[2:46] Now convene this July 16th meeting of the Centerville Town Council. We'll

[2:49] start as we always do with the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for a

[2:52] moment of silence

[2:56] to the flag of the United States of America. and to the republic for it

[3:01] stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[3:08] for all.

[3:14] You all right, council. First up is agenda review. Are there any changes to

[3:20] the agenda? >> None.

[3:23] » Have none. >> Okay. I just want to state the agenda

[3:25] that we had previously included legislation about the solar arrays.

[3:29] We're doing some additional work on that and so that's why it's not on the agenda

[3:33] for a public hearing now, but it had been previously and it will likely be

[3:37] back in just an updated form in a meeting or two.

[3:42] Um, all right. Next up is review of the minutes from the June 4th meeting. Are

[3:46] there any additions or changes to the minutes?

[3:50] » None. >> You good?

[3:54] » All right. Do we have a motion to approve the minutes?

[3:56] » Approve. >> Is there a second? Second.

[3:59] » All in favor? >> I

[4:00] » I. >> Okay. Next up, we have a close session

[4:04] statement from this evening. The town council met in close session on

[4:08] Thursday, July 16th, 2026 at 6 p.m. to discuss personnel in accordance with the

[4:13] Maryland Open Meetings Act. Four members of the town council voted to close the

[4:17] session. The authority to close the session is found in section 3305 of the

[4:21] general provisions article. The town council discussed the following topics.

[4:25] Personnel discussed a personnel issue, performance review, and applications for

[4:29] boards and commissions. No actions were taken. The following members and staff

[4:34] were present. Ashley H. Kaiser, president. Jeffrey D. Keiel, vice

[4:37] president. Frederick E. Bu and Sandra Lee Huffer, members. Sharon Vanberg,

[4:41] town attorney. Gay Adams, town clerk. Crystal Eb, HR director.

[4:47] Chief Hobbes, and Carolyn Brinkley, town manager, were both here for part. The

[4:51] close session meeting adjourned at 6:32 p.m.

[4:56] Okay. Now, we will enter a citizens forum. Citizens are requested to keep

[5:00] their comments for 3 minutes. If you're here to comment on specific legislation,

[5:06] either the short-term rentals moratorum or the utility rate increase, we will

[5:09] have that public hearing in a few minutes. So, this is for more general or

[5:13] related to other things, public comment if anyone is interested in addressing

[5:16] the council. >> Yeah, come on up.

[5:21] I can address. >> Yeah.

[5:26] So, we're going to keep time tonight. Um, but you have three minutes. If you

[5:29] could state your name for the record. >> Okay. I just need a minute. Um, I

[5:33] understand the town council wanted information.

[5:35] » You have come closer to the mic >> and we need your name for the record

[5:38] first.

[5:46] [laughter] >> There you go.

[5:48] » Now, can you hear me? >> Yes. Good evening. Um, I'm Margaret

[5:51] Jaggley from Northbrook. Um,

[5:57] » thank you. >> Okay.

[5:59] » Thank you. Uh, I understand the town council wanted information on flock

[6:03] cameras. Um, and I have submitted that information for your perusal, but a

[6:08] flock c uh camera can flock can sell you the information gathered and one does

[6:14] not know who is monitoring the recordings. They use facial recognition,

[6:20] read license plates, ping, and gather information from cell phones, tablets,

[6:25] and laptops in the car, leaving them open to hacking. This information is

[6:30] then fed and stored in federal databases like ICE, government hot list, and then

[6:36] they keep logs of every place you go for medical treatment, political meetings,

[6:41] religious meetings, and where you sleep at night. This information is available

[6:46] not only to your town but the whole country and the whole world. There are

[6:51] numerous lawsuits against flock for fourth amendment violations. And an HOA

[6:56] can govern govern their HOA property, but Maryland law prevents an HOA from

[7:02] violating constitutional rights of those both in and out of HOA. Please do not

[7:08] allow flat cameras on our streets. >> Thank you. They sound more terrifying

[7:12] than I even thought they were. >> Mhm.

[7:15] » Um, appreciate that. All right. Next up, we have a couple of appearances. Council

[7:19] member McNeel, are you going to read the proclamation?

[7:23] » Okay. >> For our wonderful Queen Ans County

[7:25] Garden Club. >> Please come on up.

[7:28] » Susan Robin, come on up. One of the great jo

[7:36] » Fred, you can't talk until you're at the microphone. [laughter]

[7:39] » I have the ability to never stop talking. So, uh, good friend of mine.

[7:44] Come on. Come on. Come on. Yeah. Come on. Who's

[7:49] » Yes. The whole garden club. >> Okay. There you go.

[7:51] » Everybody's in the >> uh a good friend of mine, Bill Moore

[7:56] said, "Fred, if you live in Centerville, little miracles happen every day. These

[8:00] people who you see here, who I've never met before except for Susan, I think,

[8:04] right, Susan?" Okay. Uh, one day I'm walking out of the c the coffee shop up

[8:08] town, 90 degrees. This wonderful woman had, who was it?

[8:13] » Laura. Laura, come on. Come on. Laura stole my heart to save the plants. Come

[8:18] on. So sweet. >> 90 degrees. Laura had two watering cans

[8:23] and she was going around town watering the plants around town. If you walk

[8:28] outside when you leave tonight, look at these flowers. They're all blooming.

[8:31] They all look beautiful. What turns up, Laura, okay, gives me a phone number and

[8:37] says, "Look, we've been doing this for 30 years, right? What the heck's going

[8:40] on?" [laughter] Okay. And all these plants that look

[8:44] beautiful thanks to these ladies and others. And what's even more

[8:47] interesting, uh, I go to the farmers market every Sunday. I'm sitting there

[8:51] eating my bagel and mustard and whatever. A husband and a wife team,

[8:55] right, Robin, came through and they were watering plants. And in this type of

[9:00] weather, it's extremely important. Our plants, our trees, and our senior

[9:05] citizens, by the way, right? Give them a lot of liquid. So, you get a little

[9:08] closer. I get to hold your hand. Let me read this. Gay does a wonderful job

[9:12] making proclamations. If I can read it, it says, "Whereas the Queen Anne's

[9:16] County Garden Club has long served as a steward of public spaces, enhancing the

[9:22] beauty of parks, gardens, streetscapes, and civic landscapes that contribute to

[9:28] the charm and historic character of center, Queen County." Rather than read

[9:33] the whole thing, and I apologize. All right. They do a wonderful job. How

[9:36] about give them a standing ovation before [applause]

[9:47] Thank you so much. [applause] >> And actually, that's one of the missions

[9:51] of of of the garden club is to beautify the county and our county seat of of

[9:57] Centerville. In in addition to the flowers, we also do the greens at

[10:02] Christmas before your holiday parade around the town and the county office

[10:06] buildings in the city and everything. and we've been doing that for over 50

[10:10] years. Our club just celebrated our 90th anniversary um last year. And so um

[10:17] that's what we give back to you and we we just uh love our county and we we

[10:21] enjoy making it beautiful. >> Thank you.

[10:26] [applause]

[10:30] » Let's take a picture.

[10:48] Thank you. >> Thank you so much.

[10:53] » All right. Do we have another appearance before we get to public hearing? So,

[10:57] we'll bring up Lisa Thompson regarding the Main Street Market study.

[11:02] Good. She outside.

[11:26] » Hi, thank you for being here.

[11:33] You have the um Perfect. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[11:40] » We didn't practice this or anything. [laughter]

[11:42] » You'll do fine. I know. >> How are y'all doing tonight?

[11:44] » Good. How are you? >> Good. Good. Thank you. Um I'm Lisa

[11:48] Thompson. I'm a senior program officer with Main Street America. And um

[11:54] » would you pull your microphone just a little bit closer to you? There you go.

[11:58] » Certainly. Um and I really um I thank you for the invitation today to come

[12:03] talk to you all. Um this is really sort of the uh compilation of uh a

[12:10] transformation strategy or economic development plan that we've been working

[12:14] on with your main street program. And so I wanted to take about eight minutes to

[12:19] sort of go over some of the highlights of the survey, some market data. Um what

[12:24] are those strategies that the steering committee have identified to work on for

[12:28] the next three to five years and then uh give you all some time if you have any

[12:32] questions. Um I'm happy to help. Next slide. Oh no, this slide. Sorry. Um so

[12:40] basically um you know Main Street when you think about it, we start with the

[12:44] people. the people are so so important um to this the work that we do and I

[12:50] wanted to start by thanking uh the volunteers that have been um working on

[12:55] the steering committee. So we have Anthony and Christy Pugzi um William

[13:00] Cheshire, Brian Johnston and Jennifer Moore. They gave up weekends uh a lot of

[13:06] time sort of thinking about um the market data, the studies and how we

[13:11] really sort of move downtown Centerville forward.

[13:15] And I also want to take a time to thank Carol. So without Carol's um dedication,

[13:21] the work that she has done for this community for the last 14 years, she's

[13:25] really helped build the foundation. Um so I really, you know, would be remiss

[13:30] without calling out that. Um, I also want to recognize that as part of the

[13:36] Maryland Main Street program, which is part of our network of coordinating

[13:40] programs, uh, Christine McFerson is here from the state of Maryland. Um, and that

[13:45] this grant that came from, um, Christine's office was actually what

[13:50] funded this work. So [snorts] being part of the Maryland Main Street program um

[13:56] also has its financial benefits and rewards in addition to the technical

[14:00] assistance and the on ground um support that they give the communities day in

[14:06] and day out. >> Uh next slide.

[14:10] » See if this works.

[14:16] » Maybe. No. >> Does it turn on? Oh no, it's not. I

[14:21] didn't know there was an on. Sorry. There we go.

[14:24] » Excellent. Okay. So, um so how did we get here? We basically had um four steps

[14:29] that we followed. Uh the first thing was a community survey that we launched. So,

[14:33] some of you might have filled this out. Um we had 463

[14:38] real people in your community take the time to fill out a survey. Um and that

[14:43] really is remarkable given the size of your community. Um we had focus groups

[14:48] with business owners, property owners. Um we met with town council folks. Um

[14:53] Sandy and Frederick were also participants in a lot of the um steering

[14:57] group meetings that we did. Um we read um and sort of analyzed some hard data

[15:03] about your community. So we looked at Ezri data, we looked at Placer AI, so

[15:08] how are those visitors that are coming in and out of your main street district?

[15:12] Um and we thought about like what happens in the life cycle of your

[15:16] downtown. We also had a workshop um just earlier today with the steering

[15:21] committee um and really thought about what are the goals that we want to

[15:26] achieve for the next three to five years. Next slide.

[15:33] So I really wanted to share with you a little bit um of the sort of highlights

[15:39] from the survey. So, of those 463 responses, people overwhelmingly said

[15:46] they love your town. They love this place. When we asked them one word about

[15:50] downtown, they said quaint, historic, small, walkable, charming. Um, they love

[15:56] this community. The courthouse square, the library, um, lots of your local

[16:01] businesses are what anchor daily life here in Centerville. Um residents were

[16:06] just as clear about what's also holding back Centerville. Um twothirds said that

[16:13] there aren't enough businesses and destinations suited to them. 62% pointed

[16:19] to vacant storefronts. Nearly half pointed to buildings needing

[16:24] rehabilitation. And notice what's not on this list,

[16:28] safety. So safety was barely mentioned. It was all about vibrancy, not about

[16:34] security. And so I think that's important as you think about your next

[16:38] steps. Um, next slide. So this is not just the single most

[16:44] important finding in the survey, but it's important to to say out loud 82% of

[16:50] the people here said that they're going to stay. They see themselves living in

[16:55] this community five years from now. 74% feel very welcome downtown, which is

[17:03] also really important. Yet, 64% said they would not recommend downtown to a

[17:10] friend as a place to visit.

[17:15] Yeah, think about that. So, that means that you don't have an unhappy

[17:21] community. People feel at home here. They love it here, but they can't point

[17:27] their friend toward enough to see or do or buy.

[17:33] So, the people are here and they're going to stay, but the storefronts that

[17:38] you have really haven't caught up to the people who live here and the demand that

[17:43] they're asking for. So, that's the gap and the strategies that we're going to

[17:48] try and fill. Next slide. So, then we looked at market data. So,

[17:55] it's like, okay, who lives here? Who what kind of market can your community

[18:00] support? Um, and your market's a very affluent market. The median household

[18:08] income within five minutes of the courthouse is over $119,000,

[18:14] headed towards $130,000 by 2030.

[18:20] More than 48,000 people live within a 25 minute drive and food spending alone in

[18:27] the trade area is projected to grow by $ 8.6 million

[18:33] by the year 2030. Yet, if you look at the employees, your

[18:39] service businesses, the employees that would um work in those service

[18:45] businesses only represent about 13 to 16% of your area jobs.

[18:52] So what it means is when you think about housing, affordable housing, how do you

[18:58] provide housing that's affordable for the service worker if you want to grow

[19:04] your restaurant and retail business? Next slide.

[19:12] So here's the part that I think really surprised everybody um on the steering

[19:16] committee. So you already have a lot of people downtown.

[19:20] Placer AI counted 453,000 visits last year and that's really up

[19:28] over 23% over the last two years. So that's 105,000

[19:34] unique visitors and they average a visit of about 79

[19:41] minutes. So this is where two problems show up.

[19:47] The first is that visits peak on weekdays around your court business.

[19:54] Probably no surprise to you all, okay? And it hits its lowest visitation on the

[20:00] weekends and that's exactly when the residents said that they wanted to

[20:05] visit. The second issue is leakage.

[20:11] So that leakage is where are those sales going if they're not buying goods and

[20:15] services in your main street district. [clears throat] So more than half of

[20:19] downtown's own visitors routinely shop at Kenttown Market in Easton and they go

[20:26] to the outlets at Queenstown. So you have the spending power in your

[20:30] community, but most of it is being spent 12 to 18 miles away.

[20:38] Next slide. So this really brings us kind of to the

[20:43] the insight of this whole process. So Centerville really does not need to

[20:48] create more activity. You don't need more festivals. You don't need more

[20:52] events. It needs to capture, connect, and expand on the activity that you

[20:59] already have here. So capture the daily county traffic.

[21:04] Um bring those people into your storefronts.

[21:08] help them spend more money while they're here. Um, and figure out how to connect

[21:14] the people to the businesses, parking, side streets. We even talked

[21:21] about how to connect people that come by boat to the waterfront. How do we get

[21:25] them downtown? And so, think about how do you fill the

[21:30] vacant buildings? How do you fill your vacant upper

[21:34] floors? and they could be with businesses or hopefully more residents

[21:39] that might fit that need for more workers.

[21:43] Next slide. So, the committee chose two strategies.

[21:49] Uh the first one is just a one-year strategy. And so, this is really

[21:54] thinking about how we build the foundation for a strong Main Street

[21:58] program. Stakeholders told us candidly that roles

[22:03] among Main Street, CEDA, the town and the county are unclear

[22:10] and that lasting revitalization needs an organization structured to lead it.

[22:17] Year one is going to deliver a committed working board written rules framework

[22:24] for CEDA and the town and the county, a funding strategy that includes state

[22:30] main street grants, a public working document that is really

[22:36] going to demonstrate real accountability,

[22:39] that transparency, early visible wins like signage,

[22:44] storefront refreshes, and a downtown map and directory. Those are just some of

[22:49] the things that are on the list that the steering committee wants to work on.

[22:55] Next slide. The second strategy is going to span

[23:02] really that three to five year goals. And so we want to capture and grow

[23:07] downtown activity with two distinct goals.

[23:12] Goal one is really spaces and businesses. So we want to think about

[23:18] how do we fill vacant buildings and upper floors through adaptive reuse,

[23:23] through popup shops. Recruit what residents have asked for.

[23:29] They want more casual dining. They want arts and culture. They want boutiques, a

[23:35] coffee shop, entertainment. They're also going to focus on how do

[23:41] they connect property owners with tenants

[23:45] and financing because we know that when you rehabilitate a historic building

[23:50] it's noninexpensive and so through that they want to

[23:55] encourage also not only more businesses but also more second floor housing.

[24:02] Goal number two is really about visibility and access. So wayfinding to

[24:08] parking to side streets. How do we think about how 301 and 213 really connect

[24:15] with downtown? And how do you navigate both vehicle and pedestrian foot

[24:20] traffic? How do you connect the courthouse to the

[24:24] waterfront and all the businesses? What does that look like? And how do we

[24:29] coordinate evening and Saturday hours with our restaurants and our businesses

[24:34] so that downtown is open when your residents have said they want to shop?

[24:40] [clears throat] Slide.

[24:44] So how will how will we know this is working right? So we want to have

[24:49] measures of success so that they can report back to you. They can report to

[24:54] the stakeholders. they can report to funders and sponsors that they're

[24:59] meeting their goals. And so the committee is looking at adopting some

[25:03] specific measures. So 3 to five net new businesses over 3 to five years.

[25:12] Vacancy would be down let's say 25 to 40% from a 2026 baseline. So they're

[25:18] working on establishing what that baseline would be.

[25:23] maybe two to three upper floor projects with more housing or relocating

[25:28] businesses that maybe take up a an important storefront and maybe we're

[25:32] going to move them upstairs. We finally get wayfinding system in

[25:38] installed which I know that you all have been working on for several years now.

[25:43] We get half of the businesses to have coordinated hours. And this one is a

[25:49] really tough one, but if you could get half of the businesses to have

[25:53] coordinated hours, so when someone comes downtown, it all is open and vibrant,

[25:58] that would be a great goal. So progress that gets reported from the

[26:04] board will also go to the council and to the public on a regular basis. So

[26:10] there's lots more transparency Next slide.

[26:16] So what happens next? So when I met with the steering committee today, I

[26:20] challenged them that in the next 90 days, I want that group to adopt a work

[26:26] plan that is going to include volunteers that are going to lead some of these

[26:30] tasks. What are the timelines? Are there any budget implications that are

[26:34] occurring? How much that is? What do they need to plan for?

[26:39] I challenge them to complete their business inventory and a vacant property

[26:44] index. I want them to establish like what that vacancy baseline is, who are

[26:51] those property owners, and what are some of the hurdles, why those properties are

[26:55] still vacant. If we can't get traction on wayfinding,

[27:00] I've encouraged them to think about temporary wayfinding. So what's like a

[27:06] you know sort of gorilla kind of wayfinding that we can at least do

[27:09] temporary to sort of pilot test it out and then put together a downtown map

[27:15] maybe have a kiosk. There are grants for this that are available. So think about

[27:20] how do we get that circulation and experience to continue to grow and of

[27:26] course they need to formalize the roles between the main street program CEDA the

[27:31] town and the county. So here's where your partnership is

[27:36] really going to matter. So support on signage placement and that joint

[27:41] outreach this state highway administration is going to be key.

[27:45] Partnership on evaluating rehabilitation incentives

[27:49] because a lot of this work doesn't happen unless there are public funds

[27:54] that are matched. Um we need a welcoming and predictable

[27:59] path for new investment. So, what is that sort of like key to opening a

[28:05] business here or buying a building and rehabilitating it? What does that look

[28:09] like for somebody who wants to make this place home?

[28:13] And it's important that we continue to build on the investment in this program

[28:18] that you all have had for a very, very long time and think about how we're

[28:23] going to build on that for this foundation year. So, what is that going

[28:28] to look like? So every measure that you see is going to actually happen um

[28:35] hopefully faster with the town's support. It's really important.

[28:41] Um next slide. And so I just really want to thank you

[28:46] for your time. It's been a really pleasure working with this community.

[28:50] It's um coming back to the Eastern Shore is like coming home in some ways to me.

[28:54] It feels very familiar even though I get to work and travel all over the United

[28:59] States now in my job. Um, but if you all have any questions, I'm happy to answer

[29:04] them or as well as Carol or Christine. Thank you.

[29:09] » Any questions, council? >> I'd just like to say first of all, thank

[29:12] you. It's a great report. >> This is great.

[29:14] » Thank you. >> The number that jumped out on me

[29:16] immediately was uh a little scary. 66% your top issues

[29:23] » people feel not enough businesses and destinations suited to me. Yeah.

[29:26] » So, kind of a wakeup figure. Okay. >> I was in a Harper's Ferry last

[29:30] Wednesday. You might be familiar with it's town of 2100

[29:33] » and they do exactly what you talk about. They have a fed, state, county, city

[29:38] cooperative program. >> And their key issues they said like you

[29:42] is parking, >> pedestrian access, and the ability, all

[29:46] right, to show off what makes Harper's Ferry shine besides John Brown and

[29:50] everything else. All right. [laughter] So, this is right up the alley. what

[29:53] they're doing with 2100 people and you can't get in there on Saturdays.

[29:56] » Yep. Yeah. >> Thank you. It was a great job.

[29:58] » Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Wilson. Appreciate it.

[30:02] » No, an excellent report. And um a lot of this I kind of already knew.

[30:06] » Yeah. >> I mean, because we've talked, you know,

[30:09] we've been talking this is a very important issue for me as it relates to

[30:12] economic development for our main downtown.

[30:15] » Yes. Yes. That that drives so much a part of our community and people want to

[30:20] do they want this and we need to give it to them.

[30:23] » Yes. >> As a council and relating to that

[30:26] investment and supporting them. >> Yes.

[30:27] » And supporting the board as it relates to that and like you said um how we can

[30:33] support them that we're open to what they need in order to be successful.

[30:38] » Um and that they know that. Um, so I think this is just one of our top

[30:44] priorities for me >> for this fiscal year that we're in um

[30:49] that just started um to really make some ground and traction on this. And I love

[30:54] as far as just the the visibility and the supporting and what's the reporting

[30:58] and having that every month >> or if you backslide why what do you

[31:03] need? How can we help? Right? >> So but that I think that communication

[31:07] is critical for success. um and allowing the community to

[31:12] participate in this process because >> what do they want? And helping that and

[31:16] the financial resources for um building rehabilitation

[31:21] » is a major thing that our town needs to do to help people who want it and go out

[31:27] and help them and what are their struggles and show them the programs

[31:31] that state, county provide and even federal in order to be successful for

[31:37] their capital. Yes. you know, investments they need to do in their

[31:40] business. So, >> absolutely. Thank you.

[31:42] » Absolutely. You're very welcome. And I would I would encourage you as you think

[31:46] about a a board, an advisory board that you're going to sort of appoint, I think

[31:51] is what I've heard, like think about not just putting people on that board that

[31:56] are residents >> of Centerville. Um it's, you know, think

[32:01] of Centerville, it's a marketplace. And so even on the steering committee now,

[32:06] there are people there that are not residents of Centerville, but they think

[32:09] of this as their community. It's the place they call home. It's the place

[32:13] they shop. They might go to church here, but they might live outside of your

[32:17] city. So think of it as a market place, not necessarily just the geographical

[32:24] boundaries of your town or even like downtown like the Main Street District.

[32:30] like put people from your community, people that were part of that 463 who

[32:35] took the time to tell you how much they love this place.

[32:40] » Lisa, I'd also like to compliment you for such a wonderful presentation. And

[32:46] for folks in the audience, uh she mentioned CEDA two or three times

[32:50] throughout that. And if you're not familiar with that, uh, that was an

[32:53] organization that was in effect for several years from 2013 up to about 2019

[33:00] and then kind of dissolved. We've put a lot of effort into that over the last

[33:03] several months to reorganize that group and it's seven members of either

[33:09] business owners, residents, people with economic development background. Uh, and

[33:14] I'm very excited that we're got a lot of energy in that group. and CEDA is for

[33:19] the overall community. Main Street is for a designated 10 10 blocks in the

[33:25] downtown Main Street area, but CEDA and Main Street are working in a very

[33:30] cooperative, very close-knit manner so that all of our efforts are going to be

[33:35] coordinated going forward. and I'm really excited about, you know, what

[33:39] you've put together and what Main Street currently represents and the the new

[33:44] steering committee going forward, but also we'll see that in combination with

[33:48] that. I'm very enthusiastic about addressing some of these things about

[33:53] the 66% and some of those things that the we know the community at large is

[33:58] looking for and we're looking for feedback from you all the community to

[34:03] help guide us through those efforts. there's uh a lot of energy moving in

[34:07] that direction and not to take up any more of your time, but I just wanted to

[34:11] if you weren't familiar with CEDA that that's stands for Centerville Economic

[34:15] Development Authority and that's a group that we're meeting two and three times a

[34:20] month with subcommittees on specific projects uh for desirable to help bring

[34:27] in desirable businesses that will maybe have residences above or also uh bring

[34:33] employment into the area for um the population that we have here. So, enough

[34:39] about that, but I really appreciate your efforts and I just want to let everybody

[34:43] know a little bit more about what the town is doing as a whole um in some of

[34:48] these objectives. >> Thank you.

[34:50] » Awesome. Thanks for that, Fred. And thank you.

[34:52] » Thank you. Thank you very much. >> Thank you for coming. Thank you for

[34:56] everything. See you again soon. >> All right. Next up, we have our first of

[35:00] two public hearings. This first one is ordinance 062026, a short-term rental

[35:05] moratorum. An ordinance of the town council of

[35:08] Centerville adopting a temporary moratorum on the application for

[35:12] approval of, construction of, expansion of, processing of, or issuance of any

[35:17] board of appeals, building permit, and zoning certificate applications for any

[35:20] boarding houses, bed and breakfast, and short-term rentals impending

[35:24] consideration and adoption of revised zoning ordinance provisions as the town

[35:27] council may consider advisable. I will now call on Peter Flynn, our town zoning

[35:32] administrator, to provide background on the ordinance.

[35:35] » Thanks, Peter. >> Thanks. Um, so

[35:39] as as we say, this is a moratorum. Um, this came about, we've had a couple of,

[35:45] uh, short-term rental applications, um, you know, various platforms, Airbnb,

[35:52] whatever. Um, the platform doesn't really matter in the in the sense of the

[35:57] ordinance. Um, so we're not looking to abolish short-term rentals. This came

[36:03] about because it's very clear that our short-term

[36:08] rental ordinance was written um at the very beginning of um of that service.

[36:14] And as it has gone on, we have very very little um standards for property owners

[36:22] to adhere to. Um, I guess I don't want to get too much

[36:27] into that. So, we it's very very easy to achieve to achieve a short-term rental

[36:32] under the >> But right now to get one, you have to go

[36:34] before the board of appeals. >> You have to go before the board of

[36:36] appeals, but the going before the board of appeals as a special exception is a

[36:40] list of extra conditions that you need to meet. And so, some of those

[36:44] conditions, we've lumped everything in together with the with the hotels and

[36:49] motel and short-term rentals. and the uses of those properties don't truly

[36:54] align with the fire marshall's office. So, we can't even in our current

[36:58] ordinance like require people to have a third party inspection to make

[37:04] sure they have working smoke detectors and things of that nature. So, like real

[37:07] like life and safety issues um for some >> So, right now the process, just so

[37:11] people know, is you would go in front of the planning commission and they would

[37:14] make a [snorts] recommendation and then you go to the board of appeals.

[37:17] » That's correct. Yep. And we've had some that the planning commission recommended

[37:21] yes and some no. It's just so unclear. >> Yes.

[37:23] » Kind of when or why these should exist. >> Yes.

[37:26] » So the moratorium is to give us time. >> The moratorium is to give us time to

[37:31] draft. Um I've started working on the draft and um just kind of some quick

[37:36] highlights of things that are in the draft. Right. Um we're always talking

[37:39] about coordinating and what and all these things. So kind of aligning our

[37:43] terms better with Queen Anne's County. So, when you have a, you know, we don't

[37:47] have a different definition of what a short-term rental is than Queen Anands

[37:50] County, which today we do. Um, some third-party inspections. Again, the

[37:55] county recently redid their their short-term rental. They're requiring a

[38:00] third party inspection. You do it upon application. Um, they come in and make

[38:06] sure you have working smoke detectors, carbon monoxide if necessary, all those

[38:09] types of things. And then uh you they self-certify for a certain period of

[38:15] time, but there's like I think it's like five years, right? So there's a time

[38:17] period where you have to get another like physical inspection and things like

[38:22] that. Um we are also working on the accessory dwelling unit. So it's kind of

[38:28] some policy choices where we're not planning on having uh short-term rentals

[38:35] uh in accessory dwelling units. um just from the policy decision of an ADU is

[38:41] kind of not really meant for that. We're not looking to provide a easy

[38:45] opportunity for you know ADUs are for uh you know long-term arrangements.

[38:51] Um let's see what else we didn't touch on yet. So the certificates would be

[38:56] issued annually. They would not transfer with the sale of the property. Um

[39:01] currently the certificate is issued one time. There's no renewal.

[39:06] um it's it's just a onetime thing and it has been a condition of all of them that

[39:11] have been issued so far that it does not transfer with the property. So that will

[39:14] that will continue. [snorts] Um it will allow for setting some clear

[39:20] guidelines for enforcement. You know if people are constantly violating our

[39:25] noise ordinances or other, you know, other things, that's probably going to

[39:29] be the most common issue. Um and then some other policy decisions that will

[39:34] really be sorted out at the planning commission level and then brought here

[39:37] where um you know the county has some really large properties where they have

[39:42] where they're allow like events like weddings and stuff to happen at a thing.

[39:46] You know that's maybe not really appropriate for town. We don't have any

[39:49] like humongous properties. Um so those are kind of policy decisions that will

[39:53] work out uh in the future at the planning commission.

[39:56] » And it's a brief moratorum six months which is

[40:00] quick. It'll go by quick for the planning commission to work on it. It's

[40:04] half the length of Annapolis's current similar

[40:07] » Yes. >> Yeah.

[40:09] » Peter, could I ask you? I've lived here 47 years, and Caroline woke me up this

[40:13] morning. How many boarding houses, bed and breakfast, and short-term rentals do

[40:18] we have in town? >> There is I don't think there's any bed

[40:22] and breakfast currently >> anymore. Um, and there is, I think, four

[40:28] short-term rentals that have um operating certificates that are that are

[40:33] currently operating. Um, >> I was told you went online was surprised

[40:37] to find when you typed in Centerville that there were people doing this that

[40:41] we didn't know. >> Um, so yeah, I think with local zoning,

[40:48] um, you know, typically the first thing people do when they buy a house is not

[40:52] read the zoning code. Um, so but Centerville's pretty small. It's easy to

[40:57] monitor. I can go on, you know, the platforms once a month or once every few

[41:02] months and look and see if there's any new ones. Um, I've I've had really good

[41:07] luck. I just reach out to the person who's renting. Um, and I ask them to

[41:11] contact the zoning office and they've contacted us and, you know, complied

[41:15] with our requirements once they've learned of the rules.

[41:20] » Perfect. All right. >> Um, thank you.

[41:24] I will now call Gay Adams town clerk to present evidence of the published notice

[41:28] of this hearing. >> This is to certify Can you hear me? This

[41:33] is to certify that the annex legal advertisement has been published in the

[41:37] publications and insertions below. Um ordinance

[41:42] 062026 was published in the Bay Times record

[41:45] observer on June 19th and June 26th. >> Okay. Thank you. We will first hear from

[41:52] all those in favor of oppose Ordinance 062026 and then hear from those opposed.

[41:56] Please keep your comments to three minutes. You're welcome to provide

[41:59] written testimony as well. Um, can you read the public comment

[42:03] guidelines? >> Welcome to this meeting of the

[42:05] Centerville Town Council. This is a public meeting and we welcome your

[42:09] participation. By attending, you acknowledge that this session is

[42:12] recorded and aired live on QACV. If you have the new Breezeline streaming

[42:17] box, that channel is 2001. During the meeting, we ask that you turn your cell

[42:22] phones off and hold personal conversations outside the meeting room.

[42:25] The scheduled agenda is available just outside on the information table. Public

[42:30] comment will be limited to three minutes per person. The town council respects

[42:35] and appreciates your desire and right to convey your message freely and in

[42:39] keeping with the dignity of proceedings, we ask that all views be expressed in a

[42:43] respectful and civil manner. Comments longer than three minutes should be

[42:47] submitted in writing. If questions are part of your comments, we will refer

[42:51] those to the appropriate individual. Thank you.

[42:54] » Right. Thank you. Is anyone here on ordinance 06 2026?

[43:00] Okay. Do we have a motion to adjurnn the hearing on this one?

[43:03] » I make a motion. >> Is there a second?

[43:06] » Second. >> All in favor?

[43:08] » I. All right. Next up, we have ordinance 07206

[43:15] utility rate increase. This is an ordinance of the town council of

[43:18] Centerville establishing the town of Centerville water and sewer user fees

[43:22] and service fees for both metered and unmetered customers and allocation fees.

[43:27] I will now call on Carolyn Brinkley, town manager, to provide background on

[43:30] the ordinance. So, I'm going to call Karen, our finance officer, up as well.

[43:35] So, the town um began back in um gosh almost a year ago. We began doing a

[43:43] utility rate study um with a company that we have done it we he actually done

[43:47] it three times for us. So and Karen you probably can

[43:53] » so with the new with the aging plant that we currently have we knew as we

[43:58] invest in um bringing a new plant on board that there was going to be some

[44:02] issues with funding and cost for rate increases. So, we hired the consulting

[44:07] company to take our um history in the past and for the

[44:12] future cost for the new plant into consideration to tell us what we need

[44:15] rates to be to fund the operations of the plant. So, nothing looking to and to

[44:23] make money, you know, it's just to cover the current bills. In the last few

[44:27] years, we also um as a council decided to have allocations go into their own

[44:33] bank account to help fund future plants. So we're not in this position at at some

[44:37] point later, you know, but in the in the interim, we need to be able to do

[44:41] something now, not only to fund the current, but as we progress to build the

[44:45] new plant and then once the new plant comes online, how the costs will

[44:52] um come into play and and what we need to do then, too.

[44:55] » Thank you. Good. >> Y

[44:58] » All right. I will now call Gay Adams Town Clerk to present evidence of the

[45:01] published notice of the hearing. This is to certify that the annex legal

[45:05] advertisement has been published in the publications and insertions below.

[45:11] Um, ordinance 07206 was published in the Bay Times Record

[45:16] Observer on June 19th and June 26th. Right. Thank you. Um, and I'm sure this

[45:23] is a huge group. So, first we're going to hear from those in favor of proposed

[45:26] ordinance 07206 >> and then from those opposed. Um, I'm

[45:32] assuming many many of you are here to speak on this ordinance. And so, do we

[45:36] have a sign-in sheet in the hall or no? >> Why don't we go with those people first?

[45:40] Anyone who signed in and then people of course can just stand up. We are going

[45:44] to keep time for three minutes. You can of course wrap up your thought. It's not

[45:48] just like the buzzer goes off. Sit down. We're not mean. Um, also just if you've

[45:54] sent us an email, we are going to we received 15 emails in opposition to the

[45:59] rate increase. you are welcome to stand up and read your email, but if you sent

[46:03] us an email, know that we are each reading all of them. And I believe Gay

[46:06] has responded um and let people know. And so we do have those comments.

[46:12] Um we know there are likely also going to

[46:17] be a lot of questions and so it is certainly up to the council and we'll

[46:21] have to um act in this. But my recommendation is going to be that we

[46:26] don't consider this tonight and that rather at our August meeting we have our

[46:30] public works team here so they can answer some of the questions that might

[46:33] come up tonight and some questions frankly that council members might

[46:37] continue to have. We did have a half day work session on this so it's not like

[46:40] we're just flying blind here and not doing this with some thought and then

[46:45] delay actual consideration of this until the first week. I have my volume up

[46:49] » for the timer for the >> actual consideration of this until

[46:52] September. And so there will be time. It's not as if you don't say everything

[46:56] you want to say to us tonight that it's over. And so, you know, if you get up

[47:00] and do your three minutes and then you hear something from someone else, you

[47:04] can email us. You can reach out to us at town hall. You can come to the August or

[47:07] September meeting. So, I just want to make clear that we want, of course, as

[47:12] many public comments and as much conversation as we can have around this

[47:15] and frankly other issues, too. um would love to hear from the public more than

[47:19] we do on a lot of things, but we want to thoughtfully consider the things that

[47:23] are said. So, it's going to be my recommendation that we don't actually

[47:26] act on the ordinance tonight. So, I don't want anyone to feel like you have

[47:29] to say every thought you've ever had about allocation fees or water and sewer

[47:33] bills. We're going to be talking about this for the next several weeks. Um so,

[47:37] that I'll just put that out there and then we will go through. Just I'm going

[47:42] to go like I said through the people who signed up on the sheet and then others

[47:46] can get up because we don't often rely on the sheet. So first Miss Jagley if

[47:51] you want to get up again.

[47:55] » Thank you Margaret Jaggley from Northbrook.

[48:00] » Um regarding the water plant I think the first thing that should happen is that

[48:05] we should abolish the tiered billing system. Um when Danworth joined the town

[48:11] council, um I at one of the first meetings I had suggested that and he

[48:17] said it had been 10 years and it was created by a man in Annapolis. I don't

[48:21] think it's ever been addressed. I would like to see a fair billing system where

[48:27] we're build simply for our usage. Um, I invite all the town council members to

[48:33] attend the July 30th Maryland municipal league symposium, funding beyond the

[48:38] state house, which helps municipalities navigate fiscal challenges and reveals

[48:45] innovative funding strategies. I hope you discover something instead of our

[48:50] pocketbooks. Um, I think the plan for this water

[48:55] plant will make Centerville right for attracting a data center or ICE

[48:59] detention center, both which I oppose. And the tracking from the Gallup economy

[49:05] and personal finance poll reveals that 55% of all Americans right now report

[49:11] their financial situations are actively worsening. I've submitted document

[49:17] documentation on that as well as the invitation to the symposium. I don't

[49:22] think Centerville should be creating worse hardship for the residents.

[49:27] » Thank you. >> Thank

[49:30] you put your phone in do not disturb it'll do the time ringing.

[49:34] » Thank you. >> I was just trying to think how could we

[49:37] All right. Fred Kersch. [clears throat]

[49:44] First time I've ever been to a town meeting. Uh [snorts] my name is Fred

[49:48] Kersh. I live in Queenstown and I am the developer and builder of uh

[49:55] Frederick Drive, Weatherbe uh out on the edge of town. And I am here on behalf of

[50:03] the seven families that rent houses from me. And uh about half I'm sitting there

[50:11] thinking about half of uh uh parents live in the county and work in the

[50:17] county. About half of the families the children go to school here and the water

[50:24] bills are horrendous already. Um I saw three of them today. 400 something,

[50:31] seven something, a thousand something. Um these people uh love living in

[50:40] Centerville. Um

[50:43] the today's prices of houses they can't afford to uh to purchase and I provide a

[50:50] service to them so they can live in Centerville.

[50:53] And uh many years ago I was a banker and I learned about a rule of 72.

[51:00] Take 8% divided into 72 in a little over eight years the water

[51:06] bills will double. The property taxes same thing happened this year. They

[51:12] raised almost uh 24%. And so people that are paying,

[51:19] you know, they're going to their property taxes are going to double in a

[51:22] little over eight years. And I venture to say there's a lot of people that live

[51:26] in the town of Centerville that won't be able to afford to stay here. So I

[51:33] strongly suggest that our government at all levels take that into consideration.

[51:40] Thank you. >> Thank you.

[51:42] » Thank you. >> Um Lynn Hickden.

[51:52] My name is Lyn Hickden. I would just like to know if you have any kind of

[51:57] program for senior citizens that are being forced out of Centerville because

[52:02] we can't afford to stay here. Um

[52:06] my daughter, her husband, and two children lived in my house before I

[52:10] moved back in my home a year ago. They are paying the same as I'm paying

[52:16] and I'm only a single person paying the same amount they were charged. I want to

[52:21] know if we have meters, why can't we go to the town office and

[52:27] find out exactly how many gallons of water that I'm using?

[52:32] They're telling me that it's the minimum amount.

[52:38] So, I just want to know, am I paying for water that I'm not using?

[52:47] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[52:49] » Next up, we have Pat Eaggan. And I apologize if I pronounce pronounce

[52:53] anyone's name wrong.

[52:56] » I'm sorry.

[53:04] » Well, now I won't do it wrong again. >> It's okay. Um, so I'm Pat Edgington. I

[53:08] live down on Hammond Street down at the Warf. Um, I'm at a swimming pool since

[53:14] 1992, back when it cost me $15,000. Um, so many times I have called the town

[53:22] office. I pay water to fill up that swimming pool to refill the swimming

[53:27] pool when it's hot. I'm also paying sewer on that water that I'm using. And

[53:33] what I've been told over the years is there's no way to separate it. I know in

[53:37] Queenstown um they take up um months out of the

[53:43] winter um and that's what they bill you in the summer for your sewer um your

[53:49] water and your sewer. So you're not paying extra for that water. Now, if

[53:54] we're looking looking again at a rate for sewer and water, that means I and

[54:02] anybody else that's watering their lawn or has a swimming pool or is filling up

[54:07] a hot tub that's using the water but not using the sewer are going to pay way

[54:14] more than people not doing that. Um, and and it's just not fair. I know in

[54:21] Antaronda County they also have a provision for people with swimming

[54:24] pools. Um, like I said, I don't have a $100,000 swimming pool. I paid not a

[54:30] whole lot of money for it in 1992, but as the years go on and I'm paying for

[54:36] water and sewer to fill up my swimming pool, um, it's a little crazy. And if

[54:44] we're looking at a rate increase, it's even going to be crazier. Right now, our

[54:48] water bill is a lot. Um, and you know, we're on a fixed income like a lot of

[54:54] people in Centerville are. So, any kind of rate increase is just not good for

[55:01] this town. You know, and and over the years, we've heard, you know, when a new

[55:07] development goes in that, uh, well, they're gone to offset the water and

[55:12] sewer. We hear that over and over again. No be that never happens. You know,

[55:18] yeah, they're paying impact fees, but you know, it never makes up for where we

[55:22] are now. We have, you know, a sewer system that's outdated and yes, it

[55:29] probably needs work. I'm not doubting that at all, but it's not those new

[55:34] developments that have come online that are paying for it. Everybody's paying

[55:39] for it. And I think that's the way that you have to look at this um this rate

[55:45] hike and new developments coming in. Are they paying for it down the line because

[55:50] they've overburdened our our water or our sewer?

[55:55] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[55:56] » Thank you, >> Lyn Knight.

[56:02] » Hello, I'm Lyn Knight. I'm a resident of Centerville. I bought my house in 95. I

[56:07] grew up in Queen Ans County. live right outside of town. Um, I'm more concerned

[56:12] about the the multi-year piece of this. Your publication shows 26, 27, and 28,

[56:19] but this goes through 32. And so, even on the face of your ordinance, you're

[56:24] being deceptive to the citizens of Queen of Centerville because you're not

[56:30] showing how bad it's going to be in 32. And there's no accountability. It's just

[56:37] like giving your teenager $20 this week. They're going to spend all $20 because

[56:41] they're getting $20 next week. If you're not accountable to the citizens, the

[56:45] residents about what you're doing with this 8% and you automatically get it for

[56:50] six years, then that is unfair to the residents of Centerville. And I do

[56:54] believe everybody else you're going to run people out of town. It's

[56:56] unfortunate. >> Thank you.

[56:58] » Thank you. Next is Deborah Wells Cooper.

[57:07] » Good evening, town council members, and I want to tell you I really appreciate

[57:11] all the work that you do for our town. So, as you know, I'm Debbie Wells

[57:15] Hooper. I'm a resident here in Centerville, and I'm a property owner.

[57:19] » Can you hear me now? >> Yeah.

[57:21] » Okay. I hate that saying. >> Okay. So, I also want to thank you. I

[57:25] believe I recently read that the state legislative capital grant for 600k was

[57:31] awarded to us. Is that correct? >> So, thank you for working on that and

[57:37] getting that for us. Hopefully, that goes towards the wastewater treatment

[57:41] upgrades. So, I hope that there are other grant

[57:45] applications in the works because I'm here tonight to voice my opposition to

[57:50] to the proposed rate increases. While I understand the town faces rising

[57:55] operational costs and infrastructure needs, passing these burdens onto the

[58:00] backs of residents and local businesses I feel is wrong. We are paying 5.5

[58:09] each July and now we're talking about another 8% for the from now until from

[58:16] next year until 2032. So,

[58:21] I'm looking at our cost of living increase and I go to Food Lion. I wonder

[58:28] how these people actually feed their families when I'm just paying for

[58:32] myself. I don't know how the citizens of Centerville are going to handle this,

[58:37] but I think we need to find another way. There has to be another approach.

[58:43] I believe families in Centerville are already grappling with inflation and

[58:47] higher taxes. Increasing quarterly water and sewer fees by this kind of

[58:53] percentage will stretch all of us. And here's the thing, folks. We know there's

[58:57] been no no increase in the quality or improvement of our water. I'm still

[59:03] getting white spots all over my clothes in the in the washing machine.

[59:08] So um before the council votes to increase rates, I urge you to look at

[59:13] alternative measures. We need to explore other state and federal grants, cut

[59:19] ineffic inefficiencies if there are any in town operations, and exhaust all

[59:25] other funding avenues before we ask residents to pay for a wastewater

[59:30] treatment plant upgrade, which most of us consider to be a basic essential of

[59:35] living in any town. So, I respectfully ask the town council

[59:40] to vote no on ordinance 72026. Thank you.

[59:44] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[59:47] » So, I know many more people want to speak. We need to be somewhat orderly

[59:51] about it. So, if you'd like to address the council, just please come up and you

[59:57] can you can get in a queue if you'd like. So, it's not just madness, but

[1:00:00] anyone who would like to address the council can come forward and state their

[1:00:03] name for the record.

[1:00:12] Hi there. For the record, my name is Herman Edward Chiki the third, but I go

[1:00:16] by Ted. Lived in Centerville for uh 22 years.

[1:00:21] Um, nobody runs for office to screw the

[1:00:26] people. You don't run for fame and you damn sure don't run for money.

[1:00:31] You're running to serve the people that you live with, the people of this town,

[1:00:37] your constituents. Um, the town has a problem. It doesn't

[1:00:42] have enough money. Simple. Reasons for that can be debated. Is it the sewer,

[1:00:47] you know, whatever. However we got here, we're here. We need enough money to

[1:00:51] operate. We need enough money to upgrade the plant. That's that's the issue

[1:00:56] before us. Now there are lots of ways to get that

[1:01:01] money. We can look at you know I I've seen I've

[1:01:07] seen lots and lots and lots of problems in my business career

[1:01:12] and each problem many similar problems have many many different solutions.

[1:01:19] I think with this problem you guys have come together you've come up hey this is

[1:01:24] a solution that we think is good. you've taken it to your constituents, people

[1:01:29] you serve, and as you can see, they don't like it.

[1:01:35] So, what my ask is, it's just, you know, I I know you're not voting till

[1:01:41] September. Take another hard look at this. Now, look, there's services that

[1:01:46] you have to have. There services that are really good to have. There services

[1:01:52] that are really nice to have. Plutter's here.

[1:01:57] Don't cut that. Don't Don't raise that. Don't make that harder to get. Figure

[1:02:01] out what's out here, even in here. Just take another look. I know you work hard

[1:02:07] at it, but maybe get a citizen council to help you on this or to give input.

[1:02:13] Maybe somebody from Northbrook, somebody from Symphony Village, somebody from in

[1:02:16] town to at large. That'd be a great start. I don't know. I don't know how

[1:02:20] the rules work, but you know what what's [clears throat] been proposed

[1:02:27] isn't is is isn't what your people want.

[1:02:33] So, I'm just simple ask just take another look, take a harder look, see if

[1:02:37] we can maybe come come up with something different and maybe a little bit better.

[1:02:41] Thank you. >> Thank you.

[1:02:44] » All right. Anyone else wish to address the council?

[1:02:51] Hey, like I said, we will keep public comment open. It will not close this

[1:02:55] evening. And and we truly do appreciate when we get comments. You know, I

[1:03:00] received many many emails over the last couple of days, more probably the last

[1:03:05] couple of days than the entire last year. And so I appreciate when the

[1:03:10] citizens get involved. I I know several of us probably want to

[1:03:15] address several comments. We as a council rule and as a practice do not

[1:03:20] get into a back and forth with citizens. We never want to do anything that would

[1:03:24] prevent citizens from wanting to come here and speak in front of the council.

[1:03:27] And so we're going to go ahead and close the public hearing, but that doesn't

[1:03:31] close the discussion and we'll continue to have discussion like I said this

[1:03:33] evening on this issue. I'm personally happy to meet individually with with

[1:03:38] anyone frankly and and I'm happy to meet at town hall and have further discussion

[1:03:41] about this. And then just know that for the next several weeks, this is going to

[1:03:45] be front of mind for all of us up here and the town staff um as we work through

[1:03:50] it. So, got more that I want to say and I know others do too, but we'll go ahead

[1:03:53] and take a motion to um adjourn the hearing and then we can go from there.

[1:03:57] Is there a motion? >> Make a motion to adjurnn the hearing.

[1:03:59] » Is there a second? >> All right. All in favor?

[1:04:01] » I. >> All right. The hearing is adjourned. So,

[1:04:05] I'll start out. So, just a couple of things. um currently baked into the town

[1:04:11] code from several years ago is that 5% increase and so this is not on top of

[1:04:16] this is instead of. So I want to say that um also we are continuing to look

[1:04:22] for money from other sources and continuing to have those conversations

[1:04:26] the price tag on the plant in my five years on the council has gone up so

[1:04:30] radically it's insane how much frankly the price tag on building the new plant

[1:04:35] has gone up. Um, but we continue to look for other sources. We've received

[1:04:40] federal earmark money that will pay for certain parts of it. We have allocated a

[1:04:44] lot of ARPA funds from during COVID towards parts of it. We have received

[1:04:48] state grants, not just the small grant this year, but another um multi-million

[1:04:52] dollar grant from Bay Restoration a couple of years ago. We continue to

[1:04:56] apply for things and have strategic conversations with agencies in the

[1:05:00] governor's office and doing all of the things that we can to not have this

[1:05:03] become a total burden on the rateayer. So, I do want to say that also, this is,

[1:05:10] you know, small comfort, but that it is through 2031,

[1:05:15] » not 2032 in the ordinance. That's a typo and that will be fixed on what's

[1:05:19] publicly available. >> I don't have an answer for the pools and

[1:05:22] lawns thing, but I do want you all to know that before I got on the council, I

[1:05:26] called town hall because I just assumed I could call and say, "I'm filling my

[1:05:29] pool right now. I shouldn't pay sewer on these gallons." So, I completely

[1:05:33] sympathize with you all. And if you've ever driven by my house, grass is very

[1:05:36] very dead because it's just simply not where I choose to allocate my personal

[1:05:40] water use. So I understand the decisions that families have to make and I

[1:05:44] personally pay a rather high water bill for my household of four people with a

[1:05:48] swimming pool and I don't I also don't want an 8% increase. I just we're facing

[1:05:55] the reality of the need to upgrade not only

[1:05:59] the size of the plant but the science of the plant. And so right now the

[1:06:04] technology that we have does not clean the sewer output to the extent that is

[1:06:11] required moving forward. I think we've probably all read a lot more news about

[1:06:17] sewer effluent in the last week than ever in our lives before given the

[1:06:22] current parasite outbreak that is related in some ways to sewer effluent.

[1:06:26] And so we are facing the reality of the need to improve the science, the need to

[1:06:31] expand the size. You all heard the Main Street study and what people want to

[1:06:34] have here. We couldn't allow the businesses that people want to have here

[1:06:41] until we expand the plant. So it's a real chicken and an egg sit an egg

[1:06:44] situation, too. So just know that we're we've had a lot of conversations about

[1:06:49] this. We're going to continue to have conversations about it. I would love any

[1:06:54] and all of your ideas that you have, any and all of your lobbying skills, any and

[1:06:59] all of your willingness to write to your county commissioners and your state

[1:07:02] legislators and your governor and your federal representatives to ask for them

[1:07:06] to weigh in here with some funding and some support of our grant asks. We are a

[1:07:11] citizen council. That's what this is. And we are citizens that live all across

[1:07:15] town, the five of us. But we can't and the town staff can't do everything. And

[1:07:19] not every good idea that exists is up here. So, we need you all to provide

[1:07:24] your input and to give us your ideas. And this is what we've come up with in

[1:07:29] its current proposal, but nothing's done until it's done. And we, like I said, we

[1:07:34] would love to hear more from all of you on on this and on other issues. So,

[1:07:39] that's just what I wanted to say, but I'll we'll just go down the line if

[1:07:41] folks have things they want to say. So, council member Bu.

[1:07:44] » No, I mean, >> we're gonna go down the line.

[1:07:45] » Okay. Council member view

[1:07:50] [laughter] >> I appreciate your comments president. Um

[1:07:55] this is something that we've been weighing very heavily and we've been

[1:07:58] looking at all kinds of alternatives for expansion of the water and the sewage

[1:08:02] treatment facilities. Uh it is something that uh unfortunately did not take

[1:08:08] effect several years ago when the need was first identified. And as she

[1:08:13] mentioned, the rate and the cost of everything is going up exponentially.

[1:08:18] And but as someone else in the audience said, we are where we are and we don't

[1:08:23] have any choice but to make improvements and and there's regulations that we have

[1:08:28] to adhere to uh in terms of how the sewage is being treated. So uh one way

[1:08:34] or another, we have to go forward with the expansion of these facilities. and

[1:08:38] we're looking at every alternative on how to either and we've looked at ways

[1:08:42] to scale back the size of the plant and what that cost would be or any savings

[1:08:47] associated with that. We've looked at different technologies

[1:08:51] uh and we'll continue to do that uh as we go through this process. But it it's

[1:08:57] it's something that is weighed very heavily on all of us and will continue

[1:09:01] to and I really genuinely appreciate the openness and the courage it takes for

[1:09:07] people in the community to come forward and to make your statements. We do need

[1:09:11] your advice and your suggestions. uh we are looking at all kinds of alternative

[1:09:16] funding, grants, uh long-term financing, uh that we're not trying to create

[1:09:21] additional debt for the town, but we're also trying to diminish the uh immediate

[1:09:26] impact on us. Uh so I don't want to speak too long but you know this is

[1:09:32] something we've taken very seriously. We'll continue to and um uh we're open

[1:09:37] to other ideas and suggestions and your assistance as uh the president suggested

[1:09:44] in writing to uh the the county the state in helping us. Uh we've already

[1:09:50] gotten millions of dollars in grants that we've been working on but we need

[1:09:53] more. >> So

[1:09:56] » thank you. No. Um, yeah. I think not to repeat what people have said um already,

[1:10:02] but we're in a very tough spot. We're here because a ball has been kicked down

[1:10:06] the road for several years. And that's our issue. And if we just do that again,

[1:10:15] it's going to be a for future generations of what people are going to

[1:10:18] have to do or future town council. it hasn't been our wastewater treatment

[1:10:23] plant has not been funded at the level it should have over many many years um

[1:10:30] because it just hasn't and so we are in a position where we were having to do

[1:10:35] something that's reasonable because actually in the study the study said to

[1:10:40] actually increase the rates even more and we said no we can't do that I mean

[1:10:45] they were actually higher than what's in this proposal um and This is just

[1:10:51] relating to because our current plant is over 25 going to be 30 years by the time

[1:10:56] our new plant opens. It's ancient and it costs more to run an older plant. Um so

[1:11:04] we are wanting to do this in a financially prudent way and we are in a

[1:11:10] very difficult situation to figure out what we should do in order to do this.

[1:11:16] Um and it's not again it's not in these rates everything's being paid for the

[1:11:21] new plant. The plant itself has not been funded appropriately for years um from

[1:11:27] that perspective. So we're trying to balance this and I agree we are open to

[1:11:33] your con you know your comments. I appreciate everybody coming here because

[1:11:38] it's important. This is one of the biggest um I think decisions we've had

[1:11:42] to make as a town council and this will continue relating to this new plant.

[1:11:47] It's a large infrastructure capital expense this town. It's not like

[1:11:53] it can't do it. It has to do it. So how do we go about doing it now that we're

[1:11:57] in this difficult situation to do it? Um so and we are currently our debt service

[1:12:03] associated with this plant has never been funded at the level it should and

[1:12:08] that's a difficult situation. This council is looking at something that

[1:12:13] they have to do the right thing for a longterm process not a short term to say

[1:12:19] okay leave the rates alone because this is going to happen. It's about it's not

[1:12:24] if it's when. And so we have to be prudent about what is it that we can do

[1:12:30] and the plan itself is not all going to come online day one. Um it's going to be

[1:12:36] phased in. I think someone said can you phase this in? Believe me we're doing

[1:12:40] everything we can associated with the pond relating to um the wastewater

[1:12:46] treatment plan increasing that with grant dollars ARPA dollars to fund that.

[1:12:52] So we are doing everything we can to delay costs associated with this and

[1:12:56] getting them from third parties, feds, state, etc. So it's not just through

[1:13:02] your rates that this plant is being funded. It's the it's to fund the

[1:13:07] current plant >> and the cost of that plant and the

[1:13:10] current operations and then also looking about the future to say what do we need

[1:13:14] to do associated with it. Um, so not to repeat what others, but um, please

[1:13:20] continue your comments and um, this is a this is a heavy load on this council to

[1:13:25] determine what the right thing is to do. >> Thank you, Council Vice President Gil.

[1:13:30] » I want to repeat Council Person Huffer's comments.

[1:13:36] The can has been kicked down the road so long. This is where we ended up. It's

[1:13:41] been future council didn't want to spend any money on anything. past council had

[1:13:46] didn't want to spend money on anything. They wanted to save money, save money,

[1:13:50] save money. They didn't want to spend any money. And I can tell you,

[1:13:56] people think that we're going to burden the taxpayers with the cost of a new

[1:14:01] sewer plant. That we are not going to do that. If it was up to me, I'd put it on

[1:14:06] the backs of the developers of developers that want to come to the town

[1:14:09] and build build new subdivision. I say they pay for it. if they want to build

[1:14:13] so bad in the town of Centerville, they can come up with money for our

[1:14:16] wastewater treatment plant because since we started this project, the wastewater

[1:14:21] treatment plant, it has almost it's probably doubled in price. Doubled in

[1:14:25] price. And I'm talking about it's a lot of money right now to build a wastewater

[1:14:29] treatment plant with the outfall into the Corsa River between another farm we

[1:14:35] have to buy. And believe me, this s this water rate

[1:14:40] increase, water and sewer rate increase is a a hard pill for me to swallow

[1:14:44] because I live in town just like everybody else does. And I I I'm against

[1:14:48] it, but I think it's needed, but I'm still against it. But I don't think we

[1:14:55] should put it in the economic times we live in. We're putting the burden on the

[1:14:58] on the the tech the the residents of the town of Centerville. We just increased

[1:15:04] their the the trash rate. Not by much, but we still had to increase it. But

[1:15:10] everything's going up and I >> I just don't want to do it. But I think

[1:15:15] it's needed, but I'm still against it. But I'm just one vote.

[1:15:18] » It's a tough situation. >> Yes, it's a tough situation.

[1:15:22] » Yes. First of all, thank you. You know, we learn from you all and we represent

[1:15:27] you all. All right. There's five of us. There's 4,700 of us in the town. And if

[1:15:32] we work together, we're going to come up with some solutions. What's an old

[1:15:35] saying? God gave you two ears and one mouth. So certainly the priority is

[1:15:39] listening and we listen to you tonight. We really appreciate that. You know, I'm

[1:15:43] on a fixed income just like many of you are. We get a retirement check and it's

[1:15:47] only it's going up 2%. But my wife reminds me, Fred, when you go to the

[1:15:52] grocery store, what cost you a hundred bucks last week cost you 125 this week.

[1:15:57] Your gas, think of your gas costs, what have they been like in the last year?

[1:16:02] Electric costs. McNeels almost went broke between our heat pump and our oil.

[1:16:07] Our costs were unbelievable. We went from a,000 to $2,000. I'm bringing this

[1:16:11] up. To run a small town, to run a business, to run a families going to

[1:16:16] cost us more money is going to take sacrifices. I like what Ted said. The

[1:16:21] things we've got to have Ted in my arms were probably wrong. Things we have to

[1:16:25] have, things we'd like to have, and things a little frivolous. We got to

[1:16:29] have water and we might have to pay for it. And I

[1:16:34] spent the morning with Karen, our CFO, and I got an education. We were in the

[1:16:39] front porch talking. And I learned about this going to be tough, but thank you

[1:16:44] for being here. We listened to you, and like the president said, it's not a

[1:16:49] closed door yet. We're still listening. But please remember, when you go to the

[1:16:53] grocery store, you're paying 25% more. When you go to the gas station, how much

[1:16:57] more you paying your electric bill costs are going up and everything and

[1:17:02] unfortunately running small town America becoming more and more expensive. Thank

[1:17:07] you. >> Thank you.

[1:17:09] » I say one last thing. I also encourage if anybody ever wants to talk to me

[1:17:12] about it, I'm open. You can email me, call me on my cell phone. I will talk.

[1:17:17] » This is an incredibly accessible council. Um I think we're all very

[1:17:21] willing to meet with and talk to residents and so please do

[1:17:24] [clears throat] just reach out. anytime. There are several of you here that I

[1:17:27] talk to on a somewhat regular basis and so like please do just let us know if

[1:17:31] you have ideas or suggestions. We certainly want to hear them.

[1:17:36] So we will move on to the next item on our agenda which is the consideration of

[1:17:41] the short-term rentals moratorum. Is there any discussion or a motion related

[1:17:45] to the moratorum? >> Need a motion to accept it.

[1:17:50] » Motion. >> I'll make a motion to accept ordinance

[1:17:52] 6-206. >> Is there a second? Second. As always

[1:17:55] with ordinances, we're going to take a roll call vote. Council member Bu.

[1:17:59] » Yes. >> Council member Huffer.

[1:18:01] » Yes. Council Vice President. Okay.

[1:18:05] » Pete, you've got your moratorum. [laughter]

[1:18:08] » All right. Next. >> Next up on the agenda, and I've already

[1:18:12] said what I would like the council to do here, but because it's on the agenda, I

[1:18:15] want us to follow the agenda that we approved was the consideration of the

[1:18:19] rate increase. I would like as we said as I said to have further discussion

[1:18:23] with our public works team and the public at the August meeting with

[1:18:26] consideration at the September meeting to give us all time

[1:18:29] » to to continue to have conversations around this. Is there any um opposition

[1:18:33] to that plan? >> Could I just make uh two statements? Um

[1:18:38] one I actually just received a message from Betty Gene Hall. I don't know if

[1:18:41] anybody's ever talked to her. She um does our utility billing. So she's the

[1:18:46] one who mails you guys all your water sewer bills. She is happy to go over

[1:18:50] anybody's billing structure if you call or email her. Um, and then I also wanted

[1:18:57] to you can actually go on I don't know who it was who said it.

[1:19:01] » She left, but yes, you can go online and track your usage. You can also set it up

[1:19:05] to email you when you go over a certain amount, which I have set up to email me.

[1:19:09] And so I was out of town this whole week for work and I got a text from my

[1:19:13] husband that was like, "When you get that email, just know I've been doing

[1:19:15] laundry all day." So like the the emails, you set the trigger point for

[1:19:20] when it tells you you've gone over. So I have it for my family's average daily

[1:19:24] use and I only get the email if it's extreme. But that can help you identify

[1:19:27] a leak early, >> too. Um yeah, the system is great. And

[1:19:31] if you're not techsavvy, you can call you can call town hall and your current

[1:19:36] usage set up. >> You can also pay your bill in as many

[1:19:39] increments as you want to. So if you if the quarterly bill because when I get

[1:19:43] that quarterly bill I'm like oh man that's a lot at once. You can go to town

[1:19:47] hall every day if you want to and make a payment on whatever your current usage

[1:19:50] is. So there are I'm not saying it's a solve for what the total bill is but

[1:19:54] there are ways to hopefully um make things more manageable for folks because

[1:19:58] like council member McNeel said absolutely everything costs more. Your

[1:20:02] kids daycare probably costs more. I know mine does. Like absolutely everything is

[1:20:05] costing more right now and we're sympathetic to that. The reality is we

[1:20:10] don't have sources of revenue beyond businesses and residents in town and we

[1:20:16] all want to turn on our sinks and water come out and we all want to flush the

[1:20:19] toilet and at work and so that's the reality we're up against.

[1:20:24] » Good there. >> Good.

[1:20:25] » All right. So, we'll delay consideration and we'll have further conversation

[1:20:28] about it. >> Can we consider specific date so we

[1:20:31] don't >> Yes. So we don't run into that. We'll

[1:20:32] delay what what is the first Thursday in September?

[1:20:37] September >> 3rd

[1:20:39] » 3rd. >> Okay. We'll delay until September 3rd.

[1:20:42] So that per our charter, we're delaying till a time certain.

[1:20:47] » Okay. Thank you for reminding us to do that. Otherwise, we have to start

[1:20:51] counting days. >> All right.

[1:20:55] And find where we are. >> Next up is under new business. We have

[1:20:59] ordinance 08 2026. This is a zoning text amendment related to fences. This is

[1:21:04] just a first reading. This will then, right, this is the first

[1:21:08] reading. >> This will then get referred to the

[1:21:10] planning commission or no because it came from them.

[1:21:12] » Came from them. >> Came from them. So it'll be scheduled

[1:21:14] for public hearing. >> And this is just to update our fence

[1:21:18] code. Do you want to say anything tonight or

[1:21:21] you want to wait till the hearing? >> Whatever you want.

[1:21:23] » Take your poison. Um, this does things like not allow chain

[1:21:29] link fences in residential communities. Correct.

[1:21:32] » Yes. [clears throat] not allow chain link fences in

[1:21:34] residential communities. Um there is some caveats for

[1:21:40] uh industrial uh the PBD district. Um there's height limits. Um we are

[1:21:48] proposing to uh go back to the times where you're allowed to build a fence in

[1:21:53] your front yard. There's some additional restrictions with the front yard

[1:21:57] fencing. um a height limit and uh transparency of 50% transparency.

[1:22:03] [snorts] Um

[1:22:05] » okay. >> Yeah,

[1:22:06] » we'll have a public hearing about this. >> When was that set for?

[1:22:11] » Um it will be September. It'll probably be the first

[1:22:14] » advertise September 3rd, right? >> We don't have time for August.

[1:22:18] » Okay. Next up is resolution 12-2026. This is a resolution of the town council

[1:22:24] of Centerville to authorize the execution of a public works agreement

[1:22:26] with the county commissioners of Queen Ans County. This is for wastewater

[1:22:32] service that we are running out to White Marsh Park for the county's back. Yeah,

[1:22:35] the county is installing bathrooms at White Marsh Park and they will be

[1:22:39] running the the um lines from our connection at at the town boundaries out

[1:22:45] to the >> Just to be clear, the county is bearing

[1:22:47] the cost. >> County is the pipe to White Mar paying

[1:22:51] allocation fee. >> They just to be very clear, county,

[1:22:54] we're not this is not >> No, we are not. Yes. No, no. They they

[1:22:59] are paying for the um and they they're also paying an allocation

[1:23:02] » and they'll pay the service as well. >> Yes.

[1:23:04] Okay. So, we can act on a resolution and this is the county would like to move

[1:23:09] forward. We've been talking about this for I mean the whole time I've been on

[1:23:12] the council. >> Well, be honest when it was first

[1:23:14] proposed >> and in September the council approved

[1:23:17] the two allocation those two allocations.

[1:23:20] » Does a member of the council want to make a motion related to this

[1:23:25] resolution?

[1:23:30] I make a motion to approve resolution 1226,

[1:23:34] the resolution to authorize the execution of the public works agreement

[1:23:37] with the county commissioners of Queen Ans County.

[1:23:40] » Is there a second? >> Second.

[1:23:42] » Okay. And we're going to do a roll call vote. Council member Bu approve.

[1:23:46] » Council member Huffer. >> Yes. Council member McNeel. Okay.

[1:23:52] » There will be bathrooms at White Marsh Park.

[1:23:55] Okay, next. >> Never again.

[1:23:57] » Next up is an allocation request from Lacrosse Homes for four

[1:24:02] single family homes proposed on Spring Street, 116, 118, 122, and 126 Spring

[1:24:08] Street. These are vacant lots that have no current allocations. They are

[1:24:11] requesting one water allocation and one sewer allocation for each lot. Staff is

[1:24:16] recommending approval of four sewer allocations and four water allocations

[1:24:20] for that owner and they would be paying allocation fee. just clear.

[1:24:24] » And so this is just to allow that allocation that we would execute similar

[1:24:27] to what we just did later. Correct. Or they would just come by their

[1:24:30] allocation. >> No, they're actually waiting. They'll be

[1:24:33] in tomorrow morning to pay their allocation fees. Yes. They were waiting

[1:24:36] for the council's approval. >> Do we have a motion on these

[1:24:38] allocations? >> I make a motion to approve four water

[1:24:41] allocations and four sew allocations for 116, 118, 122, and 126 Spring Street.

[1:24:49] Just to clarify, remember we uh adopted that allocation distribution plan. These

[1:24:54] would be coming out of the infill bucket.

[1:24:55] » Infilled bucket. Okay. Yes. So for those curious, we have a water and sewer

[1:25:00] allocation plan that spreads our limited remaining allocation until such a time

[1:25:05] we get a new plant amongst different uses in different areas of town. So

[1:25:08] residential and business to make sure that we still have some if a business

[1:25:12] wants to come that's going to you know we have CEDA like Fred said doing a ton

[1:25:15] of work to attract businesses to town. We don't want to get to a point where we

[1:25:18] have zero allocation to give them because we've used it all for, you know,

[1:25:21] one house at a time. So, there are different buckets that the allocation

[1:25:25] come from just to make sure that we can have different uses in town during this

[1:25:28] few years until we hopefully have a new plant.

[1:25:31] » All right, we have a motion and a second.

[1:25:34] » Yes. >> Second. Okay. All in favor? I. Any

[1:25:38] opposed? Okay. Next up, council, you were sent this. This is a letter um a

[1:25:44] proposed letter for us to send our congressional congressional delegation

[1:25:48] via Senator Van Golland related to the potential for increasing the maximum

[1:25:54] truck weight. So, this is about, you know, impact on roads. Um, and there's a

[1:25:59] proposal to permit vehicles weighing up to 91,000 pounds. And a lot of

[1:26:04] municipalities are sending letters um expressing some concerns about the

[1:26:11] infrastructure costs that that would create by having even heavier trucks on

[1:26:14] our roads. And as you all know, we've been doing enforcement related to trucks

[1:26:18] because we've had it's a lot of wear and tear on our roads when overweight trucks

[1:26:22] are on the roads. So, council, we need either approval or not to sign and send

[1:26:28] this letter and then we would sign it this evening. Does anyone have any

[1:26:31] opposition to sending this letter to our congressional delegation? No opposition.

[1:26:35] » Okay. Do we have a copy to sign tonight? >> Awesome. All right. Next up is reports

[1:26:41] of boards and commissions. And so, first is Maryland Municipal League. I have

[1:26:45] nothing related to Maryland Municipal League, but I do think Yeah, we should

[1:26:50] listen to the symposium on funding. >> Yeah. No, I am um uh already already

[1:26:56] signed up. Yeah, >> I will be at the National Governor's

[1:26:59] Association that day for my day job, but I will always take an opportunity to ask

[1:27:05] for money for our sewer plant when I'm anywhere that our governor is. So, next

[1:27:10] up is the Council of Governments. >> No meeting. Next meeting is August 12th.

[1:27:16] » Okay. Economic development. I know you've had an absolute ton of activity.

[1:27:20] Uh we have uh the next CEDA meeting uh for the total group is July 21st. Uh we

[1:27:27] have monthly meetings but we also have uh now three operating subcommittees

[1:27:32] within CEDA that are looking on working on specific projects. So we have interim

[1:27:37] meetings for those throughout the month. Uh what one of the subcommittees is

[1:27:43] looking at development opportunities for the Pennsylvania Avenue uh street across

[1:27:48] from where there's current development. That's where the parking lot is now. So

[1:27:52] we're looking at, you know, possible opportunities for there. We're also have

[1:27:57] another subcommittee uh that is looking at different things that the town can do

[1:28:03] and planning and zoning can do. But we as a total community uh that would uh

[1:28:09] help provide incentives or a more welcoming approach to appropriate

[1:28:14] businesses to come into town. uh you know to help increase our our our rates

[1:28:20] and our tax base uh but also to attract the appropriate kind of business uh and

[1:28:26] employers uh that we think will be well accepted and uh invited into the

[1:28:33] community. So we're looking for ways to uh be more welcoming to a business

[1:28:38] coming into town. >> Awesome.

[1:28:43] » That's thank you Park Advisory Board. >> Much to the in a lot of people. We did

[1:28:48] not meet this month. Therefore, no slides. All right. So, some type of

[1:28:51] applause, please. But we do want to say, water your trees and plants, please. And

[1:28:56] senior citizens, right? >> Salt in the wound for real. [laughter]

[1:29:00] » All right. Planning commission. >> Yes. Um there was a couple meetings.

[1:29:04] There was one on June 17th. There was improved of two houses on uh North

[1:29:09] Liberty Street at 220 North Liberty and um

[1:29:15] and right next door, but it's right near the uh parking garage which is on

[1:29:18] Liberty. It's a vacant lot. It's your smaller homes. Um they're going to be

[1:29:23] great. It's infill which is what we want. It's in our town. It's um more

[1:29:28] affordable housing. So that was approved which is great and it's going on for

[1:29:32] approval by because it's a unusual lot. So special exception associated with

[1:29:37] that. So it will be heard there. Um there was also

[1:29:45] Draper's Liquor that was this last night as far as an extension. It is coming. Um

[1:29:50] that's something to be doing a new building, but they are they've gotten

[1:29:54] their um I think their architectural done, but they need some more time. They

[1:29:58] asked for an extension of another 12 months. you don't see needing that but

[1:30:02] in order to start construction on the new um Drapers um liquor store. Um so it

[1:30:08] is coming. It's just they need more time which is to be un understood. The ADU

[1:30:14] ordinance accessory dwelling units um that ordinance I think we finally put um

[1:30:19] a bow on that last night where we've been looking at that for a couple three

[1:30:23] meetings. Um, so I think that again it' be a good thing for our town as it

[1:30:28] relates to having some affordable housing or granny flats that are behind

[1:30:31] homes that have the ability to do that. Giving giving our residents that

[1:30:36] opportunity to do it and it's going to be in compliance with the state of

[1:30:39] Maryland. So we need to make certain we have that correct the first time. So

[1:30:44] that'll be coming to um town council for review and approval. Um we also as far

[1:30:50] as the approval of the bylaws was a seven member committee. will now be

[1:30:54] five. Um, seven was hard as far as getting enough enough members. So, and

[1:31:00] the five with one uh two alternates actually two alternates. So, um I think

[1:31:04] it's going to work out really well associated with that and it's gone very

[1:31:08] smoothly since um since that has gone down to five. Um

[1:31:14] there's there's the highlights. >> All right. Thank you. Next up, we'll do

[1:31:19] um reports of department heads, town manager. Just a couple quick things. Um,

[1:31:23] the farmers market, if you remember when they were here the last time, they spoke

[1:31:27] about doing an extra day of the market, but they didn't have their dates yet.

[1:31:31] So, they are asking for the use of its parking spaces. They won't be shutting

[1:31:36] down lawyers row um uh on a on Thursdays beginning next

[1:31:42] Thursday the 23rd um from 3:00 to 5:00 for about 10 to 12

[1:31:46] weeks. So, they would like the council's um consideration to And they just use

[1:31:51] like the last several parking spots on lawyers.

[1:31:54] » And the police have no problem getting those blocked off.

[1:31:56] » No chief anymore. >> I don't know where chief is. But

[1:32:00] » is there a motion to approve the request of the farmers market?

[1:32:04] » I make a motion to approve. >> Second.

[1:32:06] » That's good. >> Okay. All in favor?

[1:32:09] » All right. >> Um the other just two more quick things.

[1:32:12] Um the council usually approves during the budget process a list of grants. We

[1:32:17] were speaking with a um property owner of a property on Water Street that we

[1:32:24] would like to um uh submit the strategic demolition grant

[1:32:29] for. It would be a pass through grant. Um only municipality or government

[1:32:34] agencies or um nonprofit um development organizations are allowed to apply. Um

[1:32:40] and this would help with the um um structural intent of their building. So,

[1:32:47] um, and that application is due August 6th.

[1:32:50] » Oh, wow. >> Um, which is our next meeting. So, yeah,

[1:32:54] soon. >> And so, just for the public, we ask that

[1:32:56] the staff brings grant opportunities before the council to the extent that

[1:33:00] money is policy to make sure that we're all on one page before we just because

[1:33:04] it's grant money doesn't mean it's free. And so, just making sure we're all on

[1:33:07] the same page. I'm in favor of the strategic demolition grant. Are there is

[1:33:10] there any opposition to it? >> No, I'm all in favor.

[1:33:13] » Okay. And last um thing real quick is um most people know that um Gay, our

[1:33:20] current town clerk, was um has moved to our full-time economic development

[1:33:25] manager. Uh so we had a town clerk role to fill. Um we had two internal

[1:33:31] applicants that apply that were interviewed. Um we chose um uh Jackie

[1:33:37] Payne who is currently in our public works department as an administrative

[1:33:41] assistant. She's been with the town uh over four years. Um will be moving into

[1:33:46] that role. So, we're really excited for her. Really excited to have her. Public

[1:33:50] works is a little sad, but um I told them they come see her any day at town

[1:33:56] hall. They can come see Gary's mad. >> Yeah. Well,

[1:33:59] » get it. >> That's all I have.

[1:34:01] » Okay. >> Thank you.

[1:34:02] » Did the chief leave? >> No. This is his turn.

[1:34:06] » He's up. [laughter] >> You're You're up for your report.

[1:34:10] Understanding

[1:34:13] that we can all read. >> Understand.

[1:34:19] » Are there copies out in the hall if people want them?

[1:34:21] » There were. I think they might have. >> I think people took them. Great. And we

[1:34:23] put them on the website. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. So, thank you

[1:34:27] for the opportunity to address the council tonight. I do have to get caught

[1:34:29] up on a couple of department reviews uh for the month of May and month of June.

[1:34:34] So, if I could direct the council's attention to the May report.

[1:34:38] Nothing really substantial on the numbers as far as any of the the

[1:34:41] activities go. Uh but I would just like to indicate to the council some of the

[1:34:45] uh assignments and events that the police department had attended or was a

[1:34:48] part of. We had the 2026 police unity tour come through the town of

[1:34:52] Centerville which we always try to participate or you make sure they have

[1:34:54] safe travels to their destination as they come through Centerville.

[1:34:59] uh the Rotary Club presentation they we had one of our officers nominated for

[1:35:04] the officer of the year for the Rotary Club in which our officer actually uh

[1:35:09] received the officer of the year award. So it was a great honor for not only the

[1:35:14] officer but our department in the town. Greens County High School obviously they

[1:35:18] had the graduation in the month of May. We were honored to be in attendance

[1:35:21] there as well and participate in their graduation ceremony.

[1:35:25] They have a strengthening justice through communications uh I don't really

[1:35:30] want to know if we call it a committee. It's a it's a group through the Queen

[1:35:32] and County Circuit Court. It's about providing resources to victims etc. And

[1:35:37] we were uh invited to attend that which we were more than honored to be a part

[1:35:41] of. So that is the month of May unless the

[1:35:46] council has any questions on anything that was on the May report.

[1:35:50] So, looking at June, uh, we had Centerville Elementary School

[1:35:55] Field Day. Uh, we were invited out there. We typically bring one of our K9

[1:35:59] units and they either do one of a couple of things. They either will do a K9

[1:36:02] demonstration or they will do what they call like a cash dash, which our K9's

[1:36:05] name is Cash and they'll run with the kids and they have relay races and such.

[1:36:08] And usually kids kids love to interact with the K9 units. Um, we also had the

[1:36:13] Junth parade and celebration out at Canord. We usually typically do traffic

[1:36:18] control and help guide the parade to make sure they have safe travels to

[1:36:20] their destination which is the Canard Elementary. Uh it's grown every year and

[1:36:25] substantially. It's always, you know, getting better and better. I'm glad to

[1:36:28] see that. And as council knows, we had Maryland

[1:36:31] crafted event which, you know, we typically try to assist with traffic

[1:36:34] control when we can and you know, safe traversing whether it be pedestrians or

[1:36:38] the traffic to come through the area since it's in the center of town.

[1:36:43] They had a touch a truck event at White Marsh Park. uh that was uh we were

[1:36:47] invited to attend uh I think it was maybe their first annual uh attempt at

[1:36:52] that and you know they had they had okay attendance and I think it'll get bigger

[1:36:56] and bigger every year and >> wasn't there some sort of competition

[1:36:58] too for that >> there there was a competition

[1:37:01] » or something >> yeah it was it was uh the police versus

[1:37:04] the fire department as far as uh who could raise the most money and I think

[1:37:07] the fire department lost if I remember correctly. Oh,

[1:37:11] » you get expecting that. >> Did you heard that

[1:37:14] » to put the pie in the chief's face? >> I I have not had the opportunity yet,

[1:37:18] but I am so looking forward to it. >> Okay, cool.

[1:37:20] » That's if he shows up. >> Let me know if you need help.

[1:37:22] » Yeah, maybe you can help with that. Maybe we'll do video, photos, etc.

[1:37:27] » Reals. >> Yes. [laughter]

[1:37:30] » So, we we were happy to be in attendance there and we're looking forward to that

[1:37:33] growing as well and being, you know, a better event for the community. uh the

[1:37:37] American Legion Veterans Group. Uh they meet um several times throughout the

[1:37:42] year. Typically, we'll be in attendance in their meeting groups. Kind of give

[1:37:45] them the state of the state of what's going on with the police department and

[1:37:47] what we can with the town. Uh there's a lot of questions and Q&A sessions, which

[1:37:52] we love to have because I mean, we we want the, you know, to give them the

[1:37:55] answers they're looking for. So, um it's always a good time, good turnout. Uh we

[1:38:01] certainly uh appreciative of getting the invite.

[1:38:04] And also at the American Legion, they had what they call the Gold Star

[1:38:07] Memorial motorcycle ride. Uh they have several motorcycles from the American

[1:38:11] Legion riders come from all over the area to attend this event. So we

[1:38:17] provided traffic control and uh try to assist them in and out of the Legion

[1:38:20] safely uh so they can get on their way to other locations. Uh pretty pretty

[1:38:24] large turnout. So we were more than honored to be a part of that as well. So

[1:38:28] that's just a brief synopsis of some of the things and events that we had taken

[1:38:32] part in May and >> June.

[1:38:34] Thank you so much. >> Yep.

[1:38:35] » All right. >> No problem.

[1:38:36] » Town attorney. >> I have nothing.

[1:38:38] » Great. >> Um,

[1:38:42] come back to you, Gay. Administrator, do you have anything?

[1:38:47] » It's a first time for everything. >> This is like the third time.

[1:38:52] » I have talked to some of you individually. Um, I'm working on the

[1:38:56] vacant property registry and kind of the one thing that we still

[1:39:02] need to uh hash out on that is in the ordinance there's reference to the fee

[1:39:06] schedule. So, um I I guess I'll just kind of come tell you. So, we kind of

[1:39:13] modeled it after Denton. Denton's fees are very aggressive. Um I think it goes

[1:39:17] up to like $3,000 in year four. Um, so I kind of wanted to get your feedback on

[1:39:24] some fees. I'm I'm proposing uh a a four-year tier with with that. Um, in

[1:39:32] year one, $150 and that fee would be waved if you fill out the uh if you fill

[1:39:38] out all the required information within 90 days. Um, and then 300 and year two.

[1:39:46] Year three is 600 and then year four would be 1,500. And if you remember the

[1:39:50] vacant property ordinance, you know, if you have an active building permit and

[1:39:54] you are, [snorts] you know, actively um restoring your building to occupancy

[1:39:58] conditions, you're not subject to that. So, it's it's more meant for the

[1:40:03] historically uh vacant, right things. So,

[1:40:06] » chronically vacant. >> Okay. Um we will do the fee schedule by

[1:40:11] resolution, I assume. >> Yes. Yep.

[1:40:13] » So, >> I'm comfort I mean, I like the idea of

[1:40:16] waving the first year. I've been saying that since the beginning of the vacant

[1:40:19] property process. I think >> a big part of it is just collecting the

[1:40:23] information right now. So we know problems that are out there.

[1:40:28] » Um >> so so repeat again the fees on uh year

[1:40:34] two, three and four. >> So I have it doubling in year so year

[1:40:38] one 150 or waved within 90 days. Um, year two would would go to 300, year

[1:40:46] three would go to 600, and then year four. So, your building would have to be

[1:40:49] vacant with no action for four continuous years essentially. Um,

[1:40:54] » because the clock would start over if it had a use in it.

[1:40:57] » Yeah. >> It would cease to be vacant and so then

[1:40:59] the next time it became vacant. >> Fair.

[1:41:01] » Yeah. That's half of Denton's fee. >> Yeah, it's half. And the thing I want to

[1:41:05] make certain of is just And we can always adjust it, right? I mean, if

[1:41:09] things don't like this is this isn't taking traction because back to what we

[1:41:13] just heard relating to our marketing study and our citizens as far as vacant

[1:41:18] buildings, it was very important to the council to do something about that. So,

[1:41:22] I just want to make certain that, you know, things aren't going in the

[1:41:25] direction that should be going that okay, well, maybe we need to get the fee

[1:41:29] up higher so people can take notice relating to their vacant buildings.

[1:41:33] That's my only comment. I mean, I'm fine to do this initially, but rely on you to

[1:41:38] say, "We're having some issues here. People aren't complying the way they

[1:41:42] should be, and maybe we should do something different and come to us."

[1:41:45] » Yeah. And so that's kind of why I chose instead of just a flat zero in year one

[1:41:49] with the waiver within a certain amount of time, like uh kind of giving people

[1:41:53] an incentive to when they're notified that they need to fill out the forms. Um

[1:41:57] you know, there's some stuff involved in that. If they don't live within one of

[1:42:00] the contiguous counties, they have to provide a local property manager that

[1:42:05] does live within one of the contiguous counties. So there's some kind of

[1:42:08] backend stuff that >> Right. And the idea is to disincentivize

[1:42:12] keeping properties vacant. >> Right. Exactly.

[1:42:14] » This is commercial and residential or just commercial.

[1:42:18] » Okay. I think prepare the resolution with those fees and we can have further

[1:42:21] discussion when we hear the resolution. >> Thank you.

[1:42:25] » All right. Gay town clerk slash economic development manager.

[1:42:29] » Yes. I have a couple things. Well, first of all, thank you. This is my last.

[1:42:34] » You think? [laughter] last meeting up here taking the notes

[1:42:40] she >> and doing the agendas and the packets.

[1:42:44] » So, and Jackie Jackie is going to do great. So, thank you for letting me

[1:42:48] serve. I didn't think I would get emotional.

[1:42:50] » I know you're getting emotional. [laughter] Don't worry, you're still

[1:42:55] » Yeah, I'll be here a lot more. >> Yes. Yes. And um thanks to Carol

[1:42:59] Dagustinino um the mainstream market study was

[1:43:03] great. So, we're gonna have a great transformational strategy to run with. I

[1:43:06] look forward to, um, meeting those goals. A little intimidating, the

[1:43:11] reporting every month. So, um, great. >> I look forward to being accountable to

[1:43:15] you all and the town. So, I can't wait. Um, first off, um, some of the things

[1:43:20] that happened this month, of course, we had our fireworks. Turned out to be a

[1:43:24] great event. Um, that was a good time in July. We also did the Maryland crafted

[1:43:28] event, which was great. Um, great attendance. In September, I'll have a

[1:43:32] report on the sip and saver trail and that event. Um I did complete for one of

[1:43:38] my goals as the town clerk the academy for excellence. So I will get my um

[1:43:43] certificate for that program in September. I think it's September 27th.

[1:43:48] » Um we are inches away from the approval of the wayfinding signs. We had a

[1:43:53] meeting yesterday. Um, we all we have to do I know all we have to do with MD dot

[1:43:59] is get some clarification on some of their comments. Um, we should have that

[1:44:03] all completed before the end of the month.

[1:44:05] » Amazing. >> That's great.

[1:44:06] » Now we just have to figure out where they how we can attach them and then

[1:44:10] we're probably going to put in a lot of ourselves. Um,

[1:44:14] » because that's some of the issue, right? Correct.

[1:44:16] » Can't do it on Demarra Power unless we have a contact if someone wants to help

[1:44:19] me reach out to them. always happy to help um to let us put it on their their

[1:44:24] polls. >> Guys just aren't annoying enough. That's

[1:44:26] the key. [laughter] >> Um our website, we um are update in the

[1:44:31] process of updating our website due to the transition. It is slow for us to

[1:44:35] make that live. We still need to review it and I still need to train on it. Um

[1:44:40] but it will happen. Um, and we're going to try to get input from everyone on how

[1:44:45] we want it to to be because I want it to be resident facing

[1:44:49] » um, so they can find things easier. Um, and then to that we're going to have a

[1:44:54] commercial frontacing side. So it'll list all our

[1:44:58] commercial properties available in the town.

[1:45:00] » Awesome. >> That's fantastic.

[1:45:01] » So that's going to be um just right on our website. You can go there and click

[1:45:05] on the property and get all the information. So we'll have that on

[1:45:08] there. >> Very cool.

[1:45:10] um July 27th through the 31st I will be unavailable. I'll be in a Maryland

[1:45:15] economic development basic economic development course and it's 9 to5 um

[1:45:21] those five week five days um and once I complete that that can go to

[1:45:25] certification to get my economic development s

[1:45:29] um we are once again a 20 26 accredited designated main street. So, we received

[1:45:35] our accreditation. Again, with that, what we talked about today comes with

[1:45:39] those facade grants and some other great things, M.Y.I.P. and some of the other

[1:45:42] things that come. I can't really talk about that yet until it's announced from

[1:45:46] the governor's office, but soon as I that happens, I'll tell you the number.

[1:45:50] Um, and then August 12th through the 15th, I will be attending Mako. It'll be

[1:45:55] my first Mako conference. Um, I'm coordinating with the county and we're

[1:46:00] um heading into a lot of u meetings and networking opportunities for me to meet

[1:46:04] the players that actually will help us uh with the goals that Main Street has

[1:46:08] set forth and CEDA that's for and I look forward to stepping into that role full

[1:46:14] time >> uh instead of halftime. So um more to

[1:46:18] come. Well, we're so excited and >> you know, I I do want to thank Carol for

[1:46:23] all the work that she put in, not just the Main Street study, but to Main

[1:46:26] Street over the years. And I think she created something that was so big that

[1:46:30] we needed full-time attention on our main street and economic development.

[1:46:34] And so, just really grateful that you're stepping into the role because we know

[1:46:38] you're going to be so so good at it. >> And we're here to help. That's

[1:46:43] important, too, as it relates to communicating. Fred's a great We all

[1:46:49] want to be partners to help them be successful on their main street over the

[1:46:54] next few years. So, we're here for you. Thank you. Thank you very much.

[1:46:59] » All right. Next up, we have our final citizens forum of the evening. Citizens

[1:47:04] are requested to keep their comments to three minutes, but if anyone wishes to

[1:47:07] address the council, you can just come on up to the mic and state your name for

[1:47:09] the record.

[1:47:13] [laughter] >> Curious about the project.

[1:47:17] got a letter that Belvadier was going to be worked on early spring

[1:47:21] » and we've heard nothing since. >> So, everybody wants to know what's

[1:47:25] happening on Belvadier. >> So, we got grant funding to do that. Um

[1:47:30] the federal earmark funding, it requires a preliminary engineering report to be

[1:47:34] completed and that's what we're waiting for the completion of so that we can

[1:47:38] move forward with the actual project. Um but that's that was a requirement of the

[1:47:44] federal government for the funds. We had to do the preliminary engineering report

[1:47:48] for Belvadier and we're and Tilman. >> They're still in the queue.

[1:47:51] » It's still in the queue. Yes, it's coming. We just have to wait for this

[1:47:54] engineering report to get done. >> Um I have to check with public works. I

[1:48:00] know um I think it was last week we had a

[1:48:04] meeting that they were reaching out to the um engineer who was completing it

[1:48:08] just to get his timeline. So I'll I'll follow up with with Kip and I'll get

[1:48:12] back with you on that. Yeah. any other citizens that wish to address the

[1:48:16] council? Well, we thank you so much for hanging

[1:48:20] in um for the whole meeting and we really do value citizen engagement and

[1:48:25] hope that you'll continue to reach out to us. Um now, the last thing on our

[1:48:30] agenda is council round table. Council vice president Ke.

[1:48:33] » First, I want to thank Gay for awesome work you did with the fireworks. I want

[1:48:38] to thank everybody said they loved it was awesome. The show was awesome. Um, I

[1:48:43] also want to thank the police department for their help, public works department

[1:48:47] for their all their help, too. >> Yes, it was awesome show. A lot of

[1:48:52] people turned out for it. >> So, that's the only thing I have.

[1:48:55] » That's all you've got. All right. >> And hopefully get money for next year.

[1:48:59] » Oh my gosh. >> Council member fundraising.

[1:49:03] » Yeah. >> Right.

[1:49:04] » Right. >> I've had enough to say one.

[1:49:09] » Council member McNeel. >> Thank you. I'd never have enough to say.

[1:49:12] Couple thank yous. First to Kip. Got a phone call 700 a.m. Wednesday. The town

[1:49:17] hadn't cut grass. Uh of citizens grass. Rode my bike down to see Kip at 8. The

[1:49:23] town cut the grass. At night, >> not a citizen's grass.

[1:49:27] » I'm sorry. >> Not a citizen.

[1:49:28] » A citizen's grass. >> Yes. The citizen's property that is

[1:49:32] right in the town property. >> The town's grass. Town had to cut it

[1:49:36] grass. Uh thank the town staff. the first round of the new company's trash

[1:49:41] pickup. The new company made some mistakes. They recall me. I'd refer to

[1:49:46] the town office. Bingo was taken care of. So, I appreciate that. Uh Karen, if

[1:49:50] you're still here, she's not hanging in here. Karen and Carolyn, thank you for

[1:49:55] this morning's meeting. Very enlightening. And for everyone that

[1:49:57] knows the mill project, the Porsche is gone.

[1:50:02] » There's progress going on. There's a lot of good things. It's slow progress, but

[1:50:06] it's going on. Thank you very much. And the last thing, uh,

[1:50:10] » farmers market 9 to 12 on Sundays. Come on. We have a great time, great food.

[1:50:14] That's a great place to be. >> 9 to1.

[1:50:16] » 9 to1. >> No, she changed at 9 to 12.

[1:50:19] » Only during heat advisories. >> Okay.

[1:50:21] » Yeah. >> 9 to1 if it's not hot,

[1:50:24] » right? Okay. >> Council member Huffer.

[1:50:27] » Great. So, real quick. So, um, myself and others here went to the MML summer

[1:50:32] conference in June, June 15th. It was excellent. Good. A good conference. a

[1:50:38] lot of good sessions, a lot on governance that I uh participated in

[1:50:41] this year and um so that was good. Another one was an access to capital

[1:50:45] workshop June 30th that was um actually by the county um which again some other

[1:50:52] [snorts] members here um also with Queens County Economic and Tourism

[1:50:55] Department did it. So we learned some stuff and actually took some stuff in

[1:50:59] action after that meeting. So I was happy about going to that. That was

[1:51:02] great and finding opportunities for local businesses. Um, one of the others,

[1:51:06] um, trees. So, last year we planted trees. There's a grant with the Shore

[1:51:10] Rivers, um, where communities can get replantings of trees in their in their

[1:51:16] towns. And I kind of spearheaded that last year. We did about 25 trees. And

[1:51:21] we're going to do about 25 trees this year in our town. And trees are

[1:51:25] important for shade, especially now. It's really hot. And we really need to

[1:51:30] have tree canopy in our town to to get the heat down in our town. So it'll be,

[1:51:36] you know, on Liberty Commerce, the trail, Milstream Park, and a couple on

[1:51:41] Lawyers Row. So I look forward to that. They will be planted in the fall by

[1:51:45] 12:31 so they can survive. Um you don't want to plant them now. So um those are

[1:51:51] just a few things. >> Okay. And I just have a couple things.

[1:51:55] One, just a reminder that first Friday is August 7th and we hope the community

[1:51:59] will come out. And um then just another, this is a little bit random and I'll be

[1:52:05] quick because it's been a somewhat long meeting, but I this week was in DC with

[1:52:09] 350 teenagers from all over the country for my day job and it was exhausting,

[1:52:13] but also really encouraging. And one of the things the teens have to do to be

[1:52:17] able to come on the trip is an advocacy project that they do in small groups. It

[1:52:20] has to have an impact on their community at some level. So, some of them do, you

[1:52:24] know, beach cleanups in Miami or mental health things or just different things

[1:52:28] depending on what they are. And one of these groups of teens in a small town,

[1:52:31] and I don't remember what state, had a beautifification project that they did

[1:52:35] where they as a group of teenagers helped senior citizens cut their grass

[1:52:39] and pull weeds and plant plants. And then they award a lawn of the week and a

[1:52:45] neighborhood of the month. And they've seen like market improvement in

[1:52:48] community pride. And so just when I think about the things that we can do as

[1:52:52] a town and as a council, there's certainly a lot and a lot that we try to

[1:52:57] do, but there's also a ton that residents can do even if you're the

[1:53:00] majority of the kids in this group were like 14 years old. So, I just found it

[1:53:04] so encouraging and I, you know, I said to them like, I'm uh on the town council

[1:53:08] in a small town and I wish there was a a group of teenagers who, you know, wanted

[1:53:12] to take that up. And so, I just, I was, I left this week so like I said,

[1:53:16] exhausted, but also just wildly encouraged. And I don't think when I was

[1:53:19] a teenager, I would have thought like, how can I at that micro level do

[1:53:24] something to improve my town? So, I just share that to say there's tons of

[1:53:27] opportunities whether it's, you know, running for town council or doing public

[1:53:31] service in some other way that there's plenty of ways that everybody, no matter

[1:53:33] how old you are, can pitch in. So, that is all I have. Do we have a motion to

[1:53:39] adjurnn? >> Motion to adjurnn.

[1:53:40] » All right.

Town of Centreville Meeting | 07.16.2026

Transcript