Month: May 2009

May 13, 2009
8:00 p.m.

Commissioner President Michael Acierno, Commissioner Robert Heritage, Commissioner Katherine Farquhar, Town Clerk Cate McDonald. Treasurer Susan Johnson and Academy Manager Andrea Scanlon were away.

Present during all or portions of the meeting were Town Residents Harry and Karen Montgomery, Jeff Issoskson, Maggie Kay, Andrea Barr, Andrew and Mary Kay Spagnola, Deborah Wagner, Dwayne Heiler, Fred Teal, Teresa Meeks, and Gazette Reporter Terri Hogan

Clyde Unglesbee: Moment of silence to honor long time resident and former commissioner, Clyde Unglesbee, who recently passed away after a brief illness. Commissioners would like to honor Clyde and his service to the Town at an appropriate time and ask residents for thoughts and ideas.

Election results: Commissioners Farquhar and Heritage won re-election yesterday for the 2 commissioner’s seats.

Summary of the past 12 months:

• Brookeville Academy: New energy efficient, stainless steel HVAC installed along with duct work; new propane supplier, interior has been painted, and WiFi installed. Planned for the upcoming year are a tankless hot water heater installation, exterior stucco repair and painting, and replacement of the vinyl flooring and carpet.
• Trees: the Town consulted with a Master Arborist and upon her recommendation several trees on Town property or in the Town right-of-way were taken down. The Town will replace the trees with native species via Tree-Mendous Maryland program.
• Sidewalks: work on the sidewalk in front of 3 High Street is in progress.
• Speed cameras: while the speed cameras were not installed on Town property, they are a nice safety enhancement.
• Road maintenance: The gravel roads had periodic maintenance Jan ’09; the SHA funds the Town receives does not afford for repaving of the eastern portion of Market St. The Town was able to replace curbing and have pot holes repaired this past year for eastern Market St.
• 309 & 311 Market St: MoCo has sued the owner of 309 Market St regarding the condition of his property. As of today, no BPC permits have been issued or requested. A resident has observed the owner doing work at 311 Market without permits, as well as work on 309 Market. Both properties are owned by the same person. The Commissioners will continue to monitor the status of these properties to ensure the permitting process in regards to historic properties is followed.

Brookeville Bypass: Positive progress this year when County Council appropriated $10M for design and land acquisition for the Brookeville Bypass, which will take place beginning in FY2011–FY2014. No Stimulus funds for the Bypass as MoCo received very little Stimulus monies. Commissioners are trying to educate the County Council of the 40 year plus history of the Bypass so they have a sense of continuity. Commissioners would like to see the Bypass completed by 2014, when Brookeville will be prominently displayed in Maryland’s War of 1812 celebration.

FY ’09-’10 Budget: a draft of the upcoming budget was presented and reviewed. BPC allotted monies was increased for legal counsel and consultants for the comprehensive plan.

Renewable Energy Contract: Contract signed with Clean Current for a 1 year, June ‘09 to June ‘10 at $ .10127/kWh, 100% wind for the Brookeville Academy. The cost per kWh is lower than Pepco’s current rates and will save the Town money while reducing its carbon footprint.

Schoolhouse: Repairs are needed to maintain the schoolhouse: the roof is leaking and gutters are needed.

Annual Picnic: the Town’s Annual Picnic will be Sunday, August 23rd.

Open Discussion: request to add hoods to the Pepco street lights; as this request will require the Town to pay for the hoods, the Commissioners will look into hooding the street lights.

The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

Cate McDonald
Town Clerk

May 11, 2009
8:00 p.m.

Commissioner President Michael Acierno, Commissioner Robert Heritage, Commissioner Katherine Farquhar, Town Clerk Cate McDonald, Academy Manager Andrea Scanlon, Treasurer Susan Johnson. Present during all or portions of the meeting was Pam Saul, liaison of Senator Rona Kramer, Gazette Reporter Terri Hogan

Minutes: The April 2009 Commissioners Meeting Minutes were approved.

Financial: The April financial report was reviewed.

Academy Update:

• No new rentals
• Donna Wills has not confirmed any dates for her teas.
• Academy Manager ordered highchairs and booster at $35 per unit. Will order one diaper changing station for ladies bathroom.
• Annual inspections for elevator, fire alarm, and sprinklers: all passed. Fire Marshall asked that flammables in basement be moved and exit signs are check by electrician. Bogin & Assoc. replaced batteries in exit signs and dried paint is being disposed of via County hazardous waste program.
• $500 added to the Academy budget for new permits required as of 1Jan10 for fire alarms and sprinklers and County will now charge for fire marshals inspection.

Clyde Unglesbee: long time resident and former commissioner, Clyde Unglesbee, passed away after a brief illness. Commissioners discussed various ways to honor Clyde and his service to the Town and will talk to the family at an appropriate time to find out their wishes.

FY 2009-2010 Budget: draft of budget was reviewed. BPC allotted monies was increased for legal counsel and consultants for the comprehensive plan.

Elections: Commissioners Farquhar and Heritage are the candidates for the 2 commissioner’s seats at tomorrow’s election.

309 & 311 Market St: Commissioners Acierno and Heritage attended the April 21, 2009 court hearing and were able to express the Town frustration and the lack of progress in this case and showed a recent photograph of the property to the presiding judge. Commissioners Farquhar and Heritage will attend the June 2, 2009 hearing will continue to monitor the status of 309 Market to will ensure the permitting process in regards to historic properties is followed.

Clean Energy: Contract signed with Clean Current for a 1 year, June 09 to June 2010 at $ .10127/kwh, 100% wind for the Brookeville Academy. Per Clean Current, they we were unable to acquire data for streetlight account and will try again in June.

Trees: Commissioners desire to replace trees that were deemed unhealthy with trees via Tree-Mendous Maryland, which provides high quality trees & shrubs at low cost for plantings on public properties such as schools, community open spaces, roadside rights-of-way, and government facilities.

Schoolhouse: a dehumidifier was purchased to help dry the schoolhouse out. Working with Miche Booz on gutter design.

Sidewalks: work on the sidewalk in front of 3 High Street is progressing

Greenskeepers: Resident complaint about the recent trimming by the Town’s landscaping contractor, Greenskeeper. Contractor trimming was aggressive and they weed whacked the hostas and flowers planted in the space between the front stone wall and the edge of the sidewalk. Contractor maintains the did nothing wrong and only did what they were supposed to do and did not weed whack any hostas, but take care of overgrowth that is a trip hazard and whack daffodils which were dead anyways. As this has been one of several complaints about the quality of work provided by Greenskeepers, the commissioner will consider options for the Towns landscaping needs.

Annual Meeting: The Town’s Annual Meeting is scheduled for May 13th at 8:00pm. Draft agenda was reviewed.

August Picnic: Commissioners approved Sunday, August 23rd for the Annual Town Picnic.

The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m.

Cate McDonald
Town Clerk