DRAFT
Town of Cheverly
Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2011
Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 8:00 pm in the Cheverly Community Center.
In attendance: CMs Riazi Eldridge, Coolen, Cook and Thorpe.
Pledge of Allegiance
Agenda/Approval/Changes
Minutes – Town Meeting 8/11/11
Approved as written.
Minutes – Worksession 8/25/11
Approved as written.
Police Department Report
Chief Robshaw I just got the 2010 copy of the Crime Statistics in Maryland. Our crime went down 5.4% which is based on crime per 100,000 people. Looking at towns and cities ours is the fourth lowest. We are the fifth highest in arrests for crime in Prince George’s County. Crime is down this month, but up overall. The main reason is thefts. It is the most over reported and least solved, especially theft from autos. Don’t leave anything in plain view that is easy to get to and take. I want to thank everyone in town during the hurricane. We had no incidents and no calls for service that were frivolous. September 27th from 5-8 pm is the Cheverly Public Safety Day and there will be free food catered by Three Brothers. The State does
not include the crime of vandalism which is why our numbers and the State’s differ slightly.
Town Administrator Report
Mr. Warrington reported that we are preparing to repave an area on 63rd street. We were going to use the Safe Routes to School Grant, but the Federal red tape is preventing that until the spring. We will come back and put in the two additional raised crosswalks when that money becomes available. The contractor for WSSC has been delayed due to weather. We are pushed back in the que until October on Belleview Avenue. The building utilization committee is on September 15th at 7pm.
CM Riazi could you share any updates on the National Park Service owned homes?
Mayor approximately 4 weeks ago I was told that they got the funds for demolition, but they now needed to go through a federal requirement to see if they can be used for Katrina victims. They promised to get back to us at the end of that process.
Committee Reports
CM Eldridge the next Recreation Council meeting will be September 27th at 7pm. The Fall Flea Market on Saturday October 1st from 9-2.
CM Thorpe Cheverly Day will be May 12, 2012. Ms. Tracy Moore has joined us as a new volunteer. We are always looking for volunteers. Nick D’Angelo and his wife Christy had a little boy on August 21st who is named Alexander. We meet the second Tuesday of the month.
Citizen Input
Mr. Steve Brennen from the American Legion. We will be holding a remembrance ceremony to honor 9/11 at 2pm in Legion Park. Currently, we will move it to Legion Hall if the weather is bad. We will have the fire and police department. We will raise a flag with every name of the victims of 9/11 which we will raise on the second lanyard of the flag pole. This will follow with light refreshments at the Legion to follow. Any questions call the American Legion.
Dave Kneipp Inwood Street. What is the difference between the red painted curb versus the yellow painted curb regarding parking. Mayor we will get an explanation and get back to you.
Mayor and Council Announcements
CM Coolen we have a community market this Saturday. The September 24th Community Market we will be having zucchini races where you can hollow out, decorate and race your zucchini. Mark your calendars for that one. We are looking for a new market manager for next year. Contact me at mjcoolen@yahoo.com if you are interested.
CM Riazi wanted to thank the American Legion for opening their doors for some of us who needed respite from the weather conditions. Wanted to thank the public works department for all their hard work during the storm.
CM Thorpe the Ward 4 Civic Association will hold their meeting on the 19th and a WSSC representative will be at that meeting.
Mayor Callahan Private Property Planting Program will be going in October. Contact the Public Works Department if you would like a tree. Their cut off date is September 15th. Aldi’s opening date will be November 10th. A number of citizens called about flooding on Tuxedo Road and Route 50. We have written a number of letters, but to date no avail. We will be sending a number of letters and we are trying to get something done. We have sent a letter to the Governor and County Executive about the hospital. It is our opinion that the hospital should stay where it is and that we get to participate in the land use decisions regarding the hospital property.
CM Eldridge the Mayor will represent us tomorrow at a check presentation for the Safe Routes to School Program.
Mayor The September Worksession agenda is: Chief of Police report, Review of Traffic Calming Options, Ordinance 8-11 Spilling Rubbish from Vehicles, O-7-11 Restricted Parking near Speed Cameras, BW Partners for Forest Stewardship, Grant Applications and possibly Social Media.
Adoption Resolution R-6-11 Recommendations from the Green Infrastructure Committee
CM Eldridge this has been something that a large group of people have been working on for several months. Behind me is the map part of the plan. There are dozens and dozens of discrete actions to be taken by the Town and also things that homeowner’s can do to take a more holistic view of how residents live on their land. This elevates a community of our size in the regions as most do not have such a plan. I want to thank everyone that worked tirelessly on this plan.
Ms. Salo I wanted everyone to know that the full text of the Green Infrastructure Report is on www.greencheverly.org in two formats as a PDF and as a normal HTML. Should the Resolution pass, then an executive summary will go to everyone in town. There will be a kick off at the November 19th Community Market.
Wink Hastings from the National Park Service I like to underscore some recommendations of the plan. The plan implements some of the County’s Green Infrastructure Plan and their Water Resource Plan. The recommendations help meet some of the goals of the Chesapeake Bay Plan so the plan is good for Cheverly, the County and the Chesapeake Bay.
Mr. Dan Smith of Inwood Street. Right now there is this tremendous rain and flooding. So, it is fitting that we are here tonight. This is considered a 5 year storm and it is something that we will have more regularly happening. This plan may help minimize the disruption and damage in the future. This plan will help us contribute to meeting new Federal regulations. I urge you all to vote for this plan.
CM Riazi I have observed the work of the Green Infrastructure Committee. This has been an effort of many talents in town. They are insuring a green healthy town for our future.
Mayor I think this is an incredible piece of work done by these people. This builds on a legacy of strong stewardship.
- Motion CM Eldridge to approve R-6-11 accepting the recommendations of the Green Infrastructure Plan. Seconded CM Riazi. Approved 5-0
Adoption of Charter Amendment CA-2-11 Annexation
Mayor opened a public hearing.
Mr. Warrington this is the process to annex that new quarter acre lot into the Town of Cheverly where the Walgreen’s is going. We have introduced this item at the last Town Meeting and because the parcel is only one quarter acre, it can be passed in the second meeting. The Town of Cheverly has made all necessary notifications.
Micah Watson Ward 2 I am here not to oppose the Charter Amendment as I think it makes a lot of sense to annex this lot into the Town. My concern is that the annexation does not go far enough. I would much prefer that the Council be moving toward a larger annexation.
Mayor we often talk about expanding the tax base and one way to do so is to attract positive commercial properties. This small piece of land does not allow us to work further regarding the point brought-up to the Council.
- Motion CM Riazi to approve CA-2-11 annexing Lot 4 Block 8. Seconded CM Cook. Approved 5-0
Mayor closed the public hearing.
Introduction Ordinance O-7-11 Amending Temporary Parking
Mr. Warrington this item is before you today for introduction and contains a very minimal number of word changes to the current code. It will allow the Town Administrator to set temporary no parking zones from 30 days to 150 days and includes the term Photo Enforcement Devices as an additional restricted area so that you can not park so as not to block the devices. With our new speed cameras are portable and we did not want the Mayor and Council to continuously be declaring No Parking zones throughout the Town. A parked car may block the camera. If we can set it up to not impact any area that is 25 feet within the intersection, but in some cases we need some extra room. If you block one of these it will become a violation.
CM Eldridge is this typical of communities where only the Town Council can declare no parking areas?
Mr. Colaresi this is a step down from everything that used to have to be approved by ordinance and now the Council can do it by any function. The Council chose to keep it that way in order to get citizen input. You can change this.
CM Riazi how would a no parking area be noted? Mr. Warrington we are currently using the paper temporary signs and our goal is to come up with a permanent/temporary no parking sign that will be installed and moved with the cameras.
Meeting adjourned.
Town of Cheverly
Summary of Action
September 8, 2011
1. Motion CM Eldridge to approve R-6-11 accepting the recommendations of the Green Infrastructure Plan. Seconded CM Riazi. Approved 5-0
2. Motion CM Riazi to approve CA-2-11 annexing Lot 4 Block 8. Seconded CM Cook. Approved 5-0
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