Town of Cheverly
Meeting Minutes
March 14, 2013
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
Minutes – Town Meeting 2/14/13
Approved as written.
Minutes – Worksession 2/28/13
Approved as written.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Warrington noted that we are getting the budget ready.
Chief’s Report
Chief Robshaw February’s crime was up a little bit with 22 events and 14 were thefts. Our new campaign “Conceal it or thieves will steal it.” Last night’s CPACT meeting dealt with crime at the Metro and we will follow-up in the Newsletter. There will be a big DUI campaign on the coming weekend for St. Patrick’s Day.
CM Eldridge can the students at Gladys Noon Spellman have the services of your Officers for the Bike to School Day on May 10th. Chief yes.
CM Thorpe Chief do you have any assessment regarding the effectiveness of the body cameras?
Chief at this point my response is limited, but I should be in a better position to answer in about a month.
Committee Reports
Recreation Council Report
Ms. Barbara Pejokovich our next meeting will be on Tuesday the 26th in the conference room everyone is welcome to attend. We will be discussing the Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30th bring your cameras and a bag for egg pick-up. The Flea Market is the following Saturday April 6th. I have three tables left for the April Flea Market and tables are $15. My number is 301-773-5883. The Scholarship is in the Newsletter for any Senior that lives in Cheverly. We have two $500 scholarships. The Federation of Recreation Councils also has a $500 scholarship. Call Judy Delionobus at 301-386-4251.
Mayor our Police Department will also be having an office furniture yard sale at the Flea Market in the parking lot.
Green Infrastructure Committee
Ms. Shiela Salo announced that the Town Park Restoration Plan for environmental and recreational issues. You can find a draft of the project at our website www.greencheverly.org. 2013 is the year of the Heath, go to our website to learn more. Come out March 24th to learn all about invasive plants on the top of Tremont Street to help cut them from the Cheverly Nature Park.
Cheverly Day Report
CM Thorpe Cheverly Day is May 18th. Things are coming together and our next push will be donation requests to offset Cheverly Day expenses. We will have a morning Zumba and Yoga activity. We will have a Magician during the day. The Market and Cheverly Day will be combined this year. Please see the website, Cheverlyday.org or Cheverlyday.com. You can purchase an ad on our website as well.
Mayor we are going to reach out to community organizations and will be asking them to sponsor a game a Cheverly Day. So, if you are involved with an organization, please start thinking about what game you may want to offer on Cheverly Day that may be from your hometown flair.
Planning Board Report
Mayor they are finishing-up the Envision Cheverly document. MNCPPC has been assisting the Planning Board. There was a branding committee meeting for the 202 Corridor Study that included economic data is showing how stable the businesses are as there is a 97% occupancy rate and very little turnover. We would like to see what residents would offer as a brand for this location.
CM Eldridge the Maryland DOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan will hold a public meeting on March 21st at the University of Baltimore. There is a website mdot.maryland.gov/bikewalk and there is a lot of information there.
Citizen Input
None
Mayor and Council Announcements
CM Riazi from our Newsletter, please be sure to put Cheverly in the City box on your tax returns. Please be sure to address standing water on your property as we are getting into mosquito season. The American Legion will be having St. Patrick’s Day fare on March 16th from 5-8pm, details are in the Newsletter.
CM Coolen I want to remind people that we will have 200 college students on the morning of March 21st to clean-up our waterways. If you can, please join us at Boyd Park on March 21st to volunteer for an hour between 8am and Noon. Please come to Boyd Park or make a donation through the Friends of Lower Beaver Dam. It is really fun.
CM Eldridge I would like to put on the Worksession regarding the history of memorials around Legion Park. To all my neighbors speeding on Cheverly Avenue, please slow down as I have noticed over the past month that there has been a decrease in consideration.
Mayor the Budget for FY14 will be introduced at the April Town Meeting. A-1 Salvage Yard has decided to go entirely inside and the Special Exception area has now become extremely limited, but they are continuing to provide green space in the plan. We got an update on Fuego Night Club and they will be closed, but we will still need to be ready for an April 1st Special Exception Hearing. Election Judges need to be on board before the election and Councilmembers need to insure that their Judge is available. The Worksession agenda will include: Vest Cameras, Department of Interior Houses in Ward One, Town Park Plan, Bee Keeping in the Community Garden, Grant for Bladensburg High School, Grant for Cheverly App, Zone Parking, Pedestrian Safety on Columbia Park Road, Potential
Annexation, Stop Sign at Crestlawn and Arbor Street, Budget Discussion of Capital Projects and History of Memorial Trees in Legion Park.
Grant Request – Friends of Lower Beaver Dam Creek
Mayor this helps supports the groups that come and pull tons of trash out of our streams each year. This gives $500 to the Friends of Lower Beaver Dam Creek, which is a Town organization to feed them and support them in their clean-up.
- CM Coolen to award a grant to the Friends of Lower Beaver Dam Creek for the purpose of supporting the clean-up of streams on March 21st in the amount of $500. CM Riazi seconded. Approved 5-0.
Second Reading – O-1-13 Amending the Personnel Section
Mr. Warrington this relates to conduct of employees. We are asking the Mayor and Council to amend the grounds for dismissal or suspension. It addresses falsifying a statement or records and sleeping while on duty. We have found that when we at times go before the Unemployment Commission, they want us to show it to them in writing. This may save us town funds in regards to winning a case and paying unemployment benefits.
Second Reading – CAR-2-13 Adding Taxing Categories
Mayor this relates to all the discussion regarding Cheverly’s tiered tax rate. One of the things that happened is a proposed bill HB 820, which was intended to codify this practice and specified what a Town Council should do to substantiate in a Town Charter. I asked the Town Attorney to draft this amendment. The Bill however would not allow us to have specific rates. I do not believe that HB 820 is going to pass and I would urge that we table this motion until after we see what happens in Annapolis and then we can better tailor this Charter Amendment.
- CM Thorpe to table Charter Amendment Resolution 2-13 adding taxing categories. CM Cook seconded. Approved 5-0.
Mayor we are going to adjourn the meeting to executive session.
- CM Eldridge to adjourn to closed session to seek legal advice from the Town Attorney regarding pending litigation which the Town is involved regarding the concrete plant. CM Coolen seconded. Approved 5-0.
Town of Cheverly
Summary of Action
March 14, 2013
- CM Coolen to award a grant to the Friends of Lower Beaver Dam Creek for the purpose of supporting the clean-up of streams on March 21st in the amount of $500. CM Riazi seconded. Approved 5-0.
- CM Thorpe to table Charter Amendment Resolution 2-13 adding taxing categories. CM Cook seconded. Approved 5-0.
- CM Eldridge to adjourn to closed session to seek legal advice from the Town Attorney regarding pending litigation which the Town is involved regarding the concrete plant. CM Coolen seconded. Approved 5-0.
| 
