorial Park – working on
situation
-
Speeding on Huntley Circle –
need to get address of the house where this
is taking place
-
Pylons at Rainbow Lake that
hold wire to keep people off grass needs
fixed – already on repair list
-
Mayor reported that there
were two construction meetings for new WWTP
-
Handout was given on Code of
Conduct for City of Brunswick; would like to
see something like this done for Emmitsburg
Consent Agenda - none
Reports:
Treasurer’s Report
- Commissioner Sweeney reported on April 2013
cash activity. Detailed report at Exhibit A.
Planning Commission Report
– Commissioner Joy reported that the Planning
Commission met on April 29, 2013. Agenda items
were to change section 17.08.170 Prohibited Uses
- change chickens to roosters, which was done
and will come back to Board for final approval.
The other item was the annual report which was
reviewed and approved.
II. Agenda Items
Public hearing to set revised
water rates - Ordinance 13.07
Mr. Haller stated that this is
the completion of the activity that the Board
spent a couple meetings on coming to the rates
listed in the ordinance which needs to be
finalized. The rates will become effective July
1, 2013 once approved.
Motion:
to approve Ordinance 13.07 Water Rates to
set revised water rates as presented.
Motion made by Commissioner Joy,
second by Commissioner Hoover.
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Mayor’s presentation of 2014
budget
Mayor Briggs addressed the
residents of Emmitsburg and highlighted projects
and enhancements that were accomplished since he
came into office before presenting the 2014
annual budget. He stated his priorities for
2014 are a continuation of the goals that he
came into office with; economics and activity
programs. The Board of Commissioners received a
copy of the budget to review for the next
meeting. The Town Clerk, Donna Despres was
available for any questions. Mayor Briggs
proposed a 2% COLA for employees. The budget is
balanced at basically the same amount as last
year. The tax base has decreased 23.6% over the
last four years. The 2014 budget will be 1.6
million and the water and sewer enterprise fund
will be 1.3 million.
Set tax rate for 2014 –
discussion
Mr. Haller reported that town can
provide the same services as last year without
an increase in the tax rate. Staff’s
recommendation is for the tax rate to remain at
.36 cents per hundred dollars of assessed
value. The 2014 budget has been prepared on
this rate. If rate is not raised there is no
advertisement requirement, but it does need to
be into the county by the end of May.
Set Agenda Items for May 20, 2013
Town Meeting
-
Set 2014 constant yield tax
rate
-
Fiscal Year 2014 budget
-
Planning Commission annual
report – Consent Agenda
-
Public Works Mutual Aid
Agreement –
Administrative Business
III. Public Comments
– Dennis Ott, Thurmont Community Ambulance
Company – requesting to use the trails for
ATV rescue trainings.
Motion
- to allow the Thurmont Community Ambulance
Company to have a training exercise on town land
at Rainbow Lake on the trails in order to
practice onsite rescue.
Motion by Commissioner Hoover,
second by Commissioner Sweeney.
Vote 5-0 in favor.
David Smith, President of Persona
Custom Homes
- approached the board in regards to tap fees
with possible interest in building in the town.
Commissioner Hoover recommended scheduling a
future workshop to discuss. Commissioner
Staiger stated that since 2008, fees have gone
down 30% and that surcharges have been removed.
Lori Shirk, 50 Depaul Street, Apt. A2 –
made a suggestion to Board for some kind of
youth center to be started; could possibly help
with drug problem in town. She was directed
that a good place to start for networking and
connections would be the Daughters of Charity.
IV. SIGN APPROVED TEXT
AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS
V. Adjournment
