Town of Cheverly
Meeting Minutes
December 12, 2013
Call to Order
Meeting called to order at 8:00 pm in the Cheverly Community Center.
In attendance: CMs, Riazi, Eldridge, Coolen, Rodgers, Thorpe, Cook.
Pledge of Allegiance
Agenda/Approval/Changes
We are adding a grant for the Community Market.
Minutes – Town Meeting 11/14/13
Approved.
Minutes – Worksession 11/21/13
No Meeting was held.
Town Administrator’s Report
Mr. Warrington the weather is getting interesting and we are asking everyone to follow the parking restrictions on the website. Please park on the appropriate side to help our plows and protect your vehicles. We ask you also to clear your sidewalks per the regulations posted on our website. We will be collecting leaves as the snow has slowed us up.
Chief’s Report
Chief Robshaw I think the snow removal regulations were posted on our last newsletter. It was another good month for us. We have a lower crime rate than any other year less last year. Today we executed a number of search and seizure warrants at Cheverly Station and closed out 5 burglaries. This was the suspect that we had posted on the Town website for the past few months. We did have a homicide that occurred just outside the Town of Cheverly. The US Post Office has posted a reward and we are cooperating with the County on this investigation. If anyone has any information on this matter, please contact Detective Harris at 301-772-4916. I always tell people that during this time of year, tell your neighbors when you are leaving and tell them that you are expecting a
package. People do steal packages off of front porches.
Committee Reports
Recreation Council Report
CM Eldridge There was a very successful event on Saturday and everyone enjoyed seeing Santa Claus.
Green Infrastructure Committee
Mayor they are moving forward for programs for next year. They will be focusing in on aiding people on means to reduce stormwater from their property and reducing their stormwater fee.
Cheverly Day Report
CM Thorpe it is scheduled for May 31st. The Cheverly Day Committee meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7:30 in the Community Center. If you wish to help contact me.
Planning Board Report
CM Eldridge I wanted to thank Dave Kneipp on documenting all the initiatives in Cheverly for the application for the Sustainable Maryland Program. The Planning Board did not meet this past week. We just had a meeting related to Euclid Park and they presented new playground equipment at Euclid Park. We should see new equipment by next summer.
Citizen Input
Mayor and Council Announcements
CM Coolen our Holiday Market is this weekend. There will be an opportunity for shopping.
Mayor I want to thank Ms. Eldridge, Mr. Aleivo and Mr. Barton for their third annual Turkey Trot that raised money for the GNS PTA and a number of pounds of food were sent to the Capital Area Food Bank. We will not have a Worksession in December.
Variance Request – 2803 Cheverly Avenue
Mr. Warrington this is a side property line variance request. It is going to go before the County, but the Mayor and Council do not have zoning authority however we do have an opportunity for input. The issue is the set-back line. There is an eight foot requirement and this construction of garage and an addition above, will need a 3 foot variance as it encroaches within 5 feet of the property line.
Mr. Fettuchi my name is Ricardo Fetuch and I reside at 2803 Cheverly Avenue. The hearing is on January 15th. I am seeking a 3 foot variance and I have spoken to Candy Watkins at CUMC and they said our proposal was fine with our proposal. I got a letter in the mail that noted that most residents have one car garage. I am planning on only having one garage door and I have pictures of many other Cheverly homes that have the same thing. I am requesting a two car garage as I have my every day car and I have a large vintage car as well as some storage space for yard tools. On Sundays I have no where to park. I can share the architectural design.
CM Eldridge I am excited to hear that Candy Watkins of the church is in favor. I have reached out to some church officials, but have not heard back from them. Did you look at any footprints with a narrower design. . I would like to talk to some of the folks at the church and I have been remiss in not contacting them.
Mr. Fettuchi we could not pull the garage back the 3 feet because the vehicles could not fit in with any room to open the doors. The land will be flat on the area to be developed and the design is eco-friendly as we are not moving the water towards the church and the architect has followed all the County requirements. This site is unique because of the parking issues with the Church.
Mayor this does not commit us to grant other variances in the future. Our process has always been to deal with each variance on an individual basis and we look to the other residents in the area when considering our position.
Mr. Fettuchi I would like to have a singular tire path for the driveway, which could address the impervious surface concerns. We have made the design to not put the brick side-by-side since it will not match perfectly. The architect wanted it stepped so not to bring attention to the alignment. You don’t want to put the two roofs together so you don’t see that the new and the old are separated. If we step it back, then I loose the window in my bedroom.
CM Eldridge after looking at the architectural design I feel more comfortable about saying yes. I would like to make a motion:
- CM Eldridge to write a letter of support pending confirmation from CUMC. CM Rodgers seconded.Approved 6-0.
Frolich Lane Path – Waiver of Bond Requirements
Mr. Warrington this is not the Frolich Lane in Tuxedo along Kenilworth Avenue. This is also known as Belmont and in reality is the foot path that connects from the sign at the end of Carlyle to 59th. A lot of people use it to get to Metro. The developer building the 11 homes in the area is being required by MNCPPC to build this trail, which will serve as a connector in their pedestrian/bike plans. In our Code we require a bond to be posted when working on a public right of way. The developer has posted a bond with the County and he is asking that we waive our construction bond requirements.
CM Eldridge why are we considering waiving the bond?
Mr. Warrington a bond is already posted with the County and they will be doing all the grading inspections and construction inspections. Mr. Torres will look in on this construction, but the County will be running point on this matter.
CM Coolen I would like to know what it is going to look like and if it is going to look nice.
Mayor why don’t we walk the site again with the developer. CM Coolen, Mr. Torres and I will do that and report back as to our findings. This will have to then wait until January’s meeting.
Grant Request – Santa with a Badge
Chief Robshaw the Cheverly Police Department has done this for the past 2 years and we take 10 children from Cheverly with a grant from the Council. These children are chosen by the Principal of Spellman. The child buys presents for their family and we go to Outback Steakhouse for lunch. Our employees also reach into their own pockets to help out. We consider it an important way to give back to the community.
- CM Rodgers to approve a $1,000 grant to the Santa with a Badge program. CM Cook seconded.Approved 6-0.
Second Reading O-1-14 Dangerous Weapons Amendment
Mr. Warrington this Ordinance does nothing more than what the State law already lays out what is and isn’t legal. The Mayor and Council have made changes to our Town Code that will add specifics to where dangerous weapons will be prohibited in the Town. This will be up for adoption in January and will be effective in February.
Second Reading O-2-13 Amending the Housing Section – Smoke Detectors
Mr. Warrington this Ordinance addresses smoke detectors in single family rental properties. Our Code references the County standards and we are adding two words to include AND STATE in order to require compliance with the County and State laws. It will be up for adoption at the January Town Meeting.
Adoption CA-6-13 Annexation – Ward 2
Mayor I want to open this as a public hearing.
Mr. Warrington this is a Charter Amendment to expand the corporate limits of the Town of Cheverly. The Town has purchased a property next to Pinkey’s Park, which we will remove and add green space to Pinkey’s Park. We will bring Pinkey’s Park into the corporate limits of the Town of Cheverly. We hope to be blending it into the current park in the spring. This will be final in early February.
Mayor I want to open this as a public hearing for any comments or input.
- CM Coolen to adopt CA-3-13 Annexation of property. CM Rodgers seconded.Approved 6-0.
Adoption R-6-13 Authorizing – Annexation Extension of Services
Mr. Warrington as required by State law, this Resolution outlines the services we are going to provide such as police services, refuse collection while the County is still responsible for Fire Protection.
- CM Coolen to adopt R-6-13 Authorizing an Annexation Plan. CM Riazi seconded.Approved 6-0.
Adoption Town Park Stage
Mr. Warrington this is part of the 1992 Master Plan and replaces the old wooden stage in Town Park. The Mayor and Town Council raised a number of issues in August and all of these items have been addressed. The tiered seating hard surfaces have been removed and a natural grass tiering seating will be utilized. We will however have the area compliant with the ADA and will be accessible.
Mayor the overall size of the original stage has been reduced to a 19x31 stage. Our intent is to have the ADA ramp reach the playground and pavilion.
Mr. Warrington we will now have bidding documents prepared, go out to bid, look at the work schedule and decide whether we can complete the project by May 31, 2014. If we can not, then we probably won’t start until that date has passed.
Grant Request – Community Market
CM Coolen this is an annual grant requested by the Community Market to purchase insurance to cover a policy for the Community Market.
- CM Riazi to Authorizing a Grant up to $900 for insurance for the Community Market. CM Eldridge seconded. Approved 5-0. CM Coolen abstained.
Mayor we are adjourned.
Town of Cheverly
Summary of Action
December 12, 2013
- CM Eldridge to write a letter of support pending confirmation from CUMC. CM Rodgers seconded.Approved 6-0.
- CM Rodgers to approve a $1,000 grant to the Santa with a Badge program. CM Cook seconded.Approved 6-0.
- CM Coolen to adopt CA-3-13 Annexation of property. CM Rodgers seconded.Approved 6-0.
- CM Coolen to adopt R-6-13 Authorizing an Annexation Plan. CM Riazi seconded.Approved 6-0.
- CM Riazi to Authorizing a Grant up to $900 for insurance for the Community Market. CM Eldridge seconded. Approved 5-0. CM Coolen abstained
.
| 
