← All documents

december 7 2023 meeting minutes

Minutes December 7, 2023 · 4 page(s)

View original PDF ↗ Meeting

Full extracted text

The document's complete text, exactly as extracted — not a summary. Use “Summarize this document” above for the short version.

Town Council of Centreville
December 7, 2023
7:00 p.m.
M I N U T E S
The December 7, 2023, Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by President Ashley H. Kaiser at the
Liberty Building located at 107 N. Liberty Street, 2nd floor meeting room. The following members and staff were
present: Ashley H. Kaiser, President; Eric B. Johnson, Jr., Vice President; Daniel B. Worth, Jim A. Beauchamp, and
Jeffrey D. Kiel, Members; Carolyn M. Brinkley, A/Town Manager; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Chief
Robert Hobbs and Lt. Charles Larrimore, Centreville Police Department; Tonya Wright, Finance Specialist; Krystel
Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager; and Betty Jean Hall, A/Town Clerk.
• Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Worth made a motion to approve the November 16, 2023,
meeting minutes, as presented. Mr. Kiel seconded the motion, which passed with 4 ayes and 1
abstention.
Closed Session Statement
(i) The Town Council met in closed session on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 5:35 p.m. at the Liberty Building,
107 N. Liberty Street, 2nd floor meeting room to meet with personnel and discuss investigative proceedings 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 communication performance with several employees.
• Discuss investigative proceeding – discussed status of criminal investigation.
Actions: No actions taken.
The following members and staff were present: Ashley H. Kaiser, President; Eric B. Johnson, Jr., Vice President;
Daniel B. Worth, Jim A. Beauchamp and Jeffrey D. Kiel, Members; Carolyn M. Brinkley, A/Town Manager;
Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Chief Robert Hobbs, Lt. Charles Larrimore and Sgt. Darnell Foster,
Centreville Police Department.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
Appearances
a. Billy Mitchell Award Proclamation – 2nd Lt. Nathan Mellinger
• Mr. Johnson provided the Billy Mitchell Award Proclamation to 2nd Lt. Nathan Mellinger of
Centreville.
Citizens Comments
No citizens offered comments.
Old Business
a. Installation of Crosswalks – Council President
• Ms. Kaiser stated using Highway User Revenues the crosswalks approved at a previous meeting have
been completed at the intersections of Little Kidwell Avenue, Green Street and Providence Lane. The
extension of Little Kidwell Avenue was expected to open the following day.
New Business
a. Resolution 12-2023 – School Zone Speed Limit Reduction – Council President
• Ms. Kaiser stated State law does allow for the lowering of speed limits in school zones on Town streets
only during school operating hours. This gives the Town the ability to lower the speed limits for
Centreville and Kennard Elementary schools to 15 miles per hour during school hours.
• Mr. Johnson made a motion to approve Resolution 12-2023 to reduce the speed limit in specified school
zones to 15 miles per hour during specified school hours. Mr. Worth seconded the motion, which passed
unanimously.
Council Member Yes No Abstain Absent
Council Member Beauchamp X
Vice President Johnson X
2023-12-07-TC-Minutes Page | 1

President Kaiser X
Council Member Worth X
Council Member Kiel X
b. Lead & Copper Inventory Grant & 120 Water Comprehensive Digital Solution Program – Council Member
Kiel
• Ms. Wright presented the following memo:
• By consensus, the Town Council approved the request to apply for the grant and funding.
c. Holiday Committee Update – Council Vice President
• Mr. Johnson presented a slideshow giving an update on the Festivities and Beautification Committee’s
achievements and upcoming holiday events.
.
2023-12-07-TC-Minutes Page | 2

• Mr. Johnson recognized Acting Town Manager, Carolyn Brinkley, and Acting Public Works Director,
Gary Phillips, for their assistance with all the holiday preparations.
• Ms. Kaiser added the lighting of the menorah event will take place on Saturday, December 9.
Correspondence
Ms. Brinkley stated the Council received an invitation to attend the Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company
Recognition and Awards Banquet on January 6 and requested RSVPs be sent to her by December 15.
Reports of Boards and Commissions
a. Maryland Municipal League
• Mr. Beauchamp stated the only update was forwarded to the Council by email from Ms. Brinkley earlier
in the day in regards to more transportation funding.
b. Council of Governments
• Mr. Kiel stated the next meeting of the Council of Governments will be held in January with the topic
being the tax differential.
c. Economic Development
• Mr. Johnson stated Pat Fox, a resident of Symphony Village and member of the Centreville Planning
Commission, has joined the Queen Anne’s County Economic Development Commission and is doing a
great job. Centreville Reaching for Economic Development Enterprise (CREDE) now has a non-profit
status and will be forming a board in January.
d. Park Advisory Board
• Ms. Kaiser had nothing to report.
e. Planning Commission
• Mr. Worth stated the Planning Commission met the previous evening at a work session to finish work on
the Comprehensive Plan. A public hearing will be held by the Town Council on December 14th.
Reports of Department Heads
a. Town Manager
• Ms. Brinkley reported the following:
• Town of Centreville appeared at a public hearing of the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners to
requesting an amendment to the County’s Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan.
• Sewer plant upgrade information along with the letter that was sent to the County Commissioners is
being posted to the Town’s website.
• Ms. Brinkley met with representatives of the American Red Cross to discuss their outreach and would
like them to present at a meeting of the Town Council in March 2024.
• The Christmas Parade will take place on Friday, December 8, beginning at 6:30.
b. Human Resources Manager
• Ms. Ebaugh presented a draft memo to the Council regarding membership to the YMCA for Town
employees.
• Ms. Ebaugh discussed employee assistance programs with the Town Council.
c. Chief of Police
• In response to community inquiries about a narcotics and/or bomb detection K-9 within our
community, Chief Hobbs stated Centreville Police Department is currently looking into reestablishing
a narcotics/tracking K-9 within the department that can be used within the community and by allied
agencies. This will hopefully occur within the next few months.
2023-12-07-TC-Minutes Page | 3

• Chief Hobbs stated on Rt. 304 in the area of the Queen Anne’s County High School the speed limit
signs have been replaced by the State Highway Administration with the help of Sheriff Gary Hofman.
d. Town Attorney
• A memo regarding sidewalks was sent via e-mail. Ms. VanEmburgh needs feedback to move
forward with drafting the ordinance.
Citizen Comments:
No citizens offered comments.
Council Roundtable
• Mr. Kiel commended the patch work being done to Town streets and requested information or action into
cleaning and/or painting the water tower on Comet Drive.
• Mr. Beauchamp had nothing to report.
• Mr. Worth encouraged members of Council to attend the County Commissioners Open House on
December 12.
• Mr. Johnson reported shirts have been received for the Community Patrol. Three volunteers will be
launching their presence during the Christmas Parade at the Circuit Courthouse.
• Ms. Kaiser discussed the Centreville Christmas Parade and the public’s reaction to the initial cancellation
and rain date.
Motion to Adjourn
There being no further business, Mr. Johnson made a motion to adjourn the December 7, 2023, meeting. Mr. Kiel
seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Betty Jean Hall
A/Town Clerk
Council Action Items:
1. Approved the November 16, 2023, meeting minutes.
2. Approved Resolution 12-2023 to lower the speed limit to 15 mph during school hours on Little Kidwell
Avenue from Commerce Street to Green Street.
3. Reached a consensus to allow application for the Lead and Copper Line Inventory Grant and
Comprehensive Digital Solution Program funding by 120Water.
2023-12-07-TC-Minutes Page | 4