May 13, 2019 Minutes

River Hill Board of Directors

Meeting Minutes

May 13, 2019

 

Opening (Agenda 1):

Susan Smith, Village Manager, called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m. The following members were in attendance: Harjeet Jandu, Matt Levine, Tony Miceli, and Adam White. Yamini Ananth, Student Member was also present. Cindy Tian, Student Member, arrived at 7:10 p.m. Angela Ling, Board Member, arrived at 7:18 p.m. Eva Lambright, Covenant Advisor, joined the meeting for the Executive Session. Renee DuBois, Council Representative, arrived at 8:05 p.m.

 

Approval of the Agenda (Agenda 2):

Mr. Levine made a motion to approve the agenda with a change to add the National Gun Violence Awareness Day under New Business (8D). Mr. White seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1)

 

April 29, 2019 Minutes (Agenda 3A):

Mr. Levine made a motion to approve the April 29,2019 Minutes as submitted. Mr. White seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

Election of Officers (Agenda 3B):

Mr. Jandu nominated Mr. Miceli to be Chairperson of the Board of Directors for Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20). Mr. Levine seconded the nomination. Mr. Miceli was elected (3-0-1) with Mr. Miceli abstaining. Student Advisory Vote – in favor (1).

 

Mr. Levine nominated Mr. White to serve as Vice Chairperson. Mr. Jandu seconded the nomination. Mr. Miceli nominated Mr. Jandu to serve as Vice Chairperson. Mr. Jandu declined the nomination. Mr. White was elected (3-0-1) with Mr. White abstaining. Student Advisory Votes – in favor (2).

 

Appointment of Village Manager (Agenda 3C):

Mr. Levine made a motion to appoint Susan Smith as Village Manager for FY20. Mr. Jandu seconded the motion. The motion passed (4-0-0). Student Advisory Votes – in favor (2).

 

Summer Sunrise Drive/River Run Bike Lanes Update (Agenda 4):

Chris Eatough, Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Howard County Office of Transportation (OOT), provided an overview of the project noting that bike lanes along Summer Sunrise Drive and part of River Run are included in BikeHoward, the County’s Bicycle Master Plan. The bike lanes will be put in as a part of the road-resurfacing project scheduled to begin this summer after school ends. Summer Sunrise Drive will have lanes on both sides of the road. River Run will have sharrows (share the road arrows) on the road to the intersection with Empty Song Road. Mr. Eatough noted that the main concern raised was overflow parking from the pool. The OOT has coordinated with the Columbia Association’s Aquatics Department and which believes parking on one side of the road will be adequate. The Board discussed the overflow pool parking situation.

 

Resident Speak Out (Agenda 5):

Brianna Greenberg (Empty Song Road) expressed concern about the safety of the Grace Drive/Cedar Lane intersection and the lack of bike lanes and asked that the County take steps to make this intersection safer. Bonnie Cornell (Morning Time Lane) discussed options for parking on swim meet days and suggested using offsite parking with shuttles.

 

Executive Session – Potential Litigation (Agenda 6):

Mr. Miceli made a motion at 7:40 p.m. to move into Executive Session for the discussion of potential litigation. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed (5-0-0). Ms. Ananth and Ms. Tian excused themselves from this portion of the meeting.

 

Mr. Miceli made a motion at 8:05 p.m. to end the Executive Session. Ms. Ling seconded the motion. The motion passed (5-0-0). Ms. Ananth and Ms. Tian re-joined the meeting.

 

Board Candidate Interviews (Agenda 7):

The Board interviewed David Dalpe to fill an open, 2-year position on the Board of Directors.

 

Board Member Appointment(s) (Agenda 8A):

Mr. Levine made a motion to appoint Mr. Dalpe to one of the open positions and beginning in July to continue to search for someone to fill the remaining position. Ms. Ling seconded the motion. The motion passed (5-0-0). Student Advisory Votes – in favor (2).

 

Mr. Dalpe joined the table at 8:19 p.m.

 

FY20 Board Meeting Schedule (Agenda 8B):

The Board reviewed the draft schedule. Mr. White made a motion to approve the schedule with the following changes: August 5 – tentative meeting; February 10 (instead of February 3), March 9 (instead of March 2), March 30 (instead of March 16), and no meeting on April 6. Mr. Jandu seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Votes – in favor (2).

 

Board Member Training (Agenda 8C):

Ms. Smith reviewed the training policy and distributed the following items for signature: Code of Ethics, Conflict of Interest Policy, Fiduciary Responsibility Form, and Letter of Compliance Request Form.

 

National Gun Violence Awareness Day (Agenda 8D):

Ms. DuBois shared CA’s draft resolution recognizing June 7, 2019 as National Gun Violence Awareness Day (information attached to the original Minutes). An event will be held on June 7 at the Harper’s Choice Village Center Ms. DuBois made a motion that the Board adopt the same wording as the CA draft resolution. Mr. Jandu seconded the motion. Discussion. The motion passed (4-2-0). Student Advisory Votes – in favor (2).

 

FY20 Budget (Agenda 9A):

Ms. Smith reviewed modifications made to the FY20 Budget to rectify an error. Ms. DuBois made a motion to approve the revised FY20 Budget. Ms. Ling seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Votes – in favor (2).

 

Ad Hoc Playground Committee (10Ai):

None

 

Development Advisory Committee Report (Agenda 10Aii):

Mr. Levine reported he is trying to set up a meeting with representatives from the Board of Education to discuss the polygons.

 

Teen Advisory Committee (Agenda 10Aiii):

Ms. Ananth and Ms. Tian reported that the TAC members are recruiting members for the next term. They have reached out to Clarksville Middle School and the high schools and have sent emails to the PTSAs asking for help in advertising the opportunities.

 

The Board thanked Ms. Ananth and Ms. Tian for their service to the community as Student Members of the Board and Chairpersons of the TAC.

 

Traffic & Safety Committee (Agenda 10Aiv):

Mr. Miceli reported that he had provided Jack Guarneri (Bicycle Advocates of Howard County) with talking points regarding the association’s traffic and safety concerns along MD 108 with respect to the Erickson project.

 

Watershed Committee (Agenda 10Av):

Mr. White reported that the May meeting had been postponed until Wednesday, May 15. He also reported that he is looking into applying for another Chesapeake Bay Trust grant.

 

Village Manager’s Report (Agenda 10B):

A written report is on file with the original minutes.

 

Mr. Levine made a motion to recognize Dalia Shlash as Volunteer of the Year for FY2019. Ms. DuBois seconded the motion. The motion failed (1-4-1).

 

Mr. Miceli made a motion to recognize Dalia Shlash and Richard Thomas as Volunteers of the Year for FY2019. Mr. White seconded the motion. The motion passed (5-0-1). Student Advisory Votes – in favor (2).

 

Board Chair Report (Agenda 10C):

None.

 

Council Representative Report (Agenda 10D):

Ms. DuBois reported that she had attended an orientation meeting prior to the village Board of Directors meeting. She will be serving on the Audit, Teen & Middle School, and the Multi-cultural & International Committees. CA is seeking resident input on the strategic plan and input can be provided on CA’s website. She also noted that CA is beginning the 2-year budget cycle and is dealing with zoning issues, including the proposed Royal Farms on Snowden River Parkway. Ms. DuBois also noted that she is starting to work with the county and state to form partnerships with CA.

 

Board Speak Out (Agenda 10):

None.

 

Adjournment (Agenda 9):

Mr. Jandu made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 p.m. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Votes – in favor (2).

 

Submitted by: Susan M. Smith, Village Manager

 

Minutes Approved:  June 3, 2019