July 12, 2021 Minutes

River Hill Board of Directors

Meeting Minutes

July 12, 2021

 

 

Opening (Agenda 2):

Matthew Levine, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. The meeting was hybrid, in person at Claret Hall and virtually via conference call using Zoom. The following members attended in person: Eric Greenberg and Matthew Levine. Members Harjeet Jandu (joined at approximately 7:10 p.m.), Tony Miceli, Jian Ni, and Adam White were virtual. Student Member Alex Oh was virtual. Renee DuBois, Columbia Council Representative, and Susan Smith, Village Manager, were present in person at Claret Hall. Mr. Pillai was absent. Bruce Eberle (Watershed Committee Member) attended in person. The following people attended the meeting virtually: Janet Munro, Brady Greer (CA), Al Edwards (CA), Dennis Mattey (CA), Brian Collins (KCI), and Andrew Robinson, Esq. (Offit Kurman Inc.).

 

Approval of the Agenda (Agenda 3):

Mr. Miceli made a motion to approve the agenda. Mr. Greenberg seconded the motion. Ms. DuBois asked that the agenda be modified to add HoCo By Design to the agenda and to remove Education Committee Charter (7A). The amendment was accepted. The agenda was approved (5-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

Announcement of Executive Session Meetings Held/To Be Held (Agenda 4A):

Ms. Smith announced the Board held a virtual Executive Session on June 10, 2021.

Participants were Eric Greenberg, Matt Levine, Tony Miceli, Jian Ni and Adam White. Susan Smith, Village Manager, was also present. At 7:06 p.m. Mr. Levine made a motion to move into Executive Session for the purposes of discussing legal and personnel matters. Mr. Greenberg seconded the motion. The motion passed (5-0-0). At 7:55 p.m. Mr. Levine made a motion to adjourn the Executive Session. Mr. Miceli seconded the motion. The motion passed (5-0-0).

 

Board Meeting Minutes – June 7, 2021 (Agenda 4B):

Mr. Levine made a motion to approve the June 7, 2021 Minutes as submitted. Mr. Greenberg seconded the motion. The motion passed. The motion passed (5-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

 

Resident Speak Out (Agenda 5):

None.

 

Shaw/Willow Nook Property Annexation (Agenda 6A):

Mr. Robinson gave an overview of the project and noted at this time the developer is waiting for housing allocations and therefore cannot provide a timeline. Discussion.  Ms. Dubois made a motion for the River Hill Community Association to approve the annexation of the Shaw property. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

Scott Property Redevelopment (Agenda 6B):

Ms. Smith gave an overview of the project which is scheduled to be reviewed by Howard County’s Design Advisory Panel on July 21. Concerns regarding stormwater management were discussed. Dennis Mattey, CA, indicated that CA is interested in the project and noted that the easement for this property was already a part of the open space when it transferred from Howard Research and Development to the Columbia Association. Mr. Levine made a motion to ask the association’s Watershed Committee to draft a letter outlining their concerns, to have the association send a letter to the CA Board of Directors expressing concerns, and for the association to provide written input to the Design Advisory Panel with the correspondence being approved by the Board via email. Mr. Miceli seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

Free Use Request (Agenda 6C):

Mr. Levine made a motion to approve a free use of the River Hill Meeting Room for Vishva Iyer’s Girl Scout Gold Award Project. Mr. White seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

FY21 4^th Quarter Financial Statements & Variance Analysis (Agenda 6D):

Mr. Greenberg made a motion to approve the FY21 4^th Quarter Financial Statements and Variance Analysis. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor.

 

FY21 Annual Report (Agenda 6E):

Mr. Levine made a motion to approve the Annual Report with an amendment to say there were material changes needed. Mr. Greenberg seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

FY21 Facility Use Report (Agenda 6F):

Mr. Levine made a motion to approve the Facility Use Report. Ms. DuBois seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

Storm Drain Painting Project (Watershed Committee) (Agenda 6G):

Mr. Eberle reviewed the committee’s plans to re-stencil the storm drains along Great Star Drive and requested the Board send a letter in support of the project to the Howard County Department of Public Works (DPW). Ms. DuBois made a motion to support the project and to approve sending the drafted letter to DPW. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

Board Membership (6H):

Ms. DuBois made a motion that the association solicit letters of interest for the open position on the Board via the August newsletter, listserv, and social media and that the Board interview applicants at their meeting on August 17. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

HoCo By Design (6I):

Ms. DuBois gave a brief update on the status of HoCo By Design (new General Plan) and noted that recommendations include increasing the density in Columbia’s village centers and that the River Hill Village Center had been specifically mentioned. She encouraged the Board to become engaged in the process and noted that there was no mention of the impact the increased density would have on traffic-related matters.

 

Ms. Smith notified the Board that in preparation for the subsequent changes to the Zoning Regulations, including New Town Zoning, that CA would be holding sessions with the village boards. River Hill and Harper’s Choice have been paired and the first session will be on October 4 at Kahler Hall. The Board will adjust its meeting schedule that month.

 

Legal Committee Charter (7B):

Mr. Levine reported that he had not had an opportunity to work on drafting a charter.

 

Election Process Committee Charter (7C):

Mr. Levine made a motion to have Mr. Greenberg draft the committee charter and for the Board to vote on it prior to the August Board Meeting with a deadline for letters of interest so that a committee can be appointed in September. Ms. DuBois seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

Development Advisory Committee (8Ai)

Mr. Levine reported that Cold Stone Creamery had opened at River Hill Square and that the Robinson Overlook apartments appear to be completed.

 

Teen Advisory Committee (Agenda 8Aii):

Mr. Oh reported the committee will be conducting interviews this week and next. Recommendations for appointment will be shared at the August Board meeting.

 

Traffic and Safety Committee (9Aiii):

Mr. Miceli made the Board aware that he has concerns regarding the striping at the Sheppard Lane intersection. Vehicles are cutting short the left turn onto Sheppard Lane and Mr. Miceli suggested the addition of striping so that vehicles know where to make the turn.

 

Watershed Committee (Agenda 8Aiii):

Mr. White thanked Mr. Eberle for attending the meeting. He noted that the committee had received a request from a resident to conduct a Pull & Plant in the area of Angel Rose Court. He also noted that the committee hopes to get recycling reinstated in the high schools.

 

Village Manager (Agenda 8B):

A written report is on file with the original minutes. Ms. Smith will send some alternate dates for the October Board meeting.

 

Columbia Council Representative (Agenda 8C):

Ms. DuBois reported that CA is dealing with development-related issues, the FY21 financial statements are still being developed, and that the FY23 budgeting process begins in July.

 

Board Chairperson (Agenda 8D):

Mr. Levine thanked everyone for moving to a hybrid format for meetings and noted that Ms. Arthur, Esq. has mentioned a new Maryland law that may result in homeowner’s associations having to continue to offer virtual options for meetings of the Board of Directors. Mr. Levine noted that the Board needed to move into Executive Session at the end of the meeting.

 

Executive Session:

At 9:16 p.m., Mr. Levine made a motion to move into Executive Session for the purposes of personnel matters. Mr. Greenberg seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Mr. Oh, Ms. DuBois, and all remaining guests left the meeting.

 

At 9:32 p.m., Mr. Levine made a motion to end the Executive Session and to adjourn the Board Meeting. Mr. Greenberg seconded the motion. The motion passed 4-0-0).

 

Submitted: Susan M. Smith, Village Manager

 

Minutes Approved:  August 16, 2021