MINUTES

WALKERSVILLE BURGESS & COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING

August 25, 2010

The Town meeting of the Walkersville Burgess & Commissioners was called to order on Wednesday, August 25, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. Those in attendance included Burgess Ralph Whitmore, Commissioners Sam Eyler, Donald Schildt, Chad Weddle, Russell Winch, and Debbie Zimmerman, Town Manager Gloria Long Rollins, Planning and Zoning Administrator Susan Hauver, Public Works Director Bob DePaola, Town Attorney David Severn, TFC Ramona George, approximately 11 citizens, 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. Burgess Whitmore announced the death of Mr. Charlie Miller.

1. MINUTES

Commissioner Russell Winch made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, to approve the Town Meeting minutes of August 11, 2010, with correction. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

2. ANNEXATION UPDATE – CENTURY CENTER

Burgess Whitmore said that the applicant wanted to make a presentation. Attorney David Severn reminded Commissioners that they had voted to close the public hearing on the annexation at the last town meeting of August 11^th. He noted that if further presentations from the applicant were to be considered, that they would need to vote to reopen the hearing, advertise for a public hearing, and hold said hearing at a future date. The Century Center applicants would be allowed to present their information during Citizens’ Questions and Concerns, but no further action could be taken until after advertising the public hearing.

Commissioner Sam Eyler made a motion to reopen the public hearing but it failed for lack of a second. Mr. Severn pointed out that the public hearing could not be re-opened without advertising it.

As an update on the annexation, Ms. Hauver summarized a meeting between Burgess Whitmore, Mr. Jim Fitzgerald, and Ms. Hauver. Mr. Fitzgerald would like to proceed with plans as originally discussed to provide a well in Community Park and a water storage tower. He would like to revisit the water usage needs, although Burgess Whitmore is holding firm on his demand for provision of 300,000 gallons per day. Mr. Fitzgerald would like the possibilities of obtaining water from the Walker farm or the quarry to be abandoned as part of the annexation agreement. Burgess Whitmore estimated that the cost of obtaining water from the quarry to be $2.5 million, and he would expect Century Center to pay their pro-rata share of 30%. While the well in the park would be the least expensive option, it would not provide an alternative source for the town should future contaminations occur.

Attorney David Severn reminded commissioners that they could vote tonight or not to adopt the annexation resolution agreement.

Commissioner Donald Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, to reopen the public hearing on the annexation of the Century Center property and advertised for the Town meeting on September 8, 2010. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

3. VETERANS’ DAY PLANS UPDATE

Commissioner Donald Schildt reported that speakers George Fisher, Glenn Fogle, and Mutt Shelton have been lined up for the Sunday, November 14^th, 1:00 p.m. ceremony. He will contact Ms. Simoneau of the Walkersville Children’s Center to discuss the possibility of a Veterans’ Day art contest that will feature the children’s artwork on display in the town hall.

4. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

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

5. COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS

Commissioner Russell Winch made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Donald Schildt, to hold a closed legal meeting to confer with the Town Attorney and a closed personnel meeting to discuss the job performance of an individual staff person. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Chad Weddle in opposition.

6. CITIZENS’ QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS

Mr. Jim Fitzgerld, developer of Century Center, presented a power point presentation on various industrial park projects throughout the county, noting in particular the water use of each.

Mr. Ron Layman, representing the Boy Scouts, as a watershed overlooker, reported that about 20 poplar trees need to be harvested at the watershed before they blow down and become worthless. He will mark the appropriate trees and the town will prepare a bid package for interested lumberjacks.

There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gloria Long Rollins

Town Manager