The Town of GLEN ECHO Chartered 1904 ownnal@glenecno.org  Town Hall - 6106 Harvard Avenue - Glen Echo . Maryland 20812 (301)320-4041  TOWN COUNCIL MEETING: MINUTES February 14, 2022 Held Virtually Via Zoom  CALLTOORDER: MAYOR DIA COSTELIO.701PM  PRESENT Mayor: Dia Costello.  Councilmembers: (CM) Mona Kishore, Dan Spealman, Matt Stiglitz, and. Julia Wilson.  Town Manager: (TM) Beth Stickler.  Residents: Emily Parsons (The Echo), Andy Malmgren (Wellesley Circle), Holly Shimizu (Bryn Mawr).  OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILTOI HEAR RESIDENTS' COMMENTS: an opportunity to take comments from thei residents. There were no comments. COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: ACTIONONI JANUARY 10,2022 MEETING Minutes oft the. January 10, 2022 Council meeting were approved as amended. Motion to Approve Minutes: CM Kishore; 2nd CM Wilson. Approved 4-0. GLEN ECHOENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEBUPDATE:Shimizu  Mayor Costello acknowledged the passing ofl long time resident Rex Rhein on December 31, 2021. She then offered  Holly Shimizu, chair of the Glen Echo Environmental Committee (GEEC), gave. an update on the Chesapeake Bay" Trust grant. A progress report was submitted February Ist to the Chesapeake Bay Trust. After the GEEC gets the next version of the Greening Urban conceptual plan, she will bring it to the Council. She asked that the Council consider setting aside $70,000 ofthe American Rescue Plan funds to implement two Greening Urban recommendations: a,raingarden at Town Hall ($20,000) and a swale on the right of way between Harvard and Bryn Mawr Aves ($50,000). The Chesapeake Bay Trust Green Streets application deadline is March 3, which may not be achievable this year. Mayor Costello will ask residents who have grant writing experience to volunteer for future grant applications. Mayor Costello gave testimony to thel Maryland House ofl Delegates on funding for Sustainable Maryland. CM Kishore will work with Chair Shimizu on the tree ordinance revisions for the March meeting.  IRISH INMPABKINGIOTIFASE: Costello  Mayor Costello and TM: Stickler met with Irish Inn Proprietor Christy Hughes and thel Executive Director of the Glen Echo Park, Katey Boerner. Mr Hughes agrees with the change from one, year to six months notice to cancel the parking lot lease. He would like the right of first refusal to buy the parking lot area ifthe town decides to sell the land. It was suggested that Mayor Costello ask Glen Echo resident Tom Helfhis thoughts as hei is a real estate  attorney. 1    Regarding the parkingi issues at the Tulane/Oberlin end ofTown, Mr Hughes and Ms Boerner described the lack of clear boundaries tot thej parking area. They agreed with putting up "Business Parking Only- - Nol Park Parking" signs and adding striping tot the streets to show no parking areas. TM Stickler will get a quote for the signs and striping. She will also explore making those streets one way. The Town will ask how long Mr Hughes will continue using  part of his parking lot for outdoor dining.  CIP/AMERICANJ RISCUEPLANUPDATE Spealman  The Council agreed that the Town should take the standard allowance of revenue loss for the entire amount of the ARPA funds. The funds can then be used for government services and this will eliminate a lot of reporting CM Spealman noted that giving grants from the funds dramatically increases the administration oft the funds and, based on the guidance provided experts, he did not recommend using it for grants to local non-profits or businesses. This recommendation was agnostic on whether the town should choose to give grants and to whom; it was only limited to where the funds for such grants should come from. CM Spealman recommended that ift the Town decides to give grants, its should use its own unrestricted funds to avoid the extra reporting requirements that come with ARPA funding. The Council reviewed the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and noted priorities are street name signs, stormwater, and starting on repaving streets that Joe Toomey (Town Engineer) had recommended as priority including University, Harvard, and Bryn Mawr. The elevator is not a priority as it is not used very often and still has 5-15 years until replacement ist required. The Council will continue this conversation in the budget work session March 7  requirements.  and the Council Meeting March 14. The CIP will be kept upt to date with each budget cycle.  TOWNAUDITOR CONTRACT  The Town posted an RFP for an auditor, as we ended the three-year contract with LSWG after the FY21 audit. TM Stickler sent thel RFP to four firms as well: LSWG, Helen Nelson CPA, Dennis. Alexander CPA, and ACPA Firm.  Applicants: LSWG LSWG Bid: FY22$ $7,500 FY23$7,750 FY24$8,000  Previous Auditing Costs: FY21: $7,500(LSWG)  2    FY20: $7,250(LSWG) FY19: $7,000(LSWG)  FY18: $11,919 (Dennis Alexander)  TM Stickler spoke with the firm and checked references. LSWG has performed the' Town audits for the past three fiscal years (FYs 19-21). TM Stickler has found them very professional and thorough working with them both at the Town of  Glen Echo and Village of Martin's Additions.  TM Stickler and Mayor Costello recommended the Council approve the contract with LSWG. Motion to Approve the Contract with LSWG: CM Kishore; 2nd CM Stiglitz. Approved 4-0. FINANCIALREPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY (copyattached).TM: Stickler The month of January was an average month int terms of revenue and expenses.  The Town received:  Income tax of $486, now at 53% ofb budget, Highway User Revenue of $2,746, now at: 35% of budget. Admissions and Amusement Tax Revenue of$509, now at 216% of budget. Property Taxes $49,707, now at 92% ofbudget. Cable Franchise $687, now at 44% of budget.  Expenses:  Bolt Legal expense was $744 for December broken out by categories as: follows: 29% 4 Vassar hearing; 46% on  Irish Inn Lease; 8% benefits program;.  Joseph E. Toomey Associates: There was no bill forl December;  Hughes Landscaping $3,900 for leaf removal (total of $5,850 for season; budgeted $13,650);  Rolling Acres Landscaping $13,168 for snow services (budget is $25,000). Motion to Approve the Financial Report: CM Spealman; 2nd CM Wilson. Approved 4-0.  3    OPERATIONS REPORT: Infrastructure: Administrative: Social: TM Stickler  Infrastructure:  Fence at Town Hall: Thel Key Sanitation recycling truck hit the bollard/fence at the exit to the parking lot on February 1. Pepco Vegetation Cutback: Pepco contacted Town Hall about the preventativei maintenance work in regards to their vegetation management. TM Stickler will discuss the work with them and include CM: Kishore and CM Wilson in the  Key Sanitation owner Kenny Shumaker met with TM Stickler and will: fix the fence.  process.  Water Main Break: On. January 25, there was a water main break in the parking lot ini front oft thel Irish Inn. WSSC fixed it WMATA Trestle Bridge Demolition: Mayor Costellol has reached out to. Jim Ashe - there is no date for starting this  and patched the lot; a permanent patch will bei installed in 30-45 days.  demolition. Social:  Winterlude: The Livable Town Committee hosted Winterlude February 5 at 5:30pm. It included luminaries ($2 apiece to benefit Greentree Family Shelter), fire pits and baked potatoes, hot dogs and marshmallows. The Town raised $1000 for  the Shelter. The volunteers were great with setting up the luminaries and the clean up.  Administrative:  Budget Work Session: March 7at 7pm via Zoom.  County and Municipal Street Lighting Investment Act: Del. Carr introduced al bill streamlining thej process by which municipalities can purchase their streetlights. Is enabling legislation intended to streamline the process for local governments considering acquiring utility-owned overhead street lights and assuming ownership and maintenance. Allows local governments that have acquired utility-owned lights to select a maintenance provider oft their choice and to partner with the private sector to upgrade lights to a style and technology of their choice if desired. MML and local municipalities Letter on Expedited Bill 2-22 Tax Duplication: Thel Mayor sent a letter supporting Expedited Bill 2-22 on Montgomery County Municipal Revenue Program (tax duplication). The Government Operations and Fiscal Policy Committee oft the Passing out free COVID rapid test kits and masks: Onl February 3, the' Town passed out more free rapid COVID tests received from the County, along with N-95 masks. The Town has more kits and masks for residents.  including Glen Echo are submitting letters/testimony ins support ofthe bill.  County Council held a work session on amendments to the bill Thursday, February 10.  Town Hall Rental: There have been few rentals ofTown Hall recently due to the continuation oft the Covid 19 pandemic.  4    Building Updates & Other Permits:  10 Vassar: Fence  OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCILTO HEAR RESIDENTS' COMMENTS: March 7 work session and March 14 council meeting will be held via Zoom.  Mayor Costello announced a closing opportunity for comments by the residents. No residents made comments. The  ADJOURNMENT  Motion to adjourn: CM Stiglitz 2nd CM Wilson. Alli ini favor. Meeting Adjourned 8:35 pm  Minutes Prepared by: Beth Stickler, Town Manager  Approved: Mayor, Dia Costello  Date: 358082  Dibtab  5