THE CITY OF FREDERICK

101 NORTH COURT STREET

FREDERICK, MARYLAND 21701

UTILITY COMMITTEE

Minutes

Wednesday, February 9th, 2005 , City Hall - room 214

Present: Alderman Bill Hall, Alderman Dave Lenhart, Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak Ramsburg, Josh Bazis, Roy Whitehouse, Mary Miller, Kenneth Parker, Mary Lenhart, Keith Brown, Dan Christy, John Leisenring, Anne Rollins, Saundra Nickols, Mark Herr, Joseph Wisniewski, Randy Connatser, Fred Eisenhart, Eileen Farrar Michael Proffitt, Kory Purdum,

Item 1: Approval of the minutes from the meeting of January 12^th, 2005

Minutes were moved and seconded for approval.

Item 2: Consideration of a request by Mr. Joseph Wisniewski regarding water bill for the property at 1578 Carey Place.

Mr. Wisniewski stated that when he went on vacation for three weeks in August the toilet was running and he received a water bill for $300.00. Mr. Wisniewski asked if the committee could look at policy to help citizens make arrangement to pay the water bill for catastrophic situations in lieu of turning the water off. Mr. Wisniewski stated that his normal bill was $40.00 and this high bill was a hardship for him. Mr. Wisnieweski stated he contacted the finance office and made a partial payment and thought the water would not be turned off and was not told that the water would be still be turned off. Mr. Leisenring stated the city offers a payment plan but was not aware of this situation until the water was turned off. Mr. Wisniewski was not aware of a payment plan that could have been made available to him. Mr. Wisniewski asked that the city offer further information in the mailing that makes citizens aware of their options if payment is a hardship. Alderman Lenhart stated that Mr. Wisniewski could on the advise of the city attorney write a letter to Mr. Leisenring requesting a $50.00 credit toward his bill due to a possible administrative error. The committee made no action on this matter.

Item 3: Consideration of a request by Christianah Adesida regarding the water bill for the property at 1715 Heather Lane.

Mr. Leisenring stated that Ms. Adesida is on active duty and not at this residence since August of 2004 and it appears that there was excessive use of water. Mr. Brown stated that no leaks were found at this property and was asked by Ms. Adesida to turn the water off. Mr. Leisenring stated that due to hardship for payment, a payment plan could be offered. Alderman Bill Hall asked if the city could mitigate this bill. Mr. Leisenring stated that he would contact Ms. Adesida regarding her bill. The committee made no action on this matter.

Item 4: Consideration of a request by Cory Putnum of Proffitt & Associates for recommendation of a waiver of Section 16-14(b) of the City Code to allow two pair of Sewer House Connections and Water House Connections to a single lot for South Frederick elementary School to accommodate an addition at 240 Madison Street.

Mr. Proffitt spoke to the committee regarding the new Earth space science lab on the site at South Frederick Elementary School that will be a living teaching environment. Mr. Proffitt stated that the challenge is the city’s 60 inch storm line thru the middle right of way and the elevation prevents them from getting across to the existing sanitary tie in for the existing building. There is also in the right of way a sanitary line and they would like to connect the new building to that sanitary line instead of trying to find a way to get across another way. Mr. Connatser verified that there is a large sanitary line that prevents them from getting across to the new building.

Motion: Alderman Ramsburg moved to allow two pairs of sewer and water connections for South Frederick Elementary School to accommodate the addition. with the understanding that if there is a problem with closure of others, then more discussion will be needed. Mr. Proffitt will verify any new information should there be a change and bring back for discussion.. Alderman Lenhart seconded. Vote 3-0 in favor.

Item 5: Continued discussion from the meeting of December 8^th, 2004 for a request by First Baptist Church to access the City of Frederick sewer system.

Mr. Dan Christy stated that First Baptist Church had a well on their property that had been tested for 30 gallons per minute and would like to make arrangements with the City to furnish part of that water to the city in exchange for a connection to our sewer system. First Baptist Church is not in the city limits but is contiguous to Bowers road and Birds Eye Estates, which is in the City. Mr. Christy brought to the committee, as requested, some costs for safe treatment water analysis. First Baptist Church brought testing results from Fredericktowne Labs to the committee. Mr. Christy stated that both he and Mr. Dan Seal saw some potential problems for putting a well into the city system and making it compatible. One problem was in the bacteriological testing, when the sample was taken the well contractor had chlorinated the well and flushed the line, which is a standard practice, but when the bacteriological sample was taken there was chlorine residual. Ms. Mary Miller of Fredericktowne Labs stated that she had taken sample and found no chlorine residual. More discussion continued with regard to getting more refined information as to the costs and responsibilities to the City. Alderman Ramsburg and Alderman Lenhart both agreed that while they were getting lengthy informative scientific information, they were not getting the necessary information needed to make a decision. Mr. Whitehouse and Ms. Rollins stated that they would like to see information provided to them from the City and have not seen the information from Mr. Christy.

Motion: Alderman Ramsburg moved to table until the March Utility Committee meeting so that both parties (First Baptist Church and the City) can compare all of the information and bring forth this information to the committee. Alderman Lenhart seconded. Vote 3-0 in favor.

Minutes submitted by Eileen Farrar