December 6, 2010 Board Minutes

Frank Saletel, Board Vice Chair, called a regularly scheduled meeting of the River Hill Village Board to order at 7:05 p.m., on December 6, 2010, at Claret Hall, 6020 Daybreak Circle, Clarksville, MD 21029. Members present were Trevor Greene, Tony Miceli, and Asmi Panigrahi. Todd Harrison was absent. Michael Cornell, Council Representative, and Susan Smith, Village Manager, were present. Ms. Lambright, Covenant advisor, joined the meeting at 7:50 p.m. and departed at 8:30 p.m.

Approval of the Agenda (Agenda 2):
Mr. Greene made a motion to add Agenda #5A. Funeral Home. Ms. Panigrahi seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (3-0-0). Mr. Saletel made a motion to add the Covenant Advisor’s Report to Agenda #4C and the October 18, 2010 Minutes to Agenda #8. Ms. Panigrahi seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0).

Resident Speak Out (Agenda 3):
Mr. David Elsaesser (5737 Whistling Winds Walk, Clarksville, MD) asked to have the Village Board testify at the Planning Board Hearing scheduled for December 9, 2010 when the re-zoning of the River Hill Garden Center Property will be reviewed. Mr. Elsaesser provided the Board with a copy of the letter that will be going to the neighbors requesting that they testify and/or attend the hearing. A copy is on file with the Minutes.

Old Business (Agenda 4):
A. Budget Testimony (County) – The Board reviewed the draft testimony. Mr. Miceli made a motion to approve the testimony as amended. Mr. Greene seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0). A copy is on file with the Minutes.
B. River Hill Garden Center Re-zoning Request – It was the consensus of the Board that Frank Saletel will testify on behalf of the Association at the Planning Board Hearing. Mr. Saletel will re-state the points made in the 2009 letter and will also inform the Planning Board that the Association has begun the master planning process and the need to consider re-zoning request in the greater context.
C. Apiary Legislation and Covenant Advisor’s Report – Ms. Lambright, Covenant Advisor, reviewed her written report with the Board (copy on file with the Minutes). Ms. Lambright provided an update on the legislation. Discussion. Mr. Greene made a motion that Members of the Board will make recommendations on changes to the November 2009 letter and the Village Manager will compile the input in order that Ms. Lambright can provide testimony to the Zoning Board on December 20, 2010. Ms. Panigrahi seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0).

New Business (Agenda 5):
A. Donaldson Funeral Home – Mr. Greene reported that ExploreHoward.com had an article and that the Hearing Examiner did not recommend a change in zoning due to inadequate parking and the lack of a deceleration lane on MD 108. It was the consensus of the Board that the Association needs to continue to monitor this issue and to comment as needed. An appeal is expected within 30 days.

Executive Session (Agenda 6):
Mr. Greene made a motion to move into Executive Session at 8:00 p.m. for the purpose of personnel matters, terms or conditions of business transactions in the negotiation stage, and potential litigation. Ms. Panigrahi seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0). Mr. Saletel made a motion to close the Executive Session at 8:52 p.m. Mr. Greene seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0).

Reports (Agenda 8):
A. Village Manager – A copy of the written report is on file with the original minutes. It was the consensus of the Board to invite Ian Kennedy to the January 3, 2011 meeting and to meet with Councilperson Sigaty, Phil Nelson, and Mark DeLuca on January 24, 2011 to discuss the addition of bike lanes on Great Star Drive. Ms. Smith was asked to publicize the meetings in the cycling community. It was the consensus of the Board to include preparation for these meeting on the December 20, 2010 agenda.

Mr. Greene made a motion to approve touch up painting at Claret Hall for a maximum of
$1200. Mr. Saletel seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0).

Ms. Smith made the Board aware of the charge of CA’s Financial Advisory Committee
(FAC) to review trends in revenue generation of the Villages and to develop recommendations for the CA Board. The Long Reach Village Manager was in attendance at the last FAC meeting and concerns arose regarding the Association’s assessment shares and animosity between the villages. The other Village Managers had not received invitations to the meeting and are seeking to arrange a meeting as soon as possible. Mr. Cornell indicated that the FAC’s charge came about as a result of Town Center’s concerns regarding the assessment shares.

B. Board Chair – None.

C. Council Representative – Mr. Cornell reported that that CA has met with contractors on the site plans for the Symphony Woods project and that the orientation has been modified slightly. The Downtown Master Plan has to be approved by the County before CA can start the permitting process for the project. It is expected to be a 3 – 5 year project to be completed in phases.

Mr. Cornell reported that CA is proceeding with the IRS application for the Friends of Columbia (FoC) in order to obtain a tax exempt status. CA will appoint the Board of Directors of the FoC.

CA has been meeting on the connectivity spine planned to run between Blandair Park and
Howard County General Hospital. CA is also looking into two possible locations for dog parks.

The Alliance for a Better Columbia (ABC) has requested information on CA staff salaries, benefits, bonuses, and performance evaluations and is seeking an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office. Mr. Cornell also reported that Phil Nelson’s contract is up for renewal in May 2011 and that negotiations have been initiated.

D. Liaison Areas – Mr. Saletel reported that he had been contacted by a resident from Pheasant Ridge about purchasing property along Trotter Road in order to improve pathway connections. Mr. Saletel will follow-up with the resident.

Mr. Greene reported that he had posted another post on the Master Plan Blog and that there had been 160 individual views.

Ms. Panigrahi reported that the Teen Advisory Committee had recruited volunteers to assist with the Breakfast and Lunch with Santa events and that they had gone well.

Administrative Items (Agenda 9):
Mr. Green made a motion to approve the October 18, 2010 minutes as presented. Ms. Panigrahi seconded the motion. The motion passed (3-0-1).

Mr. Miceli made a motion to approve the November 1, 2010 minutes as amended. Mr. Greene seconded the motion. The motion passed (3-0-1.)

Mr. Greene made a motion to approve the November 15, 2010 minutes as amended. Mr. Miceli seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (4-0-0).

Board Speak Out (Agenda 9):
Mr. Saletel informed the Board that he had received his Columbia Gym rate notice and it was correct. He also noted issues with parking at the Central Library. A brief discussion regarding the Howard Hughes Corporation’s preference for the library to be relocated to Symphony Woods. Mr. Cornell commented on the creation of a Cultural Master Plan.

Adjournment (Agenda 10):
Ms. Panigrahi made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 p.m. Mr. Miceli seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0-0).

Minutes submitted by: Susan M. Smith, Village Manager

Minutes Approved: December 20, 2010 (as amended)

Action Items
Village Board Meeting
December 6, 2010

Board Members
• All – provide Village Manager with input regarding the apiary legislation.

Village Manager
• Finalize County Budget testimony.

Covenant Advisor
• Attend Zoning Board hearing on 12/20/10 on behalf of Association.

Facilities Coordinator

Special Events/Newsletter Coordinator

Administrative Assistant