← All documents

2025-02-06-tc-minutes-cmb edits.pdf

Minutes February 6, 2025 · 5 page(s)

View original PDF ↗ Meeting

Full extracted text

The document's complete text, exactly as extracted — not a summary. Use “Summarize this document” above for the short version.

Town Council of Centreville
February 6, 2025
7:00 p.m.
M I N U T E S
The February 6, 2025 Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Ashley H.
Kaiser at the Liberty Building located at 107 North Liberty Street, 2nd floor meeting room. The following
members and staff were present: Ashley H. Kaiser, President; Jeffrey D. Kiel, Vice President; Jim A.
Beauchamp, Daniel B. Worth, and Sandra L. Huffer, Members; Carolyn Brinkley, Town Manager;
Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Clifford “Kip” Matthews, Director Public Works; Karen Luffman,
Finance Director; Chief Robert L. Hobbs, Centreville Police Department; and Gaye Adams, Town Clerk.
• Following the Pledge of Allegiance, President Kaiser suggested the agenda be updated on
the website with the new edits that were made after the packets were emailed. Mr. Worth
made a motion to approve January 16, 2025, meeting minutes. Mr. Kiel seconded the motion,
which passed unanimously.
Closed Session Statement
(i) The Town Council met in closed session on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 6:15 p.m. to discuss
personnel and legal advice in accordance with the Maryland Open Meetings Act. (ii) Three members of
the Town Council voted to close the session. (iii) The authority to close the session is found in Section 3-
305 of the General Provisions Article.
(iv) The Town Council discussed the following topic:
Personnel and Legal Advice- no actions were taken.
The following members and staff were present: The following members and staff were present: Ashley H.
Kaiser, President; Daniel B. Worth, Jim A. Beauchamp, and Sandra Lee Huffer, Members; Carolyn M.
Brinkley, Town Manager; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; and Gaye Adams, Town Clerk. Jeffrey
D. Kiel came to the meeting at the end.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
Citizens Comments
Ms. Linda Friday, President, Queen Anne’s Chamber of Commerce presented the Town with a stone
plaque in recognition of 230 years in business.
Warren Wright, Queen Anne's County Drug Free Coalition, informed the Council that the Queen Anne's
County High School Drug Free Ambassadors won the National Anti-Fentanyl Contest through
SAMSHA. The Town would like to congratulate those students for all their hard work.
New Business
a. Karen Luffman-Finance Officer-FY 25’ Budget Update
• Ms. Luffman informed the Council that most departments have spent about 50% of their
budget.
2025-02-06-TC-Minutes-cmb edits Page | 1

b. Clifford “Kip” Matthews- Director of Public Works-Sidewalk, Trash and Yard Waste Updates
Matthews, Director of Public Works, discussed the remaining trash contract and sidewalk repairs
with the Town Council. He stated that the current trash/recycling contract can be extended
through June 2026 with a contract extension.
• The Town will look at rebidding this contract prior to the contract expiration in 2026.
• Mr. Matthews also discussed sidewalk repairs, in relation to Ordinance 11-2024, the Town
Council recently passed. DPW will develop a policy to determine the order in which
sidewalks will be repaired. They will determine how sidewalks will be triaged when
developing the list and determine the status of repair. This policy will reflect a 5-to-8-year
time period.
• Lastly, Mr. Matthews is very happy with the yard waste contractor and provided a
synopsis of the current contract agreement.
2025-02-06-TC-Minutes-cmb edits Page | 2

c. Ordinance 01-2025- Amending Chapter 158, First Reading- Vehicles, Non-Self Propelled-
Council Member Beauchamp
• Mr. Beauchamp provided background on Ordinance 01-2025 for the purpose of
amending Chapter 158 Vehicles, Non-Self Propelled.
• This ordinance contains a 48-hour provision for recreational vehicles allowing them to
be parked on the road prior to and after using.
• This includes boats, boat trailers and work trailers.
• Mr. Worth and Mr. Kiel expressed concerns with this ordinance as there are properties
that do not have a driveway or a backyard in town.
• Ms. Kaiser suggested that perhaps they look at the language and amend the ordinance
regarding size and length.
d. Ordinance 02-2025 – Moratorium Extension, First Reading – Sponsored by Council Member
Worth
• Ordinance 02-2025 was presented for the purpose of extending the temporary
moratorium for an additional period of three (3) months on the application for, approval
of, construction of, expansion of, processing of, or issuance of building permits for any
subdivision, site plan, or building permit application for any residential or mixed-use
project where the anticipated Equivalent Dwelling Units (EDUs) exceed seven (7)
EDUs for the total project pending consideration and adoption of revised Zoning
Ordinance provisions as the Town Council may consider advisable and to adopt an
updated Capacity Management Plan and Sewer Allocation Policy.
• Mr. Worth requested to amend the Ordinance from 3 months to 6 months.
• Several Council members expressed concern about extending the moratorium for 6
more months.
• Ms. Huffer suggested the Council should receive a memo from the Planning
Commission outlining specific details on how they will address the code changes
needed within the 6-month time frame request.
Reports of Board and Commissions
a. Maryland Municipal League
• Mr. Beachamp had nothing significant to report.
b. Council of Governments
• Mr. Kiel stated the Council of Governments meeting will be held at the Liberty Building 5:30
p.m. on February 12, 2025.
c. Park Advisory Board
• Nothing at this time
2025-02-06-TC-Minutes-cmb edits Page | 3

d. Planning Commission
• Code changes to Planned Neighborhood was discussed at the work session.
• GTI did not meet the tree canopy coverage per their agreement. They will plant 23 trees
throughout the town or pay a fee in lieu of.
• Discussed the changes to the YMCA pool pavilion.
• The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on February 19, 2025 on the Town of
Centreville’s Comprehensive Plan amendment.
• The next Planning Commission meeting will be held February 19, 2025.
e. Economic Development
• The Town Council is going to reorganize the existing structure of CEDA before they appoint
anyone to the committee.
Reports of Department Heads
a. Town Manager
• Ms. Brinkley stated the lobbyist will provide the town with updates on the current legislation
before the Maryland General Assembly at the February 20, 2025 meeting.
• The Town’s auditor will also provide updates at the February 20, 2025 meeting.
• Ms. Brinkley stated a new bill is being considered at the Maryland General Assembly,
Senate Bill 20, which increases code infractions from a $1000.00 maximum to $5000.00.
• The Town of Centreville works with a broker for our energy rates. Currently looking at
prices now.
• The Town Council gave Ms. Brinkley the authority to use her discretion regarding the
energy rates.
b. Police Department
• Chief Hobbs had nothing significant at this time.
• Ms. Kaiser wanted to discuss school bus speeding as well as the Kennard Elementary School
pick up line traffic backups. Chief Hobbs will conduct a meeting with the school bus
companies to address speeding if it continues to be a problem. Ms. Kaiser would like to be
present for that meeting.
• Chief Hobbs has also met with Kennard Elementary School to discuss ways to elevate the
backup caused at the elementary school. He stated they are trying different solutions, however,
parents are simply not following the rules.
c. Town Clerk
• Ms. Adams reported that it is time to register for the Maryland Municipal League Summer
Conference which is June 22-25, 2025.
• The volunteer appreciation dinner is March 8, 2025 at the American Legion.
Citizens Forum
• No citizens comment.
Council Roundtable
• Mr. Beauchamp discussed the impending snow and wants to send warning letters to those who do not
shovel their sidewalks in a timely manner after the snow.
Motion to Adjourn
There being no further business, Mr. Beauchamp made a motion to adjourn. Mr. Kiel seconded the
2025-02-06-TC-Minutes-cmb edits Page | 4

motion. The meeting was adjourned at 8:11 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
R. Gaye Adams
Town Clerk
Council Action Items:
- Approved meeting minutes 1/16/2025
2025-02-06-TC-Minutes-cmb edits Page | 5