[0:07] All right. Seven. >> Hello.

[0:12] » 7:03 p.m. Uh, I will call. Yeah. >> Call this meeting to order. This meeting

[0:20] of the Marboro Town Council. Uh, town manager Anderson. You're

[0:27] settled. Could you please vote? Mayor B here. Vice Mayor Bruce

[0:35] believe he's going to be late this evening. Council

[0:38] » Frank >> here.

[0:40] » Council member Berkeley >> present.

[0:49] Attorney Ruff is not going to be in. She's not going to be here tonight. And

[0:53] Chief Bur is also off tonight. All right, we will stand

[1:04] also.

[1:21] All right, we'll do uh review of the agenda. Uh we'll I'll read into the

[1:27] record the approval of the close session meeting minutes from the previous two

[1:31] close sessions. Our business item, our mix and mingle parking agreement, uh

[1:36] pocket park RP response and update strategic plan RFP response and update

[1:41] demolition and debris removal of 5510. uh compact tractor purchase staff's

[1:48] response to the unhoused community. We'll do a general public comment. Um

[1:54] motion to go into close session preliminary approval of next agenda. I

[1:57] have two uh adjustments I would like to make if there aren't any objections. One

[2:02] of them um as it's become tradition, I have a proclamation to read for this

[2:07] month. Uh so I'd like to do that before I read the approval of the close session

[2:11] minutes. And then two, um, just to make sure that we're clear [clears throat]

[2:15] that we're not that if we move into close session, we won't be coming back

[2:19] into open session, I want to move the preliminary approval of next meeting

[2:22] agenda before that motion. Uh, and then make it clear that uh, if we do go into

[2:27] close session, that will be an adjournment uh, from close session. We

[2:31] won't be coming back into session. Any objections to those two changes? All

[2:36] right.

[2:40] So July 2026 is disability pride month. Uh

[2:46] as such I have a proclamation to read here. Whereas disability pride month is

[2:51] observed each July to commemorate the enactment of the Americans with

[2:54] Disabilities Act ADA on July 26th, 1990. Landmark civil rights legislation that

[3:00] affirms the rights of individuals with disabilities and advances equal

[3:03] opportunity, accessibility, independent living, and full participation in

[3:07] society. And whereas the town of Upper Marbor recognizes that people with

[3:10] disabilities are integral members of our community whose leadership, innovation,

[3:14] service, and lived experiences strengthen our neighborhoods,

[3:16] businesses, schools, and civic institutions. And whereas disability

[3:20] pride month celebrates disability as a valued aspect of human diversity and

[3:24] encourages all people to embrace a community where every individual is

[3:27] treated with dignity, respect, and the opportunity to contribute their unique

[3:30] talents. And whereas the town of Okamarbor is committed to fostering a

[3:33] welcoming and accessible community by promoting equitable access to public

[3:37] spaces, programs, services, and civic engagement, ensuring that all residents

[3:41] and visitors have the opportunity to fully participate in community life. And

[3:45] whereas we celebrate disability pride month, we reaffirm our shared

[3:49] responsibility to remove barriers, challenge stereotypes, expand

[3:52] opportunities, and build a more inclusive future where every person is

[3:55] empowered to thrive and reach their full potential. Now therefore, I, Charles

[3:59] Colbert, mayor of the town of Upper Marboro, do hereby proclaim the month of

[4:02] July 2026 as disability pride month in the town of Upper Morboro and encourage

[4:07] all residents to recognize the achievements and contributions of

[4:10] individuals with disabilities, celebrate the richness of our diverse community,

[4:13] and join in creating a town where accessibility, inclusion, and belonging

[4:17] are woven into every aspect of community life.

[4:23] » Very much. >> Thank you. We'll move on to

[4:27] the reading and approval of the close session minutes.

[4:35] You all are getting a lot of story time for me this evening.

[4:44] Close

[4:52] session summary from June 9th, 2026. Uh at 7:45 p.m. Town Hall, uh the town

[4:59] council moved to go into close session under annotated code 3-305B7

[5:05] to consult with council to obtain legal advice. Those who move to go into close

[5:10] session, uh, the motion was made by council member Lot, seconded by council

[5:13] member Urklay. Uh, all members present, including myself, Vice Mayor Brooks, and

[5:19] Council Member Sarah Franklin, voted in the affirmative. uh unanimous vote of

[5:23] elected officials. Those in attendance were uh myself, Vice Mayor Derek Brooks,

[5:28] Council Member Sarah Franklin, Council Member Joe Erkley, and Council Member

[5:31] Karen Lot, as well as town manager Clayton Anderson, public works director

[5:34] Darnell Bond, police chief David Bur, and town attorney Karen Ruff. Uh no

[5:38] votes were taken and the topics discussed were anouar town to be

[5:44] renegotiated to a new agreement to be entered into on the automatic renewal

[5:47] date of the current agreement. Uh the meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

[5:55] Okay. And then

[6:02] close session notes from June 30th, 2026. The time is 7:48 p.m. here at town

[6:07] hall. Uh the town council moved to go into close session under annotated code

[6:13] 3-305B1D7.

[6:16] Uh it's long.

[6:18] » It is long. Let's see where it is. To discuss the appointment, employment,

[6:22] assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation, removal,

[6:25] resignation, or performance evaluation of appointees, employees or officials

[6:29] over whom this public body has jurisdiction, any other personnel matter

[6:33] that affects one or more specific individuals. And uh section four, to

[6:38] consider a matter that concerns the proposal for a business or industrial

[6:41] organization to locate, expand, or remain in the state.

[6:46] The motion was made by council member Lach. It was seconded by Vice Mayor

[6:49] Brooks. Uh all members present including myself, council member Franklin, and

[6:54] council member uh voted in the affirmative. So unanimous vote of

[6:58] elected officials. Again, those in attendance were myself, Vice Mayor

[7:01] Brooks, Council Member Franklin, Council Member Urkeley, Council Member Watt,

[7:04] Town Manager Anderson, Town attorney Ruff, uh and Legit Representative Matt

[7:10] Peters. No vote were taken. The topics discussed were that legit presented and

[7:15] discussed with council professional conduct governance of working

[7:17] relationships. Um after that discussion that Peters left and the council

[7:22] discussed a business request regarding a parking agreement. The meeting was

[7:26] adjourned at 9:50 p.m. require a motion to approve there. A

[7:32] motion to approve the closed session minutes from June 30th.

[7:36] » Second. >> All right. That was motioned by council

[7:39] member, seconded by council member Franklin. Town manager Anderson, if you

[7:43] could call the role. >> Mayor,

[7:45] » I vice mayor.

[7:50] » Council member, >> I

[8:00] » we will move on to business item 6A, mixing parking agreement. Town manager

[8:05] Anderson. >> All right.

[8:07] Good evening member audience. Um just a bit of background on the parking

[8:13] agreement for with Mixle. Um they are a business that wants to move to downtown

[8:19] upper Mboro. It's a part of their development. Uh they need 20 off street

[8:24] parking spaces. Uh originally we thought it was 39 but it was recalculated is

[8:29] down to 20 now. We do have 20 parking spaces at the Church Street parking lot

[8:35] at 14525 Church Street. Um I spoke with the uh owner Licon Engle and we

[8:44] negotiated the terms of of the agreement to be a 10-year term which is required

[8:50] by Deepine. We're giving them 20 spaces at a fee of $500 per month beginning in

[8:56] uh January of 2028. Um

[9:01] after January 2028 uh the rental fee can increase up to 10%

[9:07] every year after that. Um after the 10 years there there will be an opportunity

[9:12] to renegotiate on the 5year 5year terms after that. Just to put it in

[9:17] perspective with respect to revenue, uh, from January 2025 to June of 2026,

[9:24] Church Street parking lot only generated $568 in revenue over 8month period of

[9:29] time. So, the town isn't necessarily losing any significant revenue there.

[9:38] » Okay. Are there any questions from council members on the parking lease

[9:43] agreement? a question for my comment. Um, I just

[9:49] realized that you said 10year with two additional five years, but the term

[9:54] actually says that it ends on 2031. So, it's only a fiveyear with two fiveear

[9:59] extensions, but it does say the period is 10 years commencing in 2026 and

[10:04] ending in 2031. So, one of those needs to be changed.

[10:07] » Yeah. 2036. 2080 should be 2036. >> Okay. And also I in in reading in our

[10:14] paper I caught a typo in in one uh look at parking lease premises and rent

[10:22] part four it says together a with the right I think just a needs stricken

[10:35] Franklin >> no comments

[10:39] do we have Vice Mayor Brooks

[10:47] Um, hearing no other comments,

[10:52] do we have a motion to approve the mix and mingle parking agreement with the

[10:56] changes noted by council member Urklay to update the term to 2020 2036 and

[11:02] remove the errant aid in section one. >> All right. Uh, council member Franklin

[11:10] moved. Do I have a second? >> Second.

[11:13] » Okay. >> Uh, we'll take public comment. If there

[11:18] are, uh, members of the public in the audience that would like to speak,

[11:21] please come up to the podium. Uh, provide your name and street.

[11:27] We'll give you an opportunity to speak on this agenda item. If there are

[11:30] members online, please raise your hand and we will go to you.

[11:40] Hearing none. Seeing none, uh, we'll move on to the vote. Council or town

[11:44] manager Anderson, please call the role. >> I,

[11:48] Council Member Brandon, >> I.

[11:50] » Council member Bley. >> Hi.

[11:52] » Council member. >> Motion passes.

[11:56] All right, we will move on to Pocket Park RFP response update. Town manager.

[12:04] So, what I wanted to do tonight is not really get into the I guess the meat and

[12:08] potatoes of the RFPs and the responses, but I just wanted to just give a quick

[12:14] overview of where we are there and then um ask that we come back at the at the

[12:20] next meeting to actually discuss the RFPs for the pocket park. Um the sort of

[12:27] services that we that we wanted was site analysis and planning. Um, this is a

[12:32] very important part of our downtown. So, I wanted to make sure, you know, we had

[12:37] we had talked about staff planning it out, but I thought that it would be

[12:41] better to have a cons and actually do that because this is a project that is

[12:47] going to affect downtown for many years to come. So, um, I wanted a a

[12:52] professional to take a look at it, to analyze it, um, to plan it, come up with

[12:57] some ideas that would benefit the business community and the residents as

[13:03] well, and bring folks in into downtown. Um, we also wanted, uh, you know, we we

[13:10] were sort of struggling with with SAG. We be struggling what's the concept? Um,

[13:14] what are what are the designs going going to be? And I think that it's a

[13:19] much easier and natural thing for a consultant to come in and come up those

[13:23] things as well. Um the public engagement part now that is something takes you

[13:30] know a lot of time and I think the town has struggled a bit with public

[13:36] engagement and again I thought that a professional consultant may have a fresh

[13:40] a fresh approach to it and really get the businesses involved and the

[13:45] residents as as well. Um they with respect to the con to the

[13:51] construction part um we would like them to be able to provide us with resources

[13:58] so that we can choose construction consultants that would be

[14:04] uh economically feasible and at the same

[14:07] time uh dependable as well. So that's just a basic overview of what the um we

[14:14] had in the RFP and what I think the discussion should be um as we talk about

[14:20] this more um moving forward. But I do think that the community engagement is

[14:26] extremely important.

[14:33] » So this discussion is the RFP in here is that

[14:37] » No, you all you will all get it please. >> Okay. I did I did attach them to the

[14:41] email, but they were they were bad copies. The scanner, they just weren't

[14:45] good. So, um you'll have those after the meeting. They're actually in the back

[14:48] right now. >> So, uh again, this isn't not voting on

[14:53] um this topic tonight. This is just a discussion looking at the project

[14:57] objectives, scope of service, and the statements manager Anderson has made. Um

[15:03] I'll just start going down the down the line here. Uh if we have any questions,

[15:07] I'll start with you know, you just you just stopped in. Vice May. So, Council

[15:10] Member Franklin, do you have any questions?

[15:12] » I guess my only question is since it looked like we only got one or two per

[15:19] for the RFP is, is it possible for us to like keep it open until for like maybe

[15:29] two weeks or two weeks close to the meeting just to see if anything else

[15:34] comes in before the next meeting? cuz I know it's nice to have three if we can.

[15:39] Um, that's my only comment. >> Well, that was a thought I think Darnell

[15:43] and I had as well. We were looking there was a debate whether or not we should

[15:47] extend it, right? Because we only had the the two and uh it's not that these

[15:51] two are are bad, but we did we did want to see what else was out there.

[15:58] » Just Yeah, >> I don't have I don't I don't see an

[16:02] issue extending it. Um, so I mean that's just I take advant

[16:12] » currently closes. >> It's already

[16:15] » it's already closed. >> Okay.

[16:17] » And you said, sorry, I apologize. How many responses have we gotten so far?

[16:21] Just two. >> Mhm.

[16:22] » Okay. >> And one of them had two different

[16:24] proposals in there. So, >> okay.

[16:27] » Do we have um someone So, we're expecting whoever it is to come up with

[16:32] a design. Correct. come up with with a design.

[16:35] » So why can't we ask both of them to come up with a design

[16:39] that kind of fits our town? >> Well, a part of the

[16:43] » that can be like a you can ask for a mockup.

[16:46] » Yeah. Part of the selection process was going to be an interview and the

[16:49] expectation would be that they would have something which you presented at

[16:55] » the mockup is just not it's not something final. It's just a video of

[16:59] what they can do. >> Yeah. I think that's I think that's good

[17:03] to go with that and then if something else comes in then hey it's added to the

[17:08] to the bowl but I don't think we should wait until

[17:14] did you have any other comments or was that

[17:15] » No, that was my comment. I don't think we should wait. I just think that we

[17:19] should leave it um if someone else presents something great. If not but we

[17:23] should definitely get a mockup from both of these vendors to see what they can

[17:26] produce. So I think part of the issue is that

[17:30] part one in the site analysis and planning including at least two

[17:33] community engagement sessions was that we were would be funding them to

[17:38] basically have meetings with the community about what the community would

[17:42] like to see. And so it's more than just them designing it because they'd be

[17:47] running that portion of it also. And that and that may be why we got your

[17:51] response is that some groups may not have been interested in doing that

[17:55] portion of it. So, it's it's more than just give us the

[18:01] plan that and then also um we had the previous survey on what the citizens

[18:08] would like to see and I don't know we distributed the responses from that one.

[18:12] I tried looking through my email and then it might have been rolled off.

[18:16] » I can I can send it again. I thought we did but it came back for some reason my

[18:21] email back two months. So, >> okay.

[18:23] » Yeah. Um sorry. Do you have any other comments?

[18:27] » Uh, no. But I did find Well, I guess I guess yes, then. Um, one of them

[18:33] commented it was something to the effect of parking with a park above it. I mean,

[18:39] sound interesting, but how many parking spaces could you actually fit in there?

[18:45] And does that I expect that one would be much more expensive than anything?

[18:50] » Yes, that was the most >> because there was I was looking at it

[18:53] and I wasn't sure if the amount they were proposing for that was

[18:58] the design portion or if that was an estimate of cost of actually

[19:02] constructing it. So I just assume it was more more expensive to find it if

[19:06] there's a structure. >> Yeah.

[19:10] » Um it's related to this but also just in

[19:14] general discussion before about kind of our procurement you know policy and

[19:19] mechanisms and whatnot. So one question I have and you may have answered this

[19:22] already. I apologize if I'm asking you to repeat yourself, but what were some

[19:26] of the uh avenues that you advertised the the RFP in addition to the town

[19:30] website? >> Well, there was there's a there's

[19:34] there's the town website. There's also there's a the planning website. We

[19:39] advertise I had it to do that. Um we also advertise it. Uh there was a

[19:44] there's a park planning website as well. Not a park planning website, but uh

[19:50] there as well. We also reached out. I reached out to about five or six

[19:54] different consultants as well via email. I think only one or two responded and

[20:02] their response was um they wanted to know what the what the

[20:07] cost would like what the budget budget was. Sure. Okay. Um Okay. I just

[20:12] » Sorry, but the planning planning was the strategic plan. So I didn't reach out to

[20:17] planning for the pocket. >> Okay.

[20:19] » So Okay. Got it. Take a note of where we're um reaching out and making sure

[20:26] that our our net is wide as we're we're casting these particularly with again

[20:31] looking at if there are local opportunities for this as well. Um

[20:35] » Vice May Brooks, did you have any comments, questions?

[20:37] » This is regarding the parking lot, >> the the pocket park.

[20:40] » Oh, the pocket park. >> No.

[20:45] [sighs] So I think um based on the comments here, one of the suggestions is

[20:50] to extend the um the open period to see if there's an opportunity for one of you

[20:56] know uh another couple of um

[21:02] respondents to provide a response. So do we think two weeks is enough time? Is

[21:07] that getting is that delaying schedule too much? I mean, it it's definitely

[21:11] pushing it back, but I mean, I think that it may be worth it. I mean, I'm I'm

[21:16] willing to push, you know, extend for another 30 days.

[21:19] » 30 days. >> Yeah.

[21:21] » Okay. >> In the meantime, uh, can we still go

[21:25] forward with having them create a mockup because it's not going to I mean, at the

[21:30] end of the day, we still need to see who the board is going to pick to go with,

[21:34] » right? So, they are aware that we're looking to interview. the two that we do

[21:38] have they would be able to do. >> Okay.

[21:43] » All right. >> Other comments

[21:48] around >> because of the the planning aspect of

[21:52] this of the community engagement and stuff like that. I don't know if there

[21:56] are groups like um you know there's plenty of nurseries in the area that

[22:00] might have like plant nursery type places. Um what is it? Tuxen 301, you

[22:07] know, might have, you know, folks who can do conceptual designs for for a for

[22:14] a part, but may not have that aspect of it. So, we might be able to keep it

[22:19] local if you back, but you know, we'd have to get that that part from someone

[22:25] else. >> Yeah. So, I think I think the I think

[22:28] the RFP is out right now. We've hades to it. I think we evaluate what we what we

[22:35] have and if any additional ones come in and then you know we can make the

[22:39] determination based on what the responses are if that's something that

[22:41] we need to carve out separately but I think we don't I don't think we want to

[22:44] restart the process with >> dissecting the RFP at this point.

[22:50] » Exactly. Um, >> yeah, I was just going to say one thing

[22:55] it might be to see if it can get out to some landscape architecture firms

[22:59] because sometimes they um are engaged in doing that

[23:07] » landscape architecture firms like engineers that have um and then

[23:13] my other comment is um my only concern about having them mock something up out

[23:21] of community engagement would be like would the community feel like we're

[23:27] picking a design outside of their engagement process. So

[23:34] I just wanted to stick them on the table. Um [clears throat]

[23:37] but it sounds like we're going to extend the

[23:41] um periods but that's maybe for later. >> Can I say something?

[23:46] » Um can I piggy back off of that? >> Sure. The reason why I suggested a

[23:49] mockup was sometimes, you know, you see a space and you really don't have the

[23:54] experience. So, you you may want things that we can't possibly have in that

[23:59] space. So, it's not necessarily the community can't um have input, but we

[24:05] want to kind of give them some kind of starting point as to what it could look

[24:08] like and give them options, you know, just to help the process along.

[24:13] » Yeah. >> Not to take over for them and say this

[24:15] is what we're doing. >> Sure. So, so perhaps instead of um a

[24:20] mockup of that particular specific place, part of their presentation to us

[24:26] would be if they have examples of similarly sized projects that they've

[24:30] done in the past and how they've transformed them.

[24:32] » Yep, that makes sense. >> Uh because the other part of it is, you

[24:36] know, this is it's still a competitive bid process and we're not paying them

[24:39] for preparing their bids. So, we don't want them to incur store work um that we

[24:44] may not choose. That's smart. Yeah.

[24:52] » Other questions.

[24:56] » Hearing none. So, we'll extend the open period for another 30 days. Uh we'll

[25:00] schedule the two that are that have responded to come in to some meeting

[25:05] either at the town meeting or the next work session whenever we can uh put it

[25:09] on the agenda. Um [clears throat] and then we'll move from there. Okay.

[25:15] All right.

[25:18] Moving on to the next item, strategic plan RFP response update.

[25:26] » Yeah, these two the with the strategic plan and the pocket park. It was sort of

[25:30] like uh not take another a but could you roll the pocket park into the strategic

[25:36] plan as well? Like you know could you roll the design of that into the

[25:41] strategic plan? Um so that was just a thought that I had. you know, maybe

[25:45] that's that's another option there. But the scope of work with the

[25:49] with the strategic plan and based on the goals of the economic development

[25:53] working group, you know, we we're looking at business retention and

[25:56] business recruitment. Uh we're looking at what downtown Upper Mboro is going to

[26:03] look like uh for the next five five years and how we continue to build on

[26:08] that. Um and that that can that can include parking which which has has been

[26:13] an issue. Um design standards and things like that. Um we're looking at small

[26:20] business support as well because as we've seen um recently with a with quite

[26:25] a few of our small businesses that have come in um they they've they've

[26:29] struggled a bit. They don't understand the process. They don't understand the

[26:32] permitting process, the licensing processes and things like that. And we

[26:36] like to be able to create programs so that we can continue to support small

[26:40] businesses to open and to remain open. You know, where do you how do you get

[26:46] funding? What grants are available and things like that. So

[26:50] the strategic plan is going to be in place again to keep the businesses that

[26:56] we have, recruit businesses to again create a plan for the next 5 to 10

[27:02] years. um is going to look like and how it's going to grow. Um and and it has a

[27:08] small business support component to it as well.

[27:17] And again, I'll ask sorry I I promise you I'm listening to you, but um have

[27:22] you received respons how many responses have you received to on this one as

[27:25] well? And this one's also closed. >> Yes. Um and so same question as before.

[27:31] Uh where have we advertised? Where did you put out the RFP?

[27:34] » I said IP is ABA. Um, and I reached out to about I would say at least six or

[27:42] seven different different firms. So, um, I reached out

[27:48] to one of the bigger ones, Baker Tilly. They didn't get back to me until late. I

[27:52] guess we were going to be small potatoes for them. Um, there was another firm

[27:56] that's really good, but Baker Tilly acquired them. I reached out to them.

[28:00] They didn't get back to me until late as well.

[28:03] » So, yeah, I can put it off for an additional 30 days. And um

[28:10] as you said, widen the reach out to MML and see if there's any.

[28:15] » So, do we get any um >> on this one? We have two as well.

[28:20] » Yes. >> Okay.

[28:22] » Okay. >> Um All right. So, with with that, we'll

[28:26] continue with the questions. Council member Live, did you have any other

[28:28] questions? Yes, sir. >> Councilman Berkeley,

[28:32] » um I just made a comment. So, I know that the county was actively helping um

[28:39] the west when West failure was talking about new retail of like helping them

[28:43] recruit folks for a shopping center. And I I went to their meeting and thought,

[28:47] why aren't they helping us with that sort of thing? So I don't know what it

[28:53] takes, you know, if it's only new construction if they help with that sort

[28:55] of thing because even if it was, you know, they identified some some

[28:58] businesses that were interested in coming to the area, but they weren't a

[29:01] right fit for Westfailia, maybe they were a good fit for us.

[29:05] So it was uh Way who held that meeting when she before she was at large. So I

[29:10] don't know if she would be a good contact or if it was I think it was

[29:14] through MNCPPC and they had said they had gone to radius for some

[29:20] SCS. Um I did I did meet with FSC, so they did give me some contacts uh for

[29:28] business recruitment as well. And um I haven't set up my time to meet with them

[29:32] yet, but I'm also working FSC as well. And something else that um I'd had a

[29:37] discussion with Victor my neighbor months ago and uh he made a suggestion

[29:43] that and I don't this would be a separate funding thing of you know would

[29:48] it make sense to have like a liaison for permitting somebody that was experienced

[29:53] that we could point small businesses to that were interested and like they would

[29:58] help walk them through the process and I don't that be like mentoring

[30:03] through the the business group or >> well we had had a discussion with the

[30:07] economic de development working group to have sort of an unbudsman

[30:11] » but I did reach out to a few people who would want to do it but they wouldn't do

[30:16] it for free so it's it's there's a cost associated with that

[30:19] » and I guess we have to you know figure out like what is what is worthwhile for

[30:23] the town for businesses you know and it might be that you know there are certain

[30:27] types of businesses that we know we definitely want that we're willing to to

[30:31] assist in that way and maybe others that we aren't But I don't have to make a

[30:35] policy on >> Yeah.

[30:37] » on that.

[30:43] » Are we going to extend it? >> That's what's on the table.

[30:46] » Just to see if we get any more. >> Okay.

[30:51] » Yeah. Suggestion. You have any objections?

[30:56] No. 30 days. >> Any other comments?

[31:01] I I guess I have a question slash we're extending for 30 days so I don't

[31:07] necessarily want to specifically change with the RFP but one of the things I

[31:10] noticed about the responses is they were from retail strategy groups

[31:15] which makes sense right and maybe the pocket of things we're asking for is

[31:19] like more than one company does because what I didn't notice was like how they

[31:27] were going to work on a plan to activate the ohms

[31:32] building. And what I was thinking as I was reading them is this retail strategy

[31:37] stuff is excellent and then there's not this ohms plan, but I think it's because

[31:42] they're two different types of planning. And so maybe part of the problem with

[31:48] getting the response was we're asking for

[31:52] two different firms to come together and submit an RFP. And that's not frequently

[31:57] going to happen. and that we maybe need to split those two things out to get

[32:02] more responses, which of course then that disrupts the whole process because

[32:05] you have to like send out two RFPs and whatnot, but I just don't know if that's

[32:11] part of the reason that that's happening.

[32:17] » Yeah, I I think that's definitely take a look at that. It wouldn't be difficult

[32:20] to split out the two RFP. So when you say split out of our R&D and with

[32:26] respect to the homes building, what are you are you looking for? We be looking

[32:30] for developers interested in developing what their ideas are or what what

[32:38] » I mean I guess the retail strategy has to be there but also like what is

[32:43] actually physically happening with the building because the community really

[32:46] wants to see what's physically happening with the building and like who the right

[32:50] retailers are. Maybe that's in there and I just wasn't I was looking for

[32:55] something more specific when I was reading. So maybe it's fine

[32:59] a specific question. Maybe I don't know if we can ask the people who submit like

[33:03] I don't know how to I don't know how to identify if that's a problem or not a

[33:06] problem but I have to follow that. >> Yeah. Well, I I mean I would think so

[33:10] one my first response is similar to the pocket part piece which is you know we

[33:15] have the RFP that's been out so let's see what we get with the responses on

[33:19] the extension on that but also I think part of the strategic plan itself is

[33:25] community engagement and that is something that is a big part or you know

[33:28] a lot on everyone's focus so I would imagine that part of that conversation

[33:32] part of that strategic community engagement would be determining what

[33:36] does the community want to happen with the ohms building. I think we can say I

[33:40] think it's reasonable to say as a part of your strategic engagement plan, this

[33:43] is a question to ask. This is a question to kind of plan on as opposed to

[33:48] breaking it out separately right now. >> And then maybe the responses from that

[33:52] or even the the responses from the >> um community engagement then warrants a

[33:59] separate >> breakout RFP.

[34:01] » That makes sense. >> All right.

[34:05] » Okay. Any other comments on the strategic engagement for strategic plan

[34:11] RFP? >> I well yes um I don't know if it would

[34:16] fit into this but I remember that when we had our candidates forum last

[34:21] collection um someone approached me saying that she had a development

[34:26] corporation and she was in Marl. I didn't get her contact at the time

[34:31] because election she said she would contact me afterwards. I don't remember

[34:34] if that's one of the people that's on the economic development council or if

[34:38] it was someone separate. I'm liking our picture in her face and

[34:43] get her name. Um, but I mean some of this,

[34:49] you know, might be handled by a development corporation. So maybe we

[34:52] need to look into, you know, are there ones in the area

[34:56] that would support us or do we need to form one to to do these tasks long term

[35:03] rather than contract them out? >> Yeah. And I think uh when we first

[35:07] considered or first uh legislated the economic development work group uh a

[35:12] couple of years ago at this point, one of the goals or one of the charges was

[35:17] for them to evolve into an economic development corporation to do a lot of

[35:22] these to do a lot of this type of work. Uh and so I think I don't think that the

[35:26] developer that you're talking about is on the committee as it stands right now

[35:31] just from who I know on the committee. But if you have that information and you

[35:35] find it, please pass it along to town manager uh Anderson. But I think to that

[35:40] point, it's worth probably at some point with the economic development work group

[35:43] thinking through what the steps are necessary to move in that direction as

[35:47] that was one of the original goals. Um but separate from

[35:51] this particular discussion, uh we we know what a director.

[35:57] » Yes. >> All right.

[36:00] » Sounds good. Moving right along to demolition and debris removal

[36:09] » on the on the strategic plan or the demolition.

[36:12] » No, demolition. >> Okay. Well, let's let them introduce it

[36:15] first, then we'll do the we'll do the question. One of you is taking it. Okay.

[36:20] » Okay. and good afternoon.

[36:25] We're requesting um approval to award the demolition contract for the uh 5510

[36:32] crane highway property um all out of town. Um there are for those who don't

[36:38] know, there are two uh partially standing structures uh

[36:44] on the on the property that need to be teared down. Um, as you all know that uh

[36:51] legit came off in a site visit and made recommendation to have them uh pretty

[36:57] much drop uh as soon as possible. Um so along with this uh we solicited seven

[37:06] companies. Uh we got interest from four um I believe there were report visits.

[37:13] um three um uh submissions that three of the companies

[37:23] uh submitted our proposal and uh two will follow on the same company. Um and

[37:32] that is the company that we would like to move forward with which is Dickory

[37:37] and Recon. Um so the their goal would be to simply

[37:44] reduce both uh parking band instructors to brown leather and so that no one

[37:50] would actually cut the interior and um you know we would have to worry about

[37:55] anyone inside or anything like that. Um and

[38:00] also provide a temporary fencing to go around the structure that we can move

[38:05] them. Um uh this is the sto of a pin until we can

[38:12] uh adequately you know funds have been removed off the bike. Um but this is

[38:17] satisfy um audit we had from the jet uh by doing this. Um so the amount for uh

[38:26] data demolition coming in at 29,000 and that is to reduce uh both buildings to

[38:33] ground level and that is also to um sort of group together everything within

[38:41] 150 range of the structures and to uh sort of level it all

[38:48] when there's no longer a large void. side of the structures. Um so with that,

[38:56] um I will take any questions. Uh additionally, there is a cost of $400

[39:02] per month for the temporary fencing. Um that is until we can actually get the

[39:09] right.

[39:13] » Uh yeah. So I see tree removal on here as well. So we're not using up a tree.

[39:19] Right. Okay. And the fence, you don't have to actually go and everything.

[39:23] There's another couple, just a bunch of different ones. The easiest way to do

[39:28] it, um,

[39:41] » make sense. Um, the other question is, um, I know that we talked before about

[39:46] getting, um, some carts so you guys could go back

[39:51] back and forth. Where are we with that? >> We are working on that currently. We're

[39:55] just trying to see what what will be the most pretty much the bang for your buck

[40:01] as far as what has been uh, approved for this year [snorts] as far as the

[40:04] purchase price. >> Okay. A new one, right?

[40:08] » Okay. >> Yes. Hey, that's two.

[40:13] » Two, but if uh there is a concern that the two that we're looking at won't do

[40:19] everything we needed to do. So, it may be one and there will be sort of a

[40:24] sharing and we keep it up here at town hall just in case need access.

[40:30] » Yeah, cuz if they're going to do patrols, they probably will be,

[40:35] you know, have it here to go over there. Um, sorry before you jump in, but just a

[40:42] couple of quick questions. So, um, the temporary thinking structure $400 a

[40:49] month, what's the timeline on how long that's staying

[40:54] » until we can have fun to have everything removed. Uh in order to remove

[41:00] everything from over there um just and doing site visits, it's going to be

[41:07] quite intensive. We're going to need to create a temporary gravel road. We're

[41:12] going to need to remove some trees uh and we're going to have to move some

[41:16] equipment on site and uh stage over there for that mobilization that will

[41:21] come at an increased cost as well. Um so with this with this company uh agreeing

[41:28] to sort of grab any rubble within 150 foot radius and sort of less costly.

[41:35] » So that that answers one of my other questions. So this this kind this

[41:39] agreement would be for primarily for demolition but there would still be a

[41:43] significant amount of of debris that would need to be removed at some point.

[41:47] That's what's being fenced off. >> Yes. And this company did provide um

[41:53] to everything that is significant cost.

[41:59] » It was approximately 87,000. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think there was more

[42:05] that we needed that made it a little closer to like 91.

[42:09] » But within this Sorry, I'll come to you one second. But within this within this

[42:13] 29,000, did that include the removal of the vehicles and the tires or this is it

[42:18] doesn't include any any removal at all? >> Okay.

[42:22] That's but it's not in 15 radius either. It's further away.

[42:27] » So anything that's close. Can we push the car over there?

[42:32] Okay. Can I ask you said we had two proposals. Is that the other proposal?

[42:36] Was it for >> we

[42:44] Okay. Thank you. >> Councley. Um, so as as there's multiple

[42:50] portions of their scope of work, you know, it's kind of a line item. There's

[42:54] a mention of mow and make ready entrance road with front deck mower.

[43:00] Is that can they do that first part of you know dropping the building and stuff

[43:06] like that with having an entrance road? So if they did that depending on how

[43:11] long it takes to that stuff would just grow back up.

[43:19] » So we may end up spending money.

[43:24] » Okay. [snorts] >> Is what what they would like to do is

[43:28] once they do that they they want to come in and bring [clears throat] more.

[43:34] » Yeah. Well, there there was actually two. Wait, there was a separate one for

[43:38] the actual Oh, yeah. Yeah. The the putting

[43:41] the gravel on there and stuff for the roadway was 19,000, but then there was

[43:45] the mowing it down to was 7500. So,

[43:54] um, as you put on what what might be a another problem is that they have a

[44:00] proposed start date in here of May 11th and there is another

[44:06] where was it?

[44:09] » But but the issue is that on the very last page it says contractors rights to

[44:13] withdraw this proposal or reestimate the price if not accepted within 15 days.

[44:18] » Validity the validity date. Have we confirmed if the practicing is still

[44:22] valid? >> Yes.

[44:33] » Any other comments, Brooks?

[44:36] » May 11th. This is start date of 27th.

[44:41] The proposal was based on a May 11 start date, but since we're now beyond that,

[44:46] May 11, 2026, he validated or confirmed that the pricing is still valid if we

[44:50] approve it tonight. >> Okay. What fund is that coming out of?

[44:54] » Well, that would come from our operating and then we don't have a separate fund

[44:59] for that, but the operating account. >> Yeah. But that there is money available

[45:03] for that. So, >> we're not pulling from any other

[45:07] accounts. is coming from our operating area.

[45:09] » Oh, wait. One more. When you say uh you asked this question, did you give an

[45:14] answer? Um how many how long will it take for how

[45:19] long will this process take? Cuz it's $400 a month for the FIN fee. So, how

[45:24] long would that process take? That that depends on when we move forward and

[45:29] allocated to actually

[45:38] the overall price is about $80,000 to remove everything. So

[45:52] » I have a couple of questions. Um >> the the first one is because you said

[45:58] the fund it was coming from but we we did budget this. Yes, I feel like we

[46:02] budgeted for this or or is it coming out of contingency then?

[46:06] » Well, I guess it will come out we could it will come out different contingencies

[46:10] but we don't have a specific line item. >> Okay. So, is are we gonna have to amend

[46:15] our budget or we gonna >> Well, well, we would have to make a

[46:20] budget amendment at some point anyway because um there's an additional fund

[46:26] balance as well. So, we would have to amend the budget.

[46:29] » Okay. So, we have a line item to take it out of and then we'll address it when we

[46:32] amend the budget. Okay. Um then

[46:38] so one thing about fencing is and this may be crazy like can we purchase

[46:44] fencing but I'm guessing that there's also like maintenance of the fencing and

[46:47] whatnot >> but

[46:52] the fencing will keep people out of it. [snorts]

[46:58] Yes. No. I don't know the reason I'm so because I can see sort of that area

[47:05] from my home. There are occasionally buyers back there. Like I think

[47:11] somebody's back there, >> right? And so the concern that I'm

[47:17] having is they're going to take all this debris from two structures and put it in

[47:22] a pile. And we can see that people are lighting

[47:27] fires back there. and it's the woods. And so like how are we ensuring

[47:32] that that doesn't become a fire that then endangers the 16 homes

[47:41] that are >> okay the fire aspect was a little new to

[47:47] me. Um but with the temporary fencing

[47:53] with any fence pretty much you can do you can

[47:58] » but it is um it has very heavy fences. The fence themselves are particularly

[48:05] light but they're sort of heavy duty and they're also bolted together. So that

[48:12] should there access door or anything. So that should

[48:18] keep any reasonable >> but I mean it is a chain link fence. So

[48:25] if someone does want to set fire to it, you can. Do we have an option of 8 foot?

[48:32] I believe I believe it's it's roughly the same as these, but I believe these

[48:38] » and then I think there were when we had this discussion. Sorry.

[48:41] » No, we can keep this discussion. >> Um when we had this discussion before, I

[48:45] think legit had had a number of other safety or security measures that they

[48:50] had recommended as well. Are those still on the table in addition to this

[48:54] demolition piece? Have we just to again address the issue of making sure no

[48:58] one's going back there? >> Well, one of the one of the security

[49:01] measures was having a light and we're >> we we're not going to do that.

[49:06] » Sure. >> But um for legit, and correct me if I'm

[49:10] wrong, they were satisfied with the with the 8ft fence uh completely enclosed and

[49:16] secured and posted. So they were satisfied with that along with

[49:21] um I guess a chain across the front, you know, blocking that off as well. So um

[49:26] so but what we had in place there is good for them.

[49:31] » And there's also some things that they had us do to the actual structure

[49:34] themselves. Uh take them off with caution tape. Each entrance that we know

[49:41] is um uh blocked off with caution tape. There's posted no trespassing signs, no

[49:48] injury and all those sort of things. And we patrol it uh twice a week. So with

[49:54] all that, we'll be able to tell if someone does access the property.

[49:58] » Council, you had two more. I >> had two two more questions. And these

[50:02] are more on like structure and historic elements, which is when they're demoing

[50:08] the structure that has those stone columns. Are they demoing the stone

[50:11] columns or are they leaving the stone columns?

[50:13] » I believe they're demoing

[50:17] They're really pretty, guys. I don't know if you've all seen them.

[50:19] » I've seen them. >> Um,

[50:21] and then I know like this is like I've asked this and it's like a hard ask, but

[50:28] the the Gant house, if there's anything salvageable from the Gant House, can it

[50:33] be? And that was the one that was

[50:36] » the little white one that's collapsed like white in blue. Um like

[50:41] » I'll go back there with the demolition table if there is anything.

[50:46] » I don't want anyone to hurt themselves but if there's

[50:49] » Yeah. As they're you know as they're going through it if there's anything.

[50:54] » Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Um

[50:57] last question. But it is possible that they can jump over the fence. Yes, it is

[51:03] possible. >> Well, can I just say it is possible for

[51:08] them to go back there now even though we have the thing and that's why sign there

[51:13] to say so if something happens it's at their own risk and that kind of protects

[51:18] the town by having all these posted signs and doing the um and taping up the

[51:23] entrances and the windows. It actually takes the onus off of the town.

[51:28] » Yeah. to a degree, but I I I'm sensitive to Council Member Franklin's point that

[51:33] if we're now leaving just a large pile of

[51:39] » even if it's even if the the town is protected in one way or another, that

[51:43] doesn't mean anything if >> woods catch fire and people's houses

[51:47] catch fire. So, so we want to make sure that's

[51:51] » I think the fencing is the is the one piece.

[51:56] » Yeah. So may maybe I mean I think it all comes down to maybe the answer is that

[52:01] we have to pay the $80,000. That's really the only way to

[52:07] for the liability to be gone. So at the end of the fiscal year, what I can say

[52:12] is that there were several things that we didn't end up

[52:17] doing. We didn't end up uh using $150,000 in reserves for the splash pad.

[52:23] We didn't have to do that. So, it's quite possible we could take money from

[52:28] there to pay the $80,000, but it's there's really no way to guarantee

[52:34] guarantee that no one was going to get back there. And the reason that there

[52:39] are so many, you know, we had to label it no passing

[52:44] and secure it is because it does reduce our liability and legit would be able to

[52:50] defend us by by doing that. That's fine. >> But I think at I think at the end of the

[52:55] day >> at at the end of the day though, we have

[52:58] to come up with the solution. When are we going to

[53:03] » Yeah. >> demolish

[53:10] of the fact that we put these signs in place and

[53:14] » pictures to document it. So if anything happens that we do have record of

[53:18] » Yeah.

[53:21] there every couple of weeks police department evacue as well. So we are

[53:26] showing that we our due diligence >> I do want to see you probably know that

[53:33] » already council >> Bley

[53:35] » um on the the trashwood issue. So the the first the first bullet point, the

[53:40] one that we're looking at, the $29,000 says specifically demolish and remove

[53:43] trash, wood, and debris from existing structure to the best of our ability to

[53:47] have mechanical means. But then also the cape in the existing stone, concrete to

[53:51] bottom of existing bill, which I assume would be taking up that portion that

[53:56] you're interested in preserving. Um there is an alternate for 19,000

[54:02] which is alternate option for Mr. bond cave an existing structure and separate

[54:07] and pile wood inside existing structure which we're not going with. And then

[54:11] there was also uh the second bullet point tree removal and stacking. Remove

[54:15] and pile tree stumps between existing house ruin and pond with concrete sides

[54:19] which I also don't think we're doing. So So I think they're removing the wood.

[54:26] We're not adding any more down wood than is already there. So just from a

[54:31] liability standpoint, I don't think we're creating problems. I mean, there's

[54:36] still pre-existing problem, but we're not adding.

[54:43] » Okay. Okay. We can get started.

[54:48] » Yes. >> Any other questions from Council before?

[54:53] » Um, not a question comment. Um, green tree has been good to me for tree

[55:00] removal. Um, I don't know if there's any tree removal aspects of this that need

[55:05] to be bid out, but we should probably ask them also.

[55:09] » Council member, >> they've been helping throughout the

[55:11] town. They're pretty good for sure. He's he's in contact already. Um, I just

[55:16] wanted to see if we could kind of somehow figure out how to renegotiate

[55:20] this contract to make it more worth, you know, because if you going to give him

[55:26] two different parts of it, I think he could give you a better.

[55:30] » What do you mean? >> You said you have two different

[55:32] proposals. One for the track removal and one for him to break the do the

[55:36] demolition. Um, >> so the the other one it does is a

[55:41] demolition included in >> Right. And and wasn't that for us?

[55:46] » That is the roughly close to 90,000, >> right? But they're doing everything.

[55:53] » And we may we may need to look at that because if they're doing the demolition

[55:57] and removing the trash, that may be it may be easiest for us to pay the 90,000

[56:02] instead of paying what 80,000 and then 29,000.

[56:06] » Well, would be the 29,

[56:10] » right? But to do to remove everything except for the things down in the ravine

[56:16] um which we haven't been able to really investigate yet would be the 90,000.

[56:23] » Right. So that's what I'm saying. So the if we're comparing the contracts

[56:28] um you got two contracts, one to demo and one to remove and then the other

[56:32] contract to give you a contract to do everything. Is that what I'm hearing? So

[56:37] the it's just one to do everything demo separated

[56:45] demo and then separate separate. >> Okay.

[56:50] » So I I think the I think the the crux of the question was is there any cost

[56:55] savings by contracting everything together versus basically billing it at

[57:00] this point? that I don't know. I know we it's 29 here and then it will be another

[57:05] 60 or 61 to finish the right and that is I mean

[57:12] that's if we decide to go with this company or everything with the other

[57:17] companies it was a little higher um and also

[57:22] fuel prices things like that inflation a year from now this could be more

[57:28] » I don't think we're going to wait a whole year to get this done I think It's

[57:32] imperative that we move forward with things so that there's no bonfire back

[57:37] there. >> And

[57:38] » well, in in regards to that specifically with how grounds been lately, if I mean,

[57:44] if anything happens back there, >> I mean, that is a possibility, not just

[57:50] specific to this site. >> Yeah, that is inherent now. Not even

[57:54] like it's not exacerbated by something that's working. I guess that

[58:00] just makes it a trap. >> Okay.

[58:05] » I was just going to think the reason that we're waiting is because we can put

[58:09] this in line items, but we can't put 90,000 items. So, we have to do a budget

[58:13] adjustment to get the removal and so we just need to do that.

[58:18] » But we also need to get it down sooner. Is that Do I understand that correctly?

[58:21] » Yeah. Budgeting. >> Okay. Uh, with that said, is there a

[58:28] motion to approve the demolition contract with

[58:34] bigger done right? >> So moved.

[58:37] » Is there a second? >> Go ahead.

[58:40] » All right. Uh, we'll take public comment. If there's anyone again in the

[58:44] room who would like to provide public comment, please come to the podium,

[58:46] state your name and streak. >> If there's anyone online, please raise

[58:50] your hand. those fans online.

[58:57] Sorry.

[59:04] Is school lane have my daughter looking up where the

[59:10] property is located. So, it's right across the street here. Yes. How visible

[59:14] is that from the road? Think about we did not remove the debris. So it's the

[59:21] property was taken down the impact of people's perception of the town seeing

[59:27] that there um so property right on the road

[59:33] I I'll say from being back to well yeah so I'll let you answer. Well, the the

[59:37] the act the the entire property, yes, it's the tree line behind the houses

[59:42] here, but the actual structures are further uh to the

[59:47] um which you can't see from the road. >> Well, when you pass by, you can see a

[59:53] chain. You can see a chain. So, and it says uh no question. That's it for

[1:00:03] » any other public comment online or in the room.

[1:00:06] » See anything. >> Right. Hearing or seeing none. Thank

[1:00:10] you. Um man, could you please call the order?

[1:00:14] » Mayor, I vice mayor. I >> council member Franklin. Hi. Council

[1:00:20] » member. Hi. Council member. Hi. Motion passes. We'll move on to the

[1:00:28] compact tractor purchase. Director

[1:00:53] Okay.

[1:00:57] So um we've uh sort of had this conversation before we purchased

[1:01:03] something uh that has already proved uh to our

[1:01:09] operation in town. Um, I know we sort of had a plan to try to minimize the

[1:01:16] smaller tractor that we have until we were able to uh move forward with uh the

[1:01:24] purchase of another tractor. But that at the moment it just

[1:01:30] tractor is it needs to go in the shop currently and

[1:01:35] it's not work anymore. [laughter] >> Yeah.

[1:01:40] Um but uh what is attractive about uh this

[1:01:48] offer um although we had discussed it before um is that this can be paid this

[1:01:55] will be paid for out of speed.

[1:02:01] Um so we had uh discussed it with chief. He's going to look over everything and

[1:02:07] he is in agreement that we can move forward uh uh with this purchase under

[1:02:13] the speed cage title. Um and you know this is and the [clears throat] pretty

[1:02:19] much the pl is you know we're going to use it for sidewalk snow removal and

[1:02:24] things of that nature which our larger tractor is typically not able to do.

[1:02:30] Uh this tractor uh is made specifically for this type of work um for sidewalks

[1:02:39] and things like that. It is actually smaller than the small tractor that we

[1:02:44] have now. However, it's lifting capacity. It's more of a heavy unit

[1:02:49] whereas what we have is more of a homeowning

[1:02:53] sort of deal. Um [clears throat]

[1:02:57] uh [snorts] with that I will take any um we got uh three quotes one from John

[1:03:04] here one from uh New Holland and this one from I know the one picture

[1:03:12] but the one we're actually getting for this price

[1:03:18] is a a

[1:03:22] So, first question I'm going to ask, well, I'm going to ask a couple of

[1:03:27] questions. Me, too. First question I'm going to ask is time frame for delivery

[1:03:33] because we've had we

[1:03:40] » Okay. And two, uh we've thoroughly vetted uh that the uses for this would

[1:03:49] fall under the pedestrian safety mechanisms for speed camera funding.

[1:03:54] » Yes. >> Started in this end of the table this

[1:03:58] time. Council member Franklin. >> Um, so I just want to you've answered

[1:04:03] most of my questions. My question is just like so this will be able to go

[1:04:06] onto the property as well. >> Yes.

[1:04:12] » Right. I said your own name. So I wanted to clarify it can go over there and do

[1:04:16] the work we need to do over there. >> All right. You answered the rest of my

[1:04:19] question. Okay, Brooks. >> Okay, so you I'm reading here. So this

[1:04:23] is mainly for the sidewalks like snow removal, cleaning, I mean sidewalk and

[1:04:29] trail maintenance, transportational materials. How much machin can you get

[1:04:33] in that little small thing and general municipality maintenance

[1:04:39] support? Okay. But we don't have a tractor like this now. You said it's a

[1:04:43] bigger one. >> The the one we have is essentially big.

[1:04:48] How long has it been dead?

[1:04:57] » But and and Okay. So, we have nothing that would do the job that we have now.

[1:05:03] We don't anything to replace it. this what this does specifically

[1:05:10] you guys just recently but that by no means can get on the

[1:05:17] sidewalk and do removals um if we have another ice storm like we had this year

[1:05:23] uh being able to actually pick up and move the snow was invaluable you could

[1:05:27] not push >> that's that's small

[1:05:30] » yeah I think I think if I remember correctly I remember seeing you I think

[1:05:33] this this ice probably were killed. >> See remember seeing you out there

[1:05:39] working working hard. So um you know hopefully

[1:05:44] that was a once a year storm but not this would be useful to get it off the

[1:05:49] ground before it turns into ice again. Did you have any other questions Vice

[1:05:53] Mayor Brooks? Okay, Council. Uh >> I was just looking up the specs on it. I

[1:05:58] was trying to find the width. Looks like it's about 45 in wide.

[1:06:04] It is. It comes with two different u um but I verified the one that we're

[1:06:12] getting is uh what is it?

[1:06:18] Say it 48. I believe it's 48. It's either 48 or 49. I mean it's a little

[1:06:23] bit wider than the tell. So I just sidewalk for about

[1:06:33] this can be outfitted with the actual plat.

[1:06:38] » That was the other question like how many devices it rated for

[1:06:43] specifically.

[1:06:47] » Any other questions? Council Berkeley. Council member L.

[1:06:53] » Thank you chief.

[1:06:57] So that's I have no objections yet. >> Okay,

[1:07:04] » with that, do I have a to approve the compact tractor purchase?

[1:07:09] » So move. >> Second.

[1:07:10] » A second. >> Second.

[1:07:12] » All right, we'll public comment. Again, if there's any public comment in the

[1:07:15] room, please step to the podium, name and street. Anybody online, please raise

[1:07:19] your hand. We'll

[1:07:21] » raise hands online.

[1:07:30] tracker be available not by us but by public work or like

[1:07:40] » it would be on town sidewalks town right

[1:07:48] there. All right.

[1:07:56] [laughter]

[1:07:58] » Okay. Um, let's call the roller. >> Mayor Cver,

[1:08:03] » Vice Mayor Call the RO, Vice Mayor Brooks.

[1:08:18] like to come back to you. >> Please come back to you.

[1:08:21] » Council member, >> hi.

[1:08:23] » Council member, >> hi.

[1:08:26] » Council member, >> hi.

[1:08:28] » Vice Mayor Brook.

[1:08:44] » Oh my.

[1:08:48] And the and the final price is 26,000. >> Yes.

[1:08:54] » The 330 344.

[1:08:58] » And what's the expected longevity? >> Um with uh factors and things like that

[1:09:06] bumped up to about 10 years as opposed to seven years.

[1:09:12] The one that we have currently, I believe, is from 2005,

[1:09:18] I believe. >> And it broke down this year.

[1:09:22] » Broke down a few times. >> Yeah.

[1:09:25] We delivered this far. >> We paid to fix it a number of times.

[1:09:31] » Because I know

[1:09:52] verbal response.

[1:10:00] » Oh my goodness. Um, and it's coming from the pedestrian u

[1:10:06] camera.

[1:10:11] Okay. All right. But this is

[1:10:17] still, but it's a >> care. It's just, you know,

[1:10:23] » they need it. How they going to get those jobs?

[1:10:25] » All right. Motion patches. >> We'll move on to business item 6F,

[1:10:31] staff's response to unhoused community town. uh chief is not here this evening

[1:10:38] but he provided a memorandum who's going to

[1:10:42] » but uh well Darn do you mind speaking to what

[1:10:48] you've done with on on the public works side with the with addressing some of

[1:10:52] these complaints as well [clears throat] yes um from from our

[1:10:57] perspectives in the meantime while we will make the

[1:11:02] convention that we need to

[1:11:06] going to have actually added that into their litter collection

[1:11:11] rotation. Uh simply because for one portion of it um although it is county

[1:11:18] property uh one portion of it really start to but against the sidewalk and is

[1:11:24] extremely unattractive. So we go ahead and take care of it. But um as far as

[1:11:29] making contact with the county, reached out to uh OPS,

[1:11:35] they were unable to sort of point me in the right direction of who can sort of

[1:11:41] make the call to uh try to pass the individual or ban the individual from

[1:11:46] the property. Um they also stated that they have a

[1:11:52] a real estate division who sort of maintains the county's properties. Um I

[1:12:00] ask for that number as far as uh who can actually come out and clean the

[1:12:06] properties because they see it every day. However, they don't. Um they either

[1:12:14] couldn't or chose not to give me the numbers. saying that we would not be

[1:12:18] able to direct them to >> I have a number in the name. Um I also

[1:12:25] went over to the circuit court had building today. Um and was and had to

[1:12:31] you know beat the thumb on the ground the property and cleaning it up with uh

[1:12:37] and part of getting banned of trespass and they asked me to come back tomorrow

[1:12:42] and the uh corporal who actually is in charge of that fight is there. Don't

[1:12:49] know my plan to move forward with that tomorrow.

[1:12:54] » I put an account 311 request for them to come.

[1:13:01] » No, no, I think I think that's >> Oh, you go with

[1:13:05] that. >> All right. So, you know, the

[1:13:11] the the issue with the unhoused community, as everybody knows, is pretty

[1:13:14] complicated. And this isn't just it didn't just start this year. I think uh

[1:13:18] when council member Franklin was mayor, there were some concerns as well and

[1:13:23] when we were trying to work with our stakeholders with the with the county to

[1:13:27] try to get the services that these folks needed. Um I think that um there were

[1:13:33] sort of two things going on with the unhouse community for a while and a part

[1:13:37] of it was uh people were being released from the jail showing up in town but

[1:13:41] they were sort of transient and then they leave. Right now we have two two

[1:13:47] people that are here constantly >> that are you know causing issues with

[1:13:52] with respect to trash and things like that. Um we're getting complaints

[1:13:56] probably 5 to 10 a week from businesses residents as well. So what the police

[1:14:04] department has done and obvious you know the police department can't go out put

[1:14:08] them in a car and take somewhere else. Um but what they have done is they've

[1:14:12] tried to uh get them the services that that that

[1:14:16] that that they've needed. Um they've worked with the they've worked directly

[1:14:21] with the county. Uh just recently um a county worker came out and engaged with

[1:14:26] the with one of the individuals and they did accept some county services. Um the

[1:14:31] other individual still doesn't want to accept county services. Of course, you

[1:14:35] know, you don't want to arrest your way out of things, but you know, a part of a

[1:14:41] part of what's keeping some of the folks around is that the the property owners

[1:14:47] are allowing them to to stay there. Um, now they had been staying in the post

[1:14:53] office. The post office was open for 24 hours and then the post office limited

[1:14:58] their lobby hours from 6:00 to 8. So, that helped there. Um, as Darnell had

[1:15:03] mentioned, you know, it may come down to the county issuing a no trespass order

[1:15:09] so that they don't have that place to go. But ultimately the town, I mean,

[1:15:15] it's not just we would like them to get the services

[1:15:19] that they need, but we also have have to recognize that they are having an impact

[1:15:24] downtown. Um, so we've done basically all that we can do on on on the social

[1:15:29] work side of things. Um, and we we will continue to work with with the county to

[1:15:35] try to address it. Um, but again, one of the individuals has accepted some some

[1:15:39] services and we've also reached out to I think one of the individuals reached out

[1:15:44] to to the mayor and I think I got an email as well and um we tried to direct

[1:15:51] this person to the services that they needed on the

[1:15:54] federal and state level as well. Yeah, I think I think for for me I think

[1:15:59] the the conversation is around one being unhoused is not illegal in the

[1:16:06] town of Upper Marboro and there's no suggestion or at least I'm not I'm not

[1:16:10] entertaining [clears throat] a suggestion that we make it illegal in in

[1:16:12] the town. Um but there are circumstances that have arose that need

[1:16:18] to be addressed as well. So I think what we're doing in terms of the police, in

[1:16:22] terms of public works, in terms of you, town manager Anderson with general

[1:16:25] government continuing to engage with the county to make sure that the services uh

[1:16:30] are at least offered even if you know constantly consistently. Clearly it work

[1:16:34] for at least one individual and we just going to we're just going to have to

[1:16:37] continue to to push that. The other piece of it too is now this may sound a

[1:16:43] little bit harsh but there there there are needs being met by individuals that

[1:16:47] are causing them to not have to take up services. So we have to be cognizant of

[1:16:52] as a community as well. Yes, we want to be helpful. Yes, we want to, you know,

[1:16:57] we don't want to see any of our any of our neighbors or fellow humans in need,

[1:17:01] but we also need to make sure that we're redirecting them to the places that can

[1:17:04] actually provide professional services so that they are in those spaces and

[1:17:08] not, [snorts] you know, creating, for lack of a better term, nuisances or

[1:17:14] messes or things of that nature. Uh in addition to that,

[1:17:19] in places where they're on county property, we have to be engaged with the

[1:17:22] county to make sure that they are taking the responsibility and cleaning up those

[1:17:25] areas or doing whatever is necessary to make sure that doesn't continue to um

[1:17:30] provide uh negative impacts on the town. So, I think those all of those things

[1:17:35] are things that we are we are doing and have to continue to do in order to try

[1:17:39] to make this situation um keep it keep it from from expanding. Um, that's my

[1:17:47] perspective on it and I'll, you know, I'll leave it open to the to the rest of

[1:17:50] the council if there are suggestions or thoughts that we should entertain. But I

[1:17:53] think that's I think that's where we are with it. Vice May.

[1:17:58] » Yeah. I I know it's extremely difficult in dealing in this situation, but

[1:18:04] we've got to do something because I walk and walk home every day.

[1:18:10] Um, and I get bombarded.

[1:18:15] What can you do? The I'm People are coming up to me showing me pictures. Why

[1:18:19] aren't you guys picking up this trash? I'm like, trash is not picked up by us.

[1:18:23] It's picked up by the county. And you you someone will come out and pick up

[1:18:28] the trash. The next day it's back again. Food, tra. Me personally, I had seen one

[1:18:37] individual defecate by that side

[1:18:41] um metal thing and it's human feces is still sitting there and it's an eyes

[1:18:49] sore. You know, people walk throughout the town daily going to the courthouse,

[1:18:54] going to in the county administration building, going to the post office or

[1:18:59] wherever.

[1:19:02] » [clears throat] >> One day this gentleman just started

[1:19:04] yelling and screaming. I mean, I don't know what happened. Just started yelling

[1:19:08] and screaming and it's just and the sheriff's

[1:19:13] department was talking. It's like maybe we can I don't know get involved with

[1:19:17] them and see what help we can work together with. But it it is it's

[1:19:21] becoming increasingly bad. You know, we have like uh we had the ceremony

[1:19:26] recently and the one individual just came right in and started picking up the

[1:19:31] food that was that was supposed to be given out to the people that was coming

[1:19:35] for the ceremony. And uh it it's just an eyes sore and we because you when when

[1:19:42] Mayor Frank was mayor, I think you guys offered them some help to take them to

[1:19:45] the shelter. They did fine. This is this is daily. This has been going on for

[1:19:50] like a year and a half now. I do believe we did reach out to the sheriff's,

[1:19:54] right? Or we are going to reach out to the sheriff's.

[1:19:57] » Yes. So today we just contact the sheriff. Yes. Good.

[1:20:00] » Because I spoke to the one of the sheriff and they were like, you know,

[1:20:02] and they know this individual by name and they were like, well, maybe we can,

[1:20:06] you know, work together with something. I said, well, sure, I can bring it to

[1:20:09] the the board, but this is >> right. But they were, I guess, so we are

[1:20:15] planning on working working closely. But I don't think anyone has gone and

[1:20:20] pick up them human feces yet. >> That's on private That's on county

[1:20:24] property. >> It's on county property and it's that

[1:20:26] bush where they keep their stuff in their trash bag and that they used to

[1:20:30] pick that up but that hasn't been moved. >> I mean you walk past five trash cans

[1:20:35] with your food and you just leave it there and you there's like five tracks

[1:20:38] and they don't throw it in the trash. >> So I think one of the pieces with that

[1:20:43] too is notifying the county when these things happen. So whether it's a 311

[1:20:48] call or whatever it is, I think we have to um all and not just us as a board,

[1:20:52] but anyone who sees this have have to be diligent in reporting this to the county

[1:20:56] so that they have enough it shouldn't take more than one, but so that they

[1:21:01] have enough notifications to act on cleaning up those spaces that's on their

[1:21:05] property. >> And today you did call 311 today and you

[1:21:08] did your first 311. >> Yes. Yes,

[1:21:11] » I actually did it through the app. That way I could send pictures

[1:21:16] as well. >> And what I'd like to do, I'm I'm sure

[1:21:19] 311 has a database that maintains all of these tickets and all of these calls

[1:21:22] that happen, but I'd like for us to if we're notified of anything for us to

[1:21:26] keep track of, you know, the number of calls that we're making to them on these

[1:21:29] issues as well.

[1:21:34] » Um, so you were very diplomatic. I'll try to be

[1:21:40] » so you know there is one individual who will not accept help. There have been

[1:21:46] other people who are experiencing homelessness in town. We can connect

[1:21:52] with them. We can get them to services and we can help them move on. That's

[1:21:55] been my experience. When

[1:21:59] you go by this individual and your heart says, "Oh, I need to give them money or

[1:22:03] I need to give them food because they need it." I promise you that person has

[1:22:09] plenty. Plenty. And that's where the trash is coming from. Um, and that is

[1:22:15] the barrier to that individual receiving the services they need. There is a

[1:22:21] mental health issue. the county, the sheriff's office, the county police, the

[1:22:26] county homelessness division, everybody knows, but you're getting what you need

[1:22:33] without having to do anything. Then you're not going to be able to build

[1:22:38] that relationship with people who can help you. So, uh, who watches our

[1:22:43] meetings, right? But we're all part of the solution. And part of that solution

[1:22:48] is saying, I'm actually going to call the county and ask the county to reach

[1:22:52] out to this person and help us because that's where that person gets the help

[1:22:56] they need. And then I would say on the 311, what I did find is I know it's

[1:23:02] annoying, right? But Vice Mayor Brooke, like as people say to you, say report it

[1:23:07] on 311 now because the more of us that reported on 311, responsive 311 is.

[1:23:13] That's just like something I experienced over years. So

[1:23:18] to be a team effort is my statement.

[1:23:25] » Well, we'll start council. Um, so it's it's been well more than a year and a

[1:23:30] half since since he's been around because he I mean it may be a year and a

[1:23:34] half in town, but he was usually over at the Exxon near the Amish market

[1:23:41] um for since before the pandemic. And then during the pandemic, he moved down

[1:23:47] to uh near the Dunkin Donuts on 301 in Marbor Pike. and then at some point when

[1:23:54] he relocated to here, um I believe

[1:24:02] the there's a there's a female in town who is more discreet.

[1:24:08] Um I don't know fully what her situation is, but she's been known to sleep in the

[1:24:13] library. Um but takes her stuff with her and

[1:24:18] doesn't leave piles of trash. So, and she's been

[1:24:23] I want to say on and off for a decade at least.

[1:24:28] » It's It's been a long time. Um the library staff probably have more info or

[1:24:33] or maybe it's two different women because I usually see them sleeping and

[1:24:38] covered up. I'm not sure if it's the same person over the years.

[1:24:43] I just wanted to say that the gentleman that we were talking about uh just

[1:24:49] recently um I saw them sleep over there where we have the Christmas party um

[1:24:55] they were sleep on the grass right in the front and [snorts] their whole

[1:24:59] bottom was out and it was facing it was facing the street. Mhm.

[1:25:04] » And I said the next time cuz I was so shocked. I was driving by. I said the

[1:25:08] next time I'm going to take a picture and send it to the county because that's

[1:25:10] indecent exposure. And um he was sleep. But the point was that he deliberately

[1:25:19] was facing, you know, the part that was uncovered

[1:25:24] and then directed of Main Street. And it was right right in the grass

[1:25:29] right here on the front. So it's not like he can be missed. So, we really

[1:25:34] need to um start picking pictures if we see things like that because that can

[1:25:38] probably help with um removal permanently.

[1:25:45] » I have pictures of the human. Sorry everybody. I don't mean be to mean to be

[1:25:49] gross, but I took pictures of the human feces. I feel took a picture when he was

[1:25:53] doing it, but I didn't want to get yelled at. But

[1:25:59] » so just because the the these two behaviors that have been described, I

[1:26:04] like my husband's a therapist and he does emergency petition people. I don't

[1:26:08] know the exact requirements, but I think being unclothed can lead to an emergency

[1:26:14] petition. So I think if you call when you see that say you call I guess you

[1:26:20] would call 911 or 988 and say that this person is out on the street with their

[1:26:27] oxide hanging out then that might be able to help them because it's mental

[1:26:31] health services that this person needs right and so when we see something that

[1:26:36] can trigger the mental health services then that may be what needs to happen um

[1:26:43] I don't know I'm not the therapist. Greg is, but I know that some of that is

[1:26:47] related to >> So, it sounds like part of the other

[1:26:51] part too is making sure that we all need everyone in town knows the

[1:26:57] the correct numbers and resources to call as well as there are these things

[1:27:00] that you know things like this that that we're seeing who's the correct number to

[1:27:04] call if it's 311 is it 98 or whatever. So maybe there's

[1:27:09] 988 the non-emergency uh um but maybe we can I'm sorry

[1:27:18] um >> wait sorry the 988 is mental health

[1:27:21] » oh okay >> u but maybe there's some education that

[1:27:23] we could put out [clears throat] just letting people know what the

[1:27:28] numbers are so more educated

[1:27:36] okay I don't know. >> Does the county still have a municipal

[1:27:39] leaison? I found the website and they mentioned that the office still exists,

[1:27:43] but they don't give a name because we used to have somebody that we could call

[1:27:47] for county services if we were having

[1:27:57] » I'm amazed by that brutal. They made it through that winter.

[1:28:01] » They were probably to be in the post office. That's probably why the the six

[1:28:06] rules triggered. >> I don't know. I seen them like on the

[1:28:10] street >> under the post like in the middle of the

[1:28:14] snowstorm just sitting there and the snow was just falling just sitting there

[1:28:17] in the days and I said that can't be can't be any

[1:28:22] seen camp out in the underway.

[1:28:27] » Okay. >> Okay.

[1:28:29] » All right. So

[1:28:32] » any other comments on that discussion? I think we, you know, we do some education

[1:28:37] here in the town. We will if if we if you see something, say something. You

[1:28:41] know, that old adage uh and and we'll keep track of any of the calls that

[1:28:46] we're making to 311 or the other. >> Right. And I'm going to continue to the

[1:28:51] executive on the county executive's office as

[1:28:55] well. I guess some closure on the county property side.

[1:29:01] » All right. Um we'll move on to general public comment. Uh so this is for

[1:29:06] anything not on tonight's agenda. If you have a general public comment uh to

[1:29:11] make, please step to the podium, state your name and street uh and we'll give

[1:29:15] you the opportunity to speak. And then also if you're online please raise your

[1:29:18] hand um for the same

[1:29:25] going once. >> Going twice.

[1:29:30] Okay. Um previously mentioned we'll do the

[1:29:35] preliminary approval of next meeting agenda here now. And so the items that I

[1:29:41] have

[1:29:47] I will I will reopen the general

[1:29:58] am

[1:30:01] sorry late noted but there's anything you wanted to bring to ask about or

[1:30:09] might not know anything so just want to go

[1:30:14] Thank you very much. >> Thank you.

[1:30:18] » Anyone else in this reopened general public comment?

[1:30:24] » Um, nothing online. All right. The items that I have that I'm tracking uh on

[1:30:30] this, you know, rolling agenda that exists somewhere or at least moving

[1:30:36] forward. So, one of them is um as we're talking about the potent the

[1:30:42] opening of the splash pad, there have [clears throat] been some discussion

[1:30:46] about um providing an official name for the splash pad. So, I'd actually like

[1:30:51] for us to have that discussion on what we uh think uh an appropriate name for

[1:30:56] the splash pad would be if it's named in honor of someone or the other. So, what

[1:30:59] I asked council or town manager Anderson previously was uh to draft a resolution

[1:31:04] for us. And what I would like us to do as a count as a council is to in this

[1:31:09] next period before the next meeting just submit uh potential names for us to

[1:31:13] discuss at the meeting on the 24th and then we'll make a decision there. Uh so

[1:31:19] resolution for naming a playground a splash pad. Uh codification we need to

[1:31:24] reopen that discussion. Um so we'll put that on there. And then

[1:31:29] we talked previously um one thing that's languishing out there is the vacant

[1:31:34] property ordinance and I think part of that was

[1:31:39] um town manager Anderson you kind of

[1:31:43] jenning up what the oper what the operational aspects and costs would be

[1:31:47] and I know you've had a number of items on your plate. Is that something that

[1:31:51] would be available by the next meeting? If not, let's set a let's set a date for

[1:31:54] when we can actually >> I don't want to even down, but probably

[1:31:58] not for the next meeting. >> Is the August 11th session?

[1:32:07] » Well, that's the public hearing. >> Since I'm the one pushing this, can I

[1:32:11] make a suggestion? Sure. >> Right now, Council

[1:32:15] Manager Anderson is under staff. We need to have this adopted before the next

[1:32:21] budget season, but can we say 30 days after hiring but October at the latest?

[1:32:29] Is that reasonable? Unreasonable.

[1:32:37] » All right. Solutions. I love them. Um, well, that's what I'm tracking so far.

[1:32:41] Are there other items? So in that case we just have the resolution for the

[1:32:44] naming of splash pad codification reopening that discussion. Are there

[1:32:48] other items? >> It's possible that we would be we have

[1:32:52] the um folks with the um the formal people that have submitted RFPs. It's

[1:32:58] possible they could present

[1:33:02] » RFP presentation. Okay.

[1:33:07] » Are there other items for council members? This is this is for the meeting

[1:33:10] in two weeks. I have one about talking about a new HR firm.

[1:33:30] » All right.

[1:33:33] Say that again. >> Yeah. Talking about a new HR firm. The

[1:33:38] possibility of bringing on a new HR firm.

[1:33:42] Oh, okay. I didn't know we >> don't have one.

[1:33:46] » We don't have one. >> We have a staff member handling HR

[1:33:50] response. >> Oh,

[1:33:52] generalist. >> Yeah, HR generalist,

[1:33:54] » but we need a we need a new HR. >> Okay.

[1:33:59] Anything else? All right.

[1:34:02] » Elections, but I don't think we have enough stuff next month. So,

[1:34:05] » yeah. So, elections is still on the docket for later. uh in the fall. So now

[1:34:12] resolution for naming us playground a splash bag codification RFP

[1:34:16] presentations new HR firm are the four items that I have.

[1:34:22] All right. >> I'm just [laughter]

[1:34:28] join.

[1:34:37] » I think probably in the near future we really need to discuss like future

[1:34:42] annexations with the annexation plan. So that may not go on the 28th. It's

[1:34:47] probably something for a work session. But I think it's if we're going to

[1:34:51] continue to annex, which way are we going? What do we do? We are we looking

[1:34:55] for population, business, uh what are the issues that we should

[1:35:01] address that are affecting the resident that are actually carrying out the

[1:35:05] public meeting and things like that. >> I don't know if it'll be on the next

[1:35:09] agenda, but that's something I would like you to add to the building agenda

[1:35:14] within the next few. Absolutely.

[1:35:20] Okay, >> bigger and better.

[1:35:26] » Next item uh says motion to go into close session. Does someone have a

[1:35:31] motion to go into close session? >> Move

[1:35:35] like to move to go into close session pursuant to Maryland annotated code

[1:35:39] general provisions article 3-305B1 subject of section

[1:35:48] Okay. of this subsection. The public body may meet in close session to

[1:35:52] adjourn or an open session or close session to consider the appointment,

[1:35:56] employment, assignment, promotion, discipline, demotion, compensation,

[1:35:59] removal, resignation or performance the valuation of appointee, employee or

[1:36:03] official over whom this has jurisdiction or any other personnel matter that

[1:36:06] affects one or more specific individuals.

[1:36:11] My motion. Is there a [snorts] second? Second.

[1:36:18] to call the role. May >> I'm going to pass and

[1:36:23] vice mayor

[1:36:27] motion to go into close session by this right here.

[1:36:43] I >> I

[1:36:46] council >> I council member

[1:36:52] » I

[1:36:58] » This is to go into close session. Yeah, >> I changed my vote.

[1:37:01] » Well, you're you're voting now. So, you just made the

[1:37:04] » Oh, okay. I made the motion, but Yeah. No.

[1:37:12] » Yes. We have number 32. So we are now in

[1:37:16] close session again. We will not be coming back into open session. So we're

[1:37:19] adjouring the open portion of the meeting.

[1:37:22] » Okay. >> Thank you all for coming.

[1:37:25] » Minutes. I'll be the I guess I'll be the minute person and give me five minutes.

[1:37:30] » Y.

[1:37:34] » Yeah. >> Yes.

[1:37:36] » Mr.

[1:37:40] would be worth having any of the council members

July Special Town Meeting | Tuesday | July 14, 2026| 7 PM

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