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approved centreville council strategic work session minutes.pdf

Minutes February 19, 2026 · 4 page(s)

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Town of Centreville
Council Strategic Work Session
February 19, 2026 – 9:00 a.m.
MINUTES
The meeting was called to order by the Council President Kaiser at 9:00 a.m. at the Wharf
Building, 101 Water Way, first floor meeting room. The following members and staff were
present: Ashley H. Kaiser, President; Jeffrey D. Kiel, Vice President; Frederick E. Beu, and
Sandra L. Huffer, Members; Carolyn Brinkley, Town Manager; Chief Robert Hobbs,
Centreville Police Department; Karen Luffman, Finance Officer; Krystel Ebaugh, Human
Resource Manager; Clifford Matthews, Director of Public Works; and Gaye Adams, Town
Clerk.
The purpose of the work session was to conduct strategic planning discussions across economic
development, infrastructure, financial oversight, community initiatives, and legislative priorities.
II. Breakfast & Celebration of Key Accomplishments
Council and Department Heads reviewed recent accomplishments including improved public
communications, enhanced social media coordination, implementation of an online charitable
giving application, progress on waterfront improvements and band shell grant funding,
expansion of DPW staffing coverage, and continued wastewater planning efforts.
Action Items
• Continue departmental reporting on measurable accomplishments.
• Incorporate key achievements into annual reporting documentation.
III. Council Responsibilities and Guardrails
Council reviewed governance expectations including policy vs. operational boundaries, fiduciary
responsibilities, transparency standards, and maintaining structured institutional processes.
Action Items
• Reinforce policy/administration boundaries in future discussions.
• Discuss if there are any potential conflicts of interest associated with serving on the board of
a nonprofit organization while concurrently holding a position as a Council member.
IV. Citizens Forum
No citizens were present.
V. Economic Development – Booms Tracker
Council reviewed the Booms Tracker as a development monitoring tool for residential growth,
commercial activity, and redevelopment tracking.
Action Items
• Establish quarterly Booms Tracker updates.

• Integrate development projections into budget planning.
• Ensure alignment between Booms Tracker and CEDA priorities.
• Send out Main Street Map and recorded video of Main Street Survey participants.
• Schedule Booms Tracker Training.
• Reach out to BAAR (Bay Area Association of Realtors) to showcase the Booms Tracker and
the Town’s municipal rules.
• Connect Mr. Beu with Jack Ashley.
• Get a business list with owner’s names to Fred Beu.
Vacant Property Ordinance & Rental Registry
Council discussed establishing a vacant property ordinance and rental registry to improve
inventory tracking and neighborhood stability.
Action Items
• Prepare draft ordinance framework.
• Develop rental registry proposal with fee analysis.
• Research comparable municipalities.
• Present implementation cost analysis.
Economic Development & Main Street Staffing
Council discussed the potential creation of a full-time Economic Development Director to
oversee business recruitment, CEDA coordination, grant writing, and Main Street programming.
Action Items
• Develop cost analysis for staffing models at upcoming budget discussions.
• Research comparable municipalities.
• Identify potential funding sources.
Special Districts
Council discussed potential Arts & Entertainment designation, historic district alignment,
business incubator concepts, and strategic use of Town-owned properties.
Action Items
• Research feasibility of special district designations.
• Inventory Town-owned properties and provide recommendations.
• Ms. Huffer to look into the Historic District
• Mr. Beu to research the A&E District
Potential RFPs
Council discussed issuance of RFPs for redevelopment and economic initiatives.
Action Items
• Identify priority RFP opportunities.

• Develop draft RFP framework and timeline.
• Include Zoning Administrator in RFP discussions – vision of Pennsylvania Ave, and the
parking lot
VI. Wastewater Treatment Plant
Staff provided updates on funding, planning, capacity, and growth projections.
Action Items
• Provide updated funding matrix.
• Review allocation fee adequacy.
• Align wastewater planning with development forecasts.
VII. Budget / Finances
Council discussed multi-year revenue tracking, balance sheet transparency, reporting cadence,
and check request processes.
Action Items
• Develop quarterly financial summary template.
• Resume monthly bank balance reporting.
• Present 5–10 years of key financial metrics.
• Review and formalize check request procedures.
• Ms. Luffman to create a Debt Policy.
VIII. Lunch & External Relations
Council discussed relationships with QAC, QACPS, state delegation, COG, MML, and ESAM.
Action Items
• Schedule meeting with QAC leadership.
• Develop legislative briefing schedule with ESAM.
• Strengthen participation in MML and COG initiatives.
• Ms. Brinkley to discuss with Todd Mohn the 10 acres and the long-range plans for future
vacant town properties; set-up monthly meetings.
IX. Community – Events
Council evaluated current events and discussed band shell utilization.
Action Items
• Develop marketing plan for Maryland Crafted, including many local breweries.
• After action meeting in August and a 3-year comparison of Maryland Crafted.
• Present band shell bid recommendations.
• Explore formation of Events Committee.
• Ms. Brinkley to reach out to Michael Whitehill about 2 lots across from the Wharf.
• Develop an event strategy for the band shell.

Communication
Council reviewed email and social media practices, including limitations of the iContact system.
Action Items
• Document email subscription procedures.
• Clarify Town vs. Main Street social media posting strategy.
Parks and Trails
Council discussed rail corridor feasibility and trail expansion opportunities.
Action Items
• Ms. Huffer to research corridor ownership and rail-banking feasibility.
Long-Term Planning
Council discussed parking study timing, development lifecycle costs, and road replacement
planning.
Action Items
• Clarify parking study scope and timeline in budget work sessions.
• Develop multi-year road resurfacing schedule.
• Incorporate lifecycle cost considerations into development negotiations.
Charitable Giving
Council discussed implementation of the new charitable giving application and preference for
impact-based funding over small sponsorships. The precedent of donations in lieu of waiving
fees was referenced.
Action Items
• Circulate received donation letters to Council.
• Develop charitable giving evaluation rubric.
• Clarify fee waiver policy framework.
X. Upcoming Legislative Priorities
Council Members shared priorities including impact fees, public safety funding, vacant property
ordinance, economic development staffing, and infrastructure planning.
Action Items
• Compile formal legislative priority list.
• Coordinate advocacy strategy with state delegation.
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 2:18 p.m.