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Evening ladies and gentlemen. Time is 6:30 p.m. Uh, I will call the, I call the,

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uh, regular meeting for Thursday, October 8th, uh, 2026 of the Levisville Town Council

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to order. I am, uh, Mayor Christopher Holnbaker, and we, believe it or not, we have

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a full diocese with Council Member Stuart Stahl, uh, Council Member David Smith,

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Council Member David Earl, Council Member Anne Arena, and Vice Mayor Tom Budner joining

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me this evening. We have one vacancy on council. With us this evening, we also have

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uh Mr. Jason Gnori, our town manager, Mr. John Merrithew, our planning director and

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zoning administrator, Ms. Sarah Moseley, our community engagement economic development

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coordinator, uh, Ms. Lizzie Fontaine, our town clerk, and our town attorney, uh,

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Mr. Rob Sproll will be joining us on or about around 8 o'clock, uh, to, as part of

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some of the action, uh, this evening. Uh, please rise as you're able and join me

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in the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States

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of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible,

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with liberty and justice for all.

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Next up are comments from the public. If you're on the land of Zoom and you wish

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to uh make a public comment, I will, uh, let you know that there is a fiscal year

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2027 supplemental appropriation as part of our public hearing, and we ask that during

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those public hearing, uh, those public hearing matters, we would give you the allotted

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time to make those comments, uh, during that time. But if you have any other public

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comments, Uh, and you wish to, uh, provide them, if you're on the land of Zoom at

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the bottom of the screen, you will see a raised hand icon. If you press that, you

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will be, uh, promoted to a presenter, at which time you'll be provided the opportunity

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to deliver your comments within the allotted time. Madam Clerk, is there anybody

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in the room or online that wishes to make public comments this evening? Yes, I have

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Frank McDonough. Um, OK, uh, Mr. Vice Mayor, would you please,

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prior to public comments, please read the rules for public comment.

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Comments from the public are limited to 3 minutes at the beginning of the council

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meeting. A speaker representing a group or organization will be allowed up to 5 minutes

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to present the position of the organization. Any member of the public speaking for

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an organization must submit a letter from the board of that organization authorizing

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them to speak for the organization on that issue. Questions by the mayor or town

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council members will not be counted against the speaker's time. All speakers shall

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refrain from using vulgarities, profanities, and obscenities. Speakers shall address

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the mayor and town council as a whole and not address the remarks toward any specific

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member of the town council or staff. Mr. McDonough, if you, uh, please turn on the

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mic at the bottom right and, uh, please state your name for and address for the record.

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Frank McDonough, 25 South Loudon Street.

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Um, specifically addressing this to the town council. Um, I know that you've received,

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uh, the ethics complaint against the mayor that I filed almost two weeks ago. Um,

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I have a concern about the procedure. When, when I was in contact with the state

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board of elections, they indicated to me what their procedure was, how many days

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it would take for them to, to do their investigation, and, and then, uh, make a determination.

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It's the same from the county. However, in our procedures here, there is no specific

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amount of time.

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Um, previously, there were, um, ethics complaints about the mayor when he was on

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the planning commission. They were investigated by the mayor at that time, found

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to be true, but then nothing happened. And my problem with the with the transparency

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then versus now is that there was never even a mention of it, um, in a public meeting,

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which is part of the reason I'm here, but I think it's very important from a transparency

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standpoint. That you acknowledge that you've received a complaint and what your um

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what your methodology is going to be for curing that complaint. Um, I realize that

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you can't respond to me now because this is an issue that's under investigation,

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and, and I've, I've given that, I understand it from the clerk and from the town

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manager, so, um, uh, but I do want to I implore you to make this a

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transparent process and that um the people of Levittsville know what's going on with

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it. That's all. Thank you. Are there any questions?

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So, uh, I believe there's gonna be a statement this evening and obviously, uh, I

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will recuse myself, but I do want to make sure and I will repeat this at the time.

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I've already notified that the town manager, the town attorney, and our clerk that

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in accordance with Virginia section, uh, State Code 2.237051

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subsection E, uh, which allows for personnel issues. To, uh, for

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the subject of the personnel issues to provide written notification of a waiver of

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any FOIA, uh, exclusions. I have indicated as of this afternoon to please utilize

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this writing as notification of my waiver to the FOIA exclusions afforded to me under

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this section regarding the ethics complaint below. As such, any and all information

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shall be disclosed. I will also say as a member of this diocese 2018 for the Sixth

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time, uh, I have no problem disclosing the 350 pages of the witch hunt that was actually

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provided in 2018 and would be happy to, uh, provide the waiver for that yet again,

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uh, as nothing came up from that. So, um, I will be, I, I believe that's gonna be

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part of tonight's meeting, but, uh, I wanted to make sure that that's on record.

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Moving on, is there any other public comments to see? There was no one else signed

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up in the room or online. OK. Is there anybody else in the room that wishes to make

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public comments to see?

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Moving on to item number 3, committee reports. We will start with you, Mr. Smith.

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Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, at our last infrastructure committee meeting, um, The,

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the committee. Completed the Work that we've been working on with regards to the

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memorial policy. Um, we were gonna present that tonight to the town council, but

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I think we're gonna wait till the next meeting, uh, and we'll present that to town

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council for review, uh, and any input they wanna provide and, and hopefully adoption,

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but, but you'll be able to get a chance to see that, uh, prior to the next meeting

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and it'll be available to the public then.

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Are there, uh, any questions? I do have one. Do you know the status of the plaque

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for? I know you all recommended the last, uh, meeting for as part of a memorial,

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and we'd asked on our last meeting that that move forward. No, at the end of this

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time it is on our work plan coming up. We, we plan to reach out, um, in fact, I think

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some coordination was gonna be in congruent with, uh, CBD, uh, I think later next

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week, right? Is that next week or two weeks? OK. Um, We're, we're reaching out. Uh,

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we haven't formally yet, but we're, we're on it. OK. Thank you.

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Moving on to the CBD committee.

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Thank you. Um Last meeting the CBD had was September 10th, and that meeting

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encompassed everything Oktoberfest, um. All the uh CBD committee members um

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participated and volunteered and, and reaching out to all the businesses to make

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sure everything was OK with the With the uh door, the stickers and the beverages

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and all that, thank them for that. And of course, Mrs. Mosley for everything she

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did Oktoberfest. Our next meeting is October 15th, next Thursday.

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Uh, we'll be talking about the Coco Call, which is December 5th, and we'll be going

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over the draft marketing plan for 2027.

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That's it. All right. Any questions of the CBD report? OK. Moving on to item

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number 4, the town manager's report, Mr. Koyer.

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You know, some airtime council, uh, some updates here, some recurring items have

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been on here for a little bit. Um, no update, update from EPA, but again, we, we

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stand ready, uh, for the Quarter Branch Water Main replacement. I did present to

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the Virginia, uh, Construction, uh, Transportation Construction Alliance Group this

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past week, um, and we talked about this water main replacement project. So there

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are, I've already kind of been in communication with some potential contractors when

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that does hit the street. Again, that's awaiting EPA approval of awarded funding.

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Um, there's a huge backlog, as you can imagine, um, in the EPA, so we are among many

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other jurisdictions waiting for the approval. We have 4 applications in as well,

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um, following this one. Town Center well rehabilitation. The, the project itself

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is done, uh, the fencing is all done. Uh, the grass is, is starting to take shape.

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The landscaping will be completed in the coming weeks. Uh, with the, with the kind

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of the cold, uh, overnight temperatures, it's kind of decided perhaps we need to

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wait a little bit and the grass is actually, uh, picking up there, so that's good

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for, um, erosion control and things. Initiative building renovation, that project's

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in its final stages as well. Um, we are, we are looking to outfit the new office

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space at this point and just kind of punch item things. So, uh, that project is,

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uh, very close to completion. Our veteran pavers, while the process, uh, for the

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applications are closed for this year, we did procure or secure 19 pavers that will

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be dedicated and installed for the upcoming, uh, Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday,

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November 11th at 11 p.m. out at the Veterans Memorial. Uh, no update on the uh Levit

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Hill Recycling Center. Uh, I'm just keeping in here to kinda, uh, periodic any milestones

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that are reached. I'll, I'll keep, uh, you and the, and the public informed on that.

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Uh, the town remains under a drought warning, so we're, we're continue to do voluntary

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water conservation as, as, uh, appropriate in order to avoid restrictions. Uh, however,

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some of the, the rehabilitation there of town center well, um, are exceeding expectations,

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so we're actually in a much better position. Our wells are in much better, um, condition

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than they were perhaps during the summer before the rehabilitation. So good news

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there. Uh, we still are soliciting, uh, well, the planning commission is soliciting,

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uh, public input for their, uh, town comp plan review. Uh, this Levittsville Community

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survey. There are flyers all over town. It's on our social media outlets, our website,

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um, so hopefully those, uh, listening at home or watching this later are familiar

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with the survey and take a, take a moment to fill it out. Uh, we are getting a lot

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of responses now, um, so more the merrier.

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Uh, in that same vein, there are 3 surveys out there floating around. One was sent

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directly to our town businesses, uh, for those businesses that haven't taken the

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time to fill out the survey for Oktoberfest, we do encourage you to do that. There

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are also surveys for patrons, again, posted on social media, as well as, um, the

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vendors, uh, that took part and contributed to the festival. Street sweeping. So

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now we have the date scheduled. Uh, we're working with the HOAs to get notifications

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out to those residents. You're gonna see a lot more out in the public for public

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notice. Uh, we are now working with our vendor to get the sequence for what streets

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and what days and kind of time frames. Um, so, it will be on the, uh, October 22nd

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and 23rd. That's Thursday and Friday. It's going to be during business hours. Uh,

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it could start as early as 7. We're still working through the sequence. That's why

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there's not much, uh, granular detail and kind of timing of what sector is gonna

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be on what day. A town staff update. Uh, John Matthew will be transitioning into

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retirement over the coming months. Uh, so we have, uh, published, um, his position

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for full-time replacement, a planning and zoning administrative position. Uh, John

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has, uh, Pledge to stay on through the comp plan review process at a minimum, so

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that'll go into next calendar year. So, in the coming months, uh, we hope to have

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uh his future replacement here and allow John uh to help with that transition, which

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will be a big one. And then a note here, uh, next week, we do have um some scheduled

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leave from staff uh that will leave the town office pretty limited. Um, so we're

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seeking understanding from those that are trying to make payments on their utilities.

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Everything will be posted, uh, as, as soon as possible, um, with a target of the

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19th, any payments made next week. Um, so it should not. Uh, interfere with any kind

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of, um, those that are delinquent or anything for shutoffs. So, it, it is a, uh,

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a week where perhaps just a a short postponement of posting, um, the payment to the

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account will not impact the account ultimately. We will have staff in the office,

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it's just the accounting staff is basically on leave. So we, we, we will be managing

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as best we can. And with that, Mr. Mayor, town council, that concludes my town manager's

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report. Is there any questions regarding the importance, Mr. Mayor? Yes, um, uh,

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first off, uh, thank you, uh, and I did see from, uh, on behalf of the HOA we've

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received and distributed both the survey that was sent out by John and, and the note

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that the preliminary note that was sent out by Sarah. Seeing that our next town council

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meeting isn't until the 22nd, will you be sending out the details, uh, you know,

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as a follow-up, uh, on the sweeping once you get it so we can distribute that and,

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um, what sections when. Terrific. Um, also, um,

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Oktoberfest surveys. Uh, any idea, uh, time frame when we would see the results of

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those? We're still, they're still available to contribute. Um, Sarah's already started

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preliminarily pulling together the results. Um, I'm happy to share those, uh, but

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we're still getting surveys daily, so is there a hard close or? Not really. There,

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there was the deadline for the vendors and the businesses. And that's passed. So

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those are pretty much ready to go, but the survey for the attendees. In general.

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But a deadline on that. Maybe could we get like where it sits next meeting, you know,

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just, uh, like an over a quick overview. I mean, I, you know, I, I, I would say,

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and I said this to you already, thank you very much. I think I, from my perspective

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it was fantastic. The businesses all said that they did very well, but I just would

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like to see the overall results that we, you know, have more data on it. Thank you.

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Any other questions?

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Thank you very much. Thank you. Moving on to item number 5, additions, deletions,

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or modifications to the agenda. Are there any proposed additions, deletions, or modifications

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for that? No. Is there any additions or deletion, modifications or deletions? I believe

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there was one, that was proposed by Vice Mayor Budner to move 8A to the new 6D, and

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that's gonna be the Love Winter event plan. That is under discussion item 8A to 6D.

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Is that correct? Are there any other proposed changes? OK. Is there a motion to perform

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that action and adopt the agenda as amended this evening, Mr. Mayor? Yes, uh,

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I move to move item 8A Love Winter event plan to the consent agenda as item 6D

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and approve the, um, agenda as amended. Is there a second? I 2nd. 1st is made by

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Vice Mayor Budner, seconded by Council Member Arena. Is there any discussion? Hearing

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none, is there any objection?

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Sure. Hearing and seeing none, that motion will carry unanimously with all 5 members

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voting in the affirmative, no one against, no abstention, no one absent, and 1 vacancy

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on counsel.

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Moving on to item number 6. The consent agenda as amended this evening will include

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the September 17, 2026 town council meeting minutes, the September 30th, 2026 town

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council meeting minutes, the supplemental appropriation for the 27 South Loudon Street

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zoning and utility fee refund, and the new addition of the Love Winter event plan.

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Uh, is there any questions you can ask questions, or did you wanna touch on anything?

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Yeah, there were a few items that staff wanted to get some direction on the Love

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Winter plan. There are two challenges, so I, if it's appropriate, I'd like to go

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through those now, and then we can take action as needed. One is the memorial, uh,

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uh, the memorial menorah lighting date and location. The second is also staffing

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challenges for Ber Berserkel and the Scorkel, um, and, and whether we would partner

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with someone in order to execute that given staff's limited availability. Is there

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anything else I'm missing? So those are two major things that were pointed out in

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the item that you can dispel now as part of the consent. That'd be great. OK.

208
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Mhm Moving possibly moving the light of thoughts.

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And the third item, why don't we get that? Yeah, yeah, that would have been nice

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to know during the discussion of the uh. Oh, yeah, well, that's right. I think there's,

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there's 33 things that we need to probably work through pretty quick. We can work

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through it pretty quickly, but, OK, yeah. So, I, I think we had

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some discussion with Sarah at the break, uh, and I think we're all amenable to move

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in the menorah lighting to Monday the 7th, right? That answers one question, and,

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and do it inside, um, because it seemed to be.

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much better received than the town hall, uh, last year. And then what was the second

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question? Staff, staff determination. We don't need staff for berserkel. OK, so no

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staff or no staff support for berserkel. And then the lastly was trying to

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um hold the light up Lovittsville judging um as part of one of the in

220
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conjunction with the council meeting.

221
00:20:31,065 --> 00:20:37,091
Oh sorry, no, uh, I think you need to come up to the mic, yeah, at this point. Moving

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00:20:37,091 --> 00:20:44,006
the awards, the acknowledgment of the winners into a council meeting in December.

223
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Um, right now, they're separate on a separate evening.

224
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Which there's only 1 December if you look, sorry, December 17th.

225
00:21:02,000 --> 00:21:07,013
And we originally had them. Oh, typically they are with a council meeting, right,

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right. The meetings on the 10th. Mr. Mayor, yes, sir. Wasn't it originally set the

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way the way it's set right now to be, uh, coordinated with the CBD meeting? On the

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calendar? No, no.

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So all you're doing is taking it away from the CBD, bringing it back to where we've

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always had it is in the town council, right? OK, so, so the reason, if I recall correctly,

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that we were doing it on the 17th separately. And not the 10th, was we would now

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have the tree lighting on Saturday. The menorah lighting on Monday, and that would

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only give us 2 days to do Light Up Lovittsville instead of doing it that next weekend

234
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and having it on the 17th.

235
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OK. That's what's being proposed. We're just concerned that um with

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the, the award ceremony that we might not get the turnout for people to, to support

237
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the winners that it may be better to keep it with a council meeting. And the council

238
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present them with the awards. School events too. There's some conflicting school

239
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events as well, right? That's what I thought. All right, on the 17th, on the 17th.

240
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Which is why we moved it.

241
00:22:39,002 --> 00:22:44,062
No, I It was moved because last year we had all the events in one weekend, and it

242
00:22:44,062 --> 00:22:48,007
was hard to do all the events plus the judging. So it was considered to move the

243
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judging to the following Sunday and then have the award ceremony that Thursday. But

244
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it's always a conflict with concerts and things at the schools that week, but we

245
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don't know those schedules until like 2 or 3 months beforehand. But there, there

246
00:23:02,034 --> 00:23:06,058
is a Woodgrove concert and a harmony concert that night. Gotcha.

247
00:23:08,085 --> 00:23:15,075
All right, Mr. Mayor, can, can we switch the CBD and the town council meeting to

248
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just switch those dates?

249
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So the, the judging, uh, the awards presentation would still be on the day that is

250
00:23:24,009 --> 00:23:29,068
now scheduled, but it would actually be the town council meeting instead of the CBD

251
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meeting. There's conflicts on that evening now. That's what you just said. 17th you're

252
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not gonna have. OK, well, OK.

253
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So if the Approval of the consent agenda. I know

254
00:23:52,022 --> 00:23:59,005
A lot of questions. The approval of the consent agenda can also include the direction.

255
00:24:01,095 --> 00:24:08,039
For the love winner to not require staff or partnership for the berserkel. Set the

256
00:24:08,039 --> 00:24:15,055
menorah lighting on Monday, December 7th. And to move the light up Levittsville Awards

257
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to the regular town council meeting on the 17th, on the, on the 10th, on the 10th,

258
00:24:20,058 --> 00:24:22,045
on the 10th, yeah, on the 10th.

259
00:24:26,076 --> 00:24:30,087
Mr. Mayor, can I ask you a question? Is there anybody up here that would commit to,

260
00:24:31,011 --> 00:24:34,099
because that would mean that that would have to happen either on Tuesday or can't,

261
00:24:35,013 --> 00:24:40,034
yeah, Tuesday or Wednesday. I know I can't do Wednesday, but, um, is, is there anybody

262
00:24:41,005 --> 00:24:47,012
here that light up Levisville on the 8th, yeah. Cause we'd need to have enough people

263
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to do it, right? What's the reason we can't do it on the 6th? Um, well, the 6th is

264
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Sunday, we could, um. 16. Where the sex

265
00:25:01,077 --> 00:25:05,024
I just wanna make sure we have, you know, if it's, if we end up with one person,

266
00:25:05,033 --> 00:25:06,032
it's not gonna be.

267
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Lunatics.

268
00:25:11,087 --> 00:25:13,028
I'm not available at 6 o'clock.

269
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I'm flexible. I can go I can go with whatever the majority is.

270
00:25:25,094 --> 00:25:30,007
Well, we're gonna need it in, uh, we're gonna need it in motion form, so. Whoever

271
00:25:30,007 --> 00:25:37,073
is so moved. Uh, wait a minute. We said no staff for the

272
00:25:37,073 --> 00:25:41,057
berserko. What was the 2nd item of memorial lighting on the 7th.

273
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That would, that would leave the Let it blow it to either.

274
00:25:52,065 --> 00:25:54,052
OK Or the 4th

275
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In the 4th What

276
00:26:01,049 --> 00:26:04,075
That's not a lot of time for people to put out their lights though, right? That's

277
00:26:04,077 --> 00:26:10,037
the only, I think, probably concern, but Christmas lights up already. It's even Halloween.

278
00:26:10,061 --> 00:26:15,087
OK, I'm, I'm, I just wanna make sure we have enough people to do it, so whatever

279
00:26:15,093 --> 00:26:21,001
we can get 2 or 3 anybody is so moved to make a motion. They need a date. What's

280
00:26:21,001 --> 00:26:25,005
well, you can throw out a date and someone can move to amend the motion, OK, if,

281
00:26:25,066 --> 00:26:28,015
if there's some. Um

282
00:26:32,021 --> 00:26:38,043
This wouldn't matter. This would have to be a unanimous decision. Go ahead. See if

283
00:26:38,043 --> 00:26:46,005
we can do this. Um, I move to amend the Love Winter plan, um, to,

284
00:26:47,004 --> 00:26:50,059
uh, acknowledge that no staff, Mr. Butter, I'm gonna call you out of order. This

285
00:26:50,059 --> 00:26:55,003
is a consent agenda, so it, it would, the, the assumption is that you're adopting

286
00:26:55,032 --> 00:27:01,039
the consent agenda as amended with the with, with, with the following changes. Got

287
00:27:01,039 --> 00:27:06,071
it. I withdraw the motion. I move to adopt the consent agenda with the following

288
00:27:06,071 --> 00:27:12,086
changes to the Love Winter event plan. Um, no requirements for, uh, town staff for

289
00:27:12,086 --> 00:27:19,074
the berserkel on the Squirkel. Move the menorah lighting, um, to Monday 12/7. And

290
00:27:19,074 --> 00:27:26,078
move the light up Lovittsville, uh, judging to 126. Is there a 2nd 2nd.

291
00:27:33,008 --> 00:27:33,087
Emmy Awards?

292
00:27:36,056 --> 00:27:41,098
I didn't hear. I didn't hear any second, so go ahead. I don't recognize the second

293
00:27:42,028 --> 00:27:45,084
and the Light Up Lovitz will awards to December 10th.

294
00:27:48,016 --> 00:27:52,088
Oh, sorry. And the light up Levittsville Awards, uh, to December 10th on the same

295
00:27:52,088 --> 00:27:59,067
night as the town council meeting. Is there a 2nd 2nd. There you go. Uh, the motion

296
00:27:59,067 --> 00:28:03,067
was made by council member Butner, I'm sorry, Vice Mayor Butner, seconded by council

297
00:28:03,067 --> 00:28:11,044
member Stole. He's being almost non-controversial and uh Uh, routine in nature, uh,

298
00:28:11,066 --> 00:28:17,099
we will go to a roll call about Ms. Arena. Hi, uh, Mr. Earl, Mr. Stone, Mr. Smith,

299
00:28:18,082 --> 00:28:22,089
and Mr. Budner. That motion will carry unanimously with all 5 members voting in the

300
00:28:22,089 --> 00:28:28,023
affirmative, no one against, no abstentions, no absences, and 1 vacancy on counsel.

301
00:28:28,078 --> 00:28:30,028
Thank you very much. Thank you.

302
00:28:32,058 --> 00:28:35,025
Moving on. To item number 7.

303
00:28:37,063 --> 00:28:44,058
Uh, there is a public hearing, uh, for fiscal year 2027, uh, supplemental appropriation.

304
00:28:44,099 --> 00:28:49,035
Informative summaries to seek approval of supplemental appropriation. Fiscal year

305
00:28:49,035 --> 00:28:51,086
2027 in the amount of

306
00:28:52,002 --> 00:28:59,081
$10,473,701.22 comprised a

307
00:28:59,081 --> 00:29:05,014
previous year capital project appropriation, approved supplemental appropriations

308
00:29:05,044 --> 00:29:12,064
for FY 27, state and federal awarded grant funding, and carryover for FY 26 appropriation.

309
00:29:12,099 --> 00:29:17,005
Associated with contractual encumbrances and unused but a project balance, which

310
00:29:17,005 --> 00:29:24,044
exceeds 1% of the total expenditure shared in the FY27 adopted budget. If you are

311
00:29:24,044 --> 00:29:30,067
a I will go ahead and just, just read or state that if you are in the land of Zoom,

312
00:29:30,072 --> 00:29:35,027
we will have a staff presentation, but if you are in the land of Zoom, if you wish

313
00:29:35,027 --> 00:29:39,087
to speak to tonight's public hearing, you can press the raised hand icon as we open

314
00:29:39,087 --> 00:29:45,051
the public hearing, uh, and you will be provided, uh, you'll be promoted to a presenter.

315
00:29:46,035 --> 00:29:51,072
And provided uh your opportunity to deliver your comments at tonight's public hearing

316
00:29:52,027 --> 00:29:53,039
within your allotted time.

317
00:29:55,063 --> 00:30:01,002
Mr. Knoy Thank you, Miss Mary stole a lot of the thunder here, but this is an administrative

318
00:30:01,002 --> 00:30:05,047
supplemental preparation that happens at the end of the fiscal year. Uh, it's primarily

319
00:30:05,047 --> 00:30:12,027
driven by capital projects, expenditures or budget authority. Uh, most of our grant-funded

320
00:30:12,027 --> 00:30:16,005
projects are escrowed over multiple years, so there's balances after any given years.

321
00:30:16,084 --> 00:30:22,059
Um, so you need to carry them forward. So when we go to construction, the amount

322
00:30:22,059 --> 00:30:27,072
of preparation is there. So it's really following. Multiple years of appropriation

323
00:30:27,072 --> 00:30:33,067
until it matches the construction, uh, expenditures with it. Also, there are encumbrances

324
00:30:33,067 --> 00:30:38,023
which are basically contractual obligations from any fiscal year that necessarily

325
00:30:38,023 --> 00:30:43,006
aren't expended before the June 30th, the end of the fiscal year. So those are coming

326
00:30:43,064 --> 00:30:49,071
over and then there are two supplemental appropriations rolled into this uh action

327
00:30:49,071 --> 00:30:57,041
desired tonight. Uh, one was approved through resolution 2026-09-0006, uh,

328
00:30:57,051 --> 00:31:04,032
presented in September, and then, uh, appropriation of 23,500 associated with a replacement

329
00:31:04,032 --> 00:31:10,002
service water line for commercial user on South Church Street. Just a breakdown quickly

330
00:31:10,002 --> 00:31:17,036
of what the 10 $10.47 million is, the far majority of it is tied to capital projects

331
00:31:17,066 --> 00:31:23,009
at $9.2 million which is $7.2 million out of our general government capital projects

332
00:31:23,009 --> 00:31:28,037
fund, and then just under $2 million in the utilities fund. Again, those are CIP

333
00:31:28,037 --> 00:31:34,021
approved projects and funding. Um, secondly, encumbrances are just over a million

334
00:31:34,021 --> 00:31:41,079
dollars or $1 million.01 million dollars, $26,000. Of that 752, just around

335
00:31:41,079 --> 00:31:48,015
753,000 is in the capital projects fund as well. These are generally consulting,

336
00:31:48,044 --> 00:31:55,094
design, contracted, um, uh, uh. Contracts associated with capital projects as well

337
00:31:55,094 --> 00:32:02,091
as 2, 255,000 in utilities. So that, Ms. Mayor, I, I'm here to address any questions

338
00:32:02,091 --> 00:32:05,076
you or the public might have about the, this item tonight.

339
00:32:09,000 --> 00:32:16,026
I'm sorry, are there any questions of the staff presentation? OK As always I'll ask

340
00:32:16,026 --> 00:32:21,037
when this comes up. Uh, it's been stated many times that we have, uh, rated our funds.

341
00:32:21,051 --> 00:32:29,001
In fact, that we, according to some, we don't have the $5,702 in the utilities

342
00:32:29,001 --> 00:32:36,043
availability fee reserve. The 40,952. Uh, I'm sorry, the, um,

343
00:32:36,098 --> 00:32:42,033
that's in the utilities fund net position, the $35,250 in the availabilities fee

344
00:32:42,033 --> 00:32:47,073
reserve, even though our latest financials state that we're somewhere in the neighborhood

345
00:32:47,073 --> 00:32:53,049
of 76 $7 million in reserves, just making sure that that's still not the case, that

346
00:32:53,049 --> 00:33:00,038
we haven't raided that, and that's now drained everything. Uh, so, the, the action

347
00:33:00,038 --> 00:33:04,083
tonight, the supplement appropriation for next year, really is, uh, in the item,

348
00:33:04,087 --> 00:33:12,038
it, it, it's associated with 193,000 for the network of uh improvements and the 23,0005

349
00:33:12,038 --> 00:33:16,096
for the service water line. Everything. Else has been accounted for and or revenue

350
00:33:16,096 --> 00:33:22,036
hasn't been realized. So, the 10,400,000 sounds like a lot carrying over, but a lot

351
00:33:22,036 --> 00:33:26,012
of that is grant funded through our capital projects fund. So it's not sitting in

352
00:33:26,012 --> 00:33:31,028
the reserves or anything to be expended. It's usually reimbursed at the time of expenditure.

353
00:33:31,064 --> 00:33:36,038
To really the far majority of tonight's action is carrying over budget authority,

354
00:33:36,006 --> 00:33:42,054
not necessarily use of any reserves if that, if you're tracking with me a minuscule

355
00:33:42,069 --> 00:33:48,031
part of that is from, is from reserves, right? 220,000 of it would, would derive

356
00:33:48,031 --> 00:33:52,083
from reserves. So if we had 0 in our reserves, which we never have, uh, we've had,

357
00:33:53,004 --> 00:33:58,062
we have about 6 million. As of as of the latest, which is at least everything far

358
00:33:58,062 --> 00:34:04,019
exceeds our financial policy requirements and, and it's noted in the item, the associated

359
00:34:04,019 --> 00:34:08,066
ones with the town, the general funding assigned fund balance, and the 3R reserve

360
00:34:08,066 --> 00:34:13,052
and utilities that are proposed to be used for this, right, never zero. Got it. Still,

361
00:34:13,071 --> 00:34:20,033
I know I ask that every time we talk budgets and that's good to hear. Is there any

362
00:34:20,033 --> 00:34:26,098
other questions regarding the Gotcha. All right. Uh, at this time, we will open up

363
00:34:26,098 --> 00:34:30,003
the, uh, Public hearing?

364
00:34:32,021 --> 00:34:32,079
Or

365
00:34:41,001 --> 00:34:48,006
The supplemental appropriation for fiscal year 2027. Uh, at, before we, um, Madam

366
00:34:48,006 --> 00:34:53,063
Clerk, again, if you are in Atlanta Zoom, please at this time. Press the raised hand

367
00:34:53,063 --> 00:34:59,005
icon, you will be promoted to provide the opportunity to deliver your comments. Madam

368
00:34:59,005 --> 00:35:03,017
Clark, is there anybody in the room or online that wishes to speak at tonight's public

369
00:35:03,017 --> 00:35:07,002
hearing? There is no one signed up in the room or online. Is there anybody in the

370
00:35:07,002 --> 00:35:09,068
room or online that wishes to speak at tonight's public hearing?

371
00:35:12,067 --> 00:35:19,066
OK. Seeing and hearing none. Is there emotion To close Tonight's public hearing.

372
00:35:22,024 --> 00:35:29,004
Mr. Mayor. Yes, sir. I move to close the public here. Related to the uh

373
00:35:29,097 --> 00:35:36,008
Fiscal year 2027 supplemental appropriation. Is there a second? Second, motion has

374
00:35:36,008 --> 00:35:41,079
been made by Council Member Smith, seconded by Vice Mayor Budner. Is there any discussion?

375
00:35:42,008 --> 00:35:47,068
Hearing none, is there any objection? Hearing and seeing none, that motion will carry

376
00:35:47,068 --> 00:35:51,064
unanimously with all 5 members present voting in the affirmative, none against, no

377
00:35:51,064 --> 00:35:54,006
abstentions, no one absent, and 1 vacancy on council.

378
00:35:57,069 --> 00:36:05,069
Moving on to, I'm sorry, in your packet, moving on to a draft motion. Or any

379
00:36:05,069 --> 00:36:07,037
alternate if anybody is so moved.

380
00:36:10,021 --> 00:36:18,000
Mr. Mayor, yes sir, I move to approve Resolution 2026-10-0001 to

381
00:36:18,000 --> 00:36:23,024
amend the fiscal year 2026 budget and approve a supplemental appropriation totaling

382
00:36:23,024 --> 00:36:29,055
$10,473,701.22 comprising of

383
00:36:29,057 --> 00:36:36,000
$46,787.27. To the general fund, 9

384
00:36:37,077 --> 00:36:45,074
$7,986,260.22 to the general government Capital

385
00:36:45,074 --> 00:36:53,044
Projects Fund and $2,440,653.73 to the utilities fund for

386
00:36:53,044 --> 00:37:00,097
fiscal year beginning July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027. In order to reappropriate

387
00:37:00,097 --> 00:37:07,005
previous year unused appropriations for capital projects, contractual encumbrances,

388
00:37:07,004 --> 00:37:12,005
and new appropriations associated with partially grant-funded network improvements,

389
00:37:12,046 --> 00:37:17,064
and the addition of enhanced surveillance security cameras at all town facilities

390
00:37:17,094 --> 00:37:25,094
approved in Resolution 2026-09-0006. And replacement of a service water

391
00:37:25,094 --> 00:37:30,001
line for a commercial user on South Church Street due to damage.

392
00:37:32,006 --> 00:37:38,008
Is there a second? My 2nd motion has been made by Council Member Smith, seconded

393
00:37:38,008 --> 00:37:44,054
by Council Member Arena. Is there any discussion? Um, Mr. Mayor, if I could, I, uh,

394
00:37:44,075 --> 00:37:51,053
regret, uh, I found a typo error. It's fiscal year 2027 budget in the very first

395
00:37:51,055 --> 00:37:56,018
part. I don't think the whole motion necessarily needs to be revised, but if, if

396
00:37:56,018 --> 00:38:02,076
it pleases the council, it, it's a typo that's fiscal year 2027. It is later corrected,

397
00:38:02,081 --> 00:38:08,089
you know, July 20, uh, July 1, 2026 to 2027, but the very beginning. My apologies.

398
00:38:10,009 --> 00:38:18,004
No worries, that any, well, if the record will show that the um uh The motion

399
00:38:18,004 --> 00:38:25,072
includes 2027 versus 2026. No objection. We'll move on to discussion. Hearing no

400
00:38:25,072 --> 00:38:33,009
discussion because it's 1%. It will require 2/3 majority, which would be 44 or more

401
00:38:33,009 --> 00:38:40,014
members of council. So we will do a roll call vote, Ms. Arena. Mr. Earl,

402
00:38:40,099 --> 00:38:46,087
Mr. Stoll, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Budner. The motion will carry unanimously with all

403
00:38:46,087 --> 00:38:50,072
5 members voting in the affirmative, no one against, no abstentions, no one absent,

404
00:38:50,075 --> 00:38:54,031
and 1 vacancy on counsel. Very much.

405
00:38:56,083 --> 00:39:02,087
Rolling right along to the new 8A Park Place Water Service connection replacement

406
00:39:02,087 --> 00:39:03,059
approval.

407
00:39:06,004 --> 00:39:12,005
Thank you, Ms. Mayor. This is a 2nd supplemental preparation being requested in order

408
00:39:12,005 --> 00:39:17,097
to cover some unforeseen expenses that went along with the Park Place water main

409
00:39:17,097 --> 00:39:23,013
replacement, uh, due to the age of the service lines and the, what they call the

410
00:39:23,013 --> 00:39:28,005
center connection, uh, hardware within the centers. There was a cost incurred by

411
00:39:28,005 --> 00:39:33,069
the town in order to replace all those. I did place some examples, uh, photos in

412
00:39:33,069 --> 00:39:38,027
the item. To give some context to kind of the age and the, and the condition of,

413
00:39:38,049 --> 00:39:44,002
of which it was. Uh, the interesting thing about this one is that the change order

414
00:39:44,002 --> 00:39:48,095
was done in the field as needed in order to continue through the water main replacement,

415
00:39:49,021 --> 00:39:55,041
so there was no formal approval of town, uh, staff, but the expenditure is definitely,

416
00:39:55,049 --> 00:39:59,056
or the, the replacement is definitely a betterment to the system overall, and it

417
00:39:59,056 --> 00:40:06,032
comes down to a cost of just under, or just over um $1350 per connection.

418
00:40:07,052 --> 00:40:13,003
Which if done separately would have been much, much more. So, uh, while the cost

419
00:40:13,003 --> 00:40:18,047
is 35,000 total, um, I believe there are 26 residents that all now have brand new

420
00:40:18,047 --> 00:40:23,084
service lines, setters and everything to the meters. Uh, if we, we would have to

421
00:40:23,084 --> 00:40:28,058
do this at some point in the future, it would have cost, um, some measure more than

422
00:40:28,058 --> 00:40:30,007
the 35,000 being charged.

423
00:40:36,033 --> 00:40:38,084
Are there any questions of the presentation?

424
00:40:41,064 --> 00:40:46,039
Mr. Mayor, yes, um, thanks for sending the pictures. I mean that was pretty graphic

425
00:40:46,039 --> 00:40:51,063
about, you know, how bad they were. My question, I guess, uh, uh, involves, um, do

426
00:40:51,063 --> 00:40:58,009
we have other setters in other locations that we need to worry about given the poor

427
00:40:58,009 --> 00:41:05,031
condition that those were, uh, uh, it's a fair question, and my guts telling me is

428
00:41:05,031 --> 00:41:09,083
probably when, when you really kind of, when they get exposed is when you're actually

429
00:41:09,083 --> 00:41:13,007
trying to work with them. When you're putting new service lines, putting new connection

430
00:41:13,007 --> 00:41:19,026
points, they, they're brittle, right? So, as of now, the leaks come up and we replace

431
00:41:19,026 --> 00:41:24,009
them in the field while, while we can. Um, but there's not a comprehensive plan or

432
00:41:24,009 --> 00:41:29,066
anything, a program out there to have these systematically replaced. It's probably

433
00:41:29,066 --> 00:41:37,038
a good idea. Uh, this infrastructure is from the late 1960s. So, uh,

434
00:41:37,099 --> 00:41:43,026
what is that? That's 50 odd years, right? So, These, these are gonna be set, set

435
00:41:43,026 --> 00:41:48,006
up for the next 50 years. There, there, a lot of the water lines and everything down

436
00:41:48,006 --> 00:41:52,063
South Loudon as part of that project will be replaced and they, these are being accounted

437
00:41:52,063 --> 00:41:56,072
for within that as well as sewer lines. So hopefully, it takes the majority of maybe

438
00:41:56,098 --> 00:42:01,098
some of the remaining aged infrastructure out there, but it, it's not comprehensive.

439
00:42:02,003 --> 00:42:08,027
There's probably other setters out there with similar Similar conditioned uh infrastructure.

440
00:42:08,058 --> 00:42:13,094
There's no role, it's just so brittle that once you start taking out the meters and,

441
00:42:14,003 --> 00:42:19,026
and disconnecting everything in there, you just can't put it back. So, until it poses

442
00:42:19,026 --> 00:42:23,054
a problem with the, with the service line, there hasn't been an inspection or kind

443
00:42:23,054 --> 00:42:29,005
of replacement program put in place. And in the past, if, if there's, it's a one-off,

444
00:42:29,062 --> 00:42:33,089
and it's a leaking within the crock within that because it's not the line to the

445
00:42:33,089 --> 00:42:38,098
house, that would be. Covered by the town correct in the center is is connected um.

446
00:42:40,047 --> 00:42:43,074
You can see in the one picture that the meters right there in between it, so it's

447
00:42:43,074 --> 00:42:48,066
really hard to, to separate it from the meter. Um, so yeah, if you have an issue

448
00:42:48,066 --> 00:42:54,002
with it, you, you'll be, uh, replacing the whole hardware in there. Correct. OK.

449
00:42:56,079 --> 00:43:03,004
Any other questions? OK, uh, sorry, Mr. Jason. So to clarify.

450
00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:09,075
The best way to handle this is as we come across them, correct, uh, or if, if a problem

451
00:43:09,075 --> 00:43:15,075
crops up or if we're, you know, doing road main uh like road infrastructure changes

452
00:43:15,075 --> 00:43:21,009
like we're doing down, uh, Loudon and so on. You're saying that's the best way to

453
00:43:21,009 --> 00:43:27,033
approach this, not to put together a systemic program to replace all the water mains

454
00:43:27,033 --> 00:43:31,069
that haven't been replaced yet. I have the same concerns, uh, uh, a curiosity, if

455
00:43:31,069 --> 00:43:35,065
anything, that we should probably be inspecting our, our infrastructure. We just

456
00:43:35,065 --> 00:43:40,009
went through Broadway improvements and the condition within those, those centers

457
00:43:40,009 --> 00:43:46,087
were, were better, um, but. I wouldn't, I don't want to answer and say it's the best

458
00:43:46,087 --> 00:43:52,035
way. Systematic replacement, proactive replacement would obviously be the best way

459
00:43:52,035 --> 00:43:57,055
and the economy of scales comes from uh having more of them done at one time in this

460
00:43:57,055 --> 00:44:02,043
case, right? They can do, you know, 26 at a different rate than if you're doing one-offs,

461
00:44:02,052 --> 00:44:06,023
right? Because of mobilization and everything else that goes with having a small

462
00:44:06,023 --> 00:44:11,069
project, so. Uh, I think further inspection and kind of reporting back by my staff

463
00:44:11,094 --> 00:44:16,042
may give me a better measure of kind of the scale of how many are in this condition,

464
00:44:16,051 --> 00:44:20,062
but these were particularly bad. So I don't think these are necessarily reflective

465
00:44:20,062 --> 00:44:25,046
of everything that's in the ground and Loudon will be well over 4, I think it's like

466
00:44:25,046 --> 00:44:30,058
40 homes that are serviced by these may be addressed. So that's gonna leave kind

467
00:44:30,058 --> 00:44:35,018
of like Penn, Pennsylvania Avenue, some of the older parts of town, Redbud and things

468
00:44:35,018 --> 00:44:41,085
like that. So, you might get a smaller scale of what's left not being mitigated by

469
00:44:41,085 --> 00:44:43,017
necessarily with our capital projects.

470
00:44:45,089 --> 00:44:52,032
Any other questions, Mr. Mr. Earl? Thank you. Um, looking at these pictures here,

471
00:44:52,057 --> 00:44:58,027
uh, if on Park Place, if you turn down Park Place, units 1 through 7 on the left

472
00:44:58,029 --> 00:45:06,028
side were built in 73, 44 to 39 were built in 82

473
00:45:06,081 --> 00:45:14,028
and then 38 up to 27 was built after that. The next set is when you go into that

474
00:45:14,028 --> 00:45:21,088
private parking area, uh 8 through 26 that was built in 74.

475
00:45:22,065 --> 00:45:28,048
But um what I was gonna add, but you already said that is all, all it would take

476
00:45:28,048 --> 00:45:36,048
is an assessment whenever staff has time to uh lift the water crock up and take a

477
00:45:36,048 --> 00:45:44,024
picture of Any of these components there, but Undisturbed, they could last quite

478
00:45:44,024 --> 00:45:48,027
a while, but some, some as soon as somebody puts a wrench on them, they're done.

479
00:45:48,033 --> 00:45:53,036
They just disintegrate like you said. That's all I wanted to add. Any other questions?

480
00:45:56,008 --> 00:46:01,043
OK. In your packet there is a draft promotion if anybody is similar to offer that

481
00:46:01,043 --> 00:46:01,095
of their own.

482
00:46:06,044 --> 00:46:10,059
Mr. Mayor, yes sir. I move to approve resolution

483
00:46:10,059 --> 00:46:18,042
2026-10-0003 to amend the fiscal year 2027 budget and approve a supplemental

484
00:46:18,042 --> 00:46:26,002
appropriation of $35,189.70 for fiscal year beginning. July 1, 2026 and

485
00:46:26,002 --> 00:46:33,000
ending June 30th, 2027, deriving from utilities fund 3R reserve for the replacement

486
00:46:33,000 --> 00:46:38,035
of water meter center service connection hardware for 26 residents on Park Place

487
00:46:38,037 --> 00:46:44,062
in conjunction with the replacement of the water main. Is there a second? The motion

488
00:46:44,062 --> 00:46:51,037
is made by Vice Mayor Budner, seconded by Council member Stahl. Uh, is there any

489
00:46:51,037 --> 00:46:58,084
discussion? Hearing and seeing none? Is there any objection? Uh, we'll go. This doesn't

490
00:46:58,084 --> 00:47:02,099
require 2/3, but we'll go ahead and do a roll call vote since it's just fiscal, so

491
00:47:02,099 --> 00:47:10,075
fiscal impact. Ms. Arena, Mr. Earl, Mr. Butler, Mr. Smith, and Mr. Stahl. That

492
00:47:10,075 --> 00:47:13,099
motion will carry unanimously with all 5 members present voting in the affirmative,

493
00:47:14,012 --> 00:47:18,053
no one against, no abstentions, no one absent, and 1 vacancy on counsel. Thank you

494
00:47:18,053 --> 00:47:23,081
very much. Moving on to LVCU

495
00:47:23,081 --> 00:47:31,057
2026-0001, the George Family Holdings LLC request for a

496
00:47:31,057 --> 00:47:38,097
public hearing. Yes sir. Mr. Martha. Did I steal your thunder as well? No. Any questions

497
00:47:38,097 --> 00:47:40,000
of the presentation?

498
00:47:42,003 --> 00:47:42,085
Thank you.

499
00:47:44,098 --> 00:47:50,061
It is a request for a uh conditional use permit to allow a package and parcel service

500
00:47:50,061 --> 00:47:57,037
use business at One South Loudoun, which is the gray building adjacent to Rodeo's

501
00:47:57,037 --> 00:48:01,082
Restaurant on, on South Loudoun. The application was heard by the planning commission

502
00:48:01,082 --> 00:48:06,055
last night, and the planning commission has recommended approval subject to several

503
00:48:06,055 --> 00:48:12,091
conditions of approval. Um, and because staff will be unavailable in December, we're

504
00:48:12,091 --> 00:48:16,047
asking to go to public hearing on November 12th.

505
00:48:20,044 --> 00:48:23,019
Did I say the recommended approval? Yes, OK.

506
00:48:25,086 --> 00:48:31,017
Unanimous, unanimous recommendation. Unanimous recommendation. All right. Are there

507
00:48:31,017 --> 00:48:32,004
any questions of the

508
00:48:34,062 --> 00:48:39,098
Mr. Mayor, yes sir. Were there any, uh, unique, you said, uh, pending some, uh, conditional.

509
00:48:40,031 --> 00:48:45,053
Now, the conditions of approval, uh, staff recommended applicant agreed to them,

510
00:48:45,078 --> 00:48:51,058
hours of operation, uh, the location of the parking, um, limits on the size of the

511
00:48:51,058 --> 00:48:56,081
packages, which is, is basically something they have set, as well as limits on the

512
00:48:56,081 --> 00:49:01,097
size of the vehicles that will be delivering or picking up packages from the business,

513
00:49:02,046 --> 00:49:07,034
those sorts of things. There was some discussion about Uh, tree replacement. There's

514
00:49:07,034 --> 00:49:12,078
a huge tree on the property that the commission's very interested in preserving until

515
00:49:12,078 --> 00:49:17,034
it can no longer be preserved and then replacing with another similar tree in the

516
00:49:17,034 --> 00:49:21,035
future. The applicant agreed to that, and we had no public comment at the hearing.

517
00:49:21,039 --> 00:49:29,005
I did leave that out. There was no public comment. Any other Uh, it, it is worth

518
00:49:29,005 --> 00:49:32,085
mentioning when the application was put forward, there was a, uh, active employee

519
00:49:32,085 --> 00:49:38,064
of the town of Levittsville who did provide a, uh, a COIA disclosure to the council,

520
00:49:38,099 --> 00:49:45,094
um, since they did not have any, uh, direct interest, uh, but that is, you all should

521
00:49:45,094 --> 00:49:48,009
have that as well. Um.

522
00:49:50,099 --> 00:49:54,032
If there's no other questions, there is a draft motion. If anybody would like to

523
00:49:54,032 --> 00:49:59,072
offer that or an alternative, Mr. Mayor, yes sir. I move to schedule a public hearing

524
00:49:59,072 --> 00:50:07,051
for consideration of LVCU 2026-0001 at the November 12,

525
00:50:07,069 --> 00:50:14,084
2026 regular town council meeting. Your second, my second. Uh, the motion has been

526
00:50:14,084 --> 00:50:19,035
made by council member Stalo, seconded by council member Arena. It's great discussion.

527
00:50:20,087 --> 00:50:25,052
Hearing none, is there any objection? Hearing and seeing none that motion will carry

528
00:50:25,052 --> 00:50:30,028
unanimously with all 5 members present voting in the affirmative, none against, no

529
00:50:30,028 --> 00:50:34,006
abstentions, no one absent, and 1 vacancy on council.

530
00:50:36,025 --> 00:50:36,056
Thank you, sir.

531
00:50:39,004 --> 00:50:46,086
Moving on. So I am #9. Uh, since we do have

532
00:50:47,002 --> 00:50:54,084
a requirement to go into closed session with our town attorney. I

533
00:50:54,084 --> 00:51:02,045
propose that we take a 39 minute recess and reconvene either up to 39 minutes uh

534
00:51:02,057 --> 00:51:07,004
when the town attorney is present so that we, he's able to participate in closed

535
00:51:07,004 --> 00:51:07,088
session.

536
00:51:10,001 --> 00:51:12,008
Is there any objections? OK.

537
00:51:14,085 --> 00:51:19,096
Are you saying to take a recess and wait for him, or that's correct, just move this

538
00:51:19,096 --> 00:51:26,094
until he comes and move on with the rest of the items, uh. If someone wants to suspend

539
00:51:26,094 --> 00:51:34,018
and move on, we can. Uh, however, the only other thing That's on tonight's agenda

540
00:51:34,027 --> 00:51:39,014
are comments and disclosures from the mayor and town council. All, all other items

541
00:51:39,014 --> 00:51:40,065
are informational or upcoming.

542
00:51:45,086 --> 00:51:48,004
We thought it wouldn't be this quick either, so.

543
00:51:52,012 --> 00:51:58,075
We can suspend the rules and talk about the uh stall arena tour if that's no didn't

544
00:51:58,079 --> 00:52:06,003
want. OK, all right, so if there is you that is not a stated objection correct? OK,

545
00:52:06,056 --> 00:52:13,003
so it's gonna be now 38 minutes. Uh, it'll be 88 p.m. or we will reconvene if he

546
00:52:13,003 --> 00:52:16,099
does arrive earlier. So at, at 7:22 we are on recess.

547
00:52:39,045 --> 00:52:43,019
And I fully expect him to be uh posting on social media by

548
00:52:45,042 --> 00:52:46,081
Great, all set. All right.

549
00:52:50,014 --> 00:52:56,037
The time is 7:43, uh, as promised, we're 17 minutes ahead of schedule. Uh, we do

550
00:52:56,037 --> 00:53:00,078
have our county attorney, Mr. Rob Sproll. Thank you for coming here this evening.

551
00:53:01,022 --> 00:53:08,042
Um, we will move on to item nine, the closed session. There is a motion in your packet

552
00:53:08,042 --> 00:53:15,005
if anybody is so moved to offer that or an alternative. Mr. Bobner. Mr. Mayor, um,

553
00:53:15,018 --> 00:53:22,081
in accordance with Virginia Code Section 2.2-3711A, subsections 17, and

554
00:53:22,081 --> 00:53:28,051
8, I move to convene in closed session for one, discussion, consideration, or interviews

555
00:53:28,074 --> 00:53:33,033
of prospective candidates for employment, assignment, appointment, promotion, performance,

556
00:53:33,046 --> 00:53:38,007
the motion, salaries, disciplining, or resignation of a specific public officers.

557
00:53:39,022 --> 00:53:43,095
Appointees or employees of any public body relating to the annual evaluation of the

558
00:53:43,095 --> 00:53:48,061
town manager, as well as discussion on the potential appointment, reappoint, and

559
00:53:48,061 --> 00:53:55,056
or contracts of one or more former town office, uh, one or more current or former

560
00:53:55,056 --> 00:54:01,013
town officers. Number 7, consultation with legal counsel pertaining to actual or

561
00:54:01,013 --> 00:54:05,065
probable litigation where such consultation or briefing in an open meeting would

562
00:54:05,065 --> 00:54:10,065
adversely affect the negotiation or litigating posture of the public body relating

563
00:54:10,065 --> 00:54:16,000
to the enforcement of town code related to utilities and renewal of franchise. Agreement

564
00:54:16,017 --> 00:54:21,056
and 8 consultation with legal counsel employed or retained by a public body regarding

565
00:54:21,056 --> 00:54:26,056
specific legal matters requiring the provision of legal advice by such counsel related

566
00:54:26,056 --> 00:54:32,048
to potential appointment, reappointment, and or contracts of one or more current

567
00:54:32,048 --> 00:54:38,071
or former. Town officers. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to permit

568
00:54:38,071 --> 00:54:42,031
the closure of a meeting merely because an attorney representing the public body

569
00:54:42,031 --> 00:54:44,091
is in attendance or is consulted on a matter.

570
00:54:47,026 --> 00:54:50,082
The motion was made by Vice Mayor Budner, seconded by Council Member Smith. Is there

571
00:54:50,082 --> 00:54:58,057
any discussion? Wearing none. Is there any objection to go into closed session? Hearing

572
00:54:58,057 --> 00:55:04,042
in Signon, uh, That motion will carry unanimously with all 5 members voting in the

573
00:55:04,042 --> 00:55:09,046
affirmative, no one against, no abstentions, no one absent, and 1 vacancy on council,

574
00:55:09,063 --> 00:55:12,094
and at 7:46 p.m. we are in closed session.

575
00:55:15,005 --> 00:55:17,001
We will be heading next door.

576
00:55:25,089 --> 00:55:31,025
Wow. Wait all that time just to wave everybody goodbye.

577
00:55:34,073 --> 00:55:34,092
Yeah

578
00:55:38,014 --> 00:55:39,017
Appreciate it, sir.

579
00:55:42,037 --> 00:55:48,043
The time is 9:41. We're back in open session. At this time, I will ask each and each

580
00:55:48,043 --> 00:55:52,079
and every one of you, do you certify to the best of your knowledge that one, only

581
00:55:52,079 --> 00:55:56,019
public business matters lawfully exempted from open meeting requirements under this

582
00:55:56,019 --> 00:56:00,072
chapter, and 2, only such business matters as were identified in the motion by which

583
00:56:00,088 --> 00:56:07,031
the closed meeting was convened were heard, discussed, or considered in the meeting

584
00:56:07,053 --> 00:56:12,053
of the Lovitt Hilltown Council. Mr. Stahl, do you so I do so certify. Mr. Smith,

585
00:56:12,062 --> 00:56:17,081
do you so certify? I do. Mr. Budner, do you so certify? I do so certify. Mr. Earl,

586
00:56:17,086 --> 00:56:22,049
do you so certify? I do so certify. And Ms. Arena, do you so certify? I do so certify.

587
00:56:22,058 --> 00:56:27,096
Let the record show I certify as well. Is there any action or motions coming from

588
00:56:28,002 --> 00:56:29,053
out of tonight's closed session meeting?

589
00:56:31,083 --> 00:56:36,091
All right. Hearing and seeing none. The time is 9:42. Uh, so according to the town

590
00:56:36,091 --> 00:56:41,042
council rules of procedures, in order to take up any additional matters, we would

591
00:56:41,042 --> 00:56:46,081
have to suspend the rules in order to take them up. If anybody is so moved. Mr. Mayor.

592
00:56:46,087 --> 00:56:52,023
Yes, sir. I move to suspend the rules to complete the agenda items. Is there a 2nd?

593
00:56:52,004 --> 00:56:56,087
A 2nd. A motion been made by Vice Mayor Budner, seconded by Council Member Marina.

594
00:56:57,012 --> 00:57:03,016
Is there any discussion? Hearing none, is there any, it does require 2/3 majority

595
00:57:03,016 --> 00:57:05,075
or 4 members. Is there any objection?

596
00:57:07,087 --> 00:57:12,077
It's true. All right. Seeing and hearing none, that motion will carry unanimously

597
00:57:12,077 --> 00:57:17,029
with all 5 members present voting in the affirmative, none against, no abstentions,

598
00:57:17,055 --> 00:57:22,083
none absent, and 1 vacancy on council. Moving on to number 10, informational items.

599
00:57:22,092 --> 00:57:29,047
We do have 3 items for your, uh, review. Um, one of those is the preliminary 2027

600
00:57:29,047 --> 00:57:33,071
General Assembly legislative agenda. Uh, Mr. Knori, I know we did talk about adding

601
00:57:33,071 --> 00:57:39,055
some of the language for, uh, the data center and power lines, uh, to, to that legislative

602
00:57:39,055 --> 00:57:46,079
agenda. Um, but if there are other items that you wish to, uh, to include, um, please

603
00:57:46,079 --> 00:57:51,061
let us know as we will. Uh, consider that, I believe, in our next meeting. And then

604
00:57:51,061 --> 00:57:57,025
we have the rules of procedure and the standards of conduct and ethics, uh, as informational

605
00:57:57,025 --> 00:58:02,021
upcoming items. Moving on to upcoming meetings and agendas, we do have the preliminary

606
00:58:02,021 --> 00:58:06,092
agenda, uh, as far out as the eye can see. There's additional items that you wanted,

607
00:58:06,098 --> 00:58:14,056
wanted to include, uh, please let us know. Um, I will state.

608
00:58:15,033 --> 00:58:20,032
Uh, if it could be noted that there will be a closed session in our next. Meeting

609
00:58:20,034 --> 00:58:27,086
as well, but we will get you that language. At this time, If there's no other

610
00:58:27,086 --> 00:58:32,074
items, we will move to upcoming town council, I'm sorry, uh, comments and disclosures

611
00:58:32,074 --> 00:58:37,024
from the mayor and town council. There is one matter, again, it was referred to earlier,

612
00:58:37,027 --> 00:58:43,014
uh, this, uh, this evening. Uh, there was a, uh, ethics complaint lodged against

613
00:58:43,014 --> 00:58:50,076
me, um, and, uh, I will go ahead and recuse myself, but before I do, I will reiterate.

614
00:58:51,054 --> 00:58:59,034
That according to section 2.2-3705.1, uh, item number

615
00:58:59,034 --> 00:59:07,021
one, personnel information concerning identifiable individuals except that

616
00:59:07,021 --> 00:59:12,069
access shall not be denied to a person who is subject thereof. Effectively, this

617
00:59:12,069 --> 00:59:18,044
was the requirement to redact anything. There is not a requirement, I will note,

618
00:59:18,069 --> 00:59:23,032
there's nothing in the requirement for state code that says any person from the public

619
00:59:23,032 --> 00:59:29,072
making that the only redaction that comes in is the subject thereof. That any person

620
00:59:29,072 --> 00:59:34,056
who is subject to such information and who is 18 years of age or older may waive

621
00:59:34,056 --> 00:59:39,004
in writing the protections afforded by the subdivision. If the protections are so

622
00:59:39,004 --> 00:59:45,002
waived, such information shall be disclosed. I'm requesting, as part of, as part

623
00:59:45,002 --> 00:59:50,028
of my role, I've already provided written notification that I have made that waiver,

624
00:59:50,053 --> 00:59:55,052
and I would expect any and all information to be disclosed. It was also indicated

625
00:59:55,052 --> 01:00:03,003
that more than 350 pages, many in 2018, uh, were redacted when state law indicated

626
01:00:03,021 --> 01:00:08,052
that there should have been no redaction. I'm also requesting that those 350 pages

627
01:00:08,074 --> 01:00:14,041
be made publicly available as soon as possible because the public, it's been requested

628
01:00:14,041 --> 01:00:20,037
again about a half a dozen times at this point in time. Uh, the public in terms of

629
01:00:20,037 --> 01:00:26,008
transparency, uh, should see. All of that unredacted, uh, as has been requested and

630
01:00:26,008 --> 01:00:33,067
provided in the past. So, with that, I will turn the floor over to uh Mr.

631
01:00:33,008 --> 01:00:38,063
Budner to be the first part of this. I will make an exit to the right. Once that

632
01:00:38,063 --> 01:00:42,079
is disposed of, please knock on the door. I will come back in and we will continue

633
01:00:42,079 --> 01:00:43,057
with the comments.

634
01:00:55,095 --> 01:00:57,004
OK, thank you. Um,

635
01:00:59,079 --> 01:01:04,082
I have uh some background that I wanna uh go through and, and then uh read a statement.

636
01:01:05,078 --> 01:01:11,009
Um, the background is there were 2 elected or appointed town officials that participated

637
01:01:11,009 --> 01:01:16,009
in sponsorships for the Oktoberfest event. An individual filed an ethics complaint

638
01:01:16,009 --> 01:01:21,005
against one of these town officials. The complaint was reviewed by the town manager

639
01:01:21,005 --> 01:01:27,053
to determine if any illegal or unethical activity under Virginia or federal law occurred

640
01:01:27,087 --> 01:01:33,014
and if it violated the town's standards of conduct and ethics or the town's event

641
01:01:33,014 --> 01:01:39,074
guidance document and social media policy. The findings are as follows. The town

642
01:01:39,074 --> 01:01:44,002
of Lovittsville has completed its review of the ethics complaint submitted on September

643
01:01:44,002 --> 01:01:50,066
27, 2026 by Mr. Frank McDonough against Mayor Christopher Hornbaker concerning a

644
01:01:50,066 --> 01:01:57,006
sponsorship post published on an official town social media asset. As part of this

645
01:01:57,006 --> 01:02:01,026
review, the town examined the matter under the town's social media policy, the standards

646
01:02:01,026 --> 01:02:07,019
of conduct and ethics, and applicable provisions of Virginia law. Based on this review,

647
01:02:07,031 --> 01:02:12,039
the town has determined that Mayor Hornbaker committed no legal or ethics violations.

648
01:02:12,075 --> 01:02:17,009
The sponsorship opportunity follows an established precedent, was available to all

649
01:02:17,009 --> 01:02:23,005
candidates, and no evidence indicated discriminatory access, improper use of town

650
01:02:23,005 --> 01:02:29,015
resources, or violations of state election law. However, it was determined that the

651
01:02:29,015 --> 01:02:34,006
town's social media policy is not fully aligned with the current acceptable practice

652
01:02:34,088 --> 01:02:40,007
surrounding event sponsorships as outlined in the events guidance document. To ensure

653
01:02:40,007 --> 01:02:45,003
clarity and consistency going forward, the town council will review the existing

654
01:02:45,032 --> 01:02:52,011
events guidance document and the social media policy and at a future date and consider

655
01:02:52,011 --> 01:02:55,071
updates to address the discrepancies between them.

656
01:02:57,084 --> 01:03:05,081
Any questions? OK. OK, um, and seeing that, uh, this is that

657
01:03:05,081 --> 01:03:11,073
the mayor, excuse me, that the mayor's recused himself, um, from this, is there any

658
01:03:11,073 --> 01:03:15,077
comments or anything that you wanna make before we bring him back in?

659
01:03:18,044 --> 01:03:22,004
Not at this time. OK. Thank you.

660
01:03:39,028 --> 01:03:40,067
Thank you very much, Mr. Bunner.

661
01:03:43,057 --> 01:03:50,052
At this time, I will start with uh council member Rena. Uh, for your comments. I

662
01:03:50,052 --> 01:03:56,003
would just like to say that Uh, Oktoberfest, uh, was very much enjoyed by my family

663
01:03:56,006 --> 01:04:00,095
and by several others that I talked to in the community, and I just wanna say thank

664
01:04:00,095 --> 01:04:06,031
you so much to, um, all the volunteers, any of the, I know I'm gonna forget names,

665
01:04:06,004 --> 01:04:11,047
so I'm just gonna say all the volunteers, all the civic organizations, um, businesses

666
01:04:11,047 --> 01:04:15,073
that came out, and obviously our wonderful community for coming out and really enjoying,

667
01:04:15,008 --> 01:04:21,099
uh, the event and putting on a great one at that, at least my own opinion. Um, but

668
01:04:21,099 --> 01:04:27,059
I'm hoping that moving forward we can just continue to make it a great event, and,

669
01:04:27,061 --> 01:04:33,011
um, yeah, I look forward to, uh, seeing that happen in the future. And that's it

670
01:04:33,011 --> 01:04:35,055
for now. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Earl.

671
01:04:37,077 --> 01:04:44,059
Yes, um, I'd like to echo a lot of the same what Councilwoman, uh, Maria just stated,

672
01:04:45,009 --> 01:04:52,036
um. It was very successful all the way around businesses and the community just loved

673
01:04:52,036 --> 01:04:58,094
it, um. I'd like to thank everybody behind the dais who, who helped and volunteered

674
01:04:58,094 --> 01:05:05,002
with everything, all the committees, the civic organizations, um, in particular,

675
01:05:05,031 --> 01:05:10,025
Sarah Moseley, she did a hell of a job putting all that together, following through

676
01:05:10,025 --> 01:05:12,005
with it. Um.

677
01:05:14,084 --> 01:05:19,099
And staff Not just Sarah, but the rest of the staff too. They put a whole lot of

678
01:05:19,099 --> 01:05:27,087
work into it as well. So I got, thank you. Thank you, sir. Mr. Stahl. Now, I'm

679
01:05:27,087 --> 01:05:33,071
gonna be um carbon copy of what you just heard. Uh, I feel that uh Oktoberfest was

680
01:05:33,071 --> 01:05:41,027
a very big success this year. Um, I heard nothing but good, uh, compliments. There's

681
01:05:41,027 --> 01:05:45,067
only one complaint that I personally heard, and that was from my eight year old granddaughter,

682
01:05:45,088 --> 01:05:49,087
who didn't feel like there was enough for her to do because she wanted the pie eating

683
01:05:49,087 --> 01:05:57,036
contest again. And, uh, so she complained to me about that. Um, and I wanna thank

684
01:05:57,063 --> 01:06:03,054
the volunteers, Sarah, the staff, and everybody up here that also did the work as

685
01:06:03,054 --> 01:06:04,003
well.

686
01:06:06,025 --> 01:06:10,015
The Stewart Staal strudel eating contest sounds like a uh possibility in the future.

687
01:06:12,085 --> 01:06:16,064
Mr. Smith, uh, thank you, Mr. Mayor. I'll, I'll just echo the comments here. I thought

688
01:06:16,064 --> 01:06:23,012
the Oktoberfest, uh, went really well. Um, I know there's a lot of, of folks in our

689
01:06:23,012 --> 01:06:29,098
town who sit on different sides of the fence with regards to, um, how, how our events

690
01:06:29,098 --> 01:06:35,024
should look, um, and what the purpose of our events should be. Are they to generate

691
01:06:35,024 --> 01:06:39,016
revenue? Are they to bring our community together? Are they to showcase the town?

692
01:06:39,092 --> 01:06:46,065
Um, there's been in the past a lot of discrepancy over bigger is better, or um,

693
01:06:48,001 --> 01:06:53,059
This is for our community and for our area, and it's not for, you know, it's not

694
01:06:53,061 --> 01:07:00,036
an attraction to bring people from 150 miles away or or further or whatnot and and

695
01:07:00,036 --> 01:07:06,096
that has sort of manifested itself in unfortunately a lot of folks in our community

696
01:07:06,096 --> 01:07:12,033
who I don't wanna say they're they're wishing it. The Oktoberfest would fail, but

697
01:07:12,033 --> 01:07:16,094
they're wishing that um some of the folks who help organize and plan and run the

698
01:07:16,094 --> 01:07:23,044
Oktoberfest would fail. And that's, that's an unfortunate circumstance of Of whatever,

699
01:07:23,046 --> 01:07:27,056
whatever's driving it. But this year's went well. I think it was a template that

700
01:07:27,056 --> 01:07:31,087
we should continue going forward because I think it's been proven. I think there

701
01:07:31,087 --> 01:07:37,003
are minor tweaks and things like that that we'll discuss going forward that we can

702
01:07:37,005 --> 01:07:43,089
make to, to improve it even more. Um, but thank you. From my heart, from my family,

703
01:07:43,099 --> 01:07:48,061
to the staff, uh, for everything you did, not just for Oktoberfest because you hit

704
01:07:48,061 --> 01:07:53,049
it out of the park, but for we're in October now, so all year long what you have

705
01:07:53,049 --> 01:07:59,001
done with regards to the events and, and the ceremonies and all of that, and our

706
01:07:59,001 --> 01:08:04,026
job as a council is to come up with a, a plan going forward that's sustainable and

707
01:08:04,026 --> 01:08:08,091
that will work and that will continue the successes that you all achieved this year,

708
01:08:09,047 --> 01:08:14,061
um. As the chair of the infrastructure Committee, I'd just like to also remind everybody

709
01:08:14,061 --> 01:08:19,057
that on October 13th, we'll have our next infrastructure Committee meeting. So I

710
01:08:19,057 --> 01:08:24,025
hope you'll be able to come out and that is all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you

711
01:08:24,025 --> 01:08:29,067
very much. Uh, Mr. Budner will give you the opportunity to actually make your comments.

712
01:08:31,008 --> 01:08:36,029
Um, yeah, I just wanna echo what everybody has said, uh, so far, the Oktoberfest,

713
01:08:36,004 --> 01:08:39,079
uh, in my mind, well, a couple of things. Number one, I'm sorry that Sarah left.

714
01:08:39,088 --> 01:08:46,012
Uh, I think Sarah, uh, deserves a very big thank you for, for her part in this. I

715
01:08:46,012 --> 01:08:51,011
know it was a team effort. I, and I echo the fact that everybody on staff and everybody

716
01:08:51,011 --> 01:08:56,059
on the dais here, uh, you know, kicked in and, and did, did work, um, toward making

717
01:08:56,059 --> 01:09:02,017
that a success. I also wanna say I, I, I think um we got feedback and that's why

718
01:09:02,017 --> 01:09:07,069
I was asking the question before about, um, you know, the, the formal feedback, um,

719
01:09:07,078 --> 01:09:13,061
but we got some informal feedback from the businesses, uh, that, that night and the

720
01:09:13,061 --> 01:09:20,084
following day and, uh, everybody was ecstatic. So I think our, our mission

721
01:09:21,058 --> 01:09:28,005
and our goal this year was to Make the businesses thrive and push more business and

722
01:09:28,005 --> 01:09:32,073
push more people to the businesses, get out of the beer business and push that, uh,

723
01:09:32,082 --> 01:09:38,097
business to everyone, and, um, I, I personally think we couldn't, uh, uh, there you

724
01:09:38,097 --> 01:09:43,013
can always improve, right? We, we, there are things that we know that, you know,

725
01:09:43,023 --> 01:09:48,073
we need more of this or something, you know, and we will address that, but I think

726
01:09:48,073 --> 01:09:53,013
it was a very big success, and I just thank everybody for their participation in

727
01:09:53,013 --> 01:09:59,018
making that a success. And the businesses were coming forward to Uh, provide their

728
01:09:59,018 --> 01:10:03,087
input so that we could take action, uh, as we did, and, and I agree, I think this

729
01:10:03,087 --> 01:10:08,007
model we should use this footprint and this model going forward we should do some

730
01:10:08,007 --> 01:10:13,019
tweaks and improve, you know, maybe some of the longer lines, um, but it, it was

731
01:10:13,019 --> 01:10:18,075
just great so thank thanks to all for that. Um, also wanna thank John for, for the

732
01:10:18,075 --> 01:10:23,044
survey. I don't know if anybody saw it yet, but, um, John and the planning commission,

733
01:10:23,052 --> 01:10:28,067
I mean, they did a nice job on that, and, and, uh, I think that'll be, uh, interesting

734
01:10:28,067 --> 01:10:36,054
to see, uh, a lot of input that, uh, came out just recently, so. Um, and again for,

735
01:10:36,075 --> 01:10:43,038
uh, to echo Councilman Smith's, um, comments, I think, um, really appreciate all

736
01:10:43,038 --> 01:10:48,007
the town staff has done to get us this far in the year, uh, and we will be addressing

737
01:10:48,007 --> 01:10:55,003
events, uh, as, as we look to 2027, but, um, it was just a bang up job on, on that

738
01:10:55,003 --> 01:11:02,058
this year. So thank you. Thank you very much. Uh, I will also, uh, extend a, a very

739
01:11:02,084 --> 01:11:09,034
heartfelt thank you to Sarah Moseley and members of staff, our volunteers, our businesses,

740
01:11:09,069 --> 01:11:15,087
uh, and the citizens for coming out, uh, for the 30th Levittsville Oktoberfest. Uh,

741
01:11:16,000 --> 01:11:23,068
in less than 10 years, we've gone from, um, Accusations from appointed officials

742
01:11:23,074 --> 01:11:31,068
that vice mayors were uh misappropriating ABC funds, uh, to, uh, and other concerns,

743
01:11:31,099 --> 01:11:38,017
uh, that come and risks that come with, with serving beer to really putting our businesses,

744
01:11:38,057 --> 01:11:44,021
our people first, still making it possible, and there were, uh, dozens of people

745
01:11:44,021 --> 01:11:48,041
who came forward, and it's always, you know, people state that there were always

746
01:11:48,041 --> 01:11:54,056
hundreds of people before. Now, In 2018, there were 200 people. In 2023, there were,

747
01:11:54,064 --> 01:12:02,031
there were 200 people. Uh, now, we do, we can focus on what we do well and turn over

748
01:12:02,031 --> 01:12:09,098
to the actual businesses when in a smaller, a, a smaller number of hours.

749
01:12:10,089 --> 01:12:16,025
Any business that has reported that was part of at least one Oktoberfest saw record

750
01:12:16,027 --> 01:12:24,003
sales. New businesses saw some of the biggest sales in their first week.

751
01:12:24,064 --> 01:12:31,009
Um, it truly is the vision that I think we all had of what if we actually made it

752
01:12:31,009 --> 01:12:37,007
a showcase. Um, had, uh, we gotta get, gotta do something with the rain, um, but,

753
01:12:37,012 --> 01:12:44,005
uh, you know, we're, I, I am excited to see, you know, with Al Patayo back. Next

754
01:12:44,005 --> 01:12:51,061
year, um, hopefully with the, uh, game club back with their, uh, uh, with their someone

755
01:12:51,061 --> 01:12:55,006
said one or two more beer gardens, well, there's one or two more beer gardens, um,

756
01:12:55,018 --> 01:13:01,084
and some additional German flair in terms of cuisine. I think this may be. That balance

757
01:13:01,084 --> 01:13:06,052
that we were looking for. Uh, I wanna congratulate Ben and Jamie Hogan for their

758
01:13:06,052 --> 01:13:10,008
reign as Oktoberfest king and queen. You're gonna see them throughout, uh, the year

759
01:13:10,008 --> 01:13:17,006
as, uh, they, uh, do their king and queen, uh, their royalty duties in

760
01:13:17,006 --> 01:13:24,024
206 and 27. I wanna also, uh, congratulate, uh, Squid Blake, uh, Blakey, uh, for

761
01:13:24,024 --> 01:13:29,028
successfully defending his Kaiser Cup championship. Uh, that was, uh, very well attended.

762
01:13:29,037 --> 01:13:35,079
We had Um, more than we had a record setting 37 dogs, just to give you some facts.

763
01:13:36,009 --> 01:13:43,096
We had 79 total competitors, um, about 80% were from, uh,

764
01:13:44,029 --> 01:13:51,035
from in-state with 60%, roughly 60% being in Louden. Uh, the other 20% was outside,

765
01:13:51,081 --> 01:13:56,099
uh, about almost 18% were out of state, and for the first time, I believe, ever,

766
01:13:57,041 --> 01:14:05,024
we actually had a contestant from Munich, Germany. So, um, that was great. Um, we

767
01:14:05,041 --> 01:14:11,028
nearly, um, 70% of the, the contestants' dogs were outside the Levittsville zip code.

768
01:14:12,001 --> 01:14:17,072
And we also outside of Munich, we saw contestants from Fairplay, Colorado, and in

769
01:14:17,072 --> 01:14:23,004
well, New York, and then, um, in-state, they were as far from Withville and Richmond.

770
01:14:24,096 --> 01:14:31,008
Uh, want to, like I said, look forward to working together, uh, uh, improving on,

771
01:14:31,098 --> 01:14:36,003
you know, some of, some of those opportunities to improve, but, uh, look forward

772
01:14:36,003 --> 01:14:41,048
to working, uh, and looking forward to next year's fest, September 24th and 25th.

773
01:14:42,004 --> 01:14:46,099
Also this past weekend, uh, Saturday, October 3rd, uh, I wanna thank Nicole Clark,

774
01:14:47,008 --> 01:14:52,066
the founder and CEO of Walk for Mountains, for another great, uh, fundraiser for,

775
01:14:52,068 --> 01:14:58,045
uh, the fight against breast cancer. Um, benefiting the Loud and Breast Health Network

776
01:14:58,045 --> 01:15:04,001
Stepsisters and Our Perfect Warrior. This is her 9th year doing that, um, and she

777
01:15:04,001 --> 01:15:09,021
was, uh, she was a great addition. I wasn't even on council, uh, back when she started

778
01:15:09,021 --> 01:15:13,057
partnering with the town, and I looked for that to, to, uh, continue for years to

779
01:15:13,057 --> 01:15:19,074
come. Uh, this past Sunday, uh, I did attend the memorial service for John Fugue,

780
01:15:20,019 --> 01:15:25,078
uh, on John Fugue Day in the town of Levitsville. Um, there were some very interesting

781
01:15:25,078 --> 01:15:33,066
memories that were shared by his wife, uh, some friends, uh. Such as, uh, being frugal

782
01:15:33,072 --> 01:15:39,086
on a hot day, not to use his golf credit to, uh, buy a pair of shorts, so he just

783
01:15:39,088 --> 01:15:45,003
took off his pants and played, uh, played golf in, in the, uh, in, in his boxers.

784
01:15:45,016 --> 01:15:51,039
So, I took some liberties on the, uh, the, therefore be proclaimed to uh also include

785
01:15:51,039 --> 01:15:57,054
those, but it was, uh, it was a great day. We did, uh, we did, um, celebrate his

786
01:15:57,056 --> 01:16:02,099
life. And uh I wanna thank him for everything he's done, and uh we're still thinking

787
01:16:02,099 --> 01:16:10,069
of the family. Uh, finally, um, tomorrow we will be meeting, uh, the town of Lovittsville

788
01:16:10,071 --> 01:16:15,023
representatives will be meeting, uh, with county representatives and the Valley North,

789
01:16:15,049 --> 01:16:21,074
uh, project team for the next round, the phase 3 of, uh, the tech to tech meetings,

790
01:16:22,012 --> 01:16:29,043
um, in preparation for the Valley Link updated study segment and map, uh, that will

791
01:16:29,043 --> 01:16:35,066
be, um, shared with the dates for the open houses. For the Valley North project,

792
01:16:36,012 --> 01:16:42,024
uh, which would go on, go out on or about, uh, October 13th. It will also be mailed

793
01:16:42,024 --> 01:16:47,007
to landowners on that same date. Um, you can see the updated maps starting on the

794
01:16:47,007 --> 01:16:54,055
13th at www.dltransmission.com. Uh, this would also be part of the Valley

795
01:16:54,055 --> 01:17:00,026
Link, uh, in preparation for the final phase. So phase 4 is the next round of open

796
01:17:00,026 --> 01:17:06,076
houses and feedback. The fifth phase, which has not initiated, so there's nothing

797
01:17:06,076 --> 01:17:14,028
to do. We're not reacting to something that we can't start yet, but the final

798
01:17:14,028 --> 01:17:21,008
phase would be the SEC hearings in late spring early summer 2027

799
01:17:22,046 --> 01:17:29,004
as they submit their application to the SEC, which includes public input, and there

800
01:17:29,004 --> 01:17:36,067
will be Um, just as we have been specifically, uh, Included in

801
01:17:36,076 --> 01:17:43,029
the, uh, the county. I know that Colt has also been included. We as the town, um,

802
01:17:44,025 --> 01:17:49,033
should be, will be considering our options and making sure that we, uh, participate

803
01:17:49,033 --> 01:17:57,016
to the fullest extent when that actual phase opens up. But, uh, I

804
01:17:57,016 --> 01:18:02,072
think with that, I think we're all Uh, we will still carry the message that in its

805
01:18:02,072 --> 01:18:09,004
current proposal, uh, it is not. Uh, we do oppose it and are looking for, uh, alternative

806
01:18:09,004 --> 01:18:14,008
solutions, um, and look forward to working with all stakeholders to meet that objective.

807
01:18:14,021 --> 01:18:20,055
So, if there's, I don't have any, uh, I will say that the, uh, open house for the,

808
01:18:20,057 --> 01:18:27,005
um, Lovittsville Fire and Rescue is going to be next Saturday, the 17th, uh, I believe

809
01:18:27,005 --> 01:18:33,081
from 12 to 4. So, um, that is all I had. If there's no other order for the good of

810
01:18:33,081 --> 01:18:40,001
the council, uh, if there is one item left. Mr. Mayor, yes sir, move to adjourn.

811
01:18:40,009 --> 01:18:44,061
Is there a second? My second. Motion has been made by Vice Mayor Budner, seconded

812
01:18:44,061 --> 01:18:50,051
by Council Member Arena. Any discussion? Hearing 9. Any objection? Hearing and seeing

813
01:18:50,051 --> 01:18:53,079
none, that motion will carry unanimously with all 5 members present to vote voting

814
01:18:53,079 --> 01:18:58,023
in the affirmative. None against, no abstentions, no absences, and 1 vacancy on council

815
01:18:58,023 --> 01:19:00,038
at 10:04 p.m. We are adjourned.