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

 

 MINUTES
TOWN MEETING 
June 1, 2015
Emmitsburg Town Office
 

Present:  Mayor Donald Briggs; Commissioners Clifford Sweeney; Glenn Blanchard and Tim O’Donnell, President.

Staff present were Cole Tabler, Town Accountant; Cathy Willets, Town Clerk and Dave Haller, Town Manager

Absent: Commissioner Mellor with prior notice and  Commissioner Joseph Ritz II

I.            Call to Order
Commissioner Tim O’Donnell, President of the Board of Commissioners, called the June 1, 2015 Town Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  

Approval of Minutes 
The Minutes of the May 18, 2015 Town Meeting were approved as presented.

Commissioner Comments
Commissioner(s) cited recognitions and announcements to include thanks to all who attended the Mother Seton Carnival and thanks to the Lions Club for the carwash. The garden plots have all been rented; can add frames and soil if needed for additional plots. Some people are going to donate some of their produce to the Emmitsburg Food Bank. The Sons of the American Legion will be having a fishing derby at the pond between Emmitsburg and Thurmont.

Mayor’s Comments
Mayor Briggs welcomed about 300 guests from the Emergency Management Institute/FEMA who will be visiting Emmitsburg this week. He announced at the last MML meeting the town received $16,000 in POS money, town requested $18,000. Town will be able to get a back stop and a dog park. Mr. Haller interjected staff will have to rebid the back stop; probably this fall. The dog park will probably happen next spring. Mayor Briggs announced the Maryland Storm Team got to the finals and won the championship also the Cal Ripkin tournament will be held in Emmitsburg over the 4th of July. The sidewalks on South Seton will be replaced from the entrance of FEMA up to the square; this will be within the next 60 days. The sidewalks on North Seton will be replaced next year. East and West Main Street will probably be tied into the bridge project. The Brookfield and Tannery Lane gap will not be included in this sidewalk process.  Mayor Briggs also announced that two students from Mount Saint Mary’s will be going to Australia for 8 weeks to play rugby; he wishes them the best of luck.  General Dollar should be opening by the end of the month. Mayor Briggs announced that he will not be here the first meeting in July and would like to cancel the second town meeting in the month of August.  

Administrative Business 
·        
Recommendation for Ethics Committee Member – Robert Rosensteel is stepping down from the Board of Appeals and has been recommended for Ethics Committee. Commissioner O’Donnell made a motion to place Mr. Rosensteel on the Ethics Committee. Motion seconded by Commissioner Blanchard. Vote 3-0 in favor.  Commissioner Mellor and Ritz absent.

·         Right-of-way agreement to cover electric facilities at second solar field. The agreement is necessary to hook up to second field. Commissioner Blanchard made a motion to accept the easement right-of-way to the second solar field as presented. Motion seconded by Commissioner Sweeney. Vote 3-0 in favor. Commissioner Mellor and Ritz absent.

·         Review of flagged line of the family multi user trail – Flags are in place. There are three stacked loops; intent to be rider friendly for beginner riders. Commissioner Blanchard made a motion to accept the flag line on the multi user trail and second by Commissioner Sweeney. Vote 3-0 in favor.  Motion made by Commissioner Blanchard to approve Trail Conservancy to begin construction on the family multi-user trail and second by Commissioner Sweeney. Vote 3-0 in favor. Commissioner Mellor and Ritz absent.  

Consent Agenda – none  

Reports:

Treasurer’s Report – Commissioner Blanchard reported on April 2015 cash activity. Detailed report at Exhibit A.  

Planning Commission Report: Commissioner Sweeney reported that the Planning Commission met on May 26, 2015 and accepted the comp plan. It was sent to state for review. The commission also approved Ordinance 2015-01 and Ordinance 2015-02 to be sent to the Board for consideration.  

II.  Agenda Items

 Assembly report from Delegate Afzali 
Item canceled – no show.

 Consideration of draft budget for Fiscal Year 2016
Mr. Haller stated at the last meeting he recommended the Board to look over the budget further and encouraged them to email or contact staff with any concerns. This budget covers the same services at less money.  He stated this is a solid budget and recommends approval. Mayor Briggs commented that town will need $150,000 for square to compliment the monies from SHA and at least $140,000 for the Mount Saint Mary’s Trail which is not in the budget. Mr. Haller commented town will be able to pay without raising taxes. Brief discussion ensued in regards to accepting the budget with two Board members being absent. Staff did not have any contact from absent commissioners with any concerns in regards to the budget. Also there was a brief discussion about the Emmit Gardens tot lot. Mr. Haller reported it is funded and money is being carried over.  

Motion:  to approve the Town of Emmitsburg Fiscal Year 2016 budget as proposed.  

Motion made by Commissioner Sweeney and seconded by Commissioner Blanchard.

                                      Vote 3-0 in favor.

Commissioners Mellor and Ritz absent.

 Ordinance 15-03 To Adopt the FY2016 Budget
Commissioner O’Donnell read aloud Ordinance 15-03 to Adopt the Budget for the Town of Emmitsburg for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016.

 Motion: to accept Ordinance 15-03 as read.

Motion made by Commissioner Blanchard and seconded by Commissioner Sweeney.

                                      Vote 3-0 in favor.

Commissioners Mellor and Ritz absent.

 Set Agenda Items for June 15, 2015 Town Meeting

1.    Ordinance 2015-01 Text Amendment to Section 17-20-020 B1-Neighborhood Zone District. - consideration

2.    Ordinance 2015-02 Commercial Buffer – revision to Section 17-20-040 - consideration  

III.  Public Comments – none  

IV.  SIGN APPROVED TEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS  

V.   Adjournment

      With no further business, the June 1, 2015 Town Meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

 Respectfully submitted,

Cathy Willets
Town Clerk

Date Approved: June 15, 2015