Town Council - Regular Meeting

backend back there. Okay. Damn it.

Randy out there making a fuss again. Yeah. like to call to order the public hearing. We have three ordinances for the public hearing. Ordinance 0-26-4, an ordinance of the town council, Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, a amending chapter 257 taxation to add article five tax credit for disabled public safety and surviving spouses and cohabitants. Is there anybody that has anything that they want to say about that? Please come forward. Give us your name and address and we welcome your comments.

Good evening. Alec Hendershot 8200 Elm Lane. Uh two questions is for the council is have the council assessed or approximately know how many residents would benefit from this credit. Uh my second question is under the definitions of law enforcement officer and rescue worker it appears to be more geared towards like Coward County Sheriff's Office or Card County Fire and Rescue. Um, is there any consideration for law enforcement that's not necessarily Cap County um as DC there's a lot of federal law enforcement officers who might live in Chesapeake Beach but work for another agency and wonder if that would be covered under this ordinance or is it just strictly C Thank you. Thank you.

As drafted, it is in fact geared toward law enforcement um serving here in Calvert County. That is whether to maintain that or not is up to the council. Uh, one thing that I did, I actually called the treasurer and this was a a program that Calvary County has um, and it's sort of a matching program. Uh, so I think if uh there's a process or something like that. So if there's somebody I think you apply for the county. So I think it's available. So So no, I'm sorry. This is not a

the C. So the so what I was saying is Cal County we have a taxation differential. This is about the taxation differential and the offsetting of that. Calbert County's program has a program countywide. This is sort of to match the countywide program not as it's alongside it. So where we have a differential uh this is to pay that differential. No, no, no. Isn't that right?

No. Correct. No, no, no. So this is this is related to property taxes. So what we brought before was they're similar to veterans, right? Veterans can file in the state of Maryland. Doesn't matter where you served. You can file if you're 100% disabled. So uh and and be relieved of your property taxes. The county has a similar uh program in place for disabled law enforcement and emergency services. So, this here just mimics that to allow for residents within Chesapeake Beach to actually apply for said uh program and be exempt from the taxes within Chesapeake Beach. So, it's just supplemental just to match uh the county's program. we would be limited to like what what the county is doing because we couldn't change uh how they're enforcing county tax code.

And uh Mr. Treasurer, can you weigh in on this? Um under the county program that the county offers, there are four properties within Chesapeake Beach that are uh taking advantage of the county's credit. And uh if those four properties were exempt from uh the Chesapeake Beach tax, it would amount to 5,522. It's my understanding that uh the ordinance that's being considered tonight is greater than what the county is offering if I'm if I understand correctly. So there may be additional eligibility based on the ordinance that's being proposed if I understand it correctly.

Thank you. And John, did you have something? Yeah, I was just going to ask um how how do they actually apply through it? Is that just reaching out to the town and and then you guys can kind of direct them? So, if the council votes to move forward with it, then the administration would create a process that people could apply to to be able. Okay. Any other comments or questions? Dan?

Yeah. So, I I was um thinking that the way that this could be is for it to be in con. So, if you are if you receive it from Caler County, then we allow you to have it here. And it's that simple. And that's what I was under understanding because we want to be uh with our partners. So if there's an item we can identify so we can maybe have this match what the county's process is. So we're not doing you say with our partners. Who are you referring to? So we have a tax bill.

The tax bill is from our county to have this in line with the county program not not its own thing. So if it's if you get it in Cal County you get it here. And we don't we don't supersede their rules. We we work with them and and have it uniform. Understood. But I didn't the way you phrased that was not clear to me, but that clarified. Go ahead, Jamie.

Yeah, I I think that is the objective is to to match the the county so that that you would apply. Um when you say we go above and beyond, um I would need clarity on what you mean by that. Um, I had asked that question so that I understood because the way the ordinance is written, it says that we administer the application process and that we determine whether they're eligible or not. I thought that we were trying to do it as Dan just stated, but uh, my conversations today with Smelia, I was determined that this is greater than what the county is, if I understand it correctly. Maybe it's more of a process management piece that's that could be greater if we do something. But the the overarching objective is still to align with the county.

I don't think we need to.

Um the state enabling statute allows you to create a tax exemption for this purpose. Um which is what we've en we've endeavored to do. The state law requires that ordinance to do certain things. In some respects, the county ordinance does not do those things. The state law requires you, for example, to include certain definitions of certain terms that are not included in the county ordinance. Um, and um it also requires you to administer the the tax exemption. And um I'm not wasn't necessarily prepared to do this this evening. So I don't have the provision from state law pulled up. I can do that as we sit here. Um but um your currently as drafted is a standalone process. Um I understood that it was intended um to in fact um be co co-extensive with the counties in the sense that like the state law allows you to grant exemptions for additional people um like um the spouses of fallen judicial officers for example and things like that and and as I first drafted it I included everybody who was allowed to be included in the tax exemption and then I got the message from you all that that is not what you wanted to do. you wanted to have it go to the same extent um as as the county. So, I took out all those extra people. So, now it's just disabled law enforcement and rescue workers um and their um spouses or cohabitants. One of the things the county ordinance does not do is define who is a law enforcement officer. That is a thing you're supposed to do. So, you have a definition in your version that does those things because that's what state law says you're supposed to do. possibly because they didn't define it

in the county. The county is treating it as anywhere. You can be a law enforcement anywhere, but they don't specifically say that in their ordinance, which they're supposed to do. So, assuming that in fact they are letting anyone who serves as law enforcement anywhere, you can amend your ordinance to do that. We um it requires a definition and and what I put in was law enforcement officer serving here in the county, but you as a council can certainly delete the restriction on um where the officers serve and that would mean in fact that um it they could be serving anywhere.

Yeah. And I think that might change the four people being eligible. Um, so I think the Calvert County has because they have law enforcement, I think they certify it or something like that, which I don't think we have that process. So I think everyone here is aligned wanting to do it. I appreciate your comment on that. I think we're we're saying the county only in our ordinance. Yes.

And Ky County says law enforcement. I think we are all under the assumption or at least I know I am is that we're going to have it the way that Cal Calvert counties is the people who receive the benefit there. We've matched that. If we need to administer it oursel because that's what the rules say. Okay. But if there's a way that we can say, "Hey, they did the work and we sort of follow the same process so we don't have to burden staff by doing redundant work." If there's a way we can add that to it, it'd be nice.

Well, staff's still going to have to do the work because you still have to certify the people, right? You can't just say if the county does it, they're certified here. Um, you still have to do that. However, you can make a motion to amend the ordinance is introduced to to delete the language that limits it to um officers serving in uh in the county. I just need to just I'm sorry. Are you done? I'm sorry. Um

Yeah. Yeah. So, we keep saying the number four as if we um can all predict the future and know what's going to happen in town for the rest of um as far as we're going to be here on Earth. Um but for now, there are four people who would um definitely receive this, but you also got to think about the future uh law enforcement workers, the future uh medical response people. We don't know what those numbers might be. The the main thing right now is that there's nothing in place. There is nothing there. So whether it's four people or 100 people right now, anybody who serves here cannot get this from the town who are in our town because there's nothing there. And we have to start thinking about what comes next instead of what's in front of us right now. And just in the conversation, I'm not hearing about the future. I'm just talking about what's happening today. And if we are a council that's looking towards using this four years to make things better even after we're gone, we need to start thinking about the future as well. But that's my that's my only comment on that.

No, what I was saying is that under the current situation, there could be greater than four people today that it could do. If we were only looking at for Cal County, there could be additional people. Yeah. That would benefit today. No, I understand. I understand. Yeah. And this ordinance might actually attract people to come here that qualify for this. So, got a lot of houses for sale. Yeah. Any council? Anybody else have any uh comments or questions regarding this ordinance? Eric, I see you getting ready. Um I thought I did.

Yeah. I mean, I don't know. I guess I'm always confused as to is public comment for the council to uh ask questions and discuss or is it for the public and then we ask our questions uh during discussion or debate once it's introduced or in a work session prior if we looked at it then which we didn't. I think uh we should have looked at a lot of these things in a work session prior to now. But if we're going to do the council questions now then or or or even um comments then uh I would say and I said before regarding this that um I I just don't understand why we would do this uh this way so narrowly if it's if it's something where we see that disabled people um have difficulty paying their taxes, then um I would like to see an ordinance like this um mirror the state exemption for disabled people in general, not just um law enforcement.

All right. Any other comments? All right. The record, did we we didn't I thought we did talk about this during the Yes, we did. work session. We may have, but some of these other things that we're looking at tonight, we have not. Okay. Okay. All right. Any any any other comments or questions regarding this particular ordinance O-26-4? Right.

Okay. Hearing none, let's move on to the next one. Uh, ordinance 0-26-7, an ordinance to the town council of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, amending the town code, chapter 290, zoning, article 3, zoning districts, section 290-10, table of uses to permit certain home occupations as a conditional use in certain zones to amend article 3, section 290-11, conditions and standards for conditional and special exception uses to revise the standards application to the conduct of the home occupations and to amend article 11 definition section 290-43 definitions to revise uh the definition of the term home occupation. So that's o-26-7. Uh is there anybody in the public that wants to make a comment?

Good evening. How are you Debbie? Doing well. Thank you for being here.

Thank you. Uh Debbie Buckingham, 3806 28th Street. I have a question. Why did 28th, 27th, 29th, and 30th get lowered in their uh district? We went from an R or V2, village 2, were downgraded to a village one and tightened up our usages where you guys were supposed to do in January and February. talk about ADUs and cottage rules and regs. Well, then plenty and zoning restricted our area, downgraded us on the new zoning map to limit us to hardly nothing and we've got 50% of the ADUs in our area. So, can we find out why?

Thank you. Can we clarify though that that's not actually in a Yeah. So I don't Deb I don't think that's actually that's just their proposal but we have not voted to downgrade anybody like that that is not that's just a them doing a working yeah that is not we have not downgraded anything because I haven't seen that either. So well Sarah I guess I mean if we want to talk about it we're going to talk about it like if anybody else wants to weigh in because I I there's a couple things I think should we wait into to Eric to to Ranhar's point, should we wait until the meeting to talk about or do we respond now?

So, planning and zoning is trying to address some issues with the code. Um, a part of that is looking at the RV1 and RV2 districts and um there are limitations on what they can do based on the comprehensive plan. Um and so they are trying to address existing issues but the what is being discussed at planning and zoning hasn't gone to public hearing at planning and zoning yet and so we'll have a public hearing in May after discussion next Wednesday and then it will come to you from them and then you will have discussion and public hearing on it. Um so nothing is finalized at all. Sarah, I saw um our comprehensive plan was ordinance 0224. That's what put our comprehensive plan in. And in that comprehensive plan, I see an RV district. And then I saw an ordinance 02212 and 02213. And then I see 0232 with multiple other items happen at the same time. My thing is why don't we just go back to what the comprehensive plan says get rid of the 02 02212 02213 and not worry about a zoning map that keeps having amended dates.

So I don't have any of those ordinances in front of me to refer to and be certain to speak to that. Um, I just know that there are issues with the RV1 and RV2 that were created and they need to be resolved because there's issues of consistency right now. And that's what the planning commission is working on doing in response to your request to modernize the zoning ordinance. They uncovered or we uncovered a number of other issues that needed to be addressed.

According to our comprehensive plan, we have just RV districts. Correct. No, there's two R districts according to a comprehensive plan is specifically separated into an RV1 and an RV2 district. I was tracking the RV1's and RV2s that came from ordinance 02212 and 02213. So, I guess if if you want me to pull those up so that I can respond to them this requests, but I'm just I'm not prepared to respond to requests about the work that the planning commission is doing with such specificity um this evening. I I certainly can if that's the request. I just was not

right now. All right. and and I've been advised that this uh this discussion isn't really related to the public hearing on this ordinance. So, can we continue on? Yes.

Is there anybody else has any questions or comments? All right. Is there a motion to move on to the next ordinance? Sure. All right. Let's just do it. Next, uh, ordinance 0-26-8, an ordinance of the town council, Ches Peak Beach, Maryland, amending the town code, chapter 290, zoning, article 5, dimensional requirements, section 2919, tables, requirements, exceptions. Subsection G to alter the requirements for permissible fences and subsection um J to clarify the location of front yards on corner lots. Um, I personally am familiar with some of the issues that are related to this and some of the locations. Does anybody have anything they want to say about that?

Yes, please come forward and tell us your name. Good evening. My name is Stephanie Windsor. Um, I currently reside in Richfield Station. Okay. Um, want to tell a little bit of a backstory and maybe you'll understand um, what happened. Um 6 months ago, 7 months ago now, I was displaced out of my home due to a water event in my home. Um the house had to be gutted all the way down to the studs and rebuilt. I mean, I lost everything to include my hair. That's a little bit of a joke, but not really. I mean, I really did lose my hair. It doesn't sound very funny to me.

No. Um the stress was just above and beyond. So, I had a contractor. Um we pulled permits. There's quite a few contractors that will not pro pull permits and just treat it like a flip and there's so many things that end up going wrong. Well, I have two dachshunds and they're very well, they're chatty. Um, I had a um just a temporary makeshift fence up and part of the rebuilding um I had the contractor install a 6ft white vinyl fence. Now, I live in a townhouse and the backyard is on a hill, but there is no sign of gully washers or water trenches or anything like that. As a matter of fact, I have grass that grows on my hill and I maintain that hill very much. The issue comes in, the contractor went through the county. The county was not aware of the ordinance and approved the permit for the fence. Um, I kind of got like a spidey sense. um that maybe I should just double check with the town even though we didn't need any permits from the town for the rebuilding of the house. Well, came in and spoke with the front desk and one of your administrators and she says, "Oh, yeah. You got to have a permit." I was like, "All right, well, let me go ahead and fill that out because everything's coming to an end and I'm sure it's going to be done sooner or later." Well, paid the $150. The fence was installed the next day and unfortunately Jay didn't make it out in time um just because of the short notice, not his fault. Um really um the contractor's fault for not double-checking with the town and being very clear as to what happened, what needed to happen with the house. Well, the fence was installed. I get an email. Oh, you need to fill out an after the fact permit. Okay, come back down, fill out the permit information, pay the

additional $300, the person that took the money, not your front desk person, but somebody else says, "Oh, I'll speak to the county, you know, to the administrator, town administrator, and see if we can get you your $150 back." Well, what she didn't tell the town administrator was that I hadn't been in the house for 6 months, and I didn't have a schedule as to when that fence was going to be installed. So, of course, the town administrator said, "Nope." So, um, and Jay, uh, had some concerns whether or not the fence posts were concreted in. I have the pleasure of telling you, Jay, um, that's who I had on the phone before the meeting. Yes, every fence post was concreted in. They don't go to the top. They leave 6 in so grass can regrow around the fence post. But anyway, um, my thing is when you live in a subdivision, Yeah. you have to abide by rules. I understand there's rules for a reason. Um just creating ordinances is not the best solution for everybody because it may not apply um just a blanket solution. The county approved the the grading and so did the town. I think that the ordinance ordinances for the fence um fences regardless of style should be on a case-byase basis. um regardless if it's on a flat uh yard or slope yard. Um and I appreciate you guys listening to my story.

Thank you. Thank you for coming. I remember Yeah, we talked. Yeah,

I I think the fences are a whole can of worms. I mean, I talked to Sarah before the meeting. There's a whole bunch of areas that have fences that there's one example over on First Street that has a a fence that's almost the same as the Elm Street one. And when we looked around and didn't find any, I found that one. Um I think there's little sections of town where she lives. If all her neighbors have the same type of fence, she's going to assume that she's allowed to have that fence. And then it's like, okay, well, nobody else have it. But it's like, oh, I didn't have the money to get my fence this year. I was planning on getting it next year. I don't know. I think that this is kind of we maybe need to have

I think it's a a little o more overview of of how many people are going to be affected before we just change the rules. I know the 10-year rule doesn't make no sense. Where do we come up with 10 years? I know I've talked about a 20-year rule and then I think there's a 17-year rule. So, Councilman Dvo, we want to go ahead and get to the actual meeting. I just want um Excuse me, ma'am. Uh did you want to just share your story or do you have an ask for us?

Just wanted to share because it it seems to be an issue. Um you know, I got the HOA to approve it. Um and they were not even aware of the ordinance that the town had. So that clearly there's a lack of communication um between uh the town, HOA, just everybody in general. Um had my next door neighbor approve it. Um so lack of communication is definitely um in play here. Um and definitely, you know, I should have come down to the town and said, "Look, my house has to be rebuilt. This is going to be done. This is going to be done. This is going to be done. Oh, and by the way, we're going to put a fence in." Um, but I left everything up to the contractor, which everything ended up turning out really great. Um, just please consider a case- byase um, basis instead of making a blanket ordinance for everybody. Um, because where somebody's hill might really need a retaining mall, somebody else's hill is contained with grass growing or planting shrubbery or some other thing. Um, and I'll make a suggestion. Um, when you do approve a fence that is on a slope, come out and do regular inspections. Meet with the homeowner and say, you know, I'm starting to see erosion on the hill. Please do XYZ. Retaining walls are not cheap. Um, but, you know, if you work with the customer, your client, resident, um, I think you're a little bit more apt to get results than just make a blanket thing. Um, that's all

that I just wanted to clarify. We're not um creating a new ordinance. We're amending an existing ordinance, right, Sarah? So, this shouldn't really affect her particular situation, my knowledge. Okay, great. Nothing that we're doing in here. Great. We're not we're not making it like harder for people. We're trying to clarify stuff and

Great. That would be great. Just the communication. Um definitely with the HOA is probably the biggest thing because I have a neighbor um also that was approved for a fence. So um you know communication is key. I met with the president right away and said hey did you know about this ordinance that the town had? He said no I didn't. So I shared it. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you.

Any other comments, questions? All right. Let's officially close the uh public hearings. We're a little late starting our uh council meeting by about 4 13 minutes. Uh if we could uh uh call the meeting to order and if you'll stand for the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Is there a motion to approve the agenda?

Motion. Second it. All in favor? I motion uh motion to amend the agenda. Okay. Um I'll motion uh thank you sir for bringing that information to light. I think that opens up an additional discussion that we do need to clarify. Uh so I would motion to um remove uh vote on section 8 resolutions and ordinances. Uh B uh just probably punt it a month. Second. Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor? I like to offer an amendment.

I'd like to offer an amendment. Well, we have a motion in a second. We're going to vote on whether to postpone.

So, I think in my opinion, there's two ordinances here that we need to postpone. So, that would be Okay. Okay. So, this is uh um O-26-4, right? Correct. And so motioning to remove from the agenda. Yeah. Are we having discussion on that or we we can so are we going to put it on like next month work session and then

correct. So the question would be I think he raised a very fair uh ask related to it and I think we owe it to to go back and and ask the county for a little clarification on this so that we make sure you know if there I'd also be intrigued with the the financial amounts. uh was that tied back to Calvert County only or or or how it applies? I think we just need to clarify. He he raised a really good question. Uh and we we just owe it to him to go back. We should be a lot more certain before we vote. There was a lot of uncertainty up here.

All right. I would also say that um I think defining a process of approval is, you know, something that I'd like to see before voting on it also because that that's a determination. How we determine the process of how we determine but if actually is disabled makes makes you know who's eligible and who's not eligible. We don't know until we have until we know what the process of determination is. Do I have that?

That's fine. I just want to point out there is a process for application, implementation, verification, etc. at the end of the ordinance. Um, it may be that it doesn't do what you have in mind and but but there is a process.

Well, and and I'll just toss into the end of the flames here. Um, a number of years ago, uh, as a result of my exposure to Agent Orange, uh, in Vietnam, I went through a very rigorous process to be declared a disabled veteran. And that was in the Omali administration. Um, and his his secretary secretary of veterans affairs actually harassed me until I finally um I got to know him well until in fact he harassed my wife too to get me to make that application. It was tedious and it was and it was it was not a simple thing. But that um meant that I became I I am no longer required to pay property taxes and and so forth. Um but it's there's there is a a rigorous process within the state and I just wanted to emphasize that that does exist. Okay. And so uh go ahead.

Yes. No, I agree. There is a very rigorous process to get approved through the state. Um, but I thought we had we had comment from I thought Sumelia said earlier that uh we don't that we as a town will have our own process that's not established. Uh so are we voting on that? The vote my motion is to remove it from the agenda because obviously we have additional that need to All in favor of removal from the agenda say I. I opposed. The eyes have it. Removed from the agenda. Okay.

So, I would argue that ordinance 0267 is also not ready for prime time uh and voting. Um there's a there's a lot of um uses that could disrupt people's lives that are not accounted for. We have not gone into close session and spoke with the lawyer about the impact of this ordinance. Are you making a motion? Yeah. Sure. Sure. Sure. So, I would like to make a motion to remove ordinance 026-7 from the agenda. Is there a second?

Okay. We have a motion and a second now. Go ahead. M. Um, so, um, just to repeat, I don't think this ordinance is ready for our review right now. We have not gone into close session with the lawyer to uh assess the impact to homeowners for uh each of these uses that we'll be allowing. there's a very significant um there's some some line outs on what we're prohibiting now and um I I would for one would like to discuss those things and um I can't vote for it without understanding the impact with from the attorney would have any other discussion on the motion to

just just for clarity I just want to make sure I understand um What what things are lined out or what uses are we are you talking about 10 home occupation should that be interpreted to include such uses as tourist homes, animal hospitals, tea rooms and restaurants? Is that what your main focus is? That's one of my concerns. Another concern I have is on controlled uh items, substances and consumables. Um and as I said, we have not spoken with our town attorney to understand the impact of these words here on paper. Okay. And then just Okay. Go ahead.

I don't think those are legal issues. I think those are policy issues that you'd have to discuss in open session. I I'm not so sure. Well, we can you don't have to we don't have to resolve that now. I'm just I just want to put on the table that I don't I don't have a legal comment on it. It's a question of whether you want or don't want things, but we can address that at another time.

And just for clarity, is there such a list or something that has already been created that would have controlled substances or something like that on there or is this something completely new that we would have to be introducing because there's no precedence already set by it? I mean, it's not there already is what I'm asking. So, your zoning ordinance will address where the sale of um of well controlled substances are controlled substances. They can only be dispensed by licensedarmacies and it's only going to happen near a commercial district. We're talking about um cannabis products. Um

uh that is also addressed as I understand it by the ordinance, but I'm going to defer to Sarah on that. Um, and I don't think the state's um, cannabis regulations would ever allow it as a home occupation. So, you don't need to say in your in your ordinance that it's not a home occupation because you can't do it lawfully. Like you, you know, you just can't.

So, my questions are broader than just cannabis. I think there was, um, a situation related to a firearm. Um, there are legal questions that I have about this and and really if we are creating law when we're implementing an ordinance and so we should make sure that the ordinances that we implement are legally sound and do what they we want them to do.

Well, I can tell you it is I can tell you it is legally sound. Whether it does what you want it to do, that is a question for you all. I can't I can't opine on that. So, um I I agree to I agree uh removing this from the agenda. Um maybe uh because I don't again I I agree that it's not ready for prime time, but um maybe on some different issues particularly we talked about in the work session um a lemonade stand or things like that. Um, now I don't see anything that would allow that, but of course there's always selective enforcement to allow that and I don't really think that's the path we want to go.

Can I can I I I'll chime in. I I we are overly conflating commercial land use and homebased businesses. So everything you all have described so far is not tied to a homebased business. So the the the lemonade stand was addressed during the work session because I explicitly asked that question and stated we do not want to end up on the news because we told a kid they can't have a lemonade stand. Actually wasn't addressed. It was spoken of but it's not addressed in this

because not it's not a homebased business. So, a lemonade sand would fall into the land use table, which then ties back to a conversation that we've already had with Sarah to say, "How would we adjust the land use table to address that specific situation?" But that is not a homebased business. Also, when you strike out section, uh, when we get into, excuse me, when you get into some of the sections that are strike out where you're talking about restaurants and tea shops, those are commercial businesses. So that is no longer a homebased business. A restaurant requires a commercial kitchen and a license and all that stuff. That is not homebased. This is the people who are making crafts and doing stuff in their house in a small portion. You can't do pharmaceuticals. It's not allowed. Like there this is cottage. These are cottage. This was allowed just a few years ago. And again somehow all homebased businesses fell off because there was some change to this table that removed it. to your specific question was during the work session, can these things be added? And we added in a line specifically stating you must require a zoning or you must require a permit and that then ties back to if it's not allowed in town then you can't have it as if it's not allowed then it wouldn't get a permit.

So first of all that Jamie so I think I already answered that you said a few years ago I identified that what that few years ago was. So why don't we just fix the few years ago and put it back the way it was instead of going further down a road like I gave an example. If you make a wrong turn, go back and get back on track. I think we're staying down the wrong track with this. Well, the I I just want to make sure everybody's on the same page.

The ordinance that you have in your package is as introduced. I did listen to your work session and I understood that there were some amendments that were going to be proposed. Um I have prepared a draft amendment on the assumption that those motions will be passed to address for example the deletion of the um the phrase about adverse impacts etc minimal right um and the other things that you all that I understood there to be a clear majority of folks who were in favor of but those will require individual motions because this ordinance has already been introduced. Um, and I think if you go through that process, you will come out with an ordinance that I think is what you as a majority perhaps not all of you on every issue come out to where you wanted to be as I understood it from that work session. What you're seeing in front of you in the package is still the ordinance you had for introduction because nobody's made a motion to amen amend it.

Right. So, I just I want to put that on the table. You you have the ability tonight to go through the ordinance, propose those amendments that you wanted to propose um and um and and then see if you can get a majority to adopt the ordinance. So, again, I think that we should take this back and have this be a little bit more cleaner. We are making law. It would be great if we could take it back to make it cleaner, but for some reason, it's a lot of talking and no decision-m. I haven't heard one person say, "I rather it be this than that." If we having circle conversations, then make the motion to say exactly what you want it to be or let's move on. And how come nobody's worried about brothel anymore?

And we are still on approving the agenda. I think that would come at the time of voting, but we're talking about removing it. So So my motion is to remove it. I have an amendment to offer if uh if we go forward with it, but um my motion was to remove it. I thought I think that's a great idea. Yeah. So on the motion to remove it, all in favor say I. I. All right.

Of removing it, raise your hand. All in favor of uh keeping it, raise your hand. It's four to two. In favor of keeping it as is. Okay. Um 4 to2. Yes. One, two, three. We're moving it. No, you voted to keep it on the agenda. Keep it. I did because um of Alyssa's comments and the way and obviously the amendment process and she's prepared for that. So I feel confident that we can get through that.

Okay. So we're still on approving the agenda. Mhm. Um, can we take a vote on approving the agenda? Motion to amend. Second discussion to remove the offenses both part of that. Uh, I think we need to have more of a report of what areas of town are affected and that's why so remove I think it would be both of them because we don't want to repeal it like we talked about. So it's uh So you're talking about ordinance 0268. Is that correct?

A uh 0263 and 0268 both second. What's 263?

Second for discussion. I'm going to start missing the um work sessions since we keep having them on council night. Um so I we have talked about this before um but I just wanted to ask again and get the answer um expressed again. But um so what is the impact of um 0263 the repeal? What would the impact be without a replacement? M I think it's ali

sorry. So if you repeal it without a replacement there's no fence regulations in place. It's a free fall. So there is no process, no code and people can build whatever fence they want. Yes. There's no regulations around fences. Correct. No there's no fall back or anything like that. So if we repeal we must replace. And council might have brought that up during a meeting that we should do. I just wanted to make sure that that's the understanding because I thought at one point we talked about if we repeal it, if we repeal it and take it out of Jay's hands, it automatically falls into the zone planning and zoning.

No. So the reason we are moving it from building to planning and zoning is because there isn't any flexibility in building or there's certainly flex there's enough flexibility for Jay to be unfair if he was to be he is not obviously um but there's not flexibility there's not flexibility for people to do different things um he can allow different heights the in zoning it will allow some flexibility and it will allow people to have a variance process if they have an unusual situation which right now if they have an unusual situation there's nothing Jay can do for them. Um it also actually lets people have a little bit more of their backyard fenced in. I just had a discussion with someone who's trying to put in a fence this morning um and explained, you know, the the footage difference that he would have under the current versus what's being addressed tonight. And he is hoping to be able to use what's being addressed tonight because it gives him more background.

Yeah. Uh just to follow up on that question. So 0268 from the description in the agenda, it seems to be an amendment that is um altering existing code related defenses, I suppose, and and clarifying um locations of front yards on corner lots. Mhm. So, does that mean that that I mean a code exists, right?

Yes. It it says you can have a 4ft fence, but you can't have anything bigger than a 4ft fence. So, I guess you're correct in that what would happen is it wouldn't be the wild west if we repeal and and and not do anything. Um there's code existing underlying code that's already there. That correct? Yes. And and it would not allow you to have fences higher than 3 ft. So no one I guess the answer to your question is actually no one would be able to build a fence taller than 3 ft in new fence. Correct. Very small

if you repeal without replacing new fences. the that what we've drafted allows them to build taller fences. Thank you.

One of the items that is the main issue is like there'll be a grandfather period and it's like somebody's going to a test there's there's fences everywhere and if the rule was for that height that's there's not really a an item list. So, like I said, with different people in different areas of town have a ton of fences and then if a tree branch fell on it, instead of them just replacing it, they'd have to apply for variance. That's what we would be voting to do. And I think if someone has a a bad fence, they should be able to replace a section of fence without having to go through a variance. But once they're into a grandfathered uh rule, they'll have to stay that way. And I don't know. I don't think that's sort of

So would you be suggesting that for people who already have fences and something like that happens then we allow them to to repair their fence in that sense or if I could interject um I've just consulted with council and it seems like this discussion would be better deferred until we're actually considering each one of these items rather than approval of the agenda agenda. So if we approve in the agenda that these things are going to be discussed, we will have the appropriate time to discuss them uh at the time that we consider them for approval. Well, he made a motion to remove seconded for discussion.

Can I just comment on that though? Can I can I comment on that? I I understand that uh sentiment, but um the code also says that if we if we vote something down that we can't consider it for another 90 days. So, if we can uh I if if some adjustments need to be made that we don't think we can get through on an amendment process, then it could be advantageous to remove it, rework it, and bring it back in 30 days instead of having to wait 90 days. Well, let's let's vote if we going to keep it in the agenda first and then get everybody out here so we talk all night.

And voted to strike it from the agenda. Are you striking both of them? Yeah, motions to strike both of them because I thought you made a really valid point last week or last month about not having both on there. So, I just that's why I said both. Yes. So, I'll amend that motion and just say that um item A includes a vote on I think we have to vote on his motion and then you

I'm sorry our attorney move to amend a motion to amend the agenda. I think that's a up or down vote. Okay. So, can we approve the agenda? You got to vote on this. All right. And that's the strike and three. We're doing that in one motion. Okay. And we have a motion. And do we have a second? Yes. Okay. Okay. All in favor of striking uh say I.

All oppose say no. No. Lori didn't did not weigh in. I would be happy to bring it back as a repeal and replace and one motion.

I can strike it. All right. stricken. Okay. Can now we approve the agenda? Motion to approve and seconded. All in favor? I. I. All oppose. Strike the meeting. Okay. What's going on? Okay. All right. 40 minutes into the meeting. We approved the agenda. 39 minutes into the meeting. Okay. Is uh anybody bringing coffee? And

all right, time for public comment on anything on the agenda. Oh my goodness. Hearing none, unless somebody has something they want to say. I don't want to prevent anybody. Okay, let's move on. Number five. Can we approve the minutes of the March 19th, 2026 public hearing? Is there a motion? Motion to approve. Second it. All in favor? I I opposed. The eyes have it. Motion for approval of the minutes of the March 19th, 2026 town council meeting. Is there a motion? Motion to approve. A second. Okay. Motion and seconded. All in favor say I. I.

Opposed. Eyes have it. All right. Is there a motion to approve the minutes of the April 7th, 2026 work session? Motion to approve. Is there a second? Second. All in favor say I. I. Wake up. Wake up over there. Opposed. I didn't hear anything. I wasn't here. Okay. Any opposition? Okay, it's approved.

All right. Um, now we're going to do a special uh proclamation. We have a special proclamation. And if you'll indulge me, I will read it to you. a proclamation of the mayor and town council of Chesapeake Beach officially proclaiming April 24th as Arbor Day in the town of Chesapeake Beach. Whereas in 1872, the Nebraska Board of Art Agriculture established a special day to be set aside for the planting of trees. And whereas this holiday called Arbor Day was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska. And whereas Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and the world. And whereas trees can be a solution to combating climate change by reducing the erosion of our precious top soil by wind and water, cutting heating and cooling cost, moderating the temperature, cleaning the air, producing lifegiving oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife. And whereas trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other wood products. And whereas trees in our city increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas and beautify our community. And whereas trees wherever they are planted are a source of joy and spiritual renewal. Now therefore, be it proclaimed on this 16th day of April, 2026, the mayor and town council of Chesapeake Beach do hereby proclaim April 24th as Arbor Day in the town of Chesapeake Beach and urge all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day, support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and to plant trees to gladden

the heart and promote the well-being of this and future uh generations. So I we have this to sign. If you I will sign first and then pass it along. Go Nebraska.

Excuse me. Okay. are down to uh section seven of our agenda, petitions and communications. It's time for the town administrator report. Smelia, take it away. I'm going to turn my mic off for a while.

All right, so the town administrator's report was submitted as a part of the agenda package. Um so there are a couple things I wanted to highlight. One of the requests from um our last council meeting was that we have more regular updates on some of the larger projects. And so um I've included that uh in my report, but also if you go on the town website now, there is a section called projects and investments. And so you'll be able to see um large like the 30,000 foot view of where things are. Um we're working on building out each project page. And so what you'll find in those page is a general summary of what the project is, the primary goals of the project, before and after pictures if it's applicable, um the budget, and then if there have been submitted FAQs for the particular project, there'll be an FAQ section there. So, just flagging that right now, the one that is um built out is the one that's for the water park because we've had the most questions for the water park project, but um in the coming weeks, we'll have be we'll be able to build out the project page for for the other critical project. So, um that was a response to the questions that came in the request. Um, and I I think it gives people a better understanding of what's going on. Um, alongside that, um, we're working on improving a lot of the, um, day-to-day requests that are coming in, um, and that have come in in the past. So, um, we're modernizing the services uh, while still staying responsive and accountable to residents. And one way that we're doing that is with Aqua Hawk, which we've talked about in the past. So, uh, we are in the home stretch of it being implemented. Um, we'll there'll be mailers that go out that talk about the, um, upcoming adjustments for water bills. It will reference the discount

that has been in place for over a year, about a year and a half. Um, and will help residents start to prepare for the change that's coming in the new fiscal year. Uh in addition to that um we are improving response time through Zindesk and so we continue thank you to the people who have been using it and we continue to ask folks to use it for whatever requests they may have and some other things that I just wanted to highlight that came in the past couple of days which was after this report was submitted. Um we have the we've received the Kellum's complex complex concept plan and so that will be on the agenda for discussion during uh May's work session. We have received the uh rail trail expansion RFP. So that will go to the town attorney for review. And the goal right now is to um have that open on April 23rd. And so that will take bids. It'll be open for about a month. And um as a part of the Kellum's expansion and or the Kellum's uh complex uh revitalization, we've been talking about uh submitting grants for pay for different portions of that project. And so I was able to submit a grant for the adult fitness area. And we found out uh yesterday evening that we have were selected. So, we received $35,000 for that court.

Very exciting. Um, and then alongside of that, when it comes to grants, uh, right now we are working to submit a grant for the Chesapeake Village connectivity with alternative one that was discussed before. So, that uh, we're on track to be able to submit that next week because it's due at the end of the month. So, yeah. Um, do they need the selected alternative at this point? Do we need to have consensus on that before we submit the application?

We do not. Um, so again, like we did on the prior project, if we get this grant, we'll be going through a feasibility study phase. And at this point with the application, what they want to see is what alternates have you looked at. So the document you've seen is generally what we're going to submit with the application. And then that alternate and alignment will be revised and and reviewed through the the 30% design process. And at that point, you'll have to pick up selection. So they're going to look at all four during the feasibility.

Once we have once we get the grant, we'll have a kickoff meeting with SHA and we'll determine which ones make the most sense to take a look at and that'll be the first step as part of the feasibility study. And the one that the one or two that we come down to, we'll come back to you to, you know, decide which one makes most sense. I I personally like alternative three, but that's just me.

The way it was explained to Wayne and I was that they are doing away with the first 30% and then 100%. That was how it was explained to us and so that's how we are moving forward. Um but if we hear differently, we'll let you all know. Did you um do you have the results of the communication survey or like in a nutshell? So, the communication survey closed on the 2nd and right now it's being analyzed. So, we'll have updates soon and there's a page uh on our website for survey results and so you'll be able to find it there. Okay. Nice.

Any other questions for the administrator? Yeah, I was I was just going to say thanks Sam for working the um the grant for the one. Uh it will be I shot it off to the design over to Jenny from Wayne's team asking it to be incorporated into the design. I think it actually sits next to the pickle ball. She just sent it so that's why you don't you guys don't have it. You're talking about Kelvin's Field. Yeah, for Calvin's Field. Uh but it's really cool. So it's going to have a a space for fitness and then a space where we can maybe do some classes or something. I know that's been some conversation over here. So, it' be really great. So, thanks Sam. Appreciate you working on. Any other questions or comments for?

Uh, yeah. I just want to say this is an amazing response to my request. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Um, and then the only other question I guess I have is um, do we have an update on when um, subscriptions will be available through IQ Fiber? Their representative is right outside the other on the other side of the door. So we still be there. Yeah. Okay. We could go get him. Yeah.

Nothing like putting them on the spot, right? Excuse me. Hello. If you could come to our podium please. Um I just asked a question which was um do we know when subscriptions will be available for IQ Fiverr? So yeah, I did send an email out to get an update earlier. So I'll know something by tomorrow. Okay. So we have no projection at at the moment. No. Okay. Thank you. Is are is there still a lot of construction work going on? Yes. Okay. Yes.

I thought at one point they had said maybe June. It was an early uh in early developmental stages or even contract stages when we were talking, but you don't have you haven't heard anything? No. Cuz I thought it was going to be April 30th. That's what I thought last time we were here when Mark and I was here last. Okay. Yeah. So I'm hopefully Yeah. Do they have you heard anything about like percentage of the infrastructure or network that's been completed? Yeah. I believe you asked for an update. So we're hoping to receive it tomorrow. Yes. Okay. And get an email. Get out of here.

And I'll be here the weekend because I'll be at the convention, too. So if you want to stop by, get an update there as well. Great. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. Glad you're here. So, um, with the website, I I think it's it's nice uh and it it goes good, but there's a still some bugs in it. So, if we can communicate with that and also like there's a lot of uh past meetings and things that are not populated. I know I've heard um a few people bring up things about that. um

the the um migration. There's always challenges when it comes to website migration. So, if there's something you're looking for that you don't find, like the sooner you flag it for us, the easier it'll be for us to update it because we still have access to our old site. No, I was being serious. It was somebody else from town. Like, not myself. Yeah. If it comes up, like encourage them to reach out to the town to let us know because the sooner they let us know, the sooner we can fix it. And um so with our utilities and technologies um I was understanding uh because my experience is that when people submit in things there's a autopop populated uh response and they have a ticket number.

Yeah. If they submit it through info that is correct. Yeah. So uh with the the other technology and our website I remember you saying that they're kind of all kind of going together. So like where the other ones were mix matched. So even though there's some delay in it at the end of the time in next few months, it should all flow together good. That's my understanding as well. It's being coded that way. So it's all integrated within our website.

Yeah. And I think that's it's a little pain right now, but I think in the long term. Um, as far as the projects go, uh, I hadn't seen anything in regards to the, uh, town entry sign improvements. So, we got any more on that? Yeah. So, we, um, we're we're updating the signs. We've submitted the purchase order and so they're in production now. And if the reason why it's important is if you look at the signs right now, they're they're a bit worn and dingy. And so, the material is going to be a better quality. and Jay can likely speak to that. Like a resin based.

So the original ones are the wood uh etched painted. There is one that's a foam etch painted. The new ones are completely composite with an automotive grade three layer paint and then a clear coat. Supposed to last 25 years. The biggest part of that is they're high pressure washable and and we can clean them. You start pressure washing the ones we have now. And they also get painted. So, they're going to take 8 weeks to make. We can install them, but they should last 25 years, easy, I hope. And then they'll be lit the same way.

Yeah, they're basically exactly the same size, same location. We're just replacing the old wooden ones, putting in the new composits, with a few changes. I think there's a town more universal uh logo because it was kind of peacemeal.

All right. Anything else? Great. Thank you. Thank you. It is time for the town treasures report. Short and sweet as always, right? I hope so. I believe in you, man. It is a short report. Uh you I submit it to you for review. Uh you know, mainly worked on the uh budget quite a bit last month and also finalizing the uh infrastructure financing uh loan for the water park. So those were two of the main things that we worked on. If you have any questions on anything else, I will try to answer those. Anybody have any questions for the treasurer?

Uh, sure. Um, can you flesh out the uh line item C County Treasures Office uh notes budget? Uh, the second one uh second to the bottom. Oh, on the purchases. Yes. Uh that was for the uh two quarters of the sheriff's deputies. Ah

payment less the credit that we received for fiscal year 25 which is about 112,000. So it would have been $112,000 more than that but you know they gave us the reconciliation for 25 and credited against those two uh quarterly payments. Thank you. Any other questions? Were you able to uh see with the uh disposal with the trash gun up, was that fuel related? Is that where the 8% increase came from? You're talking about the budget item. Yeah, you said there was an increase. Yeah. Um I haven't researched that yet. Any other questions for the treasur?

Thank you, sir. Welcome. It is time for the public works report. Jay, got anything interesting? Always. I know.

Uh there is there's one thing notable I want to reports on page three. So, cuz I don't want any elected official to be surprised, but over at the courtyards, they've had two sewer spills. The county reached out to me on the last one. Uh the first one, the town had to respond and step in to take measures, which they did reimburse us. But, uh this is a second sewer spill adjacent to the tot 6 months. And and if you ask my opinion, if I was a betman, I bet you will happen again unless measure taken. So I just want to share it with the elected body that this is a private sewer line within our town that needs some help. And I included some pictures on page three. So the when they finally made it there and went the jet, the jeter contractor ran the jeter the wrong way. And you see the picture on the right,

that's their jeter hose wound up in our wet well. Um and I was out there with them getting it out of there. This the second. So, I don't know if there's any questions on that or Yeah. Yes. Uh, you kind of answered part of my question about like the reimbursement like when this stuff happens and we have to put our resources into it like with the snow plowing and this and the sewer leaks and all the call out stuff. So, we do have a process to get reimbured for that.

Well, if it's health and safety, I can step in and take measures. If it's something cosmetic and stuff like that, there's not a process. But anytime I deem it as the public works administrator, hey, this is health and safety within our town. We can take measures and then seek reimbursement. I don't know how it's written, but they've always paid after, you know, but my point is we shouldn't have to get take that measure, right? And they're also benefiting from our expertise and equipment and staff. It's it's um cost savings, so we can't overcharge. We charge actuals. All right. Thanks. Um were there any other questions?

Yeah. Um you said that um if you were a betting man it would happen again unless action was taken. Do you do you have an action plan? Is there something? Do you know what action needs to be taken? I wouldn't I'm not going to speak to what needs to be taken. It would be an opinion anyway, but I can tell you this from being there and and observing because we go look at our wet one. They proactively jet very similar to the water park. All the structures are supported on piles. all the plumbing is not. So, the sewer line is very inverted. Um, and if you think of a water slide that's on perfect grade, everything that starts at the top ends up at the bottom.

Well, when it's a sewer line and it's like that, it settles out. So, eventually just settles out to the point where it clogs. Uh, the path of least resistance is out that manhole because that's the lowest point below the houses, which uh unfortunately is the closest manhole to the tile lot. So basically over time due to the grade in the sewer line sinking and failing settles out greases and uh solids are trapped to the point where just one day it stops going it's a gravity line

and within 5 hours it's running out of the manhole. Takes one second to change to a leak but it takes quite a bit of time. You have to call a trailer, a jet or a back truck and get out there and remedy it. So the remedy is not quick. Um, if it were a T, we have lines to be fair in the town the same way we proactively jet. They're on a schedule. Um, they're not as bad as this, but you know, it would take uh video surveillance and a report from someone would be my first step if I were them. And I've offered that to them. That is what I would do.

So, it says a second time in six months. So, was 6 months ago the previous bill paid? Uh six months ago is when we interveneed because they had no one they could get out on site within a a period of time that I thought was responsive enough. So the town intervened and they paid. This last time when we were notified, they were able to get someone on site quick enough, but that's where their jeter hose ended up in my wet well. So um I'm not speaking to any of these companies the product, but I do think there's a better a better way that it could be done more proactive. Hey, do you want to speak to the email that or the communications that you're having with them about what happens if this happens again?

Yes. So, well, I I'm going to put them on notice. Basically, if this happens again within our town, we've been contacted by the county. Um, I'm responsible to MDE above anyone if it's a spill over 500 gallons, which in this case it was not. Um, and if it wasn't uh right next to the top lot, it's in a grass area, it wouldn't be so severe. But it when this goes on prolonged, if it were to leak for over 12 hours, I would have to report it. So, under my watch, I'm going to reach out to them next time this happens. MD is getting called and they're going to take measures uh which include fines and everything else. If we're straight on that, I want to speak about fences. Yeah. So, real quick, just a history, you know, we had we had a house fall on another house, almost killed a town resident. The town stepped in and enacted a steep slope ordinance. That ordinance could not be enacted in a particular area. It's enacted all throughout town. Richfield Station, coincidentally, had some major slope failures. Uh I I met those homeowners at 3:00 in the morning. Their whole backyard went into the creek, literally almost collapsed a house. So it's it's dietmacious fill. There's a lot of situations. So when I get a fence permit and I don't I don't know the timelines. I'll have to speak to Fran. Alls I know is hey go review this fence permit. Well it's already built. I have a a level that has a digital slope and the ordinance uh refers to 12%. In this case this fence is on a 45. So I didn't even I was like this falls under the steep slope ordinance.

It's too late. Here's the bottom line of it all. If you call for a permit, for everyone else that's listening, um I know William Jones knows, maybe Justin doesn't, but if you start with a permit process, you can still build a fence. Believe me, people look at me like, man, I want to do X, Y, and Z. I'm all about homeowner rights. Believe me, I live in town, too. I don't want to restrict anyone's rights. But just as Sarah said, there's nothing that I can there's no gray area. It's very definitive. If it exceeds this slope, you follow steep slope ordinance. And that entails a little bit different. you put concrete in on the post, a little bit taller thing, you have to describe how you're going to control the water runoff or if you're actually stopping water runoff, which in this case, both of them are. Um, and if you look at our actual fence ordinance as it's written today, a vinyl fence is not even allowed, period. It only references chain link and staggered wood. When that ordinance was written, there was no such thing as a vinyl fence. I have gone along and approved them because just like you say, I go up to their neighbors and someone wants to tie in a piece. This person has a sixoot vinyl fence. This person has a sixoot vinyl fence and they want to put So in some areas I approved it, but this is different because um it's very definitive. I appreciate the fact that it's definitive because it's a yes or no for me, but in the same breath is why I think it needs to go to a board that can be reviewed. And there's Dan can tell you there's a hundred different cases in town. It may make sense to do this here. I I can't decide that. I can only enforce the rule is written. I'm one person. It's very definitive if if you read it. If it exceeds the slope, this is what you have to do. If it's uh a solid vinyl fence, this is what you have to do. So that's why I do agree with moving it to a body. someone can come talk to them, show situations, they can make some variances, maybe follow some rules, and you can build something that's maybe

outside the box. That's just my opinion. And so with that, I think if you have if we were have a recommendation for that went alongside this. So where you've given a bunch of examples. I know we've talked about this more than one time. We've talked about this one situation. If we were to have where these apply. So we would be able to when we let this go from here to give it, we would be giving the guiding information such as town homes lots. It is not intended to restrict town home lots. We could say in areas of town when there's x amount of of uh neighbors that have sixoot fences, it is the the atmosphere of the street, but we would be able to put language together to give with this ordinance. And I think the items that you're talking about would be very good so that the board of appeals in situations would have our opinion as a council as we relinquish that to them. I'll just nail solve it here and there's so many different things as a discussion. But I will say this, the steep slope ordinance addresses any structure on a steep slope. Maybe you take fences out of that could be a possible thing. But I will also say I've personally seen it when you disturb a slope that's on a 45 in Richfield Station on dietimmacous soil that's filled and and I I know the resident and should uh the county should have inspected it. I can definitely tell you there are slopes in there that their homes are on that the county did not inspect it and it was not a stepped fill. It was just put there. So a lot of this when I'm out there it's it's not to protect that particular individual at that time. It's a general policy I think

the town passed in good faith to protect the population. Um cuz not everyone understands what they're living on or how it was built or has the history of what has happened in that particular neighborhood. So I know we could talk till midnight. We'll never solve it here. But I just wanted to share that when I go out until it's taken over. When I go out I do love that it's very definitive. There's no gray area. It's either a side street, a front, a 42 or under, a steep slope or not. J, I just want to say that I think that this council um has the will um and and the and the want to to get this out of your hands, but we just need to, you know,

go through it a little bit more and make sure that uh we can put something in front of the council that we can pass. Understood. Absolutely agree. And and besides all that, I got better things to do than look at fences. I have a few questions for you today. Go ahead.

Uh and on fences, I think when we bring it back, if we can just implement first order business is to heal and then we go round and round. So, uh that that is what impacted my decision to put the replacement in ahead of the I think that makes good sense.

All in the town administrator's report are complete in my mind every day. Um, but not every day, but a lot of days and they are played on almost every day. Yeah, I've seen a lot. Yeah, you would consider the tennis courts to be a huge success based on what I'm seeing and even I mean more so for pickle ball, right? Uh, both. Yeah, I see both both out there. I see some other stuff out there. They are played on. It's great. Um, we did have some discussion surrounding likeation in June. not seeking.

So there's still So basically the history real quick that we took it over. There were existing high-press sodium lights there that were existing and as part of our thing, we didn't change any of that. We we fixed a couple and we got them going. Moving forward, we we cannot replace them with that. Um, and there is we would go to LED, which I know some people in town and in some people even indoors do not like LED, but eventually no matter what we're going there, it's going to cost us about 15 to 18 grand. Um, so there's benefits to it, right? Longer lights, uh, energy savings, but sometimes people don't like LEDs. Um, but either way, we have the I would say the budget money to do it. Whether it's in that project or not, I'll get with Wayne and there's I think three punch list items we're not clear on closed out yet. Once that's finalized, we'll know where we stand with the budget. But I also sent an email. There are three levels of lighting that has a luma. So, there's one that's kind of I'm going to call it hairy homeowner. And then there's one that's like a school or a municipal, and there's one that's like an Olympic level tennis court. So I'm thinking we'll land in the middle. The other part of that aspect is you have the brilliant white light and then you have the off like yellow LED. So we can implement I would like to get more feedback from the actual players and then we had spoke about when we do do this we'll just give a heads up to the neighbors. Uh, I just remember in town when we upgraded all the BG& lights to LED, it was a big uproar and there were two people that fought it and they didn't get a light in front of their house. But, um, with notice and, um, stuff, I either way, I think the money's there to do it. It's just a matter of is that the will of the players and what we want to do.

Yeah. From the town to the resident if I received instruction to move forward on that, it would be for sure. Okay. What What would you need? I mean, would you need a or what what are you needing? My understanding based off of J what Jay just said is players coming in and saying, "Hey, we need brighter lights." So then we could know that this is a community-led effort versus one or two people saying, "We want brighter light." And then we would move forward. Okay. So I mean what kind of consensus?

It's hard to poll like we only pickle ball players and we want me it's it's are the lights standard Yeah, my understanding is that they are Jay but um my understanding is that they are standard light court lights. So it's not a question of standard. It's more so of preference. And so if there are people who want a different thing than we have now, it would be helpful if they contacted the town to let us know. Otherwise, it's just changing it without community input. That that's honest. I only hear what I hear, but I don't know how you would get a consensus because 4,000 person.

Yeah. Yeah. Understood.

I just want to comment on it. I'm really grateful that you brought up the uh LED issue because there are a lot of people out there that have adverse effects to LED lighting. um migraines or um just you know the brightness. I think it would be important to pull the people who live around there um who may have those lights shining in their bedroom window or anything like that. Um the even even um driving at nighttime it's become an issue for many people because of the LED lights. So, I mean, I think that's we should really be deliberate about those about that decision and consider that.

Yeah, I agree. We should be also ready though for either way we need to communicate. Aren't they um aren't they currently on the road side and not the school side? They're facing the school. They're on the north and south side. So, they faced north and south. So, I was able to get some new old stock. So, we have four ballasts and six bulbs, but technically you cannot even buy high-pressure sodium lights anymore. So, one day we're going LED and but I have enough stock to go for years without it unless something crazy happens. But, um,

so all of those elements are in play. One thing first, when we finalize a punch list, we'll know if there's any money in the budget. That'll be part of it. And then we got to have, like you said, can't just because you may think you're pleasing two people and then you have 18 people in line here outside saying, "What did you do?" So that decision I can't make. So what so speaking of budget and stuff, one thing I did not see and I have not seen, I know John's house had it and I know there's multiple people house and and I spoke to you where the town's supposed to have a cleanout and provide a cleanout for different properties. I don't see anywhere that's been addressed in in there and I know that you have a list of items that need to be addressed. Uh, and I didn't see anything in the uh in the budget. I haven't seen anything in the report. I just want to know where that's at.

I don't I don't think it's anywhere to be honest. I agree with what you said. I don't know if that we're budgeting to do it. It's just a case by case like as it like with my house. You saw it didn't have a clean out so you moved it towards the road. Correct. I think it's the code that we're supposed to have cleanouts from town. It

it probably is. There's probably a hundred codes that we don't have in town, but I mean, that's one of them. I I don't have it particularly budgeted. I don't know that we want to proactively go around. I'm not saying I disagree with it either, but do we want to proactively go around to every house and see if there's a cleanout and spend utility fund money on it? I don't know. I don't make that decision. But if you want to do it, well, I think with all the work that we put in the utility fund, we should kind of take care of our infrastructure. That's not my decision. Is there a uh just real quick, is there a is there a problem with having the ospreys on the the LEDs at the park or I mean I like seeing the ospreys flying around, but

Well, it's you know, there were seven nests on the old lights. Um so they're coming back is all there is. And there there may not be a problem today or tomorrow, but it's definitely a problem because it ends up uh adding weight, rotting, covers wires. It's same thing on our towers. I go up on our towers and proactively kind of I'm not allowed to nuisance the osprey, but I can inspect our towers whenever we want. But they're I'm scared of them personally. Well, honestly, it'll be a problem one day. Um

I'm just noting it cuz I don't want anyone to be surprised. There'll be seven nest out there again. And when you go to change something or do something, there's always a possibility of a fire. LED lights are a lot cooler, but those lights are hot. Um, so I just want to make, you know, everyone aware I there's nothing we can legally do about it at this point.

All right. Anything else for public works? Thank you, Jay. Thanks. Thanks for your your hard work. I've had the opportunity to spend just uh to spend some time with Jay u going through the town and looking at various elements of the infrastructure and projects and so forth. And so I just think that we're lucky to have uh Jay Barry as our head of public works and he's very frugal and uh with the town's resources and manages to get a whole lot done. Well, thank you, mayor. And you have to share your story of the hurdle. Don't worry, it's coming. Okay, perfect.

Um all right, time for the wastewater treatment plant. I'll never change the name. I I want to say before you start, Josh, that I sat in on the partners meeting uh was it yesterday? Yes, sir.

And um I sat in on a partners meeting right when this administration took over. And the difference between that partners meeting and the one that I sat in on yesterday is night and day. Um there was so much hostility in that first meeting and mistrust between our partners. Um and I I think that has been completely eradicated and that's Anna Rundle County, Caler County, North Beach and and then our own operation oursel. And so I I I want to I think a lot of that also it comes from the administrative staff that's made changes in uh our dealings with uh our partners and being upfront and honest and and Sumeilia I think you've done a great job of of putting information together that people can look at and understand our our partners. So, uh, I just wanted to share with everybody here, um, that I feel like that, uh, that this administration, uh, is is working in a good way to restructure those partnerships u with uh, with with our partners. And so, I wanted to commend you on that. I want to commend you on that.

Go ahead, sir.

And I was going to start off with uh, mentioning the partners meeting yesterday. Uh we had our regular quarterly partners meeting. Uh primary discussion was the FY27 uh treatment plant budget. Um partners had some questions prior to it. Uh but those were all answered and they had no further questions yesterday and they are going to send over I believe it was official letters of approval or just their opinion on it by next week I believe it was. So we should be good to go on that. Uh the other portion of the discussion was regarding where each partner is on INI work. Um Anaonda County is reporting that they're very close to completion on the work they've been conducting. Uh North Beach. Uh

well, and before you leave that point on an Ronda County, as I recall, when when I when this administration first came into office, there was a much larger problem than there is now within INI from Anaonda County. Is that not correct? I have seen some improvement. Okay. Not as much. It's all on a case- by case basis. Um last month we had very little rain. I didn't see any major notice

noticeable increases and flows as it related to rain. Prior month we had more rain. I did see some issues. Uh one thing I am doing and as I've reported before is on a monthly basis I give a report to each individual set of partners uh showing their flows for the month day by day uh compared to rainfall and title levels in case there's any title inundation and and I'll notate to them if I see there was a problem. Uh, additionally for major rainfalls where we have a problem with plant with flows where we're having to redirect flow or do some major operational changes, I'll do an hourby hour graph or data table and I'll send that out to them. Also, just what the information for that individual partner and just what my um observations are based on that data, what what I saw, what I think may be going on. So, that's been wellreceived. Um, and I've got some actually had some questions in partners meeting from Calbert County yesterday regarding some of the data. Since I'm looking at it a little more closely than they are, um, I'm going to be reviewing that data tomorrow and see what I can uh, see if I can get them any information off of that.

Yeah.

So, going on to the, um, this month's report, uh, we continue doing our regular PMCS uh, preventive maintenance checks and services. We did 90 procedures, completed 51 work orders. Uh our acid management program continues to provide reliable work management based on the collected data through our procedures. Uh just going down through on a couple of the uh projects we did. We did the uh cleaning of the clear well. Uh we were noticing that there was a increase in the bofilm growth in there. We think that may be a result of the covers we recently put on the uh clear well. Uh prior to this they weren't covered. They get ton of algae in there. So I think what was happen before is algae was probably just out competing this bofilm. This is something we're going to start putting on a regular basis about probably quarterly to semianual depending on what's necessary. Uh the concern was with that stuff grow building up on the walls eventually gets big enough to where it sloss off goes out through the UV channel. When you have that going on, it can cause issues with uh blocking the UV radiation and impeding the disinfection process. Also, we were seeing some fluctuations in our BOD, our biological oxygen demand going out through the uh effluent and we're thinking that maybe that additional biorth going out may have been causing an issue with that. So, we're that's something we're monitoring now. Uh none of these problems had caused any issues with our permit. It's just we know where we're normally at and we're seeing little blips coming up every now and then. We're seeing this bofilm. We're getting it addressed. So, um, we had no further the wash water pump we worked on. No further issues with that washwater pump. Um, I'm thinking it was due to air that had gotten into the line. I wasn't there when the problem was going on. I came in after the fact, did some troubleshooting, didn't see any issues. All the numbers look good. Everything

was flowing the way it should. So that seems to be in good order. Uh we had a followup on our Euro meeting with Euroens which is our new contractor for lab services for our uh annual whole effluent to toxicity testing uh toxic chemical testing and the annual or the one-year POS study. Uh we received our PI file study plan on the 10th and forward it to MDE on the 13th and received approval of that study plan that afternoon from MDE. I have a meeting with uh our phone call with Euroins tomorrow to start scheduling our first uh um sampling project. Get that done. That'll be doing our influent effluent and bioolids. And we're going to do one year of quarterly samples as required by our permit. And if there's anything further from the state, then they may tell us, okay, hey, you need to do this additional testing, but that's going to be dependent on what we see. So, um, that's basically all I got. Anybody have any questions? Does have a question? Not really. So, I take these classes, you know what I mean? Uh, I think last week I did like eight hour one on confined space. Uh, is there a a report where you can get make sure the the training that the guys have is up to date? Like is all that in in line?

We work with public works when they get their training annually. We try and coordinate with them to get that stuff done. Also, uh, confined space is they we're going to be trying to get that done this year. Uh, last year we had our lockout tagout. We're going to look into doing that again this year. Um trying to think I got me on the spot is trying to remember there were other studies but yes we do go through that. Uh yeah I mean there's a ton of them you know. Yeah just uh making sure we're well having the right training and everything for that. I think you guys have separate rules don't you? What's required for us is different in the construction industry. We go by the ocean 1910 um and I think construction is 1937. I can't remember what that is. So there's different requirements for training and that is something we are following up with.

Sounds good. In fact, we're starting next week doing our uh annual hearing test which is part of our hearing conservation plan. Okay. So we're going to start doing POS testing next month. Is that correct?

Uh we're going to be discussing that with Euroins tomorrow and we're I think the first plan or first one is due in June. So yeah, we'll be looking in May to do that. And it's it's pretty simple to do the actual sampling, the equipment you need and the how rigorous and how in-depth you have to be as to the materials you're using a sample, even down to the clothing you're wearing and hair products, skin products, anything you're using, you have to be very conscientious everything that's going on. So, we're getting every thing we need to make sure we have stuff set aside solely for doing these samples so we don't have any way of contaminating the sample.

Any other questions? Well, thank you very much for your excellent report. Thank you. Time for the town engineers report. You got anything to say, Wayne? I do. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think we do.

Um, you have my report. I want to give you a few uh additional updates that came in since then. Um Seagate, my report says nothing changed from last month. I'm still working with waiting for MDE, but there's more. Um we've actually had some correspondence with MDE and Jay and I met today, yesterday, I think it was to talk about addressing their issues. Um so MDE came back and asked if we could live with a three-way valve in essence have two lines. One goes to the title pond, one goes to to the bay. Uh Jay and I talked about that. We could live with that. So I got back to them today with that. What they're thinking of is this. Uh today when the when the Seagate pump station comes on, that water goes out to the title pond. There's some area that's not the the pristine bay that they called it that could provide some sediment uh uh load dropout, some some pollution control. they don't mind us going direct directly out to the bay in certain situations, but on a typical rain day when the gate doesn't have to be closed, they prefer it to go to the title pond. So, thinking of doing is putting in a three-way valve, which would, you know, on a general everyday rainfall, it would go to the title pond where it does today. When you have a flood situation and and a flood gate closes, we can turn it turn it turn it and put it in the bay. Um, that came from the dam safety division of MDE. Um, so

from what division? Damn safety division. Okay. They're typically They're they're they're typically how do you spell that? Never mind. Dam. Okay. They're typically looking at at storm water management ponds. Um why they got involved this I have no idea. But MD said out to all their agencies. That was their comment. I got back to them today and said yes, we can live with that. So I'm expecting a report back from all the agencies. As far I can tell right now, they're in favor of allowing us to do that. So that's good. That's a good update. That's that's been a long time coming. Yes.

Long time coming. Um, other updates I think as Sama mentioned, we have sent the uh revised draft for the master plan for Kellum's Field out. I'm sure you'll see that. It did incorporate the sports court that Sama mentioned that you got a grant for. Um, pretty excited about way that came out. I think it it's a it's a lot nicer. Um, so interested in seeing your your comments on that. And there's one more that I thought of that I got to tell you about. Um, a rail trail may tell you also as well. We sent that RFP draft out uh to be reviewed. U one thing also I will note is Beach Elementary tennis tennis courts. There was some discussion about that and you see in here that my uh report says anticipate a June completion after school was out. If you recall there was some paving that was left out there that was completed last year by our contractor that the schools were were questioning. Uh they couldn't go out and repave it during school. So it kind of got got into the fall and winter and out of paving season. So, we agreed with the contractor back then they would come out this year in June when school's out. So, we're scheduling a meeting with the school uh school board to walk that and see what concerns they have. That's the completion that'll be done in June.

Any questions? Any questions? Anybody? Uh I didn't see anything on You said there was uh something on B Street. You were you were addressing property lines or something like that. What's the status on that? We've completed that. We sent a plat back of where the property lines are. Any other questions? Yeah. Um on the alternate um path to um Chesig Village, we had talked about at one point um doing some type of topographical study so we could look at um potentially going from Canon Cave to 11th. Mhm.

Um we have not completed that yet. We we could do it ahead of the feasibility study phase for the project if you'd like. Um just need direction to do it. Is it so as far as the grant is concerned if we look at that later that could be something that we could still run through the grant even if we don't have any study or designs or any documents related to it at that.

Yes. And I'm glad you brought that up because it reminded me of some clarity on a prior conversation. So yes, the state highway administration or the state program has said they're combining the 30% and 100% design processes. What that simply means is there still will be a 30% design process and a 100% design process. There's not going to issue separate grants. They're going to issue you a grant to design from zero to 100. That's what it means. So there's still the design process where you have to go through 30% design which you then submit to the state and all the uh governing agencies for it's called an alignment study and that's where your feasibility studies come in. That's where we determine what alignment makes the most sense. And that's when you'll have your input into which ones you prefer. We can study those. After you get your alignment approved, then you then you go into a NEPA study, which is basically your environmental protection uh and and rights of ways. And then you go into 60% design and 100% design. Um so just so you know, there is still a process of 30 60 100. It's just all one funding source is what we understand.

Great. Any other questions for Wayne? is I have a question for Eric.

Um, you know, when I looked at it and I think um, Councilman Dval looked at it also, it looks a it looks more like a uh, more direct potentially a more direct uh, route for connectivity. And uh so we with the question about that and whether it was more direct or not was um more of a question of the topography and it where we would have to um go around some highlands or something like that. Is that cor? Yeah, I'm happy to take a look at it. I there there was an alternate route we looked at previously and it may be that route. I just don't recognize it the road names. Okay.

But yeah, I'm happy to take a look at it. Um, I don't think anybody on those courts would appreciate that route. Um, but a project that was vetted over almost two decades was shot down because there wasn't enough input from people to uh support it. So, I would appreciate not going down that goose chase of trying to connect Canon Kate and 11th Street. Wayne. Um,

yeah, Wayne. Uh, so I see you have an update on the water park. Did when was the last um read the top right red? No, I'm looking at his when was the last meeting um and who was that with? Do we have any updates? Like quick updates for the public?

That depends upon which meeting you're asking about. There's been many. Um, our progress meeting was what was noted in this report, which give me a second to find it. I'll tell you. Um, sorry. Uh, water park was 416 was our last meeting. Our next one's 423. Uh, that's with the with the design team. We had a meeting last week with the county to talk about permitting. We had a meeting yesterday to talk with the state health department to talk about their comments. There's many many ongoing meetings there. I have a summary that I've sent over which we will do u monthly to bring you up to speed so you're aware of it. Okay.

Hopefully we get some uh good news next month. That's all I got. Thanks. Anything you want to add to Jay? Is there anything you want to add to that? Sure. We we so we went in person uh down to the county and I think they were very accommodating. We were able to have that face-toface uh communication so we know who we're dealing with moving forward. Um they were very responsive. we have the direct uh communications and and I think that was helpful to set up one point of contact moving forward, things we can do, things we can't do and and I I I think they were very accommodating and cooperative and definitely a supporter of us moving forward.

And that was I was I attended that meeting and and I I got the same impression. I feel like I feel like that really is going to help to have that kind of relationship with the county to be where you can sit and go over the issues face to face and not let stuff linger and you know it it was positive. And with that being said, the meeting yesterday with the state in Baltimore was a little different. There's I think the contractor has to get back with some information and different things. There's some uh there's information out there that I think will be fine. The state just needs to have it in a certain format in different ways. Um but it was nice to have all the parties meet face to face. Um so we all understand the goal.

So far so good. So far so good. Yeah. Well, keep your fingers crossed. Right. All right. Uh let's move on. Move on to the Coward County Sheriff's Office, Twin Beaches Deputy Report. Good evening, sir. Evening. have received a copy of the town reports. Yes, sir.

Right. Uh for the month of March 2026, deputies handled 176 calls for service, which was just slightly up from 144 calls in February the previous month. Uh deputies also had 677 selfinitiated activities to include patrol checks, uh heavy traffic enforcement, and followup for previous investigations. Uh out of the 176 calls, uh some of note there was uh an attempted theft victim lived on Woodland Lane. Uh someone had posed as their son on Zel to get them to send them money. Uh luckily they caught it and there was no funds transferred. Um but we went out and took the report regardless so it could be turned over to their financial institute. Um, we have noticed with frauds in both the towns, I think probably the last close to eight or 10 reports I've checked, no monies have been transferred. So, we have been lucky with that that uh the funds it was caught in time. Um, and nobody was out any money. And I guess we should say for anybody that's uh watching this meeting that this seems to be ever increasing activity that's going on and then everybody needs to be careful and make sure that anything that you agree to do is legitimate. I mean why don't you amplify that a little bit?

This was uh the first one I had seen with Zel. Zel's the only one I use. Uh all the deputies make fun of me and say because I'm old or older than them. uh year old, but they uh they all have Cash App and Apple Pay and all this different stuff. We constantly see fraud with those different things. So, just be mindful of your uh all your online banking and transferring of funds. Did you tell them that with zel you don't lose any money on the transaction? I mean, what's going on with these kids? They listen to me when they want. They just want Okay. Um also had a theft on Ivy Lane. Uh it says in here victim it was a child rode their electric scooter over to a friend's house that we believe to come home. Scooter was gone.

Uh we did canvas the neighborhood uh knocked on doors and everything. We still have not located it. So that's still a ongoing thing.

Um there was another one uh iPhone was delivered by FedEx to an address on Baywalk Square. Uh when the victim retrieved the box, it was sealed up, but the box was empty. So the phone had been removed. I believe it was a brand new phone. So roughly $1,500 or $2,000 for a brand new iPhone. Um when I was investig in investigations, we had a lot of these thefts of packages going on. Mostly iPhones, iPads, laptops, electronics, things like that. So, the detective that spearheaded that, I did reach out to him and I'm coordinating with him over going or going forward with some of this stuff because we've noticed uh some package thefts in both the towns. Um, and he has, you know, everything he's working on for us right now and I'm communicating with him daily just to try to combat this so we can get it to stop. We uh had a bunch in uh Hunting Town and stuff a few years ago and went out, took care of it, and they stopped. So, we're going to try to do that again here. Um as a result of heavy traffic enforcement, we had several DUI arrests and as you can see, we had a couple domestics and violations of ECarte. Uh any questions?

Anybody have any questions? I don't have any questions, but I just wanted to make a comment and thank you and and uh Jay was involved. I know that there was we had an incident um over on Ivy Lane where we had an electrical box that uh uh was damaged and um I know it's the all the exposed wires are now bagged up, so at least they're not exposed anymore. Um, but I guess uh just want to thank you for responding to that. And Jay, do you know have any ideas as far as schedule to Oh, no. You know what? The boxes are replaced. They are replaced.

It's done. Yeah, I did reach out to Comcast. Um, that's what that was. Uh, they just said they repaired. They didn't give me a schedule, but if they're replaced, that's great. Yeah, cuz I imagine people were out of service, I would think. Yeah. No, they're done. I saw them, but for a while it was just an orange bag. One thing I noticed is and then last month uh uh the report was a little late and it was a longer meeting. So probably a month late on the comment but the February report sir.

Yeah. But what I'm going to talk about, so uh when we had all the snow and I had talked about it beforehand, there seemed to be some vehicles with out of state tags with flat tires. I don't know if they're abandoned or not. I don't know if they were stolen or not. Uh but if there's like a a vacant house or something like that, one example is over in Seagate. I noticed out of state tag and there's nobody in the house and tires are going flat. Okay.

And I said something to Jay. I was like and he was like, "Well, it's not a town street." You know what I mean? So, uh, as a as a wintertime comes in and you kind of identify some people that have just left cars there. I know that there was I think maybe some stolen cars and just dropped and stuff like that on side streets. I think it's kind of like a limbo and stuff like that. I don't know what's that process or not. Just, you know what I mean? If we could kind of keep an eye out for that.

If you have something like that, obviously call us. We'll go out and look at it. Uh I've been doing that on both sides of the towns. We have green tabs that we put on your car to let you know. I write on there 48 hours. Um so I give those tags a workout several days a week. um if your tags are expired, all that good stuff because they we were dealing with the same issues over in North Beach and they said, you know, if tags are expired, we want them off the street. No problem. So, I started getting rid of cars. Well, yeah. I'm not saying that. What I'm saying is what I'm saying is cars that are stolen. Good idea. Pick up on what you Yeah, it's

Yeah. But no, I I mean when I come out tomorrow, I'll I'll go by and look at that for you and see what the deal is with point them out. Yeah. But no, we have citizens call all the time for cars on the side streets and everything. We go out and check them. And I know when I first got up here, um I think it was 27th or 28th Street. Someone called. We went out. I was like, "Yeah, they're three of them belong to this house." But you know, I made contact with like, "Hey, tags are expired. may want to get that straightened out because if not they're gonna get towed out of here because they're unregistered. So public street so they can't be parked there. So any other questions or comments? Thank you very much sir.

Thank you. I'll be here till the end if you need me for anything or anything you think of after the fact. Thank you. We truly appreciate your presence. All right. Next. North Beach Volunteer Fire Department. Uh good evening. Uh, greetings from Chief Stanton, President G. Uh, pretty quiet, uneventful month. Knock on wood. Uh, we did have a couple What was that crackling sound I just heard?

Did have a couple good accolades with uh some of our younger members. The Calver County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association had their annual banquet. And uh for the high school program, we had the uh top senior that was cadet of the year, Oliver Fox. And then uh the academic award went actually to my son, Matthew Kaiser, for that. And then on top of that, he won the uh Doal Shaw Walter Award throughout the county, which is the top EMS provider, not just the high school, but through the entire ranks of entire Calvert County for some of his. Uh do I detect a proud papa?

I I'm I'm happy. He's he's a smart kid when it comes to it. It's a an EMS award and he had a couple uh life saves and he was uh I mean he's an 18-year-old EMT and he had a couple calls on the ambulance where he was just came out as a routine basic ambulance call and he recognized an immediate problem and got some uh advanced life support there and we're able to do some interventions that probably saved a couple more lives. So yeah, proud of them. But uh yes, so are we. I'll let him know. He He hates the spotlight, so he's probably Well, you ought to bring him next meeting and we'll really embarrass the heck out of him. I'm sure he's watching it right now.

No, he's actually down there. They have a cadet drill for the in-house cadets. He's running the cadet drill for

Well, please, please tell him that the entire council and everybody here was uh providing accolades for him for his accomplishments and that's amazing for an 18year-old. Yeah, they uh that's one of the things that we're really proud of is the cadet program. We start bringing them in at 13. He was one of the cadetses. The other one that won the senior of the year, Oliver Fox was one of the cadets. And as soon as they turn 16, they start taking their firefighting classes. And then uh you know, they've both both of them been in the junior and senior year at the high school. So, we have a ton of youth. It's funny because I'll drive a lot of the times, let the kids do stuff and I'll pull up and uh the fire truck pulls up and there's five, 16 year olds jump off the fire truck, 17, 18 year olds. People are just looking like they're firemen and I'm like fully trained and probably do it better than us old people. So, we're proud of them.

That's that's great. Uh, a little bit of followup. I did speak with the chiefs about uh you were asking about the uh afteraction report for the Gordon Stenit fire. I found out there was an afteraction report done. It's actually has to go through the chief's council for Cal County to be looked at and I guess edited, approved, whatever they do at their level. And then uh they'll have like a countywide meeting on it. Um but uh Assistant Chief Tippet said he would be more than happy to do a presentation for the council like one evening. We wouldn't want to take up a meeting time, but we invite everybody.

How long do you think that presentation might take? Probably about half hour, 45 minutes. Oh, well, okay. Yeah, we'll definitely take him up on it because there's real interest in in that. So, right, he said he could either come down here and do it one one evening when everybody's together or host you all down at the firehouse. Maybe I can find someone to cook some food. Probably. I mean, to be quite honest with you, probably the best thing we could do in my mind would be to do it at at the clo almost at the close of one of these meetings here because everybody's here. That's just what I'm thinking. If that cookout was cooks, you said, you mean we're going to cook at the fire, make some food? I didn't hear.

Said if we do it down the firehouse, I'll find one of the one of the people to cook down. Oh, I can't do that. Can't do that. I was just warned. We can't make do it. You have to have the That's right. I don't want to get anybody in trouble. I'll I'll let him know. Well, let's talk figure it out and we'll figure it out. Drag a listen along to the conversation. So, we'll make sure we don't get into trouble. Any questions? Any questions? Anybody? Go ahead, Eric. Um, yeah, just curious. Um, how much I see here is the March report and that was the month that you do the gun bash uh fundraiser. Was was that did you raise a lot of money? How much did you raise?

I don't know the the final numbers. I know it was down u a lot from last year. And part of the problem was there were several other events in the area running around the same time as ours. So it kind of conflicted. We've always had a kind of gentleman's agreement that with other departments other, you know, we'll do it here, you do it here, you do it here, and then uh for some reason that got thrown to the wayside this year, and one of our departments up the street had it won two weeks right after us. So we definitely saw the impact. But

uh I think that's our biggest fundraiser. I think it ran I think probably around 60,000 would be the final number which is down from previous years. What at previous years we usually would run around 90,000 I believe. Do you still I remember uh last time I went um there were a lot of people from out of state Pennsylvania and such coming down for that. Does that still happen or

not? I don't know. I telling you wrong if I said yes or no. Um, I think it's more of a local crowd that we really see, but there could be quite quite possible. They are looking at a couple different things next year to maybe try and ramp it up a little bit to get the interest back since we were down a little this year. Did the was was the um did the ticket prices go up? No, I believe they're the the same that they've been at least the past three or four years. So, okay. Even if you don't like uh you know betting on the the the guns and everything that it's worth it just for food and drinks and everything.

Oh, I I loved it. I I'd like to go again. I'm gonna try to make time next year. Great council. Anybody else got any questions? Well, thank you very much for your your your work and and your your your colleagues work and and your your good reports. It's really It's really good to hear and thank you. You're welcome. Thank you for being here. All right, time for the mayor's report. Anybody need a break before It's going to take me about 45 minutes. Your time. I'm going order a piece. Oh, you already did. Yep.

Okay. Well, you don't have to throw your phone around. Um well the first thing um that I I uh made note of here is that that was this morning sunrise from my uh h the window of my house and I have lived here now for a very long time since 1985 and I'm I'm all every time I see this I say I know why I live here. So, I just wanted to share that picture of uh of what it looks like from my uh the window of my house out across the bay as the sun was poking up. And it's it's very dramatic, too, uh because you got to catch it within a few seconds. So, I wanted to share that with you. Um, and then this is something that um, Jay and I had a walk out on the railway trail, but we came down from Bay View Hills and we were we were walking along the path to go out to the tea and I looked down and the little guy on the right there that's in the palm of Jay's hand that uh, I saw it. I mean, and honest to goodness, it was about this big. I mean, it was ti it was tiny. And um we later or shortly thereafter realized it's a snapping turtle. And so um and and the way we realize that is it kept biting Jay's hand.

And so anyway um realizing that that was a snapping turtle, we did a little lookout and found out that the one on the left is also a snapping turtle. That's just a fully grown version of the one on the right. And uh that was that I can't imagine that guy picking that thing up like that. But uh that was eye opening. So when you're walking on the railway trail, be careful for the snapping turtles. They're out there. Actually, just one thing. My wife and I just went all walked the trail um last night and we saw a baby snapping turtle. It was probably that big.

Okay. So, it could have been the same picture. Put it on your screen. Yeah. But yeah. No, this one was I mean, this one was only about that big. I mean, it was really tiny, but it bit. It kept biting. But anyway,

so I I just I thought that that was that was fun to to take a look at. Um the other thing um that uh we we had that meeting with Tri County and I just wanted to mention that that that was you know there's there's problems there but we're trying to work our way through the issues and that's about courtyards and I'll just say that we are in contact with them and we're trying to do what we can to help and and help them get things moving. Um I have done a number of um rideounds with Jay. We'll get in the truck and and just go look at things. And so um we were over well we we looked at some new facilities or some new storage facilities he's put in uh down in Ches the Chesig Village down there and uh among other things. But um I've I find it useful for me to get out and see uh what is what is actually happening. And uh we're we're never bored when we do that. And I appreciate uh uh that you're willing to take the old mayor out with you. Um

appreciate you.

Yeah. And uh the other thing uh one of the last thing that I have to mention or to talk about is we have a proclamation here. I'd like to read it to you and then once I've read it to you, uh uh I'd like to have all the council members sign it if they feel so inclined and then uh we will present it. Uh, this is a proclamation honoring Sharon Hum for 30 years of dedicated service. Whereas Sharon Hum. Okay. I can see that I'm embarrassing her. Whereas Sharon, do you have some tissues over there? Here. Uh whereas Sharon Hum has faithfully served the town of Chesapeake Beach for 30 years as town clerk. And whereas Sharon through her tenure, Sharon uh Sharon Hum has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the responsibilities and fidelity of the office of town clerk, ensuring integrity, accuracy, and transparency of municipal records. And whereas her commitment to public service has greatly contributed to the effective operation of town government and the trust placed in it by its residents. And whereas Sharon Hum is known not only for her professionalism and dependability, but also for her kindness, approachability and willingness to assist all who seek her guidance. And whereas her positive spirit and genuine care for others have made a lasting impact on colleagues, elected officials, and members of the community alike. Now therefore, be it proclaimed that the mayor and town council of the town of Chesapeake Beach hereby recognizes and honors Sharon H for her 30 years of outstanding service

and dedicated service. And be it further proclaimed that we extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation for her invaluable contributions and wish her continued success and happiness in the years to come. And witness hereof, I have I here unto set my hand and cause the seal of the town of Chesapeake Beach to aix be affixed on the 16th day of April, 2026. I'm going to uh pass this around for the council members to sign and then I'll uh ask you to come forward and I will present it to you. That's awesome.

Can we make day speed? No, that's not Sharon's nature. So, we'll take a little minute here while everybody signs. I want to see how that goes in the minutes. Well, it's on the video. I would like to say every word is true. Sharon. Okay. Do a great job. Made the whole meeting better. I was always bored. Danny, we know we're doing something for you. I'm happy about that. Thanks for getting here. This was cool. I'm glad I came.

Sharon, I would have like to say, you know, I've worked with you and different things and I think there couldn't be a better clerk. You know, it's been a I think a lot of people think a lot of high things about you and I know personally I do and I want to say thank you. Just put your seat down when you're done. Oh, yeah. Only Only tonight. Only for tonight.

Oh, son twice.

Sharing a few. Yeah.

Oh, wait. Here we go. Does that work? Yes. You guys look great. Anthony said he got pizza, handles and pizza.

Yeah. I just want to say uh that I've got I've I've had the pleasure to work with Sharon in two different terms and she is the perfect person to be the face of this town. She's sweet, she's kind, she's patient, and it's a great person to have representing the town. I couldn't agree with you more.

All right. Thank you, Sharon. All right. And I think that's probably uh all I need to say for the mayor's report. Now, resolutions and ordinances. Am I only doing one? Is it the just the first one? C seven.

All right. So, we're only doing uh C letter C. Vote on ordinance 0-26-7 an ordinance of the town council Ches Beach, Maryland, amending chapter 257 taxation to add article 5 tax credits for disabled public safety and surviving. No, that that's not the one. I'm sorry. I went I went the wrong place. Let me start over. Vote on ordinance. Yeah, I got got all mixed up here. Uh, vote on ordinance 0-26-7, ordinance of the town council of Chesig Beach, Maryland, amending the town code, chapter 290, zoning, article 3, zoning districts, section 290-10, table abuses to permit certain home occupations as a conditional use in certain zones to amend article 3, section 290-11 conditions and standards for conditional and special exception uses to revise the standards application. to the conduct of home occupations and to amend article 11 definitions section 290-43 definitions to revise the definition of the term uh home occupation. Is there a motion for approval?

A motion. Is there a second? Motion. You're I I think what you're looking for you have to second first. I have a list. Yeah. Second it. Yeah. Okay, we have the second now. You want to make a motion to amend? The one you got? Yeah, I'll make a motion to amend. I actually have a list of motions to make that I think will accomplish what was all discussed during the work session and then if there's additional motions uh that can be done. So

yeah. Uh so the the first one is a motion to strike uh and and this in quotations and has a minimal negative impact on the neighborhood where the business is located from CC1 alpha. Agree. So I would just say that uh I would suggest that you make a motion individual motions for each amendment. Okay. Yep. That's what we're doing. Great. Yep. So that's the first one. All right. Say it again, please. Please say it again, Jamie.

So, the the the first motion I'm making is to strike uh in section CC1 alpha and has a minimal negative impact on the neighborhood where the business is located. Strike the first and as well, right? Correct. It starts with Yeah. I second that.

Why? In the U work session, we talked about the subjectivity of the word minimal negative.

As stated in the work section, we talked about the subjectivity of the words minimal and negative, which means that you do not have a clear case of what you could enforce that on. If you just say it has a minimal negative impact, that could be up to anybody's own personal um prediction of what they believe that is. But if you also go to J where it says the establishment of or operation of a home occupation is harmonious with the character of neighboring residential uses and does not create traffic, pedestrian or vehicular or parking demands of character with neighboring properties, then that pretty much gives you an idea of what the impact is, which means you don't need those words in the beginning. Okay, there was a motion seconded

in a second. Okay, all in favor of the amendment say I. I There was one no. Okay. All right. Okay. Uh the that amendment carries. Okay. The uh second motion is a motion to strike the word zoning from CC uh one A is in kilo

A. Okay. So this Yeah. A Lori, this is to your specific comment about why it said zone. So it just says a permit is obtained. Second. Okay. Did you all It's on page three. Now we have discussion above number two. Right below number two. You're striking zoning. So it's just going to be a permit. So permit is Would that be a home occupation permit? Correct. Should we do we need to specify that or is that good enough? Is a permit good enough? This does not go to my at the at the work session you discussed wanting it to just say a permit. Okay. All right. So we do we have a second. So yeah, I second it.

Okay. Uh, so what type of permit would that be? So it it will be we there is no home occupation permit right now. So it's it's going to be a zoning permit, but it's only for the use. Um, ultimately we would want to develop a permit for it. We just don't have one yet. It's possible we could have one in place before you 20 days, but I don't know. So, passing an ordinance with a process. They can apply for a zoning permit. It just doesn't have to be a zoning permit.

Right. But we're not going to require a zoning permit. It's just going to be some madeup permit. That's that's what we're trying to do. It's still a use permit. It's just it doesn't have to necessarily be a zoning permit. It's a permit. Yeah. Because at the work session, the question came up that you brought up was, "Hey, this says zoning, but it should be used." So then we scratched the word use. That's that's not what I brought up. I brought up that um home occupations are permitted and it it is a zoning permit from what I can tell.

So do we have correct? So if if does it have to say zoning permit or is just a permit and is there an issue between the two of those? because all permits are made up,

right? So, it doesn't have to say that. Um, most of the uses that require a permit don't actually say they require a permit. So, the absence of the whole sentence wouldn't preclude the need for a permit. Um, typically uses that don't require a permit specifically says that they don't require a permit. So, it's a permit. It doesn't have to be a zoning It doesn't have to say it's a zoning permit. It can say it's a zoning permit. So it's really up to you guys if you want to continue with the discussion from the work session. Just goes back to my original thought that this is not ready. But

well ordinarily one wouldn't develop the form before the law. So you got to put the law in the books to authorize the creation of the form. And I I mean it's a piece of paper, right? I believe there used to be a form. So there's probably a form somewhere. So it's not going to it's not like it's going to take weeks. No, but it could have been presented to us with a form if that's what the consensus that did not involve me decided on. Um but it wasn't. But okay, wait. But but I I drive already consensus. So we'll just go through the

problem with your state. I drive legislation. I don't drive operations. So I'm we're presenting the legislation. So I I my motion is there you guys. I don't care if we I was good with zoning in the first place, but the ask was uh to remove zoning. So if you guys want to keep it, then just deni then vote no against the motion. If you don't want to keep it, then vote yes. Why do you need to have a permit at all if that you're saying you don't have one to begin with? Like like I mean if it's just a piece of paper, the rental licenses are just a piece of paper, too. And we know how difficult that's been. Well, can we can I mean, is this enough discussion? Can we vote on this? Yes. All right. All I'm sorry.

Yes. Okay. All in favor of this uh number two uh amendment say I opposed. Okay. So, that passes. Okay. Item three, ensure that a permit is required by adding the letter I to CC uh sub 2, which would state a permit is obtained. Uh K. That was K. Hold on. One one before. So I need to make one more motion uh regarding I got two like three more motions.

Uh I need to make a motion. This is just cleaning it up just so everybody's tracking. So, I need to make a motion to strike G from CC to change. That's number That's four. It's backwards. Is that backwards? That's number four on this. I read number three on here. You got as three. That's what I just read. Okay. But you can't make a motion. So, no, I don't want to. I want somebody else to or not. Make a motion. Strike G. Yeah, that was the one that E and G were pretty much the same.

Oh, yeah. Here we go. Okay. Yeah, that's it. All right. Make uh So, I make a motion to strike G from CC2 and then change the current letter of H to the new letter of G. So, basically striking G and then uh correcting the letter organization. Second. I I favor. I thought I was waiting for discussion. I was confused. There was no discussion discussing it. I was I don't need any discussion, but I was just caught off. I'm sorry. I don't have a count. Do you have a count, Sharon? Let's do it again. Let's do it again, please.

I to oppose or not because there's problems within doing it this way. You're only opposing my motion. So, I'm making a motion and you can vote yes or no on my motions and then you can make your own motions later on. Make a motion to I still got other motions that I need to wait a minute. Let's just start from the beginning. Are you you're making a motion and this is to strike either E or G from CC2 as they largely say the same thing in different ways. That's the specific motion was to scratch G and rename HG. Okay.

And we already voted. I think it was five to one, right? Okay. So, that one passed. All right. And then So, okay. Next motion. So, the next motion and again this is all the items from the work session. So, the next motion is to add to CC2 the letter and at the end of the new G and add a new letter H that states a permit is obtained. Second. Okay. Any discussion? All in favor say I.

I have a question about that. How' I guess? So, um the K on um one that we or section CC we've already um gone through that says a permit is obtained that then does not apply to section two. Is that correct? Different different u this is just different districts, right? Yeah. So, did you add that or not? whatever you said about permits. Yes, I I'm adding that line. Correct. So, it's again the motion is to that's what he's adding now.

You were saying as you were saying before if even if that line's not in there, a permit would still be required unless it says a permit is not required. Could have we could have struck K. Okay. The planning commission could have struck K, but they chose not to. So, that's how it came to you. So, got it. I I don't think it hurts to add it because then it's consistent and there's less room for confusing interpretation before you've had a chance. Ask in the work session was, can we have consistency between section one and section two? So, it just mimics the same statement. Any further questions, comments? No, sir.

Let's take a vote. All in favor of that motion say I. All opposed. One opposed. Motion passes. Okay. One more. All right. Um, this would make a motion to add letter I to CC section two and section one stating no controlled substances are permitted in a home occupation. Um, you're you're adding I to section two or sorry, one and then I'm sorry, we corrected the letters. Yeah, correct the letter.

Let me just rephrase this. Uh, make a motion to add additional lettering to both CC1 and CC2 stating no controlled substances are permitted in a home occupation. All right. Is there a motion for approval? We need a second. Second. We have a second. Any further discussion? Yeah. So your um letters H and I are I just corrected it to say additional letters. So that so no substance and that's letters H and I or letter I. No controlled substances. And I just said additional letters. So whatever the correct letters are can be made by the attorney.

Should be H. Yeah. I I uh we we discussed this a couple of times. Mhm. Please.

Um, and I know that there's some some uh conflict and disagreement on this subject, but um it seems to me that this would affect any some someone who was doing an any micro brewing and selling to local pubs or anything like that. That's a controlled substance. Um, and there could be I mean I'm not really thinking about other controlled substances, but this would be a deal breaker for me.

Can I make a suggestion to limit that? We can say a control dangerous substance or or or um as that term is defined by the relevant federal law because if we use state law it would exclude cannabis and I gather that cannabis is intended to be included. I I would add that again I'm this is all the motions that were asked to be made during the work session. So I'm presenting them here. Uh, and I'm also gonna vote. I'm not in favor of this either, but I this is the input from the council. So, I make the motion for everybody to make a call.

I would agree with uh I would agree with Are we having discussion still? Yes. If you Yeah, let's try to move this forward. Go ahead. I would agree with what Eric said about allowing uh finding a way to allow micro breweries. is they not did anybody the drivers of this legislation that we're doing right now um did you look into cottage laws or I mean this my kids own a cottage business so what's your question right so why wasn't a cottage law put before us instead of um a cottage law is a homebased business so right cottage business is a homebased business

right but it has some parameters ers about money. It has it has some different things that make it smaller than I mean I think some of this is is going to authorize business. This is just allowing homebased businesses. We're not we're we're not in the business of regulating what the state regulates there. There is rules in place across the state that people have to follow. If you own a cottage business, you have to follow cottage laws. Uh that that is what this is. All this does is allow somebody who wants a home occupation to have a home occupation business. That's it. That's a little bit more than that.

That's not explain then. But you got to but you got to come in with context because what you said at the work session has all been brought up here and then you're just shaking your head the whole time. So I made here's what I say. I made a motion and I would just ask that we vote on my motion. So, what I would say, Jamie, is if you're purporting to be supporting what I said in the work session, um maybe you could have called me so I could clarify instead of coming out in public and saying that you are making the motion that I would make because um that I need to call clarify. I just took your words and put it on paper. This legislation is is kind of wonky. Then vote no, please.

But I I I won't vote on it and and I do not approve of the process. clunky and confetting and it is law and we should not be making law in this manner but um that's enough for that. I motion fails. Those are all my motions. Does anyone else have any motions? I will

I don't know what it says anymore, but um I don't mind redundancy in the code, especially if I don't understand. Yes, I am. I need to find the Well, I don't know what the letters are now. So, my motion is to um remove the striketh through in the code that appears under one 10 for discussion.

Thank you. Well, I wasn't finished. You do one at a time, right? Um,

seconded the motion for discussion further.

Okay. So, my motion is to put that language back in the code that this ordinance is removing. Um the language says a home occupation shall not be interpreted to include uses such as tourist homes, animal hospitals, tea rooms, and restaurants. At the end of the striketh through add and include I10. So you're looking at a strike through something that we're removing from this code that my motion is to restore. And at the end of that I would like to include a clarification that says or any business involving controlled items, substances or consumables. So to read a home occupations shall not be interpreted to include such uses as tourist homes, animal hospitals, t- rooms and restaurants or any business involving controlled items, substances or consumables. And so let me just clarify my reasoning on that. I think most of it is straightforward, but I will say that in general I support homes. Um, but that is not by definition a home occupation. It's elsewhere in the code.

Yes, that's my motion to amend. Yes. Second.

That would be firearms. I mean, it doesn't say. It says you your motion says controlled substances. No, no, I wrote it down. Items or consumables. In businesses, control items, substances, or that would include that includes everything that's a control. Sure. Any anything that's controlled residents can't say, you can't put controlled substances and then say it only applies, you know, and then verbally say it only applies to this and that's not what the codes. I'm not to rattle off an infinite list of controlled substances. There's the lists that are maintained at the federal and state level and county level probably. Um the question was about understanding what controlled items was first. You say guns, right?

Okay. Sure. At a homebased business, I'm okay. I'm former military. I don't have a problem with guns in of themselves, but I do have a problem with a use, a land use being allowed in a residential area when every resident in that area may not feel comfortable with that land use. And I

All right. And just just to be sure that I've got this straight, uh I number 10 I believe it's going to say a home occupation shall not be interpreted to include such uses as tourist homes, animal hospitals, t- rooms, and restaurants or any business involving controlled substances or consumables. Is that correct? Substances, items, or consumable items. Okay. Okay. And we had a Did we Did we We need to vote for that amendment to start with. We need to vote for that. All right. Let's All in favor of that amendment say I I All opposed.

Opposed. Okay. The amendment fails. Is there any other thing that we need to do before we vote on Dan? Dan has a motion. Done. agreed. So, are you making a motion?

I think we all just if we got a list of them, we just go through the list and do the amendment. So, if you got more, get yours out the way and then then I'll take my turn after Eric takes his turn. Um it is to make that same emotion or same motion under item two at the appropriate letter after all of the previous emotions that just passed motions that just passed. Um so under um number two it is a motion to remove well it's a motion to add the language a home occupation shall not be interpreted to include such uses as tourist homes animal hospitals t- rooms restaurants or any business involving controlled items substances or consumables. Second it.

Discussion. That was the one we just voted down. Similarly, right? Two. All right. Any any discussion? Okay. All in favor of the amendment say I. I. Opposed? No. Okay. Anything else? That's it. All right.

Okay. I I uh have a motion. I move I'm going to join the join the parade here. Um I move to under to strike under 2E uh under two letter E. No article or commodity is offered for sale on the premises. E second for discussion. He already struck G, right? Yep. Yeah, but we're talking about E now. Is there a second to his motion to amend? A second. A second discussion.

Okay. So, um to start the discussion, I'll just explain a little bit more what I'm thinking. Um we have discussed uh many times and gave descriptions of home businesses as someone making crafts or selling crafts. Um or there's there's uh a uh freeze-dried candy business in town, I believe. um if I went over to uh their home and said, "Hey, can I buy a bag of that freeze-dried candy?"

I wouldn't be allowed to do that. It seems a little silly to me. Um if someone's knitting a hat and someone comes by and and wants to buy the knit hat, I think that should be allowed. Um so that is the intent and the reasoning behind this motion. Eric, I'd like to echo an example. And a real life example is as silly as it sounds. I wasn't talking about the lemonade stands. I was actually talking about if you had a fruit tree like pawpaws and being able to sell paw paws cuz you had a tree outside your house. Like that's how like you don't want to like limit things like that. I I think you should be allowed to if you have little I mean oh if my niece always has a little thing I don't know it's

it's part of what what a a neighborhood is to have little interactions so I support that Eric good motion and and then I want to confirm the both of these E are the same thing so you're saying both of them get rid of them right both of the E or one and yeah that would I understand you said both E gone. Gotcha. He has to make a different motion. You don't need said. So make a second. Well, we need to vote on the first motion.

Just All right. So to Lor's point, if there's a person who is um fixing firearms, you're also saying they can sell bullets. I mean, I like pops. I like lemonade, but the world don't just consist of pops and lemonade. So, if you're thinking about that, think about the ramifications of all on sale premises going on going forward for anybody doing business. Because now we step over, if we take away about commodities and things like that, like I said earlier, that was in there because if you have somebody that's doing hair care, you don't want them selling 4K Blu-ray players, too. So, now it's just open, period. So just think about it a little bit more first because those type of things are the things that we can end up opening up for if we take the no sales on premises. Now Etsy deliveries, things like that, even if they make them and want to take them somewhere, then that's fine. They can still get paid. But you got to think about now we're taking away everything that happens in that house because you know we think that we're going to have code enforcement on Papa's lemonade stands which we won't.

All right. Are you finished? Yes ma'am. Um again some somebody explained to me cottage laws apply everywhere universally. Is there a reason why Chesapeake Beach is not applying college cottage laws currently? So, this is zoning. I I I'm just talking about the zoning like I'm just here to protect your zoning, which is the home occupation regulations.

Okay. So, if a home occupation is inherently considered uh if if it inherently says that cottage laws apply, we're doing more than allowing cottage laws here. We're allowing a whole lot of stuff. um why did we not come to council or as a council because I wasn't involved in this consensus that was developed um come up with a ordinance that we could all review um and understand that we would pass that allowed for cottage laws but did not open up neighborhoods to all kinds of different business. And I realize I'm outvoted. That is a I guess at this point a rhetorical question, but um I would just maybe make a statement for the record that um the zoning ordinance 026-7 as presented and amended is too confusing to understand and vote for um on the date it was considered.

Hold on. Made a motion. We need a motion I thought already. Yeah. Yeah. I know that's not a motion. It's a statement for the just a statement. We're still discussing our discussion. Can can I just ask the planning and zoning administrator what the thought process like? Do you remember what the thought process was behind putting the um E in there or the article of commodity for sale?

So, the planning and zoning commission was asked to provide a 90-day solution to the fact that there was an error made to remove home occupations from all districts. the zoning ordinance still had rules and regulations with regard to home occupations in it. So what we did was we amended the existing rules based on a conversation at one meeting. So this is your 90-day solution reinstating your existing home occupation rules. didn't reinstate it all the way because removing things.

They they did make changes because that was it was requested and at the same time it was requested for us to modernize and solve problems but we had a 90day solution and the quickest way to deal with that was to reinstate what you already had. So that is why we

well and part of it was a cottage business is limited to a set amount of money and it was just increase recently I think to 50,000 but just like a year or two ago was 25,000. So the idea is like if somebody has a home business where they do sell online you know Etsy shop that they are not restricted under a cottage law and they would just have a home business. So by us, so that's why like again this is really just meant to reinstablish the thing that's here plus some tweaks based off of inputs from from the council. That was what was being attempted. And I would say that just I did look it up real quickly. Uh I don't have all the specifics, but uh it does sound like in order to make and sell ammunition, there is some significant hurdles between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and Explosives in addition to a significant amount of permits that would be required at the federal, state, and local levels. Uh it's probably similar to controlled substances and why we wouldn't have a pharmacy in somebody's house.

That's al that's making sale, not buying it in bulk and then selling out. I mean, the thing is is that I just want to make sure everybody thinks about those things, period. So, I get it. You don't think that you can buy ammunition in bulk and piece it out and re resell it legally without But you don't know. We're passing the law that we owe nothing. So, so would it would would this middle being some middle ground. No regulated article or commodity is offered for sale on the premises. Well, the motion is what the motion is. We need Well, okay. Let's vote on that then.

Motion is uh 2 E to strike 2 E at this point. Old E or new E? 2 E. New E goes right here on the line. New E. New E has not been amended to this point. So it should be clean. Okay. So motion second. Can we vote on this? Yes, sir. Can we add debate? All in favor of I

Did you ask the second question or they just throw it out there? All opposed. You better raise your hand. Okay. Four opposed to removing E. So E remains. All right. Are we ready to move forward? I'm not going to do my second motion because is there any Did you have a motion, Dan? So, Dan,

yes. Make a motion to amend both letters E to say no regulated article or commodity is offered for sale. So, Hold on a second. Let me Can I Okay. Yeah. I think you want to say on premise also, not just offered. No. Uh, no regulated article or comedy commodity is offered for sale on the premises. That what you're saying, Dan? I am saying yes. We

second it. Okay. So, I just want to be clear because it was a little messy there. You wanted to say no article or commodity is off uh no regulated article or commodity is offered for sale on the premises. Is that correct? Yes. I believe this is what we were saying in your last motion and where I was in favor of what you were saying within our discussion. It felt like I heard the the the

the consensus was we were mainly objected to the regulated and and there was some middle ground we could have. I guess this is what it's about. My only my only thing with that would be to make it match one E. Well, at the end, I know. So, we're talking about modifying both one E and two E, but E has one E has an additional couple words at the end where it says accept those incidental to the services offered. I was just saying, do we want those to match? That's not what the current motion is.

My motion was, and I'm open to getting shot down. We can try it a few more times. I believed when we were in our discussion with Eric's motion that there was a consensus in our conversation about us wanting to allow things to be sold, but yes. To not allow regulate it and sort of not fully let the reigns go. is what I was understanding the middle ground. I agree with that. So Dan, what he's what he's saying is that there's extra verbiage in one E and he's if he touch it. So you want to let one E stay the same. You just want to

both of them were just basically adding the regulated to it. So following the word no. Yes, that's all you want. And one E and two E. That's regulated to both. And that's that is his motion. Did we have a second? Maybe he did have a second. Okay, we have a second. I'm not going to ask for any further discussion. We've already had plenty of discussion. All in favor of the amendment signify by saying I. I opposed. Okay, good. Now, uh, can we vote on the It was just echoing him. I haven't even got started on mine yet. Really? Yeah. What?

I have a whole list. Well, how about if we take this uh off the table completely? That's what I tried to do once again. And and I just want to point out though, mayor, I think this has been up for we're going like month five and all we're doing is reinstating people's ability to have a business in their house. That is it. It is true. It is a home business. If you're not a commercial entity in the town, you currently do not have the ability to get a home occupation. We have do we have something else specific? And how much have you got, Dan?

I sent some emails this morning I got no response to. So, wait. Your emails then your email back. Hang on. So, do I have to do I operate under different rules? You have to make a motion. Okay. Where's the pizza? I'm not sharing pizza with y'all. I'd like to ask for clarification. So, in this I'm seeing that there is separate sets of rules for the RV1 and the RV2.

Correct. inside our comprehensive plan. I don't see where a division of RC1, RV1 and RV2 are within our comprehensive plan. So RV2 is intended to be slightly more um higher density and higher use and so that is why there's different regulations with regard to the home occupations. There's also different traffic and road patterns. So in our comprehensive plan, I was not able to track where RV1 and RV2 is. I only see an RV.

RV1 and RV2 are both in the comprehensive plan. Um, and it's in the land use elements. Um, and in the implementation section um, it's not loading. So, so um their zoning ordinance amendments are on 121. Um, the second bullet says, "Divide the residential village district into two new zoning districts, RV1 and RV2, and create purpose statements for each within the RV new RV1 district. Remove multif family housing and town houses from the list of permitted uses, but to continue continue to allow these uses within the new RV2 district. Um, there's another section that talks about them, but it

So, you said that's an amendment to the comprehensive plan, not part it's part it's on page 121." 121. I will find the other reference to it for you.

And which comprehensive plan are you looking at? Uh the current one. Oh, it's probably in the implementation section. Those would have been uh recommended by Chris and they to my memory did not prohibit uh business use. Um, but then the code ended up doing that and that wasn't something that the planning commission did. That was something that was done that we don't even know when happened. No, with all due respect, what we're doing right now should have been done during the work session. I think right now if there's a motion to be put forward, we need to put a motion forward so we can vote on it.

This is not a work session. We have to move forward. I'm sorry. Withdrawal. I like the mayor's idea. Bring this back. Withdraw. Let's move forward. All right.

Just for reference, the other location that refers to the two different residential districts is on page 59. Do the the ones that we already voted to change, are they at least going to take effect for the next instance of this? We we still Okay. All right. Okay. I have a I have I have a motion to amend. Second it discussion.

Okay. My motion amend is on uh CC1 adding RV1 to that and on CC2 adding RV2 to that. So merging RV1 and RV2 together in the uses. Yes. Did you have did you have some insight on that? Just want to clarify the reasoning behind the RV1 and RV2. It's hard to hear you.

Sorry. I want to clarify the reasoning behind why the RV1 and the RV2 are inseparate here. And that has to do with road widths and traffic generation. Um, so just want you to be aware of that as you consider that. You said that there was a mistake. You don't know where it's at. And I don't know. That's my motion. Do you even know what we're doing, Eric? Just so you're up to speed, uh Dan made a motion to make sure both sections CC1 and CC2 include RV1 and RV2 because right now it's one and the other in the packet. So that's his motion that we're about to vote on. It's open for discussion right now.

Is that the intent of the original? So again, the reason that RV1, the reason we even established two separate pieces was because traffic generation in RV1, think sea street from a home occupation that has visitors and deliveries coming to it regularly would be disruptive to the traffic flow on the street. So that was the reasoning and I just think you should have that information as you consider. So uh if we make if we approve this um proposed amendment is there any reason to maintain two sections?

There's then then your I mean I guess because the RMD RLD are in the lower um impact sections. I I think that if we did that when we get to uh J where it talks about um does not create traffic, pedestrian or vehicular parking demands out of character with neighboring properties because that RV1 and RV2 was stipulated for that particular reason to make sure we had traffic and parking in these different areas that can actually handle that that uh traffic. We would probably be putting people in the bind by by putting RV1 and RV2 on both playing fields. So, it may be best, but I'm ready to vote on it when you guys are.

All right. Would you help me and tell me exactly where we are and what we're voting on? Um so the so Dan's motion is that in section uh CC1 where it says conditional use in the RV2 he is adding RV1 and section uh two where it says conditional use in the RV1 is adding RV2 as well. So it basically both sections will have RV1 and RV2.

And I suggest that if you handle it that way, you have two inconsistent provisions in the zoning ordinance. That if um you want to accomplish what I think um Councilman Dval is trying to accomplish, you would pick one of them and move and delete delete from the other one entirely. All right. Is there a proposal, Eric, for which one to No, I think we have to vote on the motion that's on the table.

Sorry. Yes. Um, I would like to abstain from all motions here on out. confusing. Yeah. Anybody ready to vote? All right. And uh raising hands or just saying it? I'm sorry. Raise hands. Sharon, Miss Sharon. Okay. Okay. Okay. And and I need someone to share. Would you restate what we're voting on? What you're voting on right now is to amend CC1 and add RV1 and amend CC2 adding RV2.

Okay. All in favor say I. I. All right. All in favor raise your hand. All opposed raise your hand. Motion fails. We done. Okay. Was it a night? What's left?

I will just clarify the the the reason we're all going through this horrendous process right now is because this is the proper process for the governance because because the council failed to do this during the work session. So if we don't do this now by our code, this cannot come back for 90 days. So again, we are going to punish the residents who cannot have a home business because we failed to do our due diligence and come prepared to work sessions and ask all the questions uh outside of what we did. So I think it's on brought something very negative. You can say that, but you didn't bring everything you brought forward was brought forward in a motion.

This is the proper process and there's nothing wrong with this process. It can take a longer time than we might want it to take, but this is the way we do it. And if we are not in a in a um unanimous consensus at a work session, there's always the opportunity for amending. And I think we just get through this and then we can vote on this this ordinance. And if we if we go through this process the right way, I think I still am confident that we can come away with a with an approved ordinance tonight.

Yeah, I appreciate that. So, I will resend my comments and and back that. I would just say like I would appreciate instead of just naysaying the whole time either just participate in it. This is what we got to do. We're at the voting point now, right? We're we're I think we're Anybody else has motions? The motion? Let's vote. Okay. But let me just make a comment. Um, you abstained from I abstained from a vote, not from a comment. I never abstained from a vote. I think it is I think it's time to either motion or or unless you have a question. So we can vote. All right.

Yes, please. I wish you would. I just have to point one thing out about the amendment that you made to CC to F because you inserted the word no display of regulated products is visible from the outside of the dwelling. Oh no, that's an E. You did in both of them. E only an E. There's no regulated article or commodity. Okay, that's fine. I thought you did it in both of them and that was going to be a problem. Touched F. Yeah. No, no touch. You're trying to stay out of trouble if people listen. We left that F alone. Yeah.

Let's go. All in favor say raise your hand. All in favor? I see five in favor. All oppose. One opposed. I should be watching The Pit right now, bro. Like, I got I gotta get on Chef, you know what I mean? Let's wrap this up. That on Netflix? HBO Max, man. The Pit. Come on.

No. All right, dude. this. I'll announce that it. All right. If we can come to order. Um, our attorney indicates that the the amended uh document will not be available for signature tonight. Okay. Go figure. Too much. There's a lot. Yeah. This one got a little confused. All right. I think we're down to letter E. There's more. Wow. Uh,

vote on resolution R-26-1, a resolution of the mayor and town council of Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, in support of House Bill 1142, uh, and Senate Bill establishing the task force to modernize county and municipal revenue sources. Is there, uh, a motion for approval? Motion for approval. Is there a second? Is there any discussion?

I do have some questions about this. I hope it doesn't last very long, but I do have some questions. Um, so I just wanted to be clear on the uh process of establishing a task force and I also wanted to be clear on uh what does this cost the town anything? I ask not typically it doesn't matter. Yeah, I would say probably not. It would be a volunteer task for

Oh, so the town would uh it would be like a committee essentially. Is that what we're talking about? The statewide address Okay. Not to tax more people to provide you with alternative revenue services. Uh sources. I like the sound of that better.

What does I mean? Um okay. So it's to study the possibility to study available additional revenue sources that may not be identified at this point. Is that what we're talking about? So, for example, one thing might be, and I'm not suggesting the legislature is likely to give it to you or not, but one of the things that I have heard bannered around that people would like to see is municipalities being able to set a limited sales tax, for example.

Um, there are other there are other potential revenue sources out there. I don't have a list of all of the things that might be up for discussion. Um, but right now most municipalities, I mean, you're at a little bit of an advantage because you have some gaming revenue, but most most municipalities don't have even that. Um, and um, so they're just looking for whatever ways they might be able to come up with that don't involve raising people's property tax. So, this task force will come to us and say, "Here are our recommendations." and then we would put them into our code somewhere or

if the task force makes a recommendation to the general assembly to expand municipal um revenue sources there there would have to be state legislation enabling legislation passed and once they do that then you can choose which if any of the proposals that might be enacted are appropriate for your town and it might be none. You might be perfectly happy with your gaming res revenue and your property tax revenue, but it le it gives municipalities more flexibility. Um, you know, in the coming year, budgets are expected to be extremely tight. Um, there's some thought that the state could possibly once again start pulling back your AURS. Um there's concern about revenue shortfalls and no way to make them up.

All right. So at any rate, how are we all right? This did we get a motion for approval? I don't know that we did. Yes, sir. Okay. All in favor say or raise your hand. I see four. I see four in favor. The motion passes.

Okay. Enter. Well, I just want you to know that we didn't ask for the opposed vote. So, if you're documenting it and creating a record, I oppose. Yep.

Okay. Um, introduce ordinance 0-26-9, ordinance to the town council, Ches Beach, Maryland, adopting the annual budget for the general fund of the town of Chesake Beach for the fiscal year July uh 1, 2026 to June 30th, 2027, and setting municipal tax rates. and we will set a public hearing for May 21st at 6:15 p.m. We will introduce um ordinance 0-26-10 ordinance of the town council of Ches Beach, Maryland, adopting the annual budget for the mitigation fund of the town of Ches Beach for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30th, 2027. We'll set that public hearing for May 21st as soon as the previous one is over 6:15 or later. Um, and then we'll introduce ordinance 0-26-11, an ordinance of the town council, Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, adopting the annual budget for the water reclamation treatment plant fund of the town of Chesapeake Beach for the fiscal year uh July 1, 2026 to June 30th, 2027. We will set the public hearing to follow the previous two public hearings. Uh May 21st at uh 6:15 or as soon as the others are finished. Uh time for reports of officers, boards, and committees, planning and zoning commission. You have a written report, right? You have a written report in your packet. Um, no board of appeals meeting was heard. Uh, Ches Peak Beach Oyster Cultivation Society, you have uh uh in your packet uh economic development. Do we have

economic development? Yeah, we had our last um rental subcommittee meeting and uh we uh we'll have a final draft like I said by the 30th. Um, we got a few little items, but it was a really great experience. And I want to thank Anthony, and thank Wes, thank Cheryl, and and really thank Deb Buckingham. She uh she really helped uh provide a lot of input and uh look forward to sending the uh overview be available for this uh next month's work session for us to look over.

Great. Um, we have, um, oh, let's see. Green team. Green team. Um, we have a written report. And anybody got anything to say about that? I didn't think so. Um, I'm glad that they're there and doing what they're doing. Wait, there was uh just on the green team, Lori, I sent you sent you an email um from Wayne's team. Uh they were just looking to connect with somebody from the green team um regarding partnership with some of the stuff with Kell. Forward your email to

um and since we're talking about the green team, I just want to congratulate them for making the library Baywise certified in their landscaping. So that's great work. And it looks good. Looks good. It looks good. They're always doing something good, right? Beach Community Health Coalition. No, not tonight. We'll talk about that later. Walkability committee.

You have my report. We can celebrate Trails Day. Not this Saturday, but next Saturday. And um it's shaping up. I think everybody's excited. Meant to bring something to show you guys, but I forgot. So, you'll have to still show up to show up there. The date.

So, um we'll be out of the trail from 10 to 12. Um basically, we'll just have cookies and drinks and we have a history display for everybody. and the display will be left up um from that day of the event until Wednesday so that people on their normal routes can check it out. So, it's very low-key, very volunteer driven. Um you know, not not one of these big town events. I don't even think Sumelia is going to be in the area. You'll be on a much needed vacation. Um but it is a committee level event and um I'm really proud of my committee and just grateful for my committee. They are hard workers. They're good people and they've done a great job with everything that they've been asked to do.

I think you have every right to be very proud. So, I'm looking forward to that event. Um, the last thing here is water park committee. You have a written report. John, is anything you want to say? Uh, no. This month we pushed our meeting to uh so we're going to meet next Thursday, talk about the the rates a little bit and hopefully have a good update from the the meeting that's taking place on the 23rd with the state. So hopefully we get some uh a good progress update soon and so they can start demolition. That's it. Sounds good.

Could we uh I I would like to ask and I was I was talking with Eric this past weekend. Um, can we overflow the some of that conversation into a work session because I think there's I I would also love to like get like hear the thoughts of everybody on our approach to emissions as well and maybe ask because I think there's some perspectives across the board uh that at least in public like to share you know here's what here's what we think would make a lot of sense. So, I don't want to I don't want to just show up like obviously we can't all show up to a water park committee because then we're a quorum, but uh it you know maybe in the future here soon we can do it.

Well, we can definitely do that. I just want to flag that the water park committee doesn't decide or they they can offer their thought but the professional staff in the water park would be the ones the rates working with Dan the treasurer. The previous water park manager has some suggested rates uh in place based on a bunch of factors and we do have a survey from three years ago of what the residents were willing to pay at uh resident level, county level and out of county level. So we have some data to to go off of at least. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. I concur. If we can put that on on an upcoming work session,

I think uh there's some ideas there that would might be uh worth sharing. All right. Uh we're down to new business. Uh town council to consider the appointment of Aacia Flores to the board of elections. Uh is there a motion for approval? Motion to approve. Second. All in favor say I. I. Oppose. The eyes have it. It's time for public comment. Anybody here that wants to There's only one member of the public that says they all just got to start talking. You got to do with the sunglasses on though.

You got You got my respect for sticking around. Yeah, that's You have a lot of patience. Well, thank you, mayor and council. Uh I do feel like I did torpedo the meeting right from the beginning. So, I'm sorry. I can't hear you over here. Sorry. I feel like I did torpedo the meeting from the very beginning tonight. So, mission accomplished. We did that to ourselves.

Um, I just wanted to say thank you, mayor and council, for reconsidering ordinance 26-4. Um, appreciate the comments. Um, just my general thoughts. I normally watch the meetings virtually and I read the meeting minutes and things. I read the last three before coming here tonight. Uh I do want to say that I don't know any uh person whose profession is career town council person. Um no one does this as a profession and I understand that many people with different backgrounds different ideas have to come together and make decisions for the greater good of the town. Um my observation based on tonight's meeting is simply if it was me I was get back to the basics basics of you know things should have been worked out in working sessions or things where I guess making amendments that should be done in Microsoft Word before you get to a town council meeting. Um, so I would just ask that I understand this is very difficult and as an elected official, uh, you guys get the blunt of public comments and opinions, but I do feel like there's a need to just remember getting back to the basics. Probably 80% of the work and the 20% of the really difficult things is when you can finally get to your position and then make those decisions. So, appreciate the time. I'm the last person. I'm really hungry. Um, that's true. And I'm gonna change my address to 8200 Bayside Road because I feel like I live now live here at the town hall.

Thank you. Thanks for your comment. Sometimes I feel like I need to change my address to 8200 Bayside Roads. I hear a fair bit. Uh, any anything else? No other public comment. Lightning round. Uh Jamie, um I don't have anything prepared. I just wanted to um I didn't comment when everybody did, but Miss Sharon, from the bottom of my heart, just you're amazing, and I just want to You're a lovely, beautiful person, and thank you again. Uh I I worry though 30 years means we're coming. I know you have uh hinted at retirement in the future, so just not in the next two and a half years, please.

Yeah, I I I maybe I shouldn't say this, but I kind of twisted her arm to hang around to the end of this term. We'll see if that happens or not. Dan, maybe next year. Maybe next year somebody besides just one of us could get you a Valentine's Day present. Thank you, Sharon. And uh with that, it's the deliberation, you know, inside of this. It's uh like a lot of things we try to do offline, but deliberation is sort of what making the rules are about, you know. Thank you, Eric.

Yeah, I mean, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Um, you know, I uh sometimes sometimes sitting up here and and being a legislator um is like making sausage. I like sausage, but I don't want to see it made. Um and it just happens that way sometimes.

Yeah. Um, I just want to say I'm looking forward to uh SmartCon on Saturday, taking my kids there between their baseball games and stuff and enjoy the beautiful weather in town and it really makes me uh appreciate living here when like during the summer and it's just awesome. Great. Lauren, I would just say I look forward to getting some projects underway. I hope we do that. that is the business of the town and we have lots of money to do them with. So, um forward to learning how the staff can present us with good projects that we can support so that we can get back to doing that.

Thank you, Jarren. Congratulations. You are awesome, sir. I agree with you and I look forward to voting for you in 2028. And with that, I motion to adjurnn. Is there a second? Nice. All in favor? I. Anybody crazy enough to go? Nay. I didn't hear that. We are ajourned. Thank you. T.