TOWN OF EASTON, MARYLAND
Easton Town Hall
14 S. Harrison Street
November 20, 2006
Councilmember Maureen Scott-Taylor Ms. Moonyene Jackson-Amis
Also in attendance was Town Attorney Mr. Kehoe, Chief Blue, Town Planner Mr. Hamilton, Assistant to Town Engineer Mr. Hause, Economic Development Coordinator Mr. Bond, Director of Parks and Recreation Mr. Sviatko and Town Clerk Robert Karge.
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 NOVEMBER 6, 2006 MEETINGS
Upon motion by Ms. Scott-Taylor seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously, minutes of the November 6, 2006 meetings were approved as written.
ITEMS BY MAYOR WILLEY
Mayor Willey stated that he attended the Board of Public Works meeting with the Director of Parks and Recreation. The Town of Easton was awarded $172,000 in Project Open Space funds for Stoney Ridge Park and Moton Park.
MEMO FROM MAYOR WILLEY APPOINTING MS. DEBBIE RENSHAW TO THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS
Upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried, Ms. Renshaw’s appointment to the Board of Zoning Appeals was approved.
ITEMS BY THE CHIEF OF POLICE
The Christmas parade is scheduled for December 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Upon motion by Mr. Jensen seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously, approval was granted for the Christmas parade.
ITEMS BY ASSISTANT TO TOWN ENGINEER
Mr. Hause discussed the holiday sanitation schedule and the leaf pick up policy.
Mr. Hause stated that the sidewalk project on Washington Street on the north west side will begin December 4.
Discussion occurred regarding the follow up meetings for the east west collector road. It was the consensus of the Council to hold the public information meetings after the holidays.
ITEMS BY THE TOWN PLANNER
The Planning Commission reviewed the purchase of old railroad right-of-way for Easton Utilities from Maryland Transit Administration. Mr. Hamilton stated that the Planning Commission found that the purchase of this property is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan for construction of the new sewer treatment plant and this acquisition is to provide access for the pressure main to the new sewer plant.
Upon motion by Mr. Wendowski seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried unanimously, the Mayor was authorized to execute the necessary paperwork.
Mr. Hamilton asked that Resolution No. 5896 be introduced for passage. When reviewing the Town maps, it was discovered that there are two Samantha’s Alleys in Easton Club East.
RESOLUTION NO. 5896, “A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF EASTON TO CHANGE THE NAME OF THE PUBLIC STREET TO SAMANTHA’S ALLEY TO PHYLLIS ALLEY.”
Upon motion by Ms. Scott-Taylor seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried; Resolution No. 5896 was approved unanimously following a roll call vote.
Mr. Hamilton discussed the agenda for the upcoming Planning and Zoning meeting on December 21:
ITEMS BY THE TOWN ATTORNEY
The Town Attorney asked for a Closed Session regarding legal advice.
ITEMS BY THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Mr. Bond passed out a holiday activity list and asked the Council to participate in the tree lighting ceremony at Thompson Park.
ITEMS BY THE DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION
Mr. Sviatko discussed the approval of the grant by the Board of Public Works for the Program Open Space Grants. He stated that Moton Park will be renovated and Stoney Ridge will have a new playground and volleyball court.
Mr. Sviatko stated that the lights are installed at Matthewstown Run.
RESOLUTION NO. 5895, “A RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF EASTON ADOPTING A PROCEDURE FOR NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT FOR CERTAIN APPOINTED OFFICERS OF THE TOWN.”
The Town Attorney stated that this is a draft.
Mr. Ford stated that the process should begin with or be concurrent with public advertisement. As a government, we should try to promote diversity in the workplace and should start with the first step with these important positions, an open process.
Mr. Kehoe stated that he believes the Mayor’s intent with these positions is to fill these positions without adding additional employees to the town’s payroll.
Ms. Jackson-Amis stated that with respect to the Town Manager’s position and the Finance Director, they should be grandfathered in. She stated that the other positions should be positions of new employment and should be let to the public. Ms. Jackson-Amis discussed her concerns with diversity of employment in the Town’s structure. She stated that we should consider in the top positions; maybe across the board, the possibility of employing citizens who live here or own property here. She stated that this process should be open to all qualified individuals.
Mr. Ford stated that the resolution is to open up a process for the five specifically identified positions in the town.
Mr. Jensen stated that department heads should all be covered in the resolution.
Mr. Wendowski stated that this would take away an opportunity for someone internally that would like to get into that position; that has worked in that position and worked in that organization should get the first opportunity if they have the qualifications.
Ms. Scott-Taylor stated that in private practice with most human resource departments, the job is posted internally for 30 days then put out for the public.
Mr. Ford respectfully suggested that the policy with regards to looking in house first should be changed and should be open from the start. He stated that if you are going to try to achieve true diversity in the workforce, you need to open positions to the community at large.
Mr. Wendowski stated that any job should be posted in house first then advertised.
Mr. Kehoe discussed putting a policy into the resolution that would encompass the process of a hiring agency or headhunter.
It was the consensus of the Council to table the resolution until more information is brought forth.
LETTER FROM MR. STEPHEN MANGASARIAN REQUESTING SLIDING FEE CONSIDERATION FOR BUILDING PERMITS FOR STRUCTURES LESS THAN 5,000 SQUARE FEET
The Town Planner discussed the history of Mr. Mangasarian’s request. He stated that there are two issues. This specific application and to look at the bigger issue with subsequent applications.
Mr. Ford stated that they would get a recommendation from the staff on whether the current fee schedule needs to be adjusted and if so, how.
MEMO FROM TOWN ATTORNEY REGARDING RENTAL INSPECTION ORDINANCE COMPARISON
The Town Attorney stated that the memo compares the existing Town Code having to do with the rental inspection program with the ordinance brought to the Council’s attention by Ms. Barbara Heatley. He stated that the two ordinances are essentially the same with a few exceptions. The proposed ordinance by Ms. Heatley imposes a mandatory requirement on the Town that all units be inspected on a two year cycle. The other significant change is a greater degree of flexibility with regard to enforcement procedures and violations that existing Code provisions have. He stated that the issue is if the Council wants to impose a mandatory two year inspection cycle on the Town or leave it to the Mayor as administratively, he has created that initiative.
Mr. Ford stated that the Mayor’s initiative is accomplishing what we hoped to do in regard to scheduling rental inspections. Mr. Ford suggested putting all the rental units on this cycle so the landlords would know that an investment in their properties is part of doing business and would not be a complaint based process but a scheduled inspection.
Mr. Ford stated that if the Council wants scheduled inspections, he would like the Mayor and the staff to make a recommendation how frequent inspections should be and what burden the staff can handle.
Mayor Willey stated that he thinks that three years is a doable suggestion.
Mr. Kehoe suggested waiting to see what inspections are actually performed in six months and if they are stepped up to have a body of knowledge to work with.
Mayor Willey stated that Mr. Garlick is working on new criteria to look for during the inspections.
DISCUSSION OF MEETING ROOM POLICY FOR TOWN HALL
The Town Attorney stated that the same rules can apply at the Welcome Center and the Fire House as to the use of the meeting room at the Town Hall. He stated that you may want to come up with a different set of criteria for use at the parks.
Ms. Scott-Taylor stated that she does not have a problem with not-for-profit entities using the Welcome Center for meeting space.
It was the consensus of the Council that the policy was approved.
Mayor Willey suggested an addendum to the policy to include the Welcome Center.
LETTERS OF CONCERN REGARDING USE OF BIO DIESEL FUEL
The President of the Council stated that the Council is awaiting information from the Assistant to the Town Engineer before further discussion.
APPROVAL OF INVOICES TOTALING $553,939.94
Upon motion by Mr. Wendowski seconded by Mr. Jensen and carried unanimously, invoices totaling $553,939.94 were approved for payment.
REQUEST FROM EASTON LIONS CLUB TO SET UP THEIR CHRISTMAS TREE SALE NEXT TO THE VFW
Mr. Jensen made a motion to approve the Lions’ Club request to sell Christmas trees next to the VFW seconded by Ms. Scott-Taylor and carried unanimously.
CABLE RATE REVISION WORKSHOP
The President of the Council set the workshop with Easton Utilities for Tuesday, November 28 at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Ford stated that the workshop is open to the public.
CLOSED SESSION
At 8:57 p.m., upon motion by Ms. Scott-Taylor seconded by Mr. Wendowski and carried unanimously; the President of the Council went into Closed Session.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:23 p.m., the President of the Council adjourned the regularly scheduled Council meeting.
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Town Clerk