February 7, 2023 Board Minutes
River Hill Board of Directors
Meeting Minutes
February 7, 2023
Opening (Agenda Item 2):
Mr. Kirk called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. The meeting was via Zoom. The following members attended: Kevin Bruening, Jim Kirk, Jian Ni, Muyiwa Odeniyide, and Janet Munro. Renee DuBois (Village Manager) was present. The following guests attended the meeting: Jennifer Lynott (Communications & Events Coordinator),
Eva Lambright (Covenant Advisor), Ron Briggs, Lisa Adegbeerr, Carlos Acker, Dennis, Gordon Collins, Xin, Eileen Harrity, Deb Borker, Norine, Phyllis Kelley, Deb Jung, Junnan, Adewale Adegbeera, Elizabeth Jayne, Andrea Beri, Huiyang Li, Skye Anderson
Approval of the (Agenda Item 3):
Mr. Bruening requested to make a change to the agenda to include swapping item 8C (RHCA Ethics Policy) for 8B (Howard County Budget Requests) and to bring forward 8G (SF 229-Vehicle Laws – Noise Abatement Monitoring Systems – Authorization, Use and Penalties.
Mr. Bruening made a motion to approve the changes to the agenda. Mr. Kirk seconded the motion. The motion passed with unanimous consent. 5-0
Mr. Kirk made a motion to approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Odeniyide seconded the motion. The motion passed with unanimous consent. 5-0
Administrative Items
Announcement of Executive Session (Agenda Item 4A) None
Board Meeting Minutes – January 10, 2023, and January 25, 2023 (Agenda Item 4B):
Tabled.
Appointment of Election Committee Members (Agenda Item 4C)
Residents Ron Briggs, April Battle and Jennifer Lynott (staff member & resident) were brought for consideration of appointment to the Election Committee.
Mr. Kirk made a motion to appoint the above residents Ron Briggs, April Battle, and Jennifer Lynott to the Election Committee. Mr. Bruening seconded the motion The motion passed unanimously. 5-0
Tentative Meeting Date of February 28, 2023 (Agenda Item 4D)
Due to time constraints and illness, a continuation of the meeting was proposed for February 28, 2023 at 7 p.m.
Mr. Bruening moved to make a motion to continue the meeting on February 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Mr. Kirk seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. 5-0
Resident Speak Out (Agenda Item 5)
David Donovan discussed the upcoming elections and CA Representative position. He expressed his opinion of a flawed election process and suggested the addition of a ballot question, online communication, and invitations to residents to vote.
Lisa Adegberra- Discussed towing of parked vehicles in the townhouse community.
Teen Advisory Report (Agenda Item 6A):
None.
Old Business (Agenda Item 7A)
Tabled.
New Business
RHCA Q2 Financial Statements & CA Reports (Agenda Item 8A)
Mr. Odeniyide requested an Executive Summary page to accompany the financial statements.
Mr. Odeniyide made a motion to accept the Q2 Financial Statements. Mr. Bruening seconded the motion. The motion passed with unanimous consent.
HoCo Budget Requests (Agenda Item 8B)
County Councilwoman Deb Jung discussed the upcoming work sessions to be held in June, July, September, and October to review the Draft General Plan. There will be (3) public meetings for testimony. Ms. Jung encourages residents to send their concerns to the entire Howard County Council via email. Ms. Jung expressed her personal concerns with the amount of proposed development in Columbia. The current process is for the Planning Board to summarize their findings on the Draft General Plan which is then sent to the County Council. Ms. Jung stated that she will attend an upcoming RHCA meeting to give an overview of what’s included in the General Plan sometime in the next 6 months. The vote on the General Plan is scheduled to occur by the end of October or November. After the General plan is passed, then APFO (Adequate Public Facility Ordinance) establishes the percentage by which schools can be filled in Howard County.
Ms. Jung asked RHCA to send their budget requests to her and noted that sound barriers along MD 32 are at the top of her list., additional police presence in River Hill, and street tree replacement. The County Executive is putting the budget together now, so budget requests need to be submitted soon. Ms. Jung encourages emails to be sent to all members of the County Council with concerns about the proposed development and recommends that RHCA set up a meeting with State Senator Guy Guzzone.
Mr. Bruening made a motion that a letter be drafted to request funding for sound barriers and other community priorities such as additional police presence in River Hill. Mr. Kirk seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 5-0
Separate Discussion not on Agenda: Ballot Questions
Ms. Munro discussed her desire to include ballot questions during elections this year to include the possibility of requiring background checks for candidates running for a position on the RHCA Board of Directors (BOD), a process for the recall of the Columbia Council Representative, and the requirement of pre-approval from RHCA for the location and timing of food trucks in the community. Mr. Odeniyide stated that the BOD gets information from the HOA Attorney regarding procedures and process.
Additionally, Mr. Odeniyide expressed concern about having this on the ballot because the BOD does not have the authority to regulate public streets.
SB 229 – Vehicle Laws-Noise Abatement Monitoring Systems-Authorization, Use, and Penalties (Agenda Item 8G)
Discussion of the new wording added to the law that is similar to the law permitting use of speed cameras. Motorists in violation would first receive a warning and the second violation would involve a civil fee not to exceed $70.
Mr. Kirk made a motion that a letter be drafted in support of SB 229. Ms. Munro seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 5-0
HB 147 – Street Racing/Exhibition Driving (Agenda Item 8F)
Discussion of one section of the bill regarding the penalties for revving a vehicle’s engine may be too extreme/steep.
Mr. Kirk made a motion that a letter be drafted in support of HB 147. Mr. Bruening seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 5-0
Ho.Co. 7-23 Candidates for Village Board or Columbia Council (Agenda Item 8D)
Discussion held about the proposal by the Howard County Delegation to provide more transparency for the election process in Columbia to include a record of expenditures and donations during the election cycle to be voted on by the State Legislation.
Mr. Bruening made a motion that a letter be drafted in support of Howard County Bill 7-23. Mr. Kirk seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 5-0
Recess (Agenda Item 9):
At 8:57 p.m., Mr. Kirk moved to recess the meeting until February 28, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. Ms. Munro seconded the motion. The motion passed with unanimous consent.