Montgomery News

Town of Kensington Town Council met Feb. 12.

Here is the minutes provided by the Council:

Town Council Summary from the February 12, 2018 Town Meeting

• Approved the Town Meeting Minutes from January 8, 2018.

• Discussed the grant application status for the proposed pavilion at St. Paul Park and advised the Town staff to clarify the pending location of the structure.

• Discussed the following petitions and concurred to table any action until the March 12th Council Meeting in order to allow the Town's Traffic Engineer to conduct an analysis: Petition to restrict parking along the west side of the 10500 block of Wheatley Street to two (2) hours, 7 am - 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except by permit. Petition to request speed bumps along the 3400 block of Oberon Street and the 10500 block of Wheatley Street.

• Approved Resolution No. R-03-2018 - A Resolution of the Town Council confirming the Mayor's re-appointment of Jack Gaffey to the Town Ethics Commission.

• Approved Resolution No. R-04-2018 - A Resolution of the Town Council confirming the Mayor's re-appointment of Martha Deale, Spencer Harrill, and Jennifer Smith to the Board of Supervisors of Elections.

• Approved Resolution No. R-05-2018 - A Resolution of the Town Council confirming the Mayor's appointment of Chris Bruch, and re-appointment of Martha Deale and TJ Monahan to the Development Review Board.

Town Meeting 7:01 p.m.

Mayor Furman; Council Members Bartram, Crimmins, McMullen, and Rollins; Town Manager Daily; Assistant Town Manager Hoffman and Clerk-Treasurer Engels were present. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a moment of silence was observed for the passing of Patricia Baker, and to honor Dorothy Warren on her 101st Birthday.

The Town Meeting Minutes from January 8, 2018 were reviewed and approved. See Council Actions.

From the Mayor and Town Council

Council Member Bartram reported that the Traffic Committee met on January 11, 2018 and discussed two separate petitions: 1) a petition to restrict parking along the 10500 block of Wheatley Street to two hours, 7 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday, except by permit; and 2) a petition to place speed bump(s) along the 3400 block of Oberon Street and the 10500 block of Wheatley Street; the Committee also discussed traffic control options for the intersection of Howard Avenue at Fawcett Street. Mr. Bartram stated that due to the low attendance by the Traffic Committee members, he decided to bring the items directly to the Town Council without a formal recommendation by the Traffic Committee.

• Wheatley Street Parking Restriction Petition

Council Member Bartram confirmed that the petition was signed by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the residents of the block, and reviewed the criteria that the Council is to take into consideration for Residential Parking requests, per Section 4-208 of the Town Code. Mr. Bartram indicated that he did not believe the request for parking restrictions met the criteria, as a review by the Town staff did not show intensive use by non-residents, nor a difficulty for residents to park on the street during specific hours.

Leslie Olson commented that the proposed restriction would not be consistent with other parking signs on surrounding streets, as the beginning and ending times were different. Ms. Olson also stated that the petition should include a broader area, as it would impact more than just residents on these specific streets, and that she was not notified of the petition.

Mayor Furman noted that the Town had previously received complaints about commercial businesses parking along the 10500 block of Wheatley, but that issue had been resolved.

The Council discussed amending the proposed hours within the parking restriction to comply with surrounding signage, pending review by the Town staff.

• Oberon and Wheatley Street Speed Bump(s) Petition

Council Member Bartram confirmed that the petition was signed by at least sixty (60) percent of the impacted Residents, as required within the Speed Bump Policy Guidelines; however, he stated that the Town’s Traffic Engineer has yet to crosshatch the proposed speed humps for review.

Daniel Lonnerdal spoke in support of the proposed speed bumps.

Stuart Sparker spoke in support of the proposed speed bumps.

The Council discussed the petition process and that a copy of the petition should be left if the person is not home.

Assistant Town Manager Hoffman explained that the Town staff drafts any potential traffic control related petitions in an effort to clearly identify the intent behind a proposed petition. The staff drafted these petitions in accordance with the Town Code and Speed Bump Policy Guidelines, and included the affected addresses for each matter; however, Mr. Hoffman noted that it is up to the Resident(s) to distribute the petitions to their neighbors.

The Council concurred to table both petitions to a future meeting to allow further analysis.

Jack Gaffey suggested a petition form should have a place to oppose it instead of leaving the name blank.

• Intersection of Howard Avenue at Fawcett Street

Council Member Bartram stated that the Town’s Traffic Engineer, Joe Cutro, was present at the

meeting and proposed four solutions for the intersection, to include: 1) the removal of the existing trash cans to help with the line of sight; 2) move the existing ‘No Parking to Corner’ sign along Howard by one parking space length; 3) install a three-way stop at the intersection; and 4) create a bump-out similar to the one designed at Kensington Parkway and Montgomery Avenue. Mr. Bartram noted that Mr. Cutro had reservations about the three-way stop due to traffic volume counts, and subsequently recommended determining the cost of the bump-out.

Council Member Crimmins reported that the Development Review Board (DRB) met with MAC Realty Advisers to discuss the proposed redevelopment project at 3906 and 3910 Knowles Avenue. The project proposes a senior apartment, 62 and over, complex. Mr. Crimmins noted that the DRB expressed concerns with the potential impact the project would have on traffic along Knowles Avenue and Connecticut Avenue. MAC Realty will address the concerns at a future DRB meeting and will also attend an upcoming Town Council Meeting.

Jack Gaffey noted the importance of adequate parking spaces.

Council Member Crimmins reported that the Greenscape Committee is finalizing the approved plantings list for Town Parks and green spaces; has agreed to host an Arbor Day event in coordination with the Day of the Book Festival; approved the location of a new Eagle Memorial honoring Jason Swain’s niece at Ernest Memorial Park; and discussed encouraging additional murals, along with green walls, throughout Town.

Julie O’Malley suggested the location of the Eagle Memorial be relocated since there are already two existing memorials in the same location.

Mayor Furman stated that the Eagle Memorial was not on the same scale as the other memorials and that it has already been moved away from the WWII Memorial.

Town Manager Daily updated the Council on the Annexation Committee meeting and noted that most of the petitions have been submitted. Mr. Daily stated that a certification process will begin once all of the petitions have been submitted and the Town Attorney will draft a Resolution. A work session will be held on March 19th to discuss the annexation plan.

Council Member Rollins thanked the Town staff, volunteers, and O’Connor Plumbing and Heating, along with Titan Restoration Co. for sponsoring the successful Town Dinner.

Mayor Furman stated that Mark Hudson will be working with a Scout from Troop 439 to build a storage locker at Flinn Park for fountain equipment as an Eagle Scout project; noted that the staff continues to work with Actualize Studio on the new Town website; informed the Council that the MML Chapter meeting for February will be with County Executive Leggett; stated that the Town will be ordering additional copies of the Directory for purchase by Residents; noted that Maier Warner will be designing new signage for the Kensington Business District; and announced that Strosniders Hardware will be holding a Grand Opening on March 24th and 25th.

Julie O’Malley requested additional copies of the directory for Residents to have a second copy if needed.

Council Member Rollins requested a recycling can be added to some of the existing refuse cans along Howard Avenue.

Town Manager Daily noted that the proposed Pavilion at St. Paul Park was within the

Governor’s proposed budget with funding for $33,779. The Pavilion was submitted through a grant application and would be a low pitch beam structure (16’ x 20’) with picnic tables, a trash/recycling station, and an adjacent grill.

Council Members Crimmins and Rollins stated that they would be providing additional information in the upcoming Around Town Journal, and will also be staking out the proposed

locations for Residents to review.

Public Appearances

Sabina Emerson thanked the staff for having Safeway remove the illegal signs within the public right-of-way, and asked when the posts will be removed; noted that the Huggins property was in disrepair and asked for an update; questioned the storage container at the Train Station and dockless bikes left around Town; and asked Council to clarify the hours of the Town’s Code Enforcement Officers.

Mayor Furman stated that the former Huggins property was recently purchased by the Levin family, which owns the adjacent shopping center, and that they are working on cleaning up the property and are marketing it for a short-term lease.

Assistant Town Manager noted that the storage container is being used for the storage of salt and that the Town’s storage container regulations do not apply to commercial properties. Mr. Hoffman noted there have been a few complaints and that the Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) has advised that they will move the container in early spring.

Town Manager Daily stated that the Town has two (2) part time Code Enforcement Officers and advised the Council that he will be proposing increased hours for Code Enforcement within the FY19 Budget.

Julie O’Malley requested a bike rack at Town Hall.

Leslie Olson questioned the status of Car Wash Coffee.

Mayor Furman stated that Car Wash Coffee had some issues with permitting and the contractor, but hopefully it will open in March.

Ordinances, Resolutions, Regulations

Resolution No. R-03-2018 – A Resolution of the Town Council confirming the Mayor's reappointment of Jack Gaffey to the Town Ethics Commission was presented. See Council Actions.

Jack Gaffey was sworn in to the Town Ethics Commission. Resolution No. R-04-2018 – A Resolution of the Town Council confirming the Mayor's reappointment of Martha Deale, Spencer Harrill, and Jennifer Smith to the Board of Supervisors of Elections was presented. See Council Actions.

Resolution No. R-05-2018 – A Resolution of the Town Council confirming the Mayor's appointment of Chris Bruch, and re-appointment of Martha Deale and TJ Monahan to the Development Review Board was presented. See Council Actions.

Council Actions

Council Member McMullen moved to approve the Town Meeting Minutes from January 8, 2018. The motion passed unanimously.

Council Member McMullen moved to adopt Resolution No. R-03-2018 confirming the Mayor's re-appointment of Jack Gaffey to the Town Ethics Commission. The motion passed unanimously.

Council Member McMullen moved to adopt Resolution No. R-04-2018 confirming the Mayor's re-appointment of Martha Deale, Spencer Harrill, and Jennifer Smith to the Board of Supervisors of Elections. The motion passed unanimously.

Council Member McMullen moved to adopt Resolution No. R-05-2018 confirming the Mayor's appointment of Chris Bruch, and re-appointment of Martha Deale and TJ Monahan to the Development Review Board. The motion passed unanimously.

Council Member Rollins moved to adjourn the Town Meeting at 8:59 pm. The motion passed unanimously.

https://tok.md.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Approved-Minutes-February-12-2018.pdf