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WorkSession
November 19, 2007

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor Calvo, Mayor Pro Tem (MPT) Jewitt, CMs Dennison, Gourley and Lofgren. MPT Jewitt arrived 10 minutes late. Also present were Town Administrator Murphy, Clerk Harper and citizens.

1. Mayor

Agenda: Reconsideration of the Nevada Street Trail decision was added to the Parks and Recreation agenda.

Announcements: There were none.

Calendar: The Council reviewed the calendar. The date for the 1st worksession in December was moved from December 3 to December 4. The time for a staff meeting on November 28 was changed from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. The January 22 meeting of the Berwyn Heights Historical Committee (BHHC) may have to be changed because it conflicts with a Council worksession.

Minutes: On a motion by CM Lofgren and second by CM Dennison, the October 15 worksession minutes were approved 5 to 0 with corrections. On a motion by CM Gourley and second by CM Dennison, the November 5 worksession minutes were approved 5 to 0 with corrections.

Department reports: Mayor Calvo reported that Amir Johnson was hired to fill the 8th officer position. He was a member of the Seat Pleasant police force and speaks multiple languages. CM Lofgren reported that he participated in a meeting with Town Engineer Vernon Kelly, Kim-Hou-Chan, AB Consultants' Director of Geological and Field Services, TA Murphy and Director Coleman regarding the Seminole Street pavement. After reviewing the results of its own test pits in the road's pavement, WSSC has taken the position that the quality of the new road surface on Seminole Street is adequate despite minor shortcomings in the asphalt's thickness. This is contrary to Mike Trail's previous statements, in which he said that WSSC would ask its contractor to redo Seminole Street. Mr. Kelly, however, stood by his core samples, which show that the repaving did not meet standards for trench filling materials as well as asphalt surface. He was supported by Mr. Kim, who said that core samples provide a more accurate picture of how well a road was renovated. Next steps will include TA Murphy requesting bid specifications and trip tickets for the renovation from WSSC so that the Town can learn what the standards for the job were, and Mayor Calvo again contacting Mike Trail. Further, CM Lofgren handed out proposed new fees for appliances, tires and special collection materials.

CM Dennison announced that the Tree Lighting ceremony will be held on December 8 and that the next Education Advisory Committee (EAC) meeting will feature a presentation from a senior PGCPS official on the preK-8 plan. The Berwyn Heights Elementary School (BHES) PTA has been invited. MPT Jewitt stated for the record that Portable Temporary Storage Units (PODS) placement requirements still need to be fine-tuned.

Citizen comments: MPT Jewitt received comments regarding the preK-8 school plan for Berwyn Heights Elementary School, one expressing concern about the mingling of very young children with pre-teens. CM Dennison received an email requesting copies of certain ordinances on which a resident wants to comment. CM Lofgren received a thank you letter from a resident for the good work done on leaf collection. Mayor Calvo had comments about the preK-8 plan for BHES and questions about the timing, boundaries and middle school options. He also had a comment about impoundment of a stolen vehicle. MPT Jewitt received a comment suggesting the use of white light bars on police vehicles in non-emergency situations.

Pension plan - State legislation: Mayor Calvo explained that there are two outstanding issues before legislation can be drafted that authorizes Berwyn Heights to join the State Pension System. The Council needs to decide 1) whether individual employees must decide to join the Pension System at the date of entry or within 1 year of the date of entry, and 2) whether to give credit for service to employees, who previously worked for the Town, left and then came back after the date of entry.

MPT Jewitt said that, generally, receiving credit for prior service depends on whether the employee severed his financial ties with the employer and took his pension contributions with him when he left. Mayor Calvo said that for any employee who starts to work for the Town after entry into the State Pension System, an actuarial study has to be done. Based on the study, the Town's entry financing costs may go up. For this reason, he is opposed to allowing employees to join after the date of entry. MPT Jewitt suggested that admission of a returning employee could be allowed if the employee buys back his prior service, as can be done with military service or municipal employees, who served in other municipalities. CM Lofgren confirmed that employees can buy back their service for a Maryland State, County or Municipal agency, even if they closed out their retirement fund.

Mayor Calvo asked TA Murphy to find out if the State Pension System permits the Town to pay into the 457 plan of an employee, who opts out of the Pension System. He would favor the Town having an alternate pension plan. MPT Jewitt moved to 1) make July 1, 2008 the date certain for employees to decide whether they want to join the State Pension System, and 2) for the Town not to buy back prior years service of returning employees. CM Lofgren seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0.

Legislative dinner agenda: The Council reviewed a draft agenda for an upcoming legislative dinner with the State Delegates. Mayor Calvo suggested discussing the State Pension Plan legislation first because it requires the delegates' help. He also proposed adding discussion of a PGCMA legislative proposal that would give municipalities more control to review and approve building plans for oversize homes (McMansions). CM Lofgren said that it should be purview of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) to review and enforce standards in a uniform manner. Mayor Calvo said he believes a process similar to the review process for setbacks and variances, in which Towns recommends approval, would work. Mayor Calvo asked if the Council wants to take a position in favor of the PGCMA priorities, which also include a bill to limit panhandling at street corners. MPT Jewitt so moved. CM Dennison seconded. The motion passed 5 to 0.

The following agenda items were approved:

  • Overview of 2007 legislative session;

  • Outlook for 2008 legislative session;

  • State Pension Plan legislation;

  • MML legislative agenda;

  • PGCMA legislative agenda (McMansion) bill, Panhandling bill)

Berwyn Heights update (Interoperability of County-Local Police-Fire Radio System, Safe Streets Committee, preK-8 program, emergency preparedness, Transportation projects).

At 8:20 p.m., the Council took a 10 minute break.

Budget calendar: TA Murphy explained that the budget calendar follows the same pattern as last year, except that it begins earlier with first worksession in December. Directors for the Departments of Police, Emergency Preparedness and Parks and Recreation will present their budget requests at the first worksession in February. Directors for Public Works and Code Enforcement will follow on the second worksession in February. The Town-wide draft budget will be finalized on February 29 and presented at the first worksession in March.

Mayor Calvo said that he would like to review the first budget memo and its instructions to directors at the next worksession. Last year, changes were made to the budget format. With budget memo 1, directors were given budget request forms and instructions for completion. Only those budget items that were new or showed more than a 5% change over the previous year now required submission of a detailed form. With budget memo 2, directors should receive 6 month actuals for their department, which are the basis for making spending projections for the remainder of the fiscal year. These actuals should be provided in a table format with space for directors to complete their projections. However, salary, benefit and energy expenditure projections will be provided by the Town Administrator. Prior to the budget presentations, directors should also receive instructions as to which background documents they need to provide as part of their budget requests. TA Murphy is authorized to issue as many additional memoranda, numbered sequentially, as needed to clarify the budget process. 

Nevada Street trail – reconsideration (added item): CM Dennison explained that she recently spoke with County Councilmember Olson, who expressed concern that Berwyn Heights and College Park could not agree on the same trail option for connecting Nevada Street to the Indian Creek trail. Mr. Olson also related that Berwyn Heights and College Park had an informal agreement to support the shorter trail that leads through the flood plane, now labeled alternative 1, when the issue first came up. Funding for this more expensive trail can be secured according to Olson. CM Dennison moved to reconsider the Council's decision to support trail alternative 2. MPT Jewitt seconded.

CM Lofgren commented that funding for either alternative exceeds this year's budget, which means that nothing is going to be built very soon. He does not like either of the proposed trail options and would prefer to build neither. There might be other routes hat could be proposed to Park and Planning that he would support. In any case, a decision does not need to be made right away. CM Gourley said that he will stick with his decision to support alternative 2, unless a better route than proposed in alternative 1 can be worked out. He believes that a trail through the flood plane would be too wet. Mayor Calvo said that he continues to support alternative 1 as a valuable amenity for residents on the south end of the Town. With Councilmember Olson's support, this alternative is more likely to get funded. Olson also allayed concerns about negative environmental impact when noting that a board walk would prevent people from trampling the wetlands. In his mind, the real option is between getting a trail or not getting a trail. CM Dennison said that she would like to compromise with College Park, especially since funding for alternative 1 appears to be secure.

Mayor Calvo proposed to only reconsider the previous decision to support alternative 2 but not to make a decision to support a different alternative. More public input can be requested to come up with a better route. The Council voted 4 to 0 to reconsider, with CM Gourley abstaining.

Bulletin cover: The following items were approved for the cover of the December Bulletin: Happy Holiday theme, Tree Lighting, preK-8 presentation and discussion at BHEAC meeting, and Holiday Decorating Contest 

7. Executive session (9:09 p.m. - 9:28 p.m.): On a motion by CM Gourley and second by MPT Jewitt, the Council went into executive session to discuss a personnel matter. On a motion by CM Dennison and second by MPT Jewitt, the executive session was closed.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

Kerstin Harper, Town Clerk


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