MINUTES
WALKERSVILLE BURGESS & COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING
October 11, 2006
The Town meeting of the Walkersville Burgess & Commissioners was called to order on Wednesday, October 11, 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, Commissioner-Elect Jim Reid, Town Manager Gloria Long Rollins, Public Works Director Bob DePaola, Planning and Zoning Administrator Susan Hauver, Public Works Supervisor Dennis Miller, employee Marty Wolfe, Frederick County Clerk of the Court Sandra Dalton, 38 citizens (which included scouts from Troop 1070), and 0 press.
The meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Commissioner Joe Magluilo made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, to approve the Town Meeting minutes of September 27, 2006. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Resolution 2006-03 was presented to Commissioner Magluilo honoring his many years of service to the Town. Each commissioner was given an opportunity to express appreciation to Mr. Magluilo.
3. SWEARING IN CEREMONY
Clerk of the Court, Sandra Dalton administered the Oath of Office to Burgess Ralph Whitmore. Then Commissioners Sam Eyler, Jim Reid, Don Schildt, Chad Weddle, and Debbie Zimmerman were sworn in.
4. CITIZENS’ QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS
Charles Combs of Sherwood Drive in Glade Village expressed his concern that the Town has installed double lines on his street. He stated that because it is illegal to cross over a double yellow line, people are sideswiping vehicles and knocking mirrors off. Burgess Whitmore stated that the lines have been installed as a speed reducing measure and asked that Mr. Combs give it several months and then damage history will be reviewed.
Robert Crum of George Street expressed his concern at the big mess from construction on George Street. He stated that non-residents of the street are speeding through the street, ignoring signs and cones. Dust is covering the cars and homes along the street. Bob DePaola will get the contractors to sweep and clean the street.
Russell Winch, leader of Boy Scout Troop 1070, presented his scouts who must talk to elected officials to earn their citizenship badge. Scouts presented the following questions: What is your least favorite thing as an elected official? How many years in the term for Burgess? Are there plans for a skate park in Walkersville? How do you go about requesting a skate park? Are you going to replace the old Burger King? What was your biggest problem? What do commissioners do to help police? What’s the most important topic in Walkersville? With all the new homes, what’s going to happen to our water? Will there be a paintball park in Walkersville? Why did you run for office? How many registered voters in Walkersville and how many voted? What can we do as citizens to help elected officials?
5. BOY SCOUT FACILITIES USAGE AGREEMENT FOR THE WATERSHED
Ron Layman, representing Boy Scouts of Frederick County, accepted the standard facilities agreement from the Town, and had several recommendations for additions to the agreement. Commissioner Weddle had reviewed the agreement but it had not been distributed to all the commissioners. Further discussion will be placed on the next agenda and all commissioners will have the document to review.
6. STALEY SITE PLAN
Ms. Loraine Staley told commissioners that the Staleys would like to change their approved 16 apartments to a senior housing project. Under the Town’s APFO, the Planning Commission found that facilities are not adequate to proceed. The property will generate less than 1 student per FCPS calculations. The Staleys would like to pursue senior housing, under the premise that no students would be generated. However, the Town’s APFO does not provide for exemption from adequacy for senior housing projects. The Burgess and Commissioners had several concerns and comments. Burgess Whitmore would like to see condos so that seniors could own the property, rather than rent. Commissioner Schildt wondered if the project would be subsidized. Commissioner Reid stated he is pro-senior and was in favor if not impacting the school. He asked how it could be kept senior-only and how the covenants would be enforced.
Commissioner Sam Eyler made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid, to conceptually accept a text amendment from the Staleys to exempt Senior Housing from the APFO adequacy requirements. The motion passed by a vote of 4-1, with Commissioner Schildt opposed.
7. PRUNER TEXT AMENDMENT
John Pruner, 208 Cobble Way, asked commissioners to consider a text amendment that would allow one-story additions to project into the required rear yard setback area. Mr. Pruner has been denied a variance while multiple other properties in the development have been approved for structures with lesser setback areas. He provided photos of the other properties and plans for his one story kitchen expansion of 12 feet. Commissioners directed him to proceed with his text amendment.
Meeting break for refreshments.
8. FENCE REPLACEMENT CONTRACT FOR HERITAGE WATER TOWER
Burgess Whitmore notified commissioners of extensive sinkhole repairs within the fenced area of the Heritage water tower. Part of the repairs required removal of the chain link fence, which needs to be replaced.
Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to approve the proposal from FenceCo in the amount of $2,672 to replace 176 linear feet of 6-foot chain link fence. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
9. PROXY TO ANNAPOLIS
Ms. Rollins will attend the MML conference in Annapolis next week. Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to designate Ms. Rollins as Administrative Proxy for the Town. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
10. MOWING CONTRACT
Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chad Weddle, to renew the mowing contract for one additional year as per the extension clause of the contract. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
11. ANNUAL HOMECOMING PARADE
Commissioner Don Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid, to approve the date and time and route of the annual high school homecoming parade. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Ms. Rollins presented the commissioners with copies of the Management Discussion & Analysis document that she wrote for inclusion with the audited financial reports. She asked them to review it by the next meeting as its contents are management’s (Burgess, Commissioners, and staff) complement and analysis of the Town’s finances.
The Town received bids from 4 contractors to install an emergency generator at Town Hall.
Commissioner Don Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to award the generator contract to R.J. Brown & Sons Electric, LLC in the amount of $39,600. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Jim Reid, to pay the attached bills. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
15. COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS
Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to appoint Commissioner Chad Weddle (highest vote getter) as Vice-president of the commissioners. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.
Burgess Whitmore appointed commissioners’ areas of responsibility as follows:
Commissioner Don Schildt –Winterbrook HOA, Sun Meadow HOA
Commissioner Sam Eyler – Glade Towne HOA,
Commissioner Chad Weddle – Colony Village HOA,
Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman – Creekside HOA, Parks
Commissioner Jim Reid – Deerfield HOA, Fire & Rescue Services
Commissioner Don Schildt asked what could be done about the continual parking of the big red pickup truck alongside the building during elections, meetings, and rental activities at the Town Hall. Commissioners discussed and asked staff to write our neighbor across the street requesting that he not park his vehicles alongside the building, due to the convenience of officials, staff, and citizens utilizing the Town Hall.
The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gloria Long Rollins
Town Manager