The Town of  GLEN ECHO Chartered 1904 ownnai@genecno.org  Town Hall - 6106 Harvard Avenue - Glen Echo - Maryland 20812 - (301)320-4041  TOWN COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES January 9,2023 Held Virtually Via Zoom  CALLTOORDER: MAYOR DIA COSTELLO.8:01P PM  PRESENT Mayor: Dia Costello.  Councilmembers: (CM) Mona Kishore, Dan Spealman, Matt Stiglitz, and Julia Wilson. Residents: Aaron Hirsch (University), Steve Matney (Wellesley), Emily Parsons (The Echo). OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL TO HEAR RESIDENTS' COMMENTS:  Town Manager: (TM) Beth Stickler.  Guests: Ha-Yeon Jeon (Del. Korman representative).  Mayor Costello offered an opportunity to take comments from the residents. Residents Steve Matney and. Aaron Hirsch raised the issue oft the pedestrian crosswalk at the light atl MacArthurOberinemtranse to the Clara Barton Parkway. The signal is only 30 seconds and cars turning onto the Parkway do not look. Iti is also al lengthy crosswalk and thre is concern that 30 seconds is not long enough time for pedestrians or bikers to cross. Steve Matney will write up concerns and develop proposed solutions and report at thei next Council meeting. Afterreviewing, Mayor  Costello can bring the proposal to the state Department ofTransportation.  MLKDAYPLANS Wilson  The Livable Town Committee plans a service project for Martin Luther King. Jr Day. They will prepare 200 lunches for a men's shelter in Gaithersburg. A flier was passed out to residents for donations and volunteers. They collected The Livable Town Committee's: annual Winterlude isi now scheduled for March 4. Contributions will be turned into donations for Greentree Shelter. This year the Committee will usel LED Votives rather than candles previously used.  over $600.  TOWNHALL UPGRADES: Costello  1    Mayor Costello suggested using American Rescue Plan Act funds to upgrade Town Hail and asked the Council for input. Upgrades could include: removing pegboard; painting; new counters; tile; stair risers; picture rails; light fixtures. She will get an initial quote for the next Council meeting before going outt to bid. The Council agreed with investigating the cost. Aaron Hirsch suggested installing new windows for better efficiency, Mayor Costello said the energy bills are not tool high sO this is not a priority. The elevator would cost $250,000 to replace and is only used a  few times ay year sO is not aj priority. The upgrades could happen in August.  WMATA TRESTLE BRIDGE DEMOLITION: Costello  Mayor Costello will talk to NPS about the status of their trestle bridge demolition review. Steve Matney thought that the demolition was not going tol happen anymore, and says residents are still opposed to the demolition. Mayor  Costello emails WMATA monthly about the status.  APPROVAL OF DRAIN BOX CLEAN OUT EXPENSE: Costello  The' Town got quotes to clean out the drain boxes. The Council agreed tol have Rolling Acres Landscaping clean them out  for $2,875. Maple Hilll Landscaping quoted $4,600.  Motion to Approve the Drain Box Clean Out by Rolling Acres: CM Wilson; 2nd CM Kishore. Approved 4-0.  BUDGET. AMENDMENT Budget Amendment Expenses:  20.1 Salary: increase by $1,600 to cover the salary increase for the remainder ofFY23 (January through June).  Motion to Approve the Budget Amendment: CM Kishore; 2nd CM Wilson. Approved 4-0.  BUDGET WORK SESSION - SCHEDULE: Costello  The Mayor will send the Council the proposed FY24 budget by February 24. The work session will take place March 6at' 7:30pm. This is a separate meeting. Residents are welcome to attend but at a work session, are not invited to  comment. Resident input will be taken at the budget hearing.  Budget Schedule:  Budget Development Work Session 7:301 PM on Monday March 6th  FY 2024 Budget Ordinance and Tax Resolution Introduction and Council Meeting: Monday March 13,  2023,8PM  2    FY 2024 Budget Hearing and Council Meeting: Monday April 10, 2023, 81 PM (Residents provide input). FY 2024. Action on Budget Ordinance and' Tax Resolution and Council Meeting: Monday May 8, 2023, 8  PM (note election is May 1) ICEON WELLESLEY CIRCLE:  A pipe drains onto Wellesley Circle and causes icing when it is cold. There is a salt bin that residents can use to  spread salt over the ice. Mayor Costello will speak tot the resident that owns the pipe. FINANCIAL REPORTI FOR THE MONTHOFI DECEMBER:. TM Stickler The month of December was a quiet month int terms of revenue and expenses.  Revenue:  The Town received $1,268 inj property taxes, currently at 60% ofbudget.  Expenses:  Bolt Legal Expense was $806 for November: 11%1 for shed setback and 88% small cell including attending  Council Meeting.  Maple Hill: $10,793 for mowing and leafremoval.  Rolling Acres: $1,095 for filling salt buckets and salting 12/23/22.  Motion to Approve the Financial Report: CM Wilson; 2nd CM Spealman. Approved 4-0. OPERATIONS REPORT: Social; Infrastructure: Administrative: TM Stickler  Infrastructure: February. 3  Street Signs: Depending on the weather Shannon Baum will install signs starting at the end of Januarybeginning of    Raya's Garden: The bench will arrive Thursday January 12.. It was paid for by Raya's estate.  Columbia Ave: The concrete curb installation at Yale and Columbia was completed in December. The asphalt at Harvard Crosswalk at Bannockburn and MacArthur Blvd: Montgomery County Department ofTransportation has received the Town's request fora review of lighting and striping at this crosswalk. The Town should hear their report by February.  and Columbia will be scheduled in the spring when asphalt plants are open and iti is warm enough.  Town Manager Stickler will reach out in early February.  Administrative:  New Covid Rapid Tests will arrive this week from the County. This year's election for two Council Members will be on May 1.  Chesapeake Bay" Trust Progress Report: The Town will submit its second progress report to the Trust by February 1. The next steps willl be to develop an RFP for installing the rain garden and bioswale then putting together the grant application to the' Trust due March 8. The Town will need to apply for a permit from County DPS for using the County storm drain at the bioswale site. Coastal Resources Inc. may be able to help with the RFP. TM Stickler will ask for a quote. Landscaping: The Town will develop and post RFPS for landscaping this month. There will be multiple RFPS as the Town will hire separate contractors fori its various landscaping needs. The Town is looking into. hiring a separate gardening firm for thel Nancy Long Garden (perhaps parks and' Town Hall and eventually the rain garden and swale). We Investment Update: The Council agreed at thel December 12, 2022 Council Meeting to transfer 50% of the funds from the PNC Money Market Account to thel MLGIP for better rates. TM Stickler transferred $489,810 on 12/30/22 from PNC Money Market to MLGIP. Thel MLGIP Rate is currently 4.21% (January 4, 2023). The Council authorized TM Stickler to move as much funds to the MLGIP as long as there is enough int the checking and money market to cover expenses. TM  would not need the gardener every month, only a few times during spring through fall.  Stickler will check how many transfers can be made to/from the MLGIP each month.  Clara Barton House: The' Town submitted comments to NPS January 9. It was sent to all the consulting parties and NPS. The comments will also go to county, state and federal representatives. Lance and Peter (Town Engineers) reviewed the 41 Wellesley BOA Variance Decision: the resident's requested shed location was approved by County Board of Appeals.  plans and gave input.  Once she gets a County Permit, she will need to apply with the Town.  COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES: ACTION ON DECEMBER 12, 2022MEETING  4    Minutes oft the December 12, 2022 Council meeting were approved as amended. Motion to Approve Minutes: CM Spealman; 2nd CM' Wilson. Approved 4-0.  PLANNING FOR FEBRUARY 13 MEETING: Costello  The Council discussed the February 13, 2023 Meeting. It will start at 8:00 PM and bel held upstairs in' Town Hall. The  Council will continue to meet upstairs in Town Hall for the first few months of2023. OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNCIL1 TO] HEAR RESIDENTS' COMMENTS:  Mayor Costello announced a closing opportunity for comments by the residents. There were no comments.  ADJOURNMENT:  Motion to adjourn: CM Stiglitz; 2nd CM' Wilson. All ini favor. Meeting Adjourned 9:23 pm  Minutes Prepared by: Beth Stickler, Town Manager  Approved: Mayor, Dia Costello  Date 2-2/3023  Aaslh  5