MINUTES
TOWN MEETING
MAY 18, 2015
Emmitsburg Town Office
Present:
Mayor Donald Briggs;
Commissioners Clifford Sweeney; Jennifer Mellor, Glenn
Blanchard and Tim O’Donnell, President.
Staff
present were Amy Naill and Dave Haller, Town Manager
Absent:
Joseph Ritz III with prior notice
I.
Call
to Order
Commissioner Tim O’Donnell, President of the Board of
Commissioners, called the May 18, 2015 Town Meeting to order
at 7:30 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
Approval
of Minutes
The Minutes of the May 4, 2015 Town Meeting were approved as
presented.
Commissioner
Comments
Commissioner(s) cited meetings, recognitions and announcements
to include meeting with new staff of Ambulance Co. 26 which is
back in service; shrubbery at Jubliee and Silo hill looks very
nice; upcoming MML meeting for POS, someone from town needs to
be present to get request; attendance of the Mother Seton
Carnival; meeting with a group that promotes healthy activity,
maybe another resource to help promote community day. There
was a successful trail day on May 17th.
Announcement was made of a upcoming meeting with Homes of
America and a meet and greet with county council in June.
Congratulations to the Town of Brunswick for piloting a new
multi user trail.
Mayor’s
Comments
Mayor Briggs commented on many items to include:
·
Troop
727 – plantings
·
Twitter
account for the town – instant updates
·
June
is Community Heritage Month
·
50/50
state grant monies
·
Frederick
County Work Source Group
·
Power
Star technology- looking at a contract
·
Receiving
an award for FC Sustainability
·
Wrap
up meeting on tourism signage
·
Vacancies
on the Ethics Committee
·
Phase
II of Solar project coming online this summer
·
WWTP
will start up in June
·
Planning
Commission started review – hope to send to state on 26th
of May
·
Gave
pool party dates – July 10, 24th and August 7th
·
Energy
Efficient upgrades through the county
Mayor
Briggs spoke on the 50/50 state grant funding for improvements
for downtown, starting the 4th round totaling
$200,000 in grant money for 2016 which makes the downtown
worth $400,000.
Administrative
Business – none
Consent
Agenda – none
Reports:
Town Manger’s Report – reported
on the public works department monthly activities to include a
water production and consumption analysis. Mr. Haller
highlighted town had RFP paving repair 3 storm drain inlets;
had Frederick County Paving mill and pave several streets in
town; staff repaired one of the historic Emmitsburg signs what
was hit by a car; water table, snow helps more than rain; town
had one small spill of untreated sewerage at manhole #98;
trash will be picked up on Tuesday the 26th because
of the holiday. Staff turned water on in parks and repaired
some water leaks in the little league concession stand. Board
inquired about Children crossing sign on Federal Ave and
Depaul disappeared, 4105 Carrick Ct., small water plate in the
street leaking water; Doughboy statue street light out. Town
Planner’s Report – Mr. Haller highlighted there has
been a lot of progress on the draft of Comp Plan. Ms. Cipperly
believes the draft may be approved within the next couple of
weeks and then brought to the Board.
Detailed report at Exhibit A.
Police
Report – Deputy
Patterson reported on April 2015 police activity. Commissioner
O’Donnell would like helmet stops or violations on police
report. Detailed
report at Exhibit B.
II.
Agenda Items
Recommendation
on bids for the purchase of a new pick-up truck
Mr.
Haller commented that the money for the truck is in this
fiscal year’s budget and pursuant to the purchase ordinance
staff is required to get three bids and bring to the Board.
Mr. Haller presented the bids and stated that the town has
dealt with all three bidders in the past. Staff recommends the
lowest bid from Wantz Chevrolet.
Motion:
-
to accept staff recommendation of low bid from Want Chevrolet
to purchase a ¾ ton 4x4 pickup truck with snow plow package
for $34,592.00.
Motion
made by Commissioner Blanchard and seconded by Commissioner
Mellor.
Vote – 4-0 in
favor.
Budget
Review and Discussion
Mr.
Haller stated that staff will go through the budget section by
section. Cole Tabler, Town Accountant presented the budget and
stated that it is very similar to last year’s budget. State
funding is a little different this year; last year town got a
one time SHA grant. Mr. Tabler reported that he met with the
town manager, mayor and department heads and reviewed three
quarters of the year, base upon that they made some slight
changes. He highlighted the general fund and outlined the
revenues and expenses. He reported there is a inter-fund
transfer to Capital Projects this year for $127,859.00;
referred to page 16 of the budget and went over different
areas the monies will be allocated. In reference to the
revenue some items are direct amounts given by state or county
and some are estimates. Revenue is 4% lower this year.
Mayor
Briggs commented on item#373 Town Square reserved funds and
stated that in the past there was discussion that the
expectations of the town to compliment the $700,000 to
$800,000 that the SHA was putting into it.
The Town would be expecting to put in $150,000, which
will come back to the Board first, it is not an automatic;
this is for some of the things they will not cover.
Also, there will be at least $140,000, if the town goes
through with the trail to the Mount.
It is moving along pretty well with an 80% grant; it
keeps expanding and it will be a 10ft paved section.
Mr. Haller interjected that the County, Town and Mount
will each put up $140,000 and the state will put up the 80%.
There
was some discussion on salary breakdowns in multiple
departments, dog park cost; more expenses with the new waste
water treatment plan coming online and cable TV franchise fee
and when it was up for review. Board will review budget
further and bring back at next meeting with more questions.
Motion:
to
continue fiscal year 2016 budget proposal at next town
meeting.
Motion
made by Commissioner Sweeney and seconded by Commissioner
Blanchard.
Vote – 4-0 in
favor
Set
Agenda Items for June 1, 2015 Town Meeting
1.
Assembly report from Delegate Afzail
2.
Consideration of the draft budget
for FY 2016
3.
Review of flagged line of the family
multi user trail – Administrative
Business
4.
Recommendation for Ethics Committee
– Consent Agenda
III.
Public Comments – none
IV.
SIGN APPROVED TEXT AMENDMENTS AND/OR RESOLUTIONS - none
V.
Adjournment
With no further
business, the May 18, 2015 Town Meeting was adjourned at 8:42
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Vickie L. Felix
Recording Secretary
Date Approved: June 1, 2015
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