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May

Date: May 6, 2014

Place: 5906 Connecticut Avenue, Village Hall

Time: 7:30 PM

Present: Peter Gray, Tim Hanlon, Frances L. Higgins, Nancy Pines; 5 Section 5 residents

  1. Agenda Item: Minutes

    Peter moved that the minutes of the April 8, 2014, Council meeting be approved as amended; there was a second and the motion passed unanimously.

  2. Agenda Item: Treasurer's Report/Discussion and Voting on FY 2015 Budget

    Tim presented a copy of the proposed budget for FY 2015. He said that the only expenditure that was over budget was for snow removal. There was more snow and consistently colder temperatures than normal this last year. This accounts for the fact that snow removal cost more than the Council had predicted. There was some discussion of how the Council will use the excess funds for FY 2014. They will make a decision at the June meeting.

    Action:
    Nancy moved that the proposed budget for FY 2015 be accepted as presented. Peter seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

  3. Agenda Item: Vote on Section 5's Tax Rate for FY 2015

    There was some discussion about the fact that Section 5 does not have a real estate tax rate. It was explained that some ten years ago the Council proposed a tax rate of $0.00 for $100 of assessed property value because Section 5 had a surplus of funds more than equal to three times its annual budget. Prior to that time Section 5 did have a real estate property tax rate.

    Action:
    John Higgins moved that the property tax rate remain at $0.00 per $100 of assessed property value. Scott Livingston seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

  4. Agenda Item: Discussion of Results of Williams Ln. Traffic Survey

    The Council engaged A. Morton Thomas, Inc., an engineering firm, to conduct a traffic study of the number of trucks which traverse Williams Ln. This survey was conducted to determine the number of trucks larger than a pick up truck which use Williams Ln. as a cut through street. If the Council determined that the number of cut through trucks was large, it was considering passing an ordinance precluding cut through trucks. The data showed that less than 2% of all vehicles traversing Williams Lane were trucks larger than a pick up truck. There was some discussion about asking Map Quest to remove Williams Ln. from its data base as a cut through street. A Williams Ln. resident expressed his concern about excessive speed of motorist on Williams Ln.

    Action:
    The Council decided not to take any action regarding this matter at this time; however, the Council did ask the manager to contact A. Morton Thomas, Inc. and determine the cost of conducting a traffic survey of all Section 5's streets for both volume and speed and report at the next meeting.

  5. Agenda Item: Council Person Sworn In as Council Member

    Scott Livingston was voted in by acclamation because there were only two Council seats up for election and only two candidates declared for these seats.

    Scott Livingston took the oath of office as a Council member.

  6. Agenda Item: Building Inspector’s Report

    Building Permits issued:
    3604 Thornapple St. ‒ back yard fence replacement

  7. Agenda Item: Manager’s Report

    A resident contacted the manager and asked the Council if it would consider subsidizing the cost for a resident engaging a company who collects only food leavings. These leavings would not be part of the tonnage which Section 5 pays its household trash hauler and would thus cost Section 5 less. There was some discussion; however, the Council decided not to take any action at this time.

    The manager was able to get the project manager at 3826 Woodbine St. to remove the very large sign which it had posted at the corner of Woodbine St. and Conn. Ave. This sign obstructed motorists' view as they tried to navigate the turn at that corner onto Connecticut Ave.

    Craig Pernick, a Section 5 resident, contacted the Council and asked if it would support the efforts of B‒CC Rescue Squad to obtain a Zoning Text Amendment. This Amendment would allow the Squad to change its use of a portion of its 2.08 acres at its site on Old Georgetown Road. The Council agreed to support this effort and the manager wrote a letter to Roger Berliner, a County Council member, in support of this effort.

  8. Agenda Item: Adjournment

    Peter adjourned the meeting. The next Council meeting will be held June 10, 2014, at the Village Hall, 5906 Connecticut Avenue, at 7:30 pm. The Village Hall has handicapped access. Everyone is welcome.