Town Council Meeting
October 1, 2009

The October 1, 2009, Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:18 p.m. by Council President Frank Ogens in the first floor meeting room of the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company. The following members and staff were present: Frank C. Ogens, President; Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Vice President; Timothy E. McCluskey, Member; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; Charlie Rhodes, Police Chief; Greg Swartz, Director of Public Works; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; PJ. Townsend, Town Clerk; and Norma Robinson, Secretary. Also in attendance were Park Advisory Board Members Bob Elliot, Vice President; Sandy Simpson, Secretary; and Sarah Berlin, Member.

Bob Elliot led the pledge of allegiance.

Review and Approval of Minutes

Timothy McCluskey made a motion to approve minutes from the September 17, 2009, regular meeting. Norman Pinder seconded the motion and it 2-0 with one abstention (Ayes: Pinder, McCluskey; Abstain: Ogens).

Announcement of Closed Sessions

Council President Ogens announced that (i) The Town Council met in closed session on September 21, 2009, at 3:30 p.m., at the Town Hall Annex, 105 N Liberty Street, Centreville, Maryland, to discuss personnel. (ii) All three members of the Town Council voted to close the session. (iii) The authority to close the session is found in Sections 10-508(a)(1)(i) and (ii), and (7), of the State Government Article. (iv) The Council discussed personnel and received legal advice from counsel. The Council took no actions. The following members and staff were present: Frank C. Ogens, President; Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Vice President; Timothy E. McCluskey, Member; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; and PJ. Townsend, Town Clerk.

He then announced that (i) The Town Council met in closed session on October 1, 2009, at 5:00 p.m., at the Town Hall Annex, 105 N Liberty Street, Centreville, Maryland, to discuss personnel and receive legal advice. (ii) All three members of the Town Council voted to close the session. (iii) The authority to close the session is found in Sections 10-508(a)(1)(i) and (ii), and (7), of the State Government Article. (iv) The Council discussed personnel and received legal advice from counsel. The Council directed the Town Attorney to create a legal agreement and authorized the Town Manager to execute it. The following members and staff were present: Frank C. Ogens, President; Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Vice President; Timothy E. McCluskey, Member; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; and Bob McGrory, Town Manager.

Citizens Forum – No comments.

Appearances

a. Richard Ryan: Oath for Park Advisory Board - Mr. Ogens read the oath of office, swearing in Mr. Ryan as a member to the Park Advisory Board.

b. John McCoy, Maryland Department of Natural Resources: Corsica River Scorecard – Mr. McCoy provided an update regarding funding for the creation of a storm water utility. Mr. McGrory thanked Mr. McCoy for the additional $24,000 provided and introduced Jen Didenger from the University of Maryland.

Old Business

a. Pennsylvania Avenue Freight Station – This topic was deferred.

b. Railroad Avenue Streetscape – Mr. McGrory reviewed the options presented earlier by URS. There was a question about parallel parking adjacent to the municipal parking lot. The second option being considered and evaluated by URS is the installation of a hiker/biker lane. Mr. McCluskey reported that URS is concerned that the addition of parallel parking could cause logjams. He added that he would not be in favor of option one, but would vote yes for a hiker/biker lane.

Mr. McCluskey moved to approve URS's continued planning drawings for Railroad Avenue, excluding the parallel parking option, (Option #1) and including the installation of a hiker-biker lane, adding crosswalks to the hiker/biker lane at Railroad Avenue at the approximate crossing of the old railroad tracks. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

c. MD 213 Sewer Rehabilitation and MD 304 Sewer Rehabilitation – The summaries from the bids opened on September 23, 2009 were reviewed. It was noted that the bidders met the deadline for the bid opening. The project entails the installation of cementitious pipe and new laterals.

Mr. Ogens asked if the Town had used any of these companies for previous projects. Mr. McGrory said yes and that URS is currently evaluating the bids. Council will be given a recommendation based on URS’s evaluation.

Mr. Pinder requested reassurance that the laterals could be installed without tearing up the road. Mr. McGrory advised that most of the laterals and clean-outs could be installed with only spot disruptions.

New Business

a. Maryland Chesapeake & Coastal Program’s Coastal Communities Initiative: Corsica River Stormwater Utility - Mr. McGrory gave an overview of the project. The Town had worked in collaboration with the County, the Corsica River Conservancy, and Chesapeake Wildlife Heritage to put together the 2010 grant application. The scope of work that accompanied the funding is now part of the agreement. The originals will be provided after Mr. Kehoe has reviewed them.

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to approve the initiative for the Corsica River Stormwater Utility pending the Town Attorney's review. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

b. Banjo Lane, Coastal Plains Outfall Grant: Memorandum of Understanding - Mr. McGrory explained that this project involves the installation coastal plains outfall which includes the creation of step pools to enhance water quality. He reported that the original funding was from MDE and this is a second leg to compensate for a shortfall in project funds. Some of the funding will provide a little extra for project management for this project on Turpin's Farm behind DPW.

Mr. Pinder made a motion to approve the MOU. In discussion Mr. McCluskey inquired when the project would begin. Mr. McGrory said that the bidder has been standing by and is holding the bid price. Mr. McCluskey seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Announcements

Mr. Ogens read announcements for the information of the Council, staff, and public.

Correspondence

Mr. Ogens reviewed Council correspondence for the information of the public. Mr. Ogens asked citizens to advise Council if there are any issues they would like to bring before the Town Council and announced the dates of Council meetings.

Department Head Reports

a. Town Manager

• Mr. McGrory noted a letter from the State Highway Administration regarding striping of parking stalls. If the Town defines the locations request, SHA could then authorize the Town to do the striping. An incorrect crosswalk sign at Fayette Street will be replaced.

Work is being done with Mark Freestate to update the Town’s insurance coverage.

Mr. Pinder reported that civic organizations want to place signs around Town and suggested the Town work with them to provide a ground sleeve for easier posting and to eliminate the use of sand bags. The three locations where civic signs will be placed are: Police Department, Millstream Park, and Kidwell at Railroad Avenue.

• Mr. Pinder asked about the status of work at Gravel Run. Mr. Swartz gave an update.

Mr. McGrory reported that McCrone has submitted an engineering contract proposal for the Wharf and explained the proposal.

Mr. Pinder asked about the funding for the Wharf project. Thirty thousand dollars has been allotted for the additional work.

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to approve the proposal submitted by McCrone for $12,000. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Mr. McGrory reported that the Wharf clean-up day was low key, but productive.

Mr. McGrory met with the Environmental Advisory Committee last night and discussed the remaining budget for the 319 program which ends the end of this year. It is hoped to find a balance between the creation of a storm water entity and to have sufficient budget remaining for code changes.

Mr. Pinder asked about the design standards budget. Mr. McGrory advised he is working with URS to identify the additional cost estimate and what needs to be done to complete the design standards. Mrs. Brice added that the Planning Commission will rework the document based on public comment. It will then be forwarded to the Town Council for review and public hearing.

• Mr. Pinder asked about repairs to Newnam Avenue. Mr. McGrory said that the bid information would be consolidated and then submitted to Council for its review.

Mr. McGrory reported that Chief Rhodes gave an impressive presentation at Symphony Village last evening.

b. Chief of Police
Chief Rhodes reviewed September’s statistics and read the Task Force report for activity on Little Kidwell.

c. Town Attorney – No report.

d. Town Clerk
Ms. Townsend reported on the Park Advisory Boards progress regarding bids for Millstream Park. It was a consensus of the Town Council to move forward with a re-bid for the paving portion of the project as presented.

Citizens Forum

Bo Oristian, Doc’s Riverside Grill - Fund-Raiser

Mary Margaret Revell Goodwin, 221 North Commerce Street - Paint the Town Pink.

Council Roundtable

President Ogens: President Ogens reported that Nick Barbalace has resigned from the Planning Commission.

Council Member McCluskey:  Mr. McCluskey mentioned that Centreville Alive! is gaining momentum, working on bylaws, incorporation, and a web domain.

Motion to Adjourn

Timothy McCluskey made a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded by Norman Pinder and the September 3, 2009, regular meeting adjourned at 8:00 p.m., by unanimous vote.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide