MINUTES

WALKERSVILLE BURGESS & COMMISSIONERS TOWN MEETING

November 9, 2011

The Town meeting of the Walkersville Burgess & Commissioners was called to order on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, 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, TFC Ramona George, auditors from Smith, Elliott, and Kearns, and 9 citizens.

The meeting was called to order by Burgess Ralph Whitmore, with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Commissioner Chad Weddle offered a prayer thanking God for the opportunity to meet and work on the business of the Town, and with the approach of Veterans’ Day, to especially remember with gratitude the sacrifices of our military.

1. MINUTES

Commissioner Donald Schildt made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Chad Weddle, to approve the Town Meeting minutes of October 26, 2011. The motion passed by a vote of 3-0-2, with Commissioners Russell Winch and Debbie Zimmerman abstaining.

2. AUDITORS’ REPORT ON TOWN OF WALKERSVILLE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Mr. David St. Clair and Mr. Wayne Becker reviewed the financial reports of the Town. The Town remains in good financial condition.

3. ANNEXATION DISCUSSION AND UPDATE

Burgess Whitmore updated commissioners on the status of the annexation of the Nicodemus farmland at Ceresville between the Monocacy River and Rt. 194. A difference in the actual acreage and the acreage reported by the survey includes about 5 acres attributed to an island. This separate parcel in the Monocacy River will not be able to be annexed. The final paperwork for the annexation should be completed soon.

4. MOWING CONTRACT EXTENSION

Commissioner Winch noted that the mowing contract is a silly document, that the grass is always too high, that they never mow the outfields, they do no trimming, and they do not follow the document at all. He stated that the football field has never been mowed by Greenlink, and that since August GVAA members have been mowing themselves. There are balls of tall grass left lying around after they mow and they have never mowed twice a week.

Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Don Schildt, to extend the contract with Greenlink for 2012, and prior to the start of the season a mandatory meeting between Greenlink, Rick Stup, Debbie Zimmerman, and Martha Bush be scheduled to go over the areas and expectations for the mowing. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

Discussion segued into trash issues at the park. GVAA complains that the public is trespassing and dumping their stuff into the town dumpsters that are rented for park trash. Burgess Whitmore suggested dumpsters be chained shut. Commissioner Winch would like to see more trash cans throughout the park, around batting cages and restrooms. TFC George reported that Ray Dayhoff, parks caretaker has commented that much of the trash is lying outside of the trash cans.

5. LEGISLATIVE DINNER

Burgess Whitmore asked commissioners to RSVP ASAP for the Legislative dinner on Dec. 9.

6. CENTURY CENTER – PRIVATE ROAD ORDINANCE

Ms. Hauver reviewed an amendment that would be needed in the Town Code in order to allow private streets in the Century Center complex. The developer of Century Center is proposing private roads per the annexation agreement. The Town subdivision regulations specify that all roads be public roads. The following is the proposed amendment:

"Private streets, residential subdivisions. Private streets will not be approved in residential subdivisions. This condition will be noted on the final plat. Common driveways leading to individual lots or driveways leading to common parking areas, such as in a multifamily residential project, shall not be considered streets. Provided, however, that private streets may be approved in a multi-user business park, which park contains uses totaling at least 20,000 square feet of floor area in two (2) floors or less in the B-0 zoning district."

"Private streets, commercial and industrial. Private streets may be approved by the Town Burgess and Commissioners, provided (1) the streets are designed in accordance with Town design standards for public roads, and (2) a lot owners’ association is established to establish responsibility for the maintenance of the private streets within the development."
Commissioner Chad Weddle made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Russell Winch, to introduce Ordinance 2011-06 to read as prepared by staff and approved by the Planning Commission and the Town Attorney. The motion passed by a vote of 5-0.

7. SUN MEADOW PHASE 6 RELEASE OF LETTER OF CREDIT

Ms. Hauver and Mr. DePaola notified commissioners that all issues with the LOC have been resolved, i.e. sign installed, leak repaired.

Commissioner Russell Winch made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, to release the Sun Meadow Phase 6 Public Improvements letter of credit in the amount of $535,400.62. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2, with Commissioners Chad Weddle and Donald Schildt in opposition.

Commissioners expressed concern that the sinkhole along Glade Road and the two sinkholes in the Sun Meadow storm pond have yet to be repaired. Mr. DePaola notified them that he has been in touch with Maggie Williamson and that Duane Musselman’s brother will be repairing the sinkhole after an engineer has a look.

8. ACCEPTANCE OF ROADS IN SUN MEADOW

The one year warranty period for roads in Sun Meadow Phases 5 and 6 is over, the letter of credit (above) has been released, and the roads can now be accepted as town roads.

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Sam Eyler, to accept the roads of Sun Meadow Phases 5 and 6 into the town network of roads. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2, with Commissioners Chad Weddle and Donald Schildt in opposition.

9. ETHICS LAW CHANGES

Commissioner Chad Weddle will be reviewing the changes needed to the Town’s ethics ordinance in order to be in compliance with the State’s new requirements.

10. ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

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

11. COMMISSIONERS’ CONCERNS

Commissioner Donald Schildt reported that arrangements for Veterans’ Day are a go and thanked Commissioner Winch for arranging for the Boy Scouts to provide the color guard. The ceremony will be held Sunday, November 13^th at 1:00 p.m.

Commissioner Russell Winch made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman, to hold a closed personnel meeting. The motion passed by a vote of 3-2, with Commissioners Chad Weddle and Donald Schildt in opposition.

Burgess Whitmore notified commissioners that the settlement for the sale of the Walker Farm did not take place as scheduled for November 2^nd, due to health department revisiting the staking of the septic field.

Commissioner Russell Winch reported that a business owner at the shopping center asked if there was anything the town could do to get the lights turned on in the aisle ways in front of the businesses. Commissioner Weddle recommended that shoppers tell the businesses they will not shop there if there is no lighting. He recommended businesses not pay their rent until lights are fixed; that we have no way to force them. Burgess Whitmore commented that the truck problem is being handled by the owner.

Commissioner Debbie Zimmerman announced and invited all to attend the annual Christmas tree lighting on December 7^th at 7:30 p.m.

Burgess Whitmore reminded that Bulk Trash pickup is this Saturday, November 12^th, beginning at 6 a.m. and that citizens are encouraged to set out their items on Wednesday evening.

12. CITIZENS’ QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS

The funeral for Sgt. Steve Hassett will be held on Friday, November 11^th.

There being no further business or citizens’ concerns, the meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Gloria Long Rollins

Town Manager