January 12, 2009 Commissioners Meeting Minutes

January 12, 2009
8:00 p.m.

Present: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 Gazette Reporter Terri Hogan

Minutes: The December 2008 Commissioners Meeting Minutes were approved.

Financial: The December financial report was reviewed.

Academy Update:

  • No new rentals to report
  • Propane: Suburban picked up their tank, which was empty of propane; Amerigas installed their tank. Currently, Amerigas charges the Academy $2.29 per gallon vs. $2.69 Suburban was charging; Amerigas rate will float based on market nalue of propane.
  • Commissioner approved a $100 discount off the Feb. rent charged to Jeff Issokson as he did not use the Academy during the recent indoor painting.
  • 2 organizations have approached Academy Manager and were discussed in detail by the Commissioners:
  1. Christ International Ministries inquired about renting the Academy as a satellite location from 9:00am-11:00am for their weekly Sunday worship service with approximately 10-20 people at the onset. The Brookeville Academy has a lease arrangement with SUMC for parking and would not be able to offer parking during SUMC Sunday service. Rental is not approved by unanimous decision of Commissioners.
  2. Donna Will, who specializes in “hands on living history” programs for school age children and formal afternoon teas. Mrs. Will holds her functions at Woodlawn Manor and pays them 10% of her earnings. Her contract is up for renewal at Woodlawn Manor and she is looking for a similar operation with the Brookeville Academy and possibility with the one room school house. The Commissioners will meet with Ms. Will to discuss her proposal.

Schoolhouse: Walter Blank will be sending a proposal for upkeep of the one room schoolhouse

Trees: tree removal estimate was reviewed. Commissioner President Michael Acierno will send a personal note to 17 North and 1 South to advise them that the Town will begin the permitting process for trees to be removed from their properties or boarding their properties, which are within the Town’s right of way.

Gravel Road Maintenance: Neal Leary finished the maintenance of the Town’s gravel roads

Speaker: postcards will be mailed to all Town Residents to remind them of the upcoming speaker at the Academy Feb. 2, 2008 at 7:30pm at the Brookeville Academy.

Empower Clean Energy Communities: Recently launched by the State; $8M grant fund for local governments and communities to facilitate projects that increase the energy efficiency and/or the use of renewable energy. Commissioners will look at how a grant from this program could benefit the Town.

Jane E. Lawton Conservation Loan Program: takes the place of the former Community Energy Loan Program (CELP) and would help fund energy conservation improvements by providing low-interest loans; can be used by local governments. Commissioners will look at how a grant from this program could benefit the Town.

Bypass: a letter was sent thanking all MoCo Councilpersons for approving $10M for design and land acquisition for the Bypass; a similar letter was sent to our State Delegation thanking them for all their hard work on behalf of the Bypass. Residents will be asked to send a letter to County Executive IsiahLeggett in support of the Bypass. SHA will be contacted to map out the exact route of the Bypass in order to invite County Council and our State Delegation as it has been more than 40 years the Bypass has been in the planning stages, so many different people coming and going, there is no sense of continuity as to what has already been studied and completed.

GOCA: Commissioner Katherine Farquhar will attend GOCA Jan. 13th meeting. County Executive Isiah Leggett will be speaking at this meeting.

Volunteer Drive: call for volunteers for “Yes Montgomery Can” for the weekend of Jan 16-20. Town Residents will be sent an e-mail informing them of this effort.

District 14: Commissioners Acierno and Farquhar will represent the Town in Annapolis Jan 26th at the Maryland Legislature District 14 party from 6:00pm – 8:00pm.

309 & 311 Market: no new information available.

Speed Camera: location of the speed camera is not on Town property. Speed camera still welcomed as it enhances safety.

The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m.

Cate McDonald
Town Clerk