[1:26] Good morning, folks.

[1:31] » [clears throat]

[2:27] » It's going to be a while, folks.

[3:31] I'm testing my volume. Can anyone hear me?

[3:38] » Convene this May 7th Town Council meeting for the town of Centreville.

[3:43] We're going to start with a pledge of allegiance and a moment of silence.

[3:49] » I I allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

[3:54] and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under

[3:58] God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[4:07] » Thank you.

[4:14] Next is the agenda review. Anybody have any problems with the agenda?

[4:18] Any corrections? Next is the review of the meeting

[4:22] minutes from past meetings for April 9th, 2026 and April 16th,

[4:27] 2026. Any corrections?

[4:31] » I have none. >> Need a a motion for approval of the

[4:35] minutes. >> We'll take turns, Sandy.

[4:36] » I make a motion to approve the April 9th and April 16th minutes.

[4:40] » I second. >> All in favor?

[4:43] » Aye. >> Aye.

[4:45] » All right. Next is citizens forum. Citizens have requested to keep their

[4:49] comments to 3 minutes. Anybody would like to speak?

[4:53] Yes, ma'am.

[4:57] » Make sure that's on. My name is Margaret Shackley. I'm from

[5:01] Northbrook. I did not have time to make comments

[5:05] last meeting on the outer study, so I have a few things to say.

[5:10] When you're faced with a big decision, it should be a question for every

[5:15] decision. It's so important to ask, what are the unintended consequences when

[5:21] you're considering a solution? So, besides improvement, I'm

[5:26] questioning, what is the objective for this water plant at

[5:30] the grand design that it was proposed for,

[5:34] um, and is it for developers to, um, build on open lands?

[5:39] So, here are some of the possible unintended consequences.

[5:44] Exodus of current residents due to excessive town bills, more traffic, less

[5:49] parking, overcrowded schools, then you will want more money to build schools.

[5:55] And the worst case scenario is houses will not sell because of the exorbitant

[6:00] cost of utilities. Developers who buy the land claiming

[6:04] they are building homes might have trouble selling them and then will claim

[6:08] that they need to make a profit and therefore must sell the property to

[6:12] build a data center. The data center will then take all of

[6:17] our water, raise our electricity bills to astronomical levels when already most

[6:22] of us are forced to pay for water we don't use.

[6:25] And this town is proposing to raise the amount of our water bills to an

[6:29] untenable increase.

[6:32] Data centers across this country create heat islands around them.

[6:37] It increases the land in the area to 16.2°

[6:43] Fahrenheit in a radius of 6 mi. This adversely will affect our health, our

[6:50] wildlife, and the very nature of what the Eastern

[6:53] Shore and Centreville is. Data centers create a 24-hour hum that

[6:58] will drive us nuts and disturb our peace.

[7:02] Data centers have been refused in Hartford, Calvert, Prince George's,

[7:07] Montgomery. Frederick is having a referendum on them.

[7:11] And Anne Arundel's trying to block them. Queen Anne's County could be the next

[7:15] attempt. So,

[7:18] citizens should have the full transparency of the total flow of money

[7:23] of this proposed water plant. To whom is the money flowing in this town and

[7:27] state? Through what shell companies, including whoever is proposing to build

[7:32] this plant, their subcontractors, and elected officials who are receiving

[7:37] donations? The presentation did not even mention

[7:42] one benefit for us citizens. The proposed water plant is

[7:47] grand. It should be scaled back, perhaps into

[7:52] phases over time. Why should citizens have to pay for it

[7:57] up front for no benefit to us? We should first have laws preventing

[8:03] data centers anywhere in our town and county first before we

[8:08] consider building a grand plant. And for something of this magnitude,

[8:14] we need multiple informational work sessions scheduled with the citizens on

[8:19] different days and times to discuss the impact and the plans related to the

[8:24] water study. Citizens need an open forum where we can ask questions and get

[8:30] answers immediately. And choices of plans should be

[8:33] presented, not just one. This will have such an impact on our budgets that the

[8:39] citizens should get to vote on the options.

[8:43] And I have submitted the scientific study on data centers for your perusal.

[8:48] Thank you. >> Thank you.

[8:51] » Next we have appearances. Uh

[8:54] First is the Linda and Brent Carroll proclamation.

[8:57] » Okay, two of my favorite people. Linda and Brent, come on up front. We'll read

[9:00] you. I might sing this. Gabe Gabe wants me to

[9:03] sing it right there. >> [laughter]

[9:06] » Right there. Right there. >> Right here.

[9:08] » Yes, ma'am. >> Right here.

[9:10] » Right in the center. >> Yeah, turn around.

[9:12] » Right by this microphone. >> Millions of people watching on the TV as

[9:15] you speak. My wife and her I think that's it.

[9:20] Uh I got to tell you my favorite here, turn around to my

[9:23] favorite thing in this county is the board of ed. At the beginning of every

[9:26] meeting they spend the first 10 minutes of giving out awards. They have the

[9:30] teacher of the month, bus driver of the month, etc., etc. It just sends a nice

[9:34] feeling of the whole meeting is like, "Hey, wow, this is cool. good people.

[9:38] You have before you people who run a CPA business for 50 years in town. But

[9:43] here's a hidden secret you don't know. They don't tell anybody.

[9:46] For about 35, 30, 35, Brent and I can't figure out the exact number. Okay, of

[9:51] years, every Easter down at Mill Stream Park.

[9:55] » I think we just had 35. >> 35 I would go, hey.

[9:58] » Good job. 35. >> To give you an example, this year 200

[10:03] kids showed up. The Carrolls get the candy, get the candies all spread out so

[10:09] when the count of 10, all the kids by age. You have little guys this size,

[10:13] ankle biters, and you have people taller than me. The middle school kids are all

[10:16] right. But these wonderful people have been doing this for 35 years. No one

[10:20] ever thanks them. Now they've been doing it with the Lions Club, but they've been

[10:24] doing it with other organizations, but we really need to thank them. And if I

[10:28] can, Lyndon, Brent, uh let me read >> [laughter]

[10:30] » This is the worst part. You got to put up with this crap. Okay. Uh whereas

[10:34] Lyndon and Brent Carroll have demonstrated extraordinary dedication

[10:39] and community spirit through their leadership and commitment to the annual

[10:44] Easter egg hunt Mill Stream Park. Some of you aren't even 35 years old. This

[10:47] has been going on before that. Whereas for an incredible 35 years, thank you,

[10:52] Gay. Lyndon and Brent Carroll have faithfully organized and sustained this

[10:57] cherished community tradition, bringing joy and connection to generations of fam

[11:02] Even if you don't have kids, come to this. Little kids are jumping up and

[11:06] down. They get Easter bunnies. They get Easter eggs. They get everything. Okay.

[11:10] Lyndon and Brent Carroll have gone above and beyond by coordinating with local

[11:14] agencies, organizations, and service providers. Usually these two, okay,

[11:20] uh to enhance the event and foster a spirit of collaboration within the

[11:24] community. Whereas their selfless volunteerism, tireless

[11:29] coordination, and unwavering enthusiasm have made a lasting and meaningful

[11:34] impact on the quality of life. If you see these little kids

[11:38] and you see their parents, the joy on their face, it's just just amazing. Now,

[11:42] therefore, we, the Town Council of Centerville, Fred and Ohio, Sandy and

[11:48] Jethro and I are here, okay? Uh recognize Linda and Brent Carroll for

[11:52] their 35 years of outstanding service, dedication, and commitment to the annual

[11:57] Easter egg hunt in Mill Stream Park and our sincere extend our deepest

[12:01] gratitude, and I'm going to cheat here on behalf of probably a couple of

[12:04] thousand kids over 35 years, okay? Thank you, Linda. Thank you, Brent.

[12:08] » Thank you. Well, I >> Okay. Here you go.

[12:10] » [applause] >> Okay. Do you want to say something? Go

[12:12] ahead. >> If anyone wants to say something.

[12:16] » Yeah. Well, I'd like to tell a little story

[12:19] about the best the best thing I saw the the kids do a couple years ago. Uh we

[12:24] divided into uh 0 to age 3, 4 to 6, 7 to 9, and 10 to 12. The different columns

[12:33] they they go, and the little kids are allowed to be with their parent.

[12:38] Well, one year, one little boy didn't get anything, and he started to cry. He

[12:44] was very little. And another child came up and said,

[12:47] "What's wrong?" And "I didn't get anything." So, she gave him hers.

[12:51] And I thought that was really sweet. And that's an example of the kids that do

[12:55] come to that. There's no rushing, there's no pushing. They're just nice,

[13:00] really nice, and that's not that easy to find super nice kids, but they all seem

[13:05] to show up there. >> Thank you.

[13:09] I would I'll just say that uh the Lions Club

[13:13] uh I've been I was president of the Lions Club for a long time, and we

[13:16] we fell below members, and we do need membership uh to reinstate the club, but

[13:22] we've continued this even though we were temporarily suspended.

[13:27] And that the regional people come in and help do it now. And this past year I

[13:32] think was the largest ever that I've ever we've ever witnessed.

[13:36] And we had I mean literally hundreds of people

[13:41] uh there at the event including the kids and

[13:45] » Yeah, they called said we kept the kept it open for you. The girls in the office

[13:48] are great for taking care of things for us.

[13:51] » Thank you very much. >> Thank you.

[13:53] » [applause] >> Thank you.

[13:54] Thank you.

[13:58] » Next is Deborah Jones Miller for US Colored Troops Memorial.

[14:04] Come on up. Yep, right here.

[14:15] Make sure that you're close to the mic.

[14:25] » Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak this

[14:28] evening. My name is Deborah Jones Miller and I represent the Queen Anne's County

[14:32] Veterans Committee along with my colleague Deborah Hooper. Who's Could

[14:37] you raise your hand, Deborah? So

[14:41] Um we are a group of local veterans and community supporters committed to

[14:46] honoring the service and sacrifice of over 480 African-American soldiers from

[14:51] Queen Anne's County who fought in the Civil War.

[14:54] These soldiers were referred to as the United States Colored Troops and they

[14:58] were a segment of the 200,000 free and enslaved African-Americans who fought

[15:03] with the Union Army. Their contribution was not secondary. It

[15:07] was decisive. President Abraham Lincoln stated that

[15:11] without the military support of the black freedmen, the Union could not have

[15:15] won the war. Yet despite their sacrifice, their names

[15:19] and their stories have largely gone unrecognized in the very community they

[15:23] helped to preserve. We're working hard to change that.

[15:28] The committee has commissioned engraved with names, regiments, and

[15:33] units of these soldiers. It will stand at the Kennard African

[15:36] American Cultural Heritage Center and Museum in Centreville, Maryland, a

[15:41] visible, lasting acknowledgement of their service.

[15:44] This is not just a monument, it is a correction of a historical record.

[15:50] The cost of this project is $300,000. To date, the committee has raised

[15:55] $127,000. In addition, we have secured pledges of

[16:00] $100,000 from the state of Maryland through its bond initiative grant, and a

[16:05] pledge from Queen Anne's County Commissioner's office of $50,000.

[16:10] So, we've done the work, we've built the momentum, and now we're asking for your

[16:14] partnership. Tonight, I am requesting a $2,000

[16:18] contribution from the town council. In the scope of your budget, this is a

[16:22] modest investment, but in the scope of this project, in the message that it

[16:26] sends, it is significant. This is an opportunity for you to affirm

[16:30] that the service of these men matters, that their legacy matters, and that this

[16:36] community will no longer allow it to be overlooked.

[16:39] We are not simply asking for funding, we're asking for recognition, for

[16:43] acknowledgement, for support in ensuring that these men are remembered with the

[16:47] dignity they earned. I urge you to join us in this effort. Thank you.

[16:52] » Thank you, Dr. >> Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

[16:55] » Just if I can Gentlemen,

[16:57] » May I speak? >> Uh this is going to be an amazing

[17:00] contribution to the town >> Okay, yeah. Okay.

[17:03] » You're talking about that size, 6 ft on a 3-ft pedestal, placed behind Kennard.

[17:09] It will become a national attraction, national.

[17:13] People going to come here. 4 to 600 Queen Anne's County residents

[17:17] volunteered to fight for the north during the Civil War. They have not been

[17:22] honored. We put a plaque The group put a plaque together.

[17:25] » Yeah, Brad, I just wanted to remind everyone that

[17:27] » You'll have to You'll have to come >> You got to get a mic on.

[17:30] » You have to come up.

[17:34] » Hear me okay? Thank you. So, we are getting it on the map so that visitors

[17:38] coming to the Harriet Tubman will stop here first. I think that will be real

[17:42] good for our economy and our history. It's part of our two-pronged approach.

[17:48] It's not just about the memorial, it's about letting people know what they

[17:51] actually did. Thank you. >> Thank you. At our last meeting that they

[17:58] we'd asked for more information. That's why they're here. So, if I could, Jeff,

[18:02] I'd like to make a motion that we contribute $200. They've done

[18:06] their application work. $2,000, I'm sorry. Sorry, Debbie.

[18:10] I have to make up the difference, right? Okay. $2,000.

[18:14] Uh they go to this What is going to be a It's going to be a national attraction?

[18:17] It's going to be amazing. Motion made. Are we good?

[18:20] » They filled out the application, right? They have?

[18:22] » They They completed Yes. >> Okay. Okay.

[18:26] » I just wanted to remind you we did receive the full packet in the budget

[18:30] binders um from them in time for the contribution request and it's still in

[18:35] your budget binders. So, if you have any questions.

[18:37] » Okay. It's not a motion.

[18:38] » So, can I ask someone So, Karen, is it I know later this evening. So, is it It's

[18:43] not been included in the budget, correct?

[18:45] » Correct. So, right now we did increase that line to allow for those from the

[18:49] discussion at at the last meeting with all the council members. So, it would be

[18:53] incorporated in the line that we increased and be covered.

[18:57] » With the current draft. Okay. Thank you. Got a motion. We need a second.

[19:03] » Is there any discussion? >> Yeah, we all yes, we can talk.

[19:05] » It's a second and then discuss. >> Discuss. And then discuss.

[19:08] » Yeah, I would do a second, but have a discussion.

[19:11] » Yes, mhm. >> Um

[19:14] so again $2,000 is not you know I appreciate as far as just you come and

[19:19] I'm really appreciative of all the fundraising you've been able to do. It's

[19:22] amazing what you've been able to do cuz and that's just happened in a short

[19:26] period of time. I know it probably in the last 2 months, you know, as far as

[19:30] the large amount that you've done. So I'm very supportive of this cuz I do

[19:33] agree this is not only as far as just for the honor of the soldiers who lost

[19:38] their lives and and fought. Um but also as far as historical tourism, historical

[19:44] tourism and having that as part of the town. Um that's an important history of

[19:49] our town. So thank you.

[19:56] » I say one more thing. So I just want you to think about this.

[20:01] According to Abraham Lincoln, the war against the South would not have been

[20:04] won without the United States Colored Troops. So imagine what our nation would

[20:09] be right now had the South won.

[20:14] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[20:17] » [clears throat] >> All right.

[20:19] Does Fred have anything? >> Do you have anything, Fred?

[20:22] » I don't know if my volume is up or if I can be heard there in the meeting.

[20:27] » you. >> Um

[20:29] I'm very, very impressed with what they've

[20:31] been able to accomplish from a fundraising standpoint. Quite frankly, I

[20:35] was skeptical at the beginning that you would be able be able to

[20:40] achieve that kind of fundraising, but particularly in this short amount of

[20:42] time. So clearly there's real support not only

[20:46] from the state, from the county and yeah, I want to put in my two cents here

[20:52] from the community. Uh you know, that we're fully behind

[20:55] that or at least I am and I know most all of the community is as well. So I

[21:00] just want to congrat ulate you

[21:03] for all you've done and how important this is going to be is recognition

[21:08] for all their efforts um you know during the war and what the cost to them with

[21:14] their lives and also to their families. So um you know if it has not been

[21:19] seconded uh I'd be happy to um you know second

[21:23] that proposal. >> Thank you.

[21:28] All in favor? >> I.

[21:30] » I.

[21:33] » I. >> Yep.

[21:33] » Yep. >> Okay.

[21:44] All right. >> Thank you.

[21:45] » Uh-huh. >> Good job.

[21:46] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[21:47] » Next is old business. >> Debbie, you can run. I know you got to

[21:49] go somewhere. Take the statue and run, Doc. She's hungry.

[21:52] » [laughter] >> Next is old business.

[21:55] » Gosh, that's heavy. Holy cow.

[21:58] Yeah. >> Old business, ordinance 2-2026 chapter

[22:03] 150 vacant properties, second reading. It's sponsored by President Ashley

[22:08] Kaiser. This is the ordinance of the town of

[22:11] Centerville Council of Centerville adding a new

[22:14] chapter 150 of the town code to establish the proceeding

[22:19] procedures and requirements for vacant properties and matters generally related

[22:23] to there there to. This is the second reading, so we'll

[22:27] have a >> We'll have a um

[22:30] public hearing. >> Public hearing.

[22:31] » Public hearing, thank you. And at the next meeting, right? Is that was on the

[22:35] next meeting. Yes. So this and the purpose of this is just

[22:38] to create language um for properties around town that are

[22:44] you know, whether they've been foreclosed on and no one is living there

[22:46] or the family has passed on, just regulations to um

[22:52] to make sure they're kept

[22:55] um

[22:58] they have the upkeep and um and a registry, so we know who to contact.

[23:04] » Okay. Next is

[23:06] Ordinance 3-2026.

[23:11] Yes, sir.

[23:14] That's right. >> Yeah,

[23:15] when I first learned about this ordinance, yeah, I was

[23:19] I I had questions about it. But, I'm very involved with the economic

[23:24] development efforts for our community, and having a registry like this, I think

[23:29] will also give us opportunities to benefit those property owners if we can

[23:33] bring other potential businesses and organizations into the community by

[23:38] being aware that these properties are available, may be vacant, they may

[23:43] require some additional rehab, but, you know, there can I think be a tremendous

[23:50] benefit to the community by going through this effort and and developing a

[23:55] registry for these properties that are currently

[23:58] not occupied. So, I just wanted to provide the community with some

[24:03] additional benefit to why we're doing this ordinance and how this may

[24:08] contribute back to the community.

[24:13] » Anything else? >> Yeah, the only thing I mean, I am

[24:16] supportive of this ordinance as well, and cuz I think it's important and it's

[24:20] not an ordinance that is unusual for towns. I want to make certain that's

[24:24] clear. This is not an outlier, it's what towns

[24:27] do to be um to maintain their properties of their

[24:31] town and be proud of their town and making certain that properties are

[24:35] maintained. And it just helps the town manage that process, makes it visible,

[24:41] and as as was said, [clears throat]

[24:44] if there's opportunities for that property owner if they're having

[24:47] problems or they would like to sell their property. So, I think it just

[24:50] creates um you know, added value for all property

[24:54] owners in the town because it will elevate property values

[24:58] within the town because we're taking care of all of our properties. So, it's

[25:01] really important and I just wanted to to speak to my support for this as well.

[25:07] » Okay. Next is ordinance 3-2026

[25:11] solar arrays. This is the second reading.

[25:14] This is sponsored by Vice President Keel.

[25:18] Uh it's an ordinance to the town of Centreville amending the town of

[25:21] Centreville zoning ordinance, which is the chapter is chapter 170 of the code

[25:26] of the town of Centreville to allow solar arrays as a special exception use

[25:29] in the residential R1 zoning district. We're going to forward this for to the

[25:34] planning commission for review and see what they think.

[25:39] » Jeff, can I just ask a question? Uh this might go to Paul. Uh nine

[25:46] 981. A property uh proposing to have a solar array shall

[25:50] be at least two acres in size. Why is it two acres? Is that just

[25:55] » So, [clears throat] right Well, Peter can go ahead and up that.

[25:58] » So, the two acres comes from um we've already allowed this in other

[26:02] residential districts in uh I think the ordinance was in 2016,

[26:07] where we allowed rooftop solar and um I don't know if it was because the school

[26:12] wanted to put up that solar array, so it got added into R2 and then R3 inherits

[26:17] all of the R2 um things, so it's so it's currently allowable in R2 and R3 and

[26:24] this um extends that to the larger R1 properties

[26:28] as well. >> Yes, the individual who I think

[26:31] originally went to Jeff back in November or whatever and I think the town act

[26:36] wasn't the process started at 415 Chesterfield?

[26:40] Is this a What does that leave him? Cuz he's inquired at least two members of

[26:44] council. >> Well, that he's in R1 and he has he has

[26:47] his land, yeah. >> Okay, that's what I wanted to know. So,

[26:50] he's covered. Okay. >> Yep.

[26:52] Thank you. >> Thank you.

[26:55] Anything else? Anything, Fred?

[27:00] » Does this in any way impact the ability for homeowners to have this on their

[27:04] roof, or is it only >> for stand-alone solar

[27:09] fields, you know, based on land?

[27:13] » It does not impact the homeowner's ability for their roof. The

[27:18] The solar arrays are a special exception in the code, and the roof-mounted solar

[27:25] in all of the residential districts are as just a permitted accessory use. So,

[27:31] that will still be That will still be the same. This just extends the same

[27:35] special exception to the R1 district that exists in the other R districts.

[27:42] » Does a homeowner then still need to get approved a special approval or an

[27:47] exception to have it on their roof, or or not or not?

[27:51] » No, no, the the homeowner currently a roof-mounted solar is is just a standard

[27:56] building permit process. You come into the town.

[27:59] They're pretty easy to get. So, this would just be for the arrays,

[28:02] the stand-alone ground-mounted arrays. >> Got it. Appreciate the clarification.

[28:08] » Thank you.

[28:10] » Next is the trash recycle bids.

[28:14] » The packet

[28:26] » Yeah, my feet don't touch. >> Hm?

[28:29] » My feet don't touch. >> Good evening, folks.

[28:30] » Good evening. >> We can [clears throat]

[28:34] tack this however you want, since there's actually two issues here. One is

[28:38] the um

[28:41] to award a bid for the >> curbside.

[28:44] » I think we should >> Sure.

[28:46] » go with that first. Okay.

[28:48] » [laughter] >> That's fine.

[28:49] » Maybe we can

[28:52] » [snorts] >> Okay.

[28:56] As we had said before in our meetings, we went out to bid for curbside

[29:02] municipal solid waste pickup.

[29:06] We had six bidders that responded. Of those six bidders,

[29:13] myself and staff

[29:16] reviewed the

[29:20] » Did you want the recycle or the trash first?

[29:22] » Trash first. >> Oh, trash first. I'm sorry. I thought

[29:24] you said recycle. >> No, trash. The easy one first.

[29:28] We reviewed all the bid documents and all the information with it.

[29:34] Of the six bids, the cheapest of them was Big Time Trash.

[29:41] And with that being said,

[29:45] staff is recommending to go with Big Time

[29:49] for that contract. This will raise

[29:54] the the fees to the

[29:58] on quarterly utility bill. You should have before you package that

[30:04] shows exactly what it is and how it works out.

[30:10] » It's the last page of the packet. >> Yeah.

[30:14] » Looks like this. Does that help you at all?

[30:16] » It's on the back of of the um breakdown.

[30:21] Same. >> Same.

[30:23] And there were some other questions about which we've answered in all this

[30:26] paperwork before you have that. You know, things

[30:31] things such as what other towns does this company

[30:37] collect from? That's included in there. There's There's of them.

[30:42] One of them I believe was Denton. >> Do you want me to read them off, Ken?

[30:46] » I'm sorry. >> Do you want me to read them off?

[30:47] » Sure, thank you. >> Rock Hall, Ridgely, Greensboro,

[30:50] Sudlersville, Denton, Federalsburg, and Trap.

[30:53] » Great. So,

[30:55] um of them, yeah, Denton's the closest to

[30:59] our size. So, uh

[31:03] all of their references came back very good. Um

[31:07] the age of their trucks are you know, fairly

[31:12] new uh

[31:14] compared to some of the other bidders. Uh we also found out that they're on a

[31:19] very rigorous maintenance plan with their trucks.

[31:24] Uh the reason we knew that also was because they take it to the same place

[31:28] we deal with for the street sweeper and the backhoe trucks.

[31:34] Um I was we were very impressed with

[31:38] their service and the total package for so,

[31:42] uh if you'd like to take that one first help yourself.

[31:47] » Mr. Mayor, I have a question if I may. >> Mhm.

[31:50] » Well, whenever you're ready and excuse me if I'm being premature with this.

[31:54] On the last page of this packet, it appears that there's two different

[31:58] options of what the uh

[32:01] cost would be to the individual users. Uh one would include recycling and the

[32:07] other one recycling was not included, but it reduced the overall cost to the

[32:12] resident. Could you explain how recycling would be

[32:15] handled if it and it

[32:19] do the residents have an in fact a an option to choose one versus the other?

[32:24] » This the this is the reason we did the

[32:28] uh trash bids first so that you can uh uh

[32:33] review that you know,

[32:36] uh come up with an idea of what it's going to consist of

[32:40] and everything and then we'll we'll review the recycling after that. And

[32:46] no, residents don't get a choice as to whether they choose to go with the

[32:52] town's recycling or trash. If the town does it, everybody has to pay towards

[32:58] it. So.

[33:03] » So the

[33:06] So that's not an option that you would recycling is automatic and every

[33:11] everyone will need to participate with that. Is that correct?

[33:15] » If that's chosen. >> If that's chosen.

[33:17] » There's two options, right? >> Yeah, there's two options.

[33:20] This is just trash right now. >> This is just Yeah, it's just This is

[33:23] just for trash. >> The next piece we're going to the

[33:26] » No, no, you're good. >> You're good.

[33:27] » Can I make a motion then and then we have discussion?

[33:30] » That would That would >> I

[33:31] » Well, you have discussion after you have the first motion.

[33:33] » Okay, go ahead. [laughter] >> Uh

[33:35] » I make a motion that we accept the town's trash or solid waste uh

[33:40] recommendation. Uh you tell me how you I don't care how you word it.

[33:43] » So you're going to recommendation number two.

[33:46] » leave out the recycling >> to go with that?

[33:48] » Recycling is not part of it. >> Number two on that.

[33:50] » Number two, okay. Let me read that and then we'll get a second or whatever and

[33:53] then we have discussion. Uh I make a motion to award the municipal curbside

[33:57] solid waste collection contract uh without curbside recycling to the

[34:05] What is it? Big Time Trash and LLC in the amount of yada yada yada.

[34:09] » You got to say it. >> Okay, $363,864.60

[34:14] per year for a

[34:17] three-year >> I assume that's a three-year term.

[34:19] » Correct. >> Three-year three-year term.

[34:21] » [clears throat] >> Got a second and then discussion.

[34:24] » I can't Well, again, unless cuz I have a discussion about this as far as I'm not

[34:28] approving it at this point because I think

[34:31] So again, from a formality, do you want to second it and have the discussion or

[34:35] because the issue is we haven't talked about recycling. So, this we're we're

[34:39] assuming we're not going to do recycling and we haven't discussed it yet. So,

[34:42] that's the that's the issue I have right now in voting for or you know,

[34:46] » So, you want to go back to >> It's not a like an assumption that we're

[34:50] not. >> that you're not. It's two separate

[34:52] things. >> I understand that.

[34:54] » And that's how we >> [clears throat]

[34:54] » But what he what he just what I'm sorry. >> What I just said was without recycling.

[34:58] » Yeah. So, that's Cuz the cost is different between the two.

[35:03] » But only for that current contract. >> by doing this motion,

[35:08] we're saying we're not going to do recycling. We have Now, but we haven't

[35:11] had the discussion yet on the cost. >> That's just saying this current

[35:14] contractor isn't This is inclusive of trash only, not recycling with the

[35:18] current contractor. And so, the next piece

[35:21] » Well, they have two motions on here. They have one that includes curbside

[35:25] recycling. >> And I just made you know, so you're

[35:28] right. What we probably should have done is put you should have

[35:30] » recycle first. >> Got you.

[35:32] » So, you should have maybe done >> You can withdraw your motion if you want

[35:35] to and then we can do >> Can I Can I ask the chair if we could go

[35:37] back and discuss the issue of recycling? >> Thank you.

[35:40] » So, we'll go with recycling. >> Okay.

[35:42] » You all right there, Fred? We're going to talk about recycling.

[35:46] » I I think the discussion of one >> to have greater clarity.

[35:50] » Yep.

[35:52] » All right. >> Okay.

[35:54] On with the recycling. >> Yep. [laughter]

[35:56] » Sorry. >> Okay.

[36:00] » Again, uh this was put out in a separate

[36:03] separate request for uh bids for the cuz not all

[36:09] uh solid waste handlers do recycling

[36:14] service. So, it was easier to get a better

[36:18] um

[36:22] a better list of bidders for one than combined service. Actu- as you see

[36:29] there was three bidders that

[36:32] submitted packages. Um the

[36:37] cheapest one was Bates Trucking. Okay.

[36:41] Um staff is recommending that we actually

[36:45] go with

[36:47] the next bidder in line which was MBG reuse refuse.

[36:53] They um

[36:55] reason is the town had Bates Trucking uh close to 12 years ago.

[37:02] And with the recycling part that they did with that contract

[37:07] we had so many complaints about broken recycle containers, cans, that kind of

[37:14] stuff. Uh we felt they weren't always handled

[37:19] properly. Um

[37:23] I can only tell you what happened here. I can't speak for the rest of their

[37:28] clients or anything. They are a fairly large company. They uh serve in a

[37:35] uh many places on western shore besides places on the eastern shore. Um and much

[37:43] larger uh

[37:46] municipalities than Centreville is. So

[37:50] um

[37:53] There's uh an additional part to it is uh staff met with Connie Tolson from

[38:00] Queen Anne's County. She is the recycling and and

[38:04] refuse manager for the county and Earl Wood who is the recycling coordinator

[38:10] for Maryland Environmental Services. Uh they currently have a drop-off

[38:16] recycling site behind the health department with recycling dumpsters

[38:20] there. Um,

[38:23] that uh that particular

[38:27] place is used most of the time two or above its capacity. So,

[38:33] uh, we met with them and talked about possibly setting up a second site in

[38:38] town behind the firehouse at the on the town's property where the water tower

[38:45] is. Uh,

[38:47] with that being said, there is plenty of room there. It still allows parking on a

[38:53] portion of that property. Uh, which the other county buildings in the area use

[38:59] for parking, also. And it would not interfere with the the fire companies

[39:05] you know.

[39:09] Uh, >> And there's no cost to the town.

[39:11] » Yes, and there's no cost to the town for this. Um,

[39:16] this is one of this can be set up whether you do or do

[39:21] not choose to go with a curbside recycling. It can still be an option for

[39:27] residents. And it's not just for residents of the town of Centreville,

[39:31] residents of the county. So,

[39:37] with that [snorts] being said, there's uh,

[39:40] probably two portions to this as well to consider. One would be

[39:46] uh, if you would choose to to allow the MES to go ahead and set that uh,

[39:52] second recycling area up behind firehouse. Um, the town will make

[39:58] frequent stops through the week, make sure that it's kept clean and neat. Any

[40:04] blowing recyclables would be picked up and everything.

[40:08] So, and like I said, there's no charge to

[40:11] the town for that. Um,

[40:15] the other part about this is in this uh

[40:21] we, like I said, uh we're recommending that you go with uh GMB

[40:26] refuse for curbside recycling if you choose to do that. There's several

[40:33] papers in here uh

[40:36] that reflect the difference in prices uh and what they would be quarterly per

[40:41] resident, also. So

[40:44] » And I also reached out. Sorry. >> No, that's okay.

[40:47] » I was going to tell you. I sent to some other [clears throat]

[40:49] towns, um Berlin, Chestertown, Denton, Easton, Snow Hill, and um

[40:58] Berlin, they they do uh trash and recycle. It's also It's included in

[41:02] their taxes, not quarterly bills, and their town is the one who picks up trash

[41:07] and recycle. Um Chestertown does not provide recycle

[41:11] curbside recycle. They currently do not charge their residents for trash. That's

[41:16] going to change soon. Um Denton um does not do recyc- uh does not do recycling.

[41:23] Um and the cost is included in their taxes. Easton is They do have a I think

[41:28] it's uh total of $81 for trash and recycle. And Snow Hill does um trash.

[41:36] Um they only the the town staff picks up

[41:40] cardboards on Wednesdays, but then they have the um

[41:44] the dumpsters um for recyclables of others.

[41:48] » To drop off for to drop off. >> Tell them what we're talking about.

[41:51] » Chestertown also has a drop-off um for uh recycle.

[41:59] » And the quarterly charge

[42:02] » Go ahead, Frank. >> I'm sorry, just for my clarification,

[42:05] Chestertown and it sound like two or three other communities are not the the

[42:10] The is not picking up recycling, and the residents are taking it to a a central

[42:15] or multiple central uh the distribution

[42:20] dumpsters or something for for recycling and that's been acceptable

[42:25] by the citizens in those communities. >> Yeah, um mainly because it's just the

[42:30] change in recycling over the last few years, it's become extremely expensive.

[42:35] I mean, you look at what our residents have been paying for the past five

[42:39] however many years, it's $6 and some odd cents. It does not cover the cost of

[42:43] recycling anymore. Um now it's gone up to 20. I can't $35

[42:49] $35 um a quarter. So, instead of $6 a

[42:53] quarter um So, yeah, the the um

[42:59] Chestertown used to have curbside recycling, um but they stopped because

[43:04] of all the issues with the recycling now.

[43:06] » And your recycling contractor went out of business.

[43:09] » Went out of business. Okay. >> Mhm. Mhm.

[43:13] » So, we're not the president if we allow the residents to not pay the $35 for

[43:20] recycling, but to then personally dispose of the recycling at

[43:25] the distribution locations. Is that correct?

[43:31] » I think this is the toughest issue we've had for a while. And Kip, thank you. Kip

[43:35] spent some time with me. [clears throat] And I also Connie Tolson who used

[43:40] » Spoke with Connie. I used to do TV together.

[43:43] And my son worked with her. She's the Queen Anne's County

[43:47] recycling refuge manager. So, I got so complicated. I just made a

[43:51] chart of pluses and minuses. There's some things that jump out at you.

[43:56] I don't think anyone's against recycling. It's kind of like motherhood.

[43:58] Yeah, come on. We're going with it. It's extremely convenient, especially

[44:02] for senior citizens, the curbside. That's no problem. Simple, right? My

[44:06] wife has a special can, says Fred, put it in the blue box once a week and you

[44:10] got it made. And environmentally it's sound. You

[44:12] know, come on, this is for the future. But you weigh that against it and some

[44:16] concerns and Fred, kind of what you were tip of the iceberg you knocked off.

[44:20] We're currently paying for recycling homeowners $6.63

[44:25] apiece. We're talking about a quarter. We're

[44:28] talking that going up to 35.22. That's a you know, that's a significant

[44:33] increase. Uh

[44:35] Now, with recycling we're talking in the in the future

[44:40] uh 92.71 with recycling, 59.84 without cycling.

[44:45] Again, you're beginning to run a dodge. Look, it's one of those issues where you

[44:48] know you want to recycle, but then it gets more complicated. Uh Connie Tolson

[44:53] sent me to a couple websites today. Uh you realize 16, this is a national

[44:58] average. 16 to 25% of our recycling goes into trash.

[45:04] And that's called a contaminated. Now, if I'm a layman, keep if I screw this

[45:08] up, you straighten me out. If the decision is made either locally,

[45:12] the guy throwing the back of your his truck and then throwing a dead one trash

[45:16] can across your yard, that's trash in there that's inappropriate for

[45:19] recycling, that stuff is not recycled. And they're talking about out of every

[45:23] 100 lb, you're talking about 25 lb not being recycled. And there's some

[45:29] question if that's not a low figure, very low figure.

[45:32] Uh if you keep going down, if we go with the Maryland Environmental Service like

[45:36] we have under the water tower, a 100% of their stuff is recycled. 100%.

[45:44] Okay, and then that's from the boss today, okay? Uh so, what we're talking,

[45:48] you got to weigh the cost factor. I I don't think anyone's against recycling,

[45:53] but uh I flipped on this and would save the

[45:56] town, again, Karen, help me if my number is wrong.

[45:59] If we eliminate the recycling part of it, we save about $275,420.40.

[46:05] » Yeah, that's about right. >> Now, in tough times, that's a lot of

[46:08] money. >> And that's all a pass-through, you know,

[46:10] so it's it's all it's the residents that pay that.

[46:13] » So, and I also um MES is open and kept this would be a

[46:17] staff-type decision. Look at the water tower, that's fine.

[46:20] That's a done deal, it'll be done. But, you also, if you went to the citizens

[46:24] and if the town's comfortable, why couldn't we look at something at

[46:27] Northbrook if the citizens want it as a drop-off spot or Symphony Village? And

[46:32] you're saying, "No, MES ES wants to have as many sites

[46:36] as they can." So, that's opens a door. Now, it's

[46:40] especially for us older people, this is a big inconvenience. So, that means Ms.

[46:44] McNeal has to say to me every Tuesday, "Fred, get off your duff and drive

[46:47] somewhere to do it." But, I think that $275,000

[46:52] is a significant amount of money, uh and we're 25% of our stuff, if not higher,

[46:58] isn't even being recycled. Did I've seen and and I'll be quiet

[47:02] after this. I've seen and I've watched it, I sit on my front porch, I've seen

[47:06] the people first come by and get the trash, okay?

[47:09] » [clears throat] >> And then pick up the dadgum blue cans

[47:11] and throw in the back of the trash, also.

[47:16] » Sometimes. >> Sometimes, [clears throat] correct,

[47:18] sometimes. >> Well, we we've already established our

[47:20] our current contractor is not recycling. So, all the recycling is going to the

[47:24] landfill right now. >> 100%.

[47:27] » 100% of it is. >> So, we're not

[47:29] Look at, no one is against recycling, no one.

[47:33] But, it also gets to be a financial thing.

[47:35] » Yes. >> And also, they're not making It used to

[47:38] be you could make some money off of recycling. You could sell the recycled

[47:41] products and I'm sorry the Americans written driven by the dollar.

[47:45] So, I'm wondering if perhaps we shouldn't consider one person's opinion

[47:49] discussion. I think it's an issue we got to work on.

[47:52] And but for temporarily, I would say that's I think the The

[47:55] for the solid trash is outstanding. I think as

[47:59] much as I'm I'm going to going against what my heart wants me to do, I think

[48:03] because of the the cost and cars are more, houses are more, food is more,

[48:08] everything is more. If we can save some homeowners some money, uh I think we we

[48:13] need to do that. >> So, I mean, I agree with everything you

[48:17] just said. Um and I think what's been good for the uh process and I'm glad we

[48:21] held off on the vote until this town council meeting versus the prior cuz I

[48:27] um wanted to see what other towns were doing cuz I think that's important. That

[48:31] Centreville, other towns on the Eastern Shore what they're doing. And so, this

[48:35] proves that what we're probably getting ready to

[48:38] approve is like what most are doing. And I just think that's important to do to

[48:42] do your due diligence, to do your homework relating to

[48:46] what other towns are doing and are we being, you know, fair and competitive

[48:50] with other towns. So, I'm glad that we did that work and I appreciate

[48:53] everybody's work in doing that. Um because I do agree. I think right now

[48:58] it's a financial burden. Um economics have changed for recycling.

[49:02] That's why it's going from $2. It really was nothing to 35. And again, as it

[49:09] relates to what people put into the dump I'll call them the dumpsters, okay?

[49:15] Behind the um health department and the fire, those will be taken to where where

[49:20] the recycling go? >> It's Let me ask Maryland Environmental

[49:24] » Right. >> Services doing it. I don't know what

[49:27] facility they take them to. >> 100% guaranteed that it's recycled.

[49:31] Right. >> Yeah, but the the

[49:34] uh two contractors that we're speaking of here, uh

[49:37] Bates and um uh

[49:40] » MBG. >> MBG.

[49:42] » Right. >> Uh

[49:43] they take it to the Western Shore. There's a um

[49:47] Waste Management has a recycle facility there. And I do know that

[49:53] uh Waste Management uh has little tighter restriction

[49:59] and they can turn down loads that are brought in uh

[50:05] to the point that they'll charge the hauler $1,000 for

[50:13] Plus they're going to load it up and give it

[50:16] back to the hauler and then they have to take it to the landfill and pay those

[50:21] charges. >> Right.

[50:23] » The tipping fees as well. >> So, the cleanest process back to

[50:27] um what Fred had said that the best clean way to do it is just having these

[50:32] dumpsters so we know that it's getting recycled. Am I characterizing that

[50:36] correctly? >> Exactly right.

[50:37] » So, I think just given all the information, I mean, I would agree from

[50:41] that perspective to support that approach.

[50:44] » And can I just make the motion again? >> Yeah. And

[50:46] » I got I got something first. >> Yeah. Just yeah.

[50:49] » [laughter] >> Yard waste.

[50:51] How can you do you we have a figure of how

[50:54] many tons that we use yard waste do Where do we take the yard

[50:58] waste? >> We take care of the

[51:01] a contractor collects it for us. We take care of it in house and it's ground up.

[51:06] » Okay. >> Um

[51:07] tonnage-wise, when

[51:10] we were able to take it to Baker's, the nearest facility that was taking it,

[51:16] yes, we could tell you how many tons we did.

[51:19] » But at at this point, we don't it's not ran across the scale or

[51:24] anything. >> Right. Because it give it out to the the

[51:26] farm, right? >> Yeah.

[51:28] » How many has Do any other towns do yard waste?

[51:33] » Um yes. Um I didn't look that up, but um

[51:38] » That's why I'm just saying thinking Yeah, there are some other $13.

[51:42] » And that's our current contract

[51:46] um for the yard waste is like we're still

[51:50] in the terms of the contract. I think we've had two or three years on that.

[51:56] » I'd like to find out who else does What other towns do it?

[52:00] » And I think some of them like I can't remember which town sweeps them out in

[52:04] the street and then they come by with the vac truck.

[52:08] Um and those are just leaves cuz a lot yeah yeah just leaves. So I agree so

[52:13] when the future comes up on that you know discussion but I think a lot of you

[52:17] can speak to this as far as people when that discussion happens they're cleaning

[52:22] their yard they're putting the sticks out. I think that's a real benefit that

[52:26] I think a lot of people in the town and we can always pull it or I get some feel

[52:30] for it but there's a lot there's a lot more than leaves I think than people use

[52:34] um that yard waste when that period is open.

[52:39] » And didn't the town used to pick it up didn't we used to pick it up right?

[52:42] » We used to pick it up ourself. >> Okay.

[52:45] » Um but it had gotten to the point that um

[52:49] people were putting that stuff in well the town staff

[52:52] was it was taking them three days to collect

[52:56] it. Um and we didn't have time for

[53:01] you know the repairs that need to be done maintenance on other stuff. And

[53:05] that's probably >> water leak and then on a Monday you

[53:07] don't get your yard waste picked up and then it had to be the next

[53:10] » Right that did cause a a lot of angst with the

[53:14] » What's the number for annual yard waste? How much do we pay?

[53:19] » It's It's actually in here. >> $13 I'm just trying to find

[53:23] » I'm talking about the total. >> Oh.

[53:25] Oh.

[53:28] 26

[53:31] » Yeah. >> 27

[53:33] » 27,000 >> Yeah it's like 27,000 annually.

[53:37] » Okay. Wait when I when Kip and I had a we had

[53:41] a great meeting Yeah.

[53:43] » Go ahead, Pat. >> Can I make my comment on the yard waste?

[53:46] There's another option for all residents. I've never put yard waste out

[53:49] on the street. I've always taken it every two or three weeks. Yeah, I have a

[53:53] pickup truck, not everybody does. I take it out to the county landfill and I pick

[53:58] up a you know a a booklet at Ace Hardware and give them a ticket every

[54:03] time I go. So, that's how I dispose of my yard waste. So, there's another

[54:07] option with that. But, at least with the current budget with what's projected,

[54:12] that cost will not go up for the citizens. I'm just concerned about you

[54:16] know with the recycling, if there is in fact another option to try to you know

[54:21] save the the the local residents that is very significant, over $30

[54:27] increase per month on the recycling. And I think we all have to recognize

[54:33] you know that a lot of the people rather than taking it to the distribution

[54:37] locations, which I'll be doing and I hope and I want to encourage everybody

[54:41] else to do that. But, I'm sure a lot of folks will just end up putting that the

[54:46] what what was being recycled into their normal garbage. And and as we know

[54:51] unfortunately for the last several months or year,

[54:55] it's been you know taken to garbage anyway and rather than being recycled.

[54:59] But, so some of it may go there, but I think if the town can put out you know

[55:05] some really effective communication about encouraging people to take it to

[55:09] these distribution you know the recycling to the distribution locations.

[55:13] You know for the betterment of of

[55:18] you know our ecology, but also you know

[55:23] as a way to save their their expense. You know rather than

[55:28] increasing the rates. So, I know we've had a

[55:31] fairly broad discussion. I'm glad we have. I thought it was important for the

[55:34] recycling. But,

[55:39] I would just suggest, you know, if we do decide to go forward uh, with with

[55:43] without adding the recycling process, uh, and we uh,

[55:49] just do a very effective communication from the town out to the public in

[55:54] multiple media about uh, you know, that process for them to drop it off and the

[55:58] importance of doing that.

[56:02] » [clears throat] >> Yeah, I totally agree with that

[56:04] communication. It should be on the website as well. So, people when you're

[56:07] going, you're trying to understand like how do I dispose of things, trash, then

[56:12] it's there on the website, easy to find, as well as quarterly update, whatever,

[56:16] just so people are aware because people forget or they come, they go,

[56:20] um, just so they're aware of just their opportunities to recycle if they'd like

[56:24] to >> recycle.

[56:25] » And it's currently the we've always kept stuff on the website that tells what can

[56:32] be recycled, what can't be. You know.

[56:35] » Now they're advertising it on TV. Yeah, now you know, pizza box if it got grease

[56:40] on top, you throw it throw this part away and throw this part in the

[56:43] recycling. >> So, when is the current contract up for

[56:48] » June 30th. >> trash?

[56:49] » For the trash? Yeah, June 30th is our last day.

[56:53] » So, we have time to put if we go the route of the

[56:58] recycling things, we can put it out on on the on social media and we make them

[57:03] aware of >> Yeah.

[57:04] » Yeah, make a decision what you want to do.

[57:07] » Yeah, I just want to make sure we have time

[57:08] » Yeah. >> to let the residents know if we go that

[57:11] route. >> Mhm.

[57:12] » And then once we make once you guys make the decision, I'll update the budget for

[57:17] the second reading just to adjust. It's not going to change the bottom line,

[57:21] it'll just change the revenue and the expense. But, I'll have that on the next

[57:25] for the second reading. >> All right. Jeff, can I just Kim, and I

[57:28] appreciate most people I didn't understand that what the water bill

[57:32] entails. It's just not water a kit and this is this is a great eye-opener for

[57:37] me. Besides the solid waste we're getting rid of cycle the yard trash, the

[57:42] sewer, but also there's a mandate from the state kit that most people don't

[57:46] know that you have to include in that bill and we have to pay. So this isn't

[57:51] all local asking for money or Okay. This is from the state as well. So

[57:56] that water bill and that might be something we put out when you put out

[58:00] this announcement I was going to do it. Hey look at your water bill consists of

[58:04] more than just water cuz I think I didn't understand it Kip until you

[58:07] explained it to me. >> Yeah, we can do that again.

[58:09] » Yeah. >> And that's important.

[58:11] » Right. >> You want the motion now or okay.

[58:16] My >> So there'll be two different ones,

[58:18] right? >> Yeah, I'm giving you number two.

[58:19] » Okay. >> All right.

[58:20] » Are we doing recycle right now? >> Yeah, we're going to do the whole thing.

[58:25] I'm going to say I make a motion to award the municipal curbside solid waste

[58:30] collection contract without curbside recycling

[58:34] to the BTT LLC in the amount of $363,864.60

[58:42] per year for a 3-year term. Is that all right?

[58:45] » And then the other motion for the MES dumpsters on the other

[58:49] » Okay, you want >> Recycling.

[58:50] » You want to do one at a time you want to add that on?

[58:51] » I want one at a time. >> One at a time exactly.

[58:53] » Okay, I got the motion. >> I second that motion.

[58:59] » All in favor. >> Aye.

[59:00] » Aye. >> Aye.

[59:02] » Aye.

[59:05] » Does someone else want to do the MES? >> Or you want me to do the MES?

[59:07] » Go ahead. Go ahead. >> Cuz I can't find it.

[59:09] » You can do the MES if you want. >> Uh I make a motion that we go with the

[59:14] MES. Kip make sure I word this right. A kind offer. Okay, supply us with Okay,

[59:19] thank you. >> Yeah, number two. Yep.

[59:22] » Uh I make a motion to allow the MES to set set recycling at the water tower

[59:27] behind the firehouse on Powell Street at no cost to the town.

[59:32] Sorry. Got their attention.

[59:34] » I second that motion. >> All in favor, say I.

[59:38] » I. >> I.

[59:39] » I. >> I.

[59:40] » Okay. Yep. All right.

[59:46] Thank you, Jeff. >> Mhm.

[59:47] » Thank you. >> Thank you very much.

[59:49] » Jeff, can I just say Kip made me aware of something. This is

[59:52] tied directly to the water sewer bill. We have two water Kip, if I say

[59:56] something wrong, you tell me. These are from the notes. We have two water towers

[59:59] in town. >> Bring that up around round table.

[1:00:01] » You want to do it around table? Okay. You're fine.

[1:00:03] » Yep. >> Next is uh new business.

[1:00:08] The first one is 4-2026 is the budget the first reading.

[1:00:13] And Karen Luffman, the finance officer. >> So, I'll just quickly overview um

[1:00:19] the changes from the previous work session. So, what's included now would

[1:00:23] be the four general fund capital request in the amount of 78,120.

[1:00:29] We did change the QACTV line in the general fund to account for um

[1:00:35] there's extra charges when we have the Zoom meetings. And so, to do that we had

[1:00:39] already been over the current year's budget, so we added a little bit more to

[1:00:43] cover for next year. Um with those changes, the current fund

[1:00:47] balance summary has a surplus in the general fund of 51,516

[1:00:52] and the enterprise fund has a surplus of 6,685.

[1:00:57] Both funds remain in a positive position. And then next week when I

[1:01:01] bring you the second reading, I'll adjust the the trash and recycling.

[1:01:04] » Yeah, please. >> And for

[1:01:06] » Yes. >> 2,000.

[1:01:08] » The two Yeah, which is already actually the updated line in your donations line

[1:01:13] is it's already accounted for. >> It shows not.

[1:01:15] » Mhm. >> Oh, okay.

[1:01:16] » Yeah, we you guys have >> Oh, it's just the allocation of it.

[1:01:18] Sorry. >> Right. It's just yep.

[1:01:20] » Got you. Yep. >> Thank you.

[1:01:22] Anything, Fred?

[1:01:26] » No, I'm I'm comfortable. >> Okay.

[1:01:29] All right. Next is ordinance 6-2026.

[1:01:34] Short-term short-term rental moratorium. >> You skipped one.

[1:01:38] » Skipped one? >> Oh, I'm sorry. Ordinance 5-2026

[1:01:42] amending planning commission membership, first reading.

[1:01:46] Sponsored by the council president.

[1:01:50] This is an ordinance of the town council of Centreville to amend the provisions

[1:01:54] of chapter 20, article 5 of the town code related to the town Centreville

[1:01:58] planning and zoning commission. Um so we'll have the second reading next

[1:02:02] meeting. >> No.

[1:02:04] » In the next meeting, right? >> Um

[1:02:07] we'll have a Yeah, second reading. We don't have This one is not ready for a

[1:02:11] public hearing. >> We asked questions in this one.

[1:02:13] » Sure. >> Oh,

[1:02:14] uh I just have my notes here. Why? Why do we go to Why do we want to go to

[1:02:17] eight to five? Can I just >> Yeah.

[1:02:19] » So what are the reasons? >> Well, I I I can cuz it actually I am the

[1:02:23] one who brought it up. We have an issue sometimes with um

[1:02:28] all the planning commission members being there. We attended a county

[1:02:32] planning commission meeting a few months ago and there were five members there

[1:02:36] and I thought, "Ooh, you know? So I brought it up to the

[1:02:41] planning commission chair. Um I brought it up to our council

[1:02:45] president. I spoke to Sandy as the liaison to the planning commission. Um

[1:02:51] and I also last night spoke to the whole planning commission. Everyone was in

[1:02:56] favor and thought that it was a it was a good idea to

[1:02:59] » Everybody likes the idea. >> Yeah. Yep.

[1:03:03] And still um it still has the two alternates on it

[1:03:07] as well, so >> Okay.

[1:03:10] All right. Now ordinance 6-2026

[1:03:14] short-term rentals moratorium, first reading, sponsored by Council President

[1:03:18] Kaiser. This is an ordinance of the town as town

[1:03:22] council of Centerville adopting a temporary moratorium on the application

[1:03:26] for approval of construction of expansion of

[1:03:30] processing of or issuance of any Board of Appeals building permit, any

[1:03:36] zoning certificate application for any

[1:03:40] I'm assuming this is boarding houses, not boating houses. Have you read this

[1:03:44] » Oh, okay. >> Thanks.

[1:03:45] » For >> boarding houses, bed and breakfasts,

[1:03:49] and any short-term rentals and pending consideration and adoption of a revised

[1:03:53] zoning ordinance provisions as the town council may consider advisable.

[1:03:59] And that's the first >> here if you have any questions.

[1:04:02] » [laughter] >> It's It's boarding houses, Peter, not

[1:04:05] boating houses. >> He's not the one who wrote who typed

[1:04:07] that. >> the typo.

[1:04:12] » I got it. Peter, I have a question about the the the overall intent of that

[1:04:16] ordinance, uh because we don't have any hotels

[1:04:22] or motels in the area, and I don't know if if

[1:04:26] this is or or if an unintended consequence would be reducing

[1:04:31] uh short-term rentals or or or lower-income rentals for folks that

[1:04:37] may not yet have found a permanent residence. I just I was just curious to

[1:04:43] get a better sense of the overall intent of this, and if there may be some

[1:04:49] uh undesired uh unintended consequences. >> So, the intent of this is simply to give

[1:04:58] the Planning Commission time to put together a comprehensive

[1:05:03] ordinance regulating short-term rentals. Our current process is

[1:05:08] very very vague. Um it was created over 10 years ago when short-term rentals

[1:05:15] were just starting to become a thing and we're starting to have more people apply

[1:05:20] for short-term rentals. Um, in this calendar year, we have had

[1:05:26] four short-term rentals. Um, one of them did not have to apply

[1:05:31] because it was in a uh, commercial zone and so they they had to get a zoning

[1:05:37] certificate, but they did not have to get the special exception because it was

[1:05:40] an allowed use. So, that leaves three that, um,

[1:05:45] had to go through the special exception process.

[1:05:48] And as that process has played out, um, if if you read that part of the code,

[1:05:53] you know, there's there's like five or six criteria that are very, very easy to

[1:05:59] meet. Um, and in the modern times of, uh, short-term rentals, the planning

[1:06:07] commission strongly feels that, uh, a moratorium should happen while we

[1:06:13] consider over, you know, we're we're planning on having this completed within

[1:06:17] a 6-month period, um, you know, kind of a comprehensive, uh, short-term rental

[1:06:22] plan. >> And this is also to do we're also

[1:06:26] creating a rental registry and a rental property

[1:06:33] um, ordinate or well >> Yeah.

[1:06:36] » guidelines as well as part of this. >> Right. So, so it it's all kind of meant

[1:06:41] to be a comprehensive thing to really just align our code into the 21st

[1:06:45] century. Um, you know, I I agree that it I personally

[1:06:49] agree that it needs to happen as a zoning administrator. Um, it needs to be

[1:06:53] a a plan that works. It needs to be moved out of the special exception

[1:06:58] process. Um, you know, when when everything that comes in for a certain

[1:07:02] special exception is super vague and they essentially have to approve it,

[1:07:06] that process is broken. Um so, you know, I'm in favor of this as

[1:07:11] well and I think at the end of it we can have, you know, a good thing and like

[1:07:16] you said, Fred, we don't have hotels. I think short-term rentals can and should

[1:07:20] be a part of the strategy of this town. Um it just needs to be thoughtfully

[1:07:25] considered and uh amended. >> So, you're basically asking for 6

[1:07:29] months. Just to figure this out.

[1:07:32] That's That's all this is asking for. >> and I think um

[1:07:36] because I I think it can be done in 6 months here. I don't think it's that

[1:07:41] I think there's some good models that we have again close to us to look at. Um

[1:07:46] I know um Rockport, I think, has had to do it because they have a lot of

[1:07:50] short-term rentals there as it relates to their boat traffic. So, I think we've

[1:07:54] got some good examples that Peter can um look at and it's been a discussion of

[1:07:58] towns and it's really not become a problem. It's just we don't have a good

[1:08:02] process. That's really what it is. It's not It's not like we're overrun by them,

[1:08:05] but we want to get in front of it basically and just have a good process.

[1:08:09] » Yes. >> So, this um the council would need to

[1:08:13] make a recommendation to the planning commission or not a recommendation,

[1:08:16] forward to the planning commission for review.

[1:08:19] » All right, we're going to forward it to the planning commission for review.

[1:08:22] How's that? >> Good, Jeff.

[1:08:25] » Thank you. >> Thank you.

[1:08:26] » Thank you, Peter. >> Thank you, Peter.

[1:08:31] » Next is the summer meeting schedule. >> We're going to cancel all the meetings

[1:08:36] for summer. >> That's fine with

[1:08:39] You're not going to fight us. So, this is a yearly thing that we

[1:08:44] What's that? >> On the on-call meeting list?

[1:08:46] » On-call meeting list, yeah. Um so, this is a yearly

[1:08:50] um decision the council makes. Um you

[1:08:54] there's typically one meeting in the months of definitely in the months of

[1:08:58] August or July and August. Sometimes, depending on the budget process, whether

[1:09:03] there's a second one in June or not. So, right now,

[1:09:09] um the we definitely have our first

[1:09:12] meeting. That's when our public hearing is scheduled for the budget. Um the

[1:09:16] first meeting in June. The second meeting is June 18th, which

[1:09:20] is the day after we come back from MML. Um

[1:09:24] and um

[1:09:27] July July 2nd is our town fireworks, so we obviously don't we won't have a

[1:09:31] meeting that night. July 16th would be our normal

[1:09:35] um third Thursday. And then August 6th or August 20th for

[1:09:42] um as a decision and whether you want to do

[1:09:45] the second meeting in June or not.

[1:09:50] And then um

[1:09:52] whether you want to go with July 16th or one of the other dates.

[1:10:00] » June.

[1:10:03] June 18th we need Do the June 18th if we need it, if

[1:10:07] something comes up. If we have to. Are you all right with that?

[1:10:12] If we I mean if I don't see anything pressing, if there's something pressing

[1:10:16] we have to have a meeting, we have to call a meeting.

[1:10:18] » Well, my comment would be because I I thank you as far as for MML cuz I know

[1:10:23] Fred and I are going to MML. >> And we have Yeah, we have all our staff

[1:10:27] are >> as far as staff, so I again being

[1:10:30] sensitive to that cuz staff put together things for us and we have to like

[1:10:35] appreciate them and make certain we don't like put bear, you know, we want

[1:10:39] them to enjoy the conference and not be working at the same time. So, my

[1:10:44] recommendation would be um to do it on June 25th, not do it on the

[1:10:50] 18th, but move it to the following Thursday if it's available for people's

[1:10:54] calendars. Of course. >> Yeah, there there was I did check with

[1:10:56] the county and there is a potential conflict um for this. I also send this

[1:11:03] to um President Kaiser today just to see cuz I

[1:11:08] know with her work schedule if any of these dates were a conflict. Um

[1:11:12] » And I got a conflict with the 25th, so >> Her her recommendation was cancel the

[1:11:16] second meeting in June and then do July [clears throat] 16th.

[1:11:20] » we have to >> Yeah, and if we have to, we we can we

[1:11:23] could do it. Um and then

[1:11:25] July 16th and then whatever in August. >> Can I Can I add

[1:11:30] You guys work that out. Could we also at sometime have a discussion on meeting

[1:11:34] times? Could we sometime discuss I'd like to

[1:11:37] see the meetings move from 7:00 to 6:00 and if for a couple reasons. I mean just

[1:11:42] just be talking out loud and that Uh citizens

[1:11:45] People get off work 4:30 to 5:00 and people say to me, "Fred, I'd love to

[1:11:49] come to the meetings, but what happens now? I get home

[1:11:52] and I take off my shoes and, you know, once the shoes hit the floor, I ain't

[1:11:56] going anymore type philosophy. But if we had 6:00 like the Board of Ed, like the

[1:12:00] library boards at Restell uh

[1:12:03] then they'd be over earlier, but for citizens, I think you'd more likely to

[1:12:07] get some people. I haven't got any proof of that. We can do some type of survey.

[1:12:10] Also, I think for staff I mean, sometimes I think the staff

[1:12:14] I mean, these meetings go on late. >> Some of them, yes.

[1:12:17] » Yeah, some of them, not all of them. And some of the staff, why not consider and

[1:12:20] this is something you how you work out the agenda, but we could consider

[1:12:25] uh going from 7:00 to 6:00. I think it benefits citizens I think we get more

[1:12:28] citizens here and I think it'd certainly be easier on my staff. Our staff that

[1:12:33] have to stay here sometimes 8:00 or 9:00. And we can still get everything

[1:12:37] done and just an hour earlier. Anyway, for discussion, if you could put

[1:12:40] it on the agenda somehow. >> We'll discuss it, yeah.

[1:12:47] So, you're going to get what So, let me just

[1:12:49] » So, right now cancel June 18th unless for some reason we need it um if

[1:12:54] something comes up. Uh July 16th and then

[1:12:59] if we um

[1:13:03] and then either August 6th or the 20th. I don't know if people have you know if

[1:13:08] one day works better if people have if any of you have vacation scheduled or

[1:13:13] huh? >> August 6th

[1:13:14] » August 6th >> Okay. Everybody's okay with that.

[1:13:17] » Yeah, mine's open. I don't know. Again, but she's

[1:13:20] » She's not. >> I don't think Kaia's your schedule. I

[1:13:24] don't know her schedule. >> She's She said it either date in August

[1:13:27] worked for her. She it didn't Yeah, either date. Fred, do you have um

[1:13:33] Do you Do you have any um conflicts with any of the dates?

[1:13:39] » August 6th, I'm okay with. July 16th, I'm okay with.

[1:13:45] And in June, when would we be meeting? >> June would be except for the first

[1:13:50] meeting in June, we would cancel the second meeting.

[1:13:54] » So the first meeting would be on the June 11th?

[1:13:58] » June 4th. >> I'm sorry, June 4th the first Okay.

[1:14:03] » Yep. >> Um

[1:14:07] Yeah, that works for me. I've got a dentist

[1:14:10] appointment but that that's not going to interfere.

[1:14:14] » All right. All right.

[1:14:18] Anything else? >> Next is reports of boards and

[1:14:21] commissions, Maryland Municipal League. >> That's Ashley.

[1:14:25] » Ashley. She's not here so no report. Council of Governments is next Wednesday

[1:14:32] in Queen Anne. So I have no report.

[1:14:37] Economic Development Fred >> Yeah, just uh very quickly

[1:14:42] uh I'm happy to announce that after all the uh months of recruiting our folks

[1:14:47] and getting them uh uh sworn in. At the last meeting, we we

[1:14:51] did have our first CED meeting uh Central Economic Development

[1:14:55] Authority meeting uh uh about a week and a half ago, and that

[1:14:58] went I think very well. Our next and the first uh operating meeting will be

[1:15:05] uh May 19th at 6:00 at The Wharf. So, we're

[1:15:10] uh looking forward to having everyone in attendance at that, and that appears to

[1:15:14] be uh a good time and date for uh everybody to participate with that. So,

[1:15:20] uh I'm happy that we're finally moving forward and making progress, and lot lot

[1:15:24] of really good feedback and comments uh

[1:15:28] with some ideas on how we can actually be taking action, not just uh

[1:15:33] be working on strategic plans, but actually implementing them. So, we're

[1:15:37] excited about that moving forward. >> I'm going to I want to personally thank

[1:15:42] you, too, because I've been on the council for

[1:15:44] This is my fifth year, and this is probably the first time I heard a group

[1:15:49] that's going to get together. There There's been a lot of talk about

[1:15:53] it, but no nothing ever any any seriousness. So, thank you for all your

[1:15:57] hard work on this. >> You got it. My pleasure. It's uh I think

[1:16:02] it's important for the community, and I'm just real excited and enthusiastic

[1:16:05] about the people that have agreed to uh sign on for a 3-year term on this. So,

[1:16:10] uh but thank you. I appreciate it. >> Mhm. Yeah.

[1:16:14] » The tree board I mean park advisory board.

[1:16:16] » Ms. Wendy, are you okay? Did you Is that sling new from the meeting? You didn't

[1:16:20] have that on >> I

[1:16:22] Well, I I saw the doctor >> Oh.

[1:16:24] Okay. Wendy's been kind enough to come in and talk about Arbor Day, and I

[1:16:27] apologize, Wendy, they couldn't get the film the pictures up for some reason.

[1:16:30] So, can you wing it? Just tell them what we did. No pictures.

[1:16:34] I apologize. >> up front, though.

[1:16:35] » Yeah, come on up. >> Okay.

[1:16:37] Um >> Is your arm okay?

[1:16:38] » Yeah, it's fine. >> Okay. Great. Microphone right there.

[1:16:41] Yeah. >> Hello. Hi. Hi. Hi. Um so, we

[1:16:47] » You can pick Yeah. >> Okay. So, we um planted one uh winter

[1:16:51] king hawthorn tree and four autumn brilliant service berries down at the

[1:16:56] Mill Street Park for Arbor Day. And it's sort of phase one of a two-part plan

[1:17:01] that we have. We put them right kind of to delineate that northern border of the

[1:17:06] park between the park and the What is it? The funeral home? Yeah, so it

[1:17:11] continues the existing tree lines and sort of separates um the grassy area

[1:17:16] from the the bush behind it. So, phase two is going to be um

[1:17:21] turning each of those five sort of uh trees or large shrubs into the center of

[1:17:27] an edibles area. So, each tree or shrub service berries then going to have some

[1:17:33] highbush and lowbush blueberries, um maybe some a native viburnum, maybe

[1:17:38] some chokeberry. Um but it will create these different little groupings of

[1:17:42] edibles that are both for wildlife and people. Um and eventually they'll sort

[1:17:48] of all grow into each other and be a natural

[1:17:50] area that people can come, wildlife can come. So, the master We're working with

[1:17:55] the master gardeners. Uh hopefully we'll do a big volunteer project and we'll

[1:17:59] come do the planting probably in the fall. Um and Unity I I got a really good

[1:18:04] price from Unity. We're getting wholesale pricing. So, everything is

[1:18:07] really affordable. Um and um the next step is to see if they can hold every

[1:18:12] all the plants and babysit them until we're ready to plant in the fall.

[1:18:16] That's that. >> Great. That's great.

[1:18:18] » And by the way, Carolyn's right on Remember the the P A B asked me one

[1:18:22] about the signs? >> Yes.

[1:18:24] » She's right on it. >> Okay.

[1:18:26] » She might Michael's already got the information. And the other one is about

[1:18:29] PR for the pavilion. Yeah. >> Yeah.

[1:18:31] » Right on it. So, you got the answers are out there in cyberspace. Okay.

[1:18:34] » Great. Awesome. Okay. Thanks. you. >> you. Thanks for coming in.

[1:18:38] » Thank you. >> Mhm.

[1:18:39] » Next Planning Commission. >> Yes, last night's meeting

[1:18:43] there was a giraffe that Peter presented to the Planning Commission and for the

[1:18:48] ADU language. It was very thorough. There's a couple

[1:18:52] things we need to look at but there really wasn't a big discussion of any

[1:18:56] edits and I think there's just some things that we need to look at to make

[1:18:59] certain we're complying with the state law. ADU is Oh, sorry. The

[1:19:05] accessory dwelling units. My apologies. I used the acronym.

[1:19:11] I see everybody knows that's inconsiderate. So

[1:19:16] So yeah, that was a new law that's effective this year and so every

[1:19:21] municipality must comply. So we're we are

[1:19:25] writing that so there'll be additional language updates

[1:19:29] but I think for the first meeting went very well at the Planning Commission.

[1:19:33] Then there was the final edits to the to the fence code. We've been working on

[1:19:39] that for a little bit of time and I think it's in good shape and my

[1:19:43] understanding is it's going to be coming to the next town council meeting as far

[1:19:47] as for us to review. >> Not next one. The the first one in June.

[1:19:50] » Okay. First one in June. That's why I'm looking to make certain which one. So

[1:19:54] first one in June so it'll be presented at that time and

[1:19:59] to to get that finalized.

[1:20:02] » Got it. >> Next report from our department head,

[1:20:06] town manager. >> I just two quick things.

[1:20:09] Chestertown has a new town manager that started in

[1:20:13] February so I had a meeting with him

[1:20:18] it [laughter] was last week. Mhm.

[1:20:22] Maybe two weeks. And so really nice person.

[1:20:27] He has He's actually

[1:20:31] um, Pennsylvania, but he

[1:20:35] worked in towns in around Hagerstown and southwestern Maryland. Um,

[1:20:41] he has a child still in high school, so his

[1:20:44] they haven't moved over here yet. So, he has a little apartment, but um,

[1:20:48] so we we talked about a lot of things, met for a while, and um,

[1:20:53] and then I attended the first CDA meeting um, two weeks ago and uh, it was

[1:20:57] great. They they had a great start and I'm looking forward to uh, to see what

[1:21:02] they do. >> Chief of Police.

[1:21:07] » I'm not All right.

[1:21:10] » Town Manager Attorney. >> Nothing for me tonight.

[1:21:13] » I need a bottle. >> Director of Public Works.

[1:21:25] » Try and make this fast. >> Are you done yet?

[1:21:28] » [laughter] >> Wish I was.

[1:21:31] It's been a long week.

[1:21:33] » Yes. Kit's been at a conference this week and just got back today.

[1:21:36] » Yeah, about um, uh,

[1:21:40] the contractor is going to start the paving work out at Providence Farm phase

[1:21:46] four and five tomorrow morning. He's going to be repairing some of the

[1:21:51] areas of the base pave which needs to be done before he does the final

[1:21:56] uh, course on it.

[1:21:58] Um, then weather permitting, his plan is to

[1:22:03] work Tuesday,

[1:22:05] Wednesday, and if needed, Thursday next week to do the

[1:22:10] uh, top course paving. There's no parking restrictions at this

[1:22:15] point for tomorrow. However, unless something changes,

[1:22:22] on Tuesday and Wednesday, and if he needs it on Thursday,

[1:22:28] anybody that needs to get in and out needs to be parked on Little Kidwell

[1:22:34] Avenue before 7:00 next Tuesday morning.

[1:22:40] Uh tomorrow we will be pushing out notices uh

[1:22:45] door-to-door notices on Facebook

[1:22:50] and on the um town website and I need to blast.

[1:22:56] » Okay. Putting all this out. >> Uh

[1:22:58] and like I say, this is all weather permitting.

[1:23:01] » Yes. >> Yep.

[1:23:02] » But I want to try let the residents know. Sorry for the

[1:23:06] short notice because all this just kind of finalized about 5:30 tonight.

[1:23:12] » Mhm. I'm pretty sure they'll be happy to get the road done.

[1:23:14] » Yeah. >> Yeah, I'm pretty sure they'll

[1:23:16] » Yep. >> Yeah.

[1:23:17] » So, thank you. >> Thank you.

[1:23:19] » Thank you. >> You're pretty good. Thank you.

[1:23:21] » You're welcome. >> Town clerk.

[1:23:23] » A little brief little brief uh Main Street America, which we are a

[1:23:28] designated Main Street, but every year we have to reapply for our our grant and

[1:23:32] our status, and we were notified yesterday that we um have once again

[1:23:37] received the highest national designation recognizing the town of

[1:23:40] Centre Row um as a um Main Street America accredited program. So,

[1:23:46] once again, we we maintain our status and uh it's really a great um work from

[1:23:52] uh Carol to get that done. And um

[1:23:56] we look forward to to continuing that program for the next

[1:23:59] year. >> Mhm.

[1:24:01] » That it? >> Yep.

[1:24:03] » Next is the second citizens forum. Citizens are requested to keep their

[1:24:07] comments to 3 minutes. I see no one. See nobody here.

[1:24:13] Next is council round table. I'll go with

[1:24:16] Fred. Anything for council round table?

[1:24:19] » Just uh very briefly, um

[1:24:22] in preparation for CEDA moving forward, I thought and I spoke with Peter, our

[1:24:29] planning director, that it would be important for him to

[1:24:33] have involvement in being able to update CEDA with what's in the works in

[1:24:38] planning so that we can be aware of the nuances

[1:24:43] both short-term and long-term of what's happening there. And he is, I think,

[1:24:48] happily agreed to participate with our meetings and to

[1:24:53] you know, give updates at each of our meetings and to be a liaison back to

[1:24:58] planning as we're going forward. And just to kind

[1:25:02] of plant a seed from CEDA and I'll be working with Peter and the

[1:25:08] town council. I think it's going to be important for us as we move forward have

[1:25:15] a more specific plan, but when we identify potential businesses that we

[1:25:19] feel are appropriate as employers and will add in a constructive way to the

[1:25:24] community that it may be for us to be competitive with other surrounding

[1:25:29] communities that we may have to be considering some sort of either

[1:25:33] incentive or reduced fees that are normally assigned

[1:25:40] and required of some of the new businesses coming in. So, I just want to

[1:25:43] plant that seed so that we're more effective and not

[1:25:48] just more aggressive, but more competitive with other surrounding

[1:25:52] areas as we're moving forward with this. So,

[1:25:55] uh nothing firm with that. I just want to put that out there that that's

[1:25:59] something we'll be talking about.

[1:26:04] » Forget to zoning administrator, do you have anything?

[1:26:09] You'll forgo your time.

[1:26:13] Sorry. Uh Council member McNeal.

[1:26:16] » Yes, just if if I give wrong information. When I met with Kip, one of

[1:26:20] the we talked about the water bill again. Okay, one of the ways maybe we

[1:26:23] can look at the future of saving um money. We have two water towers in town,

[1:26:28] Kip? Three, okay. Are some of them redundant, perhaps?

[1:26:34] Oh, okay. Well, I have my notes as we have the North Fork one and the Comet

[1:26:38] one. We're duplicating staff, equipment,

[1:26:41] maintenance, and contractors. Am I totally wrong?

[1:26:47] » [snorts]

[1:26:49] » I think what you're referring to is water plants. We have two water plants.

[1:26:55] We have three water towers. The water towers are standpipes. Uh

[1:27:00] I mean, the redundancy with the water towers is great

[1:27:03] um for capacity management, that type of

[1:27:07] thing. Um things that we were talking about was

[1:27:13] uh the cost of the water bill, the water and the sewer utility rate.

[1:27:17] Um most towns, unless they're much larger

[1:27:22] than Centreville, usually only have one water treatment plant.

[1:27:28] Centreville has two water treatment plants. So, you have double the utility

[1:27:33] bills, double the maintenance, uh all those type of things.

[1:27:38] They also Also, the other thing that we talked about with the water bills,

[1:27:44] please try and remember if you're trying to compare

[1:27:48] Centreville's water bill to Chestertown's water bill or any other

[1:27:54] town, >> [cough and clears throat]

[1:27:56] » we've done three rate studies in 12 years.

[1:28:01] Um and

[1:28:04] made the the moved forward with adjusting the rates

[1:28:08] and everything. These other towns

[1:28:13] haven't adjusted rates for 10 years or more.

[1:28:16] » Yeah, that is Chester Town. I spoke with the town manager and they have not done

[1:28:20] rates in 12 or more years.

[1:28:23] » So, please remember that when you look and say, "Oh, Centerville's high the

[1:28:28] highest one there." We're not necessarily the highest

[1:28:32] always. But, there's a reason the others are

[1:28:35] cheaper, also. >> Right.

[1:28:37] » And one day they're going to wind up in the same

[1:28:40] situation. >> Exactly.

[1:28:42] » The other thing, too, when people talk about, you know, they came from

[1:28:46] wherever and, you know, their bill was not, you know, if they came from Bowie

[1:28:51] and you know, they come here, well, their

[1:28:53] water bill is distributed among however many

[1:28:56] 20,000 residents. >> Right. And we've got, you know, 1,900

[1:29:02] homes. Um,

[1:29:04] I don't know how many homes Bowie has, but

[1:29:06] tens of thousands of homes, I guess. So, you know, there is a difference between,

[1:29:10] you know, if we had another

[1:29:14] uh, 5,000 homes, um, you know, then they would be even

[1:29:21] cheaper, but >> No, that's a great point. So, to

[1:29:23] piggyback on that, so when you're comparing financial information, you

[1:29:28] have to have all the facts. And so, once you gather those facts and and share

[1:29:33] that information, it's important and then also

[1:29:36] communicating it to the community cuz you're right, it starts with people I'm

[1:29:39] just look at this and this or these and I'm always saying, "Are these

[1:29:42] comparable? Are they not?" Because again, from a financial perspective, if

[1:29:47] towns are not or any municipality are not keeping up on the cost of whatever

[1:29:53] it may be. It doesn't, you know, if it's their wastewater treatment, it's their

[1:29:57] their wa- whatever, it'll catch up at some time and that's

[1:30:00] very true. So, are they working in a deficit? What is their financial

[1:30:04] position look like? So, there's a lot to it and I don't disagree with you at all.

[1:30:08] It's more about just the conversation associated with that and making certain

[1:30:12] that we are adequately communicating to you, the

[1:30:15] community, and among ourselves with staff as we kind of look at these to

[1:30:19] make certain we're looking at it appropriately. So, it's a great comment,

[1:30:22] Kip. I agree. >> Was there anything else I can help you?

[1:30:26] » No, that's good. >> Thank you.

[1:30:30] » Um no, um other than um we had mentioned [clears throat]

[1:30:35] um Councilman Bew and I went to and also

[1:30:38] Peter also went to the Delmarva Waterways session, which is a great um

[1:30:43] educational session just 2 weeks ago. And um we went around we went to various

[1:30:48] towns, Delmar, Laurel, Greensboro, and um it was really I thought

[1:30:53] educational um and we networked with different

[1:30:56] people of the town relating to planning and zoning. There's some great takeaways

[1:31:00] relating to that as it relates to your wastewater treatment plant best

[1:31:03] practices. So, I thought it was very good and educational from that

[1:31:07] perspective to give us information as we move forward on different projects. And

[1:31:12] uh Greensboro was really fascinating as well as far as their green

[1:31:15] infrastructure planning that they have done. And I have to say I think we both

[1:31:19] as we went through the towns and then looking at what we've done in

[1:31:23] Centreville, we've done a good job in Centreville. So, I think that's another

[1:31:26] reason you get other towns as it relates to our park system, our trail system,

[1:31:30] what we've done um at the Wharf. We've There's been a lot

[1:31:34] of great things done in Centreville. And so, um

[1:31:38] that needs to be recognized as well um and the positive things associated with

[1:31:43] our town. So, I think that was very um very eye-opening and just reconfirming.

[1:31:47] I knew it already, but it's always good for me to reconfirm that as I

[1:31:52] as I um look to other towns. So, um so, I was glad that we did that. I thought

[1:31:56] it was very beneficial. Um and also um again this year as far as

[1:32:01] um I'll be working with Shore Rivers and um there's a three-year grant so this

[1:32:06] third year as far as the grant which is it's called tree to shore from Shore

[1:32:11] Rivers and we're just seeing where trees should

[1:32:14] be planted what makes the most sense so you want to take advantage of that and

[1:32:18] as it relates to increasing our canopy in the town cuz of all the benefits it

[1:32:23] provides. One of them being as far as just relating to the heat that we're

[1:32:27] having every summer it just gets worse every summer and the more trees that we

[1:32:30] have the cooler our town will be and as well as those who are walking along the

[1:32:34] sidewalks so that will happen this year and we'll probably plant in the fall

[1:32:39] we're just looking to see what makes the most sense and we'll come back to town

[1:32:41] council and we'll talk about that. Kiernan I don't know and maybe if it's

[1:32:46] not as far as what was discussed at planning commission relating to the

[1:32:50] shopping center or not at this time. Cuz it was discussed there.

[1:32:55] » Um >> No okay very good so that was it.

[1:33:01] » I have a couple things I want to personally thank Kip and his staff for

[1:33:05] the the working through the trash and recycling things.

[1:33:10] I also want to thank Karen and her staff for the budget because

[1:33:15] the last two or three budget cycles have been pretty amazing short and

[1:33:21] sweet and we yep and that's only thing that's all I got.

[1:33:25] » I agree. >> And I want to personally thank all the

[1:33:28] council people going getting going through the budget.

[1:33:31] » Yes thank you. >> Yes.

[1:33:34] Everybody. >> Yep.

[1:33:36] » That's all? Motion to adjourn? >> Second.

[1:33:40] » I got it. First second. >> Thank you.

Town Council of Centreville Meeting || 05/07/2026

Transcript