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Brookeville Town Commissioners
Meeting
March 13, 2006
Present: President of Commissioners Richard
Allan, Commissioner Robert Heritage,
Commissioner Michael Acierno, Clerk Diane Allan, Phil Wilks, Richard
Kirby, Treasurer Susan Johnson, Terri Hogan, Gazette Reporter
Minutes: The minutes were accepted as written.
Financial Reports: Mr. Allan asked the Treasurer
how much was left of the $800 grant from Heritage Montgomery that the
Town received for the schoolhouse. That data will be forthcoming. There
were no further questions regarding the financial report.
Old Business: Richard Kirby, who is developing
Powers Wood subdivision on North Street, brought Phil Wilks, land surveyor
and consulting engineer, to the meeting to present the most recent plat
for Powers Woods. Commissioner Allan noted that the Town of Brookeville
could not deed over a section of the schoolhouse parcel that had been
donated to the Town of Brookeville for the purpose of "cleaning-up" the
new subdivision plat or for any other reason. Mr.Wilks explained
that the reason for this was that there were internal parcel lines that
might interfere with any future construction. Building restriction
lines, for example, might impact on a gazebo or other structure that
might be contemplated. He said the tax assessors office does not
allow for 2 owners on a lot. All of parcel A should be under one
ownership according to Mr. Wilks. Richard Kirby could grant all
property to the Town of Brookeville, then the Town of Brookeville could
deed it back The entire area is dedicated to public use. In
order to create that street (North Street extended) the Town would have
to go through an amendment process. The current plat has no tax
account numbers. He said the more quickly this can be settled,
the better. Mr. Allan noted that there needs to be a signature
block for the Commissioners as well as the Planning Commission. Mr.
Wilks said there was some concern that the Town of Brookeville didn’t
want anything built on the parcel. Mr. Allan said the Commissioners
were looking forward to a natural park setting with perhaps benches,
a table; trees and other landscaping. Mr. Allan anticipates room
for at least two parking spaces. Mr. Wilks said there can be limitations
in the general notes and that all structures could be limited to open
structures. Mr. Acierno said that Parcel D would remain property
of the Town of Brookeville. The Town Commissioners would be the
owners legally and the Planning Commission would be signatories. Mr.
Acierno wanted to be sure the Town of Brookeville is protected from unanticipated
use of the land. Mr. Wilks responded that MNCPPC has a several
page form to cover this or the general notes would cover the restrictions
and protect the Town of Brookeville’s interests. Mr. Kirby
was concerned that the Town of Brookeville should be specified as the
maintenance entity of the parkland. Mr. Allan did not feel that
the Town of Brookeville needs to be specified, that the presumption in
the public record is clear enough - the Town will be responsible for
the appropriate stewardship of the newly dedicated land and street. Doug
Lohmeyer, Planning Commission consultant, according to Mr. Kirby, thought
that this plat constituted a resubdivision but Mr. Wilkes disagreed. WSSC
right-of-way requires a right-of-way deed for the plat. Most subdivisions
plats in the County do not show the right-of-way on the plat. Mr. Allan
said the Town of Brookeville would establish an account category in the
upcoming budget to add maintenance for the park area. Mr. Allan
suggested the park might be named Powers’ Woods Park. Both
Mr. Kirby and Mr. Allan said the plaque to Sally Powers should be moved
to a rock or tree in the park. Mr. Wilks would like the parcel
recorded with the tax office as soon as possible.
New Business: Mr. Acierno indicated that he
was planning to run again for Town Commissioner and will submit his letter
of intent to run soon.
At a National Association of Home Builders - HUD sponsored event on
housing technologies last week, Mr. Allan spoke with a representative
of a tankless water heater manufacturer regarding the use of such equipment
in the Brookeville Academy as an energy efficiency measure. The
Clerk will find out if Monty Brown, who maintains the Academy's HVAC
system, installs them. Resident Chris Scanlon has offered to take
the old water heater.
Mr. Allan reported that the annual County Council meeting with the Montgomery
County Chapter of the Maryland Municipal League is tomorrow night at
6:30 pm at the County Council office building. He will be attending.
Mr. Allan reported that he had a meeting with the Montgomery County
Conservation Corps about clearing out the Thomas Mill race and other
related projects. They were most happy to partner on the mill race
project and would begin in June and be done by September if appropriate
funding and other arrangements can be worked out. The Town of Brookeville
will go jointly with them to the WSSC for possible donations of equipment
and other resources. Exposing the foundations and artifacts of
the mill might be part of the project. This would be the first
major historic preservation project for the Corps. The Town has
previously received a grant from the Historic Preservation Commission
for $1,400 to help cover costs of the mill race restoration and signage.
Mr. Allan reported that there will be a new subdivision containing 29
new homes near the Central Union Mission on Georgia Ave. The Town
of Brookeville may make comments.
Announcement of the date of the Planning Board’s consideration
of the project will be made soon.
Commissioner Allan announced that the Town of Brookeville must renew
its liability insurance soon. The rates are expected to be considerably
higher. He suggested that the Town might want to raise the deductible
for general liability to $1000.00. That was agreed to by the commissioners.
While providing maintenance services, Olney Electric found there was
no current going to the street light at 307 Market Street. The
Clerk contacted Pepco to ascertain whether there was current. Pepco
has repaired the current situation and Olney Electric will be called
to finish the job.
The Clerk/Business Manager for the Brookeville Academy reported that
she had received several new bookings for April, June, July, and
September. Bookings have picked up considerably since December
of 2005.
Commissioners Allan and Acierno spoke with Senator Rona Kramer recently
about the Bypass and sidewalks. Mr. Allan will be sending her
a letter soon to provide her additional details on the sidewalk project
that had gotten caught up along with a lot of other jobs in a great deal
of political back and forth between the General Assembly and the Governor's
Secretary of Transportation.
Mr. Allan indicated he was looking for a paving contractor to provide
repairs to Market Street.
Respectfully submitted
Diane Burr Allan
Back to Commissioners Meeting Minutes
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