TOWN Of  IFTONSVILN  1892  Meeting Minutes ofTown Council on October 1, 2024  As reviewed, approved, and accepted by the Town Council on October 15, 2024 There being a quorum, Mayor Charles Hendricks called the regular meeting of the Town Council to order at 7:30 p.m. The meeting was held using video conferencing. Council Members Charles Bradsher, Tom Burke, Amy Koval, and Christina Pellegrino were present. Town Treasurer Angela Hoffman, Town Clerk Mary Burke, Assistant Clerks Joy Jackson and James Schneider, Planning Commission Chair Brendan Deyo, Historic District Commission (HDC) Chair. Jennifer  Sizemore, and approximately four residents or guests were also present.  Minutes:  The Town Council considered the draft minutes ofits September 3 meeting, which had been sent to the members. Council Member Koval requested an edit tol her comments regarding the ARPA funds in the Treasurer's Report. Council Member Burke made ai motion to accept the minutes with this edit. Council Member Koval seconded the motion. With the abstention of Council  Member Bradsher, the motion was unanimously approved.  Treasurer's Report reported.  Treasurer Hoffman reported from the Balance Sheet that as ofthe end of August all the town's assets together equal $3,609,428. The town accrued ai net income of$4,197: in August, she Council Member Pellegrino made ai motion to accept the Treasurer's Report subject to audit.  Council Member Bradsher seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.  Planning Commission Report  Chair Deyo reported that roughly two weeks ago the Planning Commission submitted to the Mayor and Council the report that was called for ini the moratorium ordinance. The Planning Commission decided that it needed an extension to get citizen input to guide the review oft the Comprehensive Plan and zoning ordinance. He added that Wallace Montgomery had created a draft of community survey questions that reflected. the work the Planning Commission had begun. After receiving comments from some local officials on that draft, he asked Wallace Montgomery to rewrite this survey relying on its own expertise. He also asked the firm for some ideas about the distribution and control oft the survey and discussed the possibly different approaches that the commission could make to: residents and non-resident business owners and other town stakeholders. The Planning Commission will meet tomorrow night, October 2, to discuss the revised draft oft the community survey that Wallace Montgomery has submitted.  www.aylonsyle-mdus  Post Office Box 5158 e Laytonsville, Maryland 20882 e Office 301-869-0042 Town Hall e 21607 Laytonsville Road e Laytonsville, Maryland  1    Mayor Hendricks mentioned that he had forwarded the latest Wallace Montgomery draft community survey to all Town Council members SO they could submit their comments to the Planning Commission. He also commended the commission for its well-written report calling for Chair Deyo stated that it's not just the community survey that requires public input. The drafting and review oft the Comprehensive Plan will require public engagement as well. We will use all  an extension of the moratorium, which he found convincing.  that input to support our recommendations regarding the zoning ordinance.  Historic District Report  Chair Sizemore reported that the HDC had approved a permit for Ernesto Figueroa of21524 Laytonsville Road to remove from his house a deteriorating chimney, which is not venting anything. She stated that he will not be replacing this chimney but will just cover the roofarea with additional shingles in its place. She then noted that the HDC still needs a: fifth member to  fill a vacant position. New Business  Introduction of an Ordinance Extending the Temporary Moratorium upon the Review and Consideration of Applications and Permits for Large Commercial and Residential Projects, and Mayor Hendricks stated that a moratorium ordinance was approved at the May 2024 Town Council meeting. The Planning Commission has submitted a request to extend this moratorium. Mayor Hendricks made a motion to introduce a new "Ordinance Extending the Temporary Moratorium upon the Review and Consideration of Applications and Permits for Large Commercial and Residential Projects." Council Member Burke seconded the motion. Mayor Hendricks suggested that a Public Hearing on this proposed ordinance be scheduled for October 15,2024. All Town Council Members agreed. Council Member Pellegrino made a motion to hold a Public Hearing on this new ordinance on October 15. Council Member Bradsher seconded the motion. Unanimously approved. Mayor Hendricks asked ifthe Public Hearing should be held inj person or via Zoom. Council Members Pellegrino and Burke stated Zoom is easiest for  Scheduling a Public Hearing  the public to give input.  Snow Removal Contract Proposal for 2024-2025  Mayor Hendricks reported that some prices have increased for this upcoming year. He had provided a spread sheet to each Council member showing last winter's expenses for snow and ice removal. He explained that the total spent was not quite $43,000. Oft that, nearly $35,000 was for sidewalks and roughly $8,000 for roads, and within the sidewalks the labor was roughly $17,600, equipment was roughly $1,800, and ice melt was roughly $15,600. These expenses Council Member Koval reported on her research on ice melt products, which she undertook after the Laytonsville Grove Homeowners Association noted that ice melt products may be causing spalling of the sidewalks. She noted that there are basically four components ofice: melt products, and different products have different ratios of these components. All combinations of these components seem to cause some spalling. It appears that the product currently being used (Emperor Melt). is the best choice for us. It may be good to look at how this product is applied rather than the components of the product itself. She stated that it also seems that we are paying  were well within budget.  2    more than we could be paying for this product. One local supplier charges $10.35 per bag if bought as a pallet. Thej price in the proposed contract is $50 per bag. We need to determine ifthis Mayor Hendricks stated that we are currently unable to store large quantities ofthis product, and itv would be good to have a contract in place by November 1, 2024. This may require a Town Town resident Eric Wenger stated that he feels $50 per bag is ai reasonable price from al business perspective. He explained that purchasing large amounts of the product, having it delivered, and then storing it contributes to its cost, which is on top of the cost ofusing it where it is needed. Planning Commission Chair Deyo stated that creating a competitive bidding process would result Assistant Clerk Jackson stated that we put this contract out for bids one year quite recently and Mr. Wenger stated that in our area oft the country, most companies want tol be paid for snow/ice removal even ifit is not needed. This snow removal business is very expensive. He agreed that a competitive bidding process does help lower costs, but it's difficult in this area to get bids on this Mayor Hendricks stated that he's looking favorably on this proposed contract. Council Member Pellegrino stated that she would like to ask some of our questions to. J. B. Kline, but it's al bit late in the season to really open this up for a lot ofnegotiation. Council Member Burke stated that he is willing to approve this proposed contract but does see the benefit of asking questions regarding the $50 per bag pricing. He questioned ift these inquiries should be made prior to approving the proposed contract. We may need some discussion with J. B. Kline regarding the Mayor Hendricks stated that there are two items to ask J.E B. Kline about: 1) the price per bag of ice melt, and 2) the application oft the product. He suggested ift the approval oft this proposed contract could take place in two weeks, he could ask questions to. J.E B. Kline. Council members felt that they could wait until an October 15 meeting to vote on approving this proposed contract. Mayor Hendricks explained the need to repair the chimneys at Town Hall and to do some repointing oft the stone foundation within the basement. The external portions of the chimneys above Town Hall's roofr require work as well. He stated that this work is appropriate maintenance to. keep the building in good shape. The external work will require al historic district work permit. MCP Chimney and Masonry submitted a contract proposal to make these repairs Council Member Koval stated that this is an excellent use of ARPA funds to prevent possible future damage. Council Member Pellegrino made a motion to approve the chimney repair contract as submitted. Council Member Koval seconded the motion. Unanimously approved. Council Member Pellegrino reported that the picnic was successful. The ponies were late but stayed two hours as promised. The band's volume was monitored, and the band closed down a bit early due tol lightning being reported five miles away. She was happy with the one hour earlier starting time this year. Some special guests attended without RSVPs, and they were offered time to speak ift they wished. One hundred ninety-five raffle tickets were given out, but  $50 per bag fee includes the storage and application oft the product. Council meeting immediately following the October 15 Public Hearing.  in lower prices being proposed.  only received two proposals, J. B. Kline being one of them.  service.  application oft this ice melt product as well.  Town Hall Chimney Repair Contract Proposal  for $5,134.55.  2024 Picnic Report  3    this does not accurately reflect the number ofattendees. It's hard to get a good count, but an unofficial head count around 6:00 p.m. indicated that around 325 to 350 attendees were then Announcement of Community Walk and Update on Walkable Community Map  present.  Parks and Trails Task Force Chair. Joy Jackson reported that the Parks and Trails Task Force has partnered with the Laytonsville Historical Center's Wayside Interpretive Signs Committee to hold a Laytonsville Community Walk on October 191 beginning at 3:00 p.m. at' Town Hall. There will be a brief presentation and acknowledgments from the front porch, after which those in attendance can go to Miller Park and or any oft the wayside sign locations. Members of the Parks and Trails Task Force will be at Miller Park and representatives of the Historical Wayside Signs Committee will be at each sign location to provide additional information and answer questions. Chair. Jackson also reported that the Laytonsville Walkable Community Map has been completed. Today we: received all the files that people were interested in. We simply need the software to use them. A printed version of the map will be available at Town Hall and will be distributed at the Laytonsville Community Walk. Part of the reason we chose the date, October 19, was because the Laytonsville Fire Department is teaming up with the Lions Club to have an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner, which runs from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Our event starts at 3:00 p.m., sO people can do ai nice walking tour and still have plenty oftime tol have some spaghetti at the Mayor Hendricks commented that Miller Park has been transformed from two once-vacant lots to a very attractive park. He is looking forward to celebrating both that transformation and the new wayside signs that describe aspects of the town'sl history. He believes the Community Walk The date for the next meeting of the Mayor and Council was set for October 15, 2024, after the  We hope you all can attend as well.  Fire Department.  will also be a good opportunity to distribute the Walkable Community Map.  Public Hearing on the moratorium extension.  Resident's Forum  Former Mayor Jim Ruspi stated that snow: removal from sidewalks was started many years ago when there were very few sidewalks within the Town ofLaytonsville and clearing them was not very expensive. He asked ift the Mayor and Council want to continue to clear ice and snow from  sidewalks. Adjournment  Council Member Pellegrino made a motion to adjourn at 8:59 p.m. Council Member Burke  seconded the motion. Unanimously approved.  Respectfully submitted, JamésySchneider, Assistant Clerk R7 Town ofLaytonsville  4