Mayor Margo G. Bailey called the meeting to order at 9:00 p.m. In attendance were Councilmembers Harrison C. Bristoll, Jr., Thomas A. Gross, Sr., and Mabel Mumford-Pautz, Medford Capel, Utilities Commission Manager, W. S. Ingersoll, Town Manager, Joan Merryman, Stenographer, and guests.
Mayor Bailey asked if there were any additions or corrections to the minutes of the previous meeting. Mr. Gross moved that the minutes of the meeting of January 21, 1997 be approved as presented, was seconded by Mr. Bristoll and carried unanimously.
Mayor Bailey announced that the Utilities Commission has cash on hand and in banks on February 17, 1997 of $321,438.99.
Mayor Bailey called on Mr. Capel for his report. Mr. Capel stated that they would be cleaning out the reservoir at the water plant this week. He said we will have to reduce our phosphate in the effluent at the lagoon as required by the the Maryland Department of the Environment. In order to do that we will have to add chemicals and Mr. Capel said he had ordered the test kit. He said we will get some help from the chemical supplier to set up a pilot plan to determine what this will cost. He said we are running about 3 parts million of phosphate and we must bring that down to 2. When you get rid of the phosphates, your pH factor goes up and then we must add other chemicals to bring the pH down. He said one type of chemical costs about $100 for a 55 gallon barrel. He said since this does not freeze, the best way to buy them would be 500 or 1000 gallons at a time and store them in an outside storage container. For safety the tank would be enclosed in a concrete tank in case of spills and this concrete tank would have to be built. He said he will provide the Council with more information at the next meeting.
Mayor Bailey asked Mr. Capel to clarify for the public what part of the sewer/water lines or mains are the Town's responsibility and what part was the property owner's responsibility. She said the question comes up all the time. Mr. Capel said the Town maintains the water and sewer mains only. He said the Town has been repairing water services in order to be sure they are done properly and the road properly repaired. He said we charge for water service lines when the owner requests the work to be done and the charge was about $50 a foot. He said if it can be proven to him that after a sewer line has been cleaned out, it was impossible to keep it clean, then they will run a new sewer service. He said plumbers do not always have the proper rodding equipment to clear the sewer lines or do not complete the work to get the line clear. He said roots can block line and must be cut out. He said the Town was responsible for the mains in the street and the property owner was responsibility for the service lines or laterals out to the main.
Mayor Bailey asked if there were any questions. Mr. Gross asked if the Council was going to respond to the County's request for water and sewer out Rt. 291. Mayor Bailey said we still do not have a Town Attorney. At the last meeting, Mr. Bristoll had asked for an opinion from the Town Attorney on whether allowing the County government to access the services, outside of Town, would put the municipality in the same peril as providing those services to a private entity. She said if the Council wished to go ahead and vote on the matter, they could do so. Mr. Bristoll said since the matter of the Town Attorney could be taken care of in the next day or so he felt the decision should wait until we have the attorney's opinion. He said if time were of the essence on the decision for the County, an executive session could be called or the Council could be polled for the vote on the attorney. Mr. Gross said he just wanted to be sure the matter was not just being delayed. Mr. Ingersoll pointed out that the matter was not on the agenda for this meeting. The Council agreed to wait for an attorney's opinion on the extension of water and sewer.
Mayor Bailey said she heard from the attorney whom the Council had chosen on Friday. She said there were some differences in what the Council had proposed and what the attorney would like and the Council needed to discuss that.
Mayor Bailey asked the Council to review the bills presented for payment. Mr. Bristoll moved that the bills be paid as presented, was seconded by Mrs. Mumford-Pautz and carried unanimously.
There being no further business, Mrs. Mumford-Pautz moved that the meeting be adjourned at 8:57 p.m., was seconded by Mr. Gross and carried unanimously.
Submitted by:
Joan Merryman
Stenographer
Approved by:
Margo G. Bailey
Mayor
RETURN to 1998 Minutes