Town of Cheverly
Meeting Minutes
September13, 2012
Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 8:00 pm in the Cheverly Community Center.
In attendance: CMs Riazi, Coolen, Eldridge, Thorpe, Cook.
Pledge of Allegiance
Agenda/Approval/Changes
Mayor added a brief conversation regarding noise.
Addition of a Grant Request from CPRC.
Minutes – Town Meeting 8/9/12
Approved as written.
Minutes – Worksession 8/23/12
Approved as written.
Town Administrator Report
Mr. Warrington we are gearing-up for the audit which is due to the State around Halloween. We are finishing-up the Safe Routes to Schools Grant and all we have left are the flashing beacons on Cheverly Avenue.
CM Thorpe have we caught-up with most of the tree work?
Mr. Warrington we looked a the math of having contractors in for a week versus renting a cherry picker to do the work ourselves and found that we can get about three more weeks worth of work if we do it ourselves for the same price. Mr. Torres hopes to knock it his four page list before the rental period is over.
Chief’s Report
Chief Robshaw noted that our crime rate is again down more than half per year. We are sending someone to session 31 of the citizen’s police academy that is a very good course that talks about all aspects of police work. Where else can you go to fire a tazer, see helicopters and police dogs? Public Safety Day, which is September 20th from 5:30-8:00 and is sponsored by Three Brothers. We had a yard sale on September 10th to raise funds for a portable camera that allows an officer to record audio and video. It is a liability deterrent and provides uniformity in operation. We raised about $800 and we thank you. In the last 3 months we have had a deluge of vehicle donations and we appreciate it as every vehicle is sold for the highest amount of money. Every donation dollar is used for the purchase of equipment for the police as there are no hidden costs.
Mayor what’s on the menu from Three Brothers?
Chief Robshaw come hungry we have lasagna, meat balls, hot dogs, drinks and much more. The Bake Sale is for the Concerns for Police Survivors where the proceeds go to fallen officer’s families. The Cub Scouts will be there as well aiding us. The armored vehicle will be here along with the wagon and horses.
Committee Reports
Recreation Council Barbara Pejokovich there will be a meeting on the 25th at 7pm and the public is welcome. On Saturday we will have the Fall Flea Market on October 13th. Funds raised are for the scholarship fund. I have a few tables left, so give me a call.
Green Infrastructure Reports
CM Eldridge there was a fantastic green infrastructure forum this past Monday night. They covered a variety of groups and subjects that are going on in Town for sustainability and network. There is a new Friends of Quincy Run group for the stream between the BW Parkway and Kenilworth Avenue. Ms. Dembrowski is heading up this group.
CM Eldridge the Planning Board is coordinating the next steps for Envision Cheverly.
Citizen Input
Ms. Ann Gardenhour Ward 3, provided and read a statement regarding the historic Bladensburg Peace Cross requesting that the Mayor and Council take a position against the removal of the Peace Cross be removed.
Ms. Dorothy Scott Ward 4, provided and noted a statement regarding enacting rules or legislation regarding absentee landlords in Cheverly.
Mayor and Council Announcements
CM Coolen the Mayor and I have been meeting with the Smith reclamation center and we have resolved a smell of hydraulic fluid that was from a machine on their property, which has been fixed and it has stopped. We are working with them to build a sound barrier around another piece of equipment that we can hear in Cheverly. They are very willing to work with us. An election is coming-up in November and I think it is important to go out and support Micah Watson. Voter registration deadline is October 15th. There is a Community Market September 21st Saturday, which is next weekend.
CM Riazi. It is almost half way to St. Patrick’s Day event on September 15th from 1-4 pm. There will be many things there to do and enjoy. It is a fund raiser for the roof of the American Legion, which is an important historic structure. The American Legion has rescheduled the help the homeless walk for September 29th that will start at Legion Park and end at the Legion.
CM Eldridge the Turkey Trot will be back on Thanksgiving Day the 22nd at 8 am. This year there will be a 5K run and a 1K family fun run. There will be a registration fee for the 5K, which will benefit the Cheverly Market. I would like to invite everyone to 3009 Cheverly Avenue to hear candidate Watson on the 23rd of September from 3-5 pm.
CM Riazi for the many Ward 1 members, the process of removing the three houses removed that are owned by the Park Services should be as soon as possible.
CM Cook I wanted to thank all the Cheverly community that came out and helped the fire victims of the Cheverly Station apartments.
Mayor the Library Committee will meet again on October 10th. I would like to congratulate the CPRC for the Spellman school supply drive and the Screen on the Green affair. For the Worksession agenda: Greenleaf and Valley Way bench and bike rack, , Approval of a Letter to the County regarding Stormwater Management, Craftsman Industrial Park Building tenant for electronic recycling, Discussion of traffic patterns on Belleview, Booms and Festival issues, Composting group to talk about the County 10 year waste management program, African American Museum in Brentwood, Bond Bill, Annexation, Update on the Walgreens, Turkey Trot Course and Conversation regarding extending Halloween hours.
Second Reading – CAR-3-12 Amending the Referendum Section of the Charter
Mr. Warrington this Charter Amendment will change the requirements for the percentage of registered voter signatures needed to bring a statute back for reconsideration. This will bring both Charter Amendments and Ordinances to 20% as Ordinances now are at 10%. This amendment will also preclude from referendum the Budget and Bond Issuance in order to protect the continuity of the operations of the Town. It will be up for adoption at the October Town Meeting.
Mr. Norman Oslik Ward 2, I think this is a solution in search of a problem. I have heard two reasons in that other municipalities do this and with the use of the internet, you can get signatures very quickly. In Cheverly you will need 419 signatures and this change will double that amount. I want note that the State only requires 3% and if we use that standard then in Cheverly you would only need 55. So, our current requirement is already 8 times the State requirement. You have to get these within 30 days, which is a very short period of time. I think the 10% is a reasonable number.
Mayor the 20% is very much in alignment with other municipalities. A small Town versus the State means that the effort can be much quicker given such a small area.
Adoption – O-3-12 Amending the Off Street Parking Section
Mr. Warrington this new or amended section of the Code will define a camping trailer as not being a passenger vehicle. This will clarify this question in this part of the Code. It is up for adoption.
- CM Thorpe to adopt Ordinance O-3-12 to Amending the Off Street Parking Section. CM Coolen seconded. Approved unanimously.
Festival and Booms
Mayor the music from Capital Plaza from the festival last weekend could be heard in town. There were places across from 202 where it could not be heard, so it clearly was an issue in our Town. We have sent a note to the Nellis Corporation and we will be calling them tomorrow. We have also been told that it occurs when the Soul Circus is in Town. I also wanted to mention the boom on Sunday. The Smith Company was not in operation that night. One theory is that it is the CSX trains and we will be reaching out to them about this possibility.
Mayor meeting adjourned.
Town of Cheverly
Summary of Action
September 13, 2012
- CM Thorpe to adopt Ordinance O-3-12 to Amending the Off Street Parking Section. CM Coolen seconded. Approved unanimously.
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