Meeting minutes of Town Council Meeting on November 1, 2005                       

As reviewed, approved, and accepted by the Town Council on December 6, 2005

 

 

 

The regular meeting of the Mayor and Town Council was called to order by Mayor Oland at 7:30 p.m.  The Mayor, Council Members Frank Bennett, David Preusch, and David Halperin were present.  Council Member Charles Bradsher was absent. Clerk and the Treasurer were present.  There were 8 citizens present.

 

The minutes of the regular meeting of October 4, 2005 were reviewed.  Council Member David Halperin made the motion to approve the minutes of the regular Town Council Meeting of October 4, 2005 as submitted.  Council Member Frank Bennett seconded the motion.  Unanimously approved. 

 

 

Treasurer’s Report:  Reviewing the Profit and Loss Report for the month of October, 2005, a major source of income was $34,852.00 in real property taxes.  Total income for the month of October, 2005 was $38,109.00.  Major expenses for October, 2005 were $2,400.00 for repairs and maintenance; $2,273.00 for grounds maintenance; and $2,826.00 in waste collection expenses.  Total expenses for the month of October, 2005 were $10,935.00, for a net income of $29,490.00.  Looking at the Balance Sheet for the month of October, 2005, the fund balance for the general fund is $158,065.00; for the CIP account, the balance is $46,052.00; and the balance for the fixed assets fund is $384,904.00.  The total assets for the Town of Laytonsville for the month of October, 2005 are $589,021.00.    Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as submitted, subject to audit.  Council Member David Halperin seconded.  Unanimously approved.

 

 

Discussion/Action Items:

 

Building Height Measurement:  A discussion was held regarding Montgomery County’s Building Height guidelines.  David Ambrose (NV Homes), Sue Carter (Miller, Miller and Canby) and Mike Bingley (Elm Street Development) discussed the either/or requirement as stated from Montgomery County:  “The height must not exceed:  (1) 35 feet when measured to the highest point of roof surface of a gable, hip, mansard, or gambrel roof, or (2) 30 feet to the mean height level between the eaves and ridge of a gable, hip, mansard, or gambrel roof, or the highest point of a flat roof . . .”

 

 

 

 

Mayor Oland introduced the Town of Laytonsville’s Draft Building Height Resolution.  Sue Carter felt that the current draft with only one height limit was inconsistent. 

 

Mayor Oland called upon Sheree Wenger, Chair of the Historic District Commission.  Mrs. Wenger reported that the Historic District Commission would recommend that new construction fit in as much as possible to the current buildings within the Historic District.  Council Member Frank Bennett recommended addressing a maximum height for existing structures through an amendment of the Zoning Ordinance.

 

 

Jones Farm (Rolling Ridge) Preliminary Plan -  Mayor Oland reported that the Town had received Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (well and septic) approval in a fax dated October 4, 2005 and that the Mylar preliminary plan had been received for signature.  Mayor Oland is also requesting that acknowledgement also be received from Montgomery County Roads Department and Sediment Control. 

 

The Mayor and Council agreed by consensus that the Mayor could sign off on the Mylar preliminary plan.

 

Town Picnic:  Mayor Oland reported that a wrap-up meeting had been held and the date of September 16, 2006 had been chosen for the 2006 Town picnic.

 

Derwood Bible Church:  Mayor Oland reported that on November 8, 2005, the Montgomery County Council will conduct a public hearing on Private Institutional Facilities policy.  A decision will be made on November 29, 2005.  Mayor Oland reported that he will be testifying Thursday, November 3, 2005 at the Montgomery County Department of Planning’s hearing and on November 8, 2005 at the Montgomery County Council’s hearing. 

 

Mayor Oland noted that the Preliminary Plan for the proposed facility submitted by the Derwood Bible Church had been received from Maryland National Capital Park & Planning.

 

Mayor Oland submitted a draft letter to the Montgomery County Planning Board regarding the Derwood Bible Church with the following points:

 

  1. The size and scope of the planned facilities are out of character with the surrounding rural area;

 

  1. The two-lane Route 108 is already at over-capacity and the additional traffic that will be generated by the proposed facility will further burden this road as well as Griffith Road.  This increase traffic will have a detrimental effect on the Town.

 

  1. The proposed numbers of wells and the large septic system may affect nearby residents

 

  1. The proposed use is not in keeping with agriculture, which is the intent of the Rural Density Transfer Zone which has agriculture as the preferred use.  Further, it removes over two hundred acres from active farming.

 

  1. If permitted, a precedent will be established to permit additional Private Institutional Facilities in the Agricultural Reserve.

 

State Highway Administration:  Mayor Oland reported that a letter has been received from Charlie Watkins dated October 14, 2005 regarding an east-bound right-turn lane along MD Route 108 for the traffic at MD 108 and Muncaster Road.

 

Lt. Gov. Michael Steele:  Mayor Oland reported that Lt. Gov. Steele’s visit to the Town on October 11, 2005 was a resounding success.  Charlie Watkins, State Highway Administration, informed Mayor Oland that the Town’s proposed By-Pass was in the State’s Highway Administration inventory.  Mayor Oland further reported that Montgomery County Council Member Mike Knapp had indicated to him that the County Council was reviewing language to accommodate the By-Pass to be included in the SHA inventory.

 

Montgomery County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan:  The Town of Laytonsville currently participates with Montgomery County if a disaster is declared by the Mayor for the Town.  The Town is required to have a disaster mitigation plan.  Town Counsel, Stan Abrams has drafted a Resolution to adopt Montgomery County’s Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

 

Work Session:  The Mayor and Council will have a Work Session on November 15, 2005. 

 

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission:  Mayor Oland reported that he had met with representatives from WSSC as well as Tom Natelli, Laytonsville Communities, LLC. and Jim Ruff, Macris, Hendricks & Glascock regarding water service to the Town.  It is projected that a water tower will be completed by March, 2008.  An informational meeting for the Town residents will be held in December.

 

Water Service Category Change:  Town Counsel, Stan Abrams, has prepared a Resolution authorizing the Mayor to apply for and seek approval of Water Category changes to Category W-3 in the Montgomery County ten-year Comprehensive Water Supply and Sewerage Systems Plan for those properties in the Town of Laytonsville currently in Water Service Category W-4.  The Resolution will be voted on by the Mayor and Council at the December 6, 2005 regular Town Council meeting.

 

Council Member Charles Bradsher:  Mayor Oland reported that Council Member Bradsher is to be deployed to Iraq.  The new Town Charter authorizes the Town to temporarily fill a Council Member’s slot while the Council Member is on active duty.

 

 

Action Items:

 

Building Height Measurement Resolution:  Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to adopt Resolution No. R-8-05, Building Height Measurement that establishes a maximum building height of thirty-five (35) feet  measured from the average elevation of the finished grades along the front of the building to the mean height level between the eaves and ridge of a gable, hip, mansard, or gambrel roof, or the highest point of a flat roof  in the residential zones.  Council Member David Halperin seconded.  Council Member David Preusch abstained.  Motion approved.

 

Disaster Mitigation Plan:  Council Member David Preusch made the motion to adopt the Disaster Mitigation Resolution to adopt the Montgomery County, Maryland Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan and authorize Montgomery County to apply said Plan in and for the Town of Laytonsville, Maryland.   Council Member Frank Bennett seconded.  Unanimously approved.

 

 

Council:

 

 

Citizens:

 

Sheree Wenger reminded the meeting that as many as possible should attend the November 8, 2005 Montgomery County Council hearing on Private Institutional Facilities.

 

Larry Halvorson informed the meeting of a disagreement he is in with the Historic District Commission regarding the removal of garden growth, grading of yard for proper drainage and re-seeding of his residence at 21521 Laytonsville Road.

 

Mayor Oland opened a letter submitted by Roy Barber and read it in Mr. Barber’s absence.  Mr. Barber supported Mr. Halvorson’s landscaping changes.

 

Sheree Wenger, Chair of the Historic District Commission, noted that the landscaping changes exceeded general maintenance.

 

Mayor Oland noted that the Town Council had approved the Historic District’s Ordinance as well as their Procedures and Guidelines.

 

Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to adjourn at 9:00 p.m.  Council Member David Preusch seconded.  Unanimously approved.

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Cathryn D. Buit

Clerk

November 1, 2005

 

 

THE TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY ON DECEMBER 3, 2005 AT THE TOWN HALL WAS ATTENDED BY SEVERAL TOWN RESIDENTS AND SANTA!  HOT CHOCOLATE, COOKIES AND CAROLS WERE ENJOYED BY ALL.  WE LOOK FORWARD TO MAKING THIS AN ANNUAL EVENT.

 

 

REMINDER:  THE “I  Laytonsville” T-SHIRTS ARE STILL AVAILABLE AT THE TOWN HALL FOR YOUR HOLIDAY GIFT SHOPPING.  EACH SHIRT IS $15.00 FOR THE LONG-SLEEVED, WHITE SHIRT.  PLEASE CALL THE TOWN HALL (301) 869-0042.

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND BEST WISHES FOR 2006 TO ALL FROM THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL.