MINUTES
WALKERSVILLE BURGESS & COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING
September 13, 2006
The Town meeting of the Walkersville Burgess & Commissioners was called to order on Wednesday, September 13, 2006, at 7:30 p.m. Those in attendance included Burgess Ralph Whitmore, Commissioners Sam Eyler, Joe Magluilo, Don Schildt, Chad Weddle, and Debbie Zimmerman, Town Manager Gloria Long Rollins, Public Works Director Bob DePaola, Planning and Zoning Administrator Susan Hauver, Public Works Supervisor Dennis Miller, Water operator Marty Wolfe, Lydia Clark of Osprey Property Company, TFC Jim Ardinger, 13 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 Town Meeting minutes of August 23, 2006. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Mr. George Rudy, of 11 West Crum Road, asked where the public hearing for site acceptance was, where the variation on setback was, and that walking in with a lease to be approved is two steps ahead of ourselves. He stated that town is violating the rules again and that the lease is deficient in many ways like the other ones. He stated that we are letting the cellular industry snooker us by putting these systems on our towers. He stated that these leases require added costs to the taxpayer and are unacceptable. He stated that Sprint/Nextel can do anything around the tower including installation of diesel generators. He is concerned about the generators operating off hours. Mr. Rudy expressed his concern about the RF emissions reporting and the previous leases for the tower on Crum Road. He stated that Crum Road is not over. He stated that the taxpayers are paying for this and we have given the town away to the cellular industry and that we are going to take it back.
Mr. Louis Traini, President of the Discovery Homeowners Association, stated that he has lived in Discovery for 33 years and they very rarely lose power. His only concern is the noise level of the diesel generators and the proximity of several of the homes. He would like to find out ahead of time how loud they would be. He has no problem with RF energy as he worked at a long range radar site jointly used by the Air Force and FAA, putting out a million watts of power for 12 years. He and 35 others worked there and have had no medical problems associated with working there.
Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to approve the lease with Sprint/Nextel to provide a wireless telecommunications facility on the Discovery Water Tower. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
3. CITIZENS’ QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
Sandy Kilpatrick, 28 W. Frederick Street, and FCPS bus driver asked permission to park her school bus in the Town’s parking lot behind Town Hall.
Commissioner Don Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to allow Ms. Kilpatrick to park her bus on a trial basis and revisit this if any problems should arise. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Lydia Clark, of Osprey Development Company, asked commissioners to formalize their previous support of the senior housing project in the form of a resolution.
Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to approve Resolution 2006-02 supporting the concept of a senior housing project to be built in Walkersville. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Commissioner Joe Magluilo asked Ms. Clark, for the record, how much money the project was receiving from the Town. Ms. Clark confirmed that the Town was not contributing any money to the project.
Maureen Cleveland, representing Glade Elementary PTA, requested the Town’s support and approval of their 5K Race to be held November 4. Staff will notify troopers to set up road closures and direct runners and traffic on race day.
Commissioner Don Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Joe Magluilo, to approve the Glade Elementary PTA 5K Race on November 4. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Ms. Rollins presented the agreement to be signed with Frederick County in order to receive Homeland Security grant funding for the Town Hall generator.
Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Joe Magluilo, to accept and sign the Memorandum of Agreement with Frederick County for purchase of the generator. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Commissioner Zimmerman announced that Trout Memorial Park will be dedicated on Sunday, October 1 at 2:00 p.m. Apple cider and ginger snaps will be served.
Commissioner Don Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to let the Parks Committee handle all details of the dedication. The motion failed by a vote of 2-3, with Commissioners Magluilo, Weddle, and Zimmerman opposed.
Burgess Whitmore will arrange for a speaker, program, and ribbon cutting.
8. SUN MEADOW PHASES 3 AND 4 REDUCTION OF LETTER OF CREDIT
Ms. Hauver reviewed Letter of Credit amounts for Sun Meadow Phase 3, along with inspector reports and recommendations for reductions. She recommends release of $746,937 as follows: $23,000 for Sediment Control, $156,065.75 for Storm Drains, $268,190 for Water, $299,681.20 for Roads.
Ms. Hauver reviewed Letter of Credit amounts for Sun Meadow Phase 4, along with inspector reports and recommendations for reductions. She recommends release of $634,133.93 as follows: $21,075 for Sediment Control, $221,825.25 for Storm Drains, $245,415 for Water, $145,818.68 for Roads.
Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to reduce Sun Meadow Phase 3 Letter of Credit in the amount of $746,937, and Sun Meadow Phase 4 Letter of Credit in the amount of $634,133.93 as per staff recommendation. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
9. RESIDENT TROOPER MONTHLY REPORT
TFC Jimmy Ardinger reported the following statistics for the month of August 2006: 5 thefts, including 2 vehicles, 2 destruction of property, 4 assaults, including 3 domestics, 3 verbal domestics, 1 missing person, 1 attempted suicide, 21 citations, 77 warnings, 3 accidents. He also asked commissioners to consider replacing a broken/obsolete radar set with a laser radar set at a cost of $3,900. He directed citizens to call 301-644-4151 (Frederick barrack) to report vandalism or incidents that they see immediately rather than waiting until the next morning or until a resident trooper is on duty. He also recommended looking into lighting at Creamery Park to help prevent the onslaught of vandalism occurring there.
Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Joe Magluilo, to pay the attached bills. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Burgess Whitmore announced that a meeting will be held on Thursday, September 14 at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the Big Red Road with Frederick City Mayor Jeff Holtzinger and the Board of County Commissioners.
Commissioner Zimmerman requested that the commissioners approve changing the parks’ signs hours of operation to 7:00 am to Sunset. As "sunset" has a set time which changes each day, this would allow the park attendant to close the park and not be caught in the pitch dark at 9:00 p.m. The Parks Committee discussed this with Ray Dayhoff and recommend this change.
Commissioner Sam Eyler made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, to put up new park signs with the hours of 7:00 a.m. to Sunset. The motion failed by a vote of 2-3, with Commissioners Magluilo, Schildt, and Weddle opposed.
Commissioner Weddle would like to research the definition and legality of the term "Sunset" and discuss this at a future meeting.
Burgess and Commissioners will be sworn in to their new terms of office on Wednesday, October 11 at the Town Meeting 7:30 p.m. by Sandra Dalton, Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Commissioner Zimmerman notified commissioners of an increase in park pavilion rental and security deposit fees recommended by the Parks Committee. Commissioner Schildt asked what happened to the discount prices for town residents.
Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chad Weddle, to implement new fees for park pavilion rentals recommended by the Parks Committee as follows: $40 pavilion rental, $50 security deposit to be refunded if the facilities left in good condition. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Schildt opposed.
Commissioner Magluilo congratulated the Burgess and Commissioners on their reelection to new three-year terms.
Ms. Hauver reminded commissioners of a public hearing, Wednesday, September 20, 7:00 p.m., on the Banner School and the Beall Property Water and Sewer amendments with the Frederick County Planning Commission.
Ms. Hauver also reminded commissioners of a public hearing, Thursday, September 28, 7:00 p.m., on Walkersville Region Plan with the Board of Frederick County Commissioners.
PURCHASE OF LASER RADAR SET
Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Joe Magluilo, to replace the inoperable radar set with a laser radar set at a cost of up to $4,000. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Burgess Whitmore would like to check into pricing on the laser radar set.
Wanda Heurich asked what items were acceptable for the Town’s Bulk Trash pickup scheduled for October 21. All items that are accepted by the Frederick County Landfill are accepted.
Commissioner Don Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to hold a closed legal meeting to discuss contacting the Town Attorney. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2, with Commissioners Magluilo and Weddle opposed.
The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gloria Long Rollins
Town Manager