MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
October 20, 2014
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present:
Mayor Donald Briggs; Commissioners Clifford Sweeney, Joseph
Ritz, Jennifer Mellor, Glenn Blanchard and Tim O’Donnell,
President.
Staff present were Amy Naill and Dave Haller, Town Manager.
_________________________________________________________________________
I.
Call to Order
Commissioner Tim O’Donnell, President of the Board of
Commissioners, called the October 20, 2014 Town Meeting to
order at 7:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval
of Minutes
The Minutes of the October 6, 2014 Town Meeting were
approved as presented.
Commissioner Comments
Commissioners cited attendances to include the Fallen Fire
Fighters memorial service. Announcements and upcoming
events the Getty station on South Seton Ave., is now Valero;
the turkey trot and the Mother Seton School Walk/Run event
held at Mount Saint Mary’s.
Mayor’s Comments
Mayor Briggs attended the Fallen Firefighters event, honored
107 fallen fire fighters; the 90th Anniversary of
Emmitsburg High School. His announcements included that a
commercial kiosk was installed on the square, it was well
done and well received; turkey trot on Thanksgiving Day; and
the Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. The SHA has assigned a
planner design team leader and staff is in contact with
them. On behalf of the town Mr. Haller will receive an award
from Maryland Energy Administration for reducing energy use
in the Town by 15%.
Administrative Business
·
Citizens Advisory Committee – reappointment of Zenus Sykes
and Ed Lowry. Add Mark Walker as a new member. Unanimous
consent from the Board.
·
Remove Ann Kulcheski from Citizens Advisory Committee
pursuant her request. Unanimous consent from Board.
·
MORE would like to have Board of Directors meeting in town
office Sunday November 9, 2014 – Commissioner O’Donnell will
be here to open and lock up.
Consent Agenda - none
Reports:
Town Manager Report
- reported on the public works department monthly
activities to include a water production and consumption
analysis. Dave Haller highlighted that the water table has
dropped and the pool has been winterized. Town Planners
Report – Mr. Haller updated on the Dollar General Store:
present owner needs to remove the building. The proper plats
have been approved and legal documents completed. He
highlighted the site plan information for potential
commercial project on Silo Hill Parkway appears to be the
relocation of the liquor store; staff reviewed and provided
comments regarding concept plan for commercial land east of
US 15. Detailed report at Exhibit A.
Police Report
- Deputy Patterson reported on September 2014 police
activity. Detailed report at Exhibit B.
II. Agenda Items
Proposal for the solar project phase II
Jack Copus, Vice President of Business Development of
Standard Solar gave a power point presentation. He commented
they use third party financing. For Phase I and Phase II
they use UGI performance solutions. He gave a review on
Phase I. Phase II will be a little bit larger system of 1.29
Mega Watt ground mount with an estimated production of
1,683,000 kWh in first year. The rate will be 6.8 cents with
a 2% escalator. Phase II will serve the new Waste Water
Treatment Plant. Phase II is scheduled to be installed by
June 2015. The combined systems of Phase I and Phase II is
estimated to provide 94% of the electricity that the town
consumes by solar. The only meters that are not included are
meters that are not based on a kWh production such as street
lights. Phase II is also a 20 year term, no up-front cost.
He explained that UGI paid the dollars to install the
system; they own the asset, they sell the electricity
produced by the array to the Town. There are three options
at the end of a power purchase agreement 1. Buy the system
at fair market value 2. Have the system removed at no cost
to the town and the land restored to its original state 3.
Re-negotiate and renew the contract for 5 year increments.
System is monitored regularly and panels will be replaced
Board as needed. Attorney Matt Pirnot who represents the
Town of Emmitsburg gave them a summary copy of the terms of
the contract and proceeded to go over the terms. Two major
changes to this contract were the start date for this
contractwas postponed until the WWTP was expected to be
online and the rate is a little lower. The obligations of
the town are to provide land for the solar project, pay for
the power that is generated and to not interfere with the
solar project. There was a brief discussion on the easement
of access. The questioned was raised on how the savings of
one million over a 20 year term would be passed onto the
residents/users of the town. Mr. Haller responded the user
or citizen benefits by lower sewer rates.
Motion:
to accept the power purchase agreement with Standard Solar
with the REA.
Motion made by Commissioner Blanchard and second by
Commissioner Mellor.
Vote: 5-0
in favor
Motion:
to approve the 20 year lease agreement for 7.64 acres as
well as the access easement of 9,031 square feet.
Motion made by Commissioner Mellor and seconded by
Commissioner Sweeney.
Vote: 5-0
in favor
Sustainable procurement policy
Mayor Briggs stated the town has applied to be a Maryland
Certified Sustainable Community in which the Town of
Emmitsburg needs to have a green team which has been done
and a certain amount of points need to be earned. The Town
is very close to becoming a certified sustainable community
in the state of Maryland. With the procurement, the town
will look to do business with “green companies”. Mr. Haller
interjected that the town practices much of this already
even though it not necessarily part of the code. He totally
supports the item and suggested moving forward and putting
it in the town code.
Motion:-
To accept the sustainable procurement policy as presented.
Motion made by Commissioner Ritz and second by Commissioner
Sweeney.
Vote: 5-0
in favor
Subsequent funding for WWTP
Mr. Haller referred the Board to page 97 of the packet where
in April 2014 staff reported to the Board that MDE reduced
its funding for the WWTP and that staff spoke with USDA
about possible replacing some of that funding. At that time
the terms were $1,000,000 in grant and $1,001,000 in a loan
for 2.5% for forty years. The Board directed staff to move
forward. Staff now has a commitment for the exact terms
given back in April 2014 and is presenting it to the Board
tonight for any questions so it can be brought back with the
final bank documents at the next meeting for approval and
signature. This will be a bridge loan by PNC bank until the
WWTP is finished. When the plant is finished USDA will sell
bonds and take PNC out of it.
Set Agenda Items for November 3, 2014 Town Meeting
1. Presentation on Cluster Development Ordinance - review
2. Code of Conduct Ordinance
3. Final signing of USDA loan documents
4. Signing of the Solar Ordinance
5. Seton Village Public Meeting - requirement of CDBG grant
money
III. Public Comments
- none
IV.
SIGN APPROVEDTEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS
V. Adjournment
With no further business, the October 20, 2014 Town Meeting
was adjourned at 9:04 p.m.
