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MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
March 4, 2013
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present: Mayor Donald Briggs; Commissioners Clifford Sweeney, Christopher
Staiger, Patrick Joy, and Tim O’Donnell, President
pro tem
Staff
present were Vickie Felix; Donna Despres, Town
Clerk; and Dave Haller, Town Manager.
_________________________________________________________________________
I.
Call to Order
Commissioner
Tim O’Donnell, President pro tem of the Board of
Commissioners, called the March 4, 2013 Town Meeting
to order at 7:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was
recited.
Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the February 11, 2013 Special Meeting
were minutes were approved as corrected. The
February 18, 2013 meeting minutes were also approved
as revised.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioner's cited announcements to include
upcoming Easter egg hunt at Community Park; fish fry
at St. Joseph’s; Heritage/Community Day meeting on
March 20th; flagging has been underway on
the mountain for intermediate trails. Trail work
date this weekend; future plans to bring 800
cyclists through town in 2014. The attendances
included dinner for the MOR organization;
Heritage/Community Day meeting. Relayed were some
concerns expressed from citizens: timing of chicken
related ordinance; alley traffic; the square; the
water line to North Seton Avenue; and fire
hydrants. Also, Commissioner O’Donnell was
contacted by Emmitsburg Vet Hospital related to the
fence and he also received praise from a store owner
outside of town for Commissioner Sweeney and the
work he is doing for the Community/Heritage Days.
Commissioner Hoover will tentatively not be here
for the April 1, 2013 Town Meeting.
Mayor’s Comments
Mayor Briggs welcomed Pastor John who was attending
the meeting. The Mayor attended the following
meetings: along with Town Manger, met with Director
of baseball league and police officers in relation
to the upcoming baseball tournament; met with the
Mason Dixon Tourist Center. He also attended a two
day solar energy course in preparation to
possibly offset some of the operating expenses at
the new wastewater treatment plant. Mayor Briggs
also commented on a letter of support for the town
square design from the Frederick County Division of
Community Development.
Administrative Business
·
Little League request for replacement of outfield
fence
·
Easement survey to cross the Fitzgerald property;
trails on the mountain
·
Passport to Wealth
sponsored by the Seton Center
·
Fire hydrants on North Seton Avenue
·
Revitalization on the square
·
Splash park update
·
Town Manager and Mayor meeting with builder of
Brookfield
Consent Agenda - none
Reports:
Treasurer’s Report –
Commissioner Sweeney reported on February 2013 cash
activity. Detailed report at Exhibit A.
Planning Commission
Report –
Commissioner Joy reported there was no meeting in
February.
Citizen Advisory
Committee –
Commissioner Staiger reported that the Advisory
Committee met on February 26, 2013. They recapped a
couple of issues from last year to include crosswalk
at Patterson and crossing guards for Federal and
Main Streets, which the sheriff’s department
controls--they budgeted two positions might get a
possible third. There were a few things approved
for new business to include to contact the Mount to
see if they could work a business study into part of
their curriculum as part of the town housing
study/community development efforts to get objective
data to use in decision making. There was a
proposal to make Lincoln Avenue one-way west bound
between North Seton and School Lane. There was a
proposal for HOA-type guidelines for the town in
terms of standards for building maintenance and
properties.
Parks and Recreation Report – Commissioner
O’Donnell reported that the Parks and Recreation
Committee met on February 19, 2013. They discussed
the summer pool party schedule; concert in the parks
schedule; possible second running event in town;
field use and modifications and updates; community
garden and chalk walk on the sidewalks.
II.
Agenda Items
Reorganization of the Board
Mayor Briggs
made these recommendations for the Board of
Commissioners reorganization due to resignation of
Commissioner Blanchard: Commissioner O’Donnell as
President and liaison for Parks and Recreation,
Commissioner Hoover Vice President and official MML
representative. And status quo for the remaining
Board: Commissioner Sweeney as Treasurer,
Commissioner Joy as liaison for Planning Commission
and Commissioner Staiger liaison for the Advisory
Committee.
Motion:
To approve the Mayor’s recommendations as presented.
Motion by Commissioner Joy, second by Commissioner
Hoover
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Alley traffic plan discussion
Mayor Briggs
stated there is a lot of cut-through traffic on the
alleys in the early hours on the south side of East
Main Street cutting over to East Lincoln Street and
feels that the current two-way is unsafe. Staff
has spoken with the sheriff’s office, Vigilant Hose
and SHA and they all would be in support of a
change. Staff has been looking at this since last
April. Mr. Haller reported these alleys are
presently two-way, however the paving is not wide
enough to support two-way traffic. Therefore, staff
believes they are unsafe and should be changed to
one-way as noted on plan presented to the Board.
The four noted for change are noted because they can
support signage without attaching to anyone’s home.
In the discussion, there was comment that this was
more of an administrative decision. The ordinance
to effect the change may already be in place; the
Mayor then could enforce. Mayor Briggs can get
public feedback.
Ordinance to implement Section 8 of Town Charter
Commissioner
Joy drafted a proposed ordinance to address a Board
resignation. He stated it should be by town
election; let citizens decide who represents them.
Staff brought forth the existing ordinance with
wordage added to say “within thirty days.”
Commissioner Joy stated that the agenda item was to
bring forth an ordinance to implement, not change
existing ordinance by staff. Commissioner O’Donnell
chose to look at Commissioner Joy’s proposal as
stated on agenda item. Commissioner Hoover states
the proposal has a direct conflict with the
Charter. Commissioner Staiger stated that to create
an ordinance, they need to change the Charter.
Board ensued in a lengthy discussion on the several
options: appointment by the Board, having a special
election, or waiting until the next general
election. Commissioner Joy will bring back a
Charter change to fix Section 8 to state vacancy
will be filled at the next general election.
Bay Restoration Fee exemption policy that is now required by the
State
Donna
Despres explained the original bay restoration fee
rules. When the fee first started town did not have
to come up with an exemption policy. Since rates
went up, town now needs to make an exemption policy
for those who can demonstrate substantial financial
hardship. Board reviewed the proposal policy
included in the packet. Citizens can be notified
through the quarterly water billing of the hardship
exemption application.
Motion:
- To accept
staff recommendation on the bay restoration fee
hardship exemption application.
Motion by Commissioner Hoover, second by
Commissioner Staiger
Vote: 5-0 in
favor
Set Agenda Items for March 18, 2013 Town Meeting
-
Water rate modification
-
Funding for replacement of Little League fence
-
Funding to identify survey easement on
Fitzgerald property right-of-way
-
Staff recommendations on backyard poultry zoning
-
Discussion of fence area usage at Emmitsburg Vet
Hospital and potential zoning modifications
Consent
Agenda
Open pool for free on Community/Heritage Day
III. Public Comments-
none
IV. SIGN APPROVED TEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS - none
V.
Adjournment
With no
further business, the March 4, 2013 Town Meeting was
adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
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