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october 19 meeting minutes

Minutes October 19, 2023 · 5 page(s)

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Town Council of Centreville
October 19, 2023
7:00 p.m.
M I N U T E S
The October 19, 2023 Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Ashley H. Kaiser at the
Vincit Building located at 110 Vincit Street, Planning & Zoning meeting room. The following members and staff
were present: Ashley H. Kaiser, President; Eric B. Johnson, Jr., Vice President; Daniel B. Worth and Jeffrey D. Kiel,
Members; Carolyn Brinkley, A/Town Manager; Chief Robert Hobbs, Centreville Police Department; Sharon
VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Karen Luffman, Finance Officer; Krystel Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager; Gary
Phillips, A/Director of Public Works; Jacki Payne, Administrative Assistant; Carol D’Agostino, Main Street Manager;
and Betty Jean Hall, A/Town Clerk.
• Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Worth made a motion to approve the October 5, 2023,
reorganization meeting minutes, as presented. Mr. Kiel seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
Closed Session Statement
(i) The Town Council met in closed session on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 7:02 p.m. via Zoom 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 performance of a Town employee.
Actions: Council decided to terminate the contract for a Town employee.
The following members and staff were present: Ashley H. Kaiser, President; Eric B. Johnson, Vice President;
Daniel B. Worth, Jim A. Beauchamp and Jeffrey D. Kiel, Members; and Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:16 p.m.
Closed Session Statement
(i) The Town Council met in closed session on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at 6:15 p.m. at the Vincit Building,
110 Vincit Street, Planning & Zoning meeting room to discuss personnel in accordance with the Maryland Open
Meetings Act. (ii) Four 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 performance of an individual employee.
Actions: No action taken.
The following members and staff were present: Ashley H. Kaiser, President; Eric B. Johnson, Vice President;
Daniel B. Worth and Jeffrey D. Kiel, Members; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Carolyn Brinkley, A/Town
Manager; Chief Robert Hobbs, Centreville Police Department and Krystel Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:53 p.m.
Appearances
a. Carol D’Agostino, Main Street Manager – 2023 Centreville Day
• Ms. D’Agostino presented information to the Town Council regarding the sponsorships and vendors
including 44 tables of non-profits and businesses as well as food vendors. $8,450 was raised to
support this event.
• Ms. D’Agostino recognized Tidewater Traditions for supplying T-shirts for this year’s volunteers.
• Main Street will be handing out reusable bags that include an informational insert regarding the
upcoming plastic bag ban that takes effect January 1. A 50% bonus will be offered on the purchase
of Centreville E-Gift Cards.
• Ms. D’Agostino reported Lawyers Row and Broadway will be closed to traffic by 10:30am.
• Mr. Johnson reported The Centreville Festivities & Beautification Team’s Halloween event is also
scheduled on the same date from 6:30pm-9pm on Broadway. Lawyers Row would reopen at the
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conclusion of vendors tearing down after Centreville Day has ended and Broadway will remain
closed until 9:30pm.
• Mr. Johnson made a motion that the Council endorse a plan to close Lawyers Row on Saturday,
October 28 from 10am until 4pm and Broadway from 10am until 10pm. Mr. Worth seconded the
motion, which passed unanimously.
b. Kids’ Fishing Derby Winners
• Ms. Kaiser reported 53 young people fished at the derby and stated the derby has become an annual
event. Ms. Kaiser and Mr. Johnson presented trophies to the following Fishing Derby winners:
➢ 2-5 age category: Cash Losten – 4 years old
➢ 6-10 age category: Wystan Culver – 8 years old
➢ 11-15 age category: Joey Davis – 12 years old
➢ First Fish: Levi Helms – unable to attend
Citizens Comments
No citizens offered comments.
New Business
a. Ordinance 07-2023 – FY2023 Budget Amendment – First Reading
• Ms. Kaiser introduced Ordinance 07-2023 for the purpose of amending the Town of Centreville Fiscal
Year 2023 Budget and all things related generally thereto.
• Ms. Luffman presented the following memo:
• Ms. Luffman stated the Ordinance is asking for an amendment of $3,774 in the General Fund and
$283,230 in the Enterprise Fund.
• Ms. Luffman reported she and Council member Beauchamp had a telephone conversation regarding the
budget amendment request during which his four questions were answered satisfactorily.
• A public hearing will be held on Ordinance 07-2023 at the November 16th Town Council meeting.
b. Holiday Expenses (Reallocation from Fireworks)
• Ms. Kaiser stated holiday expenses and the reallocation from fireworks was something the Council
addressed during budget season.
• Mr. Johnson requested the Council’s approval for no greater than $1,000 toward the Halloween event that
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is scheduled for Saturday, October 28 and no greater than $4,000 to be spent on a combination of
December holiday activities and/or decorations. The additional caveat being Mr. Johnson and Ms.
D’Agostino work together to make sure other events the Town has committed to up to this point are being
sufficiently funded.
• Ms. Kaiser stated she wants there to be oversight, if the Town purchases something the Town owns that
something, like the menorah. If there are purchases to be made the Town would make those purchases.
• Ms. Kaiser requested the Christmas request be tabled until the season is closer.
• Mr. Johnson made a motion that the Council allocate no greater than $1,000 to fund the Halloween event
on the evening of Saturday, October 28 and that will be done in concert with the Main Street program.
Mr. Worth seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
c. SCADA System Upgrades
• Ms. Kaiser thanked Mr. Phillips for acting in the role of Director of Public Works.
• Mr. Phillips presented the following memo:
• Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve the purchase of the WHEL-TECH SCADA system at a cost not to
exceed $45,470 to be paid for through ARPA funds. Mr. Worth seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
d. Board and Commission Appointments
• Mr. Worth made a motion to appoint Heather Watson to the Personnel Review Board for a three-year
term; Jennifer Wilson to the Board of Supervisors of Elections for a three-year term; Elizabeth Pearo to
the Board of Supervisors of Elections for a three-year term; and Wendy Hubbert to the Park Advisory
Board for a three-year term. Mr. Johnson seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Reports of Boards and Commissions
a. Council of Governments
• Mr. Kiel reported the next Council of Governments meeting will take place November 8 in Queenstown.
b. Economic Development
• Mr. Johnson reported the Festivities and Beautification Team has been meeting for just under a year and
have worked with the Mid-Shore Community Foundation to have the Festivities and Beautification Team
become a non-profit entity by virtue of its charter, an umbrella organization. They are now able to
fundraise on behalf of a privatized effort. He stated if there were a grant that the Town would not be able
to apply for as a government entity, maybe they could apply in coordination with an approval of the
Town Council. The overarching group is a structure to be called CREDE, Centreville Reaching for
Economic Development Enterprise. CREDE will be looking for business and community leaders and
citizens that would like to be involved in the coming months.
c. Park Advisory Board
• Ms. Kaiser reported the Park Advisory Board would like upgrades to the Santa House. Ms. Kaiser
requested Mr. Phillips get an estimate for the amount it would cost for upgrades such as interior lighting,
window trim, neutral interior paint, non-skid flooring paint, and a ramp. The Parks Advisory Board
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suggested the Festivities and Beautification Team raise funds to purchase a Santa chair and additional
lights and decorations.
d. Planning Commission
• Mr. Worth reported the revisions to the Comprehensive Plan are scheduled for the work session on
November 1st and requested the Town Council conduct a work session of their own on Thursday, October
26th.
Reports of Department Heads
a. Town Manager
• Ms. Brinkley reported the following:
• There has been a small committee formed of staff members that are working on a special event
permit form and procedures.
b. Finance Officer
• Ms. Luffman reported the encumber for ARPA requirement is December 1st 2024.
c. Human Resources Manager
• Ms. Ebaugh presented the following memo:
• Ms. Ebaugh reported on the most recent hire for the role of Code Enforcement Officer had issues
obtaining liability insurance therefore she is requesting permission to reclassify the position from a
1099 contractor to a W-2 permanent part-time employee.
• Mr. Kiel moved to approve the reclassification of the position of Code Enforcement Officer from
1099 to a W-2 employee. Mr. Worth seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
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Citizen Comments:
Elaine Studley, South Liberty Street offered comments.
Council Roundtable
• Mr. Kiel had nothing to report.
• Mr. Worth requested Town email blasts to be distributed more frequently especially when the Town
Council is having public hearings. Mr. Worth also requested an ordinance be created regarding the
requirements and permitted zoning districts for dispensaries.
• Mr. Johnson reported the holiday committee of the Festivities and Beautification Team was considering
implementation of Saturdays with Santa; recruiting Santa to be in the Santa house from 2-4pm on
Saturdays when he is not previously scheduled with Edward’s Pharmacy. Mr. Johnson is very excited to
announce the arrival of the menorah at Town Hall earlier in the week.
• Ms. Kaiser thanked the Town staff present and their teams for their professionalism and the good work they
do on behalf of the Town.
Motion to Adjourn
There being no further business, Mr. Johnson made a motion to adjourn the October 19, 2023, meeting. Mr. Kiel
seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 7:57 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Jean Hall
A/Town Clerk
Council Action Items:
1. Approved the October 5, 2023, reorganization meeting minutes.
2. Approved closure of Lawyer Row on Saturday, October 28 from 10am until 4pm and Broadway from 10am
until 10pm.
3. Approved to allocate no greater than $1,000 to fund the Halloween event on the evening of Saturday,
October 28.
4. Approved the purchase of the WHEL-TECH SCADA system at a cost not to exceed $45,470 to be paid
through ARPA funds.
5. Appointed Heather Watson to the Personnel Review Board for a three-year term; Jennifer Wilson to the
Board of Supervisors of Elections for a three-year term; Elizabeth Pearo to the Board of Supervisors of
Elections for a three-year term; and Wendy Hubbert to the Park Advisory Board for a three-year term.
6. Approved the reclassification of the position of Code Enforcement Officer from 1099 to a W-2 employee.
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