12 May 2007 | Approved: 10 May 2008
Mayor John Compton called the 71st Annual Town Meeting to order at 8:11 p.m. The Reverend Judy Young delivered the invocation. There were over 50 residents in attendance.
Approval of Minutes
Ann Briggs moved that the Annual Town Meeting minutes of June 10, 2006 be approved. Carol Uhlendorf seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Mayor’s Report: Mayor Compton thanked members of the Town Council, Planning Commission, Historic Preservation Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Board of Elections, Fire Board and the Audit Committee. The Mayor specifically noted the following Grove volunteers:
- Bill Saar – Website Coordinator
- The Recreation Committee – Co-chairs Mary Kay DuBois and Missy Yachup
- The Lake Committee – Chair John Hutchinson
- The Forestry Committee – Co-chairs Carol Uhlendorf and Audrey Maskery
- Summer In The Parks – Tami Williams and Company
- Mousetrap Concert Series – Alice Negin and Ann Briggs
- McCathran Hall Needs Committee – Chair Ann Briggs
Mayor Compton made a call for volunteers and encouraged residents, old and new, to continue the Town’s strong volunteer tradition.
Mayor Compton also thanked Town employees Treasurer Mary Challstrom, Maintenance Supervisor James Fletcher and Town Clerk Kathryn Lehman for taking care of the Town.
Mayor Compton commented on the many issues and projects from the past year including; road work, trees (both downed & newly planted), the Urban Forest Management Plan, Woodward Park Soccer Field Uses (permitted and non-permitted), security at Maple Lake, condition of the playground and the tennis courts, Maryland Program Open Space funds, Town Hall Maintenance and electrical upgrades, social/recreational activities (Labor Day, Holiday Concert, Film Society, Mousetrap Concert Series, Music Weekend, the 4th of July, Summer In The Parks), and municipal activities. He said that the state of the Town was good. Mayor Compton mentioned the amendments to the Town Charter and he listed many of the amendments to the Town Code. The Mayor also explained that Town business was becoming increasingly more complex and that the Council had decided to have two (2) shorter meetings per month, each ending at approximately 9:30 p.m. These meetings will be on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month. Mayor Compton then talked of expectations for the coming year. He mentioned the Town Master Plan and its progress, the Cator property annexation (17050 Railroad Street), the Piedmont Crossing Development plan, the Casey 6 & 7 Industrial property and proposed County service park swap, and the Inter-County Connector Western Maintenance Facility proposal. Mayor Compton went on to update residents and discuss the Legacy Open Space Field condemnation. He gave a history of the issue and explained that both Town attorneys believe that the Town can do the condemnation. A ruling is expected in June. In the meantime, M-NCPPC and Toll Brothers have entered into an agreement to turn the land over to M-NCPPC. He stated that the Town is now waiting to hear what the court has to say. The Mayor reported that it has all gotten very complicated and that he will call a Special Town Meeting in the near future to discuss the entire spectrum of issues.
Election Results
The election results were announced. For Mayor, John Compton received 64 votes, John Tomlin received 49 votes. For Town Council, Charlie Challstrom received 94 votes, Marida Hines received 86 votes. Write-ins for Town Council included John Tomlin 1; Ann Briggs 1; Elly Briggs 1; None 1; Annie Mouse 1.
Discussion of Town Council Reports
Georgette Cole – offered an explanation concerning the state of the large mulberry tree in Woodward Park near the old Town garden.
Ann Briggs – said that the West Woods clean up was a huge success and she urged the Town Government and residents to devote time to the woods. Ann presented a slide show so that residents could see the condition of the woods and then asked for volunteers to help with a comprehensive plan to protect our Town woods. The volunteer group would deal with very specific issues and present the plan to the Council by the 1st meeting in March 2008. There was a discussion about how the group would be formed (appointed by the Mayor or solicited by others), and who would chair the group. Ann Briggs, Charlie Challstrom, Jim Fletcher and George Paine have already put in time on this and will continue to do so. The goal is to have a report about the plan and associated projects presented at the Town Meeting in 2008.
There were no more questions about the Council Reports.
Action of FY 2008 Budget and Tax Rates
Mayor Compton made a few comments about the budget and the tax rate.
Maureen Neumann – asked about the Code Inspector and how this would work.
Mayor Compton – said that the Code Inspector would serve as an inspector of construction projects and report to the Planning Commission and the Mayor if he/she found compliance issues. He went on to explain that the reason for the delay in proceeding with this was that a municipal infractions ordinance needed to be in place before the use of an inspector began.
Charlie Negin – asked if the Code Inspector would be used only when a permit was issued or if he/she would be hired to look for violations.
Mayor Compton – No one will be going around looking for violations. That isn’t the goal.
Action of FY 2008 Budget and Tax Rates
Mayor Compton made a few comments about the budget and the tax rate.
Maureen Neumann asked about the Code Inspector and how this would work.
Mayor Compton said that the Code Inspector would serve as an inspector of construction projects and report to the Planning Commission and the Mayor if he/she found compliance issues. He went on to explain that the reason for the delay in proceeding with this was that a municipal infractions ordinance needed to be in place before the use of an inspector began.
Charlie Negin asked if the Code Inspector would be used only when a permit was issued or if he/she would be hired to look for violations.
Mayor Compton – No one will be going around looking for violations. That isn’t the goal.
Ann Briggs moved to approve the budget for FY 2008 as proposed.
Carol Uhlendorf seconded the motion.
Vote: Unanimous
There was a motion to approve the tax rate. It was seconded. There was a little discussion.
Vote: Majority – in favor; 1 – opposed.
Planning Commission Report
Chairman John McClelland began by thanking Mayor John Compton for another year of service to the Town. He continued with a Master Plan update and said that the project was moving along well. He then asked for volunteers to edit the document. John mentioned the Code Inspector, the Town block corner surveys (Block 17 is now recorded with Land Records), the Public Hearing concerning the Cator property annexation, and mansionization. John Compton stated that the Master Plan is a forward-thinking document that addresses many of the Town border issues. He urged residents to participate and read it.
Historic Preservation Commission Report
Chairman Bob Booher mentioned new member Margot Bohan and retiring member Chris Kirtz. Bob brought up the contributing structures photo project, the Grove-ipedia part of the website, the oral history project headed by Judy Mroczka, and the recent acquisition of the Clare Kelly collection for the Town archives. Bob also talked about the Master Plan revisions (including information gathered from the HPC questionnaire), the Inter-County Connector, and an ICC mitigation meeting scheduled for the 23rd.
The Historic Preservation Award for this year was presented to Don and Birgit Henninger (113 Grove Ave.) for their back porch renovation.
New Business
Darrell Anderson – reported that the state delegation would be coming to Town on May 21st at 7:00 p.m. He urged residents to come to the meeting armed with good questions.
Mary Challstrom – thanked Missy Yachup for her work on the Town archives.
Mayor Compton – stated that he would ask Barbara Hawk to fill the new vacancy on the Board of Zoning Appeals. He also brought up the Special Town Meeting about the Piedmont Crossing development that would take place in late May or early June.
John Tomlin – asked if residents along Ridge Road would receive copies of the new Piedmont Crossing site plan.
Mayor Compton – said he would call and ask.
Charlie Negin moved to adjourn. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
The meeting was adjourned at 10:25 p.m.