DRAFT
Town of Cheverly
Meeting Minutes
May 13, 2010
Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 8:00 pm in the Cheverly Community Center.
In attendance: Mayor Mosley, CMs Callahan, Watson, Eldridge, Schachter and Tevault.
Pledge of Allegiance
Swearing in of Mayor
Mayor Mosley introduced Ms. Lorraine Nicely of the County Clerk’s office. Ms. Nicely administered the oath of office to Mayor Michael Callahan.
Mayor Callahan asked CM Watson to start off the appreciation of Mayor Mosley for her years of service. CM Watson invited former Mayors Dwyer and Beyna along with former vice mayor Ford.
Mr. Dwyer noted that 19 years ago he served with then new councilmember Mosley. Enjoyed working with you and you brought great energy to the Council. Congratulated her for serving so well and for so long.
Mr. Ford noted that he served with Ms. Mosley through his entire term. As a Councilmember I discussed a lot with Julia by sitting next to her for all those years. We worked as a team and got a lot accomplished. It has been a pleasure working with you for all these years. Wish you the best.
Mr. Beyna Julia beat me by a year in service, 19 years. I valued her membership on the Council. She has showed her love for the Town through all these years. She leaves office with the Town in very good financial status. Julia was positive in our efforts to convert the old Citizen’s Bank Building into what is now Mosiac. In about 5 years we will see the tax benefits of that project. We had many tough issues and while I was traveling in my job, Julia was there to keep things going and I appreciate that support. Thank you.
Senator David Harrington read a Proclamation recognizing her accomplishments from the Senate of Maryland.
CM Schachter four words that best describe Julia are: smart, tolerant, inclusive and forgiving.
Mayor Mosley knows what is in the box as a gift. Want to thank everybody for all their support. The Town is in great hands and that goes for the Council, Richard, David, Juan, the Chief and the front office staff. Thank you very much for your friendship and support.
Mayor Callahan I think we should note that Julia made sure we worked as a team and over the last 4 years that I was on Council it allowed us to tackle some very tough issues. We are financially strong and can be attributed to this team and Julia.
Agenda/Approval/Changes
Town Administrator needs to add an item to approve the agreement for Criminal Access to computer system, thus authorizing the Police to perform computer searches.
Minutes – Town Meeting 4/8/10
Approved as written.
Minutes – Worksession 4/22/10
Approved as written.
Town Administrator Report
Mr. Warrington noted that the Town staff planted about 75 trees we purchased under the Treemendous Maryland program in the public right-of-way. We also had funding set aside in this budget for the purchase and installation of 40 trees under the Private Property Planting Program and a contractor has installed these trees in individual’s front yards. We may tweek this next year to include back yards and hopefully narrow the list of possible trees in order to replenish the tree canopy. Another issue is speed cameras. Cheverly Avenue is covered from end to end and signs will go up soon with Warnings beginning on May 17th. Notices will go out for anyone going 12 mph over the speed limit. Soon to follow will be cameras on Landover Road. Staff is ready, training
started and the building is almost ready for the speed camera program.
CM Tevault wanted to thank the staff for the tree she had planted in her front yard under the program.
CM Eldridge wanted to thank the staff for all their help for the ride their bike to school day where we had over 100 kids and it was incredible.
Police Department Report
Lt. Frolich there were 25 incidents last month with 2 assaults 4 B&E’s and 2 of them have resulted in arrests. We wrote 303 state citations.
Citizen Input
Joyce Lang Ward 4. We are half way through Peace Month and all is going well. We are having a summer peace camp in Cheverly.
Michael Giese wanted to thank all the Club members for donating to the Garden Club Plant Sale that was very successful. Appreciate the assistance by the Department of Public Works and to all the people who came out and patronized the event. The Cheverly Garden Club uses the proceeds for things like the making of corsages for family members of those Police Officers that died in the line of duty. There is a week long event on the mall. We also will be making flower arrangements for community shut-ins.
Mayor and Council Announcements
Mayor items for the Worksession: Youth Program, Potential Annexation, Operating Budget and Booms Update and the Process for Appointing a Councilmember. Mr. Colaresi the Charter says mere majority.
CM Watson for the next Town Meeting I hope we can fill the vacancy on the Ethics Commission. Perhaps in July we could bring in the Department Heads.
CM Eldridge perhaps we can discuss the planning workshop for the disposition of the properties at the B&W Parkway. If we haven’t sent a letter out, perhaps we could.
CM Schachter I would like Counsel to be prepared to say whether these booms are a public safety issue and qualify for use of speed camera revenues.
Mayor I would like to have an Urban Wildlife expert to attend a meeting and explain to us the real issues of the wildlife we are encountering in town, mainly the foxes.
CM Eldridge on Saturday afternoon at 2pm there will be an event commemorating an Asian Pacific American month here in the Community Center.
Committee Reports
Barbara Pejokovich is here from the Recreation Council. Next meeting will be on May 25th at 7pm in the conference room. All are invited to attend. We will be discussing the summer playground and a wrap up of other events. We definitely need help at these parties that we put on. We have had 6 or 8 pick up applications for the scholarship, but none have been returned and everyone needs money for books.
Mr. Nick D’Angelo noted Cheverly Day is May 22nd. CM Tevault the prom is Friday night May 21st and tickets are sold out. Mr. Nick D’Angelo We thank you for your financial help. We have a race at 10 am to race or walk. We will have a beer garden, the scouts grilling food, CUMC pizza and a softball game. A time is unnecessary, but if you are there by Noon you will enjoy a good game. The 5 on 5 basketball game is here in the gym and sponsored by the Police Department. Following the 5 on 5 we will have a dance in the gym after basketball. DJ iaana will play music and it will conclude in time to go watch fireworks. The Cheverly Day tennis tournament is this Saturday at the pool courts at 9 am Saturday morning. We
have a t-shirt and it will be arriving Thursday and they are $12.
CM Tevault Friday night at 8pm we have our own Dino and Friends and a mix of music between sets. We will have fantastic door prizes and beer. It is a pot luck so you get to get some of all the delicious recipes around town.
Discussion - Amending the Urban Renewal Plan – 5901 Medical Terrace
Town Administrator last month we had a public hearing as to whether to add this property to our Urban Renewal Plan. The Mayor and Council decided to delay taking action since the property owner was waiting for County approval of their permits. The County has raised some additional issues and the property owner is again waiting for the Council. The Mayor and Council received additional information about what is happening, so the ball is back in the County’s court. Hopefully, this will not be an issue next month as they should be on the road to construction.
Mayor you are recommending that we keep this tabled then. Is there any discussion.?
CM Eldridge I am in favor of the recommendation and look forward to what the fire safety folks have to say since that is the issue that is pending.
CM Watson I disagree with the recommendation. I appreciate the work they have done, but I would support adding them to the Urban Renewal Plan.
Mayor as the Ward 1 Councilmember I would like to say a few things. I will not make that motion again this month to add the property.
- Motion CM Tevault to table R-5-10 Amending the Urban Renewal Plan for a month. Seconded CM Eldridge. Approved 4-0. CM Watson opposed. Mayor cast the fourth affirmative vote.
Discussion R-6-10 Allowing for Billing for Fire Services
Mr. Warrington noted that this item has a Resolution attached that would allow the Bladensburg Fire Department to bill homeowner’s insurance policy for provision of fire services. If the Town were to sanction it, then they could bill to recover costs. The City of Edmonston and Bladensburg have not approved such a resolution. We do not have any updated information regarding the County Council’s position. The City of Bowie discussed supplementing the volunteers, but did not provide funding in their FY 11 Budget. The question is to whether to pass the resolution before you or pursuing additional information. We have yet to receive the information requested at previous meetings.
CM Watson I don’t think the timing is right and will make a motion to table this item. There are too many unknowns.
CM Eldridge do insurance policies cover these charges? Or do people need a rider on their policy?
Mr. ColaresiI talked to the Attorney General’s office who noted that he did not know of a rider and it would have to be written and will cost more in the premium.
CM Eldridge can we put protections in there to stop overcharging? Mr. Colaresi you do not have the authority. CM Eldridge can we limit the charges. Mr. Colaresi I will have to look into that and do some research.
CM Schachter some of the information is conflicting and I am in favor of tabling this item.
CM Tevault we are fully supportive of the fire service providers, but we need to make sure there is a county wide comprehensive plan and I don’t think this is the best route.
Mayor we are pulling together a letter to send to the County. Ask anyone running for office as to what is happening with the fire services.
- Motion CM Watson to table R-6-10 Allowing the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department to Charge for fire services for consideration at the July Town Meeting. Seconded CM Eldridge. Approved 4-0.
Adoption O-3-10 Amending the Personnel Section
Mr. Warrington this is a housekeeping ordinance that addresses the accumulation of leave while an employee is on Workers Compensation. What it does is stop the accumulation of leave.
Employees would come back to work and have a lot of annual leave. This makes us conform to the industry standard.
CM Schachter when you are on leave in the Federal Government you are accruing leave.
Mayor this is different because it is Workmans Compensation.
- Motion CM Eldridge to adopt O-3-10 Amending the Personnel Section of the Town Code. Seconded CM Tevault. Approved 4-0.
Introduction FY 11 Operating Budget and CIP
Mr. Warrington noted that the Mayor and Council received some changes since the last worksession. We bumped one of our public works projects to budget year +1. What we anticipated receiving and spending is now down to $74,000 in the negative. We did however have to put $6,000 in credit card processing charges for the speed camera payments. At the next
Town Meeting we will have a Constant Yield Public Hearing and then we will have a non-codified ordinance for adoption.
Mayor I would like to mention that CM Watson suggested moving a public works item to next year to get us closer to a balanced budget.
Mr. Warrington I wanted to note that we got a letter from the state that said we may get some highway revenue this year, so it is a living document always changing.
CM Schachter what are the anticipated revenues in the budget from speed cameras? Mr. Warrington the revenue anticipated is $2.6 million and the expenditures are two different things, which are administrative cost and the 10% retained for public safety related issues of our budget. This is approximately $700,000. The rest gets returned to the state.
Mayor if you have any questions feel free to ask your Councilmembers. We are in good financial state.
Police Information Sharing Agreements
Mr. Colaresi this is an agreement with the State of Maryland to allow access for our police department to access criminal history information.
CM Watson is this a continuation of access that we are currently utilizing? Mr. Colaresi yes.
- Motion CM Schachter that the three information user agreements with the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services of the State of Maryland and the Town of Cheverly Police Department be approved for signature by the Town Administrator or the Chief of Police. Seconded CM Watson. Approved 4-0.
Former Mayor Mosley I did here from Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department member Donnie Wells and he is covered under his basic part of insurance for billing. It is not a special rider.
Mayor Callahan invited everyone done to enjoy cake and refreshments at the Town Hall to acknowledge Mayor Mosley.
Meeting adjourned.
Town of Cheverly
Summary of Action
May 13, 2010
- Motion CM Tevault to table R-5-10 Amending the Urban Renewal Plan for a month. Seconded CM Eldridge. Approved 4-0. CM Watson opposed. Mayor cast the fourth affirmative vote
- Motion CM Watson to table R-6-10 Allowing the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department to Charge for fire services for consideration at the July Town Meeting. Seconded CM Eldridge. Approved 4-0
- Motion CM Eldridge to adopt O-3-10 Amending the Personnel Section of the Town Code. Seconded CM Tevault. Approved 4-0
- Motion CM Watson to table R-6-10 Allowing the Bladensburg Volunteer Fire Department to Charge for fire services for consideration at the July Town Meeting. Seconded CM Eldridge. Approved 4-0
- Motion CM Schachter that the three information user agreements with the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services of the State of Maryland and the Town of Cheverly Police Department be approved for signature by the Town Administrator or the Chief of Police. Seconded CM Watson. Approved 4-0
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