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Minutes July 8, 2021 · 6 page(s)

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Town Council of Centreville
July 8, 2021
7:00 p.m.
M I N U T E S
The July 8, 2021 Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:12 p.m. by President Timothy E. McCluskey at the
Liberty Building located at 107 N. Liberty Street, 2nd floor meeting room. The following members and staff were
present: Timothy E. McCluskey, President; Steven K. Kline, Vice President; Jeffrey D. Kiel, and Shelby C. Anania,
Members; Steve Walls, Town Manager; Chief Joe Saboury, Centreville Police Department; Clifford “Kip”
Matthews, Director of Public Works; Krystel Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager; and Carolyn Brinkley, Town
Clerk.
 Following the Pledge of Allegiance and a moment of silence, Mr. Kline made a motion to approve the June
3, 2021 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, July 6, 2021 at 7:01 p.m. at the Centreville Wharf Building,
101 Water Way (Watson Road), 2nd floor meeting room to discuss personnel in accordance with the Maryland Open
Meetings Act. (ii) All 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 the performance of employees, applications for the Town Manager position, and a
candidate for vacancy on a board or commission.
Actions: No actions taken.
The following members and staff were present: Timothy E. McCluskey, President; Steven K. Kline, Vice President;
Jeffrey D. Kiel, and Shelby C. Anania, Members; Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney; Steve Walls, Town
Manager; and Krystel Ebaugh, Human Resources Manager was present for a portion of the meeting.
The meeting adjourned 9:34 p.m.
(i) The Town Council met in closed session on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 6:00 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)
All 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 – employee review and reviewed resumes.
Actions: Approved revision to employee contract.
The following members and staff were present: Timothy E. McCluskey, President; Steven K. Kline, Vice President;
Jeffrey D. Kiel, and Shelby C. Anania, Members; and Sharon VanEmburgh, Town Attorney. Steve Walls, Town
Manager and Chief Joe Saboury each attended portions of the meeting.
The meeting adjourned 7:06 p.m.
Citizens Comments
No citizens offered comments.
Old Business
a. Resolution 07-2021 – Comp Time Policy Amendment
 Mr. McCluskey read Resolution 07-2021 for the purpose of adopting a compensatory time policy.
 Ms. Ebaugh presented the following memo:
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 After some discussion, Mr. Kline made a motion to approve Resolution 07-2021, as presented, for the
purpose of adopting a compensatory time policy. The motion was seconded by Ms. Anania, which
passed unanimously.
b. Lawyers Row Lights
 Mr. Walls presented the following memo:
 Mr. McCluskey read that the Town Council responded via email with their concurrence to purchase three
street lights in the amount of $13,027.20 and this was to formally announce this decision in open session.
c. Waiver of Chapter 7, Article I, Section 7-2A – DrinkMaryland: Centreville
 Mr. Walls presented the following memo:
EXHIBIT A
 Mr. McCluskey stated that the Town Council responded via email with their concurrence to waive
the request of Chapter 7, Article I, Section 7-2A for the Drink Maryland: Centreville event and this
was to formally announce this decision in open session.
d. MC Ventures Allocation Approval
 Mr. Walls presented the following memo:
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 Mr. Kline made a motion to approve four (4) allocations for the MC Ventures, LLC, a subdivision
located at the end of Glendale Avenue and Windsor Avenue. Mr. Kiel seconded the motion, which
passed unanimously.
New Business
a. Ordinance 08-2021 – Conveyance of Land – First Reading
 Mr. McCluskey read Ordinance 08-2021 for the purpose of authorizing the conveyance by way of a
quitclaim deed of a parcel of property identified as existing 12’ alley to be converted to 12’ access and
utility easement containing 1,632 square feet and the acceptance of 324 square foot area to be transferred
from MC Ventures, LLC to the Town of Centreville which is part of Parcel 957 on Queen Anne’s
County Tax Map 44B and all matters related thereto.
 Mr. Walls stated this is part of the subdivision located at the end of Glendale Avenue and Windsor
Avenue. There is an alley that runs through the middle of the subdivision and the Town is proposing to
convey that alley in exchange for a piece of property that would adjoin the Mill Stream trail.
 The Town Council requested the plat be available to view as part of the second reading.
 Ms. VanEmburgh stated that a public hearing was not required for this ordinance but a notice in the
paper prior to 20 days of settlement is required.
b. Ordinance 09-2021 – Accessory Structures – First Reading
 Mr. Kline read Ordinance 09-2021 for the purpose of amending the Town’s Zoning Ordinance codified
as Chapter 170 of the Town Code to relate the maximum allowable size of accessory structures to the
size of the required rear yard, to increase the required minimum rear and side yard setbacks for accessory
buildings that exceed 12 feet in height, to establish a vegetative buffer requirement for buildings 15 feet
and taller, and to add definitions of the several terms in order to administer and enforce the Town’s
Zoning Ordinance more effectively.
 Mr. Kline stated that he requested a 6-month moratorium on accessory structures over 400 square feet to
allow the Planning Commission time to develop additional regulations.
 Mr. McCluskey stated that he was not in favor of a 2-foot additional setback for every additional foot in
height of an accessory structure. He recommended a 1:1 ratio with a maximum 10-foot setback.
 Mr. Kiel stated he was in agreement that a 2-foot additional for every additional foot in height setback
was too much.
 After some discussion, the Town Council agreed to a 5-foot side and rear yard setback for building
heights of 12 feet to 15 feet and a 10-foot side and rear yard setback for building heights over 15 feet.
They also amended the minimum height required for buffers from 15 feet to 12 feet.
 The Town Council requested these changes be presented to the Centreville Planning Commission at their
August 4th meeting.
c. Ordinance 10-2021 Election Provisions – First Reading
 Mr. Kline read Ordinance 10-2021 for the purpose of providing for election terms not otherwise provided
for in the Charter for the Town of Centreville and all matters related thereto.
 Mr. Kline announced that Council Member Hardy has given his resignation, effective July 6th.
 Ms. VanEmburgh stated that since Council Member Hardy’s remaining term is longer than 180 days, the
Charter stated that the vacancy shall be filled at the next regular election. She also reported that the
Charter does not address how terms will be determined when more than one seat is open with different
terms. She stated this Ordinance states that the candidate receiving the second highest number of votes
will be elected to a two-year term and the candidate receiving the highest number of votes will be elected
to a three-year term.
 A second reading for Ordinance 10-2021 will take place at the August 19, 2021 meeting.
d. Public Works Agreement – MC Ventures, LLC
 Mr. Walls reviewed the Public Works Agreement (PWA) between the Town Council and MC Ventures,
LLC for the subdivision located at the end of Glendale Avenue and Windsor Avenue.
 After some discussion, the Town Council stated that the deposit paid by the original owner in 2014
would be forfeited due to expiration after two years, as stated in the original PWA, and MC Ventures,
LLC would be required to pay the deposit at the execution of the current PWA.
 Mr. Kline made a motion to approve the Public Works Agreement for MC Ventures, LLC, as amended,
to include the required payment of the allocation deposit at time of signing the agreement and, with the
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condition to authorize the Town Attorney and Town Manager to make non-substantive revisions as
needed. Ms. Anania seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
e. Public Works Agreement – YMCA
 Mr. Walls reviewed the Public Works Agreement between the Town Council and the YMCA. He stated
that the Queen Anne’s County Commissioners are also a part of this agreement due to the allocations that
were reserved for the YMCA on this property.
 Mr. Kline made a motion to approve the Public Works Agreement for the Young Men’s Christian
Association of the Chesapeake, Inc. and the County Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County, as
presented, with the condition to authorize the Town Attorney and the Town Manager to make non-
substantive revisions as needed. Ms. Anania seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
f. Public Works Agreement – 152 Commet Drive, LLC / Green Thumb Industries (GTI)
 Mr. Walls reviewed the Public Works Agreement between the Town Council and 152 Comet Drive, LLC
for lots I and K at the Centreville Business Park.
 Mr. Kline made a motion to approve the Public Works Agreement for 152 Comet Drive, LLC, as
presented, with the condition to authorize the Town Attorney and Town Manager to make non-
substantive revisions as needed. Ms. Anania seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
g. Annual Drinking Water Quality Report for 2020
 Mr. Matthews discussed the drinking water report. The Maryland Department of the Environment
(MDE), with the assistance of a circuit rider from the Maryland Rural Water Association (MRWA), were
responsible for writing the report and prepared it using wording that follows their regulatory guidelines.
 Due to inquiries received by some residents, Mr. Matthews provided explanations to the three (3)
violations listed in the report:
 The first violation states that the Town failed to test the drinking water for nitrate for the
period of January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. This test is required once per year,
normally sampled in December, and staff missed the sampling, however, staff followed-up
with sampling in January. The sample passed and was within normal limits. Because the
sampling did not take place within 2020, it is considered a violation.
 Regarding the second violation for Haloacetic Acids and the third violation for Total
Trihalomethanes, these items have relatively new guidelines for sampling with one sample
being taken in 2019. The staff missed the sampling in 2020 for these compounds although it
is important to note the water was safe. Please see the bottom of the chart in the CCR report
under Volatile Organic Contaminants where it shows the Haloacetic Acids was sampled in
2019 and no violation occurred with a low reading of 7.81 ppb out of 60 MCL. The Total
Trihalomethanes had no violation with a low reading of 9.95 ppb out of 80 MCL.
 Please keep in mind the wording MDE has in their guidelines when there are violations for
not performing a test is "Because of this failure, we cannot be sure of the quality of our
drinking water during the period indicated". Based on the results of a sample taken one
month later that was well within limits and the sample for the other two compounds taken in
2019 were well below the limits, he stated that the Town would like reassure everyone there
are no concerns with the quality of the water supply.
Correspondence
 Mr. McCluskey read a letter received from Mr. Robert Hardy, Jr:
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 Mr. McCluskey reported that a letter was received requesting support for the Queen Anne’s County
Department of Community Services, Area Agency on Aging for a grant they are submitting in the amount of
$800,000 to be used towards the construction of a senior center as part of the YMCA. Mr. Kline made a
motion to approve a support letter for a grant being submitted by the Queen Anne’s County Department of
Community Services, Area Agency on Aging to support the construction of a senior center as part of the
YMCA. Ms. Anania seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.
Reports of Boards and Commissions
a. Centreville Park Advisory Board
 Ms. Anania stated that the Park Advisory Board did not meet in July.
b. Council of Governments
 Mr. Kiel reported that COG does not meet over the summer and their next meeting will be in September.
c. Maryland Municipal League
 Mr. McCluskey stated that he, Mr. Kiel and a few staff members attended the MML Conference this year
and, as always, there were good sessions provided.
d. Centreville Planning Commission
 Mr. McCluskey stated that the Planning Commission’s July 21st meeting has been cancelled and they
will hold a regular meeting on August 4th and August 18th.
e. Economic Development
 Mr. Kline stated that the Economic Development Authority Ad-Hoc Committee are holding their
next meeting, location to be determined, on July 27th at 6:00 p.m. and will be inviting the business
community. The meeting will offer an economic outlook for the Town of Centreville provided by
the three bank managers located in Centreville and their outlook for the local economy for the next
year. Mr. Kline encouraged all Town Council members to attend this meeting.
Reports of Department Heads
a. Town Manager
 Mr. Walls reported that he has been working on the following:
 Reviewing three (3) Public Works Agreements
 Reviewing plans on development projects
 End of Fiscal Year budget numbers with the Finance Officer
 Zoning related matters
b. Chief of Police Report
 Chief Saboury presented the June 2021 statistical report.
 Mr. Kline asked what the annual revenue is for parking meters. Chief Saboury stated a five-year total is
$105,000 which averages out to $21,000 per year; with last year being an atypical year.
 Mr. Kline asked the cost of maintenance for the parking meters. Chief Saboury stated they run about
$600 to $800 to replace the insides of the meter if broken, and maintenance, batteries, etc. are below
$1,000 pear year. He stated the money collected needs to be dried for approximately 2-3 weeks before it
can be taken to the bank.
 Mr. Kline stated that the parking meters are unreadable, when they are working, and recommended
bagging the meters on a trial basis for six-months, at which time the Council can re-visit.
 Mr. McCluskey stated that he was not in favor of bagging meters or removing meters. He stated that this
is a primary complaint by businesses that meters are not available for their customers due to employees
of other businesses utilizing parking spaces for an entire day.
 Mr. Kiel suggested a trial basis of three-months.
 After additional discussion, Ms. Anania made a motion to bag all parking meters, with the exception of
the meters at the charging stations, through September 30th. Mr. Kline seconded the motion, which
passed with Ms. Anania, Mr. Kline, and Mr. Kiel voting yes and Mr. McCluskey voting no.
 Chief Saboury reported on the following:
 Currently have two officer vacancies and will be making an offer for a new officer
 Purchased an outdoor kennel through a Homeland Security grant
 St. Michaels donated an indoor car cage unit for the 2nd K-9 unit
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 Held two (2) Meet the Police events
 September will be the 125th Anniversary of the Centreville Police Department and they are
working on an event celebration
 Will be holding National Night Out this year
c. Town Clerk
 Ms. Brinkley reported that another grant is being submitted for the façade improvement program.
 Ms. Brinkley thanked the Centreville Police Department and the Centreville Department of Public Works
for all their help leading up to the fireworks as well as the event.
Citizens Forum
 No citizens offered any comments.
Council Roundtable
 Ms. Anania thanked everyone for their help on the fireworks.
 Mr. Kiel stated the fireworks event was great and thanked everyone for their hard work. He stated that the
Wharton property is getting cleaned up and thanked Mr. Walls for his follow-up.
 Mr. Kline stated the fireworks was a great event and thanked Ms. Anania for her leadership and Ms. Brinkley
for coordinating the event.
 Mr. McCluskey reported that he attended MML and one particular session he attended was on how to get
grant funding and they stated to get all projects into the Governor’s budget. Mr. Kline stated he has spoken
to several legislators about how to get projects into the Governor’s budget. Mr. McCluskey wished Mr.
Hardy well in his retirement.
Motion to Adjourn
There being no further business, Mr. Kline made a motion to adjourn the July 8, 2021 Town Council meeting. Ms.
Anania seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Carolyn M. Brinkley
Town Clerk
Council Action Items:
1. Approved the June 3, 2021 meeting minutes, as presented.
2. Approved Resolution 07-2021 for the purpose of adopting a compensatory time policy.
3. The Town Council responded via email with their concurrence to purchase three street lights in the amount
of $13,027.20 and this was to formally announce this decision in open session.
4. The Town Council responded via email with their concurrence to waive the request of Chapter 7, Article I,
Section 7-2A for the Drink Maryland: Centreville event and this was to formally announce this decision in
open session.
5. Approved four (4) allocations for the MC Ventures, LLC, a subdivision located at the end of Glendale
Avenue and Windsor Avenue.
6. Approved the Public Works Agreement for MC Ventures, LLC, as amended, to include the required payment
of the allocation deposit at time of signing the agreement and, with the condition to authorize the Town
Attorney and Town Manager to make non-substantive revisions as needed.
7. Approved the Public Works Agreement for the Young Men’s Christian Association of the Chesapeake, Inc.
and the County Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County, as presented, with the condition to authorize the
Town Attorney and the Town Manager to make non-substantive revisions as needed.
8. Approved the Public Works Agreement for 152 Comet Drive, LLC, as presented, with the condition to
authorize the Town Attorney and Town Manager to make non-substantive revisions as needed.
9. Approved a support letter for a grant being submitted by the Queen Anne’s County Department of
Community Services, Area Agency on Aging to support the construction of a senior center as part of the
YMCA.
10. Approved bagging all parking meters, with the exception of the meters at the charging stations, through
September 30th.
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