Town of Kensington Town Council met January 8.
Here
• Approved the Town Meeting Minutes from December 11, 2017.
• Acknowledged receipt of the Audit Committee’s Report for FY17.
• Approved Resolution No. R-01-2018 – A Resolution of the Mayor and Town Council amending the Schedule of Town Fees, Charges, and Expenses.
• Approved Resolution No. R-02-2018 – A Resolution of the Mayor and Town Council authorizing the Town Manager to sell a 1996 GMC Packer truck, which is deemed surplus and no longer needed for a public use.
• Adopted Ordinance No. O-03-2017 - An Ordinance amending Chapter VI, "Signs and Commercial Regulations", Article 1, "Signs and Solicitors", Section 6-101, "Signs"; Section 6-102, "Town Sign Permit Required"; Section 6-103, "Signs in the Public Right-of-Way"; and Section 6-104, "Signs on Private Property - CRT, CRN and Industrial Zones" to clarify requirements with respect to the permitting and placement of A-frame and sandwich signs; landscaping requirements for monument signs; reduce the length of time that a limited duration sign may be posted; and to make conforming changes. The Ordinance will take effect on January 29, 2018.
• Adopted Ordinance No. O-04-2017 - An Ordinance amending Chapter IV, "Traffic and Vehicles", by amending and re-enacting Article 1, "General Provisions", Section 4-102, "Definitions"; Section 4-103, "Traffic and Parking Control Devices"; Section 4-106, "Operation of Vehicles on Streets, Sidewalks, Curbs, and Gutters"; Section 4-107, "Bicycles"; and Section 4-108, "Enforcement"; Article 2, "Parking", Section 4-201, "General Parking Restrictions"; and Section 4-208, "Residential Parking Area", while deleting Section 4-207, "Professional Reserved Parking", and Article 3, "Traffic Control", by adding Section 4-305, "Enforcement", to update the Chapter and make provisions for setting parking fines by Resolution, update various definitions to comply with State Code, authorize the Town Manager to make certain determinations, and to clarify that Council may designate parking permit areas. The Ordinance will take effect on January 29, 2018.
Town Meeting 7:05 p.m.
Mayor Furman; Council Members Bartram, Crimmins, McMullen, and Rollins; Town Manager Daily; and Assistant Town Manager Hoffman were present. Clerk-Treasurer Engels was necessarily absent. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a moment of silence was observed. The Town Meeting Minutes from December 11, 2017 were reviewed and approved. See Council Actions.
From the Mayor and Town Council
Mayor Furman acknowledged the Audit Committee’s Report and noted that copies of the annual Audit is available at Town Hall; reminded Residents that the Town Dinner is scheduled for Saturday, January 20th, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and that O’Connor Plumbing and Heating, along with Titan Restoration Co., will be sponsoring the event; noted that Strosniders will be opening January 22nd; the new owners of the Huggins Harrison property will be removing the trailer;
Noyes Children’s Library Foundation will be hosting the Jumpin’ January Dance Party January 22nd; and the Howard Avenue lights continue to be a work in progress with regards to adjusting the color schemes.
Council Member Bartram confirmed that the Traffic Committee will meet on January 11th, 7 p.m.
Council Member McMullen noted that he is reviewing the recommendations and suggestions of the Audit Committee with the Town staff with regards to long term CIP planning.
Council Member Crimmins stated that the Greenscape Committee is coordinating with Eli SolaSole to hold an Arbor Day at Flinn Park during the Day of the Book Festival.
Public Appearances
Joseph Campbell thanked the Town and David Gregg for trimming the dead wood from a street tree in front of his property, and noted continued concerns with NZI Construction following the completion of the sidewalk improvements along Kensington Parkway.
Al Lacey noted his approval of NZI’s work on the replacement of the brick sidewalks along Fawcett Street.
Ordinances, Resolutions, Regulations
Resolution No. R-01-2018 – A Resolution of the Mayor and Town Council amending the Schedule of Fees, Charges, and Expenses was presented. See Council Actions.
Town Manager Daily stated that the fees are reviewed each year and are adjusted against the consumer pricing index (CPI) for the Washington Metropolitan area. Mr. Daily noted that most of the fees are being held constant; however, he was suggesting an increase to the Farmers’ Market and Commuter Parking permits.
Council Member Bartram clarified with Town Manager Daily that the Farmers’ Market fees are comparable to other local markets.
Council Member Crimmins asked if the fee for A-frame signs coincides with the new Ordinance and noted that by requiring a permit for A-frame signs, even at a nominal fee, it would help educate businesses on where signs may be located.
Assistant Town Manager Hoffman confirmed that the A-frame sign permit is five ($5) dollars and the newly amended Ordinance requires A-frames to be permitted yearly.
Council Member Crimmins asked Town Manager Daily how the fee increase was determined for the commuter lot permits. Town Manager Daily stated that the commuter permits are compared to Metro parking, along with supply and demand from the community. Mr. Daily noted that there is currently a waiting list for commuter lot permits.
Joseph Campbell stated that he did not support such a large increase to the Farmers’ Market fees and suggested increasing certain building permit fees instead; he also questioned how the new fee rate was determined.
Town Manager Daily stated that Shirley Watson oversees the Farmers’ Market and recommended the rate increase after reviewing the fees of other local markets.
Assistant Town Manager Hoffman stated that building permit fees are determined following comparison with other localities and the County, in an effort to be competitive, and the objective of the building permit fee is to offset staff time and not necessarily to generate revenue for the Town.
Resolution No. R-02-2018 – A Resolution of the Mayor and Town Council authorizing the Town Manager to sell a 1996 GMC Packer truck, which is deemed surplus and no longer needed for a public use, was presented. There were no public comments. See Council Actions.
Town Manager Daily stated that the Town held on to the packer truck following the outsourcing of trash collection to help the Town Crew with miscellaneous jobs; however, the vehicle is in need of repair and the Crew is able to use another vehicle for jobs that require dumping at the County Transfer Station.
Ordinance No. O-03-2017 – An Ordinance to amend Chapter VI, "Signs and Commercial Regulations", Article 1, "Signs and Solicitors", Section 6-101, "Signs"; Section 6-102, "Town Sign Permit Required"; Section 6-103, "Signs in the Public Right-of-Way"; and Section 6-104, "Signs on Private Property - CRT, CRN and Industrial Zones" to clarify requirements with respect to the permitting and placement of A-frame and sandwich signs; landscaping requirements for monument signs; reduce the length of time that a limited duration sign may be posted; and to make conforming changes was presented for adoption. See Council Actions.
Assistant Town Manager Hoffman confirmed that no public comment was received following the Public Hearing.
Ordinance No. O-04-2017 – An Ordinance to amend Chapter IV, "Traffic and Vehicles", by amending and re-enacting Article 1, "General Provisions", Section 4-102, "Definitions"; Section 4-103, "Traffic and Parking Control Devices"; Section 4-106, "Operation of Vehicles on Streets, Sidewalks, Curbs, and Gutters"; Section 4-107, "Bicycles"; and Section 4-108, "Enforcement"; Article 2, "Parking", Section 4-201, "General Parking Restrictions"; and Section 4-208,"Residential Parking Area", while deleting Section 4-207, "Professional Reserved Parking", and Article 3, "Traffic Control", by adding Section 4-305, "Enforcement", to update the Chapter and make provisions for setting parking fines by Resolution, update various definitions to comply with State Code, authorize the Town Manager to make certain determinations, and to clarify that Council may designate parking permit areas was presented for adoption. See Council Actions. Assistant Town Manager Hoffman stated that one public comment was received following the Public Hearing with regards to recreational vehicles.
Council Actions
Council Member McMullen moved to approve the Town Meeting Minutes from December 11, 2017. The motion passed unanimously.
Council Member McMullen moved to adopt Resolution No. R-01-2018 a Resolution amending the Schedule of Town Fees, Charges, and Expense. The motion passed unanimously.
Council Member McMullen moved to adopt Resolution No. R-02-2018 a Resolution authorizing the Town Manager to sell a 1996 GMC Packer truck, which is deemed surplus and no longer needed for a public use. The motion passed unanimously.
Council Member McMullen moved to adopt Ordinance No. O-03-2017 amending Chapter VI, "Signs and Commercial Regulations” to be effective January 29, 2018. The motion passed unanimously.
Council Member Rollins move to adopt Ordinance No. O-04-2017 amending Chapter IV, "Traffic and Vehicles” to be effective January 29, 2018. The motion passed unanimously.
Council Member McMullen moved to adjourn the Town Meeting at 7:40 pm. The motion passed unanimously.
https://tok.md.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Approved-Minutes-January-8-2018-1.pdf
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