MINUTES
TOWN
MEETING
June
16, 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
Dave Haller, Town Manager.
_________________________________________________________________________
I.
Call to
Order
Commissioner
Tim O’Donnell, President of the Board of Commissioners,
called the June 16, 2014 Town Meeting to order at
7:30 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Announcement
of a Closed Session
President
O’Donnell announced the need for a closed executive
session following adjournment of this meeting as permitted
by the Annotated Code of Maryland, State Government
Article: Section 10-508 (a) Closed Meetings, Item 1 to
discuss the appointment, employment, assignment,
promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal or
resignation of appointees, employees or officials over
whom it has jurisdiction; or any other personnel matter
that affects one or more specific individuals. See
attached announcement. Motion by Commissioner Mellor,
second by Commissioner Sweeney, carried 5-0 in favor.
Approval of
Minutes
The
Minutes of the
June 2, 2014
Town Meeting were approved as corrected.
President
O’Donnell welcomed County Commissioner liaison David
Dunn who was in attendance.
Commissioner
Comments
Commissioner(s)
cited attendances to include the flag ceremony; the park
concert which was held at the VFW due to weather; Mr. Tony
Wivell was thanked for his hospitality. Upcoming events
include the pool party, admission will be $1 with free
hotdogs; Community Heritage days, there will be a kickball
tournament that day and a lot of other free activities;
early voting for primary election in Thurmont.
Commissioners Sweeney and Mellor were recognized
for all the work they put into Community Heritage Days to
make it a success. Commissioner O’Donnell commented that
he spoke with the property owner who had a dispute in
regards to the trails coming onto is property and another
landowner who might allow use of his land for the trails.
He was also contacted by the Town Human Resources
contractor which seemed out of the ordinary to him so he
contacted town attorney for counsel; he has been
unsuccessful in actually speaking with someone in Human
Resources to date. Commissioner
Blanchard announced that he will not be present for the
July 7, 2014 town meeting.
Mayor’s
Comments
Mayor
Briggs cited attendances to include the first concert in
the park at the VFW; the Flag Day ceremony event, he spoke
with the Veterans and American Legion about a possible
complementary monument. He will speak to the County about
the placing of the monument so it is observable. He is
still waiting for the Letter of Intent from State Highway
in regards to the Town Square project. The Town received
the first grant check for the LED lights in the amount of
$25,175.00. He also announced the first pool party coming
up; free hot dogs will be served. He introduced the towns
first intern Marcus Bosche who is majoring in Political
Science.
Administrative
Business
·
Community
Legacy Program status report – detailed list at Exhibit
C
Consent
Agenda - none
Reports:
Town
Manager Report
- reported on the public works department monthly
activities to include a water production and consumption
analysis. Mr. Haller highlighted the water table is back
to where it is only 2 feet below the optimum. Town has a
precipitation surplus of over 11 inches in the last six
months. Town exceeded the plant’s design capacity on
five days in the month of May; but no spills. Planners
Report - Ms.
Cipperly highlighted on the Community Legacy Grant
program; she submitted two requests for reimbursements for
projects that are finished. The Dollar General was
reviewed by the planning commission; the subdivision plan
has been approved with conditions. Detailed
report at Exhibit A.
Police
Report
- Deputy
Patterson reported on May 2014 police activities. Detailed
report at Exhibit B.
II.
Agenda
Items
Bicycle
Helmet Ordinance
Mr.
Haller reported that this was brought to the board last
fall and the board recommended this be brought back to
pull the ordinance and adopt the state regulations. Ms.
Cipperly incorporated the state law into the town
ordinance and presented it to the Board. Deputy Patterson
addressed the Board and stated she agrees with the state
law. Commissioner O’Donnell questioned about the
educational materials about bicycle helmet use that is
provided when a warning is issued.
Motion:
-
To approve Ordinance 14-05 Bicycle Helmet Ordinance as presented.
Motion
made by Commissioner Sweeney and second by Commissioner
Blanchard.
Vote:
4-1 in favor
Commissioner
Staiger against
Update
for new WWTP by design and inspection engineers
Amy
Sowitcky of GHD and Mike Schultz of RK&K gave a power
point updated presentation for the new WWTP. Ms. Sowitcky
stated that they are 12 months from the project
completion. She went over the purpose of the upgrade and
explained that currently the town uses overland flow
terraces. The
total nitrogen and phosphorus need to be reduced because
of new limits. She then explained the ENR upgrade process.
Mike Schultz presented the current construction status.
The instrumentation & controls work is just now
getting started. He also commented that the change order
percentage is very low and project is currently on
schedule. Commissioner
O’Donnell inquired about the solar project and how it
relates to the WWTP. Mr. Schultz invited Board members
take a tour of the new WWTP.
Set
Agenda Items for
July 7, 2014
Town Meeting
1.
Flood
plan ordinance revision
2.
Cluster
development update
III.
Public
Comments –
Calvin B. Haxton, 8803 Hampton Valley Rd.-
commented on the bike trail property dispute. He requested
a setback for the trail be given in feet to have this
matter cleared up; then the trail can move forward from
there. Mr. O’Donnell will meet with property owner.
IV.
SIGN APPROVED TEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS
