Town Council Meeting
January 7, 2010

The January 7, 2010, Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Council President Frank C. Ogens, in the first floor meeting room of the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company. The following members and staff were present: Frank C. Ogens, Council President; Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Vice President; Timothy E. McCluskey, Member; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; Abigail Hill, staff member, Ewing, Dietz, Fountain and Kehoe; and Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Martin Gahley.

Review and Approval of Minutes

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to approve the December 3, 2009 Council minutes as amended. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Announcement of Closed Sessions

Council President Ogens announced that (i) The Town Council met in closed session on December 8, 2009, at 4:05 p.m., at the Town Hall Annex, 105 N Liberty Street, Centreville, Maryland, to discuss personnel and receive legal advice on a legal matter. (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 issues and received legal advice from counsel. The Council discussed the following:

• Utility operations contract and staffing (legal and personnel)
   Legal issue regarding Town property
   Pending annexation agreement from Queen Anne’s County (legal)
   Employment matter (legal and personnel)

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; Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide. Greg Swartz, Director of Public Works, and Mark Durrett, Wastewater and Water Operations Supervisor, attended the beginning of the meeting.

Council President Ogens announced that (i) The Town Council met in closed session on December 16, 2009, at 5:32 p.m., at the Town Hall Annex, 105 N Liberty Street, Centreville, Maryland, to discuss personnel and receive legal advice on a legal matter. (ii) All three members of the Town Council voted to close the session. (iii) The authority to close the session is found in Section 10-508 (a)(1) and Section 10-508 (a)(7)of the State Government Article. (iv) The Council discussed personnel issues and received legal advice from counsel. The Council discussed the following:

• Open meeting board issue (legal)
   Utility Operations contract (legal)
   Employment matter (legal)

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; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; and Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide.

Council President Ogens announced that (i) The Town Council met in closed session on January 7, 2010, at 5:32 p.m., at the Town Hall Annex, 105 N Liberty Street, Centreville, Maryland, to discuss personnel and receive legal advice on legal matters. (ii) All three members of the Town Council voted to close the session. (iii) The authority to close the session is found in Section 10-508 (a)(1) and Section 10-508 (a)(7)of the State Government Article. (iv) The Council discussed personnel issues and received legal advice from counsel. The Council discussed the following:

• Board and Commission appointments (Personnel)
   Employment matter (legal and personnel)
   Pending annexation agreement from Queen Anne’s County (legal)
   Bond Counsel (legal)

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; Abigail Hill, staff member, Ewing, Dietz, Fountain & Kehoe; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; and Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide.

Citizens Forum - None

Appearances

a. Christmas Parade and Tree Decoration Awards

• Mr. Ogens presented trophies to participants in the Christmas Parade and the Tree Decoration event on Lawyer's Row. Pictures were taken by Record Observer staff. Participants were loudly applauded and congratulated by the Town Council, the Christmas Parade Committee and Centreville Alive.

b. Appointment to the Centreville Planning and Zoning Commission

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to appoint Ms. Carol F. Hellmann as member on the Centreville Planning Commission to complete the remainder of a term expiring in April, 2011. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Mr. Ogens read the oath of office and swore in Ms. Hellmann. A picture was taken of Ms. Hellman with Council and with Mr. Chris Frank, chairman of the Planning Commission.

Old Business

a. Vegetative Buffer Planting – Millstream Park

Mr. McGrory presented a color picture that illustrated the three segments of land comprising Area 2 (Mill Stream Creek), which are proposed for planting of a vegetative buffer. David Dahlstrom, Queen Anne’s County, and Eva Kerchner, Centreville’s Watershed Manager of done a lot of the work on the project, the scope of which was prepared by Queen Anne’s County staff and presented as Attachment A, “Scope of Work.” Installation of trees, etc. will be done through a partnership between the County Department of Public Works and Department of Parks and Recreation and DNR. The health of the vegetative plantings will be monitored jointly by the County and the Town. Asked whose project it is, Mr. McGrory said that it is primarily the County’s project but since the areas selected for the vegetative buffer are public land, owned by the Town, the Town has a
vested interest in the project.

Mr. McGrory advised putting this topic on Council’s January 21, 2010 meeting agenda.

New Business

a. Proposal for Professional Services regarding Upgrades to Wastewater Treatment Plant

Mr. Swartz described the professional services proposed by URS to upgrade the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Money will be saved in the operating budget by implementation of three improvements: (1) run a 480 volt electric line from the wastewater treatment plant to the north pump station to eliminate a problem with the soft start starters; (2) install a flow metering vault to record the volume and flow of effluent to the spray-field; (3) install the dissolved oxygen probe within the tanks.

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to approve the URS proposal in a letter dated December 16, 2009 to provide professional services for upgrades to the Centreville Wastewater Treatment Plant at a cost up to $31,000. After discussion, Mr. Pinder seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

b. Proposal to Remove Residuals for Wastewater Treatment Facility Reed Beds (Discussed in closed session.)

c. FOG Strategy - Fats, Oils & Grease Regulations

Mr. Swartz reported on pending legislation concerning the removal/disposal of fats, oils and grease from businesses, etc. to prevent blockage and damage to the Town's sewer lines. Restaurants tend to have this problem more than others, along with grocery stores, etc. Enactment of an ordinance will provide for periodic inspections.

Mr. McCluskey asked where a blockage is apt to appear. Mr. Swartz said the most likely places are in the basement or nearby manhole. The blokcage becomes like concrete. Grease-eating bacteria is one preventative measure.

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

Correspondence

A letter, dated December 22, 2009, was received from the Corsica River Conservancy. They requested that the Town "immediately adopt a practice of prohibiting direct discharge to the River (i.e. Gravel Run)….."

Mr. Pinder suggested that a response be sent to the Corsica River Conservancy noting that the Town has made and continues to make efforts to do its part.

Mr. McCluskey reported that he has talked with Myron Richardson of the CRC and explained the efforts being made by the Town. He suggested including statistical data in the response letter.

Mr. McGrory noted that the Town is fixing sewer lines, replacing manhole covers and that there has been no added impact on the river even though the Town is growing.

Department Head Reports

a. Town Manager

• Mr. McGrory reported that the Public Works Department did very well during the recent snow event. The roads were cleared for emergency vehicles. Mr. Ogens noted that the roads were progressively better each day.

Town staff provided traffic control at intersections during power outages.

Queen Anne's County is dredging the boat launch area at the Wharf.

The Municipal Growth Element has been sent for a sixty-day review.

Work on the Design Standards document is being finalized.

Mr. Pinder remarked that some of the Town's snow equipment is in need of repair. He also reported that work on the coastal plains outfall project is complete.

b. Chief of Police

Chief Rhodes provided a copy of the December statistics to the Town Council and reviewed the contents.

The Police Department is continuing long-term investigations and will be reported when concluded.

There was discussion about the possibility of purchasing or finding a used generator to have on hand during power outages.

c. Town Attorney - No report

Citizens Forum - None

Council Roundtable

Mr. McCluskey reported that the new and colorful park equipment looks great. He said that he has talked with SHA and they are open to meeting with the Town Council in a work session. Several meeting dates and times were suggested. Mr. McCluskey said he would speak with SHA and schedule a time that is agreeable with everyone.

Mr. Pinder asked the status of the contract with Cahall Waste. Mr. McGrory reported that prices are being sought from other contractors and that the new owners of Bandurski are very interested. Mr. McCluskey suggested that a greater emphasis be placed on recycling in the future.

Mr. Pinder suggested that Council schedule work sessions on the Pennsylvania Avenue property and the Wharf property, possibly in February.

Motion to Adjourn

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to adjourn the meeting to go into closed session to discuss personnel and receive legal advice. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion and the January 7, 2010 regular meeting of the Town Council adjourned at 8:50 p.m. by unanimous vote.

Respectfully Submitted,

Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide