[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.