town council meeting minutes

Town Council of Centreville April 7, 2022 7:00 p.m.

M I N U T E S

The April 7, 2022 Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Steven K. Kline at the Vincit Building, 110 Vincit Street, Planning & Zoning meeting room. The following members and staff were present:

Steven K. Kline, President; Jeffrey D. Kiel, Vice President; Shelby C. Anania, Eric B. Johnson, Jr., and Ashley H.

Kaiser, Members; Charles (Chip) Koogle, Town Manager; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Clifford (Kip) Matthews, Director of Public Works; Chief Joe Saboury, Centreville Police Department; Karen Luffman, Finance Officer; Krystel Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager; Ashley Russ, Finance Specialist; Chris Jakubiak, Town Planner; and Carolyn Brinkley, Town Clerk.

 Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the March 17, 2022 meeting minutes, as presented. Ms. Anania seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 Mr. Kiel made a motion to approve the March 31, 2022 budget work session minutes, as amended. Ms.

Kaiser seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 Ms. Kaiser made a motion to approve the March 31, 2022 meeting minutes, as amended. Mr. Johnson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Citizens Comments No citizens comments were offered.

Old Business a. Volunteer Appreciation Dinner  Ms. Brinkley stated the January Volunteer Appreciation Dinner was cancelled due to a rise in COVID cases in Queen Anne’s County and would be reconsidered in the Spring.

 After some discussion, the Town Council requested a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner be held in May.

b. Town Hall Physical Improvements  Mr. Johnson discussed the Town Hall improvements be re-bid.

c. Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) Updates & Environmental Studies  Mr. Matthews stated that certain elements of the report are required to be updated by MDE. Initially, the report was edited several times to make it easier to read for the public and Council. Certain criteria are required for how it is to be written, which requires a lot of re-writing of the PER.

 The cost is $90,189 which will initially be paid for through ARPA funds and then reimbursed through the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE).

New Business a. Consideration of Carter Farm – Planned Unit Development (PUD) Application  Mr. Ernie Sota and Mr. Ryan Showalter made the following presentation:

Page 1 of 16 Page 2 of 16 Page 3 of 16 Page 4 of 16  Mr. Jakubiak included the following memo in the Town Council packets for their review:

Page 5 of 16 Page 6 of 16 Page 7 of 16 Page 8 of 16 Page 9 of 16 2022-04-07-TC Draft Minutes.doc Page 10 of 16 2022-04-07-TC Draft Minutes.doc Page 11 of 16  The Centreville Planning Commission also forwarded a memo to the Town Council with their recommendations related to Town Council:

2022-04-07-TC Draft Minutes.doc Page 12 of 16  Ms. Kaiser asked Ms. VanEmburgh what safeguards could be put in place to ensure the properties are maintained and will not require the Town to have to fund any repairs to streets or utilities.

 Ms. VanEmburgh stated the developer could provide initial funding for the HOA; a short-term bond could be put in place; and HOA documents could state that if repairs are not made the Town could put a lien on the property.

 Mr. Showalter stated the HOA documents could include this language and a capitalization fee could be included at settlement to provide initial funding for the HOA.

 Mr. Sota stated that streets included in Phase III exceed the public standard and the woonerfs are designed to support fire trucks, trash trucks, etc.

 Mr. Sota reported that in Phase III the sewer will be gravity fed and the roads exceed the current required standards.

 Mr. Koogle stated that the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) stated that Phase III should be kept as private so as not to have part of the development public and part of the development private. The Planning Commission requested the developer make Phase III public.

 Mr. Kline made a motion to grant conditional approval of the Planned Unit Development District for the Carter Farm site. Mr. Johnson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 Mr. Kline stated that he likes the look and is supportive of the project.

 Ms. Kaiser thanked Mr. Sota for providing the public the opportunity to review and comment on the project.

b. Resolution 02-2022  Mr. Kiel read Resolution 02-2022 for the purpose of authorizing the execution of a license agreement to allow a fence to be replaced and expanded in the unimproved portion of Brookfield Drive near its intersection with Maryland Route 213.

 Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve Resolution 02-2022, as amended. Ms. Anania seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

c. Board/Commission Member Reappointments  Ms. Brinkley provided the following memo:

2022-04-07-TC Draft Minutes.doc Page 13 of 16  Ms. Kaiser made a motion to reappoint all members listed. Mr. Kiel seconded the motion. The motion was amended to appoint Nancy Emerick to a full member of the Planning Commission to a five-year term. The motion passed unanimously.

 Mr. Kline made a motion to appoint Wendy Emerson to a full member of the Planning Commission to a five-year term. Ms. Anania seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

Reports of Boards and Commissions a. Maryland Municipal League  Ms. Kaiser had nothing to report.

b. Economic Development  Mr. Johnson discussed the business training that Carol D’Agostino is providing and requested allowing businesses outside of Centreville attend.

 He will be meeting with Mr. Koogle, Paige Tilghman, and Carol D’Agostino to discuss alternatives to the Centreville Economic Development Authority. He will also be inviting Linda Friday, Director of the Queen Anne’s County Chamber of Commerce and Heather Tinelli, Director of Tourism and Economic Development for Queen Anne’s County.

c. Park Advisory Board  Ms. Anania reported that Arbor Day will be celebrated on April 29th. Students from Centreville Elementary School will walk down to participate again this year.

 The Park Advisory Board is preparing a letter for the Town Council to sign in support of the proposed dog park at White Marsh Park.

d. Council of Governments  Mr. Kiel reported that the QAC COG will meet on April 13th.

e. Centreville Planning Commission  Mr. Kline stated the Planning Commission has not met since the Council’s previous meeting.

Reports of Department Heads o Town Manager:

 Mr. Koogle reported the following:

o The overall effort to engage with the delegation regarding funding for the wastewater treatment plant has been very positive.

o Letters of support will be going to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) Secretary Ben Grumbles for funding of the renovation and upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant.

o Earmark funding applications were submitted to the offices of Senator VanHollen and Senator Cardin for $4 million. Letters of support from Symphony Village and Carter Farm were included in these applications.

o Ms. Kaiser noted that the outreach Mr. Koogle and Mr. Matthews did to Symphony Village was a huge help in this process.

o Ms. Kaiser recognized and thanked Mr. Koogle for his efforts in helping to solicit funding for the upgrade to the wastewater treatment plant.

o Thirty-three code violations so far this year and four (4) are still open.

o LGIT provided a reimbursement check to the Town over $109,000. Mr. Koogle suggested to the Town Council to use this money to cover the health insurance premiums for the Town and employee portions for the next seven (7) pay periods. By consensus, the Town Council agreed.

b. Chief of Police  Chief Saboury reported on the following:

o Transitioned to the Queen Anne’s County records management system.

o Officer Holden and K9 Cash will graduate on April 8th.

o Completed the first of two firearms training.

o An officer attended a training session to train other officers on laser and radar.

c. Town Attorney  Ms. VanEmburgh had nothing to report.

2022-04-07-TC Draft Minutes.doc Page 14 of 16 d. Director of Public Works  Mr. Matthews provided the following memo:

 Mr. Johnson made a motion to authorize Davis Bowen & Friedel, Inc.’s proposal to evaluate the North, the South, and the Route 18 interceptors at a price not to exceed $89,900. Ms. Kaiser seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

 Mr. Matthews reported on the following:

o Working with Salisbury University for GIS mapping of the Town’s utilities which is paid for through a grant. The first draft was sent for review.

o A request for proposal is out for bid for the drying beds.

o Tuesday night’s storm caused the wastewater treatment plant issues but no reported violations and overflows. Mr. Matthews attributed this to his staff. The Town Council asked to send their thanks and appreciation to the staff.

e. Human Resources  Ms. Ebaugh reported on the following:

o Attended Benecon’s annual health seminar which includes members of other municipalities and counties. The focus was how COVID has affected insurance premiums, etc.

o April 12th she will be attending LGIT’s property and liability renewal session.

o Continuing to review the personnel manual.

o Mr. Johnson asked if there have been any changes, HR related, on police reform? Ms. Ebaugh stated she has not discussed any with Chief Saboury. He asked to keep in contact with Chief and monitor. Chief Saboury stated he has a meeting on April 21st.

f. Town Clerk  Ms. Brinkley reported the following:

o The Sustainable Communities application that was submitted in February has been reviewed. One change needed to be made and was submitted for final review.

o All boat slips have been rented but two. So far, she has gone through approximately 20 people on the waiting list.

Citizens Comments No citizen comments were offered.

Council Roundtable  Ms. Kaiser had nothing to report.

 Mr. Johnson had nothing to report.

 Ms. Anania had nothing to report.

 Mr. Kiel reported that the paving project from the Millstream bridge to 301 that the Council wrote the State Highway Administration about will begin in May. There was some discussion regarding parking at the Wharf and what can be done. Mr. Kiel brought up the subject of hunting at the Town’s water reuse farm. It was decided to discuss this after the budget process is completed.

 Mr. Kline had nothing to report.

2022-04-07-TC Draft Minutes.doc Page 15 of 16 Motion to Adjourn There being no further business, Ms. Kaiser made a motion to adjourn the April 7, 2022 Town Council meeting. Mr.

Johnson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Carolyn M. Brinkley Town Clerk Council Action Items:

1. Approved the March 17, 2022 meeting minutes, as presented.

2. Approved the March 31, 2022 budget work session minutes, as amended.

3. Approved the March 31, 2022 meeting minutes, as amended.

4. Granted conditional approval of the Planned Unit Development District for the Carter Farm site.

5. Resolution 02-2022 for the purpose of authorizing the execution of a license agreement to allow a fence to be

replaced and expanded in the unimproved portion of Brookfield Drive near its intersection with Maryland Route 213.

6. Appointed:

 Mitchell Delaney – Planning Commission – 5-year term  Steve Layden – Board of Appeals – 3-year term  Lucy Ickes-Marks – Ethics Commission – 3-year term  Priscilla Mileski – Park Advisory Board – 3-year term  Gene Magary – Park Advisory Board – 3-year term  Ryan Holdgreve – Park Advisory Board – 3-year term  Fred McNeil – Park Advisory Board – 3-year term  Dan Kober – Personnel Review Board – 3-year term

7. Appointed Nancy Emerick as a full member of the Planning Commission to a five-year term.

8. Appointed Wendy Emerson as a full member of the Planning Commission to a five-year term.

9. By consensus, the Town Council agreed to use the reimbursement check from LGIT for over $109,000 to

cover the health insurance premiums for the Town and employee portions for the next seven (7) pay periods.

10. Approved Davis Bowen & Friedel, Inc.’s proposal to evaluate the North, the South, and the Route 18

interceptors at the price not to exceed $89,900.

2022-04-07-TC Draft Minutes.doc Page 16 of 16