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september 21 2023 town council meeting minutes

Minutes September 21, 2023 · 8 page(s)

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Town Council of Centreville
September 21, 2023
7:00 p.m.
M I N U T E S
The September 21, 2023 Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Steven K. Kline at the
Vincit Building located at 110 Vincit Street, Planning & Zoning 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; Lt. Charles Larrimore, Centreville Police
Department; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Karen Luffman, Finance Officer; Krystel Ebaugh, Human
Resources Manager; and Carolyn Brinkley, Town Clerk.
 Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the August 17, 2023,
meeting minutes, as presented. Mr. Worth seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Closed Session Statement
(i) The Town Council met in closed session on Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the Vincit Building,
110 Vincit Street, Planning & Zoning meeting room to discuss potential litigation and related legal issues 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:
• Consult with counsel – discussed potential litigation and related legal issues.
Actions: No actions taken.
The following members and staff were present: Steven K. Kline, President; Ashley H. Kaiser, Vice President; Eric
B. Johnson; Daniel B. Worth and Jim A. Beauchamp, Members; Charles (Chip) Koogle, Town Manager; Carolyn
Brinkley, Town Clerk; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; and Lt. Charles Larrimore.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
Appearances
a. Oath of Office – Penny Lins, Board of Zoning Appeals
 Mr. Johnson provided the oath of office for Penny Lins to the Board of Zoning Appeals for a
three-year term expiring April, 2026.
b. 152 Comet Drive, LLC / Green Thumb Industries
 Joe Stevens, Attorney and Laura Brown, Principal of 152 Comet Drive, LLC / Green Thumb
Industries were present to discuss the odor from 152 Comet Drive and possible solutions to mitigate
the smell.
 Mr. Kline asked how long it would take to come up with a solution.
 Mr. Stevens stated it would take 60-90 days to come up with a plan and 5-6 months for
implementation.
 Mr. Johnson asked if there have been implementation strategies at other locations.
 Ms. Brown stated they believe extraction methods need to be implemented as they believe this is
what is causing the most odor. They are looking at other laws and what has been effective at
reducing odor, not only in cannabis production but other products as well.
 Mr. Worth asked if the plan would include a schedule.
 Ms. Brown stated that it will include a schedule and Mr. Stevens stated it will be an odor reduction
mitigation plan.
 Mr. Worth asked how many employees work in cultivation.
 Phil Huff, Head Grower, stated that 20 employees work in the outdoor cultivation process and a
total of 68 employees between inside and outside.
 Mr. Beauchamp stated that he is a champion of economic development. He stated this ordinance is
not going away and the status quo is not a solution for this problem.
 Ms. Kaiser asked if the lack of allocations indicates the Town would not approve any additional
growth at this time.
 Mr. Stevens stated that GTI will not come before the Planning Commission or Town Council for
future growth while working through the odor mitigation plan. He stated that GTI cannot go to
their board and ask to spend money on this issue if the ordinance is passed.
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Public Hearing: Ordinance 05-2023 – Indoor Agriculture
 Mr. Kline called the hearing to order for Ordinance 05-2023 for the purpose of amending the Town of
Centreville Zoning Ordinance, which is Chapter 170 of the Town Code, to only allow indoor agriculture as
a permitted use in the Planned Business District (PBD) at 7:31 p.m.
 Mr. Worth gave background on Ordinance 05-2023 and stated this was an attempt to turn the clock back to
when agriculture was not allowed in the Planned Business District. It would allow that to on be permitted
indoors.
 Mr. Kline stated the Planning Commission forwarded an unfavorable recommendation to the Town
Council for Ordinance 05-2023.
 Ms. Brinkley verified the notice of hearing was publicized in a newspaper circulated in Queen Anne’s
County.
 There being no legal matters relating to the jurisdiction of the Town Council of Centreville nor any
objections regarding the Notice of Public Hearing, Mr. Kline asked for comments from anyone in favor of
Ordinance 05-2023.
 David Mitchell, Sveinn Storm, Pat Fox, Robert Eaves, Julie Seymore, Thomas Seymore, Mike Olsen,
Harriet Goodmuth, provided comments.
 Mr. Kline asked for comments from anyone opposed to Ordinance 05-2023.
 Michael Armstrong, Jeff Mangold, Davis Emory, Dominick Roserio, Phill Huff, and Mitchell Delaney.
 Mr. Kaiser made a motion to adjourn the public hearing. Mr. Johnson seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously. The public hearing for Ordinance 05-2023 adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
 Mr. Johnson stated that Mr. Stevens had indicated earlier that he and GTI were the last to know about this
proposed ordinance and, as the economic development liaison, he takes that very seriously. Mr. Johnson
made a motion to table any vote on Ordinance 05-2023 for six (6) months to be heard again on March 21,
2024. Ms. Kaiser seconded the motion.
 After further discussion, Mr. Worth amended the original motion to table the vote for two (2) months. Mr.
Beauchamp seconded the motion.
 Mr. Stevens stated that they would like 90 days to put the mitigation plan together.
 Mr. Johnson withdrew his original motion of tabling for 6 months and Mr. Worth withdrew his
amendment to table for 2 months.
 Mr. Worth made a motion to table the discussion for Ordinance 05-2023 for three (3) months to be heard
again on January 4, 2024. Ms. Kaiser seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Council Member Yes No Abstain Absent
Council Member Beauchamp X
Council Member Johnson X
President Kline X
Vice President Kaiser X
Council Member Worth X
Public Hearing: Resolution 11-2023 – Centreville Community Plan
 Mr. Kline called the hearing to order for Resolution 11-2023 for the purpose of adopting the Town of
Centreville Comprehensive Plan: 2040 pursuant to the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of
Maryland at 8:25 p.m.
 Mr. Kline provided background on Resolution 11-2023 stating that the Planning Commission has been
working on and making progress on this plan for two years. The Town Council can pass the resolution
tonight or they can hold off for additional conversation.
 Ms. Brinkley verified the notice of hearing was publicized in a newspaper circulated in Queen Anne’s
County.
 There being no legal matters relating to the jurisdiction of the Town Council of Centreville nor any
objections regarding the Notice of Public Hearing, Mr. Kline asked for comments from anyone in favor of
Resolution 11-2023.
 No one spoke in favor.
 Mr. Kline asked for comments from anyone opposed to Resolution 11-2023.
 Ernie Sota, Ryan Showalter, Ed Olfey, Kindley Bray, and Sandy Huffer, offered comments.
 Mr. Johnson made a motion to adjourn the public hearing. Ms. Kaiser seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously. The public hearing for Resolution 11-2023 adjourned at 8:41 p.m.
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Citizens Comments
No citizens offered comments.
Old Business
a. Ordinance 05-2023 – Chapter 170 – Indoor Agriculture – Second Reading – Sponsored by Council Members
Worth and Johnson
 Ordinance 05-2023 for the purpose of amending the Town of Centreville Zoning Ordinance, which is
Chapter 170 of the Town Code, to only allow indoor agriculture as a permitted use in the Planned
Business District (PBD).
 Mr. Kline stated this was addressed previously in the meeting.
b. Festivities and Beautification Team/Holiday Committee Updates
 Mr. Johnson made the following presentation:
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 Mr. Johnson stated the Holiday Committee chose the theme Heroes for this year’s Christmas Parade.
They would also like to use some of the money that was moved out of the fireworks’ budget for
decorations. He reported that they are not prepared to ask for any money at this time.
 There was consensus among the members of the Town Council to purchase and display a menorah this
year during Hanukkah.
New Business
a. Resolution 11-2023 – Centreville Community Plan – Council President
 Mr. Kline read Resolution 11-2023 for the purpose of adopting the Town of Centreville Comprehensive
Plan: 2040 pursuant to the Land Use Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland.
 Members of the Centreville Planning Commission: Kara Willis, Chair; Tim Zuella, Vice Chair, Nancy
Emerick, Mitchell Delaney, and Pat Fox, Members, were present and made the following presentation:
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 Ms. Willis stated that this process was started in 2019 and the Planning Commission is happy that it is
finally being presented to the Town Council.
 Mr. Kline stated the new Plan’s introduction states for Goal #5: “Guide the location, layout, and character
of future neighborhoods. Open lands in and around Centreville could be developed as conventional
single-use residential subdivisions or in ways that distinguish them as excellent neighborhoods unique to
Centreville. Left to chance, land development seldom organizes itself into coherent extensions of historic
patterns.” He then stated later in the document, Maryland’s Visions for Comprehensive Planning, Vision
#7 states, “A range of housing densities, types, and sizes provides residential options for citizens of all
ages and incomes.
 Mr. Kline asked if the Planning Commission thought the rezoning of the Carter Farm from TND to R-1
contradicts those two statements.
 Ms. Willis stated that this is a piece that would also work in tandem with the PUD zoning overlaying it.
 Mr. Kline asked what problem the Planning Commission is trying to solve on Carter Farm by rezoning
the property to R-1 and is there a better tool to achieve the goals the Planning Commission is trying to
achieve on this property.
 Ms. Willis stated she fought to keep the TND zoning and the Planning Commission could have reduced
the density of the TND to achieve the same goal as the R-1 density but there was not a consensus for this.
She stated there was feedback from the community about the amount of traffic coming into town and to
consider or account for the density on that side of town.
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 Mr. Kline stated that he does not consider Carter Farm in process at this point. He stated the last site plan
the Town Council and Planning Commission saw for Carter Farm, had a density very close to the R-1
zoning however, it does not give the flexibility that the TND zone does. He asked if the role of the PUD
was to allow for this flexibility and keeping the lower density.
 Ms. Willis stated that is the role of the PUD as she sees it. She indicated where the Carter Farm
development is or is not, is irrelevant to what the Planning Commission is trying to do with the PUD.
She stated these changes are not being made based on possible development that may or may not take
place over the next 1 to 3 years, but to meet long-term goals for the town at large.
 Mr. Beauchamp stated that the standardization of the zoning seems to be the issue, whereas the TND zone
gives the flexibility. He suggested a more straightforward approach is to leave the TND zone and modify
the density.
 Mr. Kline stated he feels the biggest issue are the underlying zones that do not reflect what everyone
wants to see which is, a range of housing densities, types, and sizes.
 Mr. Johnson thanked the Planning Commission for their efforts on the comprehensive plan. He noted the
parts of the plan that are important to him: historic preservation district and housing diversity. He stated
that he is in favor of the Plan but cannot support the elimination of the TND and changing to R-1.
 Ms. Kaiser agreed to keep the TND zone.
 Mr. Worth stated that he also has issues with the TND and feels there should not be a reduction in growth
areas.
 Mr. Kline stated that the comprehensive plan, as presented, exceeds the Town’s infrastructure requiring
1.5 million gallons per day within 10 years and violates the very essence of smart planning.
 After more discussion regarding density and allocations, Mr. Kline asked Ms. VanEmburgh to outline the
process in which the Town Council can sit down with the Planning Commission to make changes to the
draft comprehensive plan.
 Ms. VanEmburgh stated that there are four options: (1) approve, as presented; (2) the Town Council can
modify; (3) remand it back to the Planning Commission; or (4) disapprove. Ms. VanEmburgh stated that
it sounded like the Town Council would like to modify it along with the Planning Commission, which is
reasonable.
 Ms. Willis asked if the Town Council had a list of action items, they would task the Planning
Commission with, they could begin working on them.
 There was consensus among the Town Council to send the Comprehensive Plan back to the Planning
Commission for modifications and the Town Council to attend Planning Commission workshops.
 Mr. Johnson suggested having a list of elements of the comprehensive plan that there is a consensus for
approval, so that they could focus on the elements that need additional modifications. This would also
help, if possible, those elements could be approved, in part.
b. Ordinance 06-2023 – The Preserve – Second Reading – Sponsored by Council President Kline
 Ordinance 06-2023 for the purpose of releasing and extinguishing its right to construct a pedestrian/bike
path in the open space of The Preserve of Centreville Heights.
 Mr. Kline requested consensus from the Council to withdrawal Ordinance 06-2023. There was consensus
among the Council.
c. Paid Family Medical Leave Insurance Program in Maryland – Chip Koogle, Town Manager
 Ms. Ebaugh reported on the following memo:
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 Ms. Kaiser made a motion to approve the Town election to participate in the Time to Care Act Insurance
Collaborative and pay fees as outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement presented by the Maryland
Municipal League, in response to the upcoming implementation of the State’s paid Family and Medical
Leave Insurance Program. Mr. Beauchamp seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Council Member Yes No Abstain Absent
Council Member Beauchamp X
Council Member Johnson X
President Kline X
Vice President Kaiser X
Council Member Worth X
d. Firehouse Sub Foundation Grant Program – Charles Koogle, Town Manager
 Mr. Koogle presented the following memo:
 Ms. Kaiser made a motion to approve the submittal of a grant to the Firehouse Sub Foundation Mission
for the purpose of purchasing body armor for the Centreville Police Department. Mr. Johnson seconded
the motion, which passed unanimously.
Reports of Boards and Commissions
a. Maryland Municipal League
 Mr. Beauchamp had nothing to report.
b. Council of Governments
 Mr. Worth had nothing to report.
c. Economic Development
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 Mr. Johnson had nothing to report.
d. Park Advisory Board
 Ms. Kaiser reported that the annual Fishing Derby was held on September 9th with 53 kids participating in
the event. Trophies will be handed out at a later meeting.
Reports of Department Heads
a. Town Manager
 Mr. Koogle reported the following:
 No bids were received for the speed hump invitation to bid. The Town will be purchasing speed
humps to be installed.
 The Preliminary Engineering Report (PER) for the wastewater treatment plant is receiving a parallel
review by the Town as well as the Maryland Department of the Environment. This is expected at the
end of October, beginning of November.
 Working with Whitman Requardt and Associates to complete the design proposal for a membrane
reactor (MBR) by early October which will include contract documents for the enhanced nutrient
removal (ENR) upgrade for the expansion to 1 million gallons per day (MGD).
 Have had meetings with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) on the railbanking to
acquire that parcel for a trail.
Citizen Comments:
No citizens offered comments.
Council Roundtable
 Mr. Beauchamp had nothing to report.
 Mr. Worth had nothing to report.
 Mr. Johnson reported that the YMCA has milestones to celebrate. Brian Burns, Executive Director of the
YMCA and Laura Fellows, Membership and Wellness Director were present and stated that the YMCA
will be opening on October 9th with a members open house the weekend prior.
 Ms. Kaiser had nothing to report.
 Mr. Kline asked for the Council’s consensus to reallocate money in the budget to improve security at Town
Hall. He asked for estimates to be reviewed. There was consensus among all Council Members.
Motion to Adjourn
There being no further business, Mr. Johnson made a motion to adjourn the September 21, 2023, meeting. Ms.
Kaiser seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 10:11 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn M. Brinkley
Town Clerk
Council Action Items:
1. Approved the August 17, 2023, meeting minutes.
2. Tabled the discussion for Ordinance 05-2023 for three (3) months to be heard again on January 4, 2024.
3. Consensus among the Town Council to send the Comprehensive Plan back to the Planning Commission for
modifications and the Town Council to attend Planning Commission workshops.
4. Consensus from the Council to withdrawal Ordinance 06-2023.
5. Consensus among the members of the Town Council to display a menorah this year during Hanukkah.
6. Approved the Town election to participate in the Time to Care Act Insurance Collaborative and pay fees as
outlined in the Memorandum of Agreement presented by the Maryland Municipal League, in response to
the upcoming implementation of the State’s paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program.
7. Approved the submittal of a grant to the Firehouse Sub Foundation Mission for the purpose of purchasing
body armor for the Centreville Police Department.
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