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2025-09-18-tc-approved-minutes.pdf

Minutes September 18, 2025 · 5 page(s)

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Town Council of Centreville
September 18, 2025
7:00 p.m.
M I N U T E S
The September 18, 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, via ZOOM,
Daniel B. Worth, and Sandra L. Huffer, Members; Carolyn Brinkley, Town Manager; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town
Attorney; Clifford Matthews, Director of Public Works; Lt. Charles Larrimore, Centreville Police Department;
and Gaye Adams, Town Clerk
• Ms. Kaiser stated to add under new business appointments of Board and Commissions, and Ms.
Brinkley stated item C in new business would be addressed at the October 2, 2025, meeting. There being
no other changes to the agenda, the meeting minutes were discussed. Neither the Work Session nor the
Town Council meeting minutes had any changes. Mr. Kiel motioned to approve both the Work Session
minutes and the Town Council minutes, as presented. Ms. Huffer seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
Closed Session Statement
(i) The Town Council met in closed session on Thursday, September 18, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. to discuss legal advice on
two matters in accordance with the Maryland Open Meetings Act. (ii) Five 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- interviewed candidates for boards and commissions and discussed the performance of one or more
employees.
Actions: No actions were taken.
The following members and staff were present: Ashley H. Kaiser, President; Jeffery D. Kiel, Vice President, Daniel
B. Worth, Jim A. Beauchamp, via ZOOM and Sandra Lee Huffer, Members; Carolyn M. Brinkley, Town Manager;
Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; and Gaye Adams, Town Clerk; and Krystel Ebaugh, Human Resource
Manager.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
Citizens Forum
No citizens provided comments.
Public Hearing Ordinance 06-2025 -Text Amendment: Chapter 170-38 Electronic Messaging Centers-Council
President and Jeffrey D. Kiel, Council Vice President
• Ms. Kaiser called the hearing to discuss Ordinance 06-2025 at 7:05 p.m. An Ordinance of the Town to amend
Chapter 170-38 electronic messaging centers.
• Ms. Kaiser provided background information.
• Ms. Kaiser stated this sign would have strict controls, and a permit to operate the sign needs to be renewed
every year.
• Ms. Adams verified that the notice of the hearing was publicized in the Bay Times Recorder Observer on
August 29, 2025.
• There being no jurisdictional concerns or objections to the notice, Ms. Kaiser called for comments in support
of Ordinance 06-2025.
• Mr. Darrell Barricklow, Ms. Kristin Hurlock, Ms. Betsy Ricketts, and Principal John Schrecongost from
Queen Anne's High School provided favorable comments on the electronic sign.
• Ms. Kaiser asked for comments from anyone opposed to Ordinance 06-2025. No comments were provided.
• Mr. Kiel made a motion to adjourn the public hearing. Mr. Worth seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously. The public hearing for Ordinance 06-2025 adjourned at 7:13 p.m.
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Public Hearing Ordinance 12-2025 - Amendment to Chapter 170 – TND/PUD Standards -Council President
• Ms. Kaiser called the hearing to discuss Ordinance 12-2025 at 7:13 p.m. An Ordinance of the Town to amend
Chapter 170 – TND/PUD Standards.
• Ms. Kaiser called on Ms. VanEmburgh to provide background information.
• Ms. VanEmburgh stated Ordinance 12-2025 was presented for the purpose of amending the Town of
Centreville Zoning Ordinance, which is Chapter 170 of the Code of the Town of Centreville, to update the
definitions, parking standards, Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) standards, and the Planned
Unit Development (PUD) standards. The Planning Commission also recommended approval of the
Ordinance.
• Ms. Adams verified that the notice of the hearing was publicized in the Bay Times Recorder Observer on
August 29, 2025.
• There being no jurisdictional concerns or objections to the notice, Ms. Kaiser called for comments in support
of Ordinance 12-2025.
• Mr. Joseph Stevens, Providence Centreville LLC, Providence Farm, commented in favor of this Ordinance.
• Ms. Kaiser asked for comments from anyone opposed to Ordinance 12-2025. No comments were provided.
• Ms. Kaiser stated that several comments were received in writing. One from two developers and one from
Queen Anne’s County.
• Mr. Worth made a motion to adjourn the public hearing. Ms. Huffer seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously. The public hearing for Ordinance 08-2025 adjourned at 7:16 p.m.
Old Business
a. Ordinance 06-2025 – Text Amendment: Chapter 170-38 Electronic Messaging Centers – Consideration –
Sponsored by: Ashley H. Kaiser, Council President, and Jeffrey D. Kiel, Council Vice President
• Ordinance 06-2025 was presented for the purpose of amending the Town of Centreville Zoning
Ordinance, which is Chapter 170 of the Code of the Town of Centreville, to allow electronic
message centers as a permitted use for public schools in residential zones and subject to additional
standards for such signs.
• Planning Commission recommended approval with an annual permit review and renewal
requirement.
• The annual permit will hold other electronic message boards accountable as well.
• Mr. Worth made a motion to approve Ordinance 06-2025, and Mr. Kiel seconded the motion
• Ms. Kaiser called for a roll call vote:
Council Member Yes No Abstain Absent
Council Member Beauchamp X
Council Member Huffer X
President Kaiser X
Vice President Kiel X
Council Member Worth X
b. Ordinance 12-2025 Amendment to Chapter 170 – TND/PUD Standards – Consideration – Council President
• Ordinance 12-2025 was presented for the purpose of amending the Town of Centreville Zoning
Ordinance, which is Chapter 170 of the Code of the Town of Centreville, to update the definitions,
parking standards, Traditional Neighborhood Development (TND) standards, and the Planned
Unit Development (PUD) standards.
• Planning Commission recommended approval of the Ordinance and noted the parking table should
expressly include Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in addition to “accessory apartments”.
• Ms. Kaiser discussed the letters received and was not in favor of the County’s request; she was in
favor of having the County make a zoning change to that parcel of land. The Council agreed.
• Mr. Worth stated that the concerns from a few developers were noted and that more changes to the
code will be necessary, are planned to be implemented by next year, and those code changes will
take care of any of the concerns expressed in the letter.
• Ms. Huffer was looking for clarity about the open space provision and its definition of open active
space. Ms. Kaiser stated that an amenity would be a clubhouse, and a trail would be a public open
space or any space that is available to the public.
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• There being no further discussion, Mr. Worth made a motion to approve Ordinance 12-2025
Amendment of Chapter 170 – TND/PUD standards. Mr. Kiel seconded the motion.
• Ms. Kaiser called for a roll call vote:
Council Member Yes No Abstain Absent
Council Member Beauchamp X
Council Member Huffer X
President Kaiser X
Vice President Kiel X
Council Member Worth X
• Mr. Beachamp had to leave the meeting after the vote.
New Business
a. FY25 Budget End of Year Update – Ashley Russ, Finance Specialist
• As of June 30th, the Town has completed the end-of-year mark of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. Currently,
departments should have or be near 100% of the budget spent. The following is information to further
explain certain line items:
General Fund Revenues
• 111% of expected revenue received (estimated lower on Local Income tax and Public Utility Tax)
• Variables that can affect this number are:
o Public Utility Tax – estimated based on previous years' assessable value as we don’t get the updated
values until after the budget is completed)
o Local Income Tax – estimated an increase lower than received, as we were being conservative during
the budget process.
o HUR – HUR received was lower than anticipated (in the previous FY, the last payment received in
the next FY as the State sends out each final FY payment usually in September)
General Fund Expense
• All accounts in the General Fund are at or below 100% spent.
Enterprise Fund Revenues
• 95% of expected revenue received for FY25.
• Variables that can affect this revenue are the timing of payments for utility bills made by residents,
water/sewer allocations, and interest rates.
Enterprise Fund Expense
• All accounts in the Enterprise Fund are at or below 100% spent.
Notes
• Pension expenses for the entire year were paid in December; no more payments are coming out this fiscal
year.
• Debt payments in the Enterprise Fund show no payments as the principal payments are not made on debt until
April-May. Interest payments are paid out of expense accounts. Principal payments are paid out of liability
accounts.
b. Request For Proposal for Belvedere and Tilgman Dr. Engineering Services – Clifford Matthews, Director of
Public Works
• Mr. Matthews reported that the Town received funding through Congressionally Directed Spending
(CDS) however, the Town is required to apply to use the money therefore, this RFP is on hold until the
application is submitted.
c. Appointments to Boards and Commissions
• The Council interviewed two candidates in closed session for the Board of Appeals.
• Ms. Kaiser made a motion to appoint Steve Kline to the Board of Appeals and referred the other
candidate to the Ethics Board to review for potential conflicts with other board service.
• Mr. Kiel seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
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Reports of Boards and Commissions
a. Council of Governments
• Mr. Kiel had nothing to report. The next meeting is on October 8, 2025 hosted by Queen Anne's
County.
b. Economic Development
• Ms. Kaiser had a great meeting with the Town Clerk and the Town Manager on Economic
Development, Main Street, and revitalizing CEDA.
• Main Street requires that they have a board now, and the idea of CEDA serving as Main Street’s
board, similar to the Tree Board under the Park Advisory Board, was discussed.
• Applicants need to apply to CEDA.
• Ms. Kaiser is looking forward to the development of CEDA and Main Street in the coming months.
c. Park Advisory Board
• Front Street Planter Box: Installation will be on September 21st at 4:00 p.m.
• Fishing Derby: Great event and beautiful day.
d. Centreville Planning Commission
• Mr. Worth stated the Planning Commission met the previous night regarding the Board of Education
to subdivide the lot. No immediate plan to build now. It was approved with revisions.
• Favorable recommendation to replace the Carriage House on Watson Road.
• Work Session on October 1, 2025 to discuss Ordinance 04-2025 comprehensive shopping center
signs.
• Mr. Work stated that his last meeting as a Council Member for the Planning Commission, October
15, 2025.
• Reports of Department Heads
a. Town Manager
• Ms. Brinkley reported the following:
• Working with the Lobbyist to come up with various ways to secure funding for the Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
• Our social media has been great.
b. Chief of Police
• Lt. Larrimore spoke on the August statistics
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY
During August 2025, Officers issued the following:
- 166 Motor Vehicle Warnings
- 24 Non-Arrestable Citations
- 11 Safety Equipment Repair Orders
- 11 Commercial Vehicle Inspections
The Redspeed Automated Speed Enforcement Cameras are currently located on Railroad Avenue at
Queen Anne’s County High School, Watson Rd, and Chesterfield and have issued a combined 37 speed
limit violation citations.
COMPLAINTS/INCIDENTS
During August 2025, Officers responded to 741 calls for service. A sample of these incidents are
highlighted below.
• 4 Assault/Domestics
• 3 MDOP
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• 6 K9 Scans
• 18 Assist Other Agency
• 3 911 Hangups
• 15 Check The Welfare
• 7 Thefts
• 5 Fraud
• 4 Traffic Accidents
• 367 Business/Residential Patrol Checks
• 2 Unattended Deaths
SPECIAL ASSIGNMENTS
- Defensive Tactic Instructor Training – Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy
- Firearm Certification - Range
- National Night Out
- LGIT Online Training
- Meters Recertification
- Instructor School
- Use of Force Law and Mitigation Training
- Human Trafficking for Law Enforcement Training
• Ms. Kaiser asked to be updated when the speed trailers are working and deployed.
c. Town Clerk
• Ms. Adams stated the derby was great and will invite the winners in each category to attend the
October 2, 2025 Town Council Meeting.
• The winner of the first fish was 8-year-old Mila Khamvongsa with a 12 ½” catfish.
• The Town’s Social Media Facebook page is a week old now and doing well. The reel regarding the
Old Mill has over 90,000 views. 260 shares and 488 comments. Great Town engagement.
• We have increased our followers to 2181, which is up 50% and now have 150,727 page views.
Citizen Comments:
No citizens provided comments
Council Roundtable
• Ms. Huffer asked about the Comcast contract and where that stands. Ms. VanEmburgh stated she had sent a
response to Comcast and had not heard back from them.
Motion to Adjourn
There being no further business, Mr. Kiel made a motion to adjourn the September 18, 2025, Town Council meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
R. Gaye Adams
Town Clerk
Council Action Items:
1. Approved Minutes September 4, 2025, Work Session, and the Town Council meeting
2. Approved Ordinance 06-2025- Text Amendment: Chapter 170-38 Electronic Messaging Centers
3. Approved Ordinance 12-2025- Amendment to Chapter 170 – TND/PUD Standards
.
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