Planning Commission - Regular Meeting

We'll now convene this March 19th, 2026 town council budget work session. We will start with the citizens forum. Are there any citizens that wish to address the council? Okay, we'll roll into discussion. First up, let's do donations because I think we have people here. Yes. So, just so you guys know, the back of your budget packets I gave you today has the 10-year history. It's the very last page. I tabbed them out the best I could for you. Um, but it shows you the 10-year history of donations, so you could kind of have that to look at. We invited both that had applied for donations to come tonight and give a a a presentation, and we had one show up. So, if you wanted to start with that.

I thought we had three. I'm confused. The third one said they're gonna they're gonna wait. Okay. Till next fiscal year. All right. So, we if you want to come on up and Thank you very much. Yes, ma'am. Thank you for coming. Oh, you're very welcome. Um, it's my pleasure.

All these these chairs are huge. You know that, right? Um, so my name is Barb Pivik. For those of you haven't met, I'm uh with the Queen Ants County Historical Society. I'm actually a past president and a longtime board member. I'm currently not sitting on the board, but I am an advisor for them and I've been working on our capital grants. Uh, one of the things that I do want to start out by saying is thank you. Thank you very, very, very much. You guys have been a great support, especially in the last couple years. And um with your support and with the county support and other grants that we have won, um hopefully uh depending upon the vote at the board meeting tonight, the remainder of Tucker House will start to be painted tomorrow. And that's a really big deal because it means every side will be painted and every window will be painted and it hasn't happened for decades. So, but I'm here tonight about rights chance because um we've raised almost enough funds and we have great hopes that with pledges from other people that we're going to raise the remainder to replace a 61-year-old roof and um we have the bids in. They've come in a little higher than what they have, but we really think we've got that handled. What we would like to do and what we're asking for tonight is help with painting the facade of Rights Chance and the South Wall minimally so that as people drive up Commerce Street, they'll be able to see a building that is not only got the proper signage on it now, but has a brand new roof and has a bright pretty face. So, um, uh, the package that I sent you, uh, detailed a request for $8,500. The one thing I would like for you to

understand is that the, uh, facade is not painted. It is stained and it's always been stained. And the reason for that is because the the clab was put on in 1964 and rather than painting it, they stained it. And it what happens is it lasts a lot longer. So, um I'd recently got um some different quotes and some closer quotes. And for those two sides, the front side and the side side, I'm actually going to do something probably people don't do to you. And that is say I don't need that much. I only need $6,900 to paint the front and the uh south side. Now, if you wanted to and you wanted to support us to have that entire building painted, um we're looking for a total of 13,000, but we're not asking you to totally do that. We would uh raise the remainder of the money, but it just wouldn't probably be in this year. So, new roof, new paint jobs, all for um um uh 2026, which I think is pretty remarkable. Uh the other thing that I would like to tell you is that the society feels very much that they are a part of the town of Centerville. Not just because the buildings are here, but because of our programming brings people to Centerville. Our uh amazing portraits, untold stories, the world of Thomas El McKini, which opened October 2nd and closed January 20th, uh received over 720 visitors. And those visitors came from four counties and three states. We actually had people from Winterour who when they were in town made it a point to come by. We had people from the Smithsonian and we had people from American University

make it a point to come out here for that exhibit. The current exhibit is called um uh when and where we gather and it's about African-American society in Centerville and in Queen Ans County in the 40s,50s and 60s. So I invite you there. Um and you all know that we renovated last year our uh basement which we call the gathering room and uh now have that available for people to have meetings in. and I think and you all have had a meeting there. So, we're very happy to welcome our local businesses and give them uh some opportunity to come and see Queen Ants County history. So, is there any question that someone might like to ask me?

I need to ask our president a question uh because I may need to recuse myself from this for because you were previously on the board. I may still be on the board. I'm just not I take my leave of absence since I got here. We would have to ask ethics that. I don't know the answer to that. But we're not making any decisions to strike the budget tonight. So it would be a conversation tonight. Perspective is certainly in my opinion from an ethics standpoint still welcome in conversation. If you feel you have to recuse yourself when we do any formal voting on it, I understand that. I I just want to pay attention to our protocol with Yeah. So our ethics is in the town for whatever reason is super super narrow, right?

To like personal enrichment side. So they've never paid me a dime. I know. I know. It cost you money to be involved in the historical society. Certainly not the other way around. So no, I think you're okay. Certainly for the sake of discussion, you're fine. I just want to clarify that. Appreciate that. Any questions? So I do have a question. So, as it relates to the painting, is the county providing any funding associated with the painting?

Um, yes. The county has provided $20,000 towards the roof of Rights Chance and they've provided uh in this fiscal year and they've provided five for Tucker House. So um they they and it was really a wonderful uh gift and contribution because we wrote a letter and they provided the funds within 30 days of writing the letter. So we're very pleased and happy about that. So that was 2026, pardon me. Current year we're in 2026. Yes. So for 2027, is there any contributions or asks being made um by the county? Not by the county at this point. Yes.

Okay. Just want to know that. Okay. You mentioned uh painting only the the front face and directional challenge the the south end that faces the library. That's the south end.

Yeah. That's the request that we've made um is uh because typically what Centerville has supported us with are facade grants because it's what you see from the road. And uh I'm not saying that that my request is that narrow, but I just wanted to put it in context with our history with the town. And so, um, that's what we were asking for was to paint those two sides. And that total amount, what was um, that total amount is the reduced amount is 6,900 for those two sides.

Yeah. And I I had originally um asked for $8,500 and uh, the total amount I got in for the whole building and that's all the windows, everything is 13,000. So, and they have to um again it was stained so they have to bring it down the bare wood and then apply paint. No. Okay. They don't because the um I mean there is some sanding that needs to be done but because it's stain it doesn't um it doesn't warp and peel like paint does. I was just trying to get back to the cost as far as if there was additional labor required because it was stain and you're transitioning it to paint. That was my the reason

and we've done what we can via facade grants. So they have um they received they're finishing out one and they have received another 15,000 but not that's for um that's for the roof. For the roof.

Yes. So, you gave us uh $15,000 uh pledge for the roof uh last year and um uh so that the roof lays out like this there. We won a uh a $13,000 National Trust BIS True grant. the that that needed to be matched that our president came to you guys and uh you matched that with 15,000. So our match is good and then we've raised and have other um donations that are in the amount of about 35 $40,000 and then we have a pledge for 10. So the uh roof itself, the first part of the process is to have it have the bricks pointed. They will be pointed and we haven't gotten the final quote on that because on you go out and you get all these quotes for your grants and then the time lags. So you got to rebid them.

Um but we had uh the mason was there last Friday. We expect to have that. We have two bids on our roof that have just come in and the roof itself is running about um $5560,000. So, we really appreciate your help with that. It's um a big deal. we're not having water penetration. And I don't a lot of people are unaware that the historical society in 2015 um prepared a a preservation plan. U Barton Ross, who's a historic architect, prepared for us a very extensive preservation plan and it actually details out when we need to do things. So, it's not just a volunteer board and a lot of people who like history that are making these decisions. And so, um it's now we were supposed to do it in 2016. The uh the recommendation was that we'd replace the roof in 10 years. And so, uh it's now 2026. And so we're about a year behind, but we're not having any issues with it other than the fact that it has um a lot of moss on it, and it will start weeping. The roof that will be put on the on the uh the museum will be either inind or better.

So we have it coming in. Um Mr. uh Lynn's roofing has presented a bid and the people who have done Cloverfields have presented a bid and uh they're very competitive. So what we're doing right now is going back to uh Barton Ross who's also the engineer for the project and asking what's the difference between this and what's the difference between that because I build towers I don't put a roof on. So I we really feel like we need that kind of professional guidance to make sure that it gets done appropriately. Awesome. Your request today for the 6500 is for the paint, not the roof because that's

correct. I'm not asking for anything today. Just in the interest of time because I I don't want you to run over exhaust your time and not to muddy the waters too much. Um when I was on active on the the board, I would ask this kind of question for the painting or this restaining of those two sides of the building. Has it been explored to have any volunteer people to do some of that labor to reduce the cost?

You know, there are in in every grant that we get, there's inind contributions that involve volunteers, but it's really just not a good idea to get volunteers to paint uh a 1794 house or 1744 house. It's primarily not the walls, it's the windows. I' I've been painting my 1771 house. I'm sure. And I knew you would tell me that. So, I think he's saying he volunteers. Right. Exactly.

Well, I do know I I do know he's quite the carpenter and he's actually helped us with Tucker House. So, we're not opposed to volunteers, but in this instance, I think it's it's we can offer two Freds to help. He doesn't want me. Barbara and I worked 30 years ago in a cable contract. You know better, don't you? But that Thank you for your question. All right. Awesome. I would love to explore the facade the go forward on facade grants. We just have more to talk about. They have their reached their max for we have we have one open right now. We just they actually just closed out the last one for the remaining amount that we had for um I think it was rights for Tucker House.

Oh, for Tucker House. Yeah. And then they just they have a 15,0001 now for this round that we have. We only do one 15,000 for one round. Yes. Right. I meant in the new fiscal year if there's more facade money when we apply for more. But that would be Yes. We would probably find that out in January, February is when we would find. Just curious kind of get the full picture of what you know where we can do things. I appreciate you coming in. It was super helpful to me. Thank you, Barbara. It's my pleasure. Awesome. Thank you. We're really looking forward to doing more bigger and better things here. Awesome. Thank you.

Okay. All right. So, I just um as part of the donation discussion, I just wanted to let you know page five is your A10 budget. Right now, the current budget um which has been lowered over the years is $1,000. So, I wanted to make that a part of the discussion and I think we have to come back to it kind of at the end. Yes. And I know like we invited the historical society and the arts council out. Yeah. And the arts council I didn't hear from you. Okay. You use the contact info on their application. Yep. Okay. So, and I reached out twice. All right. Any more discussion then? We good on donations? I think we just have to come back to donations like I said at the end once we see where things are.

Okay. And um yeah, we can circle back to it. All right. Next thing on the agenda is salary. Um Crystal, want to come up and with your You handed out stuff, right? Yes. Okay. All right. So, let me find mine so I can show you what it looks like. Yep. That's it. I didn't pass out the uh requested uh estimated position cost sheets. Um, I believe you guys said A92, but I included all departments. Um, I I know that you just received it, so I'm not entirely sure with it.

It looks like this. I have another copy for you. It's somewhere up here, guys. But you need yours, Fred. I was going to share with Carol. She needs her own. You can't share. Look, I've seen Oh, it's under my notebook. Look, she found it. Okay, found it. That's all right. There was quite a few trees today, right? You know, it's like, okay.

Um, so I do have them broken down by department um because Karen and I always work closely together to make sure our totals um match. Um, and I I mean going through this, um, I did explain to the council that I do have a summary on each of the pages. Um, just to show that the the the last column on that chart is inclusive of all of, you know, the calculated taxes and fringe benefits. Um, if I were to have it all displayed, you would have like a 15 by 20. It's a piece of paper.

Appreciate the condensed. Yeah, it's very min. So, I I I figured you'd probably want some time to review and you know, you know, please let me know if you have any questions. Yeah. Um I I'm in the office, so if you wanted to come in and sit down with me, I'd be more than happy to go over um any questions you may have. Awesome. And this is a line I know we're going to hear later the meeting associated with the pay percentile and all that. This incorporates

so Yep. So on the top of that chart right below the titles of the departments I have in there what's inclusive. Uh so the if the new salary scale that's going to be asked during the town council meeting um if the new salary scale is approved for an April 1 date then that's what the salary as of July 1 2026 is and then uh the 40th percentile with step and 3% midyear cola so it's not a full year estimate it's a halfy year and in the the dark blue boxes, those columns are broken down so you can see what the estimated cost of each of those would be.

Great. Thank you. You're welcome. Can I ask how do our salaries compare with other towns our size? Well, you're going to actually hear that during the town council meeting. I do have Karen Campbell with Paypoint HR who uh is the company we used to facilitate the compensation and classification study. Um and so she'll be speaking um to that. Yes. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Thanks for that. Oh, not a problem. Easy peasy. All right.

So far, the next piece on the agenda would be the main street. Um Gay had sent out some information earlier. She also printed. Yeah, it was a lot to look at on um frankly my computer and so I would love to have some time with it now that we have physical copy. Do you have any questions on the setup? Do you understand that I I kind of did a overview? Um so we kind of just did a o a baseline summary on the two events and then for grants all the detail. Sorry gay took away your No, you can talk.

No, I appreciate it. I will say was just like a little fascinated about centerville day being so all over the place up and down like what I just and I think her um detail sheets show each year of it. So I know like it was just dependent on like some donations were bigger, some years some expenses were different. wild. Oh, wild all over the place. And you know, really appreciate seeing this Maryland crafted sheet. This kind of what I was looking for last year when we never really got a clear picture on the fact that it's never made a single dollar.

But the the donation, so what it shows is the negative just means the donations didn't cover the cost of the event, but we have an events line for Main Street in her budget. So it's not really negative as it's we applied it to the budget. Yeah. I mean, it is in a silo. It is though when we think about investment of staff time against the you know unless I mean that's full revenue right including ticket sales and everything. Yes. I'm just saying that's a lot of work to netgative8. Yeah. I don't think we ever do it to make money make money on. We always do it. The events are free. Yeah. The events are all free

except for a tasting pass if you want a drink. Yeah. I mean, sure,

it's a free event in the way that it's always free to stand in the street. I'm just I mean, I think we have to be honest about what things cost in manh hours and everything else, too. I mean, I'm not saying that there's not obviously I think there's value in community events that don't bring in money. First Fridays brings in not a dollar. doesn't attempt to bring in a dollar. But when we're out there asking businesses for money and then you know I don't I have feelings about drinking events period and then like for what I guess is how I look at it now. I said last year I'm committed to us doing it at least one more year personally

with the rebranding and let's see how it goes. But I just think we need to be thoughtful about the way staff are spending their time. Yeah, I mean I agree with that as far as again having clear goals about what what are the goals of each event. So it's community event people enjoy families come that's a different as far as just from that um as it relates to um Maryland craft and that to me is something where you're bringing people from other areas. It's a different event right of what that is. So I think and if you compare that event to other towns that have similar events, you know, they're probably, you know, they're bringing for people to under come to the town and patronize the town and f see the town, but they're also they're usually making money on those types of events um on that type of an event, I would think. So again, just comparing it to other other towns that they do that type of event. So I just I put them in different categories and I just think what is the goal of the event? What's it what's what's it trying to achieve?

Yeah. Ditto. For me, Centerville Day never has to make a dollar. That's not what it's about. I mean, some of the highlights of me living in Centerville is your first Fridays, right? Probably the end of that, too, but yeah. Oh, it shouldn't be. Okay. Uh the market on Sundays. I mean, I sit out there for two or three hours and talk to people. Same thing with First Fridays. We have a veterans booth and thanks to your efforts, I meet 10 veterans every time. I mean, we don't have to make money and everything. I do agree with you on the drinking thing. I think yeah, to me it's like Sandy was saying and sorry, I just got my voice back and apparently not fully. Um,

the drink the drinking event is not about Centerville residents. It's not about celebrating anything about Centerville really. How does the state of Maryland sponsor? It's got to be a revenue driver to me. Yeah. I mean, it's as a health teacher for 30 years, we're teaching people to drink responsibility and responsible. And then we have an event where everyone walks past my house just to fuel out half drunk. Is that state money? Yeah. Are you referring to to drink Maryland craft

drink Maryland? We have an event here, Fred, where the people It's fine. micro brewies, everything the hell is doing it. But what are we promoting as a town where your first Friday there's no alcohol at the market on Sundays? There's no alcohol. It's packed and it's a great gathering.

Yeah. I mean, I would even argue it's not our event, but the arts council's rocking the porch was just as good the first year without alcohol as it was the second year with alcohol. And so, but just to me and like nothing against alcohol, y'all. It's fine. I I come to Maryland Crafted. I drink at Maryland Crafted. I just think When we think about the investment of time and effort and and frankly money, whether it's grant money or still money and it's still a taxpayer dollar somewhere, making sure that it's providing some sort of value back. And now maybe it is and it's just not it's not every event's for every person. Maybe it's just not for me and I don't recognize the value and there's a ton of value in it somewhere else. But to me, like Centerville Day, if Centerville Day was costing us a couple thousand dollars, that would be okay with me because you see like every kid in the community and every family and people of all ages really enjoying the town and it's got a different vibe. To me, that's a fundraiser. Doesn't need to be a fundraiser. I just I don't know. Like I said, I think we can do another year of Maryland Crafted. I think we should evaluate who our partners are. I think there's just a whole bunch of like nonbudget work session related digging in to do there. But gay and Karen, I really appreciate all this information. I need more time with it personally and so like this is maybe too much info, but I appreciate having it.

Um I mean that's not Let me continue with it. Let's not lose First Friday and that's not lose other things. Oh, let me just finish where what in the world we a town promoting or a state promoting alcohol use. Is that our role? I think we're promoting small businesses. I think you can look at it that way. Not alcohol. I don't well small alcohol selling businesses and and other vendors. I'd like a good Guinness, but I don't want to do it with 3,000 or 300 other people with the state's paying for it. I don't think that makes sense. Well, state's not paying for it, but if 3,000 people came, then it would make money. I've

got a question because I haven't been that involved with Centerville Day from a drinking standpoint. I was involved with the rocking the porch thing where alcohol was served and I happened to be one of the bouncers at the corners and making sure nobody left the town square with and I'm not aware of a single violation of that because oh and it's lockdown tight at Maryland Crafted as well. It's not people leaving with alcohol. It's just people leaving after they've been there all day. Like I I certainly walk home so maybe there's someone on Water Street being like, "Man, that lady walks half drunk past my house every year." But like I think he's just saying in general it promotes drinking.

Yeah. What are we doing? Is that the responsibility or the role of government? You promote local businesses. You promote micro breweries. I don't think we promote, you know, public displays of alcohol. And that's an old health teacher. I have nothing against alcohol, Fred. I drank more Guinnesses than you did on St. Patrick's Day. But no, didn't have a single one. Come on, man. What are you doing? Anyway, that's

Yeah, I think there's just some digging in to do here. And you know, First Fridays is another conversation. And I think it exists somewhere in the events line in the budget. But from a manpower standpoint, First Fridays has been a lot of help from public works, like dropping off tables and trash cans. A lot of help from the police being there. But like night of the physical moving of tables, that's me and my husband booking the musicians. That's me and a couple of volunteers. And I'm not doing it this year.

I am gone every single first Friday. So, I am on either work trips or personal travel May, June, July, and August. So, if First Fridays are going to continue, we're going to have to decide that that's worth an investment of staff time to do. And maybe it's not. I mean, I think it's a wonderful event. Obviously, I started it. I think it is a wonderful event, but I think there are there just we just have to think about what we're going to

And it's not just the the money that it costs to fund an event. First Fridays is relatively free. The musicians are 250 bucks a month. You're talking about you get the whole season for $1,000. But the staff time, the staff time of delivering tables, the staff time of cutting checks for musicians, the the time that I spend that would need to be replaced by someone else to get vendors there. all and I and I'm willing I mean I'm not going to be at any of them but I'm willing to do some of that behind the scenes stuff don't get me wrong but just as we think about Main Street, as we think about economic development, as we think about events, we need to figure out what the what the endgame is and it's certainly not to me the balance sheet on Maryland Crafted, but like I said, we said last year we would do two years.

Your first Fridays have grown. I mean, you've got to the point now where you've got a nice crowd, you have kids, you have adults, and it's become a community event. I mean, if we have to get staff staff time and pay staff to be there, that's stupid. You shouldn't have to do it. I mean, Harry carried the table for me every Friday night for a while and your kids, right? So, the point is, and I'm going to miss I'm going to miss them this summer, whether they happen or not, and I'm not there. It just is the way my calendar shook out. But, all right. Just one last point. um being involved with economic development, one of the things that we've been looking at is getting designated as a arts and entertainment district.

And the more we cut back on these kinds of events, the less likelihood, you know, that's ever going to happen.

And we're not going to be expanding our reputation as a community, you know, that wants to support those kinds of things if we diminish a lot of that. So, I agree. Just want to put that out there. Listen, I think, you know, anything we can do, especially with music, we have such a vibrant community here. I mean, something that I'm really proud of about First Friday that I wish Rock on the Porch could say is that the musicians all come from here. They're Queens County based musicians and and so like I think it is awesome from an arts and entertainment district standpoint to be able to say like we're supporting the local arts, you know, right here in town and giving them opportunities to display their talents. But let's spend some time. So, when's our next budget work session?

Next. April 2nd. Right. We're not having one next week. Yeah. Sorry. I I was wrong. Two weeks. Oh, it is in two weeks. Okay. We don't have one next week. Okay. So, we do have a small break. Okay. So, that'll give us some time. So, let's all put some thought into what you think about the sort of events universe. We can come back to that line. Same thing with donations. And then we need to dig in on a couple of other things. So sorry, just to confirm, is it April 2nd? Okay. Because we have a closed session April 2nd. So is it the closed session for the or do we have a BIS? So is it wrong? Is there a closed session on April 2nd? I'm just trying to make certain schedule.

I think we were doing that if um we have all the um applicants for CEDA. I think that's what that was for. I think Fred's working through them. I was going to bring that up, but I don't know. Bring it up in the next in the council meeting. is to confirm. Okay. All right. So, everyone be thinking about events, be thinking about what we think that should look like. Dive in on this Main Street budget and we'll discuss that at the April 2nd. And obviously work can happen in between. Not not collectively, but we can you can meet with Gay, you can meet with Karen, you can meet with Carol, you can ask all the questions you have. I'm sure Carolyn is like already wondering when I'm going to come talk to her about First Friday. It'll probably be super soon.

Um, so yeah. All right. So, please, yeah, if something comes up, you're not sure, reach out. We we'll help you out. So, then there were some things on operating we wanted to go back to.

So, if you look at um page two of the packet, I just kind of put a summary of um the changes we made last week. And so Crystal and I went back and um reviewed salary and benefit and based on like staffing levels and vacancies, there was some tweaking uh of a couple of the salary and benefit lines. Um the legislative dinner which is in A10, we added $3,000 to the budget line from 5 to 8. We removed the grant writer um as she had passed away during the after we had already put it in the budget. um capital changes. We removed the 70,000 expenditure for the computers for the police vehicles as we're going to cover it in the current fiscal year. So now you're looking at a new budget with a general fund surplus of 98,493 and an enterprise fund surplus of $8,95. Okay. At our council retreat, we had discussed prioritizing getting economic development staffing back in the universe. Um, and it's tough to do that with such a tight budget, but I think we do need to do that. So, do we want to talk about that next, guys? It be A92, right?

Yes. So, A92 is on page Give us a page to the right page. A92 is on page eight. Yeah. So, an economic development position would be um inclusive of the A92 budget, right? It would have to be in this budget.

Yep. Right now, we have So, it used to be that we had halftime Main Street, halftime economic development, and then we eliminated the halftime economic development, which was supposed to be temporary while we sort of adjusted. I don't To me, the right decision is probably making that one full-time position, but then we have to hire for it. I mean, certainly our current Main Street manager could possibly be interested. I don't know, but it might not be the easiest thing in the world to hire for it is my one concern. Is there a part because of salary you think to attract?

Yeah, just because of it's it's difficult. It's difficult for us to find sometimes specialized staff like that. things are difficult that are still worthwhile. Yeah. No, I agree. Is a part-time person interested in full-time? I don't know the answer to that. We can not going to have a conversation about an individual personnel publicly though. Um, do we have any estimate on what that position I don't know if you guys did any digging after we talked about it at retreat. Any estimate on what that position would cost? I think we've done some preliminary. Crystal, you want to come up?

Doesn't look like you do, but And listen, I know it's a difficult conversation. We're talking about repositioning some positions. Uh so when you're looking at a full-time uh classified position um you know looking if we're looking at a range of for a specialized position of of that those job duties I mean the salary of like let's say I don't know anywhere between do you need 75 or 85,000 well I mean we did discuss it I did do some research but you know you have to also tack on

I think there was one that is a certain number and another one that was like $20,000 more and I mean there's just benefits and all that you know I I know that Kent County um I think recently hired uh or is you know actively looking for an economic development manager but their starting salary was like in the 90s that was a main street manager or excuse me main street manager a full-time main street manager which they're going to treat the same way that's okay

I think I think it's fair to say that in a lot of smaller towns the main street manager is also economic development Yeah, but I'm thinking if you're counting in all the benefits, I mean, you're looking at easy 120 150,000, you know, for a position, if you're trying to um estimate whether they in because they'll whether they're eligible for state retirement or health insurance, um right, you know, life insurance, all of those things would have to be considered on top of the the the salary itself. Would it be about half that if we're converting a part-time to a full-time? Um, potentially. I think it'd be a little less than half. I think it'd be more than I think

it'd be more than twice what we're paying now. Yes. Correct. Yes. Yeah. But you can look and see on page two of this one of that sheet. Yeah. Of the position cost sheet for A92. Okay. What I would like And we need to get consensus for this, but in the next budget book, if there's consensus for that to do a little bit of additional research and have that position built in as a repurposing of the current part-time position and then it doesn't mean it's I mean nothing's final until we strike the budget,

right? I mean, I think overall in general, I've supported it. You know, I've talked about it for the last six months and I think a lot of towns have a full-time position. I don't think that's untrue. I mean I think it is

economics it's both main street and economic development so it's quite common um so no matter what you want to call it whether it's main street economic product of economic development so I think it's important that we devote the investment to it just because how important it is to the town um and I just think it's you know having a part time is is difficult ult to execute on things um and and doing different things with business owners and again they're not going to be an event coordinator but events comes with that it's just a matter of how much and that's where you're balancing it. So um so I mean I do support it as far as just doing it um and just as we kind of navigate this budget in general.

Yeah. Obviously, I've spent a lot of time over the last three or four months in econom excuse me, economic development. Had a meeting today with a business owner uh here in town. And the more people I talk about and the list that I'm accumulating of those I think might end up being on the CEDA authority board, um they're going to need some support and organization to keep, you know, to make him effective. Uh I've gone back to on our website. I kind of wish it wasn't there, but it it was important that how ineffective uh the SEDA board became because nobody was showing up.

Yeah. Uh I mean there was multiple ordinances that in meetings of town council meetings where uh they couldn't get a quorum or they had one person show up for. So, we're going to need to have some mechanism and probably some body to help drive and make that a cohesive organization and effective. Otherwise, we're wasting our time. Agreed. Because these are all volunteer people that are going to be participating with this and you need someone to really drive and and make it effective. Yeah. Board boards are only as effective as you make them be, right? You have to give them opportunities to engage. So, other if people aren't engaged, they're not engaged. So,

so action item then would be to come with the next one with the salaries updated to include this as a full-time position. So, you can see convert it to a full-time position and let us see that. All right. No problem. Thank you. You're welcome. On the same. So, I'm not on the same. No, no, no, you're good. You're good. No, no, who knows? Don't get too comfortable. All right. I was So, currently, we have the surplus of 98,000. I also wanted to revisit the one capital item discussed of the parking study for 65,000 um that's currently in the general fund. You'd wanted to talk think about it some more and talk about it again to decide if we're going to Yeah, I mean there's a lot I think there's several more things we need to revisit, but do you want to do that one now? Parking study. Are you not ready yet?

Well, no. I think No, I am. I think it's I mean I think the parking study as I mentioned last and Peter and I have talked. I think we we have a parking study that hasn't changed much as far as the town and what's happened in the town. And I think there's um Peter is doing um a great job as far as um in Salsbury GSI GIS GIS. And so I think we're able to do this and not spend $65,000. And again, it's not capital, it's expense, but it wasn't put in the operating budget. So it's not going to affect that number. It's just cash. Well, it will affect the the overall because the capital is accounted for in the summary sheet. So I

I slide it over just to for transparency purposes to see so that it'll add 65,000 to the surplus. So you did for this draft. Sorry about that. No, that's okay. Sorry. I didn't know that. So now this this number you're speaking to includes a negative $65,000. Correct. It's okay. So I mean I'm comfortable with it. I think Peter's very comfortable with it. which I rely on Peter. I mean, Peter understands, you know, as far as what's what the planning commission to do. I mean, it's up to you. Let's just, you know, play musical chairs. A parking study. A parking study.

I'm fairly comfortable with removing I'm I'm very comfortable with removing the parking. Whoa, she just said I'm very comfortable. I I frankly think that with the development timelines that we have, you know, projects coming through town, knowing what's happening there, you know, the parking, the parking is going to take care of itself for Providence Farms and homes that are being built here. Um, you know, frankly, a more effective strategy is doing something with parking in the central business district, right? We have the planning commission has a lot of uh tools at their disposal based upon the upon the parking ordinance. Um they can revise the parking up to like 50% whatever. But those tools are also kind of limited. If you think of some of these vacant buildings, you know, if they're going to repurpose that building that's for a use that's significantly different than than whatever it was, you know, maybe it's four apartments and somebody wants to build something that is more of a public commercial space, right? then then it pushes them back into the into the parking realm. So, you know, some kind of overhaul of like, you know, maybe a moratorum on parking in the central business district to try to like get people to redevelop these things like those are going to be more effective strategies than spending $60,000 on a parking stud.

We understand the layout there. Yeah. So, I think that's a discussion strategy how to go about it effectively relating to development within the business district. So again, it can be done differently without spending 65,000. So I agree with you. Okay. Scared me there when you started. You're fairly comfortable. Like fairly comfortable. Seemed like you really wanted a parking study theater, but it sounds like we're taking it away. Is everyone good getting rid of that in the budget? Sorry to skip skip. I was just there. We're in a place to do that. I feel so everyone feels comfortable removing the parking study from the budget.

We just have to give some consensus or the staff has no clue what to do. Okay. All right. So, those were all of the action items I had noted for redisussion at this work session. So, I think we wanted to revisit there's two positions proposed in public works. I think some C1 and that would fall in page let me get you there. 13 of your budget.

All right. And so currently, um, Crystal can speak to the what's in the salary. Kip can speak to the, uh, impact or question or for him, you know. Yeah. We've just been really hesitant over the last couple of years to dramatically increase headcount. Not that two is dramatic, but we've been really careful about headcount because once you hire them, that's a forever cost in some ways. A long-term cost. You should you should plan for it forever. Yes. Yes. Yes. Now, any questions or you want to bring it?

I think again when I looked at the first draft of the budget um and I asked Kip at the time like is there vacancies currently with staff? It may not may not be this exact position, but as far as what the vacancy rate was first department, remind me what that was. I thought it was like So, we had we have two two seasonal part-time. So, that's between April and end of September time frame. And then um we have one full-time utility worker um skilled uh utility worker that's vacant. That's vacant currently. That's two two positions, two FTEEs. I use the term FT one full-time and then two temporary seasonal

temporary just so it's like is that a.5 for during the year two five the one and a quarter yeah of FTE so probably well five for both yeah one and a half total one and a half total thank you okay just confirming just so I'm not yes so we have one and a half vacancy right now and we're asking for two and I I feel from that perspective like having can we have one instead instead of two. That would be my, you know, can we do that as it relates to that given there's a current vacancy and move, you know, just kind of take half versus two full time. And what we've done previously when we've made changes to staffing proposed is say we'd revisit it mid year.

So there's nothing that says we can't come back to the budget at mid year. It's not fixed. But Kip, do you want to come and speak to why you're I can't speak for Kip. Yeah, of course not. Of course not. None of us can speak. just trying to it's this is the most difficult budget year since I've been here in terms of there's just no room in this budget like at all and I know you guys have already cut stuff so we're not trying to be mean but

the reason we're asking for two more full-time the services that the council ask of us to give to the residents uh you were just talking about uh things special events those type of things um you know, it's hard enough to find people that want to work to begin with. So, we're in a much better shape as far as that compared to what it has been in past years. But, um just look at how the parks have grown in the past 10 years. Yeah,

that's all more grass to mow, more maintenance, all that kind of stuff. Um, you know, there has been uh some development also. I mean, Northbrook has built out and Symphony Village has built out. So, there's that's much more road surfaces to keep up with. It's that much more snow to push. Um, you know, it's things like that. And uh we're actually we used to have uh three I'm sorry four more positions than what we currently have.

All right. And that was as far as I'm going to say eight years ago. So and we haven't gotten any relief as far as what's coming down the road. what we need to now take care of that kind of stuff. Uh the town's grown, you know, there's more and more services that are getting added to it. You know, we only have so many people to work with and all it takes is two of them to go decide to go on vacation at one time, which is not a big ask to get sick or get sick. Right. Um we're trying to prevent the burn,

you know. It's it's all about the work and what you want done, you know. So, can I ask it? Sorry. C So, are you saying the but over the years the number of positions have been cut in your area over the last five years, 10 years? I'm going to say eight. Yeah. Okay. I don't think it's been in the last couple. I think it was cut before the last couple. Yes. Yeah. I don't think since I've been here. Yeah. No. Okay. which has been I mean even you take the number of homes that's been built since then and add that to the uh to the equation too right we also used to have very high turnover in public works we do not anymore

I attribute that to Gary obviously but we give Gary all the credit Gary is he deserves he deserves credit too absolutely whenever I'm looking at budgets I'm always looking offsetting costs and and uh in not just your department but elsewhere. It seems that we have a lot of contract employees or or consultants that we're paying. And is there any way that we could if we hired one or two new people that some of those contract services could be eliminated?

Because I can tell you right up front, you folks are not going to approve what it's going to cost to hire an engineer that we use as a consultant. Um, I was thinking you and I don't know what all the consultants are doing or services if it's mowing, if it's plowing or or if it's doing other kind of work. But the reason we hire a contractor to help us with the snow, we don't have the people or the equipment when these bigger storms and we don't want to be prepared for it every year. No, I get that. Right. Um,

I just didn't know if there was any ongoing uh I know we've got three I think people uh is it Suscoana that you know does and I don't know if that's something that we could take in house or I know we that's the plan possibly take that over for what it would cost to set it back up again. That's the treatment or running up the treatment rate. Yeah. So you don't see any costsaving opportunities? If there was, I'd already done it by cutting when we're losing employees. We've done the best we can. I don't ask for the world when we're working on this budget. I am trying to maintain the town. That's all.

It would be different if um we had trucks that look like what State Highway has. They're always waxed and polished. you don't see their trucks, you know, being 12 years old, right? You know, we know. Um, so again, you have to remember when you want these things to happen, it's not going to happen without the help or without having to pay somewhere.

I respect your judgment with that. I just always want to pursue that. No problem. Yeah, I'd be glad to sit down with you anytime and talk over. Um, yeah, we have a contractor that weed eats the cemetery. When we were doing that, it was a week-long effort to try and use town staff to weed eat the cemetery. How much I love the cemetery. You still keep up with the the streets and roads, the everyday um you know, all of that kind of stuff when you add that into it. We added sidewalks back into the purview. I mean, there is. You're right. There's an increased workload, I think.

Yep. What I saw your your team do this winter. One day, you're clearing snow at the same time taking care of broken pipes or freezing and breaking. Yeah. I see the great job we doing in the grass cutting. I think I wish I had win the lottery tomorrow. You need certainly more stack and any deduction would be uh services to the town would be I think if I win the lottery I'm going to buy a new wastewater treatment plant name it after my mother-in-law. That's just my personal hopes and dreams by the way. You do a great job. All right. And I think that um Crystal's salary sheet for C11 shows the cost.

It does. It's inclusive of the the two proposed positions. Like if you want just if you just wanted to see what they call so it would be Crystal's packet proposed. So it's the utility workers. It's in the gray the gray. Oh, okay. Utility work for you. Got it. Got it. Your one more and these are already in these two both positions are already in the budget. They're in the budget. Yes.

Where I am. So for me, whenever I hear increasing headcount, it makes me nervous just because like I said, it's the long-term cost. But I think at least for me, you justified it to me in terms of like we have taken on even just in my four and a half years up here, more roads, additional sidewalks, the parks are expanding. We're going to talk more about parks tonight. Like there's a lot and and people are demanding more services and we haven't raised the tax rate. people's tax bills are increasing because assessments are increasing but we haven't raised the tax rate but we we do expect more and so I think I'm I feel comfortable with leaving these two FTE in but I'm only one person so

yeah I mean just for information I would like to know how your FTEES have been cut over the five year whatever it just gives me a reference point to kind of know that there were XFTEES it was cut in you know just to give a sense of how your department has been impacted acted over the last five whatever it was. You know it because that's information I didn't know. Yeah, that's all I can sit here and tell you exactly what it is or what it was. But I'm not going to sit here and point fingers. No, no, I just about how much Oh, I know. Nobody here. Listen. But some were how much you were staffed is all I'm saying.

It's crazy turn of events. I've been here the longest. What? It's just to give you a reference point. I think Crystal and I can do like go back 10 years and just see what No, I think that's I have Yeah, I was going to say I have the organizational charts for Yeah, if come mid year we've somehow still been unable to hire these positions, we can re like we can say okay this isn't reality, you know, budget against reality. But all right, let's have that for the next meeting. The historical the historical but for me you have my support Kip on keeping those positions in. You got to work on these other people but And what's in the budget for these two positions that's to take effect as of the first of the July one. July one.

Yes. So would you start recruiting now to hire then or we'll start before July one? Definitely. I mean we'd have to do it once like once the budget is approved like the positions have been officially approved we would adopt the beginning of June the applicant. Right now, we're actively looking now, right, to replace the the vacant staff member. So, um yeah, some of those that come through if there's a couple of them that look good, you know, somebody hopefully we can call back in first of July. Yeah.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Or should I just I have a feeling you're not done, but who knows? At least I'm getting stuff. All right. Okay. All right. Does Was there any other um action items that I missed from last week that you guys wanted to go over? Can I ask you a question? Can I go ahead? Yeah, absolutely. By the way, thank you for Tuesday. Uh yeah, for the help and other staff members. On page eight and 16 of the old binder, there is a significant cut cut to uh consultants. Page eight. Eight and 16. Hold on. Of the old packet.

The old packet, not the new one. Let me go back to last week's packet. Page Mine's gotten out. I think page eight is a 92. Eight. contract services, professional fees, $25,000 less if I read that correctly. Paid74. You got it. Yeah. And that's cuz we reallocated stuff around or so what we Carolyn and I sat down with Gay and went over our contract. This kind of went really looked through our contract serve. This used to be kind of a catchall for stuff and yeah, we have moved other things and other line items. So, this one didn't seem It used to have the YMCA in it.

Yeah. The YMCA that got moved out to each individual department. Um, and some other ones we've moved now we have them under software. Um, so history-wise, we weren't spending that full 100. So, we w we are the 125. So, we just went we went back to 100. Page 16 is minus three. the amount

16 is landfill and we did not reduce. What we did was we broke out trash to trash, recycling and um yard waste. To be a little more transparent so you could see what each one costs. So what we did was what was currently contract services, we now have a recycling services, a trash service, a yard waste. So the the 389 there was then redistributed to the same department, the three lines under I remember that from last night.

Excellent. Here's my question. uh when uh we first came on board November or December when we get our monthly statements of what we're bills we're paying. Uh Harris Jones and Malone, a consulting company, we're paying uh 66,000 some odd dollars. Uh my question is uh who are they? What are they doing? That's our lobbyist. Well, what are they doing? I who they lobby what are they lobbying for funding for the wastewater treatment plant primarily, but also keeping us informed of anything that affects municipalities. My question is, is it 6,000 plus per month we're paying? Um, five and change a month. Yes, that's $80,000 a year. I think it's Is it 85 or is it I thought it was um Sorry, I have to look at what the total cost.

If we want to go back out for bid this year, it's been a few years. It might not be the craziest thing, but they are one of the top firms in Annapolis. Well, I have no problem with that. Matter of fact, called the old superintendent of schools. This particular lobbying group has a wonderful reputation in one particular area getting money for African-American activities. Okay. Fantastic. Uh but we're spending 80 thou this a question. $80,000 a year. What tangible results do we have? $16 million. We have 16 million. Yes, we have it in the pot. Okay, that's what that's the then that's an answer to the question. Okay. So 80,000 certainly worth 16 million. Okay. Okay. So we are are we seeing that every year?

No, we're get So we got our onetime 16 million and then they're continuing to help advocate for additional funding. This is probably the worst budget year the state's ever had. I mean they she's getting us we're having meetings with our legislators and the people in the um departments that we need to have meetings with. It's just it's the it's the legislative budget that's the the issue. They don't really have that much control. So if we're spending 80,000 to get 16 million, that's not a bad deal if that's what reality is. Yeah. Yeah. Okay, that's fine.

And I think, you know, when I was a lobbyist, I represented a lot of municipalities and I think it's something municipality should have. I mean, so much can happen to you in Annapolis also if you're not paying attention. Does she provide any kind of forecast on what kind of grants or funding she's working on

when she when she comes across funding? Yes. or any grants then she will send them to us. Um or she's also helped us with um when we have submitted again part of the the um funding that we've gotten in the past, she has also helped um reach out to the people who need to be reached out to um to talk to them about just getting Centerville in front of them in order to help move the process. She doesn't do the grant writing. No, she doesn't do that. We have our own grant. She'll just point us to where those are granted. Yes. Yeah. If she comes across things, she'll send them to us. But no, they don't write our grants for us.

Yeah. Yeah. But they help you gain access. It's more of an access to Yeah. lobbyist open the door for you. You got to walk through. So 80,000 for 16 million. And like I said, the council can always consider, you know, I manage 10 different lobbying firms around the country for my day job. I try to put them out for bid every five years at a minimum. Just it's good practice. Doesn't mean you don't keep who you have. But is it possible we could get a I mean, because we're new to the board, could we get a list of who our lobbyist is, what we're paying them, and what they're doing? I haven't seen that, and it's not really in the budget. You send it to the whole council every for reports. Does that come to the whole council Sunday? I mean all the consultants we have

right across the board. Oh all the consultants just so for the especially for the rookies. You want a list of all the consultants and then what they're for. Harris Jones and Malone. We pay them x amount of dollars and they do the following. I mean it just be helpful. Okay. For all the all our department I think it helpful to me. I don't know about just like I think like a one cheater on that would be good. Yeah. Yeah. I've asked the question too when I question. So, in the fact that we're still relatively uh early in our process, it's your first budget season. Yes. Ask all the questions. And I can't tell you how much fun it's been. It's a blast. It could be way worse. This is I could be a lot less funny and then who knows?

This is easy. The board of the board, afraid the the board of ed budgets 108 million and they let you out a That's like screwed up. Okay. That's a thousand employees. That's uh 7,000 students. This is easy. And this staff has done a super job preparing it because you deal with 108 million. But no, I do like the idea of a list of the contract services. I mean, I feel like I've gotten a pretty good handle on it over the years, but it for the rookies, it's tough. Yeah. Why not? When someone comes and says, "Fred, what does Harris Jones and Malone do for you for $80,000?" And you go, "I'm not sure." But nice to be able to say, "Bing, I got $16 million." Does that make sense? Yeah. Okay. I'd appreciate that. I don't know what the other four I would too. Yeah,

I like that idea. Okay, I had one question. Um, so page 22, the old draft. I don't know. I don't think call if I asked this question, but it was farm revenue other than sale of crops went from 59,000 to 40. So there was a reduction of 19. I don't know if we talked about that last time. Yeah, that's the reduction in acreage we'll have for expanding the lagoon for the wastewater treatment plant. So what we can bring in, correct? Am I correct? Okay. Okay. So, Lagoon is taking Yeah, it's taken some of the acres away. Was so excited to come up again and then you took it from me. I'm so sorry. I knew there was a reason. I just wanted to know why. He looked desperate to come chat with us.

And it's just an estimate like we're not exactly sure how many, you know, so that could change, but he did say definite production. So low anyway. Okay. Gotcha. Got to get one more. Yeah. Need for the next 20 minutes. And you heard a little bit about this Tuesday. We didn't get to finish the story. I had an employee, one of our staff we think asked me, hey, do we have in the budget a place where I can go for wastewater treatment? I can take a course. Chesby College offers CEUs and wastewater treatment. Do we have a place in the budget where we do one of the chiefs police officers can be get it? So, where where do I where is it? And there's a safety aid training and education line in every department. We've increased it over the years.

We have. And then there's also a lodging and travel and a conference line. So those three are all used in conjunction when we send people to conferences to trainings. Um KIP's guys can come to him if they want to take any classes. Same with Chief I'm pretty sure you know Caroline is very so the money's available. Absolutely. If someone wants to take a course they can take it. Absolutely. Okay. I go to Carolyn all the time when I'm like hey this conference or you know for finance stuff and the correct procedures they tell the super a request to the supervisor and then Okay. Yep.

Thank you. I did just want to point out um we had our final meeting with the um Stantech today for their utility rate study. So we are hoping to have them present to you the second meeting in April and that'll kind of go over what they um think the rates should be based on the new plant and the cost of getting that plant on board, the new cost to run a plant when it's here and all those things. So we're hoping to have that the second one in April so that you know if we do need to make any changes to the rates could possibly get it done before 1 July

and will that at that time as far as comparative to other municipalities other towns will there be some kind of again to know how we compare to others today you know as far as benchmarking now I will tell you the comparative nature he used were some of the bigger places so of course we're not compare. You know, it's hard to find somebody similar with resident the number of residents like we have. Um so it shows we're above people like Anna Rundle and Annapolis because they have more users. Yes. To spread the cost. Yeah. So yes, but there is he has done smaller town still like you know

he has done put some thought into it and he actually had a spreadsheet today right that we looked at it showed a couple different um queens county and those were the allocation fees but he he does have them for user fees too just compared it with other similar populations to know are we in it are we high are we low I mean again I don't know yeah nope he definitely will have that as part of his presentation so Okay. Capital, are we good on operating? No. Yes. No. I did blue tab your um the capital is like your third blue tab in the updated. All right. On the first page, we already struck the parking study.

Yep. Next page is blank. Yeah. So, there was no enterprise well, no enterprise requests this year. And the third page is just the list of grants or earmark opportunities we're looking at. Right. Well, I mean, there is the $36 million ask capital ask enterprise fund, but that's okay. Yeah. And once I win the lottery, try it, guys. Yeah. So, any specific capital questions you have or any information you'd like from any department heads on capital? Um, did you refresh the um the five-year uh capital? I did. And I did. Is it in here? No.

Oh, that's okay. It's sitting on my desk. When you when you and I talked, there was just some little some small stuff that needed to come out. That's after I put all these together, I I was like And then I walked out and I said, "Holy crap, there's not going to change anything. It was more just so it's, you know, and it'll just update the line removing the police um computers that we adjusted from last time. So, when we come back next week, I'll reprint you the fiveyear to to match that. Thank you. Okay. All right. Well, we have two weeks until our next budget session. Yeah, that should give folks plenty of time. Gay, I will set up some time with you. Talk Main Street. I'll set up some time with you, Carolyn. I'm home for 25 straight days.

Wow. My calendar. I know. It's really exciting. Um, do I get time on your calendar? Anytime, Karen. Um, but so just make staff is available to you all the time, but during budget season, they would love to answer your questions and have conversations. You know, the full team invests a lot of time in giving us a good draft to work from. And I'm very grateful for how smooth the process feels and how able our department heads are to discuss and justify and talk through every line of their budget. So even when we don't always agree, I just appreciate the process. Yeah.

Actually, I think it's important that one rookie anyway, but Karen and I bug gay and every who I bug, we appreciate the time walking us through because we know nothing. I don't anyway. Fred's smarter than I am, but I don't. So, we appreciate that. Staff would certainly rather spend all the time to answer your questions and have us make an uninformed decision. Yeah. So, just really cannot thank all of you, all the staff that's here enough for all the work you've put into this. So, appreciate it. All right, citizens forum. If you going to need a motion to adjurnn and we'll have a little break before our meeting. Okay, we're journ. Yeah.

We'll now call this March 19th meeting of the Centerville Town Council to order. We'll start with the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for a moment of silence. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right. Next up, we have agenda review. Are there any changes or additions to the agenda? None. Okay. And we have the review of the minutes from past meetings. You have in your packet the March 5th meeting minutes. Are there any additions or changes to those minutes? Okay, hearing none. Is there a motion to approve the minutes as presented? Got it. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I I Okay, we will now go into our first citizens forum. Citizens are requested to keep their comments to three minutes or less. Are there any citizens that wish to address the council? Is this when you wanted to have Sandy? Miss Sandy, please

come on up. Sandy, you're up. Well, welcome the first day of spring tomorrow, everybody. Thankful. Yeah.

And in honor of Well, I'm going to talk about Arbor Day, National Arbor Day, which this year is Friday, April 24th. On the first Arbor Day on April 10th, 1872, J. Sterling Morton convinced fellow Nebraskans to plant more than 1 million trees on that one day. So that was the first Arbor Day. Um, I want us to really appreciate trees. We celebrate trees for giving us so many things. Beauty, the shapes of them, the color of the leaves, the flowers, food, fruits, nuts, maple syrup, cocoa beans, wood products, lumber and paper, shade and shelter from sun and wind, breathable air. We get oxygen from that. And the the trees take in all carbon dioxide and give us oxygen. They're a habitat for birds and animals and their cover for soil preventing erosion. For my first 12 years with National Arbor Day, I led I had the pleasure of leading two second grade classes from CES to plant Arbor Day trees along the Milstream Trail. What a joy to see them learn about trees and then get their hands dirty helping to plant the trees. They love that. This year, Arbor Day will be the best

end of the open lawn will be on 24th. It it won't be along the trail. It'll be on the u west end of the open lawn adjacent to half line. And we're also honored to be a Tree City USA which provides a framework for communities to maximize and increase their public trees. So I want you not just to I want you to really look at trees and say thank you trees. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you Sandy. And just to piggy back off that, we did receive our Tree City USA for 2025 materials the other day. So we can update our sign and Awesome. We are good to go for another year. And the first me our next meeting will have the Arbor Day proclamation which is a requirement for Tree City USA. So we'll have that for the council. Are there any other citizens that wish to address the council? Mary Margaret, did you No. Okay. See her back there. All right. Yeah. You're going to see her. All right. Next up, we have appearances. Julian Warren, if you want to come up. Hello. Hi. How are you?

Great. How are you? I'm great, thank you.

I'm Julie Kelly. I'm the opioid education and prevention coordinator for Queen Ants County. Um, we're here to request permission to provide a permanent uh prevention message by way of murals on the existing town billboard um railroad and Tidwell. Is everyone familiar with that site? Um I have a picture also if you're not.

Yeah, this is what it currently looks like. It's just a brown woods. Okay. So, um, we've put our, uh, more grant in for FY27, and in that grant, I requested funding to support this project if it is approved through the town. Uh, what we'd like to do is provide um, an artist to work with students to put up a mural on both sides with a prevention message uh, supporting QAC Goes Purple. So, that's what we're here to propose this evening. I love it. I think it's a great idea. Staff okay with it? I'm okay with it.

So So I I love the idea. I'm totally supportive. So as far as just what will be um put on the sign as far as just the graphics again, I don't know what the grant process is and how that looks, but um will there be an opportunity for you to say, "Listen, this is what we've chosen. This is what we're going to do on the sign." Just to kind of just to know before it goes up, that's all.

Um absolutely. What we were going to do was have the ambassadors, the Queen's County drug-free student ambassadors work with me to come up with a couple of different slogans. Um, we were going to present that to our designer. Um, we do have, uh, an artist, actually is an art teacher from Ken Island High School that is interested in doing the artwork for us. She has experience doing murals. So, um, we put funding in there to support her efforts. um obviously not enough to to pay for her skills, but something um a stipen to help um with her her work and then also all of the uh fees for all of the supplies that she will need. Yeah.

Um and that also includes a uh clear coating over the top to protect the any artwork that's put up there. And we understand that at any time if the board is rented that someone may put another banner up over the top while they're renting that space. And we're perfectly fine with that. So would the artist be the one that actually executes that or will she be working with students? She will work with students. So the students will actively be also painting, right? They will help her in whatever fashion that she would like. And if there are drugree student ambassadors that want to help, um we've discussed that as well. I'd like them to be a part of it. Even if they aren't artists, they can hold the ladder. They can do whatever it is that she needs support with.

I think it's great. I love the engagement. I think that matters a lot. um and you know the students involved and just in the whole process. I just think it's it's lovely and again I was just like curious like what you end up doing you know would love to see it that's all. Yeah absolutely we will we can bring it back to the town and and make sure that you guys are all happy with what we what designs are come up with. Cool. Well Julie is an old health educator. We know the more information you give young people and adults about the dangers of drugs. I know Julie, do you know I put up with Warren twice this week. He addressed the veterans group. Warren, I think that means Warren put up with you twice.

No, Warren. Julie, I got to brag on. We We've taught together for 30 years. He's done an outstanding as you both have. Thank you guys very much. But I did want to since I don't have to do anything, thank you. I did want to thank you for the nine years we've been doing QA goes purple. We've been sticking signs all over the place. the one we did last year. This is one of 120 that got the most feedback, but I also wanted to talk about this one. There's six of these. Yes.

And we have two right over here. And I wanted to tell you that um we've changed them about 500 times. They've been there eight and a half years. And the deaths have gone from 16 a year. This is part of the thank you. Uh down to two. So hopefully next year if we get one or less than one death, then maybe we'll take all six of those babies down. But thank you for uh letting us put them up. Thank you. No, I think it's the work that you guys and the county are doing in this space is incredible. That's really important. Um yeah. All right. So we need formal I would if you want to for consensus. Yeah. Can someone make a motion to approve the what's requested in the letter? I make a motion to approve.

Okay. Second. All right. All in favor? I. All right. Thank you. Those students are a lot more creative than any of the adults. Yeah. I'm all about more art and more prevention, so it works for me. Y. Okay. Next up, Karen Campbell with the Paypoint HR compensation and classification study. Are you coming up too, Crystal? Or Uh, front and center. Go ahead. Front and center. It it if you have problems with it, I I Yes. Or I can do it for you. You can just tell me when to change it. Like, you want to push the

I want a job. You have a job. I'm just a job.

We'll expand that job description. Uh, so thank you. My name again is Karen Campbell. I'm with Paypoint HR and I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you this evening. And I'd like to thank the project team that we worked with, including um my good friend here and HR manager, the town manager, as well as the finance director. We did have an opportunity to sit down and speak with department heads and um met with employees as well to do briefing sessions with them to discuss the scope of the work, their role, the role of supervisors and how to complete something I'll speak to in a second in our industry that's called a job analysis questionnaire. Um so the study is designed to provide the town council with clear objective information to support informed decisionmaking. So, balancing the responsibility between being good stewards of taxpayer resources as well as being responsible employers to help make sure that the town of Centerville is able to attract and retain qualified individuals that provide the essential services needed by your residents. Um, so with that, we'll talk to key findings and um recommendations. So I'll begin with a brief overview of our approach, then walk through comparator selection and internal structure. From there, I'll cover the external market results and followed by recommendations and close with a summary conclusion. The project approach, the study uses integrated approach that looks at three equally important perspectives. Rather than relying on a single data point, we evaluate positions through three independent lenses to make sure that we're giving results that are balanced, objective, and tailored to the town of Centerville. So each metric

answers different question about how positions should be valued. The first metric is looking at internal equity which focuses on how jobs relate to one another within the organization. Especially in smaller organizations, employees tend to wear multiple hats. And this is based on job analysis and evaluates the factors such as responsibility, complexity, and impact to establish consistent internal hierarchy. Those are all considered factors the that the department of labor accept as reasons to pay one position differently than another. They're major nine major factors involved in that. So the second metric that we looked at is organizational structure. This reflects how the town is designed to operate. How roles are layered and how different functions are valued by the town of Centerville. Because not every organization values each department and function equally. We also apply a structured methodology to customize Centerville's response and um outcomes to ensure that the framework reflects the town's priorities rather than a one-sizefitsall type of model. The third metric is external competitiveness which compares the town's positions to the broader labor market. And together these perspectives create a balanced and defensible framework for decision-making. What makes this approach strong is that it does not rely on a single data point. Each metric stands on its own and together they provide a balanced view ensuring no one factor drives the outcomes. So looking at the comparator framework, one of the the key metrics is how the town competes with the external market.

So in order to look at the external market, we identified a group of organizations that reflect where Centerville competes for talent and we looked at the principal comparators. Initially we had uh the the survey sent to I believe about 32 organizations. We received responses for 15 of those organizations which is a very high response rate and we feel confident in the data that it has provided. Um but we have um these organizations selected based on the size of the organization, the services and scope of what they offer as well as labor market alignment. So those are kind of the components we use to use that. We collaborated with the project team here at the town of Centerville to come up with that list. So it wasn't just us looking at socioeconomic factors. It is also looking at who are you really competing against. And the goal is to ensure we are making apples to apples comparisons to the best of our ability. So results are relevant and reliable. So looking at internal equity and structure in addition to the external market we also looked at how positions are structured internally and how responsibilities are delegated on each job's um shoulders basically. So this ensures roles are aligned appropriately based on responsibility complexity and impact or those compensible factors that I mentioned earlier. and we look at internal classification um and conducted job analysis using employee questionnaires reviewed by management. So the employees are considered the subject matter experts here and we asked them to help us understand their position so that we can look at the external market looking at what is fair pay for that exact type of work. Um, so each position was evaluated

using consistent factors to establish a fair and objective hierarchy. So looking at the organizational structure here at Centerville, you are a very flat organization. That means decisions can be made fairly quickly. Um, your employees are also very generalized. So in larger organizations you see positions that are more specialized and it creates a challenge a bit when we're looking at how to define the role and finding comparators that are completing similar type of work. So that is um something a bit unique to the town of Centerville based on your size. So um larger organizations are a little bit more specialized and job titles don't always tell us the full picture. Um so there are opportunities within um Centerville to improve the clarity around career progression. Um but as far as we are concerned we did not see any major structural issues. So the external market um we then looked at and compared Centerville and uh this is where kind of our key takeaway comes from the study. So on average, let me make sure. Yeah. On average, Centerville salaries are approximately 10% below the market median.

Am I behind? Okay. Sorry. Oh, no. I think you're ahead. You went ahead too. I think we need to go back.

Go back is what I Thank you. All right. So, I should have let you do it. There you go. Um, so On average, you're approximately 10% below the median of the market. So from a practical term, that means that while some positions are competitive here at Centerville, overall the um the trend is Centerville is below market. So um there's also variations by position with some roles further behind the market than others. and areas of improvement um are specifically with administrative public safety and some leadership positions. Over time, this can create challenges with recruitment, retention and succession planning and these areas um are where we are focused in our recommendations. It was also requested of the project team that we consider total rewards and look at benefits and compare that to the external market as well. So in addition to base salary, we looked at the overall benefits and total rewards package. And Centerville's benefits are costefficient and supportive of employees was our finding. And while to total costs are slightly below market at 34% of total cost or total dollars spent to um employees, the town provides a strong value through its pension and employer paid benefits as well as medical plan structure. So the 34% at Centerville as compared to the external market at about 38% it tells us that the benefits are very well managed. and we looked at the quality of the benefits and that they were still very strong. So that that those are both good components. Um so these elements contribute positively to the town's overall total rewards position and um areas for possible

improvement with regards to benefits. Um is looking at your single premium coverage contributions and evaluating an out of network option. So overall the benefits program is a strength and a reason to help the town recruit and the primary focus because of this is really on the compensation component. So recommendations for compensation are looking at tier one priority which focuses on moving below market roles towards the 40th percentile in year one and addressing progression inconsistencies. Sorry. Um, priority tier 2 builds on that by moving towards the 50th percentile in year two and considering targeted benefit enhancements like I mentioned earlier. So, priority three focuses on ongoing administration including regular market reviews and a consistent approach to future adjustments. And we feel that this phased approach allows the town to move toward greater competitiveness in a measured and manageable way. So um as part of the deliverables paypoint HR is providing to you, we have given a format for updated job descriptions and the content for that and as well we will be delivering to the town a tool the town can use in the event that either you have a new position come on board or a position substantially changes how to place that into the pay scale and maintain your current integrity. So it's placing positions objectively within the pay scale. So in conclusion, um the study does provide a clear objective framework to support your decision-m and the recommendations provide a path

toward greater competitiveness while allowing flexibility and how and when changes are can be implemented. So the path forward is really a policy decision and it helps you to balance the fiscal priorities with the need to attract and retain the workforce that supports the town services. And um pretty much that concludes my presentation. I'm happy to answer questions. when you were doing the comparative analysis and appreciate the presentation and the work you've done on this really impressive. Um, yeah, I'm I'm looking at the different cities that were involved in the comparison and when you come up with how we compare either from a benefit standpoint or from a salary standpoint, how did you was that kind of a a total comparison as a average of all these different municipalities you're compared to or was it more specific to communities our size and in our region where cost of living may be different here than in Romeo County or Newark, Delaware.

Sure. Uh so good question and I I kind of feel like it was a little bit uh kind of a twofold question. When Paypoint HR began the the project with the project team, we came to the table with a list of organizations we deemed as similar to Centerville based on things like median household income, their population size, um labor force contribution size, their unemployment rate, items and factors along those lines. And mathematically we compare that to where Centerville is. And um we prefer to kind of cast a wider net because we want to have as many comparators as possible. We feel that additional data just makes the outcomes more valid. Um and we have tools in place that help us to protect from outliers. And uh we also worked with the project team to say, you know, here's the list paypoint HR brought to the table. We are from Maryland. We do know the lab local labor market, but tell us more about Centerville and who really are you competing with and you know based on your job titles maybe you know we need to look at other organizations who have similar type of utilities that maybe we wouldn't have flagged because populations were different. So that is kind of um the discussions that we had and how we came up with that list. Um now in analyzing the outcome and you know using the data that they provided to us the way that we um make sure that we don't have outliers is by using the percentiles that we we gave in the report. So we for every single job title list where the current position is being paid from the minimum to the midpoint and maximum and using the midpoint we compared that to the market 50th percentile. 50th percentile means that if there were 10 respondents five would

pay higher and five would pay lower. So it's not looking at averages because averages can skew the data. They're more responsive to outliers. So using those percentiles, it kind of helps narrow it down. Also too, that allows you as the council to dial in where it makes sense from a budgetary standpoint to position the town in the local labor market. So what we were saying is um you were 10% below the 50th percentile and not for all positions but the positions kind of in that administrative public safety and leadership positions. Um and to be financially responsible our recommendation is to come in making sure that you get those positions really kind of far out of alignment to at least that 40th percentile of the market. um that means that you have six communities in essence if there were 10 um paying more and four paying less. So you're not like being really aggressive on it. Um and then get you to that 50th percentile of the market. In the studies that we do, 50th percentile of the market is really kind of what most public organizations try to go to towards um depending on how uh the economy is doing oftentimes and we are seeing that um organizations are in public sector in particular are still increasing wages. They are starting to calm down a little bit postcoid. Uh so that's kind of the good news. I I went deep on that one, but

it's a really complex process when you're trying to do the comparative, particularly like in our environment where we have a lot of multitaskers, you know, you you know, so and you made comment to that that, you know, a lot of our employees are doing a lot more than what a typical job description may identify. I was also wondering though uh if you take into account if people that may live here but are commuting to Annapolis and their cost of commuting and that kind of thing that where that may have some financial relative you know impact on that comparison based on uh the potential value of a lifestyle of working where you live versus having to commute across the bridge and that kind of thing. So, it's a it's another factor or something, I guess, to to look at that. Not not to make it even more complex, but

there's a I I liken it to a hurricane model. There's so many possible variations and permutations. It's almost endless, but um to the best of our ability, we work to guide you based on the data towards a decision that makes financial sense and will help you have qualified employees. So, so my take excellent report by the way. My takeaway is our benefits are quite good. Pleased with that. We need to work a little bit on what you call compensation salaries. And what I my experience in the board of ed we were way below. But once the local board of ed came up in the middle, all of a sudden we got a lot more applications, a lot more qualified people because people knew you got great benefits and great salaries.

Yeah. When was the last time that we did a survey? So study I should say six years. Six or seven years ago. Maybe seven years ago. And it was conducted by me. Yeah. It was just Crystal. So that um I think I worked I think I worked from So I've been here. We've never done a an official professional official party. just called your study unprofessional. A professional. No, she she said this is the first professional one we had. I would take that pretty personally.

But no, I think this is great information. I you know, we dove into this a little bit previously. I think it's really helpful and also I think where our benefits came in. It's a testament to how much you advocate for the staff and and your work in HR. So, thank you Crystal. No, thank you. Absolutely. with your recommendation. I'm sorry to keep asking all these questions, but with your recommendation on how to remedy that over one year, then the second year, I don't know if you also looked at our budget where we are looking at increasing some of those salaries. H how we're measuring up with that one and two-year progression to kind of correct. So, the budget implements this, right?

Correct. So the budget actually implements almost all of their well for the most part most of their recommendations as far as the compensation aspect. So in the budget it includes the new salary scale you know and then the 40th percentile. Um but as I was um you know discussing with um you know Karen car Karen and Carolyn that you know the uh hopefully with the step and the cola we may actually get to the closer get to that you know 50th percentile market um by the end of the

by the by the end of next fiscal year. So Karen can come back and give us a much higher grade, an A+. Oh, not at least not for three to five years. Technically, that's around the the time you do any more reviews. I think you're saying in two years you'll have gotten to the already. Yes. Oh, okay. Be in great shape. Okay. Any other questions for Karen? I'll show away. And so what what's the recommendation? Three to five years. You should do this every three to five. Did I hear that? Yeah. Uh, our intent is for it to last you a long time. That's why we're giving you that tool to be able to objectively place positions. Um, but the industry standard is for every 3 to 5 years. Okay.

Yeah. Um, but you shouldn't have to do it, but the economy always is unpredictable, so you just kind of whatever. So, the general rule is three to five years. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Right. Crystal, don't go anywhere. Yeah. I saw my name on the list. All right. So, next up is under new business the revised salary scale recommendation from Crystal. So, you have a memo which we talked about this during budget work session last week. It's essentially to this is fully implemented in the new budget, but this is to start at April 1st rather than waiting until July 1st.

Correct. So, after speaking with Karen, our finance officer, we do have um uh some fund. We have enough funds in the current FY26 budget to uh Here she comes. Oh, yes. I'll be I didn't even know you were still here. You couldn't see me behind. To to uh be able to encompass the new salary scale structure, which would help to give that boost. Yeah. um and um not have a higher impact on the memo in your packet with a proposed motion to put this into effect on April 1st

and we would cover the current year cost with the other portion of the general fund and enterprise fund interest above the anticipated um revenue or expectation. Yeah, revenue. Sorry. Been a long day. Got the money. Let's do it. And the um the crystals packet that I had provided you earlier has whatever those salaries would be if this were approved for April 1st. So the current budget is inclusive of her recommendations as well as if you approve the 40th or the 40th percentile. Yeah. No, if you approve this appar

Okay. So this is the cost that will take us from April 1st to July 1st. Correct. And then the new budget, it's already baked in what's proposed. Yes. Yeah.

I think it's really important to stay competitive. I've always been um you know of that and I I I kind of like the source of generalist aspect because I think that's important versus specialists because I think it helps a person to grow and they're not just kind of pigeonholed and you have more flexibility in your duties and and learning and um so I think that's actually a good thing um in my perspective. So I think it's really important to stay on top of this to make certain we are remaining competitive because that's if you don't if you take your eye off of this that's when things kind of go downhill pretty quickly if you're not paying attention to this. So staff are your number one you know um I won't call it an asset because I think that's very inhuman but I think it's a very important you know relating to and

nothing we do could happen without our team. So, it's very important um to stay competitive and uh across the board and then there's goals here for the following year as far as other things that you got a road map as far as to focus on too on benefits and things of that. Um so, I'm very supportive of it. You like a motion? Yes. Okay. Uh we this I make a motion to approve the implementation of the revised salary scale recommended paypoint HR retaining 25 steps with a 60% range spread effective April 1, 2026. Okay. Is there a second? Second. All right. All in favor? I I thank you very much. All right. Thank you.

Good job. Good job.

Okay, Kip. Okay. Um, we've spoke about this a little bit off and on. I'm coming to you tonight to formally get approval to move forward with phase three of the the fourth park which includes the band shell. um updating the parking lot, expanding it, and uh there's several other things involved with it. Another pathway, lights, uh electric water, those kind of things. Um we uh advertised for bids and uh I have the the bids attached to the back of the memo here. Uh you can see we got I was very satisfied with all the the bids that were submitted. Um it was a good turnout for for what we were looking for. Um, with that being said, the staff is recommending that uh we make awards to Middleton's construction for the civil uh portion of it. Chuck's electric for the electric portion of it and the band shell itself um to green sites. Uh let me start with the band shell. I gave everybody this that before the meeting started. That front uh the cover that you see there is the what the band shell is going to look like from Greenscapes. Um it matches uh the picnic pavilions that we have down there now. Uh this is what we had

envisioned when we were going out to bids with this thing. The second page there shows you what uh the two other biders had bid on. They didn't actually qualify for what we were asking for other than it was it is a band shelf and estate. So it is something. Yep. It's uh of course there is a there is a difference in the price of it. So I mean just there's one this one is beautiful. Yep. So, um, okay,

with that being said, now I'm also going to tell you, uh, this work is being paid for by a grant, uh, back in 20 23 and 2024. We made the application. So, we got approval and the grant was awarded to us. Um the grant itself was $280,000722. Um when you get looking at the bid, the prices that were bid, uh we're at a deficit of $179,827. Most of that's due to the uh inflation and rates, all that kind of stuff. And from the time that we have put in for the grant to now, what I'm proposing tonight is uh we've been able to work with our the contractors that we have chosen and we can do a portion of this work this year. we can go back for another uh uh grant application in September, I think it's due, and hopefully get it awarded before the end of the summer next year to finish the remainder part.

So, what are we leaving out? We're leaving out the paving of the parking lot. It's only a prep of the pavement. We're leaving out out the uh pathway around there and the electric that would go to those lights and stuff, but we are going to install the band shell that there could potentially be a usable band shell. Oh, absolutely. With the electric and everything. Awesome. Uh included in it. So, um how is the walkway going to change? There's uh actually in that middle area where the uh swing set is currently

and it's it goes around between the swing set and the playground uh back around like to where the uh liberty elm trees planted that there and that backside behind the

band shell and come back out around by the the parking lot. Uh um it'll all be lit with Ballard lights. Uh there is lights for the parking lot. There's lights and stuff for the um band shell itself. So, uh we're actually even putting in a um a drop for a pedestal for electric and water if there's ever uh an event that goes on that you have uh food trucks or something to that effect.

U also people walk their dogs all the time and they can get some water there for the dogs and that kind of stuff. That's great. So, um, you've come a very long way with that park for what it used to be. Oh, I love that park and it just gets better all the time. Oh, we've been just blessed with all the grants that we've gotten for. So,

and just the town staff has done such a good job making what we spend those grants on make a lot of sense to have just a really, really quality park. with just a couple questions. Um would the the current trail like um would that be would there be any is it all new trail that'll be added next year or is it a refresh of anything that's currently there? No, it it's new and works in conjunction with with what's already there. Yeah. Because I didn't know if the path there was any maintenance that was needed on the path, you know, near the um on the edge there near the water. Yeah. Yep. I felt like there was a little bit of repair that was needed. So, I didn't know I didn't know if this grant was going to touch any of that. That's just normal maintenance associated.

No, that that's something that we'll include in next year. Okay. To get it um we had to cut something. We looked at this as we wanted to get this band shell right up and built. That's that's kind of the focal point of the park and everything. And the band shell was I had talked to Kip is should be the first thing to go so that your heavy equipment is not run over a brand new paved parking lot and makes sense. Yeah, things I wouldn't have thought of. Yeah. And um so what's the um what's the life of this approximately with the type of wood that you're using here? It's like is it going to last us like 15 years? Any

No, it's it's much longer than that with the type of wood they use. Of course, there's maintenance with it, uh, ceiling and everything, but it's not, um, it's not like an every year maintenance thing with it. Uh, this ban show, you you get 20 to 30 years or longer. It's good to know out of it as long as we take care of it. Right.

Right. Awesome. Terrific. And what would be the time of construction if we said yes, go do it? If you say uh if you approve this tonight, we call the contractors, tell them to go for it and you get them notice to proceed. Uh we'll get it staked out and then it's just a matter of scheduling on their part to get here. I mean uh the plan is to have this this much of it done and everything before the end of summer. Awesome. Okay. Before the end of summer. All right. This was part of the major discussion of the last parks advisory board. 10% for this plan and your board says go. Okay.

All right. Well, do we have a motion? There's a proposed motion on the memo. Yeah, I'll make a motion. And I make a motion to approve the negotiated bids to Middleton's Middleton's Construction, Chuck's Electric, and the Green Sites LLC and purchase lights for a sum not to exceed a combined total of $280,722 for this portion of the Warf Park phase 3 project. There a second. All right. All in favor? I. Any opposed? All right. Thank you very much. Awesome. Thank you, Kev. Thank you for your work on this.

All right, Chief We have talked a lot about this. The moment has arrived.

Make it official. Good evening everyone. Uh the council should have a correspondent from the Centerville Police Department in their packet dated March 13, 2026. Uh from myself in reference to GTA mobile data terminals for the police department. Uh in this request uh we are respectfully requesting authorization to purchase the following equipment. It is the GTAC V120 mobile data terminals uh in a quantity of 15 which comes out to a total sum of 59,424.75. Uh with that we were going to need the docking stations withhold those terminals uh in the quantity of 13 with a total sum of 9,54.95 to include all the taxes installation of the associated equipment. All in total is $74,56549. The Centerville Police Department is seeking a total project authorization in the amount of $75,000 even

which would allow for the purchasing of the forementioning equipment, installation, additional accessories, and anything might be required for the completion of the set project. The vendor gives you a yes. You stopped talking. I think they're ready for ready. We're ready to get to the bottom of this memo. We've talked a lot about these radios. We're we you told us you were suffering without them and so we're trying to end the suffering here and instead we're My turn for motion. Okay, here we go. Uh I make a motion for the Centerville Police Department to purchase a new mobile data terminals and associated equipment not to exceed $75,000 utilizing current current year interest earned from the general fund. All right. Do we have a second? Second. All in favor? I.

Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. No one wanted to get the suffering to persist, I guess. Yes. Thank you, Chief. All right. Reports of boards and commissions. Um, MML, I think those of you that are attending, Gay has worked with you to get you registered for the conference. Should be very good. That's all I've got. Um, Council of Governments, next meeting is May 13th. Yes. No. Yes. May. economic development.

Um been busy recruiting. I we need a total of seven people to in the different categories that we've talked about before and I believe I have arrived at that. I've got two or three more meetings uh personally to to meet in person with with everyone, but everyone else has kind of gone through uh the process. I do want to firm up because one of them we we're talking about bringing them in on April 2nd. One of them is um in Colorado uh on a ski trip with his family for spring break and could not attend on April 2nd, but we could maybe That's allowed. I'm sorry.

That's allowed. People can go on vacation. So, are we still looking at April 2nd? Yeah, we don't have to do everyone that night, right? So, what will be the acceptance process or will so typically we would interview them all in a closed session right which is difficult on April 2nd because we also have a budget session right so we had talked about maybe needing to not do it that night but we could budget seems to be going relatively smoothly so we could probably do it from you know 6:15 to 6:45 they're very quick interviews and then at the following meeting we would vote to seat whomever ever the council selects after those interviews following meeting. Okay.

Yeah. So, if one person could not be here, they could we could interview them the 16th. Okay. We could interview them via phone. We could I know you've done preliminary meetings. We could trust your judgment. There's all sorts of options available. Um I can provide uh their applications to everybody ahead of time. Yeah. and and I have some a lot of support documentation for most of these candidates also. So I can provide that to everyone before

and the interviews are something we've always done but we've never had this interim step which I really appreciate you doing of this initial vetting. So there's there's nothing in the charter that says we must close session interview them. It's in it's entirely possible that we could say you've done that leg work and you come to us with a slate of people and we let you know if that's acceptable or not and if we want to bring one or two of them in because we have additional questions we could or if we want to see who you rejected in your process we could there so you know why don't we why don't you and I talk about the universe you've landed on and then we can figure out what the best course is because I trust your judgment so if you've already interviewed them all I don't know that We need to draft like I don't know that we need to force everyone to come in.

Okay. But we can figure that out. I hope to have everyone all my inerson interviews completed by the you know this time next week. So after that I can then assemble all the documentation distribute it to everyone. Yeah. And then we can and then we can say hey I really want to talk to this person more for XYZ reason or maybe they're people we all feel comfortable with. You know we can take it on a case by case basis. Okay. Um, but you've done a ton of leg work, so I don't think we need to get hung up. Um, we don't have to do things just because we've always done them. It's okay to do things differently.

Okay, good. Um, well, I'll proceed, you know, based on that. And uh Jesse, I I'm attending I I attended last month's uh Queen Ans County Economic Development meeting and I I found it incredibly uh relevant and uh they had like 20 people, you know, on their committee and I got a lot out of that and I guess uh they they think I should be now a permanent member of their group. So they sent me a a memo today saying that they've I'm now their the official le for center. I love that. That's great. I don't know. Yeah, I wasn't volunteering for that, but

Well, looks like it happened to you anyway. I think that's good. Okay. Well, I'm attending the next meeting next week. Awesome. On that, um, uh, Sandy and I are also, I think, signed up to do the wandering waterway tour. Uh, it's a two-day commitment for us to do that. And we're having to do some o overnight driving back and forth because it's a two-day event. We're supposed to spend the night in Easton, but we're not going to do that because we have a board meeting, a council meeting on that night. So, we're we're taking a car down. Yeah. And then we're coming back and then we'll drive back nice morning. So,

that's great. But it it should be important for us to learn some insights about what other communities are doing and how and that's in April, right? Uh that is April 16th. Yes, that's what I thought. I'm golfing in a charity tournament on the 17th. That's why I couldn't go. It's a lot about land use and what a lot a lot of Eastern Shore, you know, communities and this is just specific to this region. They've done them all over the state. um and they're coming to the and it's free and it's just like an opportunity to to network as well as see what other um so I think it's just a a good opportunity for us to take advantage of Cool. All right. Anything else?

I just want to confirm are we are we registered for the municipal league? Yes, you are. Everybody that everybody is registered for the um convention. Okay, great. Awesome. That's all. All right, great work. Park advisory board. Save you a lot of misery tonight. We'll count Sy's report on Arbor Day. The pictures are up there. I know Chief's going to be disappointed we don't have more pictures of trees, but we won't. Okay, we'll talk about Arbor Day the next time, too. I'm very excited. Arbor Day is so much fun. It is fun. That's awesome. Okay, planning commission.

Yeah. Um so um it was a short meeting but um what was covered uh last night was um Hillside came Liquors because they needed an extension um associated because they've done a lot of a lot of good ground work. They did a nice they did a nice discussion last night. What does the sign look like?

Yeah, they didn't get into that but they were just like they couldn't put a shovel in the ground to get started architecture but there was a lot with MDE they had to work out. Um and as well as uh public works agreement is done. So they mentioned that was completed. You know the property deed has been recorded. So they've done a lot of good work. And then they've uh they've switched architectural firms. Um so I think they just they just had a lot to get done. And Sharon actually had mentioned like it's it's a lot to kind of get everything done in a year and just get all your ducks in a row in order to get continue do your construction. So that was approved last night and they actually they only need one in six months, but I think for the code it's like a year to extend um per career. So they actually have a year, but they're not going to need a year. It sounds like six months to be out of it. So um so that was approved last night. So it's kind of a short agenda.

Okay. Reports of department heads, town manager. Um I don't have a whole lot to report. Last um Thursday, myself, Council Member Huffer, Sharon, um Pete Flint, and I attended the county's planning commission um about the uh Providence and Centerville property. Um so that the planning commission, I don't know that they made favorable recommendations.

Yes, they did make a favorable recommendation to the commissioners to remove the open space and wave the stoning. So, um, one I don't know if this is on Kips, um, but we I got notified today. I don't even know if Kip knows about it yet. I talked to Tanya. Um, if the council remembers, I don't even remember how long ago, maybe six months ago, we asked for the opportunity to, um, apply for the, um, Elgen grant, which is to do the feasibility, the energy feasibility study on the wastewater treatment plant. So we received um notification today that we were awarded that grant in the amount of $211,000.

Amazing. Um so that will um it will do wastewater treatment plant energy feasibility study comprehensive energy audit and energy modeling. Um and then I think once that is done then we can go back and apply again to be able to implement their those what they recommend what they recommend to do. So um that's all I have tonight. Okay, awesome. Chief of police and don't feel you need to read this to us. That's not the council.

So, in the February 2026 uh department overview, obviously read uh line for line, but anybody viewing it wish wishes to get these statistic, they are on the town of Centerville's website under the subsection of the police department. they can view them at any time at their leisure. Uh I would like to bring to the attention of council the special assignments uh simply because I want to explain a few of them and highlight one at the very bottom. So under special assignment section defensive tactics instructor training we all know that lieutenant lar goes down to the criminal justice academy teaches in the recruits uh defensive tactics uh the fallen heroes ceremony for our queen an county uh fallen heroes. We had multiple staff in attendance of that ceremony which they have every year. It's a wonderful ceremony. I uh would advise if council's never attended, they should probably make an appearance. It's always on February 13th of every year. So, uh something to look forward to. Uh active asalent seminar for the town employees. We discussed that in one of the uh prior town meetings. It's just to uh give some data points and some ideas of how to better protect themselves during any type of aggressive situation they may encounter down the road. Force encounter investigation training. So, Lieutenant Laramore attended this two-day training in Ocean City. basically gives them updated data points of any type of force uh utilized by law enforcement uh statistics data uh any type of train like changes in training or recommendations or mandates that he can bring back and provide and implement to our officers deescalation of force training. We sent two officers to that down at Warwick Community College. It's a mandated type training. Um it teaches them different tactics to use to try to deescalate certain situations they may be encountering. But last and certainly not least is peer support training at Chesby College. We had a few of our personnel uh attendance training. This peer support group was initiated and established by Queen Anne County. Um and it started with uh a few of their employees, Jessica Appenzeller and Kelly Payne who work for the Department of

Emergency Services here in Queen Anne County. And this peer support group is coordinated through for all seasons if you're familiar with that group for mental health. So Queen County is sponsoring this group uh to assist first responders throughout the county with any mental health type issues related to calls that they may have responded to or been exposed to. Uh it helps provide training to the uh peer support personnel and assistance to anybody that needs it. Um, the group includes not just the Centerville Police Department, but it also includes Queen County Sheriff's Office, uh, EMS dispatchers, detention center employees, as well as any volunteer firefighters or EMTs. And if the council uh, would oblige, Miss Kelly Payne, one of the the coordinators for this group, had made a comment that kind of hit home with me, and I think it might hit home with the council as well and our community members. So, she had stated in a correspondence on social media that as first responders, uh, we are trained to step into chaotic situations and bring calm, but no one teaches us what to do with everything that we carry afterwards. This peer support team is our way of saying that the people behind the uniforms deserve the same care, compassion, and support that we give everybody else. We are building something powerful here. A culture where we show up for each other in solidarity, with strength, and with heart. And I supported this group 100% when they came to me and asked for us to provide personnel. They didn't ask for a monetary contribution. The county is going to support this group 100% uh any funding that they may need. So, um I appreciate their zest and initiative in trying to create something like this for all of our first responders. So,

that's awesome. I'm glad that that exists. you know, I've checked in with you several times after some of the rough events that we have. I always worry about our officers after it, especially because a good thing they're not at all desensitized to any of it because we don't have a lot of it, but when we do, it's been lately some pretty tough stuff. And so, I'm glad that this exists and you guys are taking part. It was just recently implemented and it's already been used multiple times. It's so it's it's it's a great thing that they've done. That's awesome. So, thank you. Is there any questions from the council? All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Town attorney. I have nothing.

Human resource or director of public works. Sorry, just skipped right over you, Kip. Human resources. Nothing. Okay. Town clerk. Been sitting here looking through these papers like know it's here somewhere. Um I have two updates. Let's hope I get it right. Um well, three. So, we are Tree City again for 2025. So, we'll update our signs for that. We'll do the proclamation at the April 2nd meeting. Um, all the um those that were reappointed to boards and commissions have been contacted. We do have believe two um that will not be returning to the board. So, we'll we'll have to fill some holes. Yeah.

Um and then last, there is which I was really looking for. This is important. There's the market study March 25th. um that um the person who's doing the market study is coming to town. Um so the council is encouraged to attend. I believe it's the it's the 25th, 4:30 to 5:15. That's what I have on my calendar. I think that's the elected officials like elected little spot to come um and listen to um and give feedback to what the what she has to say. She's kind of like interviewing everyone. And where will it be? At the Wararf uh first floor meeting room.

Okay. I'll be there. And I will email you all with the exact thing. Um I have it here. I just can't find it. Awesome. And let me write down that I actually spoke. So I put my meeting minutes in my notes because I didn't last time, but I spoke apparently. And oh, you know. All right. Anything else? That's it. Thanks. Awesome. We will now have a citizens forum. Mary Margaret, you don't need me. I mean, we just love to see you. So, I wasn't sure if you I'm meeting with um Mary Margaret had provided me an email today in regards to the Fourth of July.

I'm not okay. Fourth of July event. Uh Barb Pivik and I are meeting tomorrow to go over further details just so I can email the council with it's an enormous undertaking. It's going to be a big event. It's an all day event so that I hope I'm still reading. I hope I'm still a reader. I hope I'm still one of your readers. Oh, absolutely. You know, it's my favorite moment of the year because because it's it's all of the legisl at all levels. But the other thing is

the citizens have to join. Yes. I'm coming back from vacation a day early to read much bigger. This year they have quite a big amazing. So, we're going to map Barb is going to map it out very specifically so I can get that all to you and then she's filling up the special events permit. One of the really big things that doesn't know about is the Jefferson connection. Well, we look forward to hearing more about the Jefferson Connection in a big exhibit.

Awesome. Well, I'm really excited about it and I'm making sure I'm back in town because I know you're going to do an amazing job, you and your team. All right. Thank you, Gay. We will now there since no citizens wish to address the council, we'll head into council roundt. Council member Bu, I uh had enough to say earlier, so I think we're good. Council member McNeel, I'll say it quickly. Uh Kip, thank you for taking care of the potholes in Chesterfield A. Your crew is out there doing a great job. Thank you. Um, where are we on the uh mill? They council round table question. The whole front is cleaned up, but there's still five or six cars in the back. Where are we on the fence and yada yada yada?

Yeah. So, they are um he's working with a contractor. Actually, Peter was working with him earlier this week, just double-checking what needs to be done. There's going to be a building permit submitted. They have to put a beam in that building. Um, and then the and the fence permit. So, we're just waiting for the contractor just Yes, it's happening. We're just waiting for and I have a email into the building inspector just to double check what's needed for the beam. By the way, the 911 Porsche is still there. It is. I don't believe uh for what I spoke with the other the contractor who did the demolition. I don't believe there's any interest in getting rid of that. Um so, how many emails did you get on that?

I've gotten a lot and I just forward them. I'm not the the broker, the auto broker. So I just for those emails and you know whether he responds or not, that's on him. But can I before I pass? Thank you very much, Gay. We had a great time at the Wide River School. It was a lot of fun and uh thanks for having us. Byebye. I'll be quiet. Okay, Council Member Huffer, just a couple things. So on Main Street, um Gay um the community survey, so that ended today, right? Just so everybody knows who's watching. I think it's is it midnight? Midnight tonight. Midnight tonight. So, you still have time if you're watching as far as to participate. Do you know how many responses there's been to date? It was 367. Nice.

Yeah, that's great. Yeah, they were hoping for 200. I think Carol's was like 500, but um right in the middle. That's awesome. Right in the middle. That's great. And then um Carolyn, anything on the on the land, the SJ land? No, I have um still put in I have called the contact person that I got. I have left at SHA. No, at Army Corps. I have um left three emails. So, I'm probably going to end up reaching out to the number I heard back who gave me that and just say, is there somebody else because the person is not responding to me. So, okay.

Yeah. Thank you for showing. Thank you. Um, no, it was just a skip questions. Thank you. Okay. I was only going to ask about the mill. I have nothing else. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? Okay.