MINUTES
WALKERSVILLE BURGESS & COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING
May 26, 2004
The Town meeting of the Walkersville Burgess & Commissioners was called to order on Wednesday, May 26, 2004, at 7:30 p.m. Those in attendance included Burgess Ralph Whitmore, Commissioners Sam Eyler, Joe Magluilo, Donald Schildt, Chad Weddle, and Debbie Zimmerman, Town Manager Gloria Rollins, Public Works Supervisor Dennis Miller, Zoning Administrator Susan Hauver, Public Works Director Bob DePaola, 11 citizens, and 1 press.
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Joe Magluilo, to approve the regular town meeting minutes, the workshop minutes, and the closed personnel minutes of May 12, 2004. The motion passed by a vote of 4-0-1, with Commissioner Schildt abstaining.
There was no public comment on the proposed tax rate of 17.6˘ per $100 of assessed property value.
Commissioner Magluilo made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Schildt, to adopt the current tax rate of 17.6˘ per $100 of assessed property value. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
There was no public comment on the proposed General Fund and Water Fund budgets.
Commissioner Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Eyler, to adopt Ordinance 2004-06, the General Fund FY2005 budget. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Commissioner Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Eyler, to adopt Ordinance 2004-07, the Water Fund FY2005 budget. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
4. CITIZENS QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
Pete Ireland, 11 W. Frederick Street, requests that the curb, previously painted yellow, then half yellow half white, be now returned to yellow. Since the curb has been painted white, the mail person does not deliver his mail if there is a car parked close to the mailbox. Several commissioners and citizens embarked on a field trip to inspect the curb and come up with a solution.
Upon their return:
Commissioner Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Eyler, to allow a 20’ length for a parking area from the Digital driveway, and paint the rest of the curb yellow. Staff will send a letter to the owner of 10 W. Frederick Street explaining the change and her options. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Schildt opposed.
5. DISCUSSION OF ADELPHIA FRANCHISE RENEWAL
Mr. Brian Burger, representing Adelphia, was unable to attend the meeting. Commissioner Magluilo would like to know when the new improvements become operational.
Susan Hauver reviewed the proposed zoning text amendment drafted by the Planning Commission. The text amendment adds a new section to the zoning ordinance addressing three types of seasonal and temporary uses: 1) uses that need no zoning approval (short term events and activities such as the carnival, school and church festivals, yard sales, Christmas tree sales); 2) uses that would be approved through issuance of a zoning certificate by the Zoning Administrator (construction trailers, sales trailers, model homes); 3) uses that would be subject to site plan approval by the Planning Commission (portable classrooms on church or school properties, wayside stands on agricultural properties, and food and produce stands in commercial districts).
Commissioner Magluilo made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Eyler to introduce Ordinance 2004-08, the zoning text amendment for temporary and seasonal uses. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
7. SENIOR CITIZENS’ CONCERNS
Ms. Margaret Dougherty, president of the Walkersville Senior Citizens, told commissioners that the seniors feel that they should pay half of the Cozy bill each month. Currently, Cozy delivers the minimum 35 meals per day, and there are rarely 35 senior citizens to participate. As a result, the $2.50 per meal collected from the seniors is not enough to offset half the cost. The seniors are willing to pay 50% of the bill and make up the difference from their treasury. Joe Magluilo stated that he would like the seniors to take that money and invest it back into the seniors’ programs, since the budget is already in place to cover the cost. The commissioners, by consensus, agreed to leave things as they are. Burgess Whitmore then notified the seniors that they should keep and distribute the leftover food rather than bringing it downstairs to town staff. He also encouraged them to work to resolve their internal problems rather than involving town staff. He also clarified that they were welcome to continue to meet throughout the summer on Thursdays for bingo, cards, TV, etc., anytime there was not something already scheduled upstairs.
Thom Beckley announced that his appointment with Morgan Keller is scheduled for next Tuesday, so the information should be available for the June 9 agenda.
9. STATUS OF PERSONNEL MANUAL
Commissioner Weddle went over several pages of amendments to the Personnel Manual. This item will continue on upcoming agendas.
Commissioners discussed the water fund fees for disconnection, interest rates, and reading fees. This fee schedule will be established to encourage more people to pay their water bills in a timely manner.
Commissioner Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Zimmerman, to adopt the recommended fee schedule provided the interest rate of 5% and the $35 returned check fee are legal. The motion was withdrawn.
Commissioner Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Magluilo, to charge 5% per month on unpaid overdue water bills and $35 for returned check fees, pending approval by the Town Attorney. In addition, reconnect fee will be $100 and $175 after hours, $20 certified mailing fee, $10 mid-cycle reading fee, and $20 mid-cycle out of town reading fee. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Commissioner Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Magluilo, to pay the attached bills. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
12. COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS
Commissioner Schildt requested an update on the paving of Kenneth Drive – Mr. DePaola said Stambaugh has scheduled the paving for Thursday and Friday of this week.
Commissioner Schildt also expressed concern that the grass in the Sun Meadow stormwater pond is 4’ tall and that mowing letter should be issued to Frank Smerbeck and the Sun Meadow HOA, as there is question as to ownership and responsibility.
Burgess Whitmore announced the Memorial Day Service at Memorial Park on Sunday, May 30, at 4:00 p.m.
Commissioner Magluilo mentioned that people continue to park on the yellow curbs along Sandstone Drive. The town will post "No Parking – Towing Enforced" signs and Gloria will contact Cpl. Butler for help from the State Police for enforcement. Dennis Miller was directed to order the signs and also to get the speed radar sign out and placed in the neighborhoods to make people aware of their speeding again. Gloria Rollins will also speak to State Police about more radar enforcement. Staff will look into the cost of portable speed bumps or rumble strips.
Debbie Zimmerman directed staff to review the mowing contract as there are still many complaints about the height of the grass on the outfields and soccer fields at Heritage Park.
Commissioner Schildt is expressing his concern, for the record, on the design of the drainage system on the new Glade Road section. There are drainage problems at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Glade and there are no storm ceptors installed at that end.
Commissioner Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Magluilo, to hold a closed legal meeting to discuss Town Attorney recommendations on sinkhole remediation.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Sincerely,
Gloria Long Rollins
Town Manager