[0:03] We're going to start out with a public
hearing um which is a discussion of
[0:06] ordinance 561 which is an ordinance to
mend the zoning code to include and
[0:11] regulate accessory dwelling units.
>> So Mr. Ror
[0:19] got it covered.
>> So I kind of doubt there's going to be
[0:22] any public comment.
>> We went over this uh last month when we
[0:26] introduced it. Basically, this is to uh
meet the requirement of a new Maryland
[0:31] law that uh requires jurisdictions to um
authorize the being able to build
[0:40] accessory dwelling units on uh parcels
with uh single family dwellings on them.
[0:47] While they set the minimum requirements,
they do allow the local jurisdictions to
[0:52] expand or modify these requirements
basically to fit our conditions. Um, so
[0:58] what we did is we took the guidelines
that they had, we drafted an ordinance
[1:02] that we feel fits the existing
conditions in Hamstead. I worked on it,
[1:06] Christina worked on it. U, we worked I
think with Tom Devil a little bit and we
[1:11] worked a lot with Tom McCarron, our
attorney, on it. Some of the things that
[1:15] we discussed um and we included in there
is is definitely requirements about lot
[1:22] size. Uh we state that the property
either in the principal dwelling or the
[1:27] accessory dwelling must be owner
occupied. Uh where the where the ADU can
[1:32] go and the size of the ADU, what the ADU
can look like that basically that it has
[1:38] to fit the character of the surrounding
neighborhood. Uh we also address parking
[1:43] in there and additional uh off-road
parking requirements.
[1:49] Um
so we feel like we we we did a lot of
[1:53] homework. Um I think we we drafted
something that fits the the feel and
[1:58] character of Hamstead and also some of
the
[2:03] existing conditions in Hamstead and what
can be done and what can't. So, we
[2:08] introduced it last month and um I got
some feedback actually from Wayne um
[2:15] about it. If you look in your packet,
you have two different uh ordinances.
[2:20] 561, you have the one that was
introduced and then you have one up the
[2:24] top that in red says amended.
And basically, uh, Council Member
[2:30] Thomas's, uh, suggested amendment was
just the first sentence in the new code.
[2:37] Basically, it it's the same gist. It
just makes it a cleaner version of what
[2:42] I had, and it adds that a non-conforming
use has has to be a recognized
[2:47] non-conforming use. Um, Councilman
Thomas, anything that I'm missing there?
[2:52] » Good job.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[2:55] Draft two was good.
>> Yes, draft [snorts] two was good. Um,
[3:00] [clears throat]
so, um, that's just basically the
[3:04] explanation behind why we did the
ordinance, how we did the ordinance, and
[3:08] hopefully later on tonight we can adopt
an ordinance.
[3:13] All right, having that explanation,
having two people in attendance, is
[3:17] there any comment to the proposed
ordinance?
[3:22] All right, seeing none, we'll close the
public hearing.
[3:25] » [clears throat]
>> and we'll move right into the council
[3:28] meeting. Please rise for the prayer and
the nash and the pledge of allegiance.
[3:34] [clears throat] Dear Lord, we submit
ourselves to you as your servants and
[3:36] the servants of the people of Hamstead
who've placed their trust in us. Please
[3:40] allow your work, every word that is
spoken and every action taken to be in
[3:44] the best interest of Hamstead and for
everyone gathered here tonight to be a
[3:47] stabilizing influence in these unsettled
times. The Lord bless this meeting and
[3:51] our town. Amen. Amen.
[3:55] I pledge algiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
[4:00] republic for which it stands. One nation
under God, indivisible with liberty and
[4:06] justice for all.
[clears throat]
[4:10] » Jim roll.
>> Mayor Nevin
[4:12] » here.
>> Council member Barrett
[4:14] » here.
>> Council member Payer
[4:15] » here.
>> Council member Thomas
[4:17] » here. Council member
>> here. Council member Zman
[4:20] » here.
>> Thank you. Minute approvals from August
[4:24] 11th.
>> So moved.
[4:26] » Second.
>> Any discussion? All those in favor?
[4:29] » I.
>> Anyone opposed? Thank you.
[4:33] » All right, Jim, when you're ready.
>> Righty. Um, as always, we start with the
[4:37] water system project. Um, Koago
continues to send submitts in to our
[4:43] engineering firms for their review and
approval.
[4:46] Very slowly, they're being approved. Um,
we're having a lot of issues getting the
[4:50] manufacturers to submit complete and
accurate BABA compliance certification.
[4:55] Um, I had a conversation with uh
Kowalago today. I'm going to reach out
[5:01] to MDE and talk to Matthew Marshall down
there, see if he can give us some better
[5:05] guidance on how to get this moving
again.
[5:09] Um, so that's where we stand on that.
Uh, as far as projects, this is good
[5:16] news. At the September 23rd Hamstead
Planning and Zoning Commission meeting,
[5:20] Tractor Your Supply Company and the
Weiss Gas and Go will both be seeking
[5:24] final plan approval. Both plans have
been approved by all county and state
[5:28] reviewing bureaus. All comments of town
submitted have also been addressed.
[5:33] After the plans received P&Z approval,
next step is a legal package process
[5:38] where myars are assigned or myars are
signed. all necessary easements are
[5:42] established and a public works
agreements are drafted and executed. Um
[5:47] on these most of them you'll need a PWA
with the town and you also need one with
[5:52] the county. Uh also Robertsfield 3 which
is a small three house subdivision on
[5:58] Hamshshire Lane. It's currently
basically we sign the mylars. Sharon's
[6:03] supposed to be in hopefully tomorrow to
sign it and we'll get them back to the
[6:07] county. So, they're a little bit further
ahead. If all goes smoothly with the
[6:12] legal process, construction could start
on these three projects by the end of
[6:15] the year. Finally, especially TSC, that
took a while. Um, so one thing the town
[6:23] staff is researching, exploring right
now is possible addition of a water
[6:27] efficiency analysis requirement and any
new development projects where the
[6:31] estimated water usage would be greater
than 2,000 gallons per day. While the
[6:36] town has we're very healthy water system
and available water is not an issue. Uh
[6:43] we feel a need to protect the resource.
Although planning uses they they use
[6:48] planning uses water allocation numbers
and the town pride has some verbiage
[6:53] town pride the town code has some
verbiage uh regarding daily water use
[6:58] and well production minimums. There's
nothing really in the code that requires
[7:02] developers to use any water saving
strategies. This analysis would require
[7:07] the developer to minimize portable water
consumption through many different ways
[7:13] water reducing technologies be it water
recycling or the use of non-potable
[7:18] water sources. Um so we're just looking
into that now and uh I will let you know
[7:24] I will update you next month on that.
So, uh, CJ Miller, who was awarded the
[7:29] contract to mill and overlay several
town roads, expects to begin the project
[7:33] by the end of the month. The roads to be
repaved include Britney Lane, North
[7:37] Carol Street, Dogwood Drive, Sycamore
Drive, and Boxwood Drive. Residents of
[7:42] those streets will be notified in
advance before the construction begins.
[7:46] As far as uh the finance department,
auditors were on site last week
[7:50] gathering information for the fiscical
year 26 audit. DNA is working closely
[7:55] with them and providing assistance where
needed. They will return for a few days
[7:59] if needed, but they'll continue to work
remotely until the report is complete.
[8:04] Uh coming up next month, and I know Dave
will have a lot more on this probably,
[8:08] but Hamstead Main Street Partnership uh
will be holding uh Fall Fest. They're
[8:13] currently wrapping up their planning for
it. Fall Fest will be held on October
[8:17] the 10th. The event will feature live
music vendors, fall-based activities for
[8:22] kids, a hay ride in a beer garden. The
event will take place on the grounds of
[8:26] the War Memorial Park, St. John's
Church, Matthews Tire, and also go down
[8:31] behind the Snow Bar and Monument
Southern properties with the vendors.
[8:37] Um, Nissap Scarecrow contest. So last
year was a big hit and so because of
[8:44] that Nissan is once again overseeing a
Main Street scarecrow contest to raise
[8:49] funds to help those less fortunate in
our community. Hamstead merchants and
[8:53] organizations are asked to design and
construct a scarecrow that pertains to
[8:57] their business. Each entry will be
assigned a lamp post on Main Street to
[9:01] which they will attach their scarecrow.
Um I never heard back about when they
[9:06] were looking to put these scarecrows up
and take them down. So, I don't really
[9:10] know for sure. I would assume hopefully
it's around the Fall Fest and they're up
[9:14] for Fall Fest.
>> Um, I'll try and reach out again and
[9:17] make sure that they are aware that
October 10th is Fall Fest.
[9:22] » So, and then lastly, uh, town offices
will be closed on Monday, October 12th,
[9:29] and observance of Columbus Day. Uh,
trash pickup will be on the normal
[9:33] schedule that week. So,
>> okay, that's it.
[9:38] Thank you. Any questions for Jim?
>> Scarecrows were great last year. They
[9:42] were really a lot of fun.
>> Yeah. So, I I I hope that they realize
[9:45] that they can they need to move to get
these up by October the 10th. So,
[9:52] it's amazing how time flying.
>> Speaking of time flying, only two more
[9:56] to go.
>> Three more. Three more.
[9:58] » Three more. Okay. Yes, there are three
more Saturdays remaining in this year's
[10:01] market season. The last day will be
September 26th. We have had several
[10:06] pop-up vendors over the past few weeks,
including woodworks, painted craft
[10:10] works, floral arrangements, cupcakes,
and hot sauces. This gives sellers an
[10:16] opportunity to try out our market
without making a full season commitment
[10:20] right away. If they decide to become a
vendor during the same season, the fees
[10:24] that they paid as a one-time vendor get
applied toward the full season fee.
[10:29] August 29th was the last day for Ginger
Jefferson of Ginger's Jams and More. She
[10:34] has been a vendor since the market was
founded in 2010 and so she just decided
[10:39] that it was time to retire. They will
undoubtedly be missed by their longtime
[10:44] customers as well as newer ones. We
thank Ginger, her husband Bob, and their
[10:49] helpers for participating as vendors
from the beginning and we wish them
[10:53] well.
>> Going to miss the fry pies,
[10:57] » coconut pound cake. What else? Jams,
>> cupcakes.
[11:00] » The cupcakes.
>> We do have a new cupcake vendor. They
[11:03] just joined us, but uh Ginger will
definitely be missed.
[11:06] » All right, Wayne.
>> Uh the Hamstead Train Station Committee
[11:10] is um sponsoring Music in the Park. We
had Mark and the Sharks a couple weeks
[11:14] ago. They were very well accepted. Very
good band. Uh considering to have him
[11:19] back next year. And of course uh this
coming Saturday, we have uh Blue Moon
[11:23] Big Band coming September 12th, 6 to8
War Memorial Park. It's a 20 piece
[11:28] orchestra, so we're looking forward to
having a good turnout for that. Um, last
[11:32] year was about three or 400 people, so
should be a good time. Uh, tree
[11:36] commission, uh, we just received a grant
of $6,854
[11:41] for Westwood Park restoration area. Uh,
there's a couple areas in in Westwood
[11:46] Park where their tree restoration, a lot
of the trees have passed away and so
[11:51] we're going to uh replace those trees
and we're working on a uh a grant for
[11:57] next spring. So, got a lot going on.
Very good.
[12:02] » Deb,
>> um, [clears throat] excuse me. The
[12:05] planning and zoning commission met on
Wednesday, August 26th, and as Jim had
[12:09] stated, they did review and recommend
ordinance 561 for ADU to council for
[12:16] adoption. Um, we received the copy of
the ordinance with the specific
[12:21] guidelines that Jim had mentioned and
obviously recommended it to a council.
[12:27] Um, the Carol County Department of
Planning had a public hearing on
[12:32] September 3rd about ADU. So, I don't
know what
[12:36] » transpired with that and that was it.
>> All right.
[12:40] » It looks like next month we'll have
more. It'll be busy
[12:43] » tractor supply.
>> All right.
[12:46] » Can HOAs make more restrictions on the
ADUs uh as well?
[12:51] » Not really. In fact, basically it can't
even count in an in an HOA for any
[12:56] density numbers. And they have to treat
that ADU as a separate lot, separate
[13:03] voting voice.
>> And all of those have cluster boxes, so
[13:06] they have to have their own mailboxes.
>> Uhu.
[13:11] Okay.
>> It's good. You're getting interesting in
[13:14] planning is only with state involvement.
Dave.
[13:17] » So, as Jim was saying about the Main
Street Partnership, we're going to have
[13:20] the uh Fall Fest. It's going to be on
the 10th of October from 10:00 to 3. Um,
[13:26] with the addition of those spaces that
we got behind the snow bar and the real
[13:30] estate office, we actually got up to 71
spaces this year. We've already filled
[13:35] 61. And these are all jured ones that
we're we're deciding who's going to be
[13:39] there. So, we actually got more
applications in, but we've went through
[13:42] them, decided who's going to be there
and who's not going to be there. So,
[13:45] we're going to give them a better
quality than we've had before. Um, we
[13:48] also have some big surprises coming uh
for this event, which I can't reveal yet
[13:53] because they're not completely settled
yet, but we're having a meeting next
[13:57] Monday and um it's going to be a big
one, a big surprise coming. Um, also
[14:02] with um the Richard's uh family
cemetery, um, I'm going to reach out to
[14:07] the town, so this is I haven't told the
town this yet, but um, we actually a
[14:12] couple years ago um, someone that run
the man that runs the um, Sons of the
[14:17] Revolutionary War here in Carol County
had reached out about putting a plaque
[14:21] up there a few years ago for Richard
Richards who actually served in the
[14:26] Revolutionary War in Hamstead, which I
didn't know that. So, and it was
[14:30] interesting, but he actually So, they
had bought a goodsiz
[14:35] monument from Eli, which they're going
to have installed all on their don um
[14:41] goodlook good-looking monument. Uh
explaining what he did in the war and
[14:45] and um and there's contribution to that.
Uh tenatively, it's going to be should
[14:50] be the first weekend or two in November.
They'd like to do it. They're going to
[14:54] have it installed and uh we want to have
like a little uh ceremony there. So, I'm
[14:58] going to reach out to the town.
Hopefully, we can kind of come up with
[15:01] something to add to it. So,
>> is it going back by the the black iron
[15:06] fence
>> by the fence? It'll be in the cemetery
[15:08] itself.
>> It will be in the cemetery.
[15:09] » That's my understanding. Yeah. So,
>> all right.
[15:13] » Ben.
>> Okay. [laughter]
[15:15] » That
[15:19] Sorry.
>> That's all right. August um 2026 water
[15:25] usage was 341,000 gallons per day
compared to August last year was which
[15:31] was 364,000 gallons per day. So the
water leak system and tracking that has
[15:38] been helping.
>> Plus it rained
[15:39] » plus August was pretty dry last.
>> Yeah. [clears throat]
[15:45] And then September this year was 347,000
gallons per day. And last year was
[15:49] 367,000 gallons per day. So it's almost
20,000 gallons per day that were
[15:56] actually less, which is pretty good.
>> All right.
[16:00] » Anything to say on that, Kevin?
>> Well, I can give you a fun fact. Um the
[16:04] 341,000galon
average for August of this year, you
[16:09] have to go back to 1992
to find an average that was lower than
[16:14] that.
>> Wow.
[16:15] » In 1992, there was about a third of the
houses and
[16:20] are here now. So, um it it says a lot
about our continued efforts to find,
[16:28] detect, and uh shut off leaks, get them
fixed.
[16:33] uh infrastructure, the the improvements
we've made to infrastructure have just
[16:38] brought these numbers down incredibly
and it gives us capacity for moving
[16:43] forward for Hampton to grow in the
future.
[16:45] » Wow, that's great. Thank you guys. Last
uh was there's rainfall in August, more
[16:50] than we've had in a long time.
>> That helped cut into the number a little
[16:54] bit.
>> Yeah, 4.72 in and September so far is
[16:58] just over half an inch, but 0.55 in. But
I will add to that as well. Um, we had
[17:05] our well levels run by the county to
come out and they download the
[17:08] transducers. Um, July's numbers for our
observation wells. We have three
[17:14] observation wells in the town that we've
been doing for a long time. They are at
[17:18] new historic lows. I don't know if you
know, but Pretty Boy Reservoir is now
[17:23] closed off to all boats. Um
although we're getting rain to keep the
[17:29] grass and the trees and everything,
>> we are not getting enough rain to
[17:35] recharge the groundwater or the or the
reservoir. So
[17:38] » we need rain day long rains
>> and it's still only moderate drought
[17:43] category. We're not
>> We are moderate. Yeah. But I expect that
[17:47] to go back up all of a sudden now it's
getting a little dry again.
[17:51] » It is. Yes. And then you guys uh public
works also continues to work on the
[17:56] storm inlets. Uh seven have been
completed so far and two more are in
[18:00] construction. Sycamore Drive and Boxwood
Drive.
[18:03] » Yes. In anticipation of payment.
>> Good job. All right. Thanks, Chief
[18:09] Petta.
[18:17] » Thank you.
>> Thank you, Mayor.
[18:20] All
[18:23] right, for a report for uh our August
report of uh 2026.
[18:28] So, and this was uh I was here the whole
month, so this is definitely all one me.
[18:32] » Congratulations.
>> Thanks. Thank you. Um we'll start out
[18:36] with traffic safety. Uh we had uh 11
accidents. Um three of them were um
[18:41] actual action accident investigations.
Um
[18:46] for the 282 traffic circle, we had three
482.
[18:51] » Sorry, 482. What did I that that makes
up the transpose numbers? I apologize.
[18:54] Yeah, 482 traffic circle wave three. Uh
none none of them will have to be a full
[18:58] investigation. Just a um information
exchange for traffic enforcement. Um our
[19:03] patrol officers wrote 124 citations,
three repair orders, and issued 171
[19:08] warnings and also had 361 patrol checks.
All right. So, for crime, um, our major
[19:15] incidents, um, we had a missing
5-year-old. Was a pretty stressful
[19:19] couple hours, but she was located. It
was great. Um, hiding in a closet. Got
[19:24] missed a couple on the first couple
checks, but so it was good. It all ended
[19:27] well. Stressful couple hours, but all
ended well. Um, our catalytic converter
[19:31] thefts, you guys have heard that. Um, so
we had three in our town. Um,
[19:38] Westminster also had four and there's
one right outside of town. So obviously
[19:42] somebody came in and hit um detective
man has been assigned to cases. He's
[19:45] been working other jurisdictions. So
hopefully we'll have some good leads um
[19:49] in the next couple weeks as we're hoping
for. But uh but we're you know it all
[19:53] happened right on um the 20th and 21st
on those two nights. So we've been in
[19:57] contact with all with all of our victims
and trying to follow up on lead trying
[20:00] to get some more with it. Um we've had a
couple assault cases, couple more
[20:04] frauds. Um I'll get into those a little
bit later. Um, but we had about nine
[20:08] deaths total. Um, and some of our uh
Weiss had a couple, but Detective Man,
[20:13] I'll be getting on. He's actually doing
a great job of closing some of those
[20:16] cases out.
[clears throat] Um, so the arrests, so
[20:20] I'm getting ahead of myself, uh, arrests
picked up compared to uh, July. Um, we
[20:26] had, um, a couple felony arrests. We had
a first-degree burglary arrest, but it
[20:29] ended up being actual an ex-girlfriend.
Um so it was you kind of domestic
[20:34] related um burly arrest but the um
officer buck got some charges working
[20:38] with the state's attorney's office. We
had a um three domestic arrests two of
[20:42] them actually are first degree um so
we're working with the state's
[20:44] attorney's office on those as well. Uh
couple theft arrests and a couple
[20:48] frauds. I'll go into um traffic our
traffic arrests I told our traffic was
[20:54] up. Our traffic arrests were up for
August. Uh six DUIs went from zero in
[20:58] July to six in August. So the so our
guys are out there. Um and uh there was
[21:04] al also um driving without insurance we
had five suspended drivers uh three and
[21:10] driving without license. I'm sorry
suspended drivers four and driving
[21:14] without license three. So these are
major traffic offenses. So um trying to
[21:18] hold people accountable hopefully they
get anything everything straight away in
[21:20] the courts. Um so our community events
um we had national night out right at
[21:26] the beginning of the month. Um we've had
music in the park and um the farmers
[21:31] markets every every uh every every
Saturday making sure we have officers
[21:35] there. I know I've been there spending
plenty of money. Um but but it's good
[21:39] that's a great event. Um our and most
important are back to school. Um we've
[21:44] been at the schools every day uh from
beginning um drop off and uh and pick
[21:49] up. So we've had an officer, you know,
and we're hitting and all three of our
[21:52] schools have been covered um you know
the uh two elementary schools and the
[21:56] middle school. So, the school's been
very happy with us. All right. Um, some
[22:01] of our major cases, I know I mentioned
about the catalytic converter cases that
[22:05] we're working on, but uh, Detective Man,
you know, obviously he's becoming an
[22:09] expert when it comes to our frauds. Uh,
that, um, sort he had identity theft.
[22:13] One of our residents, um, knew all these
credit card companies all open up on
[22:18] him. He actually took some leads and
found out it was an ex-girlfriend. So,
[22:22] uh, but go ahead charges on that. And
that case is, uh, is within our court
[22:26] system. Um, also there was uh our liquor
stores um got hit for for frauds as
[22:32] well. Um our two liquor stores uh
Hamstead Liquors and um
[22:39] » Street Main Street.
>> Thank you. Thank you. Main Street
[22:41] Liquors. Thank you. Um they were they
were hit. Um Detective Man was working
[22:46] on did some very good following some
leads in two suspects were identified.
[22:50] They're both New York residents. So, it
look like they're coming up and down the
[22:53] east coast and we have active charges on
them and uh the warrant has the warrant
[22:57] has been approved and extradition has
been approved too. So, hopefully they'll
[23:00] get picked up and be held accountable.
Um, also the Dollar General counterfeit
[23:04] case, I don't know if you guys
mentioned, I mentioned that last last
[23:07] month. Um, but he has identified a
suspect and they are also a New York
[23:10] resident coming down and doing um frauds
and so that case is in our court system
[23:14] as well. So, so it's really good he's
following up on it and um our our
[23:18] residents are being victimized by people
out of state. know and we're going to
[23:22] bring them back and hold them
accountable. Um, so as we're mentioning
[23:25] the cal the calic converter thefts, we
got a good run of them. So we're going
[23:28] to that in the uh the last case we had.
Unfortunately, one of our residents
[23:33] passed away with a preliminary
investigation, possible fatal overdose.
[23:37] So Detective Man has been working on
that case as well. Um, so that is
[23:41] basically our report for uh
August of 2026. Does anybody have any
[23:47] questions? You you want to put out the
fact that we're recruiting and we got a
[23:50] bonus.
>> Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. We have a
[23:53] we've been advertising um we're hiring
we're looking at minimum two going to
[23:58] hire at least two officers. Um we we
have a um a $10,000 sign on bonus for uh
[24:04] for any lateral or entry level entry
level applicants. So we uh we have a
[24:08] process going on. We have oral boards
next week for applicants, but bring on
[24:13] as many applicants as we can. Get our
pool in and uh hopefully hire some good
[24:17] good candidates next couple months.
Looking forward
[24:22] » questions for chief
>> specific model of car they're targeting
[24:26] for the cate.
>> Um so there so looking at all the
[24:28] reports there were three. Um,
tell you exact I know was a Prius.
[24:36] I know the Econol line. The Econoline
truck was one.
[24:41] Uh, so Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, and
the Econoline. Those were the three
[24:45] vehicles um for all those. So it was so
Westminster had four, we had three plus
[24:50] the one right outside the town. So yeah,
those were the three vehicles. All those
[24:54] » with us.
>> Yeah.
[24:57] » Usually goes in sports like you won't
have it for a while then all of a
[24:59] sudden. So, so we're just trying to
identify as someone coming through, you
[25:03] know, coming through the area and then
they're hitting, you know,
[25:06] » we'll find out.
>> So,
[25:08] » all right, Chief. Thank you. Appreciate
it.
[25:10] » Thank you. Thank you, Chief.
>> Thank you, everyone.
[25:15] » Just keep your eyes up. If you see
something, say something. Um, my report.
[25:21] Um, so we heard from Carol County Board
of Elections. During the primary, we
[25:24] didn't have anything locally here,
either early voting site or a dropbox.
[25:29] So, we worked with the board of
elections and we now have a Dropbox site
[25:32] at least at the Carol um senior center
up at North Carol Plaza. Um so, those
[25:38] who want to mail in votes and that opt
options available to them. Uh at the end
[25:43] of last month, the the um Merchants
Association had a cornhole tournament
[25:46] and we had a couple of teams in it. My
thanks to Christina Swisser for
[25:50] partnering up with me that night. We
finished runners up to the to the pros.
[25:54] So, but it was it was a fun night with
the merchants association. Jim and I
[25:58] have met with Wind Development of the
Hamstead Residences. Uh they've managed
[26:02] it for years. Now they're taking more of
an ownership interest, but they're
[26:05] re-uping the low-income housing tax
credits. Um so they've talked to us
[26:09] about continuing subordinate the small
loan that we have in a fourth position,
[26:13] I think.
>> Yes.
[26:14] » Which, you know, we've been in since the
since the project started, but it's you
[26:18] know, obviously was a great project for
Hamstead. So we look forward to
[26:21] continuing that. Um Dave and I have a
Maryland Municipal League board retreat
[26:25] where we're going to update our
strategic plan. That's uh sort of this
[26:29] Thursday. Uh and then on Thursday
evening, we're all going to Westminster
[26:33] for the Carol County chapter, the
Maryland Municipal League. And since
[26:36] we're close by in Howard County, I think
several folks from the state level are
[26:40] going Whoops. going to be up there in
Westminster as well. So at the New
[26:45] Wakefield Event Center. So looking
forward to that. And then last but not
[26:49] least, um I noticed uh um a long time a
long ago and longtime mayor of
[26:55] Westminster passed away last week or I
guess passed away in the end of August.
[26:58] Ken Yowen um he had uh several different
positions through um Westminster
[27:04] government and he was the mayor from
1994 to um sometime in ' 01 about six
[27:09] and a half years. So during my first
couple terms as mayor back in the day,
[27:13] um you know, he was a great a good man
and did a lot of good things for
[27:16] Westminster and and uh served as a
mentor for a young guy who was just
[27:20] starting out. Um so um he will be
missed, but I wanted to to mention Mayor
[27:25] Yowen. Um and uh you know, a good man
and he deserves recognition and he and
[27:31] he did a good job for Westminster.
So that's my report. New business. We
[27:37] have an award of contract for the water
distribution um system improvements.
[27:42] And Jim,
>> so uh the low bid, it was very close,
[27:47] but uh White Pine Construction came in
the low bid at $212,495.
[27:54] Uh White Pine Construction, we're very
familiar with them. They've done several
[27:58] projects around town recently. Uh most
recently they ran the new waterline down
[28:03] Gil Avenue to the mill for their um
reconstruction or remodel. Um they've
[28:10] been around for over 60 years. It's a
Kibler family. Like I said, we're very
[28:13] familiar with them. We have no qualms
with their work. Um so staff recommends
[28:19] the award of contract to White Pine
Construction in the amount of $212,495.
[28:25] » So moved.
>> Second.
[28:27] » Second by Dev. Any further discussion?
All those in favor?
[28:32] » Anyone opposed?
All right. Then under ordinances
[28:35] resolution, we have the adoption of
ordinance 561,
[28:39] which was the to amend the zoning code
to include and regulate accessory
[28:44] dwelling units.
>> I make a motion to adopt.
[28:48] » Second.
>> Amen.
[28:51] » Motion to amend.
>> Yes. Motion to amend.
[28:54] Um, as Jim stated, um, I, uh, I rewrote
the first sentence, um, to read, "An
[29:01] accessory dwelling unit, ADU, may be
allowed as a conditional use in any
[29:06] zoning district where a single family
detached dwelling is either
[29:10] [clears throat] a principal permitted
use or exist as a recognized
[29:14] non-conforming use." That makes the
first uh, sense more clear.
[29:21] So that's my amendment.
>> Proposed amendment. Is there a second?
[29:25] » Second.
>> Second by Deb.
[29:28] » Thank you. Any further discussion? All
those in favor of ordinance 561 as
[29:33] amended?
>> I.
[29:35] » Anyone opposed?
All righty.
[29:39] » Easy enough. Um, public comments.
>> I'd like to thank you from the bottom of
[29:45] my heart for approving the White Oak
Court Uline improvements. I've spent a
[29:50] lot of cold nights down there, a lot of
holidays. So, thank you so much
[29:54] [laughter] for
[29:58] » try. We'll try to make your water breaks
more temperate. How's that?
[30:02] » The last one was like two days.
>> Yeah.
[30:04] » Three days.
>> At least it was warm.
[30:07] » Down. Well, White Oak, you were down
there like the week between Christmas
[30:10] and New Year's. Yes.
>> When it was 0 degrees and you're out
[30:12] there at midnight or frostbite.
>> Got a [laughter] Christmas party down
[30:16] there. I missed the Thanksgiving down
there.
[30:19] I'm thrilled to see new pipe go to the
ground.
[30:25] » All good. All right. We have We're going
to go into a close session um under
[30:30] statutory authority to close a session
on article 3-305B1
[30:34] to consider the acquisition of real of
real property for a public p purpose and
[30:39] matters directly related there too. Is
there a motion to go into close session?
[30:44] uh amendment to bring the town manager
and the assistant zoning administrator
[30:49] meeting.
>> Okay.
[30:51] So move
>> second.
[30:53] » All those in favor?
>> Anyone opposed? All right. Thank you.
[30:57] Thanks for hanging out with us.