Meeting
minutes of Town Council on October 7, 2008
As
reviewed, approved, and accepted by the Town Council on November 4, 2008
Mayor Oland called the regular Town Council meeting to
order at 7:32 p.m. Council Members, Frank Bennett, and David
Preusch were present. The Clerk and the Treasurer were present. There were five citizens present.
The
minutes of the regular Town Council Meeting on September 2, 2008 were approved
as submitted.
Treasurer’s Report: The Treasurer reviewed the Profit and Loss Report
for the month of September, 2008: total income for the month of September was $16,965.00.
Major expenses for September, 2008 were
$2,734.00 for Waste Collection; Payroll in the amount of $3,821.00 and Legal in
the amount of $3,089.00. Total net
income for the month of September, 2008 was -$1,720.00. Looking at the Balance Sheet for the month
of September, 2008, the fund balance for the general fund is $298,601; for the
CIP account, the balance is $103,007.00 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 September, 2008 is $785,546.00
Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to
approve the Treasurer’s Report for the month of September, 2008 subject to
audit. Council Member David Preusch
seconded. Unanimously approved.
Discussion/Action Items:
Town Picnic: Mayor Oland
reported that the Town Picnic was held on September 20, 2008 and approximately
300 people attended.
Work Session – October 21,
2008: The Mayor and Council will conduct a Work Session on October 21,
2008.
Local Government Insurance
Trust – Hazard Evaluation Survey: A survey was conducted by LGIT on September
9. Mrs. Wilkinson has been working on a
draft for the Town’s Personnel Policy.
A draft Town Safety and Health Policy was reviewed.. Drafts of the policies were
distributed. Mayor Oland requested that
the Council review.
A copy of LGIT’s survey was
distributed to Council Members. One
aspect recommended by LGIT was that the Council take a more active role in the
safety conditions of the Town.
LGIT also recommended that
the two outbuildings on the Town property should be included in the policy
coverage. The outbuildings were
included in the Town Hall coverage as of September 9, 2008.
Letter to Mayor and
Council from Board of Appeals to clarify Definition of Warehouses and Storage
Buildings: During the last Board of Appeals Work Session, it was
brought up that the Town Zoning Code does not specifically address self-storage
units. The letter submitted by the
Board of Appeals to the Mayor and Council requested that the Mayor and Council
review these definitions. Mayor Oland
pointed out that the original Town Zoning Code was adopted in 1959. Mayor Oland said that through Text
Amendments the Mayor and Council could eliminate, define or discuss the
definitions at a Work Session or do nothing.
Mayor Oland noted that in July of 2007, he has asked the Citizens
Advisory Board to look at all of the Permitted Uses and Special Exception Uses
in all of the Town’s zones. Council
Member David Preusch noted that the Town attorney did not make a strong
recommendation one way or the other in his Memorandum to the Town Council
Council Member Frank Bennett
noted that Montgomery County has a separate category and that the Town should
follow their procedure (eliminate warehouses from the Commercial and Commercial
Historic Zone). Mayor Oland noted that
Montgomery County also has an Industrial Zone.
It was discussed that the Town attorney should define what the Mayor and
Council should consider as to the definition of warehouses, storage buildings
and self-storage buildings and discuss further at the Work Session on October
21.
Appoint Brad Taulbee as
Assistant Treasurer: Mayor Oland introduced Brad Taulbee. Mayor Oland recommended that Brad be
appointed Assistant Treasurer with a salary of $4,500 per year with a six month
review.
Miller Lots – Lots 1 and
2, Block C, Len Mar Park: Mayor Oland reported that the Town had made an offer
to the Millers and had not received a response.
Permitted and Special Exception
Uses – C and CH Zones: Mayor Oland reported that Brendan Deyo has
been working on the request to review Permitted and Special Exception Uses in
the C and CH Zones.
Check Signing Authority –
Cathryn Buit: Mayor Oland recommended that Cathryn Buit be
approved for check signing authority.
Town Hall Tree Removal
Quotes: Mayor Oland submitted three quotes for Council review. The quotes were from C&L Tree Service,
Jamison Tree Service and The Care of Trees.
Eagle Scout Project: Mayor Oland
asked that any suggestions to identify an Eagle Scout project for the Town be
submitted to the Town Hall, (301) 869-0042.
Sheree Wenger – Chair,
Historic District Commission: Mrs. Wenger discussed the progress of the
University of Maryland graduate student program. The students met at the Town Hall on September 24 to begin their
research. A presentation of their
research will be made at the December Mayor and Council meeting at St. Paul’s
United Methodist Church. Mrs. Wenger
has also applied for a grant for matching funds from Montgomery Preservation,
Inc. in Rockville. Mrs. Wenger will
send a formal invitation to those residents involved.
Council Member Charles
Bradsher: Mayor Oland noted that Charles
Bradsher has been mobilized
for the third time and will be going to Afghanistan. Mayor Oland noted that when the Town adopted the Charter three
years ago, under section 406 (b) vacancies, appointments of a temporary Council
Member was allowed. Kris
Bradsher is willing to assume
the role of Council Member is her husband’s absence.
Closed Executive Session: Mayor Oland reported that the Mayor and
Council conducted a Closed Session. In
compliance with the Open Meetings Act Sec. 10-508,
the following information is submitted regarding the Closed Session of the
Mayor and Council on September 2, 2008:
Statement of Time, Place and
Purpose of Closed Session:
1.Closed Session was held on September 2, 2008 at 8:30
p.m. at the Town Hall, 21607 Laytonsville Road, following the regular monthly
meeting of the Town Council to discuss the negotiation of a real estate
transaction. Present: Mayor Oland, Council Members: Bennett, Bradsher and Preusch. Council Member-Elect Jim Ruspi. The Clerk was present.
2. At regular monthly meeting of the Town Council on
September 2, 2008 Mayor Oland made the motion that the Mayor and Council go
into a Closed Session at the conclusion of the regular monthly meeting on
September 2, 2008. Council Member Frank
Bennett seconded.
3.Record of Vote to Close Session:
Bennett Yes Preusch Yes
Oland Yes Bradsher Yes
Council Member Frank Bennett
made the motion to adjourn the Closed Session at 9:10 p.m. Council Member Charles Bradsher
seconded. Unanimously approved.
Action:
Letter to Mayor and Council from Board of Appeals to
clarify Definition of Warehouses and Storage Buildings: Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to
request that the Town Counsel more fully define the definition of warehouses,
storage buildings and self-storage buildings.
Council Member David Preusch seconded.
Unanimously approved.
Appoint Brad Taulbee as Assistant Treasurer: Mayor Oland
made the motion to appoint Brad Taulbee as Assistant Treasurer for the Town of
Laytonsville with an annual salary of $4,500.00 and a six month review. Council Member Frank Bennett seconded. Unanimously
approved.
Check Signing Authority – Cathryn Buit: Mayor Oland
made the motion to approve Cathryn Buit for check signing authority for the
Town of Laytonsville. Council Member
David Preusch seconded. Unanimously approved.
Town Hall Tree Removal Quotes: Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to
accept Jamison Tree Service’s quote for the removal of seven trees on the Town
Hall property. Council Member David
Preusch seconded. Unanimously approved.
Council Member Charles Bradsher – Deployment:
Mayor Oland made the motion to appoint Kris Bradsher as Temporary
Council Member while Charles is on military assignment. Council Member Frank Bennett seconded. Unanimously
approved.
Council:
Citizens:
Josh Pomeroy stated that the Town’s Zoning Code should
be updated; however, the current Board of Appeals Special Exception application
should be considered under the current Zoning Ordinance.
Josh Pomeroy would also like to recommend that the two
trees (on Pomeroy and Bradsher lots) be saved from the WSSC recommendation that
the trees be removed. Mayor Oland
requested that Josh prepared a draft of a statement to WSSC.
Jill Ruspi noted that some smaller towns have begun
using recyclable materials and the Town of Laytonsville might consider using
those materials in their sidewalks.
Phyllis Sterling noted her support for the trees in
Pomeroy and Bradsher’s yards.
Mrs. Sterling also noted that the Town should be more
pro-active regarding the inadequacies in the Zoning Ordinance; recommended recycling
bins at the Town picnic; turning the volume of the music down at the Town
picnic.
Mayor Oland administered the Oaths of Office to Brad
Taulbee, Assistant Treasurer and Kris Bradsher, Temporary Council Member.
Council Member Frank Bennett made the motion to
adjourn the regular meeting at 8:37p.m. Council David Preusch seconded.
Unanimously approved.
Respectfully submitted,
Cathryn D. Buit
Clerk
October
7, 2008
NOTE: NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH TRAINING SESSION: DISTRICT #5 IS CONDUCTING A DISTRICT WIDE
NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH TRAINING SESSION ON THURSDAY, 11-13-08 AT 7:00 P.M. AT THE
UPCOUNTY CENTER (12900 Middlebrook Rd., Suite 1000, Germantown, MD). ALL
ARE INVITED.
NOTE: RESIDENTS MAY SUBMIT A PEPCO LIGHT OUTAGE
(WOODEN POLES) AT PEPCO.COM. WILL
REQUIRE STREET ADDRESS AND POLE NUMBER.