THE CITY OF FREDERICK

101 NORTH COURT STREET

FREDERICK, MARYLAND 21701

 

UTILITY COMMITTEE

Minutes

9:00 a.m.

Wednesday, June 8th, 2005 ,  City Hall -  room 214

 

Present:  Alderman Bill Hall, Alderman David Lenhart, Alderwoman Donna Kuzemchak Ramsburg, Bruce Dean, Saundra Nickols, Keith Brown, Bert Anderson, Merchant McDonald, P.J. Betson, John Leisenring, Neil Clemons, Eileen Farrar

 

Item 1:  Approval of the minutes from the meeting of April 13th, 2005

Minutes from the meeting of April 13th, 2005 were approved as written. Seconded by Alderman Lenhart.  Vote 3-0 for approval 

 

Item 2:  Discussion and consideration of a request by Harris, Smariga & Associates, Inc. on behalf of H.F. Payne to address issues regarding a fire pump station to be built in the Birdseye View Subdivision.

Mr. Merchant McDonald explained that when the project began they knew there was a problem with fire service to that area therefore a pump station was designed to accommodate.  Mr. McDonald stated that city staff determined that this system should be an isolated system for this development. Mr. McDonald explained how the developers would like the city to address maintenance issues of this pump station and or to have a separate private tax assessment for this area and the developer will build at his cost to city standards, but would like the city to take over and include the maintenance.  Neil Clemons stated that this station would be for fire protection only and that in city meetings city staff decided against HOA maintenance due to many HOA’s going into default. Mr. Clemons stated that staff determined the station should be built to city specs and city standards and suggestions were made to have special assessments made on only certain homes, not for all of the city taxpayers.  Mr. Bruce Dean stated some possible figures if a tax assessment was implemented. Ms. Betson of H.F. Payne stated that the station use would only be for fire emergency.  Keith Brown explained City maintenance procedures on pumps and stated that the cost for those services would be somewhere between $7,500, and $10,000 a year.  Alderman Lenhart asked if there was maintenance by the city if it could be used as part of an annexation and Mr.Brown stated that pumps could be interchanged and an assessment fee could be put on the other development for maintenance.  Mr. Leisenring explained how special assessment fees work. Alderwoman Ramsburg asked about the legalities for charging a fee for only a certain amount of people. Mr. Dean asked how soon the fee could be added to a water bill and Mr. Leisenring stated that the legal department needs to look into only billing a certain few people rather than city wide.

Motion:  Alderwoman Ramsburg moved to have staff work with the applicant to finalize the financing and engineering of this pump station, trying to put the cost of maintenance on the water bill if possible, and if not possible, set up a possible tax assessment district, to be brought forth as quickly as possible to a business meeting of a Mayor and Board workshop.  Addendum: Alderwoman Ramsburg wanted to acknowledge the possibility of  future expansions. Seconded by Alderman Lenhart.  Vote 3-0 in favor.

 

Item 3:  Discussion and consideration of a request by Mr. William B. Anderson to dispute the water and sewer bill for the property at 111 East South Street. 

Mr. Anderson spoke regarding the water bill for the property at 111 East South Street (General Tire building) and stated all of the four elements of this bill.  Mr. Anderson stated that he did not have a problem with the restoration fund or stormwater management part of this bill, but stated that there was no water and sewer connected to this property. Mr. Anderson stated that after the construction of East Street, the water service was not restored to the property.

Motion:  Alderman Ramsburg moved that if there is actually no water or sewer being used at this property that the charges of $21.27 for water and $21.27 for sewer be removed from the bill for the property at 111 East South Street.  Amendment: made to the motion by Alderman Lenhart to have the Finance Department of the city report back to the Utility Committee with regard to this policy along with Alderman Ramsburg’s recommendation that the policy regarding charging a property for a Bay restoration and storm water management without water and sewer service be reviewed. Seconded by Alderman Bill Hall.  Vote 3-0 in favor. 

 

Minutes submitted by Eileen Farrar