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november 17 2022 town council approved minutes

Minutes November 17, 2022 · 4 page(s)

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Town Council of Centreville
November 17, 2022
7:00 p.m.
M I N U T E S
The November 17, 2022 Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Steven K. Kline at the
Liberty Building located at 107 N. Liberty Street, 2nd floor meeting room. The following members and staff were
present: Steven K. Kline, President; Ashley H. Kaiser, Vice President; Eric B. Johnson, Jr., Daniel B. Worth, and Jim
A. Beauchamp, Members; Charles (Chip) Koogle, Town Manager; Clifford (Kip) Matthews, Director of Public
Works; Chief Robert Hobbs, Centreville Police Department; Krystel Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager; Karen
Luffman, Finance Officer; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Ashley Russ, Finance Specialist; and Carolyn
Brinkley, Town Clerk.
 Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, Ms. Kaiser made a motion to approve the
November 3, 2022 meeting minutes, as presented. Mr. Worth seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
Closed Session Statement
Mr. Kline read a corrected closed session statement from the November 3, 2022 meeting. The original statement
read did not indicate that the Town Council did take action:
(i) The Town Council met in closed session on Thursday, November 3, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. at the Liberty Building,
107 N. Liberty Street, 2nd floor meeting room to discuss personnel 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 topics:
 Personnel – Discussed a recommendation made to the Town Council from the Personnel Review Board
and discussed an application received for a board or commission position.
Actions: The Town Council voted unanimously to affirm a decision made by the Personnel Review Board.
The following members and staff were present: Steven K. Kline, President; Ashley H. Kaiser, Vice President; Eric
Johnson, Jr., Daniel B. Worth, and Jim A. Beauchamp, Members; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Krystel
Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager; and Carolyn Brinkley, Town Clerk.
The meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m.
Citizens Forum
Tim McCluskey, Watson Road, offered comments related to Ordinance 09-2022.
Public Hearing: Ordinance 10-2022 – Code Reference Corrections - Chapter 170
 Mr. Kline called the public hearing to order at 7:05 p.m. for Ordinance 10-2022 for the purpose of
amending the Town’s Zoning Ordinance codified as Chapter 170 of the Town Code to correct various
references throughout Chapter 170.
 Ms. VanEmburgh stated there were improper references in Chapter 170 that this ordinance will
correct.
 Ms. Brinkley verified that the notice of hearing was publicized in newspapers circulated in Queen
Anne’s County.
 There being no legal matters relating to the jurisdiction of the Town Council of Centreville nor any
objections in regards to the Notice of Public Hearing, Mr. Kline asked for comments from anyone in
favor of proposed Ordinance 10-2022.
 No one spoke in favor.
 Mr. Kline asked for comments from anyone opposed to Ordinance 10-2022.
 No one spoke in opposition to Ordinance 10-2022.
 Mr. Johnson made a motion to adjourn the public hearing for Ordinance 10-2022. Ms. Kaiser seconded
the motion, which passed unanimously. The public hearing adjourned at 7:07 p.m.
2022-11-17-TC Approved Minutes

Old Business
a. Ordinance 10-2022 – Code Reference Corrections – Chapter 170 – Consideration – Sponsored by Council
President Kline
 Mr. Kline stated the Town Council received a favorable recommendation with suggested changes from
the Planning Commission. The changes were incorporated into the Ordinance presented to the Town
Council.
 Mr. Worth discussed possible changes related to Ordinance 10-2022. After some discussion among
the Town Council, it was decided to move forward with the ordinance as presented.
 Ms. Kaiser made a motion to approve Ordinance 10-2022 for the purpose of amending the Town’s
Zoning Ordinance codified as Chapter 170 of the Town Code to correct various references throughout
Chapter 170. Mr. Johnson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
b. Insured Cash Sweep Usage – Presented by Town Manager
 Mr. Koogle presented the following memo:
 Mr. Beauchamp stated that using a higher-earning interest account to pay off a lower interest loan, was
not a prudent decision. He stated that the interest earned should be saved in order to earn more interest.
 Mr. Kline asked Ms. Luffman what the Town’s debt-to-income ratio was. She stated that the Town’s
current revenue is $8 million with $14 million in debt.
 Mr. Kline requested Ms. Luffman prepare financials to show Mr. Beauchamp’s suggestion.
New Business
a. Consideration for Board/Commission Member
 Mr. Kline made a motion to approve Jeff Keil as a member of the Centreville Planning Commission for a
five-year term. Ms. Kaiser seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
2022-11-17-TC Approved Minutes

 Mr. Kiel will be available at the December 1st Town Council meeting to be sworn in.
Reports of Boards and Commissions
a. Maryland Municipal League
 Mr. Beauchamp had nothing to report.
b. Council of Governments
 Mr. Worth reported that the COG met in Queenstown on November 9th. The topic of discussion was by
Katherine Hager, Clerk of Court, regarding electronic filing by the towns for deeds, etc. Centreville will
be hosting the January meeting and he invited all Council Members to attend.
c. Economic Development
 Mr. Johnson reported that a self-assessment of the 2015 CEDA plan will take place and he will be
reviewing those results in an upcoming meeting.
d. Park Advisory Board
 Ms. Kaiser reminded everyone of the Town decorating event being held on Sunday, November 27th at
noon and meeting at Town Hall.
e. Centreville Planning Commission
 Mr. Kline reported that the Planning Commission has not met since the last Town Council meeting
however, there has been discussion from the Planning Commission Chair to hold events throughout Town
to receive feedback on the draft Community Plan. By consensus, the Town Council agreed to hold events
throughout Town.
Reports of Department Heads
a. Town Manager
 Mr. Koogle reported on the following:
 Reported that the current Insured Cash Sweep interest rate the Town is earning is 3.83% and the
interest rate on the 2012 bond is 3.562%.
 Some staff members attended a water reuse seminar the previous week which was a very valuable
seminar to attend for the Town.
 Was given the opportunity to meet with Secretary David Brinkley, Secretary of Budget &
Management, to ask for Centreville to be included in the upcoming budget for the wastewater
treatment plant upgrade. He stated that the Town does run into some statutory limits on how much
can be received from the Bay Restoration Fund (BRF) due to Centreville’s median income.
 Staff have been discussing energy and will be looking at futures with the possibility of purchasing
blocks of energy.
 Completed the FY2022 fiscal audit. He stated the auditor reported that this is the cleanest audit since
2009 and the first time no extension was needed since 2015. He thanked Ms. Luffman for her hard
work on this.
 Staff are looking at a consistent fee structure for fines for code enforcement. Ms. Kaiser stated that
she would be the sponsor of this legislation.
b. Chief of Police
 Chief Hobbs reported the following:
 The Department is preparing for the Christmas parade.
 Two (2) new officers were hired this week with another being hired mid-December and will be the
third female to join the force.
 New administrative assistant began this week.
c. Finance Officer
 Nothing to report.
d. Director of Public Works
 Mr. Matthews reported the following:
 Staff worked on a water leak on Johnstown Lane.
 Preparing for the Christmas Parade.
 Hydrant flushing program began. It will conclude the following day (Friday) and will resume again
2022-11-17-TC Approved Minutes

on Monday, November 28th after the Thanksgiving holiday. The flushing schedule will be posted
on the Town’s website.
 A salt rig was approved in this year’s capital budget which has been delivered and will be installed
on one DPW truck in order to spray the salt brine.
 The 12-foot disc harrow for the spray field has been delivered.
e. Human Resources Manager
 Ms. Ebaugh reported the following:
 Will be completing new employee orientations for two (2) Police Department employees the
following day.
 Continuing to work on the Personnel Manual.
 Met with Mr. Koogle to review the Town’s employee performance management system.
 Working on the on-boarding program.
f. Town Clerk
 Ms. Brinkley reported the following:
 The employee Christmas breakfast will be held on December 9th at O’Shucks Irish Pub at 8:30 a.m.
and encouraged all Council Members to attend.
 The Christmas Parade is scheduled for Friday, December 2nd and there are approximately 60
applications received so far.
 The new website went live today. She stated staff are still working to make some changes.
Council Roundtable
 Mr. Beauchamp had nothing to report.
 Mr. Worth stated that he visited GTI and was very impressed with the facility and encouraged other
Council Members who have not toured to make the time.
 Mr. Johnson stated that he is working on the neighbor questions for Carter Farm which will be posted to the
Town’s website. He stated that if residents have additional questions to email him.
 Ms. Kaiser reported that the Centreville Farmers’ Market will hold a holiday market in conjunction with
Heck with the Malls on Saturday, December 3rd.
 Mr. Kline reported that he was contacted by a resident regarding the firehouse whistle. He stated that he
does not have an opinion on the whistle but reached out to a member of Goodwill. Other fire departments
have ceased use of fire alarms. He discussed the property by Mill Stream that is owned by the Maryland
Department of Transportation (MDOT) which is adjacent to the Town’s 77 acres and felt it would be in the
Town’s best interest to acquire this property for its intended purpose of stormwater management. He
recommended that this Council re-engage MDOT regarding this property and possibly look at the private
lot adjacent to the MDOT property.
Citizen Comments
No citizens offered comments.
Motion to Adjourn
There being no further business, Mr. Johnson made a motion to adjourn the November 3, 2022 meeting. Mr.
Beauchamp seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn M. Brinkley Town Clerk
Council Action Items:
1. Approve the November 3, 2022 meeting minutes, as presented.
2. Approved Ordinance 10-2022 for the purpose of amending the Town’s Zoning Ordinance codified as
Chapter 170 of the Town Code to correct various references throughout Chapter 170.
3. Approved Jeff Keil as a member of the Centreville Planning Commission for a five-year term.
4. By consensus, the Town Council agreed to hold events throughout Town to received public feedback on the
Centreville Community Plan.
2022-11-17-TC Approved Minutes