MINUTES

WALKERSVILLE BURGESS & COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING

May 25, 2005

The Town meeting of the Walkersville Burgess & Commissioners was called to order on Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at 7:30 p.m. Those in attendance included Burgess Ralph Whitmore, Commissioners Sam Eyler, Joe Magluilo, Donald Schildt, Chad Weddle, Town Manager Gloria Long Rollins, Public Works Supervisor Dennis Miller, Zoning Administrator Susan Hauver, Maryland State Police Barrack Commander Lt. Ken Hasenei, Resident Trooper Eric Funk, Brian Lopez of Osprey Development, 6 citizens, and 2 press.

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman was absent.

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

 

  1. MINUTES

Commissioner Don Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Joe Magluilo, to approve the town meeting minutes of May 11, 2005. The motion passed by a vote of 4-0.

 

2. LT. KEN HASENEI – DISCUSSION OF ADDING 4TH TROOPER

Lt. Ken Hasenei, Maryland State Police Frederick Barrack Commander and Trooper Eric Funk went over town crime statistics and informed commissioners that a 4th trooper was not warranted at this time. Our resident troopers have been handling a majority of calls within the town limits and the town is experiencing no serious crime issues. The barrack is available to supply coverage when the resident troopers are not on duty. Lt. Hasenei reiterated his support for the resident trooper program and the relationship between the Maryland State Police and the Town of Walkersville.

 

3. PUBLIC HEARING – ORDINANCE 2005-03 INDEPENDENT SENIOR HOUSING

Ms. Hauver went over the changes made by the Planning Commission to the original ordinance. Commissioner Weddle noted that he would like to see Independent Senior Housing allowed only by special exception in the B-1 and the B-2 districts. There were no other comments at the Public Hearing.

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to adopt Ordinance 2005-03 with the following amendments: 1) ordinance amends §88-2 and §88-44, 2) insert B-1 and B-2, 3) strike item 5, make #6 become #5, 4) change parking ratio to 1.25 spaces per unit. The motion passed by a vote of 4-0.

 

4. PUBLIC HEARING – CONSTANT YIELD TAX RATE

Burgess Whitmore recommended lowering the tax rate by 1˘ to 16.6˘ per $100 of assessed value. An unidentified man in the audience agreed with Burgess Whitmore. There were no further public comments at the hearing.

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to set the tax rate at 16.6˘ per $100 of assessed property value. The motion passed by a vote of 4-0.

 

 

5. PUBLIC HEARING ON GENERAL FUND AND WATER FUND BUDGETS FY2006

Ms. Rollins noted that there had been no further changes to the Water Fund budget since its introduction. There were no public comments on the Water Fund budget.

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to adopt Ordinance 2005-05, the Water Fund budget for FY 2006. The motion passed by a vote of 4-0.

There were no public comments on the General Fund budget.

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to adopt Ordinance 2005-04, the General Fund budget for FY 2006, with the reduction in the tax rate of 1˘ with a corresponding reduction in the Biggs Ford Rd. paving capital project. The motion passed by a vote of 4-0.

 

  1. ORDINANCE 2005-02 PROPANE TANKS
    2.

    Ms. Hauver went over the new definition for propane tanks and the setbacks required. There were no public comments.

    Commissioner Don Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to adopt Ordinance 2005-02 for propane tank requirements. The motion passed by a vote of

    4-0.

  2. CITIZENS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
    3.

    Karen Sellers, Glade Blvd.. thanked the commissioners for the installation of the speed bump on Glade Blvd. She noted that it is semi-effective, but she feels it is in the wrong place. She would like to know what can be done to get a permanent speed bump installed. Burgess Whitmore told her that more than one citizen must be concerned in order for a permanent solution to be implemented. Trooper Funk and Dennis Miller will review the location of the temporary bump and see if there is a better place to move it.

     

  3. UPDATE ON PERSONNEL MANUAL
    4.

    Commissioner Weddle presented Ms. Rollins with the Personnel Manual diskette. The manual will be submitted to the town attorney before approval for distribution to employees.

  4. HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT PROGRAM

    5. Ms. Rollins reviewed letters from Jack Markey, Frederick County Fire and Rescue Services, notifying the town of State Homeland Security Grant Program. The town will provide him an assessment of the municipal needs for emergency management and homeland security. She also reviewed a request from Jeremy Peterson, Chief of the Walkersville Volunteer Fire Company, asking the town to include a proximity card security system to secure the fire station.

    Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Joe Magluilo, to add the Walkersville Fire Company request to the town’s priority assessment to be submitted to Frederick County. The motion passed by a vote of 4-0.
  5. RESULTS OF SUBMITTED PETITION

The Board of Election Supervisors met May 16 and reviewed 879 signatures on the submitted petition for referendum for the rezoning of 5 acres of the Staley property. The Supervisors found that 189 of the signatures were invalid, either not registered voters, out of town residents, or duplicate signatures. This left a total of valid signatures of 690. 20% of the town’s 3,627 registered voters, or 730 signatures were needed for the petition to be successful.

11. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

Commissioner Joe Magluilo made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chad Weddle, to pay the attached bills. The motion passed by a vote of 4-0.
  1. COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS

Commissioner Schildt noted that the sidewalk which he had reported in need of repairs on the Lynch property (the old A’Bloom building) is still not repaired. Bob DePaola will check if a letter has gone to the owners previously.

Commissioner Schildt noted that a licensed car is always parked in the alley between William St. and Glade Rd, joining PA Avenue and George Street. He also complains of excessive trash behind one of the houses.

Commissioner Schildt would like to honor Kim Long at a future town meeting. Ms. Long is a Walkersville resident, a guidance counselor at TJ Middle School, who was named National Middle School Counselor of the Year by the American School Counselor Association.

Commissioner Schildt also complained that he did not see a meeting agenda on Channel 99 again.

Commissioner Eyler mentioned that the island on Glade Road below the cemetery needs to be mowed. Discussion ensued as to whose responsibility it is to mow the area.

Burgess Whitmore notified commissioners that a group is planning a memorial site to the plane crash that happened outside Walkersville in 1981. They are asking for an area designated in Heritage Farm Park for the memorial. More information will be forthcoming.

Burgess Whitmore also noted that the Banner School has an interest in relocating to Walkersville.

Trooper Eric Funk reported that the Walkersville Days activities went well, and he hopes to make the police participation an annual thing. He also discussed a request from Creek Side for direction on establishing a Neighborhood Watch. Trooper Funk has had no negative response from the installation of the speed bumps.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Gloria Long Rollins

Town Manager