Meeting
minutes of Town Council Meeting on April 3, 2007
As
reviewed, approved, and accepted by the Town Council on May 1, 2007
The regular meeting of the Mayor and Town Council was
called to order by Mayor Oland at 7:32 p.m. The Mayor, Council Members
Frank Bennett, Charles Bradsher, and Tom Wilkinson were present. Council
Member David Preusch was absent. The
Clerk and the Treasurer were present. There were 10 citizens present.
The minutes of the regular Town Council Meeting on
March 6, 2007; the Public Hearing minutes of March 6, 2007 to consider the
proposed 2007-2008 budget; and the Public Hearing minutes of March 6, 2007 to
consider a waiver of the current height and footprint requirements for 21404
Laytonsville Road were approved as submitted.
Treasurer’s Report: Reviewing the Profit and Loss Report for the month of March,
2007 total income for the month of March, 2007 was $12,887.00 that includes $9,096.00
in property taxes and income tax in the amount of $891.00. Major expenses
for March, 2007 were $2,568.00 for waste management; $1,083.00 in legal
expenses; snow removal in the amount of $1,448.00 and $1,027.00 in heating
expenses. Total net income for the month of March, 2007 were $3,485.00. Looking
at the Balance Sheet for the month of March, 2007, the fund balance for the
general fund is $268,946.00; for the CIP account, the balance is $80,771.00 and
the balance for the fixed assets fund is $383,938.00. The total fund
balance for the Town of Laytonsville for the month of March, 2007 are $733,655.00.
Council Member Tom Wilkinson made the motion to
approve the Treasurer’s Report subject to audit. Council Member Frank Bennett seconded the motion. Unanimously
approved.
Discussion/Action Items:
Resolution to Establish Compensation for Employees of
the Town: A Resolution to establish an 8% increase for the four
part-time Town employees was discussed.
Appoint Election Judges: Election Judges for the
May 7, 2007 election were discussed at the March regular Town Council
Meeting. Barbara White, Dottie Tessier,
Michele Shortley and Ruth Bennett;
Alternate Judges to be re-appointed:
Jill Ruspi and Esther Whipp.
Dale Johnson – 6911 Howard Street: Mayor Oland
introduced Dale Johnson, owner of 6911 Howard Street and reported that at the
March, 2007 regular Town Council meeting it was moved, seconded and unanimously
approved that a letter be written to the owner of this property that legal
counsel contact the property owner that the current usage is not in compliance
with approved uses in the Residential Zone.
Mr. Johnson indicated that at the March Board of
Appeals meeting, the Special Exception for the property was abandoned. The building structure, he felt, reverted to
its original use of rental units and storage space. No business is being run from the structure. Mr. Johnson distributed copies of documents
dating to 1956 and notarized letters (3) that indicated that the building was
originally used for storage
Mayor Oland reported that the building was being used
for storage before 1959 and, therefore, should be grandfathered in the Zoning
Ordinance.
Route 108 Sidewalk – State Highway Administration: Mayor Oland
reported that the Town has been trying for three years to have the State
complete the .2 miles of sidewalk at the terminus of the Stadler sidewalk on
Route 108. The SHA has notified the
Town that this request is in the State’s inventory.
Rolling Ridge Update: Mike Bingley,
ElmStreet Development submitted a letter dated April 3, 2007 indicating:
Other items discussed:
Mayor Oland stated that another update for Rolling
Ridge subdivision will be on the May agenda.
Sheree Wenger, Chair of the Historic District
Commission, requested that ElmStreet provide the HDC with a copy of the
Bucher/Borges report as soon as it is received and the HDC will then report to
the Mayor and Council.
Town Parade – May 19, 2007: Mayor Oland
reminded the meeting that the Town Parade will be held on May 19, 2007. Sponsors are: Town of Laytonsville, Laytonsville Lions Club, Laytonsville
Volunteer Fire Department and the Laytonsville Elementary School PTA.
Jones Farm – Montgomery County Planning Department: A Public
Hearing will be held on 4-5-07 for one lot for one family detached dwelling
unit on the north side of Brink Road, approximately 2,140 feet west of
Laytonsville Road (outside of the Town corporate limits)
Town Hall Pavilion: Montgomery County Department
of Permitting Services has requested additional items (engineering site plan
for pad) and this information has been requested by Mayor Oland.
Town Logo Contest: Five submissions have been
received and the judges will count ballots on April 6. The winner will be notified by April 9.
Fulks South:
Mayor Oland reported that the Fulks South Forest Conservation inventory and
Forest Conservation Plan has been approved by the Town’s consultant.
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission: On 4-2-07
Mayor Oland met with the WSSC, Tom Natelli and Allen Soukup (Montgomery County)
to discuss public water being delivered to the Town. The water tower is now
scheduled to be installed in January, 2009.
Work Session – April 17, 2007: The Work
Session for April 17, 2007 will be held to discuss Natelli Communities (Fulks
South development) round-about at Warfield Road and Route 108.
Action Items:
Appoint Election Judges: Council Member Tom
Wilkinson made the motion to appoint
Barbara White, Dottie Tessier, Michele Shortly and Ruth Bennett as
Election Judges to serve for one year;
and Alternate Judges Jill Ruspi
and Esther Whipp to be appointed for one year.
Council Member Charles Bradsher seconded. Unanimously approved.
Resolution to Establish Compensation for Employees of
the Town: Council Member Tom Wilkinson made the motion to
establish an 8% increase for the four part-time Town employees. Council Member Frank Bennett seconded. Unanimously
approved.
Motion to contact Legal Counsel to contact the property
owner of 6911 Howard Street: Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion
to rescind the motion to contact Legal Counsel to contact the property owner of
6911 Howard Street that the current usage is not in compliance with approved
uses in the Residential Zone as voted upon at the March 6, 2007 regular Town
Council meeting. Council Member Tom
Wilkinson seconded. Unanimously approved.
Council:
Citizens:
Sheree Wenger reported that a hole has appeared in the
asphalt of the road at the corner of Maple Knoll and Route 108. Mayor Oland will contact Goshen Enterprises
to repair.
Phyllis Sterling questioned the applicability of a
grandfathered property and whether that provision applied to the owner or the
property. Mrs. Sterling commented that
a residential neighborhood can be seriously impacted, especially from a health
and safety aspect from such provisions.
Mrs. Sterling reported that the Fifth Police District
will sponsor a National Night Out on August 7, 2007.
Mr. Richard Kirby presented his thoughts on the
options for the re-development of the 1,400 square foot property located on the
corner of Sundown Road and Route 108. Mayor Oland reported that all commercial
business has been planned (through the Comprehensive Plan) for the south part
of the Town. A commercial zone use
would therefore require an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan and that can
only be achieved if the Comprehensive Plan was in error originally. Therefore, the prospect of changing the
zoning for this property was not high.
Council Member Tom Wilkinson made the motion to
adjourn at 9:00 p.m. Council Frank Bennett seconded. Unanimously
approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathryn D. Buit
Clerk
April 3, 2007
NOTE: THE TOWN HALL HAS BEEN APPROVED FOR A
CONVERSION FROM OIL HEAT TO NATURAL GAS.
UNUSED FUEL OIL MAY BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE. PLEASE CONTACT CATHY BUIT (301) 869-0042.
NOTE: YARD WASTE WILL BE PICKED UP AT THE CURB
ONCE A WEEK ON MONDAYS FOR THE PERIOD MAY THROUGH NOVEMBER. ITEMS SHALL BE PLACED IN MARKED CONTAINERS
OR BROWN BIODEGRADBLE PAPER BAGS (NO PLASTIC BAGS).