TOWN OF EASTON, MARYLAND

Easton Town Hall

14 S. Harrison Street

August 7, 2006

 

PRESENT AT CONVENING

 

Mayor Robert C. Willey                                                                                              

President of Council John F. Ford                                            

Councilmember Scott R. Jensen

Councilmember Leonard E. Wendowski, Sr.                            

 

IN ATTENDANCE

 

Also in attendance were Town Attorney Mr. Kehoe; Major Spencer, Assistant to the Town Engineer Mr. Hause, Town Planner Mr. Hamilton, Economic Development Coordinator Mr. Bond, Parks and Recreation Director Mr. Sviatko and Kathy Ruf for Town Clerk Robert Karge.

 

CONVENING

 

At 7:00 p.m., the President of the Council, Mr. Ford called the meeting to order.

 

Mr. Jensen opened the meeting with prayer and led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF JULY 17 AND JULY 21, 2006 MEETINGS

 

Upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Ford and carried, the minutes of the July 17 and July 21, 2006 meetings were approved as written.

 

ITEMS BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

Mr. Drew Jensen discussed the Fire Department’s recent activities.

 

CONSENSUS ON THE FAISON DEVELOPMENT PLANNED UNIT DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION

 

Ms. Scott-Taylor asked that the consensus for the Faison Development/Easton Commons be postponed until she could be in attendance. Additionally, Ms. Jackson-Amis’ absence makes the postponement more compelling. The President of the Council tabled the discussion.

 

ITEMS BY MAYOR WILLEY

 

Mayor Willey stated that there is a Bond Underwriter’s workshop scheduled for September 18 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council’s chambers.

 

Mayor Willey discussed the new system of metal pickup and the leaf pickup policy by Public Works.

 

Mayor Willey stated that the County Council will vote on the Clifton Industrial Park proposal for infrastructure funding and special taxing district Tuesday, August 8.

 

ASSISTANT TO THE TOWN ENGINEER

 

The request for additional street lights on Port Street will be accommodated by Easton Utilities.

 

The rails-to-trails on Idlewild now has the base and hopefully will be paved by the time school starts.

 

Mr. Hause discussed the backup on Goldsborough Street and Mr. Wendowski’s request to alleviate the stacking at Goldsborough Street and Harrison Street and Goldsborough Street and Dover Street.

 

Mr. Hause discussed the paving being done in town by Bramble’s.

 

Mr. Jensen discussed the color of the streetlights.

 

Mr. Grunden stated that the difference is the high pressure sodium lights (yellowish) and metal halide (bluer/whiter lights) which will give greater candles on the pavement surface. Mr. Grunden will check with the distribution department and see which are being used and look into consistency on the street for the high pressure sodium bulbs.

 

ITEMS BY THE TOWN PLANNER

 

Mr. Hamilton discussed the Board of Appeals agenda. He stated that there is a hearing tomorrow with a pending application for a tattoo parlor on Dover Street. Mr. Hamilton stated that the Board of Appeals will review applications on August 22 for:

  • Variance for a porch addition on Goldsborough Street
  • Variance on 206 South Street for an addition to the rear of a house
  • Appeal of the Historic District Commission’s which previously approved a dormer on a side of the house but not an addition to the other side of the house on 16 N Aurora Street

 

Planning and Zoning will review applications on August 17 for:

  • 4,500 square foot office building on Brooks Drive
  • 4 lot subdivision on South Washington Street
  • Sketch PUD for 39 townhomes; Caldwell’s Crossing next to Cannery Square
  • Concept plan which of a project that will sit at the Cannery Square Apartments
  • Elm Street project for affordable housing on the west side of town; 19 and 35 Clay Street
  • Final architecture for Target and sign plan

 

LETTER FROM MR. JOHN A. ATWOOD, CHAIRMAN, EASTON PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION RECOMMENDING THE NAME CHANGE OF COMMERCE STREET AS REQUESTED BY DR. MARY S. DESHIELDS, EASTERN SHORE ONCOLOGY, P.C.

 

The Town Planner stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission supports the name change of Commerce Street but recommended that the Council decide the name.

 

Mr. Jensen made a motion to change the name of the street to Purdy Street seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously.

 

The President of the Council stated that the name change is subject to making sure there is not another street in town with a similar name.

 

The Town Attorney stated that Mrs. Purdy and his children should be asked if the street name was appropriate.

 

The Town Planner discussed a request for an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance which requires a public hearing that would allow a school of dance in the Select Industrial District. The Planning Commission supported the request 3 to 0.

 

The President of the Council set the public hearing for Tuesday, September 5 at 7:15 p.m.

 

Mr. Jensen asked if the architectural standards are in place. Mr. Hamilton stated that they are done and are being used as guidelines.

 

Mr. Jensen asked if the lighting at Bay Tree Storage could be looked at as it is way too bright as is the Hampton Inn.

 

ITEMS BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR

 

Mr. Sviatko reported that the seven week summer camp is finished with a  good attendance.

 

Mr. Sviatko reported that the Senior League Softball Regional Softball Tournament was held at North Easton Park last week.

 

Mr. Wendowski asked Mr. Sviatko to contact the Director of the YMCA for funds for the skatepark.

 

The office above the concession stand at North Easton Park is near completion except for the heating and air conditioning.

 

INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY EASTON UTILITIES REGARDING NATURAL GAS PRO-AIR FACILITY

 

Talbot Bone discussed a memo distributed to the Council regarding a Pro-Air Facility that was previously approved. He stated that it will be placed in a permanent location next to the elevated water tank at the Clifton neighborhood. The original location was on Dover Street two blocks off Route 50. Discussion occurred regarding the state’s right-of-way.

 

Mr. Wendowski thanked Easton Utilities for moving the two boxes on Dutchman’s Lane.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 5888 AUTHORIZING THE TOWN CLERK TO MAKE ABATEMENTS WHICH WERE REQUESTED DUE TO LIMITED TOWN SERVICES AND TAX EXEMPT STATUS

 

Upon motion by Mr. Wendowski seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried unanimously, Resolution No. 5888 was passed unanimously.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 5889, “A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF EASTON APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MIDDLE DEPARTMENT INSPECTION AGENCY, INC. TO PROVIDE INSPECTION SERVICES FOR THE TOWN FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS”

 

Upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously, Resolution No. 5889 was passed unanimously.

 

RESOLUTION NO. 5890, “A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF EASTON APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE MIDDLE DEPARTMENT INSPECTION AGENCY, INC. TO PROVIDE INSPECTION SERVICES FOR RENTAL PROPERTIES WITHIN THE TOWN OF EASTON”

 

Upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously, Resolution No. 5890 was passed unanimously.

 

ORDINANCE NO. 504, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF EASTON ADOPTING THE 2005 NFPA 70 NATIONAL ELECTRIC CODE AS THE ELECTRIC CODE FOR THE TOWN OF EASTON

 

The President of the Council introduced Ordinance No. 504 for a first reading.

 

CONSENSUS ON THE REQUEST OF LAKELAND’S AT EASTON, LLC CURRENT OWNER OF THE LAKELAND’S PUD SUBDIVISON WHICH HAS REQUESTED REVISIONS TO THE ORIGINAL PUD APPLICATION

 

Ryan Showalter, Esq. on behalf of the applicant stated that the change requested did not result in any additional units.

 

It was the consensus of the Council members to support the requested changes.

 

The Town Attorney was directed to prepare the necessary legislation.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

At 7:50 p.m., upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously; the President of the Council adjourned the regularly scheduled Council meeting.

 

______________________________________

Kathy Ruf for Town Clerk