Town Council Meeting
February 4, 2010

The February 4, 2010, Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by 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, President; Norman P. Pinder, Jr., Vice President; Timothy E. McCluskey, Member; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; Lori Peddicord, Finance Officer; Charlie Rhodes, Chief of Police; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; Abigail Hill Attorney; and Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide.

Mr. Ogens led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Review and Approval of Minutes

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to approve the January 21, 2010 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 February 4, 2010, at 5:00 p.m. at the Town Hall Annex, 105 North Liberty Street, Centreville, Maryland, to discuss personnel issues and to receive advice from legal counsel. (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:

• Legal advice regarding pending litigation.
• Legal advice regarding a prospective annexation agreement east of town
• Legal advice regarding a prospective Public Works Agreement for Spring Street.
• Personnel issues in the Centreville Police Department.

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; Chief Charlie Rhodes; Steve Kehoe, Town Attorney; and Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide. Emmett McGee participated by phone for a portion of the meeting.

Citizens Forum

Mary Roby, 203 South Liberty Street, offered comments. Mr. Pinder said that the Town Council will take a “wait and see” position regarding the proposed training center in Ruthsburg.

Appearances

a. Presentation of Certificate of Appreciation to Dr. Julio Ramirez

The Town Council presented Dr. Ramirez with a Certificate of Appreciation for his
sponsorship of the Tree Decorating Contest during the annual Centreville Christmas Town Council Meeting

Parade. Ms. Kara Snyder of Centreville Alive was recognized for her efforts supporting the contest.

b. Appointment to the Centreville Board of Supervisors of Elections

Mr. Ogens introduced Mr. John C. Beskid as a candidate for consideration for
appointment to the Board of Supervisors of Elections.

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to appoint John Beskid to a three year term on the Board of Supervisors of Elections. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion which passed
unanimously. Mr. Ogens administered the oath of office to Mr. Beskid, swearing him in to a three year term on the Board of Supervisors of Elections.

c. William Seymour, SB and Company - Re: FY 2010 Audit

Mr. Bill Seymour, SB and Company, presented a description of the audit conducted for the Town of Centreville for the period beginning July 1, 2008 and ending June 30, 2009. He stated that Centreville’s audit is an unqualified clean audit with no fraud, no significant weaknesses, and no audit adjustments needed.

Mr. Pinder asked if there is any area the Town Council should be paying attention to. Mr. Seymour stated there were not, and that if there were areas of concern, he would have requested a meeting with Council before the final report

Mr. Seymour thanked Council for the opportunity to be of service.

Old Business

a. Kevin Shearon, DMS and Associates - Re: Spring Street Planned Redevelopment

Mr. Shearon provided information regarding the planned redevelopment of Spring
Street property owned by Mr. Michael Bozek. The land consists of two parcels, 5.5 acres, on which it is proposed to construct condos and townhouses numbering 59 units at a density of 11 per acre. The area is identified as a Planned Redevelopment Area (PRA) in the Community Plan. The applicant is requesting approval of a text amendment to increase the allowable bulk density in a PRA and a change in zoning to PRA (R-3). Mr. Shearon reported that the Planning Commission has given a favorable recommendation to the concept plan.

In further description, Mr. Shearon said there is sufficient land for a pocket park which could become part of the Town’s trail system and connect with the trail at Millstream Park. Mr. McCluskey said it would be good to have a walkway from the complex to Kennard Elementary School.

In further discussion, it was reported that most of the parking will be onsite with the
remainder being on Spring Street. Water and sewer lines will need to be analyzed to determine their condition.

Mr. McGrory suggested that the text amendment could be introduced at the Council’s next meeting, February 18, 2010. Mr. Shearon suggested March 4, 2010 as an alternative for introduction of the text amendment as they need time to complete engineering and preparation of the preliminary site plan for the Planning Commission.

Old Business

a. Wharf Property

Mr. Pinder said he would like Council to reconsider the decision to move the old
playground equipment from the Millstream Park to the Wharf property. His primary concern is safety with it being only 25 feet from the road and that the access is not good. Mr. Ogens said he would like to take a look at the location before offering his opinion.

The original decision to have the playground equipment there was to have it be a
walk-through area for people living nearby.

Mr. McCluskey respectfully disagreed with Mr. Pinder’s opinion, noting that the Park Advisory Board had given serious thought to the location and that no accidents have occurred since the installation of bollards on Front Street. He reported that Freestate Insurance has affirmed the security of the location and he does not want to limit any future decisions relative to the Wharf property. Mr. McCluskey suggested cleaning up the area and including temporary parking.

b. Watson Road Parking

Mr. McGrory reported that he has discussed parking on Watson Road with Mr. Todd Mohn of the Queen Anne’s County Public Works Department. Mr. Mohn said he had no objection to restricting the parking on one side. Mr. Ogens requested Chief Rhodes’ opinion. Chief Rhodes recommended restricting
parking on the right hand side (going north) of Watson Road.

Nathan Powell, Fire Chief, had provided a letter on this matter and advised that the single lane created by parking on both sides of Watson Road makes for a very narrow passage for fire equipment and that the fire company would support any measure that restricts parking to one side of the street only. He also requested painting the curb by the fire hydrant located near Cornell Maritime Press.

Mr. Pinder made a motion to post No Parking, Stopping, or Standing on the east side of Watson Road. Mr. Ogens seconded the motion for the purpose of discussion. There was a question about where boaters, etc. would park and what the impact would be on other areas. It was decided to do further research and to continue the discussion at the next meeting.

New Business

a. Ordinance No. 01-2010 – Maryland Water Quality Financing Administration, Second Reading

Mr. Kehoe introduced and began the second reading of Ordinance No. 01-2010. Mr. McCluskey made a motion to dispense with the reading of the ordinance in its entirety and to put it into public record. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Mr. McGrory reported that Ordinance No. 01-2010 capitalizes the construction of Well #5 at a very good interest rate.

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to approve Ordinance 01-2010, Maryland Water
Quality Financing Administration. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.

b. Synagro – Bid for Removal of Residual Biosolids

Mr. McGrory described the project which will remove residuals from the reed beds at the wastewater treatment plant. There are estimated to be 880 tons to be removed at a cost of $117 per ton.

Ms. Peddicord advised that some funds can be moved from Capital Improvements to the Enterprise Fund to cover the expense of this project.

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to approve the proposal submitted by Synagro for the removal of residual biosolids from the reed beds at the wastewater treatment plant up to $117 per ton. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Announcements

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

Correspondence

Mr. Ogens reported that the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce has requested that the Town Council place an advertisement in the Chamber's new map for $425. Mr. Pinder made a motion not to participate in the placement of an
advertisement in the Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce map. Mr.
McCluskey seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

The Queen Anne's County Commissioners sent a letter advising of the Tax Set-Off
meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. at 107 North Liberty Street.

Department Head Reports

a. Town Manager

Mr. McGrory advised he has been working on some computer issues with the
Centreville Police Department. He reported he had a very good staff meeting with members of the Public Works Department. Employees discussed potential cost savings of having a uniform allowance rather than renting from a uniform company.

Snow removal is progressing well. The Goodwill Fire Company has asked the Town to assist in removing snow from their front driveway apron for emergency vehicles.

It was moved and seconded by Mr. Pinder and Mr. McCluskey, respectively, to
approve the fire company's request. The motion passed unanimously.

Mr. McGrory reported that a $99,000 Waterway Improvement grant for use on one of the Wharf properties has been put in the budget submitted by the Governor to the State Legislature. If approved by the State Legislature, this funding would be
available on July 1, 2010.

b. Chief of Police

Chief Rhodes handed out the statistical report for January.  He reported that the department is in the process of upgrading computer equipment.

c. Town Attorney - Nothing to report

d. Finance Officer

Ms. Peddicord provided the Council members with a print-out of revenues and
expenditures. She reported that 50% of the projected expenditures have been spent.

Ms. Peddicord requested Council's input as to the format of the report. Mr. Ogens
suggested it be simplified to make it easier to read.

Citizens Forum

Mary Roby, 203 South Liberty Street, offered comments.

Council Roundtable

Mr. McCluskey reported that the new Small Town Bakery will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony next week. He also reported that another meeting will be scheduled with the State Highway Administration. Possible days for that meeting are March 15, 16, l7, or 18.

Mr. Pinder inquired about the moving of the sign at the business park. Mr. McCluskey reported that SHA is going to do that. Mr. McGrory said they will also install a rubber curb. Mr. Pinder asked the status of identifying cross walks on
Commerce Street. Mr. McCluskey reported that SHA has stated that work on the
crosswalks will commence as soon as weather permits. The crosswalks to be done are Church Lane, Water Street, Broadway, Lawyer's Row, Fayette Street and the crosswalk from the old plant sleeve building across to Millstream Park, if the Town
installs the connecting sidewalk and the budget allows.

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to direct the Town Manager to plan installation of the sidewalk to the Millstream Park. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion which passed unanimously.

Motion to Adjourn

Mr. Pinder made a motion to adjourn the meeting and go into closed session. Mr. McCluskey seconded the motion and the February 4, 2010 regular meeting of the Town Council adjourned at 9:10 p.m. by unanimous vote.

Respectfully Submitted,
Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide