MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
February 17, 2014
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present:
Mayor Donald Briggs; Commissioners Clifford
Sweeney, Christopher Staiger, Jennifer Mellor,
Glenn Blanchard and Tim O’Donnell, President.
Staff present were Vickie Felix;
Sue Cipperly, Town Planner and Donna DesPres,
Town Clerk.
Absent:
David Haller, Town Manager with
prior notice.
_________________________________________________________________________I.
Call to Order
Commissioner Tim O’Donnell,
President of the Board of Commissioners, called
the February 17, 2014 Town Meeting to order at
7:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval
of Minutes
The Minutes of the January 22,
2014 Town Meeting were approved as presented.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioners cited announcements
to include upcoming St. Patrick’s Day concert at
the Mount and a Drug awareness meeting.
Recognitions included all those who give
donations and help at the food bank. The food
bank is a registered food bank with the state
and is utilized quite a bit. There were also
comments regarding snow plowing priorities.
Commissioner O’Donnell reported on conversation
with Delegate Huff in regard to programs related
to the square/sidewalk funding for smaller
municipalities and availability of canines for
deputies.
Mayor’s Comments
Mayor Briggs reported that
committees need to hand in meeting minutes, this
is required by town code. He cited meetings
attended to include a meeting with the Solar
company along with the Ambulance company and
Vigilant Hose; conference call with the Square
and meeting with SHA; met with Department of
Natural Resources in regard to grants for flood
mediation; met with two Human Resource
firms--will make decision on them next week.
Upcoming meetings include the Mount St. Mary’s
advisory committee meeting and the Seton Center
committee meeting. Upcoming events include the
Lions Club dance and the EOPC pork roast.
County Commissioner liaison David
Dunn was present at the meeting and addressed
the Board briefly to get the word out in regard
to the senior Homeowners’ Tax Credit; very few
people are taking advantage of this credit. He
left some hard copies with the Board and
suggested having people available to assist
senior citizens with forms and for staff to put
on the web site to link to county.
Administrative Business
·
Report on Citizens Advisory
Committee inquiries – Commissioner Staiger
requested a written response from the last two
issues presented at a previous meeting.
There were two new items
presented: the “NO PARKING BAGS” possible
additional notification to include posting
signs; eliminate some of the glare from the LED
lights--spoke of painting the
inside of the top dome as a possible solution.
·
Clarification of Town Clerk job
description modification – will put in writing
for next town meeting.
·
Upcoming Town Square meeting
·
Upcoming Drug awareness seminar –
Adults only
·
Consideration of putting public
town meetings on You Tube – unanimous consent
·
Consider increase in a late
charge for utility billing; current rate is 2%
·
Meeting minutes – bring back in
writing for next meeting
·
New website exploration
·
Job chart revisions
·
Maryland energy grants update
·
Snow expense
Consent Agenda
Appoint Joe Ritz to ethics
committee – unanimously approved.
Reports:
Town Manager Report -
submitted a report on the public
works department monthly activities to include a
water production and consumption analysis.
Town Planners report - Ms. Cipperly
stated that the report is basically a
continuation of the previous months report.
Detailed report at Exhibit A.
Treasurer’s Report
- Commissioner Blanchard reported on January
2014 cash activity and the quarterly electrical
savings use report. Detailed report at Exhibit
B.
Police Report
- Deputy Rohrer reported on January 2014 police
activity. Detailed report at Exhibit C.
Planning Commission Report –
Commissioner Sweeney reported
that the planning commission met on January 27,
2014 wherein they reorganized the Board; no
agenda items.
II. Agenda Items
Flood Plan Ordinance; Section
15.28 - discussion
Ms. Cipperly stated that a flood
plan ordinance regulates so that one can’t build
new buildings in a flood plan. The last town
revision was in the early 90’s and there have
been a lot of changes since then. The existing
ordinance was reviewed at the federal level of
things that need updating along with a model
ordinance from the state which was modified for
Emmitsburg and reviewed by the town attorney.
The ordinance is in the regular part of the code
and not in zoning section. The Attorney
suggested moving the flood plan ordinance into
the zoning code. This is a technical ordinance
that the town is required to have in place.
Staff is looking for direction to be able to put
the ordinance into the zoning ordinance part of
code. The Board was in agreement and gave staff
approval to move forward.
Forestation Ordinance; Section
16.48 – discussion
The Forest Conservation Act of
1991 requires units of local government with
planning and zoning authority to establish and
implement local forest conservation programs,
and provides for the Department’s administration
of forest conservation requirements in the
absence of a local forest conservation program.
Ms. Cipperly stated that Article 4 needs to be
updated. Commissioner Staiger questioned
section 16.48.080 applicability. Ms. Cipperly
replied that this applies to when someone comes
in with a subdivision plan or site plan. There
was a brief discussion on forest banking. Staff
is looking for direction to move forward with
the ordinance. The Board gave approval to move
forward with the ordinance and bring back as an
agenda item.
Proposed revision to town code –
Elections, section 2.28-discussion
This item was withdrawn by
Commissioner Staiger at this time.
Trails and town land – discussion
and direction
Commissioner O’Donnell handed out
a list of proposed trail work days along with a
map of the trails. The Board approved the trail
work day schedule as submitted. Commissioner
O’Donnell pointed out a piece of property on the
map marked with an “X” stating that this was
town property.
Motion: -
To accept the property marked as “x” as Town of
Emmitsburg property determined by the
Town Manger.
Motion made by
Commissioner O’Donnell, second by Commissioner
Blanchard.
Motion was withdrawn.
Signage and trails – discussion
and direction
Commissioner O’Donnell presented
the board with two estimated proposals for
signage: Instasigns for $1,974.91 and
M5 signs/BR Productions for $2,251.00.
Commissioner O’Donnell recommended the
estimated proposal from Instasigns for
rules and directional signage. These funds
would come from grant sources. This does not
include a trail map sign at this time.
Commissioner Staiger questioned as to the exact
funding source, “What grant?” Mayor Briggs
stated that the town might be able to piggy-back
with the county. This agenda item will be
brought back to the Board with clarification of
the funding source. Commissioner O’Donnell
will provide a spec sheet to give to the staff
to give to the county.
Motion: -
To approve the bid from Instagsigns to be
used for trail signage.
Motion made by
Commissioner O’Donnell, second by Commissioner
Mellor.
Motion was withdrawn.
Commissioner O’Donnell stated
that Mr. Steo has asked if all town connector
property shown on the map could be flagged
except for the piece of property mark with an
“x” that needs documentation. The Board
approved unanimously. The Trail Conservancy
will move forward after March 14, 2014.
Set Agenda Items for March 3,
2014 Town Meeting
1.
Auditor’s report
2.
Code change related to town clerk
position
3.
property clarification
4.
Trail New accountant position -
discussion
5.
Consideration for late charge
related to utility billing
6.
Code change to consider written
minutes
7.
Trail signage
III. Public Comments
- none
IV. SIGN APPROVED TEXT
AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS - none
