MINUTES

WALKERSVILLE BURGESS & COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING

May 12, 2010

The Town meeting of the Walkersville Burgess & Commissioners was called to order on Wednesday, May 12, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. Those in attendance included Burgess Ralph Whitmore, Commissioners Sam Eyler, Donald Schildt, Chad Weddle, Debbie Zimmerman, and Russell Winch, Town Manager Gloria Long Rollins, Planning and Zoning Administrator Susan Hauver, Public Works Director Bob DePaola, TFC Ramona George, approximately 17 citizens, Courtney Pomeroy of the Gazette, and Ed Waters of the Frederick News-Post.

The meeting was called to order by Burgess Ralph Whitmore, with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Weddle offered a prayer to open the meeting.

1. MINUTES

2. MOWING CONTRACT REPORT

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman noted continued improvement on the mowing of Heritage Farm Park and that the park looks beautiful at this time.

Commissioner Russell Winch was not in favor of continuing the contract with Greenlink noting that the golf course mowing is inadequate (sucks), some wrong areas have been mowed, and he worries that if we let this go they will regress to the original unacceptable mowing schedule. He also alleged that the mowers damaged some GVAA drag equipment for the baseball fields. He feels that further improvement is needed.

Thom Beckley, representing GVAA, offered the definition of the mowing area and stated that from the dugout to the dirt infield is the responsibility of GVAA. Mr. Beckey recommended not paying for the whole month of April.

Commissioner Sam Eyler said the park looks good.

Commissioner Donald Schildt addressed the Greenlink representatives in attendance, and asked them to slow down their mowers around kids on the library property.

Commissioner Russell Winch that chopped up trash is a problem and makes it difficult to keep up with picking up trash around the park.

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion to continue with the mowing contractor Greenlink. Commissioner Chad Weddle noted that a motion is not necessary as we have already entered into the contract and it is in effect.

3. INTRODUCTION OF BUDGET ORDINANCES 2010-04 WATER FUND AND ORDINANCE

Ms. Rollins reviewed changes made to the presented budgets since the review at the last town meeting.

Discussion ensued regarding the General Fund FY 2011 budget inclusions and deletions. After discussion of the Town’s rental property next door to the Town hall at 25 West Frederick Street, Commissioner Donald Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chad Weddle, to increase the rent of 25 West Frederick Street by $200 per month to $650 per month and give the appropriate notice to the current tenants. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman in opposition.

Burgess Ralph Whitmore stated that he wants to put a roof over the meeting room entrance ramp and steps and estimates it will cost around $10,000. Commissioner Russell Winch made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chad Weddle, to insert a budget item for a canopy and wall enclosure over the meeting room entrance and steps, made of clear polymer, in the amount of $10,000. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

Commissioners agreed to allocate the balance available to road paving and overlay projects increasing the category from $110,000 to $126,925.

Burgess Whitmore stated that one more street in Deerfield needs to be repaved.

4. FY 2011 TAX RATE

Commissioners noted that the required ad for a tax increase was in today’s Frederick News-Post.

The formal hearing on the tax rate will be held on Wednesday, May 26^th, 2010 along with the budget hearings.

5. AWARD TRASH COLLECTION BID

6. TALL GRASS MOWING ISSUES

Burgess Whitmore would like to install a policy for repeat tall grass offenders and automatically mow the property when the grass reaches 8". Commissioner Weddle will check the legality of automatically mowing a property once they have been notified the first time they are in violation and have continued to neglect the mowing of the grass.

7. ADVERTISING WALKER FARM HOUSE FOR SALE

Burgess Whitmore reviewed the price list from staff for advertising in the real estate sections of the Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, Hagerstown Herald, Frederick News-Post, Gazette Montgomery County, and Gazette Frederick County.

8. POLICE REPORT

TFC Ramona George presented the April 2010 Monthly Activity Report for TFC Muller, TFC George, and CPL Keller. She announced that TFC Ardinger is assigned back to Walkersville as of Sunday. Commissioner Chad Weddle expressed his pleasure that they all are back.

9. COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS

Commissioner Donald Schildt, addressing the Frederick News-Post reporter and Gazette reporter, announced that he would like them to do some articles and coverage on the upcoming Memorial Day ceremony honoring Charles Cartwright. Memorial Day Ceremony will be held Monday, May 31^st at 10:00 a.m. He announced that the program is set, speakers lined up, color guard and bagpipers and drum corps will be there.

Commissioner Schildt announced that he wants our #1 Priority to be the annexation of the Nicodemus farm at the corner of Route 26 and Route 194. Ms. Hauver responded that since the Century Center annexation is coming up for hearing in July that it would make more sense to have one town survey and boundary change adopted all at once.

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman announced that a press box, that was approved years ago and to be located between Field #5 and the multi-purpose field, is ready to proceed with construction by GVAA.

Ms. Rollins asked commissioners to RSVP for the MML joint Carroll and Frederick County dinner meeting.

Ms. Hauver reported on a meeting with Mike Marschner and Rod Winebrenner, of Frederick County Solid Waste Management, and Century Center representatives, to discuss sewage treatment capacity issues for areas that drain to the Ceresville Pump Station. The problems include the pump station as well as facilities downstream in Frederick City. Improvements to increase capacity therefore involve both the City and County. Mr. Marschner will go to the County Commissioners to request a study be done to determine what improvements need to be made and whether the improvements could be done incrementally. The study, if approved, will take about 9 months. It is our understanding and hope that any available capacity remaining at the Ceresville Pump Station is allocated to the Town of Walkersville projects as needed.

10. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

11. REMINDERS

- Walkersville Day – May 15^th

- Bulk trash pickup – May 22^nd

Mr. Ed Waters, of the Frederick News-Post, said that the Town needs to send the information in for posting in the 72 Hour magazine, (rather than relying on reporters to place the information in the paper).

12. CITIZENS’ QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS

John Manchester, representing St. Timothy’s Roman Catholic Church, asked for permission to use town electricity for the moon bounce and sound system at their May 23^rd Mass in the Grass.

Mr. Bob Sessman, president of the Business & Professional Association, announced their next meeting on Thursday, May 20^th at 7:00 p.m. MML will also hold their meeting that night at 6:30 p.m. in the same meeting room. If there is an overlap, one group can move to the small conference room in the inner office area.

There was no further business so the meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gloria Long Rollins

Town Manager