September 9, 2019 Minutes

River Hill Board of Directors

Meeting Minutes

September 9, 2019

 

 

Opening (Agenda 1):

Tony Miceli, Chairperson, called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. The following members were in attendance: Dave Dalpe, Harjeet Jandu, Matt Levine, Angela Ling, and Adam White. Jeff Du, Student Member, Renee DuBois, Council Representative, and Susan Smith, Village Manager, were in attendance.

 

Approval of the Agenda (Agenda 2):

Mr. Jandu made a motion to approve the agenda with the addition of Student Member Committee under Old Business. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor.

 

July 1, 2019 Minutes (Agenda 3A):

Mr. White made a motion to approve the July 1, 2019 Minutes as submitted. Ms. Ling seconded the motion. The motion passed (5-0-1). Mr. Jandu abstained. Student Advisory Vote – in favor.

 

Resident Speak Out (Agenda 4): 133 people attended this portion of the meeting.

Dalia Shlash (Linden Linthicum Lane) spoke on behalf of residents of the Pheasant Ridge neighborhood and the group Keep Communities Together in opposition to the plan proposed by the Superintendent of the Howard County Public School System. Written input was provided.

 

Amy Becker (Empty Song Road) spoke on behalf of residents from the Pointers Run neighborhood and the group Pointers United in opposition to the plan proposed by the Superintendent. Written input was provided.

 

Robert Runser (Indian Summer Drive) spoke in opposition to the plan proposed by the Superintendent. Written input was provided.

 

Rich Snoddy (Garden Walk) spoke on behalf of neighbors in his community and requested the association’s assistance in obtaining sound barriers along MD 32.

 

Lin Zhou (Whistling Winds Walk) spoke in opposition to the Superintendent’s plan.

 

Brad Maunz (Early Lilacs Path) spoke in opposition to the Superintendent’s plan.

 

Anjula Singh (Departed Sunset Lane) spoke in opposition to the Superintendent’s plan.

 

Pei Chu (Indian Summer Drive) spoke in opposition to the Superintendent’s plan.

 

Shun Lu (Macbeth Farm Lane) spoke in opposition to the Superintendent’s plan.

 

Christian Cao (Golden Star Place) spoke in opposition to the Superintendent’s plan.

 

The people speaking regarding the redistricting proposal requested the Board of Directors support residents in keeping their neighborhoods together at local schools. They requested that the association testify in support of this position before the Board of Education. They also requested the association provide space for members of the community to meet to develop their testimony and opposition plans.

 

Larry Pretlow (Village of Oakland Mills) spoke regarding the redistricting proposal and stated he does not believe the plan benefits Oakland Mills and will mask the needs in the village. He noted the Oakland Mills Village Board has not taken a position on the matter.

 

FY20 1^st Quarter Financials & Variance Analysis (Agenda 5A):

Ms. Smith reviewed the financial statements and accompanying variance analysis. Mr. Levine made a motion to approve the statements and variance analysis. Mr. Dalpe seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor.

 

Teen Advisory Committee – Appointment(s) (Agenda 5B):

Mr. Du explained the interview process, the factors taken into consideration in forming the 2019 – 2020 Teen Advisory Committee (TAC) and gave the interview committee’s recommendations for appointment. Ms. Ling made a motion for the following students to be appointed to the TAC: Trinity Cheng, Jennifer Chiang, Serena Goyal, Tudhjot Jandu, Madigan Lynott, Alex Oh, Shyam Pillai, Alena Shen, and Arthur Wang, and for Kaitlyn Burnett and Reva Polineni to be appointed as alternates #1 and #2 respectively. Mr. White seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor.

 

CA FY21/22 Budget Input (Agenda 5C):

Mr. White made a motion to accept and file the association’s written testimony dated August 15, 2019 and the results of the email votes approving it. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor.  Ms. DuBois recommended that a member of the board present the testimony at the Columbia Association’s Board of Directors work session on September 12.

 

Neighborhood Center Survey (Agenda 5D):

Mr. Jandu made a motion to accept and file the association’s Neighborhood Center Survey input dated August 20, 2019 and the results of the email votes approving it. Mr. White seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor.

 

Board Training (Agenda 6A):

Ms. Smith will email each member a list of outstanding items to be reviewed and copies of the signature forms for completion.

 

Student Member Committee (Agenda 6B):

The association’s Conflict of Interest Policy was discussed. Mr. Jandu inquired why, when there were three (3) applicants, did the Board not fill two (2) positions?

 

 

 

Teen Advisory Committee(7Ai):

Mr. Du reported that the first TAC meeting will be held on September 23. The committee will then begin planning for the Halloween event on October 25.

 

Ad Hoc Playground Committee Report (Agenda 7Aii):

The request for funding for a tot lot upgrade in the Pointers Run neighborhood was included in the associations budget request. Ms. DuBois noted that CA is working to develop a Columbia-wide policy for upgrading tot lots.

 

Development Advisory Committee Report (Agenda 7Aiii):

Mr. Levine requested that Ms. Smith set up a meeting with Jon Mayers, Chesapeake Realty Partners.

 

Traffic & Safety Committee (Agenda 7Aiv):

Mr. Dalpe stated he’d been in contact with Jennifer White, Horizon Foundation, about the association supporting the County Council’s Streets for All resolution. Mr. Dalpe recommended that the board support the resolution. Mr. Miceli recommended setting up a meeting with the Board, possibly in October. The Board requested speed enforcement on Grace Drive, Indian Summer Drive, and Linden Linthicum Lane.

 

Watershed Committee (Agenda 7Av):

Mr. White reported that the committee will hold a Pull & Plant event on October 13. He noted that the County has joined the “Bee City USA” coalition. The committee is determining how to use the remaining grant funds and may apply for new grants.

 

Council Representative Report (Agenda 7B):

Ms. DuBois reported that the CA Board will discuss the neighborhood centers at their work session on October 10. She encouraged representatives from the villages, including River Hill, to attend. CA is developing a tot lot policy and conducting an indoor pool feasibility study. She discussed the stream remediation process and work that CA is performing.

 

Village Manager’s Report (Agenda 8C):

A written report is on file with the original minutes. Ms. Smith noted that the association will co-sponsor a community presentation by The Village in Howard. This program is being planned for October. Ms. Smith will be meeting with representatives from the Columbia Association and the Chinese Language School to discuss ways to collaborate. The presentation by JPMorgan Chase and the interviews with the applicants for the open board position have been postponed to the October meeting.

 

Board Chair Report (Agenda 8D):

The Board discussed the requests by residents to support their positions of keeping the students together in local schools and for use of space to hold meetings. Mr. Miceli made a motion that the association sponsor a meeting on September 24, 2019, 7:15 – 9 p.m. at Claret Hall for residents of Pheasant Ridge affected by the redistricting proposal. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor. It was the consensus of the board that the meeting shall be for River Hill residents. Ms. DuBois agreed to run the meeting.

 

Mr. Levine made a motion that the board testify in person and submit written testimony in support of keeping River Hill students together at local schools, will work with both groups (Pointers United and Keep Communities Together), and request input from other residents who the board has not heard from. Mr. Miceli seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor.

 

Mr. Miceli made a motion to appoint Mr. Levine as the association’s representative to testify at the Board of Education meeting on September 26. Mr. Dalpe seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0).

 

The Board requested that an electronic announcement go out about the community meeting on September 24. The board discussed inviting Council Member Jung and the BOE to a community meeting prior to the scheduled vote on November 21.

 

Board Speak Out (Agenda 9):

Mr. Levine suggested that River Hill residents reach out to students in other villages to assist with tutoring, etc.

 

Adjournment (Agenda 10):

Ms. Miceli made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:04 p.m. Mr. Levine seconded the motion. The motion passed (6-0-0). Student Advisory Vote – in favor.

 

Submitted by: Susan M. Smith, Village Manager

 

Minutes Approved:  October 7, 2019