TOWN Op  AITONSVILS  1892  Meeting Minutes ofTown Council on November 12, 2024  As reviewed, approved, and accepted by the Town Council on December 3, 2024 There being a quorum, Mayor Charles Hendricks called the regular meeting of the Town Council to order at 7:31 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 Chair Jennifer  Sizemore, and approximately 12 residents or guests were also present.  Minutes: submitted. Treasurer's Report  The minutes from the Town Council Meeting held October 15, 2024, were approved as  Treasurer Hoffman reported that at the end of September our total assets stood at $3,694,185. The total income for the month was $111,247. The largest component oft that was a municipal tax duplication payment of $58,429. This is aj payment from the county to cover services that we pay for that would otherwise be provided by the county. It is given to us once a year. The second largest amount of money that came in was from income tax, $30,208, and the third main component was interest income, $14,234. The total expenses were $27,742. The three main components oft this were public waste collection, $6,515; grounds maintenance, $6,608; and payroll, $5,976. The only other unusual item for the: month of September was the payment of $1,433 for the last oft the 2024 picnic expenses. That gave us net income for the month of Council Member Burke made ai motion to accept the Treasurer's Report pending audit. Council  September of $83,506.  Member Koval seconded the motion. Unanimously. Approved.  Historic District Commission Report  Jennifer Sizemore, Historic District Commission (HDC) Chair, reported that the Town Attorney had reviewed the HDC'szoning ordinance recommendations, and she saw most as good suggestions. The reviewed comments from the Town Attorney will be shared with the HDC members, and then recommendations will be submitted to the Town Council for possible  approval. The HDC has two public hearings scheduled for this month.  www.laylonsylle-mdus  Post Office Box 5158 . Laytonsville, Maryland 20882 e Office 301-869-0042 Town Hall e 21607 Laytonsville Road . Laytonsville, Maryland  1    Planning Commission Report  Brendan Deyo, Planning Commission Chair, reported that the Planning Commission has worked on the Community Survey questions, and these will be looked at this evening by the Town Council. He stated that the challenge at this timei is trying to collect information from our town. The Planning Commission started with questions from Wallace Montgomery and used these to draft the Community Survey questions that will be reviewed tonight. Our goal is to approve this Community Survey Questionnaire tonight, and ifit is approved by the Town Council, we can get itoutt this weekend and start the one-month window for response collection. Wallace Montgomery will hold a public workshop at Laytonsville Elementary School on Thursday, December 5, 2024. This survey is not a vote; it's just a request fori information. We're doing it twofold. There's a Survey Monkey approach where we're going to send out a QR code or a link toas site where people would fill out the survey electronically. There will also be the ability to complete the survey by hand and submit it to Town Hall. We will schedule times when I would sit at the Town Hall in the evenings a couple of days a week for a couple of weeks, collecting the paper surveysjust like we would a ballot, and I would check people off. Wej just want the target population to be able to: respond to this Community Survey. The goal is for thej people of Laytonsville to give theiri input. The second part is a business owners survey. These people may not be residents ofLaytonsville but need to provide their input. We need to collect all this data to  start writing the new Comprehensive Plan.  Unfinished Business Report on Street Tree Matters  Mayor Hendricks reported that on October 17 Goshen Enterprises planted the four replacement street trees approved by the Town Council two days before. Due to the lack ofrain in the ensuing period, the firm watered the trees on October 30 at the mayor's request. Kevin Bohrer had his firm do this without additional charge, but the town will have toj pay for any future waterings. With the support of Mr. Bohrer, the mayor also made a tentative list oft the town's street-tree locations. He sent this list to Matt Madeira, one oft the town's arborists, and asked if he could give us a cost estimate for a survey oft the town's street trees that would identify their species, approximate age, estimated longevity, and desired maintenance schedule. Mr. Madera responded that he could do that at an approximate cost of $5,600 to $7,000. The mayor asked Council Council Member Pellegrino stated that this is not urgent and does not need a quick response. Therefore, she recommended getting more quotes for conducting a tree survey. Mayor Hendricks agreed, stating that getting other estimates may help get it done in a cost- Council Member Burke stated that he is OK with getting additional quotes. He observed that Mr. Mayor Hendricks pointed out that the survey is designed not simply to evaluate the health oft the trees but to provide a schedule for trimming, to make sure trees don't interfere with the road and  members for suggestions on how toj proceed.  effective way.  Madeira, a certified arborist, gave a pretty large range for pricing this survey. Discussion ensued regarding what would be included in a tree survey. are: not too low for pedestrians to walk underifthey overhang a sidewalk.  2    Report on Sign Ordinance Enforcement  Mayor Hendricks reported that he had received a complaint about a recently installed moveable sign at the Laytons Village Shopping Center from a business owner who was in compliance with the town's sign ordinance. Moveable signs are specifically prohibited by the ordinance, but the mayor observed that at least two of them had been tolerated on commercial properties for years. Deciding that he should enforce this provision oft the ordinance across the board, he talked with the owners oft the three offending signs, and they each removed them. But the mayor suggested that some changes to the sign ordinance's provisions might be appropriate, particularly in the commercial historic: zone, where space for permanent signs is constricted. He invited comments on his enforcement oft the sign ordinance and on the appropriateness of amending it. Council Member Burke stated that the corners ofintersections have long been places for people toj place signs, and he recommended that the Town place signs in these areas with a statement or Council Member Pellegrino stated that she didn'tt think that displaying the rules oft the Sign Ordinance in these areas would make much difference since it is generally teenage kids who are hired to place signs around the area. She added that preference should be given to commercial businesses located within town, since they pay taxes that support town services. Report on Meeting with WSSC Officials Regarding Sewer Service  notice oft the sign rules.  Mayor Hendricks reported that Tom Burke, Brian Kline, and hel had met over Zoom with a large contingent of WSSC officials on November 1 to discuss the possibility of extending sewer service to the town. Aaron Kraut, County Councimember Dawn Luedtke's chiefofstaff, also attended the meeting. Eyad Mizian, the water agency's chief engineer, was the senior WSSC official present. Mr. Mizian said that the agency could not accurately estimate the cost of extending WSSC sewer service to Laytonsville but pointed out that it would be more expensive because the town is located in three distinct drainage basins. Mr. Mizian recommended that the town engage a consultant to obtain cost estimates and service options. Most interestingly, he said that the town would probably find that building its own sewer system and sewerage treatment plant, as Poolesville has done, would be less costly than tying into the WSSC system, whose nearby outflow pipes would not likely have the capacity to handle the town's effluent and would thus need to be replaced at the town's expense. On the other hand, one WSSC staffer said that town residents who do not choose to obtain sewer service would not have to be charged for that investment. But of course, somebody would have to pay. Aaron Kraut said that the town could apply to be placed in a different sewer service category, which could facilitate the acquisition of WSSC sewer service, but the approval of such an application, he said, was by no means assured. The mayor observed that he had provided Council members with a link to the video recording of this meeting and al brief written summary ofit. He offered to try to develop, with the assistance oftown staff and interested Council members, a request for proposals for consulting services to provide the town information about its options for obtaining sewer service for all or part of the town and the costs those options would entail,i ifCouncil members wanted him to do this. Council Member Pellegrino asked if we are looking into this now because the Planning Commission is tasked with updating the Comprehensive Plan. She thinks that hiring another Mayor Hendricks responded that the Community Survey asks about sewer service, and he felt some idea ofhow sewer service might be put into town would help residents answer sewer-  consultant will begin a very long process.  related survey questions.  3    Council Member Burke stated that the meeting with WSSC taught us a lot about starting a sewer Council Member Koval stated that a developer who is willing to pay for a sewer system will Council Member Burke stated that even ifs someone pays for a sewer system, there will be Chair Deyo stated that the sewer system was mentioned in the previous Comprehensive Plan, Council Member Koval stated that she does not feel that the new Comprehensive Plan needs to Chair Deyo stated that any action the Town Council takes now will not affect the writing oft the Mayor Hendricks recommended that Council members view the recording oft the meeting with  system.  affect density that can be added to town. ongoing costs to run it.  and we really haven'ta addressed it in the past ten years. address specifics regarding a sewer system for the town.  Comprehensive Plan. WSSC. New Business  Consideration and Approval of the Community Survey and Accompanying Neighborhood Map Mayor Hendricks reported that he and Council Member Koval had together reviewed the draft Council Member Burke noted that the introductory paragraph was very wordy and may put off some of the people targeted to respond to the survey. He suggested that it should be stated that this is your opportunity to give your input into the future oft the Town ofLaytonsville. Mayor Hendricks inserted this statement. He then he displayed each change or edit he and Council Member Koval suggested and entertained comments from Council and Planning Commission members. Michael Bayer of Wallace Montgomery also participated ini the discussion. Council members approved some of the proposed edits, rejected others, and made Planning Commission Member Brian Kline noted that the Zoning Map needed some updates ifit  Community Survey. He shared his screen showing their suggested edits.  Council Member Koval proposed adding such a statement.  some additional changes.  is to be included in this Community Survey. Mr. Bayer responded that he could.  Mayor Hendricks asked Mr. Bayerifh he could update the Zoning Map.  Mayor Hendricks made ai motion to approve this edited version oft the Community Survey questionnaire. Council Member Bradsher seconded the motion. Unanimously Approved. Consideration ofa Method of Distribution and Collection of the Community Survey Chair Deyo discussed the Planning Commission's proposal for distributing the Community Survey Questionnaire. This will involve a mailing to every residential address and to every business address within town limits that we have on file, and to all known landlords. Wallace Montgomery will prepare a postcard with a QR code for the online survey, and the postcard Chair Deyo described aj proposed 30-day timeline for conducting this survey. A public workshop on the survey will be held on December 5. The Survey Monkey will close on December 19,  should also note how to get a paper copy ofthe questionnaire. 2024, but paper surveys can be accepted for a little longer.  4    Chair Deyo asked for the approval ofthe Community Survey Questionnaire distribution method, Mayor Hendricks asked ifa motion on this matter is needed or is the Town Council's tacit Chair Deyo stated that the Planning Commission has its marching orders, and we'll work with  as previously described. agreement sufficient.  Town Clerk Mary Burke and Wallace Montgomery to get these things out.  Planting Joe Pye Weed at. Jones Farm Pond Park  Parks and Trails Task Force Chair Joy Jackson shared her screen showing a photo ofJones Farm Pond Park with an area along the west shore of the pond marked toi indicate where the task force recommended that Mary Burke be authorized toj plant Joe Pye weed, which produces attractive Ms. Burke explained the reasoning for planting seed heads from her yard. Council Member Pellegrino made ai motion to approve the planting ofJ Joe Pye weed in the designated area at Jones Farm Pond. Council Member Bradsher seconded the motion.  flowers.  Unanimously. Approved. Resident's Forum No comments were offered. Adjournment  Council Member Burke made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 p.m. Council Member  Koval seconded the motion. Unanimously Approved.  Respectfully submitted, James Schneider, Assistant Clerk EE Town ofLaytonsville  5