Meeting minutes of Town Council Meeting on December 7, 2004

As reviewed, approved, and accepted by the Town Council on January 4, 2005

The regular meeting of the Mayor and Town Council was called to order by Mayor Oland at 7:35 p.m. The Mayor, Council Members Frank Bennett, and David Halperin were present. Council Members Charles Bradsher and David Preusch were absent. The Clerk and the Treasurer were present. There were 5 citizens present.

Mayor Oland reminded the meeting a Work Session will be held on December 14, 2004.

The minutes of the regular Town Council and the Public Hearing meeting of

November 2 , 2004 were approved as submitted. The minutes of the Work session of November 16, 2004 were approved as submitted.

Treasurer’s Report: Reviewing the Profit and Loss Report for the month of November, 2004, major sources of income were income taxes in the amount of $12,277.37. Major expenses for November, 2004 were consultant fees in the amount of$1,750.00; grounds maintenance fees in the amount of $1,376.49; and $2,375.40 for waste collection. Looking at the Balance Sheet for the month of November, 2004, the fund balance for the general fund is $152,018; for the CIP account, the balance is $72,391; and the balance for the fixed assets fund is $380,361. The total assets for the Town of Laytonsville for the month of November are $604,771. Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as submitted, subject to audit. Council Member David

Halperin seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.

The Treasurer distributed the Financial Statement reports for the Town of Laytonsville as of June 30, 2004 as prepared by Lindsey & Associates, LLC. Mayor Oland noted that Chris Wilkinson has done an excellent job in preparing the information for the auditors and that pages 3 through 8 were prepared by Chris herself.

Discussion/Action Items:

Annexation Agreement, Annexation Petition, Re-zoning of 27.36 Acres Located at 7215 Brink Road (Rolling Ridge): Mayor Oland reported that the Town and the attorneys are still working to submit this information for the January 4, 2005 regular Town Council meeting.

Preliminary Plan – Laytonsville Communities: Mayor Oland reported that the Town has been provided with a preliminary plan from Laytonsville Communities. Members of the Council have met with the Town Planner separately and comments as well as Montgomery County Well and Septic comments will be submitted to the engineer. This preliminary plan will be on the agenda for the Work Session of December 14, 2004.

Storm Drain and Soil Erosion & Sediment Control Plan – S. Montgomery Street: Macris, Hendricks & Glascock have submitted plans to the Town for the storm drain at Howard and S. Montgomery Streets. Council Member Frank Bennett reported that the plan was available for review. The plans will be submitted for approval at the January 4, 2005 regular Town Council meeting.

Town Charter: Mayor Oland reported that the charter has been the subject of two Work Sessions and the final draft has been received from the University of Maryland’s Institute of Governmental Service and submitted to the Town Attorney. A hearing is tentatively scheduled for February 1, 2005.

Town Hall Alarm System: The two proposals (ADT and Splaine) were discussed at the Work Session on November 16, 2004. A comparison sheet was reviewed. Mayor Oland requested that the Treasurer include the proposal as a budgeted item in July.

Town Hall Outbuildings: A joint meeting of the Mayor and Council and the Historic District Committee has been scheduled for January 17, 2005 to discuss the disposition of the red outbuildings on the Town Hall lot.

Town Hall Insurance: Mayor Oland has requested that Local Government Insurance Trust increase the property coverage on the Town Hall to $600,000.

Boy Scouts: Boy Scout Troop 759 will be at Council Member Charles Bradsher’s home on December 11, 2004 to perform yard clean-up as community service. Council Member (Major) Charles Bradsher has been deployed to Iraq.

Town Hall Electrical System: Mayor Oland reported that non-code electrical wiring had been disconnected and properly re-connected. The remaining non-code electrical work will be completed to bring the Town Hall building up to code.

Hall of Mayors: Former Mayors’ pictures from the last fifty years are on display in the main hallway of the Town Hall.

Comprehensive Plan: Major Oland acknowledged Eric Wenger and the Citizen’s Advisory Board efforts in their completion of the draft Comprehensive Plan. The Plan will be discussed at the Work Session on December 14, 2004.

Traffic Monitoring Trailers: Mayor Oland reported that he had requested the Montgomery County Police provide these speed monitoring trailers. They have been in place at either entrance to the Town during the last week.

Welcome Signs: Mayor Oland reported that the Welcome Signs had been installed at each entrance to the Town.

Public Hearing – Preliminary Plan of Subdivision – Laytonsville Communities: Mayor Oland reported that a Public Hearing will be held on January 4, 2005 to consider comment on the preliminary plan of subdivision as submitted by Laytonsville Communities (“Fulks South”).

Action Items:

Close Record on Annexation and Re-zoning of 27.36 acres located at 7215 Brink Road (Rolling Ridge): The record was held open to hear from Montgomery County Park & Planning. Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to close the record on the Annexation and Re-zoning of 27.36 acres located at 7215 Brink Road (Rolling Ridge). Council Member David Halperin seconded. Unanimously approved.

Town Hall Alarm System: Council Member David Halperin made the motion to accept the proposal for the Town Hall Alarm (premise and fire alarm) system from Splaine at $915 with payments of $24.95 per month monitoring fees. Council Member Frank Bennett seconded. Unanimously approved.

Council:

Citizens:

A citizen questioned the need for the storm drain at S. Montgomery Street. Council Member Frank Bennett reported that the Town proposes to extend the undersized culvert on Howard and S. Montgomery Street. Mayor Oland reported that this system would improve drainage.

Sheree Wenger reported that she and Phyllis Sterling had requested additional information on accident reports for the area from Warfield road to the end of Town from the Fifth Police Station.

Mrs. Wenger reported on the status of the Geisbert/Berman house. Montgomery County inspectors have been giving the owners conflicting information and a new construction permit is in the process of being issued. The Historic District Commission has recommended that the house be moved farther from the road but within the original footprint – now that the owners are excavating a basement. It was agreed by consensus that the Mayor and Council was not opposed to the Historic District Commission recommending that the house be moved farther form the road. Mayor Oland indicated he would sign off on any Montgomery County requirements.

Tom Wilkinson reported that the gutters of the Town Hall had been cleaned. Mr. Wilkinson expressed concern over the condition of the Town Hall’s front porch. Tom will contact Carlos Mosquera Painting re attending to the front porch.

Mayor Oland reported that at the January 4, 2005 regular Town Council meeting, the new owners of the property located at Griffith Road and Route 108 will be in attendance.

Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to adjourn the meeting. Council Member Dave Halperin seconded. Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

Cathryn D. Buit

Clerk

December 7, 2004