Meeting Minutes

Woodsboro, Maryland
April 26, 2011

The regular scheduled Workshop Meeting of the Woodsboro Town Council was held on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at the Town Hall with the following members present:

Burgess Smith, Commissioners Brakebill, Rittelmeyer, Rensberger and Eaves.

Burgess Smith called the meeting to order.

There was three residents in attendance.

After review of the March 2011 minutes a motion to accept them as presented passed 3 – 0 with Commissioner Brakebill abstaining from the vote.

Burgess Smith announced Joel Rensberger and Donald Trimmer were nominated for Town Commissioner at the April Town Meeting and asked if there were any other nominations. There were none.

Commissioner Brakebill reported on Planning and Zoning. They did not have an April Meeting and he has not heard back from Denis Superczynski on the WRE/MGE. He and Mary will contact Denis for an update. There wasn’t anything new to report on the Lancaster property. Discussion was then held on the businesses on Council Drive. One in particular appeared to be operating under a new business that had been turned down in the past. Mary will contact the Code Enforcement Officer and have him look at all businesses to see who is in compliance.

Commissioner Rittelmeyer opened discussion on the section of South Main Street that is not longer used due to the bypass being put in. He felt the business owner had taken over that section of the street. Burgess Smith informed him that section of road was deeded over to the business owner when the bypass was completed.

Commissioner Rittelmeyer also reported on a phone call from a resident who had a gas smell in her house and was wondering if the Town had done something. He informed her the Town was not aware of any problems.

Commissioner Rittelmeyer reported on an email from a resident with concerns of the potholes on Gravel Hill Rd. at the railroad tracks. Burgess Smith informed him it is not the town’s responsibility to fix them and Mary informed him that a Gravel Hill Road homeowner had already contacted the railway to have them fixed.

Commissioner Rittelmeyer also reported on a phone call he received from Tom Reese, Maintenance Employee for the town. Mr. Reese would like to get a Boy Scout troop to paint the curbs throughout the town and Burgess Smith stressed that he would rather have the Town’s Maintenance Department do them. Mary will let Tom know this. Mr. Reese also wanted to meet with Commissioner Rittelmeyer to discuss other concerns throughout the Town and the Council decided he should submit his concerns in writing.

Commissioner Rensberger reported the soccer field excavation work should be completed any day and he has two bids for the spreading of the top soil and seeding to be done. Commissioner Rittelmeyer questioned having a second vendor for this work and Commissioner Rensberger explained his reasoning. He also informed the Council the wetland project will be completed in the Fall of 2011.

Commissioner Rensberger announced that May 2, 2011 is the deadline for POS projects. Burgess Smith informed him we have no money for a 75/25 Grant split this year. Commissioner Rensberger has two big ideas but will keep them for CPP grant money that is 100% funded.

A brief discussion was then held on the fishing pier at the pond and Mary will email the letter from the insurance company to the Council.

Commissioner Rensberger asked if the contractor had picked up the permit for the creek bed repairs and informed him they have not. Commissioner Rittelmeyer suggested we re-route the walking path and Commissioner Eaves suggested we fence off the area where the walking path is too close to the creek bank. Burgess Smith will get with the maintenance guys to have a fence put up.

Burgess Smith inquired on the reimbursement status of the grant money and Commissioner Rensberger informed him he has met with a State representative and submitted the reimbursement paperwork.

Commissioner Rensberger reported on watching a gentleman pull the plug to the skating pond and how he informed this gentleman that it is public property and he should not be doing that. Mary will have the maintenance men look for the plug.

Commissioner Eaves reported the hydrant near 307 N. Main Street needs to be taken out of service. Commissioner Rittelmeyer questioned if it is repairable or not and Commissioner Eaves informed him it is. Burgess Smith asked Commissioner Eaves to contact a contractor to get it fixed.

Burgess Smith reported on being approached by the Lutheran Church Youth Group asking to serve shaved ice at the Memorial Day Parade.

Burgess Smith presented his FY 12 proposed budget for review. Discussed first was the Water and Sewer Fund. Burgess Smith reported that when the rates increased last year the usage went down. He suggested we raise the base fee from $81.25 to 19.25 per quarter in order to make up a $32,000 deficit. Commissioner Rittelmeyer suggested lowering the sewer usage from 11,000 gallons to 5,000 or 6,000 gallons. Commissioner Brakebill suggested going to a tier rate. Burgess Smith explained that 23% of our budget is Debt Services and everyone should contribute. A discussion was then held on the interest rates paid on the sewer loans and Burgess Smith will call around to inquire on better rates and restructuring of the loans.

Discussion was then held on obtaining bids for a Plant Operator and Sludge Hauler. Mary will draft the RFP’s and advertise in the paper for these two contracts.

Burgess Smith presented the FY 12 proposed budget for the General Fund announcing the Highway User Revenue will be $20,000 and the employees of the Town will not receive a salary increase. Burgess Smith asked the Council to review the budget further and he would present it at the May Town Meeting.

Burgess Smith reported there is an MML meeting on Thursday, April 28th and he plans to attend. A brief discussion was then held on Tax Equity.

Residents Miguel Laboy and Jon Bolling of the Woodbury subdivision were in attendance to report a damaged curb at 230 Cornell Drive. Burgess Smith will look at and report back to Mr. Bolling.

There being no further business a motion to adjourn the meeting passed 4 – 0.

Respectfully submitted,
Mary E. Rice
Corporation of Woodsboro