MINUTES

WALKERSVILLE BURGESS & COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING

January 24, 2007

The Town meeting of the Walkersville Burgess & Commissioners was called to order on Wednesday, January 24, 2007, at 7:30 p.m. Those in attendance included Burgess Ralph Whitmore, Commissioners Sam Eyler, Jim Reid, Don Schildt, Chad Weddle, and Debbie Zimmerman, Town Manager Gloria Long Rollins, Planning and Zoning Administrator Susan Hauver, Public Works Supervisor Dennis Miller, Maryland State Police Resident Trooper Ed Muller, 9 citizens.

The meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.

MINUTES

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid, to approve the Town Meeting minutes of January 10, 2007. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

PLANNING & ZONING PROJECTS

Ms. Hauver presented the following list of suggestions of Planning Commission work for review by the Burgess and Commissioners:

Preparation of new comprehensive plan elements required by State: Water Resources and Municipal Growth elements.
Development of an institutional zoning district to correspond with institutional land use category on the Comprehensive Plan.
Development of design guidelines concerning aesthetics and landscaping.
Zoning regulations re: home occupations and home-based businesses. Town regulations are out of date.
Code enforcement: review of regulations concerning Code enforcement and review of administrative procedures to ensure greater development code enforcement.
Neighborhood improvement plans: development of neighborhood-specific plans that address issues such as sidewalks, street lighting, recreational facilities, enforcement issues, etc.
Sign regulations, review and update.
Parking regulations, review and update.

3. CITIZENS’ QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS

Clara Winch, owner of 55 Maple Avenue, requested clarification of parking on street to be substituted for the off-street parking requirement.

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid, to introduce Ordinance 2007-02 to amend Chapter 88-36D.15 to delete "parking restrictions on", changing the second sentence to read "The Burgess and Commissioners must approve these on-street spaces before the Planning Commission may grant a substitution of on-street parking spaces." The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Schildt opposed.

Dave Adamak, resident of Creekside, expressed his concern for the open space area next to Community Park and the recent muskrat trapper activities. Burgess Whitmore explained that Frederick County sewer was being compromised by the muskrat activity and property owners along the line had granted the trapper permission to enter the property to alleviate the problem.

Mr. Adamak also expressed concern that 5 trees had been cut during the holiday season and didn’t know why. Further investigation revealed that town staff had cut down 5 dead trees in the park and needed to return and finish removal of the brush that resulted.

4. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid, to pay the attached bills. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS

Commissioner Don Schildt asked that the snow removal information be placed on Channel 99, reminding citizens that they must move vehicles off the street until snow plowing operations are completed and that sidewalks must be shoveled within 24 hours of the snow ceasing to fall. He also thanked Ms. Hauver for the Planning and Zoning update. He noted that the Memorial Day remembrance should be special this year due to the 25^th anniversary of the town activities. Burgess Whitmore appointed Commissioner Schildt to spear head the planning for Memorial Day. Commissioner Schildt also asked that Farmers’ Market planning begin earlier this year. Ms. Rollins stated that letters had already gone out to committee members, to which she had yet to receive response.

Commissioner Jim Reid reported that an ex-commissioner was concerned about trash along Glade Road towards HFP. He also would like to plan for a meeting on the spring clean-up.

6. POLICE REPORT – MARYLAND STATE POLICE RESIDENT TROOPER

TFC Ed Muller presented map to commissioners, which pinpointed crimes occurring in Walkersville in 2006. Crimes reported in Walkersville in 2006 included: 52 Thefts, 49 MDOP (Malicious Destruction of Property), 22 Assaults, 17 Domestic Assaults, 6 Burglary, 7 Rape/Sex Offenses, and 1 Counterfeiting.

7. MDE PRE-APPLICATION FOR GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR WATER QUALITY ISSUES

Ms. Rollins notified Commissioners of information from MDE, which provides funds for Water Quality issues in the state. As the Town anticipates the upcoming Frederick County extension of the Biggs Ford Road sewer line, she asked Commissioners to contemplate this improvement as a water quality improvement for the Town. If appropriate, she asked their approval in submitting a pre-application for funds for the extension. Commissioner Weddle expressed concern that the Town is not responsible for funding the County sewer line. Ms. Rollins will contact Michael Marschner to see if it could be appropriate for the Town to pre-apply for the sewer line work to improve Town water quality.

Commissioner Don Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, to pre-apply for funding for the Biggs Ford Road sewer line extension, provided Mr. Marschner agrees this would be appropriate. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Weddle in opposition.

8. CITIZENS’ QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS

Mr. Richard Brady thanked commissioners for their confidence in appointing him to the Planning Commission.

Burgess Whitmore notified commissioners of the death of Mr. Tom Mills, prominent citizen and editor of the Frederick Post and Glade Times and Mountain Mirror, and the death of Mrs. Gilmore Trout, former Burgess Trout’s wife.

The meeting adjourned at 8:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gloria Long Rollins

Town Manager