Town Council Meeting Minutes

Woodsboro, Maryland
February 4, 2025

The Woodsboro Town Council met today at 7:00 PM in the fellowship room of St. John’s UCC with the following members present:

Burgess Barnes, Commissioners Cutshall, Rittelmeyer, and Eckenrode. Absent from the meeting was Commissioner Case.

There were two guests and eighteen residents in attendance.

Burgess Barnes called the meeting to order and led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance.

After review of the January 2025 minutes, a motion to accept them as presented passed 3 – 0.

After review of the January 2025 financials, a motion to accept them as presented passed 3 – 0.

Under reports from the Commissioners, Commissioner Rittelmeyer reported that he and Burgess Barnes have a meeting with the Water and Sewer Operators on February 6^th.

Commissioner Eckenrode announced that he will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming elections.

Commissioner Cutshall reported on a pothole by the American Legion.

Under New Business, Burgess Barnes reported the budget will be presented during the April Town Meeting and voted on at the May Town Meeting. He informed everyone that he had mistakenly indicated the budget would be presented in March and voted on in April. Burgess Barnes also reported the April Town Meeting will be held on April 1^st.  He then read aloud the section of the Town Charter on presenting the budget.

Burgess Barnes reported on a statement in the Woodsboro-Walkersville Journal that was incorrect. He reported that he did not recently start the 3-minute comment procedure recently. He started this right after becoming Burgess in 2021. He reiterated that it is a 3-minute comment, not a question/answer procedure and that Woodsboro is compliance like other Municipalities.

Under comments from the public, resident Ed Mordan, N. Main Street, opened with a statement about the Public Information Act. He then spoke about the Town Hall that is currently under construction.

Resident Gerald Sando, N. Main Street, was confused about the lead pipe inventory project. He reported another procedure is required to be done by November 2027 and that the town needs to have a plan in place.

Resident David Williams, S. Adams Street, spoke about the cost of the town hall and what it would be costing residents. He informed those in attendance that no one will be paying the same amount because your taxes are based on the states assessment of your home.

Resident Rick Bontz, N. Main Street, questioned a statement about a reporting error fine the town received from MDE as stated in the June 2024 minutes and asked what the violations were. He then spoke of the six cylinders that had to be removed from the WWTP.

After the last comment from the residents, Burgess Barnes offered information to the residents concerning a few of their comments.  He reported the town had two options pertaining to the fine at the WWTP. One was to pay a total of $29,700 over a three-year period or make an offer. The town made an offer to pay a one-time payment of $15,000 and it was accepted. He also reported we do not have 445 residents, it is households.

Commissioner Rittelmeyer reported the hazmat expense for the cylinders was not paid with tax money, it was paid out of the water and sewer fund.

Burgess Barnes reported that eight out of the past twelve months he has tried to explain the General Fund vs. the Water/Sewer Fund expenses. Burgess Barnes also reported the town has nothing to do with the assessments of homes, the State does them.  He also reported the town does not have a building tax.

Resident David Williams, S. Adams Street, spoke again saying that his comments were not to criticize any decision made. His comment meant going forward we cannot sustain this tax. It must come down.

There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting passed 3 – 0.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary E. Rice
Corporation of Woodsboro