TOWN Op HAH H GAFTONSVIL 1892 Public Hearing and Town Council Meeting Minutes of May 6, 2025 As reviewed, approved, and accepted by the Town Council on June 3, 2025 Mayor Charles Hendricks called to order at 7:31 p.m. a Resumed Public Hearing on Draft Ordinance 01-25, a proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment to amend Sections 104 (Definitions), 105.03 (Special Exception Uses, Agricultural Zone), 106.03 (Special Exception Uses, R-1), 106.6 (Bulk Regulations, R-1), 107.03 (Special Exception Uses, R-2), 108.03 (Special Exception Uses R-3), 116.04 (Decision of Board, Appeals from Board decisions, Board of Appeals), 126 (Decision), 127 (Preservation of Historic Resources), 128.02 (Definitions, Signs), 128.08 (Permits; authorization; removal; abandonment and maintenance, Signs), 128.09 (Violations; Enforcement, Signs), 129 (Text Amendment), 130 (Non-Conforming Uses), 131 (Site Development Plans), 132.03 (Powers and Duties, Town Planning Commission), 132.04 (Transitory Provisions, Town Planning Commission), 134 (Violations and Penalties), and 135 (Appeals) ofthe Town's Zoning Ordinance, and a proposed amendment on the draft ordinance. Council Members Charles Bradsher, Tom Burke, Amy Koval, and Christina Pellegrino were present. Town Treasurer Angela Hoffman, Town Clerk Mary Burke, Assistant Clerk Joy Jackson, Assistant Clerk James Schneider, Historic District Commission Chair Jennifer Sizemore, and approximately three residents or guests were also present. Mayor Hendricks asked for public testimony, but none was offered. Mayor Hendricks closed the Resumed Public Hearing at 7:34 p.m. The Resumed Public Hearing was held using video conferencing. Mayor Hendricks then opened the regular meeting ofthe Town Council at 7:34 p.m. using the same video conferencing platform. Declare Decision on Whether to Leave the Record Open or Close the Record oft the Public Hearing on the above stated proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment Council Member Koval made a motion to close the public hearing record on the proposed Ordinance 01-25. Council Member Pellegrino seconded the motion. Unanimously approved. Approval of Minutes Council Member Burke made a motion to approve the Minutes ofboth the Public Hearing and the regular Town Council Meeting held on April 1, 2025. Council Member Bradsher seconded the motion. Unanimously approved. www.laylonsylle-md.us Post Office Box 5158 o Laytonsville, Maryland 20882 e Office 301-869-0042 Town Hall o 21607 Laytonsville Road e Laytonsville, Maryland Public Hearing and Meeting Minutes ofTown Council, Town ofI Laytonsville, May 6, 2025 Treasurer's) Report Treasurer Hoffman reported that from the Balance Sheet for March 2025 reflects that the ARPA account was closed and remaining ARPA funds were moved to the General Funds category, since all monies are now earmarked for use. From the Profit & Loss Sheet, she pointed out that the largest sources ofincome came from Income Tax, $18,351, and Interest Income, $15,278, with a total income for March 2025 of$37,168. The largest expenses were Snow Removal, $44,990, and Consultants, $31,949, with the total expenses for March, $98,709. The Net Income for March 2025 was a loss of $61,541. Mayor Hendricks asked how much ofthe Consultants' expense was for Wallace Montgomery. Treasurer Hoffman replied that she was not certain but believes all ofit was. Mayor Hendricks made a motion to accept the Treasurer's Report pending audit. Council Member Koval seconded the motion. Unanimously approved. Historic District Commission Report Jennifer Sizemore, Historic District Commission (HDC) Chair, reported that she is pleased to note that two applicants applied to our HDC for the county's Historic Preservation Tax Credit by the April 1st deadline. These applications have been approved and submitted to Montgomery County. Unfinished Business Discussion and Action on Draft Ordinance 01-25 Mayor Hendricks outlined the procedure for considering this draft ordinance, stating that the Council would first discuss the proposed amendment. He pointed out that, although most of the changes proposed in the amendment were technical, it would change the authorized fence height limit to six feet in non-historic residential zones. The Town Council unanimous!y approved the amendment. Mayor Hendricks observed that the draft ordinance included several changes submitted by the Historic District Commission. The Town Council unanimously approved Ordinance 01-25 as amended. Discussion and Approval of a Proposal from Scates Corporation to install a new TPO-surface roof above the porch on Town Hall Mayor Hendricks stated that the Scates Corporation estimate the Council had approved in April was not for a Terra Cotta-colored TPO rubber roof, as he and the Council had believed, but for a Barn Red EPDM roofing material. Since the TPO material and the Terra Cotta color were what the Council wanted, he obtained a new proposal from Scates Corporation for it. The price of the Terra Cotta TPO roofing material is higher than the EPDM material. The new porch roof estimate comes to $7,950. Council Member Pellegrino made a motion to approve the updated proposal. Council Member Koval seconded the motion. Unanimously approved. HDC Chair Sizemore predicted that the HDC would not have trouble approving a Historic District Work Permit Application for this roof replacement. 2 Public Hearing and Meeting Minutes ofTown Council, Town of Laytonsville, May 6, 2025 New Business Town Election Results Mayor Hendricks reported that the following candidates were each reelected unopposed by a 12- voter turnout: Mayor: Charles Hendricks, 11 votes; Council Members: Thomas Burke, 12 votes, and Amy Koval, 12 votes. Consideration and Approval of a proposal from Woodvalley Community Strategies for permit planning assistance for improving the Miller Park-Barberry Lane Trail Mayor Hendricks stated that Mr. Jamie Kendrick, who is the principal of Woodvalley Community Strategies, has offered to provide permit planning assistance for improving the trail between Miller Park and Barberry Lane for a fee of$1,500 to $3,500, depending on the time required. Mayor Hendricks explained that the town had contracted with ARRO Consulting on this trail, and that firm had provided us with options for improving it. The town had selected one of those options, which involved constructing a boardwalk across the swampy area at the lower end oft the trail and installing GeoGrid to maintain a gravel surface, on all or part of the remaining sections oft the trail. We did not follow up with the second part of ARRO's contract proposal, which was to provide design work for the trail. Council Member Pellegrino stated that she found Mr. Jamie Kendrick on the Maryland Municipal League website. Ms. Joy Jackson, Parks & Trails Task Force Chair, stated that the task force was in favor of this, as was Mr. Lu Romano, President ofLaytonsville Grove HOA. Council Member Pellegrino stated that we did not realize how complicated this design process was from an environmental standpoint, SO assistance with the permitting process to redo the trail that is already there is very much needed. Council Member Burke asked ifMr. Eric Wenger could comment on the town's authority over the Forest Conservation Area. Town Clerk Burke read Mr. Wenger' S response stating that the town has control over the Forest Conservation Area. Council Member Pellegrino stated that this seems to be the way to move forward with this project. Council Member Burke made a motion to approve the proposal from Woodvalley Community Strategies for permit planning assistance for improving the Miller Park-Barberry Lane Trail. Council Member Koval seconded the motion. Council Member Bradsher stated that he was in favor of moving this project forward. The motion was unanimously approved. Discussion of the Town's Fiscal Year 2025-26 Budget Mayor Hendricks explained that Section 802 ofthe Town Charter states that the Mayor and Council shall prepare and begin deliberation on the proposed budget at least 32 days before the beginning of any fiscal year. He started a discussion to give Council members the opportunity to comment on the budget figures that he and Treasurer Hoffman had prepared. Treasurer Hoffman pointed out some suggested changes in the proposed budget from the budget approved for the fiscal year ending 6-30-25. We increased the interest income significantly from $74,000 to $100,000 based on what the town has been receiving. Income taxes receipts are anticipated to increase from the $310,000 predicted last year to $550,000, again based on what 3 Public Hearing and Meeting Minutes of Town Council, Town of Laytonsville, May 6, 2025 we now expect to get this year. Basically, the change between the current year's approved budget and the proposed budget for next year is about $270,000. We reduced the budget for consultants from $100,000 this year to $80,000 next year but considerably increased the line items for snow removal and streets and grounds maintenance. We are proposing to transfer $244,500 to capital improvement reserves. We propose budgeting $150,000 in capital improvement funds for Parks and Trails. Our proposed capital improvement expenditures will leave an ultimate balance of $149,500 to grow our capital improvement reserves. Mayor Hendricks asked and Treasurer Hoffman affirmed that if we approve the Capital Improvement section of the proposed budget ordinance as drafted, that we would be limited to spending $160,000 of the Capital Improvement Fund income without coming back to the Town Council for amendments. Members discussed the possible use ofHighway User Funds received from the state. Mayor Hendricks suggested placing this income in a streets and sidewalks line item oft the capital improvement fund budget or transferring it to the general fund to be used for street and sidewalk maintenance, but Council members did not express support for these proposals. Council Member Burke stated that although we may need to spend more than what we are budgeting for specific line items, we would not likely need to amend the more general Budget Ordinance. He commented that he believes the costs of consultants and legal fees will be increasing next year. Introduction of] Proposed Ordinance 02-25, an ordinance adopting the town budget for the fiscal year July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and levying an ad valorum tax on all assessable property within the town ofLaytonsville. Maryland Council Member Burke made a motion to approve the draft Budget Ordinance that had been circulated to Council members. Council Member Pellegrino seconded the motion. Mayor Hendricks encouraged Council members to propose any changes to the draft ordinance that seemed appropriate to them. Asked by Mayor Hendricks about trail funding requirements, Parks and Trails Task Force Chair Jackson stated that more funds may be needed for improving the Birdie Lane Trail and the Miller Park to Barberry Lane Trail. She observed that we don't know what mitigation issues we may run into on the latter trail and that $130,000 in expenditures were already anticipated for this trail's design and construction. Mayor Hendricks responded that we would be wise to include $200,000 in capital improvement expenditures in the proposed ordinance and to reduce the transfer to capital improvement reserves in that ordinance to $109,500. That would give the town some leeway for ongoing capital improvement projects. Council Member Burke proposed to amend his motion to change the Capital Improvements Fund budget as proposed by Mayor Hendricks. Council Member Koval seconded the amendment. The introduction of the revised Ordinance 02-25 was unanimously approved. Consideration of Resolution R-02-25 for Compensation to Employees in Fiscal Year 2025-26 Mayor Hendricks stated that he had circulated the draft resolution and had provided in an email message an explanation for the increases in compensation proposed. He moved to introduce Resolution 02-25. Council Member Koval seconded the motion. Council Member Pellegrino commented that there was no need to delay action on this resolution. 4 Public Hearing and Meeting Minutes ofTown Council, Town ofLaytonsville, May 6, 2025 Mayor Hendricks stated that, like last year, the compensation is based on comparative federal general schedule pay, and this resolution will give James Schneider the equivalent of a one-grade promotion. Council Member Koval expressed high regard for the work of the town staff and asked for a vote on Resolution 02-25. With no further discussion, the resolution was approved with Mayor Hendricks and Council Members Bradsher, Koval, and Pellegrino voting in favor and Council Member Burke abstaining. Consideration of Tax Rates on Real Property and Personal Property for Fiscal Year 2025-26 Mayor Hendricks stated that Montgomery County is requiring a decision on the town' s property tax rates by May 9, 2025. Discussion ensued regarding the proper process to make this decision. Council Member Koval favored keeping the rates the same but was unsure about whether the town could respond to the county before holding its budget hearing. Mayor Hendricks observed that mayors have done SO in the past. Council Member Pellegrino recommended that the town tell the county that we will not be changing our Real and Personal Property tax rates. Council Member Burke agreed. Mayor Hendricks promised to convey the Council'si inclination to maintain tax rate stability to the county. Scheduling a Public Hearing on Proposed Ordinance 02-25 Mayor Hendricks stated that the Town Charter requires that a Public Hearing on a draft ordinance be announced at least 14 days in advance. He suggested holding the Public Hearing on the proposed Ordinance 02-25 before our next Town Council meeting on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. Council Member Burke endorsed this schedule. Mayor Hendricks asked if there was any objection. Hearing none, he said that the town would announce that this public hearing would be held on June 3. Town Council Preparation for the Town Parade Town Clerk Burke reported that Town Council members will be participating in the Town Parade on Saturday, May 17, 2025. Check-in is at 9:30 a.m., and the parade starts at 11:00 a.m. The Town Council members are signed up to walk as a group and will give out zinnia seed packets during the parade. Council Member Burke and Council Member Bradsher stated that they will not be able to participate in the parade this year. Resident's Forum No comments were offered. Adjournment Council Member Koval made a motion to adjourn at 9:51 p.m. Council Member Pellegrino seconded the motion. Unanimously approved. Respectfully submitted, James Schneider, Assistant k Town of Laytonsville 5