Board of Town Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Good evening. It is now 7 o'clock and the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners Town Hall meeting for October the 19th, 2026 is now in session. I'm going to call the roll. Commissioner Foss? Here. Commissioner Chismar? Here. Commissioner Taylor? Here. And Commissioner Hanley? Here. All right. And next we have on our agenda the invocation.

Heavenly Father, we are grateful to be gathered this evening in good spirits and good health. We thank you for continuing to bless the town and the residents that call Bel Air home. Let us not forget when we are feeling worried, anxious, or unsure that you are in control and we must surrender ourselves to you. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.

Amen. If you will all please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,

All right. May I have a motion to approve the agenda for this evening?

Yes, Madam Chair. I move that we approve the agenda for tonight's town meeting, October 19th, 2026.

Thank you, Commissioner Foss. Do I have a second? I'll second. Thank you, Commissioner Chismar. Any discussion of the agenda? All right. Mr. Krantz?

All right. Next, we have the approval of the minutes. May I have a motion, please?

Yes, Madam Chair. I move that the minutes of the Board of Commissioners meetings held on September 28th, 2026, September 29th, 2026, and October 5th, 2026 be approved as submitted.

Thank you, Commissioner Chisholm. Do I have a second? Thank you, Commissioner Taylor. Any discussion of the minutes this evening? All right. Mr. Krantz?

Thank you. All right, next we have two public hearings for this evening. First, I'm going to call the public hearing for Ordinance 863-26, amending the Bel Air Town Code Chapter 345, Peace and Good Order, prohibiting commercial house parties in residential dwellings. So is there anyone here this evening that wants to make a public comment about this ordinance only? all right there being none we are opening and closing the public hearing on ordinance 863-26 at 702 and we'll move on to the public hearing on resolution 1281-26 amending resolution number 1126-19 the town code fines and penalties a

Yes, Madam Chair. And before I begin, we do have a small typographic amendment. The proper order for me to do this would be to first make the main motion, it be seconded, and then make the motion to amend. And so that's what I'll go ahead and do. I move that Ordinance 863-26, prohibiting commercial house parties and residential dwellings be approved by the Board of Town Commissioners.

Thank you, do I have a second? Second. All right.

And at this time I will now move to amend ordinance 863-26 under the definition of commercial house party by replacing the word indicators with the word factors. So that the sentence now reads, additional factors may include one or more of the following conditions.

Thank you. And do I have a second for the amendment? All right. And then is there any discussion of the resolution by the board? Any questions? Comments? All right. In that case, Mr. Krantz, we are going to vote on the resolution as amended. We got to approve the amendment first. First we have to approve the amendment. Sorry.

All right. Moving on to Resolution 1281-26, amending Resolution No. 1126-19, Town Code Fines and Penalties. May I have a motion?

Madam Chair, I move that resolution number 1281-26, adopting fines related to municipal infractions related to Chapter 345, Peace and Good Odor, Article 4, commercial type residential parties be approved by the Board of Town Commissioners.

Thank you, Commissioner Hanley. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Foss. Any discussion? No? All right. Mr. Grants?

Thank you. All right, moving on to new business, we have Resolution 1283-26, holiday parking temporarily suspending parking fines and meter rates on all public streets in the town of Bel Air from November 26th through January 1st, 2027. May I have a motion?

Yes, Madam Chair, I move that resolution 1283-26, temporarily suspending parking fines and meter rates on all public streets in the town of Bel Air from November 26, 2026 through January 1, 2027, be approved by the Board of Town Commissioners. Thank you, Commissioner Foster. Do I have a second?

Commissioner Chismore and Ms. Robertson.

Thank you, Ms. Robertson. Seeing this on the agenda means that Christmas is, in fact, coming up fast. Thank you. All right. Any questions for Ms. Robertson?

I THINK IT'S A GREAT INITIATIVE AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR PEOPLE COMING TO THE TOWN TO SHOP AND ENJOY THE TOWN DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, SO I FULLY SUPPORT IT.

IS THERE ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC HERE THAT WISHES TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THIS RESOLUTION ONLY? ALL RIGHT. IN THAT CASE, THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING. MR. GRANTS?

All right. Next, Resolution 1284-26, the fee schedule amendments regarding tax sale advertising fees. May I have a motion?

Yes. I move that Resolution 1284-26, amending the town's fee schedule, be received by the Board of Town Commissioners.

Well, that is terrific to hear, too. So that's great. All right.

So to sum up, we're not actually increasing the amount. It's always been $80. It's just been four times 20 instead of one $80 charge. That is correct. Okay. Is there any member of the public here that wants to comment on this resolution only? All right. There being none, Mr. Krantz?

All right. Next, the purchase of 13 Dell Pro Slim desktop personal computers, 16 Dell Pro Precision laptops.

Has this been correct? Okay. Now it's a little quiet. I had the voice of Odin there for a minute. All right. I'm going to move at any volume that the proposal from Dell Marketing LP for 16 Dell Pro Precision 5 16S laptop computers, 13 Dell Pro Slim QCS1255 desktop computers, and server warranty in the combined amount of $41,871.23 be approved by the Board of Town Commissioners.

Thank you, Commissioner Taylor. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Hanley. And Mr. Krantz.

Any questions for mr. Krantz about the technology purchase I

Yeah. Mr. Krantz, what do we budget for this buy? Are we at or below that budget amount?

Okay. because when we when we do the contracts be nice to know if we if we were budgeted. I mean, in the future for all our purchases that we budgeted this and it's costing us that. So if we know for above or below, this is a reference. Is that okay? All right. Duly noted.

And I'm sure that we have the money in the budget or it wouldn't be before us. But it is always good to compare. All right. Anything further on the technology purchase? All right. Is there any member of the public here that wishes to comment strictly on this purchase alone? All right. There being none, Mr. Krantz, we're ready for a vote.

All right. Next on our agenda is miscellaneous, under which we have nothing listed. So we will move on to public announcements. Reserve your spot to see Colleen Webster portray the famed conservationist, not conversationist, although possibly that too, Rachel Carson in her one-woman living history performance on Tuesday, October 20th, which is tomorrow, at the Bel Air Armory. The program presented by the Bel Air Cultural Arts Commission starts at 7 p.m. The doors open at 6.30 p.m. Admission is free, but advanced registration is required. Visit belairarmory.org or Eventbrite to reserve your sea

Tonight I am delivering my written request for independent evaluation of the Bel Air Police Department's administration and management.

All right thank you Ms. Canely. Next we have Mr. John Stump who is here and has signed up in advance as always.

All right. Is there anyone else here that wishes to step to the podium and have three minutes for a public comment on anything, whether it was on the agenda this evening or not? All right. There being no one, we'll move on to Commissioner's comments.

Last time we met, I asserted that a statement's veracity is not proportional to the number of times it's repeated, so I will not repeat my remarks. I'll just simply say that my sentiments regarding the incredible job done by the Bel Air Police Department remain well documented and on the record, but I do just have one thing to add this evening. Chief Moore, your integrity, competence, administrative skill, and most of all, your dedication to our town are beyond reproach. We had a wonderful week last week with business openings on Bond Street. It was really a great couple of days there that we

I thought so. But needless to say, this is a homegrown business. They started right here in the Armory Marketplace. Absolutely. This is our first graduate. Thank you, Charlie. That's true. It's not back there. It's over there. I appreciate that. You know, once you enter this building, your sense of direction, it just gets swallowed up. But they are, what an incredible example of what someone, a business owner with great work ethic who successfully matriculates through that program can really accomplish and what they can give back to our community. I think that that is, it's a wonderful, you kn

I hung around a little afterwards from the ribbon cutting and I got a tour of the social that's set to open soon, the coffee house and cocktail bar. I'm extremely impressed. It's high end tiles on the floors and on the walls and I got to see not just the best seat in the restaurant but according to Mr. Goddard the best seat in Bel Air so I'm very excited for that to open. There will also be an artistic wall where girls can get their selfies taken. I think it's going to be a great addition to the town. Early voting starts this week, Thursday, the 22nd, McFall Center, right in town. You can vote

Okay, I think that's the one I'm thinking, Upper Chesapeake. Yep. Okay. And again, thank you for being so responsive in Howard Park. I saw a few kids pulling a Michael Scott this weekend trying to run and see how fast they could run with the digital speed monitor.

Nobody throwing baseballs to see how fast they can throw? No baseballs? Okay.

All right. Very briefly, first, Chief, I think the town police department does a tremendous job I know those officers are very well trained they have done a terrific job in proactive policing even to the smallest thing like the problems in Kelly on Kelly Avenue in Howard Park everybody was out there with the little additional enforcement and and the camera I think it's a great response to a community problem and I've always seen that from the police department I know that we review the statistics on a monthly basis the crime statistics in town it's unfortunately we have any crime but I feel th

Always. I remember one occasion where a neighbor was upset and they called on like a Monday. By Wednesday, you and I and another commissioner were meeting in the police community room over there to discuss it. Where else can you get that kind of service but Small Town Bel Air? So thank you for being so accessible.

So in addition, I am so very sorry that I missed the P-Volv opening. That woman's story is absolutely incredible and my hat is off to Wayne Goddard for making that donation. What a wonderful thing to do in memory of his mother. I'm very impressed. Core Boot Camp, another really impressive business. a graduate of the Armory Marketplace and boy are they a resounding success and as I said while we were there for the ribbon cutting, Kelly is an advertisement for her business. She has the best arms I've ever seen, very impressive so they will do very well here in town with their additional location

Mayor Ading, may I just say real quick, please? Chief, the coffee with the cop was so much fun that the women's group from my church, we met there, and we had coffee with kids instead, because we had all the grandkids and everything there, but it was wonderful, so thank you so much.

And I just wanted to say also, too, that I just feel very blessed to have you in the Bel Air Police Department, and I just, I feel extremely safe when I walk my dogs, and it's dark outside, and it's, you know, 5.30, 6 o'clock in the morning, and, of course, I have two very big dogs. I don't think anybody's going to, but I just want to thank you also, too. Thank you, Mary. Officer Jeff Gary. He was at my son's wedding. So it's a family friend. So I've known him for a long time. So you've got good people there too.

No, I just wanted to echo your comments about the police department. I've lived in town my entire life, and the police department in town has always done a good job. Their community, they interact with the residents and all, and Ms. Keenly, I took notes on what you had specified, but There's nothing specific in there. I need something specific. We need something specific if you want us to look at it. Because right now, I think the police department is doing a great job. I support them fully. But these are pretty broad categories of things to reduce crime. How much crime are we seeing and where

Madam Chair, I move that this meeting will be closed under the provisions of the Maryland Open Meetings Act General Provisions Article 3, Section 305 . The topics of discussion are to review and discuss new town policy paid family leave and medical leave, PFML, to comply with the Maryland Time to Care Act and the Maryland Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program. The reasons for closed session discussion of above topics are to consult with counsel to obtain legal advice.

Thank you, Commissioner Hanley. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Commissioner Foss. And just for the members of the public, once we are finished our closed session, we will not be conducting any further public business. We will merely be adjourning for the evening. So with that, Mr. Krantz.