MINUTES

WALKERSVILLE BURGESS & COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING

June 13, 2007

The Town meeting of the Walkersville Burgess & Commissioners was called to order on Wednesday, June 13, 2007, at 7:30 p.m. Those in attendance included Burgess Ralph Whitmore, Commissioners Sam Eyler, Jim Reid, Donald Schildt, Chad Weddle, and Debbie Zimmerman, Town Manager Gloria Long Rollins, Planning and Zoning Administrator Susan Hauver, Public Works Director Bob DePaola, Public Works Supervisor Dennis Miller, TFC Jimmy Ardinger, 8 citizens, Jeremy Hauck of the Gazette.

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

1. MINUTES

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to approve both the Town Meeting minutes and the closed acquisition of land meeting of May 23, 2007. The motion passed by a vote of 4-0-1, with Commissioner Jim Reid abstaining.

2. FEE SCHEDULE FOR PLANNING AND ZONING

Ms. Hauver reviewed the proposed fee schedule for planning and zoning fees. Fees need to be increased in order to offset the increase in the engineering and review fees implemented by the Town’s contracted engineering firm. The proposed fees should cover the costs of administrative staff time, professional reviewing of subdivision plans, concept, preliminary, and improvement plans, plats, wellhead protection plans, legal documents, agreements, letters of credit, easements, water tap agreements, rezoning and annexation, comprehensive plan amendment, APFO, Board of Appeals fees, zoning verification letters, and other various and sundry documents. Fee schedule will not be adopted until Ordinances 2007-05 through 2007-10 have gone through the hearing process.

3. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 2007-05 TO AMEND TOWN CODE RE: FEES TO BE PAID BY SUBDIVIDER OR DEVELOPER

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 2007-06 TO AMEND TOWN CODE RE: ZONING CERTIFICATE FEE SCHEDULE

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 2007-07 TO AMEND TOWN CODE RE: BOARD OF APPEALS FEES

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 2007-08 TO AMEND TOWN CODE RE: ZONING MAP AMENDMENT, ZONING TEXT AMENDMENT AND ANNEXATION FEES

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 2007-09 TO AMEND TOWN CODE RE: FEES FOR REVIEW OF TEXT AMENDMENT APPLICATIONS

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE 2007-10 TO AMEND TOWN CODE TO ADD ARTICLE VII "TEXT AMENDMENTS"

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to introduce Ordinances 2007-05, 2007-06, 2007-07, 2007-08, 2007-09, 2007-10 to amend the Town Code regarding fees to be paid by subdivider and developer, zoning certificate fees, Board of Appeals fees, Zoning map amendment, zoning text amendment, and annexation fees, Fees for review of text amendment applications, and add Article VII "Text Amendments". The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

4. RESOLUTION 2007-04 REVIEW INSTITUTIONAL USES AND DESIGNATION IN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid, to adopt Resolution 2007-04 which directs the Planning Commission in accordance with Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland to review the 2003 Comprehensive Plan for the limited purpose of identifying and detailing Institutional Use designations and making amendments to the 2003 plan and Comprehensive Plan map. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Schildt opposed.

5. CITIZENS’ QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS

NONE

6. AWARD DUMP TRUCK BID

The Town received bids from Wantz Chevrolet for a 5-yard dump body @$71,374.63 and from Criswell Chevrolet for an 8-yard dump body @ $80,349.00.

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to award the dump truck contract for a 5-yard dump body to Wantz in the amount of $71,374.63. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

7. UPDATE ON FARMERS’ MARKET

The Farmers’ Market opened successfully on June 6, 2007 with 6 vendors: Ed’s Country Bakery, Glade-Link Farms, Glade Valley Nursery, Mountain Valley Orchard, Willow Pond Hydroponics, and Chesapeake’s Choice. The South Mountain Creamery was sorely missed the first week, but attended the second week and hopefully for the rest of the season. Two of the growers were unable to attend due to having nothing ready. The market was hugely attended both weeks to date, although it closed early due to severe weather this evening.

8. MULCH PILE HOURS/POLICY

Discussion ensued regarding various complaints of early locking of the mulch pile gate. Also, the town advertises hours of M-F 9am-4pm and weekends open during park hours. Frederick County advertises dawn to dusk daily.

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid, to have mulch pile Winter hours of 9-4 November 1 – March 31, and mulch pile Summer hours of 9am-7pm April 1 – October 31. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

9. PERMIT TO TEMPORARILY PARTIALLY BLOCK STREET OR SIDEWALK

Staff presented the format to issue a permit for blocking the street or sidewalk. The issue at hand is a problem with contractors dumping gravel, stone, mulch, etc. on a town street while they are completing a home improvement job. It is already an illegal practice with up to a $1,000 fine attached. Commissioners decided to amend the Town Code to insert a section that empowers the Town staff to remove the material. They will not permit the blocking of a street or sidewalk per §69-4 of the Town Code. Commissioner Weddle will present the rewording of the code.

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner , to introduce Ordinance 2007-11 to amend Chapter 69, Article III, §69-15, add "E. To remove any obstruction or items placed in or on any street, sidewalk, public way, or part thereof.", permitting the town to remove any stone, lumber, etc., and consider adding "The cost of the removal shall be a debt of the owner of the abutting property and shall become due and payable the same as property taxes." The motion to introduce the ordinance passed by a vote of 5-0.

Commissioner Weddle will prepare the written ordinance.

10. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

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

11. COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS

Ms. Rollins announced a Senior Officials Workshop: All Hazards Preparedness sponsored by the Frederick County Emergency Planning and Management Division to be held Wednesday, September 26, 2007 (the final day of the Farmers’ Market) from 8:45 am – 3:00 pm at the American Red Cross in Walkersville. Commissioner Jim Reid will attend.

Commissioner Schildt would like to see a breakdown of work and man hours required prior to hiring the new maintenance staff person or implementing a curbside mulching program. He doesn’t feel we need any more staff.

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman reported that the Parks Committee voted to move the softball fields from the fire company grounds to Heritage Farm Park. HFP currently has one softball field and Duane Musselman is willing to excavate another field. This will alleviate traffic problems in Glade Village next year. The GVAA Softball program will be given notice at the end of this season that play will resume next season in Heritage Farm Park.

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chad Weddle, to allocate $4,999 from the Parks budget for development of the additional softball field. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Schildt opposed.

Wanda Heurich discussed multiple issues with the Glade Towne Community, including trash cans blocking and blowing in the street, items that the Town’s trash contractor does not pick up, leaving them for others to strew about on the streets. She also expressed concern regarding the tall grass at the corner of Rt. 194 and Crum Road. Susan will send them a notice. There was also concern expressed that some parts of town seemed to be able to get anything picked up, while other parts of town had items left and not picked up. Staff will check with trash contractor to see what items they will not pick up.

Ms. Rollins reported that the Spring bulk trash collection held May 12, 2007 netted 68 tons of bulk trash, 10 times the amount collected in the Fall collection. It was agreed that the Town will continue to sponsor 2 bulk trash pickups each year.

Commissioner Don Schildt requested that a tree be planted in the Heritage Farm Park Manor House yard in memory of Lou Maire. Mr. Maire spent a lot of his time on the Manor House project. A pin oak will be planted in his honor as soon as conditions permit.

TFC Jim Ardinger notified commissioners of the May 2007 police stats for the Town. 3 Missing persons, 2 tampering with motor vehicles, 1 vandalism, 4 destruction of property, 5 assault, 1 trespassing, 1 burglary, 1 attempted burglary, 2 theft, 1 littering complaint, 1 assist sick/injured person, 1 unattended death, 1 telephone misuse, 1 theft of tags, 53 citations, 88 warnings, 3 SERO, 6 accidents investigated and charged, and various community policing and crime prevention activities.

12. ORDINANCE 2007-12 AMEND CHAPTER 88 OF THE TOWN CODE TO INCLUDE INSTITUTIONAL USE

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, to introduce Ordinance 2007-12 to amend §88-3 establishing an "Institutional Use" district. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Don Schildt opposed.

13. AMEND TOWN MEETING SCHEDULE

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, to advertise the Town Meeting schedule as the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of each month, except the months of July, November, and December, when the only meeting is held the 2^nd Wednesday of the month. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gloria Long Rollins

Town Manager