MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
December 8, 2015
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present: Commissioners Clifford
Sweeney, Jennifer Mellor, Glenn Blanchard, Tim O’Donnell,
and President. Mayor
Briggs arrived at 8:02pm.
Staff present were Cathy Willets, Town Clerk; Sue Cipperly,
Town Planner; and Dave Haller, Town Manager.
Absent: Commissioner
Joseph Ritz III with prior notice.
_________________________________________________________________________
I.
Call to Order
Commissioner Tim O’Donnell, President of the Board of
Commissioners, called the December 8, 2015 Town Meeting to
order at 7:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval of Minutes
The Minutes of the November 16, 2015 Town Meeting were
approved as presented/corrected.
Motion made by Commissioner Sweeney and second by
Commissioner Mellor. Vote:
4-0 pass. Commissioner Ritz III absent.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioner(s) cited attendances, recognitions and
announcements.
Commissioner Mellor said DFC. Whitehouse has been
very active in Silo Hill community after her request at the
last meeting. Commissioner
Blanchard attended a ceremony at the Library of Congress in
DC honoring the Civil Rights movement.
Commissioner Blanchard and Commissioner O’Donnell
attended the Maryland Municipal League Annual Legislative
dinner held at the Carriage House.
Commissioner Blanchard accepted an invitation to
attend a get together from Councilman Delauter.
He participated at a dinner at the Elias Lutheran
Church as well as attended the Christmas tree lighting and
appreciated that the Mayor made it a subdued event.
Commissioner Blanchard thanked Dfc. Whitehouse for
his activity as well as job well done at the fire at
Paul’s Pit Stop.
He encouraged all Board members to attend the
Vigilant Hose annual banquet to show support for their
efforts especially in light of the recent fires.
Commissioner O'Donnell also attended the MML
Annual legislative dinner.
Strong advice by Ron Young for the municipalities to
stick together to regain road revenue.
He expressed gratitude to Vigilant Hose Company, fire
and rescue services, as
well as DFC Whitehouse.
Commissioner O’Donnell spoke of the tragedy and
loss of life in our community.
He met with the new Emmitsburg Tattoo owner and the
owner will be approaching Town staff about signage.
Commissioner O’Donnell also attended the tree
lighting event. Mr.
Haller spoke about the fire incident and the public works
staff handling the water and sewer.
He said did a great job with no hesitation.
Commissioner O'Donnell welcomed Russell Wilson,
Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy with the
County. He was
with the Mayor at the Firehouse.
He extended the County Executives' greeting and
relayed that the County is grieving and mourning with the
Town of Emmitsburg. He
extended a thank you to all first responders.
Mr. Wilson expressed, "Our thoughts and prayers
are with all.”
Mayor’s Comments - not present
Public Comments - none
Administrative Business - Commissioner Mellor mentioned they had a
Parks & Rec meeting.
Committee would like to be considered when the Mayor
and Town staff is thinking about projects when applying for
POS grants. They
would like the Town to work with FCPS to work on the field
behind the Town Office to be used for sports youth programs.
Ideally,
the work could be done in one shot but could be spread out.
Mr. Haller asked her to send her any thoughts or
ideas of what she would like to see done so he could discuss
with the Mayor. Commissioner
O'Donnell mentioned an email from Kendall Moore, HOA
president, in Pembrooke Woods.
The email addressed concerns related to the
neighborhood, i.e. maintenance.
Mr. Haller advised he and staff will do a ride around
through Pembrooke Woods and they will comment on each item.
Commissioner O’Donnell questioned the access from
Brookfield Rd. to Irishtown Rd. He noted it is still one way
only. Commissioner
O'Donnell requested staff contact SHA to get an updated
letter advising if it is still one way only.
Mr. Haller stated that is it a sight distance issue
and until Irishtown Rd. is graded it will remain one way
only. He also
received a letter from a recreational group using the
watershed as a geocache site.
The Board and staff were favorable to the idea.
Commissioner O'Donnell said Commissioner Ritz III has
been approached by several groups/individuals expressing
interest in helping defray the cost of the repair of the
Doughboy memorial. Mr.
Haller said the Mayor would be very appreciative of any
assistance. Mr.
Haller said they can just bring the money in and it will be
committed solely to for that use.
Consent Agenda - Commissioner Sweeney made a motion to appoint
Zenas Sykes to the Citizens Advisory Committee and second by
Commissioner Mellor. Vote
4-0 passed. Commissioner
Ritz III absent.
Reports:
Treasurer's Report - Commissioner Blanchard reported on the cash
activity for the month of November 2015. Exhibit B.
Planning Commission Report - Ms. Cipperly advised at the next meeting in January 2016 there will
be a reorganization of the Planning Commission.
II. Agenda Items
Final Vote related to establishing a spending limit for repair of
Doughboy memorial
Mr. Haller informed the Board staff received two bids.
One was from a very skilled capable person in this
exact area and the second was more geared towards doing
memorials. We
would like to have your approval to set a spending limit up
to $40,000.00 Staff
expects to get at least half back from person who struck
the memorial. We
do have the funding and believe it is in best interest of
Town and Northern residents to put it back. Mr.
Haller advised that since it is not a budgeted item, staff
needs Board approval to move forward.
Mr. Haller advised the work will begin within a month
and could take up to six months to complete. Commissioner
Mellor asked about the second plaque.
Mr. Haller advised that the second plaque would be
included in the $40,000.
The current plaque will remain the same and the
Doughboy Memorial will be put back in the same place.
Motion:
authorize a spending limit of $40,000 for the repair
of the Doughboy memorial and authorize Town staff to move
forward with signing of contract
Motion
by Commissioner Blanchard second by Commissioner Sweeney
Vote: 4-0 in
favor Commissioner Ritz III absent
Discuss draft ordinances regarding side yard setbacks for accessory
structures in specific residential zones
Ms. Cipperly
advised Mrs. Orndorff (E. Main St. in village zone) sent the
Commissioners an email requesting a reduction in the
setbacks in the village zone for the case of accessory
structures. Ms.
Cipperly advised the current setbacks are six feet on each
side. Mrs.
Orndorff had suggested a two foot setback from the side.
Ms. Cipperly advised her staff would consider.
Ms. Cipperly told the Board they had previously
carports to sit with 0 set back as long as six feet access
on other side for fire emergency personnel.
Jerry Muir did an initial draft.
Ms. Cipperly advised staff decided to limit the 0
setback to only one structure on each lot.
She explained what is required by code is the draft
ordinances need to be referred to the Planning Commission.
Staff recommended three feet instead of two.
Motion: - To direct
staff to submit ordinances 16-01 and 16-02 pending
modification to the planning commission.
Motion
by Commissioner Sweeney and
second by Commissioner Mellor.
Vote: 4-0 in favor. Commissioner Ritz III absent.
Set Agenda Items for January 4, 2016 Town Meeting
-
Discussion of how many meetings are held yearly.
-
Item related to Comprehensive Plan change Open
Space to Institutional
IV
SIGN APPROVED TEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS