Meeting minutes of Town Council Meeting on February 7, 2006                      

As reviewed, approved, and accepted by the Town Council on March 7, 2006

 

  

Mayor Oland called the Public Hearing to amend the Forest Conservation Ordinance re-adopted May 4, 2004 and corrected on August 2, 2004 to order at 7:30 p.m. The proposed Ordinance will amend the Town of Laytonsville Forest Conservation and Reforestation Ordinance Section II, entitled “Forest and Tree Conservation Definitions” so as to define the term “Linear Project”, within new subsection 2.30.1; to amend the definition of the term “Net Tract Area” in subsection 2.36; and Section III, entitled “Application”, subsection 3.2.H to include Linear Projects as part of the requirements of the Ordinance.  The Mayor, Council Members Frank Bennett, David Preusch, David Halperin and Tom Wilkinson were present.  The Clerk and The Treasurer were present.  There were 9 citizens present.  Mayor Oland opened the floor for public comment.  There being no public comment, the Mayor closed the Public Hearing to amend the Forest Conservation Ordinance at 7:32 p.m.

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, David Preusch, Tom Wilkinson and David Halperin were present.  Council Member Charles Bradsher was absent.  The Clerk and the Treasurer were present.  There were 9 citizens present.

The minutes of the regular meeting of February 7, 2006 were reviewed.  The minutes were approved as submitted.

Treasurer’s Report:  Reviewing the Profit and Loss Report for the month of January, 2006, a major source of income was $6,792 in income tax; and $15,982.00 in real property taxes.  Total income for the month of January, 2006 was $24,723.00.  Major expenses for January, 2006 were $ $1,072.00 in heating fuel; $1,140.00 in legal expenses and $2,568.00 in waste collection expenses.  Total expenses for the month of January, 2006 were $7,344.00 for a net income of $19,153.00.00.  Looking at the Balance Sheet for the month of  January, 2006, the fund balance for the general fund is $182,068.00; for the CIP account, the balance is $53,497.00; and the balance for the fixed assets fund is $384,904.00.  The total assets for the Town of Laytonsville for the month of January, 2006 are $620,468.00.    Council Member David Preusch made the motion to accept the Treasurer’s Report as submitted, subject to audit.  Council Member David Halperin seconded.  Unanimously approved.

Discussion/Action Items:

Town Elections:  Mayor Oland reported that the Town’s elections will be May 1, 2006 for the positions of two Council Members. Candidates must file, in writing, with the Clerk of the Town at the Town Hall, 21607 Laytonsville Road, by 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 10, 2006.  Candidates must be residents of the Town for a period of six months on election date.

 Mayor Oland reported that residents have to be registered on the Montgomery County voter registration list and that the Town Hall will maintain a supplemental voter registration list.  All citizens of the Town of the age of 18 years and upward and who are bona fide resident of the Town for not less than thirty (30) consecutive days before the election shall be qualified to vote.  If a resident is not registered on Montgomery County’s voter registration list, the resident may register on the Town’s Supplemental Voter Registration List by written request to:  Town of Laytonsville, P.O. Box 5158, Laytonsville, MD  20882.  No person shall be entitled to vote in a Town election unless he/she is duly registered to vote at least thirty (30) days prior to that election.

New Council Members will be sworn in at the regular Town Council Meeting on July 11, 2006. (Tuesday, July 4, 2006 is a holiday.)

Sharon Mennonite Bible Students:  The Reverend Lee Muumau and 15 students from the Sharon Mennonite Bible School visited the Town Hall on January 14, 2006 and cleaned the Town Hall from top to bottom as part of their community service program.

Montgomery County Council Hearing:  The Council hearing was held on January 19, 2006 to consider a Zoning Text Amendment to the Zoning Code to tighten the TDR (Transfer Development Rights) requirements and the ten year water and sewer plans to control multi-use septic systems.

Goshen Enterprises, Inc. 2006 Mowing Contract:  The Town has received a slightly increased cost projection for the 2006 mowing contract for various streets in the Town as well as the Town Hall grounds.

Gulf Park Estates, Mississippi:  Mayor Oland attended a luncheon on Saturday, January 28, 2006.  Montgomery County Fire Departments collected $18,450. This check as well as a check from the Town of Laytonsville in the amount of $2,800 was presented to individuals from the Gulf Park Estates Volunteer Fire Department in donation for the damage caused by the 2005 hurricanes.

Maryland Municipal League – Proclamation:  Mayor Oland submitted a Proclamation stating that the Town of Laytonsville would proclaim April, 2006 as Municipal Government Works Month.

State Highway Administration : Mayor Oland reported that the State Highway Administration had reported that the left turn arrow going into the closed landfill at Route 108 and Fieldcrest will be corrected;  also the SHA indicated that the builder/developer has agreed to construct a right, stacked turn lane at Route 108 and Muncaster to alleviate traffic congestion.

Action Items:

Forest Conservation & Reforestation Ordinance:  Council Member David Halperin made the motion to approve the amendment to the Forest Conservation Ordinance as presented.    Council Member Frank Bennett seconded.  Unanimously approved.

Goshen Enterprises, Inc. 2006 Mowing Contract:  Council Member David Preusch made the motion to approve the Goshen Enterprises mowing proposal for the 2006 year.  Council Member Frank Bennett seconded.  Unanimously approved.

Discussion/Action:

NV Homes – Home Styles – Rolling Ridge/Jones Farm:  Joel Winters, NV Homes, Sheree Wenger, Historic District Commission, Phyllis Sterling, Historic District Commission and Mike Bingley, ElmStreet Development presented various home styles for the Council’s consideration.  The Historic District Commission has been working with NV Homes to coordinate styles on Lots #1, 2, 3, 4 and 13 located within the Historic District.   It was proposed that the following styles were recommended:

It was noted that all lots located within the Historic District will be subject to the following restrictions:  No Palladian windows, decks, morning room extensions, bay windows, entertainment alcoves or three-car garages.

Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to approve the house styles on Lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 13 as submitted.  Council Member Tom Wilkinson seconded.  Unanimously approved.

Lot #5 is not located within the Historic District but has been reviewed by the Historic District Commission  to be considered for the Dartmouth model, Alternate A with three sides brick.  Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to approve the Dartmouth Model, Alternate A on Lot #5. The same restrictions:  no Palladian windows, decks, morning room extensions, bay windows, entertainment alcoves or three-car garages are included. Council Member Tom Wilkinson seconded.  Unanimously approved.

Mike Bingley, ElmStreet Development, requested that the Town consider engaging a consultant to continue the Forest Conservation review rather than allowing Maryland National Capital Park & Planning the oversight authority.  The Mayor and Council agreed by consensus that Mike Bingley could contact the Town’s consultant, David McKee, Benning & Associates, to pursue the Forest Conservation review.

Work Session:  It was agreed by consensus that the Work Session scheduled for February 21, 2006 will be cancelled.

Council:

Council Member David Halperin reported that a meeting will be held at the Town Hall on Saturday, February 11, 2006 to discuss a burglary on Mobley Farm drive that occurred on February 1, 2006. 

Council Member David Preusch reported that the possibility that Montgomery County is re-considering using the landfill on Route 108 for parking school buses.

Citizens:

Phyllis Sterling questioned the trash pick-up and recyclables on Monday, February 6.  Mayor Oland will call Montgomery County Sanitation & Recycling regarding mixing regular trash and recyclables.  Mrs. Sterling questioned whether the plastic barriers could be removed from the stormwater project on S. Montgomery Street.  It was agreed the barrier could be removed.

Town Planner, Stan Benning, discussed the FEMA request that the Town join a program that allows residents to apply for flood insurance.  There are no flood plains within the corporate limits of the Town of Laytonsville.  Council Member Dave Preusch is reviewing the material.

Council Member Tom Wilkinson made the motion to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.  Council Member David Halperin seconded.  Unanimously approved.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Cathryn D. Buit

Clerk

February 7, 2006

 

REMINDER:  RESIDENTS MUST BE REGISTERED EITHER ON MONTGOMERY COUNTY’S VOTER REGISTRATION RECORDS OR ON THE TOWN’S SUPPLEMENTAL VOTER REGISTRATION LIST TO VOTE ON MAY 1, 2006.